Hooray for family!

Every two years we do a family reunion with my mother's side of the family. It is an absolute blast! I love catching up and hanging out with my fantastic aunts, uncles, and cousins. It is especially fun that my cousins have kiddos about the same age as ours and it is great watching them play together.

For the reunion we went up to Lake Tahoe again and we couldn't have asked for better. The place we stayed at had cabins with a nice open space where we did our giant group meals and a pool and hot tub steps from our room. (It was great to put Cooper down for a nap, crack the window, and play with the kids at the pool.) Lake Tahoe is beautiful, even if the water is a bit cold. Almost everyone was able to attend and we had around 50 of us -- quite a crew! We loved spending time together in such a beautiful setting.

It was also a treat to be there for my cousin's wedding. She chose a beautiful spot right on the beach. We loved being there to support her and her super, cool new husband. After the wedding, most of us just changed into our suits and played at the beach. So fun!

We didn't want to the party to end, so the next day we packed up and headed to Monterey so we could continue the party down at Clint and Audra's wedding. (To be continued...)

My mom and her awesome sisters!

Beautiful Colorado!

I am sure I am biased, but I love where I live! I feel so blessed to live in a place where I can see the mountains! We get some fantastic sunsets. We also get some great summer storms. I can't help but be in awe and think about how much God must love us to give us this beautiful world.

Wednesday means...

A few years ago we my wonderful friend, Gabe, introduced me to Union Reservoir. I couldn't believe that this whole time it was practically in my backyard and I had never been there before. There is a lake to swim in, sand to dig in and make sand castles, a park to play in, and lots of trees for shade. It makes for a fun day. This summer we went every week we were in town. I especially love that time in the late afternoon when most people have gone home and things get slow and mellow. Union Reservoir makes for perfect summer days!

My Inner-teenager...

Every once in awhile my inner teenager roars to life. Usually that coincides with the release of a Harry Potter or Twilight book or movie. :) It was no different On June 30 when Eclipse, the third installment of the Twilight saga was released.

I organized a group to go the evening of the 30th. It was super fun being with friends that were willing to be goofy with me. Marie, Jamie, and I kicked the excitement up a notch and actually went to a midnight showing too. That was really fun to be surrounded by people (okay, mostly girls) that were as excited, if not more, than I was. It was fun to be silly for 24 hours and I am so lucky that Ken lets me embrace that giddy side of me from time to time.

Next installment of teenage excitment is due Nov. 19 when Harry potter and the Deathly Hallows is released (it also happens to be my birthday)!

Rite of Passage...

Morgan got braces this summer. She was a real trooper and dealt with her sore mouth really well. I can't believe what a difference it is already making. She is going to have an even more beautiful smile!

Big T, little t, what starts with t? Trevor and T-Ball. T T T.

It was fantastic spending some glorious Colorado evenings watching Trevor and his friends, Jude and Collin, playing T-ball. They had a lot of fun together and learned the basics of baseball. Trevor was so funny to watch. He sure could hit the ball far, but once he was out in the field, somehow balancing dirt on his head was more entertaining than the actual game.

Going to "The Cabin"!

This is probably our favorite family tradition. Every summer we head up to our friend's, Mark and Malinda's, cabin in Cooke City, Montana. It is the perfect vacation -- reconnecting with dear friends, playing games, relaxing, riding the horses, and the annual girl's lunch date to Beartooth Cafe and having some delicious poppy seed cake with rum glaze.

This year, we went a little earlier because Rochelle was having a baby in July and we were so grateful this year not to run into (literally) our old friend, Mr. Cow.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from this year...

I love Lynden's face here! That water was soooo COLD!

I still can't believe that I am married to this hottie!

I got to do a little photo shoo for Malinda and her girls!

DeBry family, Allred family, Wagner family, and Siders family

Crazy Creek

Pilot and Index

Way Out West In a Dress

This spring my friend Sarah suggested that I go with her and audition for the community musical melodrama up in Johnstown. The thought of being in a play again was really appealing and I couldn't wait to talk to Ken about it. Lucky for me, I have a wonderful, supportive husband who thought I should go for it. It meant a lot of him watching the kids while I was at rehearsal and I am so grateful that he let me have this opportunity.

I was cast as one of the leads, Jessica James, the villianess. The creative process of discovering my character and interacting with the rest of the cast was wonderful! I love those friendships that develop while creating together!

The show is about a member of an acting troupe, Clarence Rawlins, that inherits what he thinks is a saloon out in Lucky lady, NV. He and the rest of his troupe use that last of their funds to move out west and run the saloon. When they get there, they find out his great aunt, Iva Fortune, had really bad handwriting and instead he is inheriting the Lucky Lady Salon. Back then it was considered very "unmanly" to style womens hair so he and his friends use their acting costumes and skills to open the salon to make ends meet. Unfortunately for them, they are getting in the way of the bank heist the villian, Colt Revolver Jr. and Jessica James are planning. As you can imagine, hilarity ensues.

The performances went really well, well except the second night when my gun kept slipping down my dress, but that is another story. :) I was so grateful to all the friends that supported our cast and came to enjoy the show. I was especially glad that my parents, sister and her kids, and in-laws traveled to attend. My wonderful (and gifted) friend Becky took some pictures during the show. We also got a few video clips. Enjoy!

My Little Ballerina...

Peyton absolutely LOVES going to her ballet and tap class. She can't get enough of dancing and feels the need to "bust a move" whenever she hears some music. She is convinced that everytime Ken sits down to piano it is to be her personal dance accompanist. He now has much of the Nutcracker music memorized. :)


In May, Peyton and her class got to perform in the dance recital "on the REAL stage". Of course I had to take pictures of her and her friend Lydia in their costumes. The dance they learned was really cute. Here is a video of the dress rehearsal and Peyton did even better for the performance. We are so pleased that she is learning from her fantastic teacher Mrs. Whittler and are really proud of our little ballerina.