Lexie's Bridal Shower

Tyrel and Lexie met on a cruise and dated several months (long distance). She lived in Gilbert, AZ and Tyrel lived here in Boise. Eventually the relationship got serious enough, that they decided they wanted to live closer to one another. Initially Tyrel planned on moving to Arizona. When a past insurance issue came up, he was forced to stay here, so Lexie moved to Idaho! Yay!!! We loved Lexie and were soo excited to get to know her better.

At our monthly FHE in June, Tyrel and Lexie announced they were engaged! Wahoo! The wedding date was set for August 11th and they planned on being sealed in the Mesa, AZ temple.

Before Tawnya left town and after Candice got back into town, we quickly planned a bridal shower for Lexie.

We went with a "fill the pantry" type shower.

I asked Lexie if I could help with decorating for their Boise Open House. She agreed. I was so excited! I carefully studied her Pinterest pages and started collecting things I thought she would like and that would go with a "burlap & lace" rustic look.

I cut the tall grass from my back yard fence line and used it for our "greenery" (I guess some good came from our poor lawn maintenance this year). I collected tin cans, Mason type canning jars and found an old lace tablecloth at a "shabby-chic" consignment store. 

Lexie and I went out several times together, looking for decorations for the Open House. At "Mr. J's" we found some old windows that the owner made us a deal on, because it was for a wedding. :)

I put together a table display for the shower, to test out the rustic look. I hoped it was something Lexie would like. I liked it!

Lexie invited several of her friends from their single's ward and her roommates. They were so fun and seem to have a good time where ever they are.

We wrote marriage "recipes" (advice) for Tyrel & Lexie.

Tawnya did a "Price Is Right" type game. She purchased the groceries for one of her favorite simple recipes, then had us guess the total price of the meal. The prize was some of Karen's homemade jam..yum.

We played a Kiss & Tell game. When it was your turn, you took some Hershey's kisses and then told us about your first kiss..or what you would like your first kiss to be like. --We actually had a few girls that were still looking forward to their first kiss. :)

Mom had asked get-to-know type questions of Tyrel. Lexie was the first guess and then we would all join in. We learned a lot..Tyrel is usually a private guy, so to hear his thoughts/ideas was great.

For gifts we gave food/grocery type items. Maybe not that fun...but very useful.

I think Lexie had another bridal shower where she received "fun" gifts. :)

This cute apron was from her roommates. 

You probably can't see it, but it says "Sexy Lexie". 

Cute!

We're so glad to have you join our family Lexie..WELCOME!

Craftaholic Gift Exchange

Once again I participated in the Craftaholic Anonymous' gift exchange.

My exchange partner had a little baby girl and named Annabelle. I made this for her, in her nursery colors.

(It turned out ok..but looked better in my head.)

4th of July was just around the corner, so I made things she could use for the holiday; patriotic cake banner, "sparkler" cupcake toppers, recipes for a BBQ and instructions for baking a surprise flag cake.

I had planned on making her a banner like this..

and some of these decorative rag balls. 

But I ran out of time for the banner..and fell in love with the rag balls and kept them for myself. 

Shhhh..don't tell my exchange partner.

Happy Campers This Way --->

Tawnya and her kids were visiting from Arizona. We wanted the cousins to have some FUN time together, so we organized a Cousin Campout (or camp IN more accurately).

Welcome signs for the cousin campers...

"HAPPY CAMPERS..THIS WAY".

There was report of a bear in the area... beware.

What's camping without s'mores?

These were for the Happy Campers (when they left the next day).

The "facilities" were decent...considering we were camping. 

The evening started with a BBQ for the whole family, including parents and grandparents.

Jackson-Lizzy

Sterling-Maliah

After dinner, the tie-dying began.

Audrey-Abree-Katelyn-Micaela-Jackson

Each cousin had brought their own shirt or piece of clothing to tie-dye.

Taylee-Daisylyn-Sydney-Kyrick-Audrey-Abree

Karen

The kids ended up tie-dying some of their body parts as well; legs, feet, knees and the bum of Sterling's shorts. :)  He liked sitting on everyone's dyed shirts I was told.

Levi-Micaela-Jackson-Lizzy

The adults hung out for a while, until the cousin campers started to settle down for the night. Amber, Tawnya and Karen stuck around to assist with the cousin crowd. It was decided.. no tents would be set up this night... we would have a camp IN instead (mostly). Girls in the movie room and the 3 boys on the trampoline. :)

Jackson-Treyson-Kyrick -the trampoline sleepers

In the morning, we had a tasty breakfast of pancakes, eggs and juice.

Sydney-Maliah-Audrey-Sterling-Katelyn-Lizzy-Abree

We made A LOT of pancakes... enough to snack on later, as well.

After sitting overnight...

Tawnya and Karen started to rinse the shirts and reveal the awesome designs and color.

When the shirts were rinsed and dried, we headed out for a nature scavenger hunt.

These campers look ready for some adventure!

Abree-Lizzy-Audrey-Kyrick

Jackson-Micaela-Treyson-Taylee-Katelyn

Sydney-Maliah

Sterling-Daisylyn

Lists were handed out and the hunt was on.

Some didn't need a list to find nature and went straight in!

We also gave each kid a duct tape bracelet to collect nature.

Oops, a little scrape on the knee.

Look what we found!

Cousins in age order. 

(minus Rylee, Taylee, Levi and Sydney hiding behind Katelyn)

After our nature hunt, we went to Storey Park for FREE lunch in the park.

Those who weren't completely wiped out (but even some of us who were), went swimming in the neighborhood pool to cool off.

A wonderful day..with wonderful people.

We love our cousins!!!

Happy Father's Day!

Most years we spend Father's Day away from home. It's the weekend of our annual cousin party. This year was no exception.

We found a quiet spot in JC and Julia's house and had Jason open gifts from us.

The kids gave him all sorts of his favorite goodies.

My gift to him was a Lego Star Wars wall hanging.

I saw this on Pinterest (shocked aren't you?!). My version was a little different, but I was satisfied with it. That is until he unwrapped it. Poor Luke Skywalker and Obi wan had taken a fall. 

Happy Father's Day Jason... our kids are lucky to have you as their dad!!!