Family Dinner

I am the middle child in my family. Sometimes I didn't like that.

My family is run in an orderly fashion. Always has been. We always did things in age order, whether that was oldest to youngest, or youngest to oldest.

Regardless, I was always fourth.

Sometimes I liked being the middle child. I wasn't the oldest who had to experience everything first, yet I am not the spoiled youngest. I also have everything; older sisters and an older brother, and younger sisters and a younger brother in addition to two great parents.

What's better than that?

Leaving for college was great because I was able to be with my older siblings. It was great to spend time with them on occasion and see where and how they lived and be in older company.

Being here for the summer in Texas is a whole is a different story.

I love my family. It has been really fun to be home with my younger siblings for the summer. We never have a family dinner with out a laugh. Seriously.

We have all always sat around this same kitchen table for all our meals together, for as long as I could remember. We've pulled up highchairs to this table, and at times we have been so squished, it was often hard to have a family meal without "You're in my way!" or "Meany-boy-gym!" or "Stop crossing the line!"

As the years went by, my siblings have left home for missions or college and our table has become more roomy.

Now we all seat pretty comfortably.

These kitchen chairs have seen better days.

















But as much as I love my younger siblings, do I ever wonder how I am are related to them sometimes?




















Nah.














Gotta love them.

Hair in French Braids

I had a blast on Monday with my family! I had the day off from work, and the kids are all out of school for the summer. We had fun doing some of our favorite things, we played some competitive ladder ball, (of which Spencer and I dominated Mom and Dad) badmittin, and later on we went swimming. Dad and Julie sure had fun jumping in the pool!
Other than the fact that it was one hundred degrees outside and I got a slight sunburn, (well, we are in Texas!) it was a very relaxing and enjoyable day!

PS: Love Spencer's Texas shirt :)

Open House

Here are a few pictures from Heather and Dane's Open House, enjoy!

Darn Chiggers

What itches like crazy, takes weeks to go away, and itches like crazy?

"Son, them's chiggers." -Dad's co-worker to dad. You can ask him about HIS chigger story...

Nothing like chigger bites here in Texas, that's for sure. Last week at Heather and Dane's open house, I was attacked by chiggers. Strangely enough, no one else got chigger bites except me...

Well, what are chiggers exactly?
"Chiggers are tiny, six-legged wingless organisms (larvae) that grow up to become a type of mite. Chiggers are found in tall grass and weeds. Their bite causes severe itching.Chiggers bite humans around the waist, ankles, or in warm skin folds. Bites commonly occur in the summer and fall months."
https://health.google.com/health/ref/Chiggers

I've had chigger bites so many times before in the past, I knew exactly what they were when I saw them. Well, I was itching them like crazy before I realized that I had them. I have memories of getting them at girls camp and applying fun shades of nail polish on them. It's usually best to apply caladryl, but nail polish works too. (Not as well, but more fun!)

Its been about a week and they are mostly gone, but the itch doesn't go away till they are completely gone.

"Welcome home!" - Dad

Gee thanks.

Sittn' in a Tree

Howdy! Long time no see. My job has been keeping me busy for the past two weeks or so since I have been here last. It has been going great; oh the stories I could tell you already about my experiences there... But alas these stories will have to wait till a later date.

Until then, other exciting things have been going on here in Texas. As many of you may know, my sister Heather has found her perfect match, and is engaged to the man of her dreams. They have both flown here from Utah for him to meet the family and to get the wedding plans put into motion.

We are so happy for them! This afternoon, a sister in our ward (who is very much so better at photography than myself,) took Heather and Dane's engagement pictures. I tagged along for some practice and and to help make them smile and act natural. It was quite the task to get them to loosen up, but I think we got some excellent shots. These are a few that I took, but I do not believe any of mine will be used for their announcement.

It was fun for me to practice, however I'm not very good at taking pictures of people. I prefer taking pictures of objects, flowers, or scenery in general, if that makes since.

Anyways, tonight is their open house (which I plan to take pictures at as well, to be posted later) and we are so very excited for them!

Carrot Cake Kinda Day

Well, last night's monopoly game was quite the game.

I don't want to talk about it.

But we took pictures.

Well, mom really wanted pictures.

Picture #2: Spencer questioning the motion.

Picture #3: Spencer and Dad waiting for mom. ("She's the one who wants the picture, where is she?")

Picture #4: Well, didn't get it quite right..

Picture #5: Precious!

Well today, everyone slept in and the kids all stayed home from school because we were all up so late last night. (That would have never happened when I was there age!)

Oh well.

Well I made carrot cake today. Complete with homemade cream cheese frosting. Yum...

It was that kinda day.

Especially after last nights game...

"And in the Morning, I'm Making Waffles!"

Today we celebrated my little brother's 18Th birthday!

Not so little any more I suppose.

After family home evening last night, mom, dad, and I decorated the house for his birthday. Something we do in our house, is we tape up balloons in our entryway. Every year, we put up as many balloons as the birthday person's age.

I'm glad I was in college when my dad's birthday rolled around.

Regardless, I was out of breath by the end of the night.

Today while he was at seminary, I got up early and made waffles for breakfast. Good thing I'm a morning person. It was really fun, I enjoy cooking in the kitchen.

Tonight, I believe we are going to eat his favorite dinner and treat, and then later on play his favorite game; Monopoly.

Oh boy.

We'll see who wins this year.