I don't often wax sentimental on my blog, but while I should have been making my menu plan and shopping list, I am sitting here crying and grateful with a painful lump in my throat after reading my friend's remembrance of a very special lady that we both knew.

Reading it reminded me of how fragile and uncertain life can be and that our relationships with our family and friends are more important than any other silly distractions that can take our time.  I also reflect on the many friends I have made through my life and the impact for good that they have had and still have on me.  Not just friends but family members and in-laws and so on... People are oh so important.  I don't think I tell those people often enough how much I love them and appreciate them.... It is good to be reminded of what matters most.

Laboring

A late labor day post.  We spent labor day - laboring.  It's actually been going on for the past month, but here is an update on the labor we have been doing.

Berry has worked hard to advance from the belly scoot that she was using a few weeks ago to a flow blown crawl.  She is fast enough to get into trouble AND with two older sisters leaving a trail of choking hazards wherever they go, it will be a miracle if she makes it to her first birthday!

Lou is working hard at preschool, which finally started this week!

So cute in her new school outfit

 Fisher is making changes in his labor and this week we enjoyed a goodbye party with colleagues from his old place of employment.

A nice card and gift from friends we will miss

 Our Labor day weekend project was a small bathroom update involving painting and putting up beadboard... a week later, we still aren't done, but will be soon!

This is just the dry fit of the beadboard.

 I have been working hard to get more organized, particularly in the girls bedrooms

Berry liked playing in the huge cube shelf we put together

Fun "rain gutter" bookshelves.  Google it.

 We did take a break from our labors to have some fun on labor day.  We hosted a barbecue and enjoyed the evening with friends.

Making Root Beer - so fun!

Sparklers!

 Last random picture - Lou having fun with the camera today before church. 

All out of Quiet

This morning, I was doing dinner prep and Lou was apparently playing restaurant in the play area adjoining the kitchen.
Lou asks, "Mom, What would you like today?"
I replied, "I would like peace and quiet."
Confused pause
"Mom, we don't have that."
My response, "Oh, okay."
Calculative pause.
"Well, actually we do have peas."

What could be better than spending three weeks with people we love in places we love?

Well, I will tell you - All the pictures to go with it!  

This summer vacation post must be setting a record for pictures, but here it will remain for future posterity to see all the fun things we did.  Let us begin:

My very kind, patient, and wonderful mom and sister volunteered to help us drive from Phoenix to Idaho.  They rode home from the California reunion with us, helped me pack and get organized and then we were on our way. 

First stop: Grandma and Grandpa W's

Tummy time with Nels

Grandma has an amazing stash of fun, antique toys

The refreshments Curly made - Mint leaf wrapped Raspberries  a la scotch tape - delicious!

Sweet Grandma

 Then we headed to Idaho.  We enjoyed a day at LLL Ranch for the Lovell reunion.

Curly and new found friend/cousin Eva

Ready to zip on the zipline

 The girls had a lot of fun in Grandpa and Grandma's beautiful yard and garden.  They loved picking flowers with Grandpa and loading branches he had pruned onto the trailer.  K-Rae was in Rexburg during our visit, and JG also joined us.  We enjoyed jogging in the cool mornings with my good friend Ash, playing games, trying out new recipes, chopping JG's hair off, and just being together.  Curly and Lou never ran out of fun things to find in Grandma's playroom.

The view on our jog

Pretty as a princess

 My SIL Jenny came up for a day visit and we also enjoyed dinner with Grandpa Lake, friend Nia Mae, Bryce, Jenny and new baby Wren.

Grandpa Lake and friend Nia Mae

 Rick, Elyse, and Nels even made it up for a few days!

Thai food - yum!

Hi Babies!!!

Playing in the rain

 After a week in Idaho, we headed back to Utah and spent a fun filled week with Oma, Grandpa, and all of the Lake cousins.  Oma took us on many fun outings.  The girls loved spending time with her and Grandpa and their cousins!

The aquarium

Checking out at the Children's Museum

Getting sandy at the Park

A very fun park near DayBreak

Bryce and Jenny

Berry looking sweet

 We also took advantage of the beautiful weather and Utah mountains.  Ba, LE, Lynette, Lincoln and Grandpa took us hiking in Bountiful.

Hiking in Mueller Park

  Funny LE

Lydia managed to bum a ride for the last 50 feet

 Fisher arrived at this point and we had a mini reunion with all the Lake family.  Everyone gathered to attend the newest Lake baby blessing.  We celebrated with a swimming party and BBQ

The Grandchildren

 My SIL had a neat idea to take a picture of the "sixlets"  (six girls born within 15 months of each other) in their blessing dresses.  It was a nice idea, but hilarious to implement!  Here are just a few of the pictures we attempted.

 We finally gave in and had the mom's hold the babies.  It worked much better.

Sixlet #6's blessing day

The "original" Lake children and their daugters.

Oma and Berry

Crazy kids!  Ry and LE

Sweet new baby

 We enjoyed another hike in Big Cottonwood canyon.  Ba, LE and JG came too.  It was beautiful!   Oma had a hurt food and volunteered to stay home with Berry.

Fisher and LE

JG and Curly

Fun getting wet in the stream

Stories with Oma

After so much fun, most normal people would head home, but now that Fisher had arrived, we headed back to Idaho.  We happened to celebrate our 9 year Anniversary while there and since my wedding dress is stored at my mom's house, we celebrated by trying it on.

 

Back in Idaho, we made a quick evening trip to West Yellowstone to see "Joseph" at the Playmill, floated the river, and went hiking,

Look how strong I am!

Stories with Grandma

Getting ready for the float

Fisher, Grandpa, Curly, and Lou

Hiking at Grand Targhee

Picnic Dinner at Treasure Mountain

 Grandpa is a good sport and volunteered to "camp out" with the girls.

Idaho grass is cold in the morning!

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We had a blast, but our deadline arrived and we headed back to the heat.  Thanks family for making our summer vacation wonderful!