Well the kids left this morning, but before I have to face those facts, I'll post a few more fun times from the past few days...

 We dug out some sparkly sequins, paper glue and glitter and let the kids go to town.  It was so nice outside, we spent most of the days out there.

 Emily has been able to hold a pencil correctly and draw pretty well since she was about 1.  She gets really intense when shes writing.

 We took the kids down to the park one afternoon.  They have redone the whole park and it's really nice now.  Lots of fun for the kids.

Emily helped me pick the grapes. I didn't realize how many there were till I got out there and looked under the leaves. Last year we only had a few (we just planted them two years ago) but they were loaded this year!  We got enough to do 9 quarts of juice!  

 I love how Emily will try new things...mmmm grapes are yummy!

Camille and I went for one last run Saturday morning.

I liked watching our shadows running along next to each other.

Our sunflowers are all bent over they are so heavy with seeds!  

Candice came over and we all went into the nail shop for pedicures.  They are always so busy, I was glad we called ahead for an appointment. (we got some dirty looks from some other ladies that were there waiting when they took us in first...I felt kind of dumb but I guess that's why you make an appointment)  Candice had a little accident with her polish.  It just exploded when it dropped on the cement floor.  It cleaned up real easy though. She's been having kind of a rough go of it lately...seems like sometimes bad luck comes in bundles that are dumped on your lap all at once. She is a strong girl though and can laugh at herself and the embarrassing situations she finds herself in.  I love that about her.

We got to talking to a lady at the nail shop that was really a hoot.  She liked to do stitchery too.  I wanted her to see the cute things Candice has made...this is her latest...a cute gift for Olivia's birthday (she loves foxes!)

 Dinner at Texas Rhode house...a wild fun night!  I love so much being able to spend this time with the whole family.

We celebrated Olivias almost birthday Tuesday because they won't be here next Tuesday on her real birthday.

Olivia's dream come true is Classic Skating so that's where we went.  I haven't been there for years and it has completely changed.  It really is very cool now!  Everything a kid could want!  It has bouncy play land, a huge jungle Jim, arcade games, Lazer Tag and two skating rinks! 

We went early enough in the afternoon that it wasn't terribly crowded and had a real fun time!

They had a bounce house for 4 years and under that Emily loved!

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 Camille got a huge pizza that made everyone happy

Emily had about had it and was starting to fall asleep

Sarah, Chloe, Meg and Ryder were sweet to come join us for a while.  That little Chloe is such a doll with so much personality!

Olivia is a good little skater!

 KC and Candice were showing off their moves too.

After, we came back to the house for presents, cake and ice cream.  She is always very sweet and grateful.

Olivia is such a special girl.  She is sweet, funny, kind hearted and such a big helper with Emily. It's hard to believe she is 9 years old, but as I watched her skate around the rink with those long gracefull legs, I can just picture the lovely young lady she is becoming.  I wish I could freeze time right now because I know the next 7 or 8 years are going to be challenging.  Watching my young women and all the temptations, drama with friends, and crude ugliness they face at school breaks my heart and I just want to protect them from it somehow.  I feel this way times 100 for Olivia. She is still so sweet and innocent, but with the flood of social media surrounding the youth, I fear for her future. I know she has to be in the world and live and learn, but I can't stand the thoughts of her having to deal with all of what's out there.  I'm so grateful Camille and Kellen are teaching their kids the gospel and what is right and wrong.  They have taught them how to pray and I know if they use what they have been taught and know they can turn to them and Heavenly Father for help, they will be ok. 

 I made her an Anna doll for her birthday.  Her hair is a little bit out of control, but she's pretty cute.

 After conference, we decided to go for a drive up to silver lake.  Seemed like a good idea...I guess that's why everyone else in the valley had the same thought.  The whole parking lot was full but we found a spot and met up with Camille and the kids and Candice.  It was just starting to rain but we decided to go for it anyway.  

 It was so pretty up there and the smell of the pine trees was heavenly.

 This little one had the best time.  She saw things (bugs, pretty rocks, and flowers) that none of the rest of us did and was so excited about it! Her and grampa went at their own speed.

Reminds me of the sweet little poem I gave to daddy when our kids were young...(Walking with Grampa)  He would always take his time and walk slow with them, noticing all the special things around them. oh I miss my dad! But so grateful the grand kids have a good grampa that that loves them to pieces and would do anything in the world for them.

Ha Ha everyone saw a squirrel running by and had to squeal.

Aren't they just the cutest!

We had such a nice afternoon there together.  Cherishing every moment with the whole family together.  It feels like a little bit of heaven here on earth.