Lu Lu

I just had to post this picture of Lucy doing what she does best.  She puts on her sunglasses, gets her baby doll, purse, and baby bottle.  She is ready to conquer the mothering world!!!!  Too much fun!!

The Derricks= Fun!

 Our good friends the Derricks invited us over to their beautiful home in Bountiful.  We had a fun evening hanging out with them and just talking and eating. It's always fun to get together with them because our kids are all the same ages.

Jason and Abby had a great time playing outside and games inside.

 Anne and Kate are both seven and picked up right where they left off.

 Eliza and Ella are just weeks apart in age and Eliza keeps asking when Ella can come over and play.  S

Lucy and  Lucy are the same age but, are still to young to appreciate that they have the same name!!

We always have a great time with this family and will have to get together more often!!!

Eliza is 5!!

 I can't believe this sweet girl is already five.  Time sure is flying by and she is growing up and enjoying the benefits of being older.  Eliza has such fun sense of humor and there are days I am laughing so hard with her.  She is a good older sister and younger sister.  She is always up for a good time but, at the same time she will be totally honest with you if she doesn't want to do something. ( she is a lot like her Dad!)  She is not about doing things that are necessarily popular.  She has her own opinion and doesn't think twice about what others think.  She has a strong spirit and will do great and wonderful things in the future!

 On Sunday, we had Grandma and Grandpa Young and Grandma and Grandpa Schwitzer over for a birthday dinner and cake.  Eliza wanted a heart shaped cake this year.

 The morning of her actual birthday she opened gifts from Mom and Dad.

 She wanted this Cinderella carriage.

 We went out to dinner that night and she chose the Spaghetti Factory...Good choice girl!!

 After we went to Trafalga and rode on rides, played mini golf, and climbed the rock wall.  It was a fun perfect evening.

 On Friday, she had a princess and prince party with friends.. her cousins!  Eliza is so lucky to have so many cousins her age.  2 on the young side were even missing.  We had Ryan, Parker, Hayden, Brad, Sydney, Leah, and Claire.   She gets along with all her cousins and at times enjoys being with her boy cousins more than her girl cousins!

 We made crowns, played a princess and the pea game, had a royal ball, and went on a dragon hunt!  After they all just wanted to play outside on the tramp.

 Cute little Brad was the perfect prince!

Eliza's best friends, though, are right in this picture.  She loves Sydney, Leah, and Claire and would pick  hanging out with them over anyone else.

We love you Eliza and had a fun week celebrating you!!

Young Cousin Birthday Party

 We started a new tradition this year on the Young side.  We are having one big cousin birthday party once year to celebrate all of them.  We picked names from a hat of one cousin we would buy a gift for. This makes happy parents because instead of 15 gifts being bought we just had to think about four!  Joe and Jessica were in charge this year and decided that the Hogle Zoo would be the location for the party.  We each brought lunch and then had cake and sang Happy Birthday.

 Lucy loved going on the carousel.

 We had a great time seeing the bird show and seeing the animals with cousins.

The Zoo had the new polar bear exhibit and we enjoyed seeing seals and the polar bear swim around.  It was a fun morning being with family!

First Days

 Eliza had her first day of pre-school.  She is very excited to go twice a week for a couple hours.  She is going to learn so much and get ready for Kindergarten next year!

 I thought this picture was so cute.  Lucy was standing by Eliza and wanted her picture taken.  She is a beauty!

Lucy's hair finally is long enough to fit into a pony tail!  Here is a classic picture of her sucking her thumb and laying on our bed.  I can't believe she is this old.

St. George Trip

 Our good friends the Cowley Family invited us to go down to St. George with them!  We had such wonderful time with them and the kids enjoyed being together.  On Thursday, we drove down and enjoyed some time at the swimming pool.  On Friday, we headed to Zion's National Park.  I have not been to Zion's in a couple of years and every time I go and I can't believe the beauty that we are surrounded by.

 Our first hike was up to weeping rock.  The view up there is amazing and also it's nice and cool with the water dripping on you at times.

 Korrine is such a great friend and I love talking with her because we agree on just about everything!!

 Our kids were the only kids in the park since most kids are school at this time.  Lots of people from out of the country.  They couldn't believe all the kids we had.

 Lucy taking a break from hiking.

 We had some lunch and then headed to the River Walk Hike.  The kids were troopers and ended up hiking about 2 miles.  That was a lot for some of the smaller kids.

 Mike had Lucy on his shoulders most of the hike

 There was this nice cool cove and we took a rest.  The sand was like beach sand the kids enjoyed playing in it.

 Mike and I have known Brian since elementary school.  I never thought back then I would be hanging out with Brian, his wife, and kids in Zion!!  It's crazy how the Lord directs certain people in your life and having friends like this is a blessing.

 Lucy fell asleep on Mike's shoulders.

 On Saturday we headed over to the St. George Temple.  This temple is so pretty and has such a rich history.

 We went to Brigham Young's home.  Lucy loved the back yard.

 Waiting for our turn to go on a tour.  All of our kids but one... we were missing Rachel.

This was a fun get a way for our family.  It was a good way to end being off track in school.  We drove home and started school again on Monday.  Good Memories with Good friends!

Labor Day....Last Day of Summer!

 We started Labor Day off with a nice little hike around Silver Lake up at Brighton.  It was so much fun to go with family and just enjoy time together.

 Yee Ben!!!!

 Cute JoAnn

 Cathy and Josh

 Emma is so sweet to Lucy.  She held Lucy the entire time and talked with her about whatever Lucy wanted to talk about.  They don't come any sweeter than Emma!!

 Mike with Josh and Paul.  Mike couldn't ask for better brothers.

 The Schwitzer ladies plus Smith.  I couldn't ask for better sisters and Mother-in-law!

 After we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa Young's for the traditional Labor Day water fight.  The kids were loving it.

Uncle Ryan was also loving it.  He is such a great Uncle and is always up for a good time.  We had a BBQ and said good bye to the Summer of 2012.  It was a wonderful Summer full good memories.