For my Sis...LoLo!

I have to take a moment to talk about my sister Lori. I know that this is a day late, but I wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday! (I don't know how happy your birthday is going to be, but you deserve a wonderful bday.)

Lori is the best person on earth. Not only is she absolutely gorgeous on the outside, but on the inside as well. She is so kind and thoughtful, so spiritual, so intelligent, funny, charming, not to mention extremely talented, and is so generous. I've never known anyone who possessed so many of these qualities at once. She has been such a wonderful big sister and taken care of me my whole life. I love her to pieces. She is going through heck and back right now, and I would just ask any of you reading this to please keep her in your prayers. She is faced with unthinkable choices everyday, and I dare not say them here. But she needs all of our prayers. She puts on a brave front for others, but on the inside she is just being tortured all the time. I love you Lolo. You are the best big sis in the world! Just keep your faith and spirits up beautiful girl, you've got your whole family right behind you to lift you up if you aren't strong enough to stand (although, I know you are, because you've taught me to be stronger!) You know that I am always here for you!

My Lolo, best sister, best friend, best person....love you!

I didn't have any pics of Lori alone, so this is one of LoLo and Melani, our niece, the night before she got married. Mel on the left, Lo on the right. Both darling girls. :)

Annual Conner Reunion!

We went to St. George, Utah for the weekend for the 3rd annual Conner Reunion. We had the best time! We drove up to Las Vegas on Thursday, and spent the night at the Las Vegas Hilton, and had a great time. Then on Friday morning we went down to a beautiful breakfast buffet and pigged out, and then got on the road to St. George.

We stayed with my Aunt Teresa and Uncle Mike, and their house is UNBELIEVABLE! I've never stayed in a more beautiful home! The kids loved it, and did not want to ever leave! It was so fun to see a lot of family that I have not seen for years. It was crazy to see how grown up all of the younger kids were, and how beautiful all of them were. It was one of the most beautiful groups of people that I have ever been around (I mean that inside and out, sweetest families ever!) Jeff got to go riding on some 4-wheelers, and dune buggies (at least I think that is what they are called), and went shooting....he had a blast with my cousins!

My aunt and uncle also stuffed us with some of the best food ever! We ate so much every day, and they were always cooking something for the next meal, they were just so sweet, and the food was MAJOR YUM!

Saturday was the actual "reunion" and we swam at the clubhouse, and played pool volleyball. Later, they had a pinata for the kids, which was so cute. Then that night we had a talent show, and all of the kids did a cute little talent, and then some of the adults did them, we had quite a few impressive talents in the room. We watched movies in the "theatre room", played badminton, water-balloon volleyball, baseball, and got to watch a rough cut documentary that my cousin Preston did of my cousins BJ and Braxton's Baja 1000 race. It was so much fun to see everyone. I missed all of the family that wasn't able to come, and I am sad that I didn't get even more pics. We had a great weekend....thanks so much Uncle Mike, and Aunt Teresa (I still need to get the chocolate chip recipe from you Uncle Mike! YUMMO!)

Here is a cool shot I got of the bridge they are building over the Hoover Dam....really amazing!

Our family in front of a really cool aquarium slot machine in Las Vegas.

(This was taken right after breakfast where Austin spilled a glass of OJ on himself)

Uncle Mike and Aunt Teresa

(The best hosts of any hotel ever!!!)

My good lookin' cousin Braxton (Mike & Teresa's oldest son), my mom, and my Uncle Rex

Darling couple BJ (Mike & Teresa's 2nd oldest son) and his wife Amber

Their kids are just Austin & Katie's ages, and they had so much fun together!

(This pic is so dark, I am bummed it didn't come out brighter!)

Craig & Bria (Mike & Teresa's daughter)

(You guys are so cute, and so much fun, we loved getting to know you Craig, and seeing what Bria could do with the wax was a little scary.....what a talented lady!)

Craig & Bria's 1st baby Crew (sp?? I forgot to ask how to spell it!)

6 mos old....he is such a good, happy baby...he is a cutie pie!

Kitty (Mike & Teresa's youngest) and her boyfriend Kayson (sp?? again, don't know how sorry!)

She is one foxy momma, and the sweetest person! And Kayson is so incredibly talented with his singing and guitar playing!

Newlyweds Chris & Melissa (Uncle Rex's daughter)

They are such a beautiful couple, they could be in magazine ads!

Aunt Teresa, My mom, and Uncle Rex (Cliff was the only one missing...boo!)

Austin and Jeff having a blast!

Playing water balloon volleyball....so fun!

