Mother-Daughter Tourney

What better way to spend a summer evening than on the golf course with some of my favorite people!! Unforunatley, one of my sisters couldn't make is so we just played with a threesome. (We missed you, Holly!) It was all fun for us 3, real low key, no pressure to win. We shot a 72!! Ok, so that was on 9 holes (72 is really what you should be shooting on 18 holes). It was a blast though! Mom didn't shoot into the sand, we each rotated shooting and either Heather or me put her here. She got us out like a pro!

I LOVE the look on Heather's face here! She is so serious, ready to knock that ball clear to the green! She has quite a powerful swing, it's aiming that's the problem (see below).

Me on the other hand...I'm lucky to get the ball off the ground! I had a few good shots, but more laughs than anything! This picture is of me celebrating because I made a real good long putt! GO ME! I thought about going through some of my mom's old pictures and scanning some of me on the course when I was little. I can remember one picture specifically where I am in a car seat in the golf cart! That's right, I was born to golfing parents. My grandparents were golfers, my parents are golfers, my brother played on the high school golf team and my sisters both have great swings! I still struggle, but I love about anything that takes me outside in the summer...and golf courses are always soooo beautiful! I love spending time with the girls too! I can't say it enough times, we had a blast! If there would have been a prize for the most pictures taken, the most laughs or the most bad shots...we would have taken first!

The picture above is especially for you, Jaci! Hope you like!

Tinfoil Dinners

I love summer, I love where we live and I LOVE tinfoil dinners (or "hobo" dinners as one of my friends says...you know who you are)!

Some of our friends invited us to go up the canyon with them and have tinfoil dinners the other night. The weather was perfect for such an outing! I love having the canyon so close.

Of course we had to have S'mores too!

Not only did we have tinfoil dinners and S'mores, we had hot dogs (our "appetizers") and corn cooked over the coals. It was such good meal! It was fun to be with friends too (Jen- you are fabulous!!!)

The only thing I don't like about campfires is smelling the smoke in your hair for days after. I don't mind it so much when you are there enjoying the fire, it's when you get home and the smell just lingers that I don't like!

Look Who I Just Met

This is Clark.

Isn't he the cutest thing ever? My darling friend Angie and her hubby brought this little tike into the world yesterday. I got to go visit the 3 of them at the hospital on my lunch break. I couldn't believe all his hair! He has the most perfect little nose and ears too! I didn't want to let him go.

Congratulations you guys! I hope you don't mind me stealing this picture...I had to brag! He so lucky to have you as parents.

What happened in Nashville...

...was documented with over 400 pictures!

I'm back! Our girls trip was so much fun! Yes, I said over 400 pictures were taken- what can you expect when you get 5 camera happy girls together that haven't "reunited" in a VERY long time? Don't worry, I won't post ALL the photos! I doubt I'll even print most of them, but I'm happy to have them all!

When Michelle, Jes and I landed in Nashville we were greeted by some of our favorite country stars (I think Kenny is touching Jescee's rear end here...couldn't keep his hands off her). After we met up with Amber and Autumn we walked around the Grand Ole Opry museum, the Opry Hotel (Gaylord Opry Hotel is it's correct name, I think) and then headed to the Wildhorse Saloon for some good grub and some country music! The 2 photos below were taken at the Opry hotel. It's AMAZING! The hotel is build around a very large "atrium" type city. I'm not explaining this very well.... The ceiling is all glass so it's never raining as you walk around. There are waterfalls, water fountains, a river and whole "city" with tons of cute shops. It was incredible! Below, we are at the Wildhorse Saloon. Ever seen "Can You Duet?" That was filmed here, just an FYI. We made some friends at the Wildhorse Saloon while we were waiting in line to get in. They told us where the best seats were and they were right! We had dinner and listened to some great country performers. Mark Wills and Buddy Jewell were really who we bought tickets to see, but as 9:30pm rolled around and they still hadn't come out, we decided we had better leave and start the hour drive back to Amber's (and pick up her little girl at the babysitter).

We did a lot of "touristy" stuff while we were there but inbetween the site seeing we just hung around Amber's and caught up each other's lives. There was pleny of laughing, some crying, secrets were shared, stories were told, pictures taken...

One of my favorite girls to take pictures of was Brooklyn! She was "one of the girls" while were were there. We joked around about her having 5 moms for a week. She is such a doll and her smile and laugh was so contagious! This picture does not even do this little babe justice!

One day we packed a picnic and went to the Parthenon. Felt like we were in Greece! It was a great day for a picnic though. Gosh, I love my friends!
After our picnic we went to Historic Franklin and toured the Carnton Plantation. It was really interesting! Ever heard of the book, "The Widow of the South?" I guess it's written about or takes place at the Carnton Plantation and tells about McGavick family that lived there. I'm anxious to read it. The McGavick's took care of several hundred Confederate soldiers during one of the battles of the Civil War (not sure I worded that all right, but you get the picture right?)

(Carnton home from the gardens)

(front of the home)

(Amber & Brooklyn. Behind them is one of the slave quarter buildings)

(This is a Confederate Cemetary just a short walk from the Carnton home you can see in the background. Large markers with the names of states represented listed how many lives were lost from that state, each marked with a small cement block.)

