Daddy's girls
This one is in our backyard...notice the grass in the background...finally Yeah!
I'm not sure what Brynlee was reacting to, but it made for a good picture!
The view from the deck off our room. It would have been really cool except for the construction EVERYWHERE and the fact that we shared the deck with the room next door!
Some ladies in the neighborhood and I decided to do a little Joy School/preschool this year with our 3 and 4 year old kids. Today was the first day but it was more of an opportunity for us Moms to get together and decide what and how we wanted to do this. I wasn't sure if Gracie even knew what "school" was but when I told her about it she was super excited. She was most excited however to wear her "packpack" of course. So we went to our friends house to have "school" which was really just a play time for the kids while the Mom's planned everything out and the entire time Gracie refused to take off her "packpack" and kept coming and telling me she wanted to go to school. Then when we left and she realized we were heading home she started throwing a huge fit about how she wanted to go to school! I realized then that the only time we ever talk about going to school is when we are refering to the park at the school at the end of our street which we frequent often. So needless to say I hope Gracie isn't disappointed that school is where you go to learn and not slide down slides! I guess we'll have to wait and see!:)
Brynlee got to come too since it was just a planning day so of course she had to bring her "packpack" too! It will be interesting to see how they do without eachother...it's really the first thing that Gracie is doing that Brynlee isn't. 
I had to get a shot of the back packs to show how huge they are, they are as big as them! If I'd know we would be using them for preschool I would have gotten something different but I must confess that I got them last year on clearence thinking I'd use them as 72 hour kits...well that was as far as I got with that so I figured we might as well get some use out of them!
Here is Katie dancing with her new hubby Scott, they were so cute together:)
And here she is line dancing and showing off here white cowboy boots!:)
And last but not least here is a picture of the girls last Sunday when we were miraculously ready early enough to take a picture before church! It seems like we are scrambling most Sunday's especially since I was put into the primary presidency and now have to be there by 8:30 to set up chairs...so it really was a miracle that we were ready early and had to document it! Our little Brynlee Mae turned 2 years old on the 10th of August. She is such a sweet little girl and we are so glad she is part of our family. We love you Brynlee!
Grandma Bennion sent this adorable tu tu and head band. Brynlee put in on and immediately started shakin her tushy:) It was great, thanks Grandma!
Jake's Grandma Crawford gave us this little doll crib a little while ago. It was a crib that Jake's Mom used to play with as a kid. I wish I had a before picture of it but Jake fixed it up, painted it and I made some bedding for it and it turned out really cute! I think it's so neat to be able to pass things done from on generation to the next. 
Smith cousin's! It's so fun being close to family...thanks everyone for coming and for all the great gifts, we love you all!
Blowing out the Candle!
I've heard people talked about how they hate going to family reunions, I on the other hand Live for them! I love being able to see all of my family members that I haven't seen in a long time and reminisce about old memories and make new memories as well. After each reunion I am even more grateful that families are forever! This summer we had 3 different family reunions all within about a month. It was a lot of traveling but so worth it!
The first reunion we attended was the Murdock reunion. We all got together to celebrate my mom's parents 65th wedding anniversary and my Grandpa Murdock's 90th birthday! This is them cutting their cake, aren't they cute!:) These two are some of the most special people in my life. They are such great examples and wonderful people, I'm so lucky to have them and Grandparents.
Grandma and Grandpa with the Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren that were able to be there that night. (Hard to believe this hardly makes a dent in all of my grandparents posterity!)
Brynlee enjoying some form of ice cream on a stick!
After the Murdock reunion we said goodbye to Jake for a week and hopped in the car with my parents and spent some time up in Billings. It was so much fun since Krista and her family were there and even better when Kara decided on a whim to fly up with 2 of her little ones and join the fun. We had a great time swimming, going to the zoo, shopping and doing a lot of chit chat! I didn't get many pictures on the trip but here are a few at the Montana Zoo.
There is a peacock that just roams free around the zoo, Gracie was pretty curious and got pretty close.
After our trip to Billings we headed to the Smith Family reunion in Lander Wyoming. We took one day and went to Martin's cove. The kids were even able to ride in a handcart and pull one too (at least long enough to take a picture!). It was a really neat experience to walk the trails the pioneers walked and to feel the spirit there.
Jake's dad Paul is in a little reinactment of the war before the firework show over the 4th of July each year. It's fun to see him all dressed up and ready for battle! 
Gracie and her cousin Marin waiting to the fireworks to begin. Lander puts on the Best firework show I've ever seen or heard of, it's so fun to go a watch! 
The Smith Cousins and Jake watching the 4th of July Parade! We all have to laugh because each year there is a float that hands out free beer to the crowd. Tons of people flock to that float and follow it down the road to get their share...only in Wyoming!
Well it seems like the summer is just flying by and it was sad to say goodbye to all of our families but we are so grateful for the time we were able to spend with all of them and hope to seem them all again soon!
