Family Fun Day 3

"Let's spend a day at the beach. What can you do when you go to the beach...."

Well, you can escape the heat.

Eat some S'mores.


Enjoy a shady spot with a friend.



Roast hot dogs, brats, and , of course, marshmallows.


Hang out with Grandpa.

Be brave and frolic in the waves.

Jump for joy.

Get "fun" all over you. (Still insists she didn't need a swimsuit and white shorts were fine)

Sit and enjoy some adult conversation. My aunt and uncle from Seattle area were able to come to the beach with us.

Possible, dig a hole to China! Well, the cousins always try.

It was one of the most beautiful days I have ever spent at the beach any where.

Family Fun Day 2

The week that the J. Crew was all here was HOT! The temperatures were in the 100s. So, we decided to try to find some fun indoor activities. We discovered this place called Out of This World Pizza. It is located in a warehouse, but has been converted in to a huge play area. The kids climbed, slide, scootered, and ran for about 4 hours straight.

That night we had a family picture. I have not seen the results, so I could be wrong. I figure the pictures probably aren't the best since it was over 104 degrees. Even the photographer didn't care to much about poses. We all simply wanted to get it done. I will have to post pictures when I have them.

Family Fun Day 1

This week all of the members of J. Crew were in town. We had a great time together and kept very busy. We started the week out right with Ethan's blessing.

I Fooled No One!

These are my cousins, Jeremy and Edward. (I never thought we looked that much a like, but I didn't fool anyone! Beth thinks the height difference between her and Ed isn't fair.)


These are my cousins' wives Jacqueline and Julie, who happen to be cousins too!


Last Sunday, my aunt, uncle, two cousins, and their family from the Great White North came to my ward and then over to my house for dinner. How did I get so lucky you ask? Well, they were in town for a family reunion on the other side of the family. Like they say in real estate, it's all about your location. I happened to have the right one :)

It was so much fun to be around everyone again. It has been quite awhile since we have been able to get together. I hadn't seen my cousins for 6 years! Amazing no one looked like they had aged at all (wink, wink!)

Here is Erica, Mickey, and Kennedy enjoying a good joke.


Miranda had just woke up from a nap and gave me the sweetest smile. Warning, if you come to my house we have so much fun we wear you out.

Here is my Uncle Bob and my mom. You can tell they come from the same gene pool!

Here is a picture of the whole group. Think we are missing 5 more cousins/siblings and all of their kids. Who knew a family could grow so big when you only start with 2 kids.

PS My aunt who I wrote about being sick in China is healthy and back here. (Thank goodness!) She is holding Ethan, who is wrapped in the red blanket.

A Question for Charles Darwin

So, a question for my blog readers. This will make you think about the gene pool. FYI, the boys are genetically related to each other and so are the girls, but who is genetically related to me...

Are these my cousins?


Or are these my cousins?


My sister, Beth, is in both pictures. I am definitely related to her :)
I can't wait to hear what you think!

Mount Saint Helen's

So, what is a girl to think when her husband says he is going to climb an active volcano?!



I am still not sure what I think of it, but on Friday JR did it. JR and his Young Men climbed
Mt St Helen's. He says that words fail to describe the experience, but all you can say about it is that it is awesome. He climbed for fours hours through forest, lava rocks, then ash. He said the view was amazing! He could see four other mountains. Here is a picture he took looking over the crater towards Spirit Lake with Mt Rainer in the background.
What could top that?

Happy Birthday Across the Sea

Our friends, the Harveys, have been blessed with a new addition to their family. A little girl named Micali. They went over to the Marshall Islands to bring her home. Unfortunately, there have been some hold ups on her visa. Micali wasn't able to be here for her First birthday.
That didn't stop the Harveys from celebrating with their friends. They asked all of us to head to 7-Eleven and have slurpees in honor of Micali being born on 7/11 (July 11, just in case you needed it clarified), and send them a picture.

So, here is Team Z at 7-Eleven. Yummy slurpees!


Here we are sending our birthday wishes to a little girl across the sea.


Micali, we are so happy that you are now a Harvey. The Harveys are a terrific family. We wish you many more Happy Birthdays together.