Brett and Maddee's wedding!

Brett and Maddee were married on Thursday! It was a beautiful day with the best weather ever!

She looked so beautiful in her beautiful wedding dress.

Here are the Shaw's and they all look so happy, and they should, it was a great day!

The brothers and Sis!

Grandma and Grandpa!

Her colors were black and yellow and they were so striking! I loved the cake, this so reminds me of Maddee.

The food was out of this world!

I loved these cute cupcake pedestals, they really make these cupcakes say, Eat me, Eat me!

The ceiling was just as pretty!

Nate talking to the new couple.

Tydon being shy talking to the new couple.

A cute picture, isn't Emerson growing up!

Kace with his cheesy grin! It was so fun to see so many people that I knew and have not seen for a long time.  We wish Maddee and Brett the best, they are such a beautiful bride and groom!

Thanks for the great day!

Oh, Deer!

To look at this picture you wouldn't think these three were very excited but they were, they are just holding it back.

Mac had one day to go hunting because of work and school so he made it count!  Ryan said that he missed the bigger one, but that is usually how it is :)  Oh, they are so funny when it comes to deer hunting! Way to go Mac! In his words he dropped him, "Like a sack of potoatoes!"

Kace's Baptism

On Saturday Kace was baptized! I can't believe that he is 8! It was a great day and it will have some great memories in my mind and it also taught me some simple truths.

It is hard to get Kace to smile at times but here is one of his best!

Tydon wasn't sure if he wanted his picture but finally gave me one of his great smiles as well.

Here is Kace with his friend Christian who was baptized just a few months before.

I have to just tell about the sweet experience that touched my heart. I have thought about it all weekend. After the confirmation the Bishop's counselor asked Rachel to bear her testimony. Which was great by the way, then little Tydon really wanted to bear his testimony and wanted to get up right after she was finished. I think Rachel told him to wait and he was having a hard time holding still. Then after Rachel was finished the Bishop's Counselor got up again and then invited anyone who wanted to bear their testimonies to do so. Well, little Tydon was excited to stand and began by saying very sincerely, " I want to share my Monster Trucks," well as soon as that came out of his mouth everyone began to snicker and laugh, and because Tydon is so sensitive he hurried and sat down by his Mom and began to cry. Ryan, I, Ted, and Kaylene, (Rachel's parents), bore our testimonies and then Tydon was asked to say the closing prayer. When he got up Rachel went up with him and then Rachel knelt beside him to help him if he needed help with the prayer. Well as soon as Rachel knelt down, Tydon knelt and folded his arms. He then said the sweetest prayer which of course included thanking his Father in Heaven for his Monster trucks. I will forever have that tender mercy of a picture in my mind of an innocent 3 year old kneeling with his arms folded to say a prayer in front of a group at his brother's confirmation. I then thought how sincere he was about thanking for his Monster trucks. I then thought about what we as adults thank our Father for and is their much of a difference? Ryan then said to me later, "If you were the parents who had given him the Monster trucks wouldn't you feel appreciative knowing how much he was thankful for them and isn't our Father in Heaven just as appreciative of us when we thank Him for those things that we are thankful for. It's just that a 3 year old world is just a little smaller and simpler than ours. So thanks Tydon! I am glad you are thankful for your Monster trucks!

It must be Fall, we are back watching football!

I can't believe that Kace is old enough to play football!!!  He has been so excited to play and it has been so fun to watch him! He loves to play and he is a smart little player! It has brought back so many memories watching him play! I spent many autumn seasons watching my favorite football players, Nate, Isaac and Mac! and now I get to do it again!

He is now playing Offense and Defense, so when the game is over he is ready for a break!

Tydon can't wait until it is his turn. He is usually wearing his muscle under armor shirt because he wants to be ready to play! He had to have his picture taken in this tree!

His Grandpa Andrew found a friend for him and he decided to wear it on his hat!

