Teaching Manners

What a lady right? At least she is wearing a dress and pink!! Picture is taken from cell phone, didn't have time to grab the camera. I think she is getting so big.

Erin Wilkes Photography

My sister-in-law Erin took Makenzie's 1 yr ish :) (ok 16 mo.) pictures. I have one sneak peak and I am in love!! She did such a wonderful job. She is so talented. I especially love that she is in front of an told truck. She did so well during the pictures! I think she looks way old, and VERY HEALTHY!!!! I am so lucky to have such a cute little girl!!

The "significant other" in Matt's life

Need I say more!!! I am so grateful that Matt is so handy and that he has a hobby that he enjoys so much. If you go frame by frame, you can see that he gets about 4 feet off the ground. Great jump babe!

Kenzie Sue

While we were in Prescott, again!, this weekend my mom made Makenzie a very cute skirt. While the picture does not do it justice, due to the very sad little girl, the skirt itself is awesome. Just look at the skirt not the face.

This is one of my favorite pictures to date. A few weeks back we went to the park with some friends. Kenzie is REALLY good friends with Gibson. She just loves to show him how much she cares, and apparently, he LIKES it!! Very cute.

proud owner

Of a new iMac computer! I love Macs. My 4 years at BYU was spent on an iMac in the McKay School of Education. They are wonderful. I am very excited.

Bear Canyon Lake

We went on a whim camping this weekend with the Lewis Family, The Pew Family and a few cousin families of the Pew's. Although, in route to our camping spot, we turned one right too soon and got lost from the Pews, so we ended up camping with Annie and Co. I promise we tried and tried to look for you YaYa, Matt busted out the GPS about 10 miles too late into the woods.

However, we got to wake up to this in the morning. Beautiful isn't it? I love camping, it brings back a lot of wonderful childhood memories.

This is where we laid camp. The pack n' play fit PERFECT in the back of the Cruiser - I wish I had a picture of it. I slept on the backseat (I am short) and Matt slept in a hamock just next to the car.

Annie (Matt's sister) made the most delish biscuts and gravy the next morning. Nice job sister!!

We somehow made it to the moutains with only one of Makenzie's shoes. I thought it fell out in the KFC parking lot in Payson. Luckily, we had these flipflops in the car. Needless to say she was one dirty peanut for the day! Funny thing is ... we stopped in the parking lot on the way home for the off chance it was still there - no luck. But, when we pulled into our garage, there it was!!!

Filled with more love, gratitude than I ever have

It seems like in the past year or two I have had close friends and have had heard even more stories of unkown friends who have had to endure the trial of letting their little angel child go back to our Heavenly Father. My sister-in-law's sisters sister-in-law (you got that!) posted this story on her blog about a little Makenzie. I have a little Makenzie. I will hold her a little tighter today, play with her a little more, kiss her more, LOVE her more, and complain about the messes and fussiness LESS. I truely believe with all my heart these choice spirits are needed elsewhere for the last days. THEY are preparing the way for us, THEY are the stronger, more righteous who are needed up above. Nonetheless, I am grateful for the mommies and daddies who have the courage to say, "Ok Heavenly Father, you can have them back, but take good care of them. We will miss them terribly, but we know their mission in Heaven is an important one." Today I am grateful for the Plan of Salvation, that I know all our families will be whole and together forever.

4th July Festivities

Part 2: Show Low

Sunday morning we made the Journey to Show Low from Prescott to see the little man Bridger Beau Lewis blessed by his awesome daddy Trever. He did a wonderful job, his prayers are always so powerful. Thanks Trev for inviting the Spirit so strong into your home. It was truely a beautiful blessing. Annie, the hostess, did a fabulous job (as usual). Bridger, you are one lucky little guy to have the family you do. Annie posted a beautiful snapshot of the day. Check out her blog to see more pictures.

Look at all those Priesthood men!

The man of the day!

One of Makenzie's favorite cousins, Emery! Such a doll!

While everyone else left Sunday midafternoon, Matt, little Kenzie Sue, and I decided to extended our vacation through Monday. Who wants to travel the Beeline on Sunday night of a holiday anyway?! There is no better way to beat the mountain heat than to - break out the slip n' slide.

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Thanks Lewis family for a great weekend, we sure love ALL of you!

4th July Festivities

This is going to be a rather lengthy post b/c we had so much fun this weekend. So, we are going to break it up into 2 parts - mainly b/c I am tired tonight and can't stay up all hours posting the great pictures I took.

Part 1: Iron Springs

I made the trek up to Iron Springs in Prescott with my sister, her two kiddos and mother-in-law to start of the Independence weekend. The husbands and my dad joined us Friday night. We had so much fun just hanging out in the newly remoddled Wilkes Weekend Wish the Worries Wayside Place (couldn't think of another W!).

My sister Amber and her sweet baby boy James.

Matt did alot of this.

Grandma and Sariah did a lot of this! Cute huh?

Sariah helped my dad restock the Hummingbird feeders.

We went to this awesome lake.

Ms. Susie was too busy watching her crazy cousin to look at the camera.

Too cute!

Sariah had so much fun playing in the water, only to be FREEZING when it was time to go home.

After the boys spent the morning shooting, the girls spent the afternoon primping. Guess who toes belong to who?

Her first cup of chocolate chips, does life get any sweeter!!



The newly remodeled kitchen. It looks absolutely beautiful and was so much fun. Thanks mom and dad for letting us bunk up for the weekend!

I am in love...

With this little girl and her daddy who gave her to me!!

After naps

There is nothing better than waking up from a nap, watching Mama Mia, and eating some edemame (did I spell that right - doubtful!). Notice Kenzie's new haircut, she has bangs! I think she pulls them off quite well.

This is how Kenz started her nap that day - on her hero! Doesn't happen that often, actually, it she never falls asleep on him (or anyone for that matter) anymore. He ate it up!