last day out with the boat :(... Happy 4th (actually 3rd)

So my mom came into town this week to come down for my cousin's wedding and to come and just visit and relax in STG...she loves it here and I love it when she comes to visit!! However this visit of hers also means she takes the boat home with her! :( Sad.... Kyle, Carli and I have so enjoyed having it here...it has been so much fun! We love to go out to the lake and just chill and relax out on the water! I LOVE IT!! Anyways so on Saturday we took it out to Quail Lake and had our last HOORAH here in STG with the boat. Did some skiiing, wakeboarding, surfing, cliff jumping...it was all so great, not to mention, GREAT WEATHER, and great company!

wedding...family...FUN...

Jake & Ashley's wedding was this weekend...so we had lots of family come and celebrate for it here is STG! They were married in the ST. George Temple and then had a lovely reception over at the Villa Gardens. It was all so lovely! Here are a lot of random shots from the festivitites.

Carli, Mom, & Me in front of the STG Temple

Mom, Carli, Ginny, Papa, & Me

The Johnson Family with the new addition (Jake)

Kyle, Ginny, Papa, & Me

Me & Ky

Ginny & Papa

beautiful bride's maid and the beautiful Bride!

Car & Ash

Chloe, Skye & Hadlee, Natalie, & Me

Car & Mom

Skye & I

It is always so much fun to get together with family! Congrats to Ash & Jake!

Good times...good Friend

So finding out I had one of my best friends going to be in town while I was away for girl's camp I was sad I wasn't even going to see her... I hadn't seen my friend in forever it seemed! But I returned home from camp on Saturday and they weren't in STG but they were up in Cedar City still....so I made the quick jont up there to see her! It was so great to see Sharis and Travis! Congrats to them...they are expecting a little Princess(yes, a girl!) on November1! I am so so excited for them! It was so much fun to catch up....just like old times! Anyways, there was some festival going on in town so we sat in the park and visited and saw some "very interesting" things.....but anyways! It was great to see you Sharis! Luv ya girl! :)

Girls Camp - Kolob Mountain

Being a leader in the YW in my ward, I was able to go to Girls Camp this year! It was up at Kolob Mountain --- absolutely beautiful up there... however, getting there was quite the journey (literally)...it was quite the place off of the beaten path for sure. Once I got there though, it was awesome! The views were absolutely BREATHTAKING! I got up there on Thursday evening and we hung out, had cheese & crackers with smoked oysters (apparently that is tradition with Bro. Boothe), played games, made some yummy white chili, performed some hilarious skits, and stayed up too late to function! It was so great to be up there with the girls and with the other leaders. :)

Here is one of the amazing look out points

So on Friday we woke up, went up the crooked trail to have our morning devotional and went back to make breakfast, which by the way was pretty cool. We made omelets and what we did was put all the ingredients we wanted in our omelet in a plastic baggy and then you put it in a pot to boil it up! Awesome huh? Nice way not to have to clean NASTY pans. In the afternoon we had our craft. We made the cutest scripture bags, but boy they took FOREVER to make....they turned out so cute though! We definitely felt very accomplished once we finished them... After lunch we got ready for our hike! It was so beautiful on the hike and we took lots of fun pictures of the girls! We got back and figured out who had who who for secret sisters, had another yummy dinner, and had an amazing testimony meeting, and went back up the crooked trail to look at the constellations to end the night!

picture break on the hike :) CHEESE!

top of crooked trail - look out of Kolob Reservoir

us leaders...Emili, Me, Stef, & De'dy

Saturday we got up and going... had a great closing devotional, had the most delicious cinnamon rolls that Dona made for all of us, and got to cleaning up camp! After we got camp packed up and everything all packed up in the cars, the girls sang the hymn "If You Could Hie to Kolob." They have such amazing voices....it was a great way to leave camp and head home! (We were all ready for a nice clean shower!)

I am so glad that I was able to go to girls camp this year...I had so much fun getting to know all of the girls and the leaders better - such amazing women that I was surrounded by. It was a great escape from reality to be able to be up in God's beautiful creations! I love being in the young womens and have learned so much from these wonderful girls! Love you all!

Miss you Dozer...

Sadly, a couple days ago (Tuesday) one of our dogs passed away....Dozer. She was such a great dog and I am going to miss her lots! She was getting pretty old (for a dog), but she had such a great life on the farm! I loved how she would get so excited abuot the little things....somthing I have learned from all of my dogs! She loved to go on walks (just not too far), but she loved more than anything was to go on rides in the truck with my Dad. It was so cute how she would get so excited to go...spinning circles at the tailgate, but could never quite jump in the back by herself....always needed a little boost. We loved her very much and will miss her....I am glad that she is just not in so much pain anymore. Love you Dozer!!

Olive, Me, Dozer

Happy Father's Day to the BEST Dad EVER!

So I just wanted to dedicate a post to my very special Dad since Father's day was a couple days ago. Unfortunately I didn't get to spend this special day dedicated to our fathers, but I was able to talk to him on the phone! :) ( I know definately not the same at all...) It is always such a treat to talk to him and catch up. My Dad has been so good to me....I am one of the luckiest girls to have been blessed to have such great parents. Dad has taught me so much and I owe a lot to him and my mom for all they have done for me and continue to do for me. They have molded me into the person that I am and I am so grateful for that. Dad has shown me unconditional love and has always supported me in all of my activities and all of my accomplishments...he taught me how to work hard and to play hard too! Dad has given us so many wonderful opportunities to do some amazing things, go to some fabulous places, and to have some very special experiences as a family. He has always been such a great example to me in my life and I LOVE HIM VERY MUCH!

Me and Dad on my wedding day :)

Dad and I at my BA graduation

and of course at a BSU football game! :)

Thanks again Dad for being the most amazing Dad in the world! I love you so VERY much!!xoxo

Why I LOVE dogs

Things we can learn from a dog:

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.

When a loved one comes home, always run to greet them.

Take naps, and stretch before rising.

Be loyal.

Never pretend you're something you're not.

When somebody is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

Avoid biting when a growl will do.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Bond with your pack.

Allow the experiences of fresh air and wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.