Birthdays

We had two birthdays in July.  Bonnie turned 12.  She is such an amazing and beautiful young woman.  She is smart and talented and so kind and thoughtful.  I am so grateful I get to be her mom. 

 Gwen turned 8!  I can't believe my baby is 8.  She is a bright spot in my life.  She can always make me smile or laugh with her quirky personality. I am so blessed to be the mom of these two amazing girls.

We had a combined birthday party at Desert Tumbling, and then Bonnie's friends came back to our house to watch a movie and have some pizza.

Relay race

Gwen on the long trampoline

Gwen practicing a back walkover

Bonnie jumping the blocks

Handstand competition

Bonnie, Gwen, and all their friends in the foam pit

The birthday cake.

Blowing out the candles

Happy birthday Bonnie and Gwen.  We love you!!

Kingman

At the end of July our family had the chance to go to Kingman to visit Uncle Bryan and Aunt Lori.  They were so kind to let us come stay with them overnight.  While we were there we got to go to Oatman and see the wild donkeys.  We got there a little late and most of the shops were closed, but we still wandered around to see the donkeys and take a few pictures.

Nate

Jared

Gwen

 Bonnie had no desire to even step into any kind of a coffin, real or fake.  Can't say I blame her.

This momma had a brand new baby.  We made the kids stay back, but she was very grateful when they brought her some hay cubes.  She was pretty hungry.

Petting the donkeys

This momma kept a close eye on Nate any time he got close to her baby.

Aunt Lori took the kids for a ride in the rhino.

Then she was much braver than I would have been and let both Nate and Bonnie have a chance driving.

Bonnie driving

 We had such a great time visiting with Bryan and Lori.  They were very gracious hosts.

Bridal Veil Falls

While visiting with Ben's family we decided to take the trail to Bridal Veil Falls.  It looked like it would be a great day for hiking as it was cloudy and a little cooler than it had been.  We had our family, Grandma and Grandpa Walker, and Aunt Margie.

At the beginning of the trail

Bonnie with Grandma Marleen

Gwen and Daddy

Mom, Jared, and Aunt Margie

At the falls with Grandpa and Aunt Margie

Our family at the base of the falls

On a bridge on the way back

Picking snake grass.  We don't see a lot of that in AZ so it was a new adventure for the kids.

About halfway up the trail it started to rain and it continued the rest of the way up and the whole way back.  You can tell we are a little wet in the pictures at the falls, but in the pictures at the end of the hike we look a little like drowned rats. :)  It was such a fun hike and we loved going.  The rain made it even more memorable.

Ben, Grandpa, Grandma, and Aunt Margie at the end of the hike

At the end of the hike

Utah

After staying in Idaho for a few days we were able to go to Utah and spend a few days with Ben's family.  We went right from a BBQ at Bob and Tasha's house to another 4th of July BBQ and Chuck and Melissa's house.  While we were there I gave the kids the camera and told them to make sure they got some pictures with their cousins.  Once again, I love the pictures I get back when my kids have had the camera.

Walker and Jared

Brooklyn

Elizabeth and David

Caleb's nose and chin

Bonnie

Bonnie B., Hallie, and Bonnie

Nate and Joe

Walker and Cameron

Grandpa Walker has a tradition with the grandkids, when they turn 8, 12, 16, and 18ish they get to reach into his can of coins with one hand and pull out as much money as they can.  This year Bonnie turned 12 and Gwen turned 8 so they were able to reach into Grandpa's can while we were there.

Bonnie

Gwen

Grandma and Grandpa Walker also did a movie night with some of the grandkids that were visiting.  They got to wear their pajamas, eat yummy treats, and watch Toy Story 3.

Grandma, Hallie, Jordan, Bonnie, Gwen, Grandpa, Cameron, Brooklyn, Jared, and Nate

We also took a really fun hike to Bridal Veil Falls, but that will have to be a post of its own.

Idaho

In Idaho we were able to spend time with family.  We had a such a fun time having BBQs, playing with cousins, and just visiting.

Lizzie, Bonnie, and Uncle Gumby

Roasting hot dogs

Eating

Gwen and Lizzie

Kids playing on the trampoline with cousins

Visiting at Bob and Tasha's house

Jared, Jace, and Nate

Gwen, Kimma, Sarah, Lizzie, Jeremy, and Mallory

We had so much fun visiting everyone.  We love being with family!

Temple Square

 This summer we took a trip up to Idaho and Utah to visit family.  We went drove from Peoria to Salt Lake City, arriving at 1 in the morning.  The next morning we took the kids to Temple Square before we continued on to Idaho.

Watching a momma duck with her babies in a small park near Temple Square

Our family in front of the temple

The kids in front of the temple by the reflecting pool.

 I always like to get a picture of the kids in front of the Nauvoo Bell on Temple Square when we are there, because our ancestors carried that bell across the plains after they recovered it (stole it back) from the minister of another church who tried to steal it when the saints were leaving Nauvoo.

The kids in front of the Nauvoo Bell

In front of the Christus

 We took the kids on a tour of the Conference Center.

On the roof.

Our tour guide was a sweet lady named Sister Hyman.  She asked how long we had and we told her about half an hour, but that we weren't on a strict schedule.  Well she was determined to get us done with the tour in a half hour.  When the kids stopped to admire anything for too long she would rush us along and tell them, "We only have a half hour."  She was so funny.  I did get her to stop long enough for a couple of pictures.  At the end she was a little disappointed because we went over by 5 minutes.

The kids with our tour guide, Sister Hyman