A Touch Of Tyrell

Breckie was baptized two days after her birthday.  Both sets of Grandparents arrived late on the night of her birthday.  Jake baptized her. She looked so cute in her white dress and flower crown.  We decorated with white balloons and I made the same giant #8 with lifetime pictures of Breckie like I did with Everett.  We had lunch back at the house and ate sandwiches, fruit, chips and cookies.  It was crazy stressful (for me) throwing two parties with only one day in between and hosting all the visiting family. But Breckie felt so loved and so special so it was worth it.   

One day, while the Morris family was here, we went to the trail park.  Once, we took the kids, YEARS ago when we were coming home from an Edward Jones Regional meeting. But it was the end of June.  We lasted 7 minutes.  It was way too hot.  So this was basically our first time being there.  We played at the parks, rode the train, ate lots of ice cream and played some more.  The weather was ideal and it was such a fun memory to make as a family.  We had some some with Brianna, Michael, Haley & Porter while they were here.  Roxy has been asking where her friend with the brown hair is! And the whole family agrees that Breckie and Haley look more like sisters that Breckie and Roxy! Funny how genetics work!  

Last month, one of Jake's younger sisters and her family, came for a visit.  They were freezing in  Idaho and needed to warm up!  They were loving the 70 degree heat here.  One day they went to the zoo and Jake & Roxy tagged along.  Roxy and Haley were big-time buddies! *Roxy sitting on Elephant "poop" They had a fun time and totally wiped out the kids.  And they even got to ride the camels!! It was Jake's first time to the zoo, too!  I've been more than a dozen times so I thought I'd let him go this time.   

We were really excited to be in Colorado because we felt like we could play... and play we did!  We went to Lake Knighthorse in Durango. It's been there for a few years but we've never been. The kids didn't play in the water for super long but the ended up having quite a bit of fun in the sand. I think Roxy with dirt on her face is one of the most adorable things. She's just too cute 👌 There was another family throwing mud balls at each other so Everett decided to do the same. It was actually pretty fun to see them actually get dirty and have fun together (usually Breckie is a princess about getting dirty). I was so proud of her! It was one of those things where it was fun until it wasn't anymore. :) The water was really pretty and it was a nice day out on the lake.  Later, when we were all clean and dry, Jake and I were able to go out on a much needed date. It seems like everything has been closed for so long. Luckily one of our favorite places was open... with a ...

I just love the 4th of July in a small town. I love small towns (at least the ones I grew up in)  and I love the extra sense of freedom they seem to have.  Jake and I have always assumed we'd raise our family in a small town but that hasn't been the case, and that's okay. The suburbs have been pretty great to us and the fact that we can visit family in small towns has been pretty great.  I knew the 4th of July would be different this year but I still wanted to salvage as much of our Independence Day as possible. So we headed to Colorado.  Turns out they were having a small, last minute, parade  protest. Patriotic nerd? YES! I also recognize that I am the only one that thinks my kids with messy, chocolaty faces are cute! Jake is constantly wiping off their faces and it doesn't even cross my mind! The parade was a lot longer and better than I was expecting! We were pleasantly surprising and the kids were super stoked they got candy! Roxy really loves her Uncle "Ra...