Tegan

Some of you, alright only one request, have asked to see pictures of Tegan. I don't know why we didn't get any of us while she was here. We all know how much I like to take my own photo. Maybe next time she is down I will ask Eddie's sister Beth to take some of us. Some cute little twin pictures. And we can give them as Christmas gifts!!! Oh yea, that is a great idea. Anyway, these are some pictures I snapped last year, while in Nebraska for Brennan's baptism. I got to go because my mom had a tumor on her kidney HOORAY..., (that I got to go, not that my mom was sick) She looks the same, so I feel these are adequate. Same cute perfect Tegan.
Tegan, Brennan, Nathan

Tegan and her wonderful Mother in Law, Bobbi, who is like a
2nd mother in law to me. I just love her.

Fun with cousins Trinity and Eliana Nunez

We went to Taylor this past weekend because Eddie was helping my brother in law on his cabin in Forest Lakes. So we went to stay with my sister Karen. The kids LOVE going to visit Aunt Karen. The other 2 girls in these pictures are my niece, Angela's girls. So that makes them first cousins once removed? Well cousins none the less. Trinity and Joseph are close in age and so are Eliana and Annie-just 4 weeks. We call them Trin and Ellie for short. And Annie who doesn't talk much, would say "Ellie". And Teila and Trinity got on great. She is a sweet girl and Ellie is adorable. If only you all could see their pictures and hear their stories, they are hilarious. Two girls with LOTS of personality. Trin's smile is infectious and these pictures don't do her justice.

Annie, Teila holding Eliana and Trinity - Teila hugging on Trin who is hugging on Karen

Eliana humored me with taking these photos. She is looking at her mom, and yet still looks gorgeous!!

Annie who is "reserved" played so well with sweet Eliana. It was so cute!!!

Here they are watching a movie on the stairs. Annie kept moving up which would cause Ellie to move up. They were totally engrossed. I'm glad Annie likes someone that well.

Trin and Teila spent time coloring...

And making this awesome fort. They were very proud. Teila was the mom and Trin the child. They had a good time together.

When we cleaned up they were satisfied to just lay next to one anther on the ottoman. Totally CUTE!!!

How thankful we are for wonderful cousins that are sweet and open to meeting new people. And anyone genuinely kind to Teila goes straight to heaven in my opinion. We love you guys!!

Camping Camping CAMPING!!!

So I lied to the primary children. Shocking I know, but it's true. I just got called to be 2nd Counselor in our Primary Pres. First time in Primary for me, so it's kinda new. Anyway, the president called me and the other new counselor up to spot light us, like they do the children. What does this have to do with camping? Well one of the questions was what do you like to do, the other lady said anything with her family and in my desperate attempt to try to be more original, I said CAMPING!! Everybody knows I don't really like it. I'm always the one who is ready to leave first. And even though I enjoy smores for Breakfast, Lunch, Snack and Dinner, it's not my first choice. The kids are nasty, it can be windy and dirty, cold and a bit uncomfortable in general. So there is my confession. Now here are the pictures from a recent camping trip to Black Canyon with the Jarman's (Like my mom is going to go!!)

The Jarman's camp the best way. Esp. when Uncle Dan comes. With comfort but still enjoying nature. The boys get this enormous tarp, I think this is William's actually and they strap it to the trees. Some camp sites are easier than others to put this up. But it provides shade, protection from rain and makes camping VERY nice.


Some help more than others... This is Robert.

And others make up for those who are lacking.



But isn't it SWEET!! I love those boys who work so hard to make it nice for the rest of us who "love" to camp.

Opal, Teila, Annie in Uncle Dan's ranger. The kids all love this thing. Including the teenagers.

Opal, Annie and Grandma Jarman

Teila's special day

These are just some pictures of the actual baptism day.

Annie-she's not my favorite I promise...

Don't try and tell me you wouldn't have snapped this picture and posted it. Teila's flip flops, talking and laughing on the phone, the swiffer... It's too much, too much!! (for me at least). I love it! And like I said before, the no shirt is not common. She usually is fully dressed... Truly.

