Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!

I tried to get a picture of the kids after church today. 

Epic failure.  Or Not? 

This is the season of our family and it's a perfect dipiction of what our days look like. 

As I look at these picture today, I shake my head...then I smile.

Ten years from now I will look at them, wipe away a tear or two, and wonder where the time went.

Don't they all look so cute in their red, white & blue?!

We sang patiotic songs at Church.  Why don't we sing them more often?

This verse is my very, very favorite:

          In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,

With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:

As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,

While God is marching on.

People have died for my freedom and they continue to die today. I wish I could express my gratitude properly.  While I have my complaints, I have so much more than most people on this planet.  I am able to bear as many children as I desire and Mother them as I see fit.  Our family is able to go to church each Sunday and worship freely. 

God Bless The USA!

I Love This Boy!

Idaho!

Well, we hit the road again. Can you belive it? Ya, neither can I!

We went to visit everyone in Rexburg.  The girls just LOVE going. They get to run all over Grandma & Grandpa's property, play with all the dogs, and best of all COUSINS! This time was even better because Aunt Jenelle and her family were living in the downstairs basement apartment and that meant cousins 24/7.

Oh, my little Noellie.  You're such a good sis!

Hi, Courtney Ann! 

Mama loves you and all of your funny faces.

♥ 

Summertime in Rexburg is so pleasant. 

And windy.  Perfect for flying kites. 

Noelle and Carson.

Yellowstone!

I love it.

Grandpa got the girls an ice cream.

They thought it was terrible.

Can't you tell?

My two men.

Up for funny story?

See Aaron's hair?  Yes, those are blonde tips.

He'll do anything for a free haircut.

Including letting a trainee mess with his hair.

I about lost my mind!

 It's all just so beautiful.

I love this earth God created.

Look!  I was there, too.

Once in a blue moon I insist on proof that I exist.

And, of course, buffalo.

Lots of buffalo.  Buffalo as far as the eye can see.

There were still piles of snow in some locations.

We had a lot of fun stuffing it down Daddy's shirt when he wasn't looking.

And he got me back.  Bad. :)

My two love nuggets. 

As great as it was it was a long time in the car.

A REALLY long time. 

I am not sure who was done first...them or me!

We also were able to celebrate Daddy's birthday. 

36 years old and just getting better & better with each year.

 I absolutely love this kid.

Many hours spent playing, giggling, running and,

of course, cracking the egg.

Noelle, Holly, and Madeleine

That's all I have to share.  :(

There are about a million reasons I would like a another set of arms.

One of them is so I could still take pictures while handling two babies.

Aunt Nicole drove over from Montana, we spent a lot of time with Aunt Denise. 

We loved seeing you!

Texas!

We got to go to Texas to visit Aunt Amy and Uncle JoJo.  I loaded all four of these babies up in our minivan and headed east.  Yep.  All myself.  I rocked it and so did my kids.  They are amazing.

Our first (and second?  Can't exactly remember) day it rained.  And rained.  And rained.

Madeleine had the time of her life jumping in puddles.

And then hurt her little foot and that was the end of that.

 And you know what rain makes? 

A lot of awesome mud.

Let's talk about the food. 

Oh, the food!

Chicken & Dumplings

Egg Rolls

Lox & Bagels

Jam made from berries we picked ourselves

and slathered all over rolls right out of the oven.

The Blue Bonnet Cafe! 

Amy is professional chef and we are going to make one day big.

On our little farm.

Where our kids can run free and play. 

All day.  Every day!  Like kids should.

And we'll grow everything ourselves and turn it into amazing food. 

Just you wait and see!

Two boxes of Popsicles were consumed.

Uncle JoJo is the best.

He played endless games of Old Maid and War.

(And when I say, endless, I mean it!)

Aunt Amy was always willing to hold someone.

Even long after they'd fallen asleep.

And we went to play at the park. 

We made sure everyone got to have a good time!

We also went to a swim party.

Joseph was happy to be on baby duty.

I just kept switching them out.

After swimming we ate a great meal.

Adam sat in a high chair and literally ate everything he could for 90 minutes.

But little Courtney Ann was all about the corn!

Many nights before bed the girls could be found here.

  

Once we even let the littles get in on the fun! 

It was fun and literally exhausting. 

Isn't he just so handsome?!

And that was it. 

I feel like I spent half the time with my eye through the view finder but don't have pictures of half of what we did.  Weird.

Thanks for letting us blow in and completely disrupt your quiet newlywed life.

We made memories that will last forever.