The end of our Utah trip (insert sad face)

We went to Boondocks down in Layton and the kids had a blast on the Go-karts while the younger ones had fun playing in a huge play area and with the arcade games. I didn’t do a great job getting pictures of anything!

  

 

We went on a double date with Ashley and Jared to Lagoon! It was fun. We haven’t been in about 4 years so it was nice to go have fun without the kids!

   

Keegan and Maleaha sharing some treats!

  

We had a picnic down at a park, it was super hot so we didn’t stay very long. We all got one of our favorite foods all from different places and took it to the park.

On our way home luckily at one point all the kids were sleeping at the same time. Then later on I had to bribe Keegan with gum! Oh the joys of 12 hour car rides!

I wish I got more pictures of Kade, most of the time he was outside playing with neighborhood kids and being free kid. Now he is back in AZ in our prison…too hot to go outside and I am too afraid to let him go play anywhere else alone besides the back yard!

Pioneer Day Parade

On July 24th we went down to Logan for the Pioneer Day parade. The kids had a lot of fun getting candy, waving to the “princesses” and watching all the cool floats!

 

Maleaha, Grandpa, Kade, Tasia, Kamryn and Daion.

Keegan and Kamryn waving to the “Princesses”!

Some more fun in Utah

The kids had a lemonade stand and made $11!

Keegan enjoyed not being the youngest. He liked to play with Maleaha, but also liked to take things from her and hit her! Poor girl!

Kamryn' loves her Grandpa Tim! He always lets her have her favorite treat, Ice cream! Keegan fell asleep on Grandma’s new SOFT carpet!

We went to Chick-fil-A and Kamryn LOVED the cow! She was so excited to see him!

Grandma and her girls!

    

Keegan doing “The Face” while eating cake at Bree’s wedding.

Bear Lake

When we went up to Utah in July we rented a boat and went to Bear Lake. The kids had a blast. Keegan wasn’t so into the life vest thing so we had to keep a really good eye on him because he is a RUNNER!

Daion and Keegan, Harley and of course cute cousin Maleaha!

 

In the middle pic is Ashley, Kade, Jared and Maleaha.

    

Notice Keegan running away behind Ryan! He was pooped after the long day at the lake! I did a great job putting sunscreen on (NOT) and they ended up with weird sunburns on their face! OOPS!

 

I didn’t want to take my phone on the boat so I didn’t get any pics of that. It was a lot of fun though!

Thoughts

Today I was driving around the Phoenix area for work. When I drive it gives me time alone in my own thoughts and I reflect on different things, sometimes this can be good and sometimes it's bad because I can over think things! Well today as I reached an area of Phoenix where Ryan and I used to live it made me think of the first few years Ryan and I were married, (I can't believe it's been 9 years!) I thought of all the things we have done and the trials and blessings we had been through and really I just wished I could go back in time and give myself advice. Part of me wanted to warn myself of the tragedy that would occur as a young 23 year old mother. Other parts of me wanted to tell myself that everything will always work itself out, enjoy the little things and pray always! Tonight as I lay in bed thinking of Kooper and looking at pictures of this perfect baby boy. I ask the million dollar question, Why? How? Questions I have asked myself, and Heavenly father over and over. I seem to come up with answers that eventually make me feel better for a time until I over think about the why and hows too much again. How does such a perfect little baby die in such a safe house? I know the answer but it never really occurred to me that it could happen to me. It happened to other people. But It really never entered my mind. Or if it did, I was good at blocking the possibility out. I miss my little monkey so much.
Tonight Ryan and I took the kids to McDonalds so the kids could get some energy out in a cool environment and we could actually talk without being interrupted every 5 seconds. As usual Kade is attracted to these 4 year old (or whatever age Kooper would be) and begins to play tag with this little boy. It was so sweet and made me ache for him to be with us.

I miss him like crazy but I know one day this will all make sense and I will understand the "whys". I wish my future self could visit me now and give me some advice for the next 9 years, I am sure I could use some!

Kooper’s 4th Birthday

The morning of Kooper’s Birthday the kids woke up and Kade got Keegan out of his crib and then a sweet surprise, Keegan woke me up by putting Kooper’s monkey on me!

 

We looked at Kooper’s scrapbook. Kamryn loves looking through the pictures. We went to visit his grave and put some new flowers in his vase and let balloons go. Unfortunately I brought a marker that died after Kamryn drew a picture on her balloon.

 

          

Kade fell asleep in the care on the way to the cemetery and when we got there he was in such a bad mood that he chose to stay in the car. Kamryn went to bed that night with her Kooper Monkey!

We love and miss Kooper so much. We are so thankful to know that we will see him again! Happy Birthday little monkey!

4th of July!

We had a huge monsoon come on the 4th of July, it was nice because it cooled off HOT AZ! The kids had a blast playing in the rain!

Our friends the Dunn’s came over to BBQ and then we went to see the fireworks near our house.