New look.

A big thanks to my sister Stacey for updating my blog look.

She is amazing.

If you don't read her blog.

You should.

I love it!

Thank you!

The Ranch

Every year we go to my Grandpa's ranch in Wyoming.

It's about 15 miles from Evanston.

I love it there.

We go up the 4th and the 24th.

I love getting away from the world.

I love being with my wonderful family.

I love how incredible the stars look.

And I love fireworks.

This year, Sam, Ty, Parker and Colby

Put on our firework show.

They put a lot of work into it and it was incredible.

There was even music that went with the fireworks.

I told them that I wanted to get a picture of them.

They told me they were to busy.

So I got a few candid pics.

P.S. Isn't that sunset pretty amazing?

They went up the mountain to get set up and

everyone else gathered around the fire.

This year my dear cousin Cody

taught us how to make a new and delicious treat,

Dough Boys (at least I think that's what they're called)

Step 1: This special stick that my Uncle Sunnie made

Step 2: Place dough around the stick, making sure it's thin.

Step 3: Roast it!

*Just a side note, Mike makes the best dough boys.

Seriously. If Mike is around don't even attempt to make one.

Ask him because you can't compete with his.

Look how perfect his looks...

Step 4: Fill it up. Think chocolate pudding, jam, fruit,

whipped cream, peanut butter, nutella and anything else.

Step 5: Enjoy this delicious treat! Aren't these two so cute? Luke and Blythe. They loved playing with flashlights The only other red-headed cousin. Cody. He has a great blog. Check it out here. Shay and Kayli Ann After the fireworks the boys decided I could take a picture. Two pictures actually. Shay, Nika, Kayli and I slept in a tent. We were planning on sleeping out under the stars But started feeling raindrops So we moved the boys stuff out of the tent. They were happy about this move. It meant they could sleep in the t.v. room Instead of going to church we had our own little meeting. My grandpa always gives the best devotionals. Nika and Uncle Chad Kayli and Riley Mike and Bria CJ and Shay Uncle Dave and Blythe Riley. We had a few pranks played on us the first night. One of the pranks...putting a pineapple in our tent. From what I hear, Riley was getting a little giddy and thought it would be a great prank. It was. We woke up and were a little confused. Are you wondering what the other pranks were? They also placed an owl in the tent. It didn't scare me but it got Shay pretty good. Aunt Tonya, Riley, Sam, Ty, Parker and Colby Caught moths, unzipped our tent and put them inside. As if that wasn't bad enough, they shined a flashlight On our faces so the moths would land on our faces. We all slept through it. I had a sleep mask on and ear plugs And had taken some cough syrup. Don't worry, we got them back. We saran-wrapped their cars. Nika and Shay. Nika is so good at braiding hair. CJ and his California - dream - boat - hair When I was little, I always loved playing with Lincoln Logs. I love that after all these years they are still being enjoyed. I've always loved how this has a question mark... j The city of Evanston puts on an incredible firework show. So do the residents. We found a nice little spot in the backyard of a seminary building. Aunt JaNae and Uncle Sunnie playing it cool. Team Cheer. Not really. But it looks like it. ' Every direction you looked, fireworks were going off It was so incredible. And so very very cold. Different corners have competitions with each other. These people spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars on fireworks. So it's great to be able to enjoy them, For Free. I'm already excited to watch next year. We're going back up Saturday. And I can't wait.

People of Walmart

I don't know if you've ever seen the website

People of Walmart

It is incredible.

When Shay, Nika, Kayli and I were driving to

Walmart, I told them all about it.

I said we needed to keep our eyes out for some

People of Walmart.

Shay and I spotted the man we call

Braid Man

I had a camera in my purse and grabbed it

because I needed a picture.

But I chickened out.

I thought my phone would be a little

less obvious...

Again, I chickened out.

I don't know if you know this,

I hate getting in trouble.

Anytime I do anything remotely bad

I get caught.

The first time I snuck out of the house

I broke my back.

That is why I avoid being naughty.

I knew my cousin Nika was brave.

She followed the braid man around for

At least 5 minutes to get this picture.

Let me tell you,

I have never been more proud of her.

Nika, thank you for this picture.

It makes my heart so very happy.

And Braid Man, just so you know,

Whenever something weird happens

We blame it on you.

We are not bad people but it just seems

Like the only logical explanation.

Like how Shay's new cellphone wallpaper

Mysteriously turned into the picture of you.

Or how when I went to turn the sprinklers on

At one of the rental houses and the sprinkler was missing,

I went home to get a new one and when I returned

It had been put back.

Shay said it must have been you and I think it was.

Braid Man,

We love this braid.

And we wonder questions like:

How long has it taken to grow it out

How often do you wash it

Does someone help you put the elastics in

Are you married

What made you decide to grow out such a long, long braid

Can we get a picture with you

What do you do for a living

Do you go swimming with it

Do children swing from it

Do you like the story Rapunzel

And I'm sure many many more

Now dear friends here is the picture.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

And yes, it almost reaches the bottoms of his shorts.

Heaven in a box.

I've had this terrible cold for over a week now.

When I got to the Ranch (post to come soon)

I had my dear cousin Shay

Take me to the Walmart in Evanston.

I was in desperate need of some

Puffs plus with the scent of Vick's

Let me tell you,

If Heaven exists in a box,

this is it.

When we got back,

I had to share...

I think everyone tried at least one.

I don't know what it is about

Vick's Vapor Rub,

But I love it.

I love breathing it in.

I love it, even when I'm not sick.

It is so comforting.

It really is my Heaven in a box.

I feel I also need to mention

my love/hate of this.

These two products are very needed

To fight a killer cold.

Look What I Found...

Have you ever wondered how many chi's my family has purchased over the years? Well now you don't have to wonder... I was cleaning the powder room and came across these boxes. I don't even know what to say about them. I did however think it was worth a blog post.

Eclipse

Shelly, Ben, Mari, Shay, Nika and I went to

The Midnight showing of Eclipse.

And we loved every second of it.

Seriously it was my favorite one so far!

Ben and Mari left that day for California.

Their flight left at 8 o'clock.

It was fun little last hoorah before they moved.

I'm so very glad we went.

As for them, you'll have to ask.

A great quote to remember.

I don't know how long we have had this quote on our fridge,

But it seems like as long as I can remember.

Sometimes I'm so used to seeing it,

I forget to read it.

I really should never forget.

It is so profound.

Today I was getting some

Simply Lemonade (with raspberries)

I started reading this quote that I have read

at least 100 times.

And it was just what I needed to read/hear.

People are often

unreasonable and

self-centered.

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind,

people may accuse you

of ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.

If you are honest,

people may cheat you.

Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness

people may be jealous.

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today

may be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

Give the world your best

and it may never be enough.

Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end,

it is between you and God.

It never was between

you and them anyway.

--Mother Teresa