Arizona Cousins:)

For the past 2 weeks Don's brother Jay and his family came for a visit from Mesa, Arizona!  Ashlee LOVES to spend time with Jays girl's, Katelyn and Brittney.

  I really feel so bad that they are so far away and aren't as close as we would like.  They are leaving to go home this weekend and Ashlee is really going to miss them...they have been with each other almost everyday...breakfast in the canyon, movies, making cookies, swimming....Grandpa Hulet even gave them some art lessons:)! 

Maybe a trip to Mesa is in our future?  I guess we'll see.

~~~HULET cousins~~~~

Katelyn, Ashlee, James, Jake  & 

Danielle.....Brittney wasn't in the picture because she was sick 

and couldn't come for a visit.

"Faith In Every Footstep".

Martin's Cove
Distance: 993 miles from Nauvoo
Having started late from Iowa and suffered innumerable mishaps and miscalculations along the way, two handcart companies under the leadership of Captains Edward Martin and James G. Willie were caught in early snows near the Continental Divide in 1856. In one of the greatest tragedies in overland trail history, hundreds died of exposure and starvation before rescuers from the Salt Lake Valley brought them to this location a few miles west of Devil's Gate in early November.

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On this particular Holiday, my thoughts turn to the Pioneers.  Many of my  ancestors who lived before me and loved this Gospel enough to  courageously  leave all of the comforts of  home and many worldly posessions, and in many instances give up their lives to make the Trek out West... I am so grateful for those who had the faith to  make that sacrifice.  It often brings me to tears to read these stories and to feel the spirit as I do.  It truly makes me appreciate all that I have, and hope that I can strive to have that kind of faith, courage and dignity, when facing adversity and challenges in my life. 

'A night with Paul McCartney:)'

I love Music... and... really, if you love music,  then you MUST love the "Beatles" and Paul McCartney"! 

Don and I went to the Paul McCartney Concert last night at the Rio Tinto Stadium!!  

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WOW! 

~What can I say.... It was such an amazing show. Our seats were down on the floor, they were really good!.  He really put on a great show, and he sounded awesome....I wouldn't expect anything less from him!!  .  This is probably a once in a lifetime opportunity for me,( who knows) I am so glad that we went..  It was definitely a night to remember:, and I LOVED  it!  

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...and yet ANOTHER camping trip!

Wow!!  Life since school's been out has been absolutely crazy......It seems like the kids have been going to camps, Trek and vacations all Summer long.  Seriously I am exhausted just thinking about it.  Every year Don tries to schedule at least two camping trips for him and the kids to take, usually on Memorial day and the 4th of July.  So this last weekend Don, James, Ashlee and Ashlee's friend, Monique went camping..

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Ashlee and Monique

.Jake decided that he needed a rest from all of his travels and decided to stay home with me, which I loved BTW..

Anyway my family absolutely LOVES to go  camping!! They love it so much that none of them wanted to come home.(I've heard this from at least 3 people since 2:30 this afternoon), interestingly enough only 3 people went...hmmmm... go figure!  They really had a good time playing phase 10, horseshoes, and shotgun shooting.  Spending time with cousins, sitting around the campfire roasting marshmallows,  and eating good food!  

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Ashlee, Monique and; James  playing a "WICKED" game of "Phase 10" Our family takes this game VERY seriously!!!                                                               

 James playing a good game of "Horseshoes". 

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 AND Ashlee shot a shotgun for the very first time today, and she did awesome and Don was so proud of her:)! 

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It was a nice Holiday weekend , but it sure is nice to have everyone home tonight.  I think this may be the last of our Summer vacations, but we'll see.

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****sidenote:  Don and I are getting really excited to go to the Paul McCartney concert a week from tomorrow.

Happy Birthday AMERICA!!

I have been doing  A LOT of scrap booking lately, which forces me to go through TONS of pictures.  I came across this cute little picture of my kids in 1999 today..  I really can' believe how fast they have grown up.

I sure do love my kids:)!!
James~7, Jake~5 and Ashlee 2

Such a sad story!

Sophie Barton was a young girl who went to Olympus High School with James. Monday afternoon while hiking at girls camp up in Heber she collapsed, (her mom was also there).  Emergency Vehicles were called and responded at around 4:00 p.m and she was taken to the hospital where she passed away @ around 7:00.p.m.  She was such a beautiful and talented girl.  You can read her story here, and her obituary here.  

 

James was so shocked and sad by this, teenagers have a tendency to think that they are invincible, so when something like this happens  to someone that they  know, especially someone their age,  it hits close to home because they can relate to it.  I have to say it breaks my heart also...it has been bothering me since it happened..  You never know when tragedy can strike you or someone you love, which is why it is so important to always let those close to you know how you feel..  As I was reading her obituary I noticed that her dad grew up in the same ward I did.  I can't imagine the pain that their family is going through.  Luckily she was a really good girl and her family has the gospel in their lives....and although it doesn't take away the pain they do have the knowledge that this is just a temporary separation.