Oh, is the 4th of July over already? Huh.

Ari's first real parade. She thoroughly enjoyed it...especially the part where she got free frozen yogurt!

 Ah, the Rexburg parade...many memories...I remember marching in it several years, once as a hippie-flautist--real word, btw...it was too hot to don the real outfits. This year I got to ride in the "Bhive Bug" It's THIS. Ari seriously perfected her princess wave & loved standing up through the sunroof to show it off. Rhett and I threw candy until it ran out...then we mostly tried to avoid eye contact with all those children who look at you like, "your piece of candy is the one that will complete my entire existence."

 Just hanging out...or, in Devin's case, down...does that really look comfortable?

 A little one-on-one grocery outing with Nan & Papa for Miss Ari, what could be better. She got to drive the car after all.

 True luv.

 The official Green Smoothie 'stache'

 "No, don't make me, noooo...oh, wait, I love this stuff...just thought I'd show off my drama skills."

 This is the 'before' picture, when the hug was still soft and sweet and cuddly. Before the screaming.

 Look at those darling eyeballs! 

 So fun to play with someone my size!

 Devin sang with his group at the I-Center concert with Alex Boye, "Patriots & Pioneers." So amazing!!

 Enjoying our time with the boys.

 Brothers doing what they love...together...

 Newborns are one of my favorite things in the whole world, and it took on a totally new dimension for me when I got to meet my sister's newborn. So precious. So fresh from heaven.

 Seriously, this game started at 6am. That's what happens when you have less than 24 hrs to cram in tons o' fun...thank goodness for awesome Uncle Jared.

 Why, hello there Roseola. You look horrible on my little darling, please leave her alone!

The night before I left we had the neatest experience. My friends serve at the temple with Del Parsons, an amazing local artist (he did all the artwork in the Rexburg temple and has done many of the apostles portraits). He just completed the floor-to-ceiling murals for the new Canada temple and we got to see them before he shipped them off. That is so unique and special because he is not even allowed to take pictures of them and the rules are incredibly strict. He walked us around the room pointing out details I would have probably not noticed and explained their meanings (so much came from Canada...he traveled there several times). The even MORE incredible part is that he recently got struck by lightning and he can no longer hear!! He got a Cochlear Implant put in recently and that is starting to help, but mostly he relies on reading lips. He still teaches, he still paints, but wow, what an amazing story and what an amazing man!!

 This is incredible to me...these are all the paint tubes he used for the entire thing. 3 or 4 walls worth of 10 foot murals and this is ALL the paint he used! 

 He hunted this deer himself so he could have the 'real deal' to paint from...that's some serious field research! He had pages and pages of pictures on his tables that he worked from. Fascinating.

 Two goofy dudes. Uncle Jared & brother/Uncle Devy-poo.

My Mom & I have been working on this picture wall for waaayy too long. We'd do one baby step each time I visited. In many ways, it was also an evolution of our relationship. Each step toward completion, our relationship broadened or deepened in some way...maybe more for me than for her, but it was a great thing.

Saying good-bye...the hardest part...

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Good thing families are forever. I miss them already.

These beautiful relatives of mine

My Mom's friend from work took these pictures...to date the most professional looking pictures we've had! 

 (hand-hip thing, nice, right?)

In lieu of these pictures, I will use it as an opportunity to effuse/update about my wonderful family!

It's more common for people to ask if she is my older sister than my Mom...and it's true, she looks so young! After roughly 35 years of teaching piano she has finally 'quit' and is now working full-time at the BYU-I Bookstore & loves it. However, she does not love the amount of vacation days she is allotted since she is all about family & would be to one of our houses every single weekend if possible! She's giving and generous, incredibly in tune with the Spirit (always), and I feel so grateful Heavenly Father let her be my mother and friend.

Growing up my Dad has always been so supportive and encouraging of whatever we choose to do. We know he loves us unconditionally & I cherish all of the life lessons he taught me about communicating, family, and the Gospel. My Dad is very involved with work and the anti-pornography organization he & my Mom started where they live, and he plays a mean game of ping-pong :)

For those of you that don't know, I'm the oldest (and shortest, and white-est). Poor Tony, he was the only one not there not at the photo-shoot of the whole bunch of us. Bless my Mummy's heart, she even seriously wanted to photoshop him in--she does not want anyone to feel left out, and of course, he was sorely missed by all (taking pictures...well, everything, really...would have been waayy more interesting if he had been there!!).

