Home from Korea

Richie has been in Korea serving in the Army for the last year. He missed the birth of his daughter, but was able to be there that evening, so he saw her for 3 days when she was a new born...now she is almost one! Anyway, he came home Saturday! Yay!!! We all met him at the airport, dressed in yellow, in honor of his return! It was good to see him, and he seemed happy to see his cute wife & daughter, too!

Waiting...waiting...waiting...

So excited to see daddy!!!

Yay!!! He's home!

Big Tough Richie broke his arm, put a tooth through his lip, and scratched up his face a little....and all this happened on his BIRTHDAY!!! (July 3rd) :(

Edgar, Tim & Jowen (or Joe for short)...as Ryan would call them! :) He's a silly uncle, and they love it!

The best picture we could get of everyone...all in yellow or black.

The black shirts are what Richie got the big boys and he got the little boys the ones they are wearing.

The happy little family!

Sierra couldn't get enough of her daddy!

Jaycee was so funny, because Kayani was sitting on Ryan's lap and Jayce was on mine, but when Jaycee noticed that Kayani was on her daddy's lap, she had to join them. She didn't care if Kayani was up there, just as long as she was too! :) When she got on his lap, they both decided they needed to give hugs, so they did, like 3 or 4 times, and it was so stinkin' cute!!!

Ryan's cousin got married Saturday too, at the Draper Temple. We went out to that, and then Jaycee & I went to the airport to see Richie, and Ryan went down to Spanish Fork to the luncheon & reception and then met up with us later. It was quite a busy day.

Sunday, Mom had a get together for Richie at her house for extended family to come see him! That was fun too! His little family has to be in Colorado by August 9th, so this was a good, and possibly only opportunity for everyone to see them before they leave. It was also Talon's birthday Sunday, he's 6 now! I can't believe it! Too big!

Richie's birthday was July 3rd, Talon's was Sunday, the 12th, Anita's is the 17th, and my cousin's husband, Shane, had his Saturday, the 11th. So this is all the birthday kids with the cakes!Blowing out their candles!

It was a great weekend! It's good to have you home Richie, and will be great to have you close, even if it is still a 9 hour drive! Love you!

Ogden Raptors

We went to a Raptors game Friday with Zach & Michael and we set them up on blind dates. Danielle works with me, and she brought her friend Kim. I think everyone had a good time, but who knows!? I had a good time! We went to Farr's after and got some ice cream and then came home and watched "Finding Nemo" because Jaycee decided to stay awake after picking her up from Mom's, and Michael let her pick the movie! :)

Ryan's thinking "Why do you always have to take pictures?" :)Michael & Kim - they seemed to have fun, they talked the whole time, and had no clue what was going on in the game. :)Danielle & Zach - I think they had fun too, they just weren't as outgoing as Michael & Kim, though! :)

Thanks for putting up with me guys! :) Hope you all enjoyed the evening.

Swimming?!?!

Diana watches both Brooklyn & Jaycee everyday while us parents go to work... :( Although the work part of it is sad, we are very grateful to her for watching Jaycee for us.

Anyway, she likes to have the girls bring their swimming suits so they can play in the pool while they're there. Yesterday she decided to wait for Jeff & I to get off work, so that we could be there when they swim, and it was fun! Jaycee's 'confused/too sunny/leave-me-alone' face!Enjoying the pool...notice Jeff's feet...he was enjoying it as well.Brooklyn loved the pool! Even splashed herself a ton.Jaycee liked to be standing in the pool not sitting........she also liked to run around the yard...and not swim so much! :) She's a funny girl! She liked being in the pool, but just not for too long!

Bike Ride

Misti and I have been able to go on a few bike rides this summer and it has been great! We go along the path here in Syracuse down on the Bluff, so that makes it really nice. Benji has been nice enough to let us borrow their bike trailer to take either Ethan or Jaycee with us when we have them. We have done one or the other before, but today was the first day we took both of them. It was way heavier, than usual. :) Mary came with us today too and it's a good thing she did. For some reason, I had NO strength or energy to pull the trailer, so Misti needed Mary there to relieve her every once in a while. I don't know what my problem was, but I felt like I was gonna die pulling them. I'm just a wuss I guess! :) Anyway, it was quite fun, and we went farther this time than we had before, so it felt good. The kids liked it too, I think.

Jayce stylin' in her sunglasses!Getting ready for the ride...Aubree got to stay with Grandma, but she was outside watching us all get ready to go, and she had some wild hair that morning! But of course, she's still super cute! :)Posing for a picture...Ethan wanted to hold Aubree for a bit, and she liked being in there, too.Ethan is QUITE the poser, let me tell you! Jaycee had fallen asleep on his shoulder and kept whining as if she was uncomfortable, but would keep falling back asleep on his shoulder. When we stopped to take the picture because it was cute, he closed his eyes to pretend he was sleeping also! He's so funny! That's definitely a classic Ethan! :) He always makes me laugh!Enjoying the ride! Misti, Mary, Jaycee & Ethan!

Independence Day!!

I LOVE celebrating this day with family! Unfortunately...both Ryan and I had to work, so Jaycee went to the annual breakfast and parade with my mom! Thanks mom for taking her! After we got off work, we were able to meet up with them at Uncle Gary's and have a barbecue! It was great as always. Uncle Gary and Aunt Lyn are always such gracious hosts! Then we went to Ryan's parent's to visit for a bit before the fireworks. Despite the fact that we had to work...it was a great day! :)

Brooke, Jaycee, & Katie at the parade.Aunt Jill, Uncle Kent, & AndrewHappy Grandma & Cute Kirra!Ethan, Benji & AubreeClassic Uncle Gary :)Katie & Misti enjoying the heat!

Ethan & Jayce

Grandpa & AnitaWatching the parade.Isn't she too cute?!?!Again....too cute! :) You can't help but love her!Having so much fun!Look at her pretty necklace she got from the parade! She loved it.Awe...such a cute little family! :)Kirra & ShawnaThe bear she got from the Bukoos float...which she traded Ethan for his lamb later.......which she loved!Jumping on the tramp with Uncle Benji & Ethan at the BBQ at Uncle Gary's house.As good as we could get with a tired, hot little girl. :)Waiting for the fireworks...Aunt Terry & Classic Mom (on the phone).Uncle Gary & Aunt Lyn ready for the fireworks.So, Jaycee decided she was WAY too tired to stay awake long enough to SEE the fireworks. She fell asleep right before they started, and wouldn't wake up for them at all. We tried!