Amdanda's Visit!

My wonderful sister in law, Amanda, came to visit.  

This visit was extra special because she came to see just us & to meet our cute Callen!  

Usually there is a family vacation planned, a reunion, a wedding, general conference, or other family members here to visit. But this time, it was all US. 

And I couldn't be happier. 

We had so much fun just hanging out, snuggling on Callen, playing with the boys, freezing in the snow (since it decided to DUMP on us while she was here), watching movies, having a girl's day of shopping and fun, painting toes, making smoothies, talking, laughing, and loving being together. 

I love this girl.

More than I could ever say.

Thank you for coming to visit.  I miss you. SO. MUCH.

Sadly, I didn't pull out my camera the whole trip. 

But we had a blast.  

I know that without many pictures to show for it! :)

Nicole & Shar's Birthday!

 Shar & Travis moved here August 18th, just in time for us to spend our birthday together! YAY!!!

It is SO much fun to have the kiddos back together again. 

They are having a blast, and we are loving it too!!

So they stayed at our house for the weekend and Monday morning (our b-day) the guys let us sleep in. 

We had to be ready to leave by 10am and that's when they gave us our gift:  the day together!!  

It was awesome.

We went to Kneaders for the amazing french toast breakfast. Then headed to the mall for mani/pedis. Bliss.

Did some shopping and then met up with the guys for a date night dinner.

After dinner we went back to our house for a fun party with the kiddos.

It was AWEsome. So amazing. I love my birthday...Jeff sure knows how to spoil me!!!

Love my sister:

Happy Birthday to us!

The guys made our favorite dessert, cream cheese pie with fresh fruit. And they ROCKED. 

It was THE best pie ever. Really, they made it better than I ever have. 

Cute kiddos enjoying the food:

Ryder loved my party  hat:

Happy Birthday Shar!  

Love this little fam:

I love my crazy guys!

Last night as a family of 5!

My sister, Shar, flew here from CA for baby's birth. 

My mom was going to come also, but due to a back injury, she wasn't able to. :( We were so sad Grandma couldn't be here but SO glad Shar was able to come. I don't know what we would have done without her. She arrived late late Tues night and spent the night at Shawn's house. Then she came down to our place on Wed. and we had a fun day together before baby got here on Thursday.

She was a life-saver and her and Jeff split their time between the boys and the hospital. 

It was awesome to know our boys were so well taken care of while we were busy with baby #4!

Here is our last night as a family of 5, can't wait to see what the next little guy adds to the bunch:

We LOVE you, Shar. THANK YOU for coming!!!!!

Girl's Day with my sisters!

Shar was in town back in June for a work conference. She was staying at a hotel, so we all joined her for dinner and an overnighter! It was so awesome to have time to just talk and laugh and eat and talk. 

LOVED it and LOVE these ladies. 

I am so lucky!

We had one last shindig at our house before everyone left for CA.

West & Kapria are the best of friends:

Tave & Mila have a special little bond. She lets him give her all sorts of crazy hugs, he absolutely loves her and they like to play by each other:

The kiddos with Nonny Kare & Grandpa Dan:

and with Aunt Shar:

I hate goodbyes. Really truly do.

Goodbye to Mom/Grandma and her amazing helping hands and listening ear. Goodbye to late nights talking and sewing together.

Goodbye to Dad/Grandpa and all of his wrestling, soda sharing, and lessons.

Goodbye to my best friend and darling nieces.

Goodbye to spur of the moment dinners together and spontaneous drop ins.

Goodbye to having somewhere to go on those days when I just have to get out of the house, don't want to spend money, and look like poo.

Goodbye to gabbing away with my sister in the midst of the chaos of 5 kiddos 4 and under.

Goodbye to having another place to go that is just like home and being with people who love you no matter how many times you might fight with them (kiddos and adults alike).

We miss you all.

Happy Birthday to Us!

Shar & I FINALLY went out for our girls day...it was only a year late!

We had fun shopping sans kiddos and then enjoyed a delicious dinner at Brick Oven. Thanks EmSco for joining us!! It was definitely too short, so we'll have to make sure we go again soon!

I can't even begin to say how much I love my sister. I am very much in denial over their move. Pretty much I just pretend it's not happening and that means it won't, right? Riiiiiight....