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.