Grandma Carr's Funeral

Grandma Carr passed away this last Sunday (the 11th). She will be missed, but we can't be sad when we know she is so happy! She has been in a nursing home the last several years, and without the ability to speak after having her stroke so long ago. Grandpa Carr died 7 years ago, we know their joy is so full to be together again. When Braxton started to make arrangements to go up for the funeral, we both had the idea that it would be a good experience for Lauren to go too. An abundance of frequent flyer miles made this possible. She did miss a few days of school, but I think it was worth it. She was born up in Bellingham, and we've always wanted to take her up there, when would we have the chance again? Also, to spend some time with her Dad and the Carr side of the family was priceless. They had a wonderful trip together!

Brax and Kim took Lauren out to see the East road house

where they grew up. While there, they feasted on

Washington's wild blackberries that lined their road

Last morning before everyone departed their seperate

ways, it happened to be Leroy & Eileen's 50th anniversary!

4th of July in Star Valley

We've made a tradition out of going to Star Valley for the 4th of July holiday. Our entire family loves it there! This year we had quite the party... besides our family, David's, Cathleen's, Brian's and Bethany's families were all there. A FULL house, but so very fun! The kids love the golf cart parade. This year Leroy bought a second golf cart, and also Carson brought his kid size 4 wheeler, so they had plenty of decorating to do! Lauren had put on her creativity hat a few weeks before, and with phone calls made to cousins, came up with a military theme and an under the sea theme. She was very busy making decorations for days! After the parade the carts are judged. The "under the sea" cart got "most original idea"!

They kept the crowd cool with water guns!

Carson sporting military attire!

Lined up for judging

Their prize? A blow up crocodile, Grace loved it!

The parade is followed by a carnival. The kids enjoy lots

of games (tickets are won and redeemed at a very well

stocked prize table), and free cotton candy and popcorn!

Lexi, Brynn and Ellie ready to win more tickets!

We also got to celebrate Grandma Schenk's Birthday!

Lexi and Emma enjoying the pool on a hot day

In a family with mostly girl cousins, the boys have to stick together!

Games, games, and more games! The big ball, red rover, football

frisbee and lots more! And of course (I didn't get a picture) but

they can never get enough of driving the golf carts

around, and around and around....!!

Time for makeovers

Hiking up the canyon. So beautiful!

More games! One of the favorites was "reverse charades"

Can't remember, but I'm sure the girls won!

Some of the kids were willing to wake up early

enough to participate in the local "kids k"

And of course, FIREWORKS!

And lots of sparklers!

Ready for the show

You don't watch fireworks in Star Valley in shorts and

t-shirts, you need to bundle up!

Another year of memories and fun!

Camping 2011

Camping this last weekend with our Center ward friends was great fun, although a little wet for us. This year found us in a tent, my I miss that motorhome! After our reservations up Logan canyon were cancelled due to flooding, we found a group site available up at Nebo Loop....gorgeous! Our family did whimp out and come home one night early. We did have good excuses though.... wet bedding, uncomfortable crabby pregnant lady, kid throwing up in the middle of the night previous to coming home, and we caught wind we were getting a new bishopbric sunday, and we really wanted to be there. The kids played so hard, and combined with all that mountain fresh air, coming home Saturday night all the kids passed out, hard! All laying on each other in the back seat of the truck. Even the dog crashed on top of Lauren's lap and Ellie found that Pepper's behind makes a very comfortable pillow! Wish I had a picture, it was a funny sight!

Pepper was in Heaven with a never ending meadow to run in!

My cute little flower girls

The water was a little frigid, but they braved it anyway!

This picture was taken before the boys started pitching big

rocks our way, I got soaked! Lucky for Lisa my growing figure

blocked her from the worst of it!

Hawaii!

Wow, do I remember how to do this? It's been a year and a half......how pathetic! I've got to get blogging again, it's such a great way to stay connected with friends and the perfect way of catching all of our memories we are making.

I will start with our recent trip to Hawaii! Just Brax and me! I can't even express how very fun it was to be together in a place like Hawaii. We enjoyed Oahu for two days and Maui for seven. Everything went perfectly; perfect weather, tons of fun and relaxation, and the kids did great at home with family and friends, who I appreciate sooo much for helping out!

Luau at the PCC. Wow, what a feast!

Night show was fabulous. We had front row seats!

We hiked up Diamond head.

View was fantastic and the workout

helped me feel less guilty about all the macadamia nut chocolates!

Swimming in the Pacific Ocean Baby!

Braxton made fun of my sunbathing technique!

(Hey, I caught a chill for a minute!)

We went on a snorkeling tour on a double

decker boat out to Molokini Crater and to

Turtle town. So amazingly fun!

Parasailing! At first I was holding on for dear life,

once I relaxed, the view was amazing and I loved it,

especially when we got "dipped" a couple of times!

Up 800 feet! Yahoo!
Braxton's kind of relaxing!
Could not have been more fun!!

Halloween 2010

Halloween time again?!! We always have so

much fun dressing up and especially going to our

Mc family party! This year it was at Josh and Lacey's again, they did an AWESOME

job with the spook alley! Can you think of a better place than a mortuary,

surrounded by graveyard, for a spook alley? I can't!

General Conference Spring 2009

What a wonderful Conference weekend.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and find myself looking more forward to it every time, possibly a sign I am getting wiser?  I hope!  This year we had the great fortune of getting tickets for the Sunday afternoon session.  Cathleen and Freddie were given tickets and had extra which they offered to us, and we gladly accepted.  My Mom was a sweetie and kept Ellie and Lexi, I think it was a smart move, they would have struggled and we would have too.  I think Lauren and Bryson will always remember the experience, they really seemed excited to be there.  Their eyes were wide as we worked our way to the General Conference Center, they couldn't believe all the people.  Their eyes were especially huge as we had to make our way through all of the Antis, who were picketing and screaming (although we had forewarned them).  What was really cool though was the group of what appeared to be a single adult ward lining the sidewalk loudly singing some of our favorite hymns.  They were determined that the Spirit not be driven away by the offensive demonstrators.  I loved my children being present for the prophet entering the great hall, as every one stood, and quiet swept through the congregation, the Spirit was undeniably strong.  It moves me to think of it now.  Wish so much I could add the pictures we took that day, but I accidentally deleted them, yes I am feeling  sick about it, but won't dwell on the negative, the day was way to wonderful for that!

The Jazz Newest Players!

My dad invited the family down to join the UFDA (Utah Funeral Directors Association) for a night at the Energy Solutions Arena.  We enjoyed dinner and then a night on the BIG court!  So much fun, for everybody!  The best part of the night was the competitions, including, boys, girls, women's and men's categories.  My cute sister-in-law Lacey was on fire, and walked away winning $150!  We were all laughing, because not only has she not played very much basketball (so she claims) but she is 4 months pregnant!  My Dad also represented the family well by walking away with the same prize for shooting a basket from the half court line.  There must have been 75 men in line trying to make the shot, Dad was the last to shoot and whoosh!  My brother won a prize for a great shot too.  Way to go!  My kids think it's the greatest thing to say that they have played on the Utah Jazz court.  Lexi woke up the next morning asking "when do we get to do that    again?!"