Daddys home!!!!!

Laun was out of town for a week for a conference in Colorado. We were all so happy to have him home again. When I dropped Laun off at the airport a week ago Marlee was crying, Clayton said he missed him already, & Porter said he couldn't even remember what his face looked like- this is all why we were still at the airport. Pathetic-maybe, but we sure do love our Laun. Another funny moment was when Clayton requested that I stop talking about Dad while he was gone because it made him miss him too much- he said that he stays up for about an hour each night thinking about dad & then he goes to sleep. Well I guess it is a good thing that Laun is home now so that his child can get a good night sleep (and his wife too). When Laun goes on a trip he brings us home a suprise:

Marlee got this cow, which she loves. But please don't touch it because it is HER cow. On a side note, she likes the word mine almost as much as the word no now.


The boys got these way cool mints, I have never seen anything like these before. They are very strong though-altoid has nothing on these suckers. Warning, have only 1 mint at a time or your head might just explode:)


They also got these coins^ and they were very excited because they are really into money and coin collecting right now.

Marlee was happy to be with her daddy again- even though I had to wake her up at 11:00pm to pick up Laun from the airport.

And for me, lots and lots of chocolates from Laun. Life is better when Laun is home.

More Marlee

You can't just stop at one

Working on her cheesy smile

Her hair is getting longer, which is fun because I can do more with it. Laun's sister Janae has lots of girls so, I have gotten good hairdo ideas from her-here is the latest one:

You make me smile

This little girl is growing up so fast. She has learned how to smile cheesy for the camera, in case you can't tell from the photo. She is so chatty lately & I love hearing her sweet voice.

The other night there was a moth in our house so, Laun & I were pointing to it & saying moth. Marlee said,"I see moth" & "it's a moth"-she just kept on saying that over & over again, it was so cute! It was kind of a random sentence but it was so funny to Laun & I.

While my parents watched her last week they discovered her love to climb. I guess Marlee was quite entertaining. My dad said that she was calm and cooperative most of the time-I love the most of the time part. When we picked up Marlee we all ran in the house & let her choose who she wanted to go to. She always chooses Laun but, not this time. She put her arms out to me & when Laun took her she got so sad & reached out for me. It was awesome- for me at least. It didn't last long but, it made me feel good & helped me realized how much she loves & needs her mom; even though she usually is a daddy's girl. This girl makes me smile!

Lydia May

My sister Rachel had her first baby on the 4th of July- very cool b-day. But when Lydia was born we were on our way to Lake Powell so, we had to wait & meet her when we got back.
Rachel is a natural born mother & looks like a pro already.

Here is sweet Lydia with her Grandma Turley:


Lydia meeting her Uncle Laun:


I just love newborns:


The cute Johnston family:

I'm sad we only had time for a short visit-we were all excited to meet this little cutie.

4th of July-Lake Powell trip

We spent last week at Lake Powell & got there on the fourth of July. It was Ryan & Kami's family, Sam & Janae's family, Josh & Misty's family & Our family minus Marlee (my mom & dad babysat her for us-yea).

The kids watched the fireworks from the top of the house boat:


The next day we moved the boats out to a different place on the lake:



On the top of the house boat:

Laun & Clayton on a wave runner:

Clayton was always tring to catch something:

Laun & Porter on the wave runner:

Laun & I on the wave runner:

My handsome boy:

Clayton was so excited to catch his first fish of the trip:

Porter with his Uncle Sam:

The guys:

Me & Lucy:

Kami, Me & Misty:

The kids liked watching the fish get filleted:

Clay on the Kayak:

Port on the kayak:

Laun took me out on the kayak too:

Porter & the Smart boys ready for a ride:

Kalli on this cool thing that help kids learn how to ski:

Janae, Misty & I- we were brave enough to let Sam pull us with a wave runner:

Josh with his boys & our boys-I think they were over the weight limit:

The boys swam so far with Laun & Sam looking at fish under water:

Ryan found a great spot for the house boat- a sandy beach:

Lucy & I with some of the kids-the tube rides were so fun:

My boys have so much fun with the Smart boys:

A pile of kids coloring & eating cereal:

Clayton loved the fishing- one morning he woke some of us up with his excitement of catching a catfish; he yelled,"the fish whipped me with its wiggly whiskers":

He caught 11 fish total on the trip

Laun & I on the house boat:

Some of the kids in the relaxation station:

Clayton was nervous about cliff jumping (I can't blame him, me too) but, Laun offered him a treat if he would try it. He talked to Laun for awhile about it because he was nervous:

Here is Clayton jumping:

Porter jumped too but I didn't get to see it so, no pictures.

We took the boats out to have a picnic:

We found a great spot in the shade with lots of sand to eat our picnic:

Porter making a sand angel:

Porter had a great time sitting with his uncle Sam on the back of the boat:

The boys with their treats at the marina store:

These guys made the funniest faces:

Laun wake boarding:

The kids had a great time digging holes in the sand:

Porters smile looks so cute with his missing tooth:

We made smores the last night:

We had a lot of fun & it was nice to spend time with our boys. We were so thankful to my parents for watching Marlee for us, it made the trip so much easier. And I think Marlee had fun with her grandparents. We missed her & we were all so excited to see her when we got back.