Let the reunions continue...

You know, I think it's fair to say I may be one of the luckiest girls in the world! Not only do I have an amazing husband & kids, and extended family; but, I have had the pleasure of having the most amazing girlfriends over my lifetime, as I'm sure you all ready know! This is something I have never taken for granted. You can't, they are your lifeline! Meet good friends since Jr. High: Sherri (aka: "Hellig", I know...everyone has a nickname :} Personally, I'm "Peachy" to these girls), Sonya (aka: "Beast"), and Kathryn (I'm sure I had a nickname for her, why don't I remember anymore?). Sherri, Sonya & I were a threesome who, let's be honest, have been through A LOT, together! Seriously, they pretty know any of my deep dark secrets (and don't you dare try to bribe them w/ info, because they will not tell! :}). Their poor parents put up with us on a regular basis! (and managed to survive too...AND they still like us! :}). I'll just sit here & smile, have a few giggles, as I think of how much fun we've had together! :} Probably most memories that come to mind would be many weekends of hanging out at Lark Sand Dunes, camping trips & Lake Powell excursions. I believe they are the ones who helped me to truly appreciate the nature & our surroundings. Really, sounds silly; but, it's true! Kathryn came into play through mutual friends & drove us punks around all the time (not sure how she put up with us either! :}). She had a little truck that managed to get through many 4-wheeling experiences! All of us will also always share a hilarious memory of getting stuck out by Wendover together. Let me just say....make sure one has enough gas, and don't EVER try to cross the salt flats! :}

Though I fortunately got to see Sonya lately (but, not nearly as much as I should!); Sherri lives in Arizona, so I don't get to see her that often. I'm so glad we have email at least...today's technology makes it easier to keep those connections alive. It's funny though...with these girls, it doesn't matter how much time or how many years go by, whenever we do see each other we just pick up where we left off! There's something to say about that kind of friendship!

Speaking of their parents..I always felt so loved & welcome by Pat & Clancy Hellige. They always treated us like their own. Their other daughter, Suzy, let me move in to her home & and was my very first roommate after moving away from home. As well as their son, Chuck. We lived in Suzy's house (and later, Doug as well, becoming a roommate...long story :}) & just had a blast there. I was growing up (OK, that may still be up for debate! :}); but, still lived close enough to home & in the neighborhood, so it worked out perfect...I loved it! So it was like I was just an extension of their family & I appreciate them always making me feel that way!

Pat got to make the visit as well (she also lives in Arizona now). Here is Sherrie's daughter, Charlesie, and Pat. I also hadn't seen Heidi forever! They just moved back from Texas (Heidi & Chuck were Jr. High/High School Sweethearts...it really can happen to be in love with someone from the beginning! :}) Really, I love this family & it was SO good to see them, even if it was just a few hours...I'll take what I can get! Of course Kaley instantly bonded with Brianna (Sonya's daughter). It's amazing, and crazy, to see your friend's kids grow too. How can that happen when we're still 29?! :} Thank God for Girlfriends who help get you through the roller coaster of life!

Friends Forever

Meet longtime friends from WAY back to our Ponderosa Days. (which was a long time ago!), Dawnelle & Liz. Or, as I've always called them, Dawnellie & Lizard. We certainly all put in our time there (myself 10 years...crazy, I know; but, I just loved the regulars!) & shared many good times together! Though life gets crazy, like it does, we always try to get together at least every October to celebrate our birthdays (we always thought that was pretty cool we had the same birthday month! :}). So this time was to celebrate the wedding of Dawnelle's oldest daughter, Brittany. Really...how did we get old enough for our kids to start getting married?! :}
The Newlyweds, Brittany & Brian. They actually got married in Mexico, which seemed like such a pretty ceremony from the pics I saw. She sure made a gorgeous bride!

Of course, her daughters have always been gorgeous! Here is Brittany with her sister, Amanda.

Dawnell & Curt...25 plus years later! So good to see them both again!

Amanda instantly became Kaley's dear friend...she was attached all night! (Literally..she was on her hip most of the night!) I was trying to remind her she was 6 & didn't need to be carried; but, she was loving it!

Oh, this little boy next to Kaley was so cute! He had a thing for her apparently because he kept following her around, even asked her to dance! What a little ladies man! :} When we were leaving, he asked me "Does Kaley have to go? Well then I should give her a hug!" Too cute!

The reception was all about the fun...including karaoke! Here's Brittany & Brian singing "Summer Lovin" from the classic, Grease (which I LOVE by the way! :})

And of course Kaley had to get in on that, especially if she was singing with Amanda & it was to a Taylor Swift song! :}

Everyone got to do sparklers together

Sure good to see my girls again! :}

I know there's lots of saying about girlfriends, and the people that come into your life...so, know they are true & appreciate them, never let them be forgotten! :}

Playing in the sun (and the clouds!)