Conner & Austin playing baseball

Katelyn & Brynn driving Tyler around on some sort of golf cart/bike contraption!

Uncle Rex & my brother Alex (Mimi in the background)
Mimi & TyTy

Uncle Mike & Kitty (in her heels of course, she is not really taller than her dad!)

Another cute one of Chris & M&M....this could be an ad for Orbitz gum!

Katelyn & Brynn

I think they were on the same wave length....I said "look at me and smile, and I got this shot, then I said "okay, you can put your suckers in your mouth", and then I got this shot...

How cute is that! I didn't direct them to both look in the same exact direction, or to stand there with their hands at their side, it was like they had rehearsed it. So so so adorable!

I just have to say how much I love and adore all of my family, and I don't know what I would do without them! I hate to feel like I am bragging, but I just have some of the best people on earth in my family! To those that came, and those that didn't, I love you all so much and I already miss you tons! I can't wait until next year!!!!!

Happy Birthday Pops!

Today is my daddy's 68th birthday! I love my dad so much, and he has been through so much in his 68 years, you'd think he'd be bald from all of the stress. However, he still has a thick head of his own natural brown color. Surprising, I know. Anyway, my Pops is a One-Of-A-Kind Orignal! There is no one on this earth like him! We all love you Pops...Just The Way You Are!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR POPS!!!!!

First Days of Summer Fun!

Well, summertime has officially commenced. The kids got out on Thursday. So far, so good. We have been trying to do some fun things with them every day. So Friday, Jeff was done early in the morning, so he came home, picked us up, and we went to the Ironwood Crossings park, and had a picnic, and played on the jungle gym with the kids, and had so much fun! I am bummed because my camera battery was charging, so I missed the opportunity for some really cute pictures.

Anyway, Saturday, we went swimming at my mom's house.

Sunday's of course are reserved for church duties.

Monday, my whole family went over to my mom's house for BBQ and swimming. We played pool volleyball (which is the most fun ever!) and played a little Phase 10, and had great time!

Yesterday, I gave Austin and Katelyn their first swimming lesson. I know, I know, they are 7 and 6, they should already know how to swim....well....I'm teaching them now! Austin is already going under, and loving it, and Katie is really close to taking off without any help. I predict that by next Monday, I won't even be able to catch them. Now, I guess I have to put my money where my mouth is!

Then last night, my brother got Jeff and Austin DBack tickets, so they went to the game together and had the BEST time! The sat right above the bull pen, so before the game, one of the players tossed Austin a baseball, and then he ended up getting the DBack's starting catcher to sign it. I've never seen a kid more thrilled than he was when he came home!

Here are the few pics I have of the past few days.

First round of volleyball!

KT and her floatie!

Enough of the pool already!

Yummy Hot Dogs!

The 3 Little Pigs all tucked in together watching their favorite....

Blues Clues!

AJ and the bullpen!

These guys have Rockets for arms!

I can't wait to see what the rest of the summer brings!

Sarcasm or Sweetness?

Yesterday, I was putting sunscreen on Katie right before we went swimming, and, I still don't know if the following conversation was 6 year old sarcasm, or adoration for her older brother.
Katelyn: "Mom, does a sunburn hurt?"
Me: "Well, it can hurt, it depends on how bad it is."
Austin: "I had a sunburn once, it hurt really bad."
Katelyn: "Wow, Austin, that's a great story!"
They crack me up!

Go Reds!

Well, with the end of the school year, came the end of Austin's baseball season. This was Austin's first year to play, and he played coach pitch. He was #5 on the Red's. He had a great coach, and a great team. They only lost the very last game, by one run (mostly due to the last week of school excitement). Anyway, I realized that I haven't blogged at all about his season in baseball, so I am putting the hi-lites on here.

Very first time up to bat, he hit a single (although it could have easily been a double the way the other team was throwing)

Waiting to bat

Tyler always wore Autee's hat while he batted (and never wanted to give it back!)

Austin running for 2nd

Darth Katie!

Austin playing catcher

There was a lot of waiting to bat pics

Come on pitcher...bring the pepper!

Daddy coaching first

What's a game without snacks?

Austin playing 1st

Playing makes ya thirsty!

Come on guys, let's hear some chatter!

Austin's last game was against his best friend Collin's (1st baseman) team!

Is it over YET???

The final "GO REDS!"

After the last game, we had a pizza/trophy party at a nearby park, the kids had so much fun

Tubular Dude!

Austin with his way cool spinning trophy!

Reds Finale

Austin with Coach James McCart (Thanks Coach!)

The true recipient of the trophy! I don't think he has given it up yet!