After touring the Plantation we went to the Historical District of Franklin and found a fun place to eat called Pucketts. A girl in one of the shops downtown told us this was the place to eat because it was "so Franklin." Sweet potato fries, REAL cornbread, great BBQ...fun atmosphere! It was delicious!

Our last day in TN we decided to go on a lunch cruise aboard the General Jackson Ferry. It was a great way to end the trip. We had a great buffet (more BBQ), listened to a live band and enjoyed each others company as we cruised down the river! Here we are with 2 members of the band. They were real enjoyable to listen to.

(I couldn't NOT post this picture of Jes and Amber...with their friends from the ferry boat cruise)

I cannot even begin to tell you how much fun we had in TN. We are all at different points in our life and it was great talking to each other and learning from each other. We all just picked up right where we left off...that's true friends I'd say! We talked about trying to get together and go on a little vacation every 2 years. I really hope this is something we can make happen. There's nothing like girlfriends!

I love you girls and miss you already!

P.S. Of course I missed Brian while I was gone!! It was SOOO good to be home after not seeing him for a week! I valued the girl time but I sure LOVE having such a super hubby to spend time with. Anyway, Brian was on a guys trip hunting bears in Northern Idaho while I was in TN...just thought I'd let you know so you didn't think I was out playing while Brian was home working!

Less than 24 hours...

In less than 24 hours I will be HERE...
Nashville... with my dearest and most adorable friends! We are going to have so much fun! I just wanted to share my excitement with you! Have a great Memorial Day weekend - know I will!

Girls Weekend

I can't believe I haven't posted about this yet...

My youngest sister was called to sing in the choir at the general Young Women's conference in SLC. What an amazing experience for her - and for us that got to go watch and listen. All the girls in the choir looked so beautiful in their pinks and yellows (I found the picture above on the internet). I loved seeing the Young Women colors proudly displayed outside (and inside) the conference center, welcoming the youth and their leaders and mothers. It was such a spiritual and moving evening. When the new prophet, Pres. Thomas S. Monson, and his counselors entered the building and we all stood there the most most beautiful and comforting spirit entered with them. The messages that were shared that night really touched my heart and the music was absolutely beautiful. We didn't want to leave the building when it was over. We just lingered and let all the warm fuzzies envelop our bodies. It was a very special night. I am so proud of Holly for living such a righteous life, that she was called to be a part of such an incredible program.

Mom was a babe and got us a hotel room at the Marriott so we could change after the conference and continue with our adventures! She is such a great mom! I don't know what happened to the picture I took of all our treats in our hotel room. I may have mentioned this before but mom always packs treats when we go on a little vacation or road trip, no matter how long we'll be gone. I don't have one memory of us staying in a hotel that doesn't include crackers and that canned cheese whiz, peachies and licorice! Love it! After we changed out of dresses and pigged out on sugar we walked to PF Changs for dinner! I LOVE LOVE this place!! We ended our night by renting a movie in our hotel room! It was perfect! I couldn't ask for a better mom or better sisters. We have so much fun together and I love every minute I get to spend with them. It was a great night...the next morning we ate too much at the fantastic breakfast buffet at the hotel then slowly made our way home. I can't wait for our next outing!

Cute and Cuddley

I completely forgot I had these pictures on my computer! A little while back my sisters-in-law, their kids and I went to Baby Animal Days. It was so fun and I'm a grown up (sometimes). Aren't this little hairy pigs above so cute! I didn't think pigs could be cute!
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The little bunnies were adorable so we all liked holding them. I felt bad for them being mauled and handled by so many kids though! When I was younger my friend and I would walk home from elementary school and stop at the "bunny man's" house. He had a cage of bunnies in his front yard and would let us climb in and sit and play with all the bunnies. We hated the white ones with pink eye! Creepy!

I think Ady is a little unsure about holding the bunny here. She was so excited to see all the animals though!

The little chicks were so adorable too! I didn't hold one of them though, they kind of creep me out a little. Their little legs feel funny on your hands. The kids were happy to hold them though. Again, I felt a little bad for the baby chicks being held and squeezed be so many kids.

There were so many other animals you could pet and mingle with there too...some that I had never even heard of! It was a fun day out! I'm sure happy I married into a family that made me an Aunt! It's so fun having nieces and nephews!

Princess Daisy

Once upon a time there was a princess...

Daisy is our little princess and she is so spoiled! She also thinks she's human sometimes (see photo above - no I did NOT pose this). When Brian gets up in the morning for work he lets Daisy in our room and she lays with me until I get up. More often than not she crawls under the covers then up to Brians pillow (or sometimes shares mine with me) and sleeps there for a good hour or more! It's as if she doesn't get a good nights rest on her own doggy bed...she has to use ours. It is so funny to me! Sometimes she'll lay there until I am putting on my shoes and about to go out the door. She is so not a mornng dog!

This is exactly how I feel in the mornings... "No, not morning already! Just 5 more minutes.'

Isn't she adorable! She's my real life teddy bear (dog)! Love her!