FAMILY

 We dropped Dave off at the airport and headed back to Provo to play with cousins.  There was a lot of rodeoing going on.  These kids crack me up.

 There was also some watching of pirated Avengers Endgame.  

 I love how much my kids love their cousins.  I wish this picture wasn't blurry. 

 I also love how many beautiful lakes there are in Utah.  It is so pretty.  We went and played in this little pond with Erik and Shanelle and we went to a Lake up in the mountains.  There is so much to do outdoors. 

 challenging Uncle Erik to a handstand contest. 

 Clara is perfecting her handstand. 

such a pretty setting.  It was a little cold up in the mountains this day and the kids were really tired.

 We didn't last as long.  Clark took the kids on a hike around the lake.

 jumping off the dock

 We also love Lucky's for some 'big as your face' snowcones. 

 We hit the road again headed for Colorado this time. 

 I have so many memories of this drive from Provo to Blanding.

 The kids were slap happy in the car.  Singing along with the radio the WHOLE way.  There was no way I was falling asleep.

 The Friday night crawdad adventure.

 roping

 This year we did a trading booth.  It was really fun to see what everyone brought to trade.  My kids traded suckers and the girls crocheted scrunchies and bookmarks.

 The best part was that Uncle Erik brought his horses and my girls were the only ones who were super comfortable riding so they got to ride the whole time. 

 I love these people and the legacy they have left.  I love the relationship they have with my Dad.  My Dad ended up in the ER the day before the reunion and his doctor wouldn't let him go.  He was so disappointed.  He missed last year because he was on his mission.  He was very emotional and told me he just really misses his siblings. 

 Clara and Baylie won the pie eating contest.

 Lauryn in her happy place eating the crawdads. 

 They really do taste good and the corn is delicious.

 She is ALWAYS the last one eating them

 The reunion came to an end and we hit the road for home.  We took Baylie with us.  We decided to go the long way so we could visit my old stomping grounds.  Blanding will always be a special place to me.  It is a small town where most people are related.  We ran around this town with no worries or boundaries.  It was magical.  I wish I could provide this for my kids. 

 We stopped at a few of my favorite places.  First was the football field.  I spent so much time here with my dad.  These stairs are where the team runs up on the field from the locker room. 

 This is the field.  Yes I cried when we stopped here.  I think my kids are beginning to understand my crazy.  I just love the lessons I learned and relationship I developed with my dad on this field.

 This is my elementary school from K-2 grade.

 This is our family home.  This is where most of my childhood memories were made.  I love this home.  For several years it was run down and not taken care of.  Then a boy that we know bought it and fixed it up again.  I am so thankful for that. 

 We lived in this house before my parents bought the other house.  I remember cutting my bangs in this house and then covering them like I had a fever because I knew I was in trouble.

 This is where my great grandma lived.  I would stop here on my way home from school and get my nails polished. 

 This is the church.  I cannot even begin to describe the love I have for this building.  It is where the roots of my testimony were planted.  They were going to tear this church down but my dad saved it. He was a Bishop at the time and he went to Salt Lake to fight for this building. 

 I walk in this chapel and it is like a warm blanket wraps around me.  It is a special place. 

 I spent most of my sacrament meeting imagining myself in this picture.  I would have conversations in my head with my Savior.  I felt so much from this painting.  I have always felt like it was my painting. 

I snapped this picture of Lauryn on accident.  I didn't really notice how she is looking at the picture until much later.  I wonder if she is feeling the same things I did when I was her age. Does she see herself in that picture?  Can she imagine a conversation with her Savior?  I was about her age when we moved.  I missed that picture.  

 This is in the balcony.  The girls thought it was so cool that there was a balcony in this church.

 beautiful

 Cameron thinks he can hold up the world.

We drove through monument Valley on the way home.  I took this stuff for granted when I lived here.  I am glad I can share this beautiful part of our country with my kids.