It was time for the annual dance performance day at Raging Waters. Of course Kaley was excited, when isn't she when it comes to dancing?! We were excited to have Dylan to be a part of it this year too (though he wasn't sure about it when he thought he was the only one showing up in his group!) Fortunately Calvin showed up & gave him some encouragement & he was back in the game! The older girls did their thing. Wow, now there's some jumps!
It's always fun to watch Cheyenne too (along w/ her friend, Ashley)...she's practically like our own! Kaley thinks of her like a big sister and loves to follow in her footsteps when it comes to dancing! :}
Kaley's turn for the "April Showers" dance, which was appropriate with all this rain we've been getting lately! Can't really tell it's summer time yet!And then Dyl & Calvin's chance to entertain us...which they did!
Once we were done with the dancing, it was time to have some fun in the water! The boys were enjoying the waves
Kaley...not so much!
She was more at ease in the kiddy land!

And I just HAD to try out the Acapulco Slide! We're just glad I actually went down on the mat since I had a little fall at the top & almost went down head first without it! (I know, I'm a klutz...got the big bruise to show for it too!) Yea, it's pretty intense (But fun of course! :})

So glad summer is finally here! (even if it was a chilly summer day for water fun!)

An afternoon at the ball park...

This weekend we finally got time to hit the ball park & watch our local baseball team, the Bees, in action. I was just anxious to finally have a day to kick back in the sun myself! They had a great game, winning 8-3...way to go Bees!

Kaley always loves to see Bumble, running up & giving him a hug right away. And he autographed her Bees shirt that she won the last time we were there, so she was excited about that too! :} Sadly, this year thier pitcher, Nick Adenhart, had tragically passed a way in a car accident just the night before the season opener. In his honor, they have painted his number on the field in front of thier dugout.

Happy Birthday Edith Ann!

I told you there was a lot of celebrating this year with many of our friends turning the Big 40! This time is was Sandra May's turn. Or as I like to call her, Edith Ann. Sandra & I have had many fun memories together going back 25 or more years. Not only with her; but, her family as a whole. Plenty of camping trips, Lake Powell excursions, and many nights at the Lark Sandunes are the first to come to mind. "The Crazy May's" I always liked to call them! :} She gets her nick-name from a time we were in Lake Powell together. The goofy girls that we were (are) decided we were going to be "these dorky girls from the south" for the weekend, her name being Edith Ann & mine Birtha Jane. We had the accent going & all. Sure it turned the boys away, but, we didn't care, we had fun with it! :} And it's stuck ever since! Ha Ha....

I told you they were silly right? So, of course she had to get some "old gifts", like this package of depends that she had to model! :}
To celebrate, they had a camp out in thier back yard. They live up in Herriman, up on hills which gives you a great view of the valley & actually feel like you're camping. Loved it! They had the fire pit going, the boys were crusin' thier remote control cards around the playful yard, good times! No reason to let good friendships die, right?! :}

I also really enjoyed seeing long time friend, Sonya. Her, Hellig (Sherrie Kelly) & I used to be inseperable. And it doesn't matter that sometimes years go by...it's like just leaving where you left off the next time we see each other! And yea, we had to include the pics on a stick at this party too! Heidi & Tracey just don't miss out on anything anymore! :}

Memorial Day with the family

To enjoy the holiday, and celebrate some May birthdays, our family got together to spend more quality time together. We enjoyed good food & fun times at Grandma's house. There's so many memories of good times with the family on her patio, it's a happy place! :}

Really, she's such a cute Grandma! :}

The kids always enjoy time with the cousins!

TC & Jenn

And I don't know what it is about this chair Glenn & Sherrie (my always silly siblings!) are sitting in; but, it also brings such sentimental feelings. I remember climbing all over it as a young child & loved how it reclined. When we lived at their house for a bit, or whenever we got to stay over, we would love to sleep in it when we could!

Colleen sure makes a cute Grandma herself! :}

Dad getting his laughs in! Have I told you how much I love my family?! :}

Of course, let's not forget the true meaning of Memorial Day. To honor our veterans who have lost their lives, while fighting for our freedom & keeping our country safe. I hope everyone takes time out to appreciate each & every person in the military who have fought & continue to fight for us!! God Bless them!!

And though it's true meaning is in honor of the military, it's also a great time to stop & think about your loved ones who have passed on before you. May you always keep the memories alive & not let them be forgotten! :}