I believe...

I Believe...That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.
I Believe...That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
I Believe....That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance.
I Believe... That you can do something in an instant that will cause you heartache for life.
I Believe...That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.
I Believe...That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.
I Believe...That just because two people argue,it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other.
I Believe... That you can keep going long after you think you can't.
I Believe...That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
I Believe...That either you control your attitude or it controls you.
I Believe...That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
I Believe...That money is a lousy way of keeping score.
I Believe...That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.
I Believe...That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.
I Believe...That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.
I Believe...That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.
I Believe...That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others; you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I Believe...That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.
I Believe...That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but, we are responsible for who we become.
I Believe...That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life Forever.
I Believe...Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
I Believe...That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.
I Believe...That even when you think you have no more to give, if a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

~ This was taken from one of those go-around-the-world e-mails, but I loved it

Funny thing said by Layne's 90-year old Grandma

At the family reunion, Grandma Pearl was reading a poem she wrote which she reads to her family at each reunion. It is a sweet poem about how she and Grandpa John met and their life together. Well, she got to a verse that said something like: "John was a terrific husband and a great lover..." and of course her rowdy kids and grandkids started hootin' and hollerin'. She stopped, looked up, and said "Well, if you don't believe me, just look at all this posterity!"

Happy 4th of July!

Time for a fun, small town, Fourth of July!

We went to the parade and the kids got so much candy thrown to them from the floats that it seemed more like Halloween. We saw Delaney and the other cheerleaders 'floatin by' and they looked so cute. This was "the best parade ever" according to the local paper ~ and I agree, although it's only the 2nd one I've been to here. The kids went 'diving for dollars' at the pool ~ Cooper made out the best in our family with a little over $3.00 in coins. We enjoyed funnel cakes, soda pop, and other treats. Delaney was in a play (which we'll have to catch the 2nd performance of tomorrow) but she said had fun doing it. We saw family and friends and we'll be off to see the fireworks soon. It's been a great day!

The colorguard starts off the parade

Brody and Cooper salute the flag

They shot this cannon off during the parade - I jumped every time!

Every time the sirens went off a startled Everett would say "Whaz that noiz?"

Patriotic Nash wavin' his flag

Layne and the boys on the parade route

Cooper shows his patriotism

Brody & me (photo taken by Nash)

Cool Statue of Liberty float

I loved this little Napa Auto Parts car - that's a kid driving with just a huge hat!

Layne and Ev~buddies enjoying the parade

Brody waves his flag

A great float by the college

San Juan High Bronco Cheerleaders - that's Delaney wavin' in the back

Brody took this picture of Nash - I love it!

Cooper and the loot he got "diving for dollars"

Happy Independence Day!

A Great Family Reunion

This past weekend was the Lewis Family Reunion. (That is Layne's Mom's side of the family.) Grandma Pearl and Grandpa John Lewis have held the reunion every other year for many, many years. Although John passed away a few years ago, Pearl still keeps the tradition going. The reunion is held outside of Monticello up at the Blue Mountain Guest Ranch where everyone can camp out. There are six brothers and sisters in her family, all of whom have their own families and so on and so on! It's always lots of fun. It starts on Friday evening. On Saturday there are always fun activities for the kids - this year they made and launched little rockets - and there are always games of volleyball, kickball, touch football, basketball, etc. going on. Plus this year the creek was running so that was instant entertainment for the kids right there. There are great meals put together by the different families and on the 2nd night there was a program with skits by each sibling's families based on happenings from Pearls' life ~always funny! It is Pearl's 90th b-day this year, so we all wrote notes and letters to her and they were put in a book and presented to her on Saturday night. She was very touched and had great things to say about her loving family. After that there was the traditional 'fairy hike' which is always a highlight. Everyone follows the trails of fairies hanging in the trees to a meadow where a story is told then it's back to the pavilion where everyone finds some candy waiting for them. Then on Sunday everyone gets up, eats, cleans the camp area, says their goodbyes or 'so long - see ya around town' and heads home! It's always great fun and I love getting to know more of Layne's extended family.

Layne and his mom, Glenice

Layne and his boyz (3 of them at least!)

Grandma Pearl - 90 years old this August

Layne's sister Roxanne and 2 of her girls - Mersadez and Swayzi

Layne's brother Tyler - the 'baby' of the family - and his wife Jenny

Five generations -

Pearl, Glenice, Amber, September, and Zoey

Layne's brother Ryan & his wife Allyn

Brody's 'Utah Space Center' Rocket

Ev 'flies' his rocket

Nash's rocket

Brody's arch

Brody and Delaney


Brody, Coop, Delaney, & Nash at our campsite


Cousins - Kara, Brock, Delaney, Koy, Sydnee

Layne's sister Camille's family from Colorado

Delaney

Cooper & Nash

Layne's siter Tami & hubby Max

Layne's sister Kelli & her kids


Our fam - our tent - last day

Adventures of a Boy

This weekend at our family reunion a bunch of the young cousins playing in the creek made a mudslide down the banks of it. The result:

Before

Those shorts are actually off-white!

Are those footprints on his back?

After

He cleans up good though, don't he? :)

Let Them Be Little

I heard this song today...haven't heard it in a while.
Sweet as it is, it also helps me to get through those days. Ya know the ones I mean...

The days when not one minute goes by that someone needs something right this minute.
The days that just when you think everyone is well, someone starts throwing up.
The days when you come home and the baby has spilled goldfish, or Pringles, or something crunchy and greasy on the floor and the other kids have stepped in it and ground it into your nice carpet.
The days when the laundry is literally everywhere and there aren't enough hours in the week to get it all done; plus, for some reason people think they need to wear clothes every day and make more laundry.
The days that you wake up on the very edge of your bed after sleeping in about a half foot of space to discover your five year old has the entire rest of the king-sized bed all to himself and yet is pushing his feet into your back.
The days when your young, sweet child says "Mommy, your tummy looks pregnant" and not only are not pregnant ~ you have been working out every day!
The days where there is always one child who can only find one of their shoes...one of any of their millions of pairs of shoes!
The days when the baby gets hold of a marker and writes all over the walls when you think he is playing quietly downstairs with the other kids.

You have those days too, right? Well, here are the lyrics to the song that reminds me it's all worth it...

Let Them Be Little
I can remember when you fit in the palm of my hand
Felt so good in it, no bigger than a minute
How it amazes me, you're changing with every blink
Faster than a flower blooms they grow up all too soon

So let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little.

I've never felt so much in one little tender touch
I live for those kisses, prayers and your wishes
Now that you're teaching me things only a child can see
Every night while we're on our knees all I ask is please

Let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

So innocent, a precious soul, you turn around
It's time to let them go.
So let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love everyday
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

Ev and Nash

I just luv these little boys...