Thomas and Kierra

May Mayhem ended and everyone's activities were done...but what did these two do while the others were so busy?! Through all of the chaos I do try to catch a few memories of how fun these two are together! They keep me busy and happy at home! They love to giggle and entertain each other, which is very entertaining for me too! Here are a few random shots from last spring!

February

Flying Kites with Daddy....do you love the outfit...Have you ever read the book Ella Sarah Gets Dressed?! That is 100% Kierra!





(this birthday door (that the sisters did for Thomas) was up for about 6 months...I had to take a picture of it before I took it down) :)



March

Getting Thomas up from his nap! Our favorite time of day!



April

(Thomas accidentally gave Kierra a nice shiner!)



Wanting to get the swimming pool out...but it's still just too cold!




May

Is it time to swim yet?!



Kierra doesn't nap much anymore, but pictures like this on a lazy afternoon are my absolute favorite! I LOVE having these two so close in age! They are fun together and make me smile!



AND they finally got to go swimming! ALL summer! :) I love you Kierra and Thomas!

Memorial Day Weekend 2012

Some traditions are just not meant to be broken and a Memorial Day in Star Valley, WY is one of them! Here is my favorite picture from the weekend! Cute kids hanging out in the van trying to stay out of the rain.

This has always been such a special holiday! It has all of it's familiar sights, smells, stories, people, laughter! The mountains are beautiful...it smells of farm country and rain...the stories are often the same ones, with something new every year...the people aren't as many as the reunions from when I was a kid, but you can always count on the same, amazing few! There is always laughter, music, tears, good memories, good times!

Before heading to Star Valley we did stay a night or two in Kemmerer with Matt's parents. The kids had a blast helping to split and stack wood!

First the splitting:



Then carrying to the side of the house:




Then dropping it through the chute!



Downstairs to Emily where we would all stack it!



Silly Taylor...is it really that exhausting! :)



We always have a great time at Grandma and Grandpa Gardner's!

On Sunday morning we left in time to meet everyone for church in Star Valley....the Fairview Ward. It was great to walk into the chapel and see so many familiar faces! First to see family and then to see many friends that I remember from when I was a kid visiting in primary or young womens!

The rest of Sunday we just relaxed with family. Singing, playing and visiting.



(ha ha dad! I said don't look at the camera...just act natural!) :)



(oh...but Mindy didn't get the memo either...what is everyone laughing about here?!) :)



Monday we woke up to head to both the Fairview and Afton cemeteries. Then we went back to my Aunt Beth and Uncle Ralph's house (for the last time :( as they just sold it and are moving down here). Here we had a mini reunion with the familiar creamy meatballs in the brownish/orangish crockpot, macaroni and jello salads, olives, chicken, rice crispy treats etc. It's always a feast while visiting with family! Later that afternoon we left for home....my parents going their direction and us splitting off to go ours.

We really don't know what our plans are for this tradition. It does get harder and harder to get up there. I do love being in Star Valley! So many amazing memories there! I miss my grandparents more than anything, but love to think about them and remember so many great times with them, cousins and so much other family! Hopefully we'll get up there again soon! :)

LCC Spring Musicals

The girls did so great in their mini musicals this year! And one huge highlight was that Kierra got to perform in 1 of the 3 shows. Because she watches her older sisters so much, this girl always knows the shows so well, so when one girl had to be gone for the opening night Kierra stepped right in as one of the 3 little maids! This was her huge debut, BUT because it was opening night and Catherine and I were busy, I didn't get ANY pictures of her in the actual show. I had left my camera in the back room :( HOWEVER...opening night was the night that we had it professionally done! So Kierra will forever be on that video with her sisters!

The younger girls did the show "3 of a Kind". Taylor was one of the 3 billy goats gruff, Emily was the baker...of 3 men in a tub, and like I said, Kierra was part of the 3 little maids from school!

I got a couple of videos where you can see Emily and Taylor at the same time:



And then some pictures:




Kaylee...I have no idea why I didn't get video of you :( I had the hardest time keeping my camera with me. But I did get this great shot of you with your 6 year trophies!! :)



Kaylee made the best MOM ever in the older choir's show "It's Saturday!" Dale did such a great job choreographing this (remember?) and it went off every night without a hitch! These kids were sooooo fun to watch!