Birthday Party!!!!

I had a fun birthday on Sunday, July 15th.  I enjoyed having my whole family together and some of my sons friends.   It was nice to be able to go to church on Sunday too.  I love my ward; there are wonderful people in it. 

 My family spoiled me.  They made me a special breakfast, lunch and dinner. I was truly spoiled!   I had fun phone calls,  fun birthday wishes at church, Facebook birthday messages and presents delivered and  a fun party with my family.  Birthday's can still be so much fun even when you are older. 

 Thank you to everyone for making  my birthday special.  I am grateful for my life and my parents for making it possible.  I am so grateful for my family and for all they do for me.  Thank you, thank you!!!!!

Mom and birthday's

I turned the age my mother never got to become.  For some reason as my birthday has approached I have felt a heavy heart.  It is amazing how grief can be.  The whole time I was 43 it felt like I was kind of holding my breath, wondering if I would die young like my mom. Intellectually, I knew I wouldn't die, but emotionally I felt like I could.  It  just seems unfair to outlive your mom.  It just doesn't feel right. 

Matt wanted to watch the movie Charly this last week.  It really made me tear up and think about my mom.  Generally, I am not an emotional person, but  that movie made me sob.   I know that life isn't fair, but when it comes to my mom and dad dying so young, I wish it was.  I am grateful my 43rd year is over. I already feel the relief.  I want to live the best life possible, to show how grateful I am for the time I have been given. I hope my mom  knows how grateful I am for her.   I am grateful for my life.  I know it can quickly be taken away.

 On this day mom, I want you to know of my love for you--my gratitude for being your daughter. We all now work to live the kind of lives that will take us to where you are. You set the standard and we are trying to reach it. after you left, I prayed and asked you to wait for me there. Someday I will feel your hugs again and hear your voice. Until then, I will wait. I will think of you and teach my  children all that you taught me. I will wait.....
I love you mom

Our yard

 At the beginning of this summer I could barely remember how our yard looked last year.  It was kind of fun because I couldn't remember what some of perennials  would bloom to be.  Our yard has grown bigger since last year and I know that will continue to happen each year.    So I wanted to take pictures of it so I could remember what would bloom where, for next year and also to see how much our yard will grow.   I  love flowers; they make me HAPPY!!!

 I am still not sure what the name of this flower is.  We have it in our front yard and back yard.

 We need more bark.  We have some real heavy winds and it seems to blow our bark. 

 The corner section on our yard. 

 The right side of our yard.  We are planning on putting a water feature, tree, and various flowers in the middle of yard, closer to our driveway.

 The left side of our yard.  I am not sure what this bush, flower is.

Part of our back yard 

 These are the flowers we can look at when we are in our computer room.  It is a lovely view!

 Parts of our garden.  We are growing tomatoes, onions,  peppers,  squash, zucchini, pumpkins and a lot of sunflowers and more I can't remember!

 

 Our fruit trees.  Last year I got quite a bit of pears, peaches and apples from our fruit trees, but this year we have yet to see any fruit growing on them.  We had some weird weather in the beginning of spring, so we are wondering if that had anything to do with it.

This is our side yard.  Matt wants to build a third garage here someday.  So we haven't finished this side of the yard. It kind of looks like we have a lot of junk here. Oh well; I do love our yard and love watching things grow.

This and that!!!

 Spencer has been traveling a lot recently.  Because he came home early from Fiji his summer has been a little clear.  I think he has been in like 7 states maybe more.  

 Spencer and Kara went to see the Demi Lovato concert together this week.  They sat on row 7.  They said Demi did an amazing performance.    

I took Colton back to the doctor.  He saw several doctors and has done several tests.  He needed to go back so the doctor could check everything again before he could turn in his mission papers.  Well, we went on Thursday and all his levels were worse than before.  He actually had new problems as well with his levels.  Needless to say we were very frustrated.   So we might be back at square one again.  Yikes, Colton says he feels fine so it isn't something that he is  in pain with, which is good.   I am very concerned about it, but Colton doesn't seem worried at all.

 7-13 is Chick Fil-a's  dress as a cow day.  If you dress like a cow you get a free entree, side dish, and drink.  Kara dressed like a cow and I didn't.  It was really fun doing some people watching there.  A lot of people really went all out in their costume.

 Here is a picture of Colton working at Chick Fil-A.  It was fun to watch him!!!  He is such a hard worker. 

 The cow did the Hokey  Pokey with some of the kids there.  Colton dresses up like a cow from time to time.  He says it is really fun, except some of the little kids are terrified of the cow costume!!!

Boating with the youth

Last Saturday we took the youth boating at Jordanelle Lake.  We took our boat and the McMullin's boat.  I forgot to bring my camera, but took two pictures from my phone, unfortunately, they always turn out bad.  It is supposed to be a good camera too.   Matt was in charge of the activity. Matt and I  bought all the food together Friday night for our date.  Our cooler was super heavy as we needed tons of drinks since it was a scorching hot day!   Matt and I both had to  drive two cars because we didn't have enough drivers. Luckily, Brother Olsen was able to drive up with Matt early and get the spot because obviously, you can't launch your boat by yourself.  Thank you, thank you!!!!

The youth all seemed to have a good time.   A lot of the youth went on the tubes and some used a wake board or water skied.   Many were sun burnt.   I love working with the youth!!  We have such good youth in our ward who are valiant, and strong.  I am excited to go to girl's camp next week with the youth and especially with my daughter Kara!!!  It is our third year of going together!!!

Day 5 and 6

On the 4th of July we got up really early to go to Yellowstone park to see Old Faithful. It is a beautiful drive there.   We went through all of  the Grand Tetons park to arrive there. 

 Chinese Spring

We walked all around the pools and geysers and then we hiked up to the Observational Point which was beautiful.

They have a brand new visitors center that was amazing!!!  Loved it.

All the yellow and brownish colors are bacteria.  Amazing!

This is Solitary Geysers.  We watched it erupt and it was quite a show.

Spencer and Anne waiting for Old Faithful to erupt

Starting to rumble

During the eruption

On our way home we saw a mamma moose.  Actually, we couldn't move out of the road.  It was pretty cool to be around her.  Earlier in the morning we saw her and her baby.

After we got back from Yellowstone that evening we took pictures of everyone together.  Sheryl came up with the idea, and I am grateful.   It was sad that all the fireworks were banned in the area due to all the concerns of fires.  It was hard to believe it was the 4th.  We didn't see any sparklers or anything.    There was a big concert that they did both Tuesday and Wednesday nights.  It was really great, but the cool thing about it was that we could hear and see  the whole concert perfectly from our deck.   Happy Birthday America and my mother in law Kathleen!!!

Steven Mackey.  He is going to be a senior this year!

Mason Mackey who is going to be in 9th grade this year.

 

Picture of Annette and John.  

My sister Katie and I. 

The kids played games that evening.  Matt and I went and did an ice cream run for them because they all wanted ice cream.  On Thursday morning we all visited.  Sheryl, Katie and baby Abe left early in the morning.  We stuck around Jackson and visited with John's family until Jessica and John arrived.  It was good to see them.  We drove home that night, which is always bittersweet! to say good bye!!  Thank you John and Annette for letting us hang out with you and stay for free here!!!  Thank you Sheryl for teaching me how to crochet the edge on blankets.  It was fun.