Mission Farewell

This last weekend we went home to spend time with family before Colby leaves this week on his mission. He is the youngest in the family and there are 5 boys and 1 girl and all the boys have served missions.  How cool is that?! Pretty impressive!!! Colby had just turned 9 when we got married and since Nick and I were together for years before that, it seems that he's always been a little brother to me.  I tease that he is like Chris Farley....a big, funny teddy bear and is pretty chill and just wants to be there and laugh. He'll do a great job, but we'll miss him for sure!

Colby, Nick, Eric, Chauncey...only missing Justin and Andrea
Can you tell they're brothers?!

Not exactly sure what's going on here!

There was lots of family in town so we all ran to the park and played baseball and kickball and had lunch there.  Afterwards we ran to the creek to catch little froggies.  

Reag loves to play with all her cousins! This is Oakley

Hunter and Gage.  Hunter was stalking him....he loves having boys to play with.

Ok, seriously I love this girl.  Kristie and I have been buds forever!!!! We used to play together when we were 13 and she would visit.  It's so fun to marry into a family that I already knew.  It made it easier for sure and we have such a blast together!!!!!! Love Nick's fun family!

Chauncey and his cute girlfriend Mallory.  She was sick and still came and hung out.  She's a trooper and so good to play with us and loves all the kids.  She's a keeper!

Eric kept trying to get Hunter to do Peace, but he kept doing it in front of his face so we told him to move it to the side, but he couldn't do that and look forward still apparently.  And it was more like bear claw instead of peace. Pretty funny!

Have you ever seen a deer pee?!

Or deer twins?!

Or how about this deer in my dad's yard?!

After the park and then frogs, we went to Cathedral Gorge to play on the rocks. Isn't she cute?!

More randoms!

I just wanted to remember the little things.  Playing together good and having fun with paint pens.

K, this is in our garage...inside the garage!! He's so fun!

I was getting ready and heard pounding on the window.  These pictures are bad, but it was hailing! In the July desert!! What?!

Too funny! They love him so so much! We love it when he comes to visit. Later we went to dinner and then to watch the fireworks for Pioneer Day.  Good times!

I have no idea why I took this picture.  Again, I guess just trying to remember the sweet moments that are just the little things. My sweet little buddy watching Mickey while I'm on the computer.

Reag LOVES LOVES LOVES to read. This is her every night and a lot during the day too. It's so fun that she can snuggle up next to me and we can read together.

Like mother, like daughter! :)

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this picture! This is the kids in the guest room.  Reag loves to read and he loves it when she'll read stories to him. I love walking in on moments like this. Tear!! :)

Little projects: revamping a clip board for work and a new bow holder.

Being a "walrus" with his suckers from the bank.



Best 10 Years

Our anniversary is August 2.  We will be married 10 years!!!! Seriously, where does the time go?! I can't believe that it has been that long and that I'm old enough to be married that long! We celebrated last week since our actual anniversary is during the week and our weekends are super booked. We've had some really fun things all summer and have some fun road trips coming up and due to the high cost of getting babies into this Holt Family, we decided that we had better do an anniversary staycation this time. We sent the kids to Caliente for the weekend and enjoyed some time by ourselves. Friday morning Nick made me breakfast and had flowers and a sweet card with a homemade, original poem he wrote for me!! Woot-woot!! Then we threw some clothes on and did one of our favorite things to do together----yard sales!!! :) Don't laugh! We love being together, exploring, visiting and finding good deals and projects to work on. We walked out to get in the car and Nick totally wrote on my car and filled it with balloons.  It was really sweet!

We had fun, got some great deals and then came back and took a nap woot-woot! :) We got dressed, grabbed Kneaders and ran to a movie.

Saturday morning, we got up early and went yard-saleing again and explored for a bit. We also had a room at the Marriott so we went and checked in. Then dinner at Texas Roadhouse, cupcakes and DI (I LOVE PROJECTS!!! i'm a little obsessed!) then we went to TWO movies! It was so fun. I love going to movies and we NEVER get to.

It was so, so nice to not have a major schedule and not to worry about sitters.  It was so nice to just relax and enjoy ourselves and visit with interruption! What?! :) When I went to pick the kids up, they were happy to see me but were kinda whatever, which was nice! I'd rather have them happy then miss us. We stayed over and played for a bit.

I just want to finish up by saying that I am so blessed to have Nick.  I have loved him for over half my life.  It started as a crush and puppy love and then teenage love with a lot of ups and downs and drama! Then we grew up and our love grew stronger.  Since then we have had a million ups and downs and so many crazy curve balls have been thrown at us.  I'm not gonna say it was always easy and super rosey.  You know I'll keep it real and say that it has been hard at times and we have had major fights and sometimes we just have to agree to disagree and move on.  We are pretty opposite of each other, but we've found that the longer time goes the more we have gelled to the middle together.  I rev him up and he chills me out. We laugh...alot and have learned to get over things pretty quickly and not take ourselves too seriously.  No one knows me better.  No one can look at me and know exactly what I'm thinking the way he does. No one can make me laugh how he does. No one can drive me nuts the way he does either! (and not the good kind!) No matter how hard....I wouldn't change the crazy we've been through.....well, I would make a few different decisions, but I would never change marrying Nick. He is the best dad and friend and always willing to help others.  I'm thankful to be sealed for eternity and to have my sweet little babies with us.  I'm thankful that he honors his Priesthood and brings the Spirit into our home.  I'm thankful that our kids will have a good example of what love is.  The real love....joking, teasing, kissing, laughing, disagreeing, respect. I love you Nick.  Happy Anniversary!!

Randoms

My two hot boys getting ready for church.

Nick looking H-O-T-T Hot! I'm so proud that he is reaching some of his goals.  He is one of the hardest working people I know. Love him!!!

Isn't this hilarious! My sister gave us some of their old dress-up and this is some that materialized! Too funny!!

Ok, I had to document this 1.) because he NEVER falls asleep on his own and 2.) where are his unders?! :)