The Sherwood's visit (Tegan)

Tegan has been coming in the summer to visit with us for a few weeks. She currently lives in Nebraska while Nathan is attending, his now 4th year, of medical school. This is usually the only time we get to see each other during the year, at least have the kids get together. I LOVE IT!! She stays at my house in the office with an air mattress and at least one baby, usually two. Then her other kids just pile in where ever with my other kids and it was WONDERFUL!! I did not take as many pics as I should have because I just thought, I'll do that later. With 9 kids under 9 in a house, it's amazing how the day went by and we felt like we did nothing. Sometimes I felt like I hardly even talked to Tegs. We didn't go on many 'adventures'. Actually we didn't go on any. But taking them swimming every day was adventure enough beleive you me! We did spend a day shopping and that was fun and then Uncle Steve and Aunt Cindy braved a movie with all of them (G-Force). But we mostly just stayed around home and let them play and hang out. Was it insane and crazy? How could it not be? But I would do it again in heartbeat. And after we bawled our eyes out when Mean Nathan came to take them back home, it was a little nice to have the house back to normal and I can say that because I know she feels the same way. So here are the pictures.

HERE THEY ARE (minus the baby Creighton)

below Annie, Sam (in orange), Teila, Kate, Joey, Brennan (behind), John, Kenzie

The baby Creighton (named after the medical school that Nathan attends). He is 8 months-ish. Very cute. I thoroughly enjoyed him. Even if he was teething almost the whole time. He was delightful. (my brother Steven is holding him)

I think it's safe to say that I am Creigh's favorite Aunt. He practically lived in this thing!

Meet my Sammy boy. Samuel is something else. But we seriously bonded on this trip. Not like last year. It looks like I am making him take this picture and he's not happy about it, but the picture isn't totally accurate. He really loves me. He even called me today. We didnt' talk much because he was chasing a bouncy ball, but I think it's pretty clear, I'm the favorite.

It was darn near impossible to get him off this scooter. Imagine how fun that was for me and Tegan to constantly be dodging the scooter all day long. (blast laminate floors all over the house!) But he loved it.

Annie and Sam (almost 2 and almost 3)

The story of their time together: playing happily one minute...

arguing the next. And it's not fun when these two stubborn kids have different ideas...

They could have some great fun though. Good times, good times!!

Yea, that's them alright.

Makenzie (Kenzie), Teila, Joseph

Kenzie and Joe were buddies the whole time. They got along really well. They are both 4 and about 5 weeks apart. Kenzie shares my birthday, and Tegan's and Nathan's. The lucky girl! These two played, and played and played. What did they play, I couldn't tell you. But they did it for long periods of time (hooray!)

LOVE THEM!! And they really love each other. Joey misses Kenze a lot and talks about 'his cousin who is 4' often. Or asks if Kenzie is going to go to school with him.

Kate Frances Sherwood. She just turned 7.
Kate is a near perfect child. She and Teila are great friends. Which puts her high on my 'near perfect child' list. She is soft spoken and kind (a lot like Tegan) but don't get her upset, it's not pretty (a lot like Tegan). And please no comments, like "oh no, not Tegan! She doesn't act like that." "I've never seen Tegan get upset at anyone." I know some jaws have probably dropped and frankly, I'm glad I can't see your shocked looks, it would make me sick. The Tegan you think you know is not the real Tegan. Sure she is nice and talks soft and acts all friendly and is a great mom and all that. But please let the record show that Tegan is NOT THE NICE SISTER! I AM! IT'S ME! and I personally feel, the sooner people realize that the better. Not to take away from Tegan's wonderfulness, I'm just saying.This is Teila's baptism. All my kids plus Kate.

Here is Annie and Creighton. This happened often too..
First the cry (who knows why)

Then Annie wanting to give comfort...

Then the (usually unwanted) hug. And usually some tears after. But Annie loved the "baby". (I'm thinking this is effective birth control)

Brennan is 9 just like Teila. Born the day after Teila for those who didn't know or remember. He is so talented at so many things. I really enjoyed getting to know him better and have conversations with him. He is a reader and has a great imagination. He read all kinds of books while he was here. He introduced Johnny to computer games this summer (thanks a lot). But he is a good kid and very smart.

What did the boys do? Pretty much this, video games, computer games whatever. Of course they did different things, like Tegan and I would just let them play computer games all day. Honestly! I just didnt' get pictures of anything else they did. But they were pretty happy with this. (the other little boy in the picture is Steven, Eddie's youngest brother.)

I just think Creighton looks so cute in this one. I tried to get them to all look and smile, but you can only do what you can do.

Sam, Brennan, AnnieSam didn't ever get in the water until the last day when he actually got wet. Tegan thought to play this game with him where he would run back and forth and she would try to 'ring' him. He thought it was great and I was totally entertained.

Sam

Kate, Kenzie, Teila, Joey