You can't see it as well in this picture, but that little praying mantis is still there, just camouflaged.

Nate, really gets into the game and you can see him telling him how football is to be played! It's funny when it is your own child, how the passion comes back for the game, that you played and loved. I remember Ryan doing the same thing.

Go! number 87!

Number 87 is doing great and usually scores a couple of touch downs a game.

Okay, here is Grandpa giving him some pointers too! It's good Kace has so many people that love and care about him! It's great that he listens to their advice because he is doing great!

Go Kace! Go Bears! We love watching you play!

More Pictures!

I thought I better post the rest of these pictures before a month goes by! I had so many pictures that I better post the rest of these before fall is here, ( oh, oops fall is already here!)

I have to show you the pictures of Epcot and Animal Kingdom!

If you have never been before, Epcot is a fascinating place. you could spend days exploring all of the scientific adventures and places of the world there.  We were in Norway with this above picture and Layne felt like a viking.

Here is a picture by the large troll. I wanted to find out more about Norway because Ryan's grandfather came from there and I remember his grandfather and his cute Norwegian accent.

These pictures might be all mixed up. Sorry, I don't like this new photo up loader. This was when we were starting our day in the Animal Kingdom.

This is when we started exploring Africa.

We went on a safari to Kilimanjaro and we rode in these cool safari jeeps. I loved this safari and decided all zoo's need to be like this. We were able to look at the animals in there natural habitat. You felt like you were in Africa!

We explored some of the areas and found ancient heads.

We checked out the fish.

Went on a train ride to the petting zoo.

Played the African drums and Layne brought a hippo home.

Got our picture taken by the tree of life. Do you think this is what the real tree of life looks like?

We went to Dinosaur land and Evan, Bryce and McKenly loved this Dino ride!

We explored the Dino bone yard.

Bryce had a great time here until he had his accident.

McKenly loved just getting out of that stroller!

Carson decided to ride his dinosaur find.

Bryce thought he could jump farther than he could and missed the jump and split open his lip. We almost had the paramedics called on this one. Disney is really serious when they see blood, it was interesting to watch them clean up the blood spill. Bryce was more happy when one of the workers gave him a special dinosaur egg.

This is a picture of the pond behind the home we stayed in. When we first arrived Evan asked if there were any alligators in the lake and would they be able to get into our swimming pool.  I told him, No, there aren't any alligators here and

 besides our pool is surrounded by a screen so there is no way one could come in our pool.  The next morning I was looking out at the lake and saw what I thought was a log. Nope, it was an alligator. The next afternoon he came up on the bank and we were very cautious getting too close. But, yep it was an alligator. Now I see why all of the pools are surrounded with screens. This bad boy would probably have ended up in our pool!

Caitlin, is not sure she wants to get any closer.

Hi Mr. Alligator!

Here we are back at Epcot Center. Caitlin has the world on her shoulders.

Carson, went into space!

It was very warm and these splashing fountains actually felt great!

McKenly loved the "Little Nemo" exhibit, in fact she wanted to kiss it!

I found Nemo!

Bryce found Nemo too!

We had to stop in France and visit and taste some of the French confections!

They were delicious!

This was in Morocco and of course anywhere we went the guns were a big hit!

Every mid-day we had to stop for an ice cream  break, Evan loved the ice cream breaks!

Now we are in Germany!

I loved the architecture of all of the buildings!

Isn't it great! You feel like you are actually there!

Here we are back in Africa and Evan is showing us how to play the drums.

Carson is showing us how to balance the plates on the stick!

Pink Flamingo's, (we are in Florida!)

Back to Animal Kingdom and seeing the King of the Forest!

One of the African parades that went through the village.

We had our picture taken with Rafiki!

and of course Jiminy Cricket!

Elephants were on our safari.

and a last glimpse of Europe! It was a fantastic trip and one that I will always remember. I am so glad that  we went. It will be a great memory forever!