 Next in line is my beautiful sister Sarin, dashing husband Jared & darling daughter Noelle (that is my Mom's middle name & this babe is only 2 weeks old here!). They currently live in Colorado, Jared is working incredibly hard to get his insurance business going (he is an amazing sales/ideas guy & reads like crazy!) while Sarin (now) stays home while going to school mostly online to become a Registered Dietician (she also has a masters from BYU). She is always the life of the party, is so very compassionate and a strong leader with some mad piano-playing skills. Sarin & I have always been pretty close, but we've gotten closer the older we get. I truly count her as one of my best friends!

This little family is right off the Ensign cover...so cute I want to just smooch 'em all! Spencer is the tallest of the clan at 6'3, just finished his masters in Boise and is heading off to work for the accounting firm, PMG in California. He served his mission in Finland a few years back (at the same time Sarin was serving her mission in Sweden) and every time he talks in Finnish, I'm like, "who is this guy? my little bro learned that language?" He has worked hard and overcome some crazy obstacles. He has a strong commitment to family, the Gospel, & his wife (they're such a sweet couple). Not only that, but the crazy-intense bantering that goes on between he & my sister is one of my favorite things when I go home...seriously. Not only that, but he is one amazing tennis player--he's going to be big one day, just you wait & see! His wife Meagan is a stay-at-home to their little cherub Sienna (while she finishes her bachelor's online!), is pregnant with #2 (!) and I sure admire her for her easy-going, soft nature.

Devy-poo (as we all like to call him) is the not-so-little caboose. He's always been the mellow, doesn't-like-conflict dude (it's good to have one of those around) and when the other sibs were on their missions & I was living in my parent's apartment for awhile (after my divorce) he & I got to know each other lots better...you know, more than the "I'm older, I can still sit on you & win" kind of relationship that we had before. His mission to South Africa was one of the best things ever for him and he came back with a 'deepness' that was so neat to see as his doting older sis. He is one of the most amazing, "just comes-natural" guys with kids that I know & truly wants to live a Christ-centered life. This dude isn't married yet, but one day, one gal is going to be incredibly lucky.

And of course, we couldn't forget my guys and gal...

{Insert Picture HERE for Tony}

My Tony-lad. I just don't think there's enough space in the blog-world to share as much as I feel for this guy! He couldn't be any more perfect for me, and I'm just hoping to someday measure up {in part} to his amazing-ness. He works so hard for us, plays every day with and for us. He leads our family in righteousness and sets a stellar example of honesty, loyalty and service in all areas of life. Seriously, all in one guy? Yes. Seriously.

At 10 this guy has more energy than the Energizer Bunny and can make any-something out of nothing ("It's not nothing Mom, it's cool!"). He is a tease, and yet is so compassionate. He can communicate well beyond his years (Jyson-isms are marvelous wonders!) and has a tender, but strong testimony. 

His drive rivals none else! When he puts his mind to it, he can get anything done in record time (cleaning, homework, cooking, reading...). His logical brain helps our family in many ways as he is the 'numbers' guy with a plan (& definitely my go-to man in a pinch). His heart is so tender towards those with needs, and he tries so hard to do what is right. 

Being white, marrying a whitey...THIS is the benefit, look at these two! We like to call them, "fair & delightsome."

Ari has certainly blossomed this last month or so. She loves nothing more than to help Mommy or Rhett & it sure makes my guts grin when I see her making Rhett laugh (or shove some bite of food down his unsuspecting throat). She also loves some good cuddle time with Mommy & for me to 'wock' {rock} her.

Couldn't pick between the two. Just couldn't! This little dude is easy-going. And not. It's pretty awesome to see him in 'attack' mode with a ginormous grin on his face. He's known as 'a smiler' everywhere he goes and is certainly developing along all sorts of milestones...

All I can say is, good thing for the older boys or this picture wouldn't have happened. Notice their plastered grins (just smile boys, no matter what! said we) while fencing in the likely-to-wander-ones. Notice Ari's hands clapping mid-song so she'd stop screaming. And Noelle, so peaceful amidst the chaos...but at least Nana got her grand-babies picture!

Seriously, my family are my very best friends.