Happy Birthday Kasia!

Everyone! Today is Kasia's birthday! What a great day! What a great woman! We celebrated last night with a rip roaring pool party.

Delaine made a beautiful cake that was appreciated, then devoured, by all.

We had lots of great friends at the pool to help us celebrate. Bill really liked the chips.

Ace enjoyed a steady pattern of eat, swim, eat, swim, eat, swim.

Maisy was soooo excited to have all her friends swimming with her. She's always up for a party.

Wilson showed off his improved swimming skills all night long. He swims like a fish! OR perhaps an aquatic badger.

As the evening turned to night, the fun continued. The water was nice and the guests were polite and well-mannered. Thank goodness for that. Didn't want the Melissa cops to come break us up.

Happy birthday Kasia! We all love you very much!

Now make a wish as you watch Kasia blow out the candles.

Memory Lane

August 6th was my dear friend Quincy's birthday and I thought what better way to wish her a Happy Birthday than to stroll down memory lane with her. Quincy and I lived on the same floor our freshman year at BYU. After that we were friends and roommates for the rest of our time at BYU. Let the stories begin!

This is a picture of us at my cousin's wedding. I don't know if she remembers this, but this is the very event that we both made a silent wish that some day we would find our TRUE LOVES and live happily ever after. You know how weddings make you feel all romantic? Well, if you know Quincy--you know she has most definitely and undeniably found her one and only TL! I also have found my true love (shout out to Brett) and so it looks like our wish came true.

I had totally forgotten this event until I came across this picture. First,I should ask Quincy: Do you remember Tanner Apt. #8? Do you remember when we filled their doorway with popcorn and then hung a sign that said "Never Gonna Get It" along side a respectable Barbie and little green army guys?

There were many reasons that this prank most inevitably had to be played on this apartment full of over-aged arrogant boys (specifically JP and Chuck.) The best one I can remember had to do with Quincy and I going on a mountain bike riding trip with them because we were invited. Then Quincy trying abashedly, yet with no inhibitions to learn to mountain bike, but falling off and getting a HUGE bruise on her thigh. But the kicker is that once we got home, they never called again! Silly boys. They apparently were not our TL's.

This is a picture of us at one of our favorite burger places our freshman year. This was pre-eyebrow plucking for me. Quincy showed me the best tweezers for plucking and I still own a pair. Please don't look too close at my eyebrows. They were pretty bushy.

Here is a picture of us with my bro Cameron. One very special thing for me is that Quincy pretty much knows my entire family--parents, siblings, and even my extended family. I believe there is one uncle she hasn't met. Pretty much every family gathering I attended in college--Quincy was with me. That is one reason I consider her family (among many other reasons.) All my family members love her too and consider her family.

As I pulled this last picture out this was Brett's comment: "Oh, a classic." I just couldn't stroll down memory lane without mentioning our other roommates. In the back is Rachel and Megan. Then my mom, of course. Then me and Quincy in the front. Channa (my sister)--I know she was there too. She was probably taking the picture. So many our adventures involved going to Mesa to visit my sister. I think it was on this trip that Quincy rolled down the window in the car while we were driving and yelled, "I LOVE US!!" to innocent pedestrians.

Here we are just a couple of weeks ago when we visited them. We were pretty fabulous then, but I dunno?--I think we look pretty fabulous now! Even though we are all grown-up and we don't have to walk to Smith's and carry our groceries home in our backpacks--I know we still have many more adventures to come.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, QUINCY!! I love you!

(Rachel, Megan, and Brittany--stayed tuned for more memories. When going through pictures, I found so many classics of all of us. I feel like I'm on a roll...)

Alabama

Yes, we went to ALABAMA on our longest trip of the summer. When people ask about our vacation, the same conversation invariably follows:

Friend: "So, where did you go on your trip?"
Brett or Kasia: "Alabama."
Friend (incredulously): "Why the heck did you go to Alabama?"

There is a simple response to that question. We went to Alabama because THAT'S WHERE KIRK AND QUINCY LIVE!

Quincy is Kasia's roommate from BYU. Kirk is her husband. Together, they have formed a formidable family that is a riot to hang out with. We went to the Huntsville area for about four days, where we made some lasting memories with our dear friends.

We did lots of swinging, sliding, and bike riding.

Here's Wilson with his "special friend," Zoe.

Question: Why does Ace look like he's pedaling a moon bike?

Answer: Because we visited the Rocket Center in Huntsville, and learned all about stuff that has gone to the moon! It was out of this world.

Ace at the Rocket Center with his main squeeze, Susie.

We went to a really fun water park called Point Mallard. Does it look like Ace is laughing or crying in that picture?

Wil and Zoe spent QUITE A BIT of time together during our stay. . .

. . . as did Maisy and her BFF Kaija.

Dance party, anyone? Zoe planned out the coolest party for us. Who you gonna call?

So, now you see why we went to Alabama for our summer trip. We hope to go back some time, because we love our friends! Thanks for a great trip Kirk and Quincy!

4th of July

We had a wonderful 4th of July this year. My parents were here visiting. Also my brother and his family were here too.

As we lounged on our blanket under a tree waiting for the parade to start--I thought, "This is a little slice of America right here." Just exactly the way I love spending my 4th of July.

Later in the evening we headed over to the park in our small town for a the festivities. So much fun!
They had a petting zoo which was probably the most popular attraction for the kids.
The kids had so much fun together. The 4th of July has always been and continues to be my favorite holiday.

Wilson is going to KILL me, but I had to just throw this picture in at the end. The sprinklers were on while they were jumping and oh the giggles that came from the adults.

Branson, Missouri

We had a blast in Branson, Missouri! Here is our vacation in pictures.


We went to our favorite amusement park, Silver Dollar City. This Old West theme park has a variety of attractions for adults and kids alike.


It was HOT, and the kids got WET. Good combination.




Fun things around every corner!


By the end, we were ALL tuckered out.


Next day we were off to the Butterfly Museum!


First, we watched a cool 3-D movie about butterflies.


Then, we got to observe the real thing!

In order to get out of the museum, we had to make our way through a mirror maze.

As we "reflect" on our Branson experience, I must say we had an outstanding time! Thanks to Grammie and Gramps for hosting us!

Baseball Season

Wilson's first real baseball season has come and gone.



His team played great . . .



And Wilson learned a ton and played extremely well!

For those of you that haven't had the pleasure of enduring a Texas youth baseball season, here's the scoop. You know it's baseball season when...

1. You find yourself saying, "Oh, I can't. I'll be at the ball fields watching a game" A LOT.

2. You are constantly tripping over balls, bats, and gloves which are laying around the house.

3. Your one-year-old is loyal only to his brother's baseball and bat, which he religiously carries around and then screams when you try to pry it from his fleshy hands.

4. You have blisters on your hands from scrubbing the peevish red dirt from the white polyester baseball uniform pants (which it will never come out regardless--Darn you baseball pants!)

5. You look in your back yard and you see a baseball diamond cut out of the grass. We really have one, thanks to a very enthusiastic dad/coach.

Great job Wil! We are so proud of you!