Miles Goodbye BBQ

Another party for Miles....

ECLIPSE....

This was about a month ago, but I don't want to forget the fun night... so here is to my terrible memory.


Lots of screaming girls + a huge cup with Jacob on it, filled with diet coke + Jacob on the big screen = good times.
I love my cup. Scott may not. But I do... ;)

Clara tuns 2

Clara turned 2 years old!!!


We woke her up so that we could do some celebrating before Scott had to leave for work... this is what we see every morning...
Jackson and I went and bought donuts before she was up. Of course he wanted to get her a pez, but only if he could have one too. And don't worry... it was donuts and pez for breakfast. Later that night we had met up with some friends at the splash pad just up the street from our house. We had pizza and cake. The kids played and the adults talked. What more could you ask for?


I acutally got clara to smile. Shocker.
*Thankyou Jessie for making the same cupcakes that you brought over when Clara was born. Of course you are always so thoughtful. We love you.The party kids!

Clara got a little shy when we all sang Happy Birthday... it was so sweet.

And what would her birthday be without a special kiss from her boyfriend... sunset and all... oh la la.

Happy Birthday to the sweetest sassiest 2 year old I know. I wouldn't change you for anything.

Girls Night Out

One of my last girls night with these fabulous ladies!

There are a few other girls moving out of our area over the next few months (7 total)... and to be honest, it actually makes it easier for me to leave knowing that there are others leaving too. So Mykelle put together this birthday/goodbye girls night. Unfortunatley not everyone could make it -- and to those of you that missed out... YOU REALLY MISSED OUT! I laughed sooo hard. Harder than I have laughed in a very long time. It was a total party!3 of the 7 that are on their way out.... Mykelle. Me. Chrissy.
I don't care that the whole Cheesecake Factory could hear our conversations... or that we might have been so loud that our surrounding tables could hardly hear their own words... or that I know more than I should about each girl (and their better half) on our table... IT WAS A TOTAL BLAST, AND I AM GOING TO MISS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE GIRLS TO PEICES.

Miles Mission Farewell

Miles leaves in 3 weeks for Brisbane. His mission fairwell was this past week. He gave a great talk. Scott leaned over to me after and said... "There is something special about your brother, he is going to be a great missionary". And it is so true. I am so proud of Miles for making this choice, and I know that he is going to change lives!

This is the last family photo we will have of our family all together for the next two years. So sad. Miles with his sisters.

California Part 2

We went to San Diego for the Randall summer beach house vacation. We love this trip that Lisa puts together. This year was especially fun because the cousins all live in different states and had so much fun finally spending time together!

Abbie. Jackson. Playing in the sand.
Clara. Me.

The Girls.

Kristen. Jenna. Lisa. Me. Jaime.
The cousins.

Lillie. Lucy. Jackson. Clara. Abbie. Gwen. Davis.
The Guys.

Dennis. Garrett (Wesley). Scott. Brad. David.
We went on a boat ride around the bay. They had songs and games for the kids. They all loved it. Jackson & Davis doing the limbo.

Clara spent most of her time on my lap or in a chair. She wanted nothing to do with the sand. One day Lisa rented kyacks and a motor boat for us to all play around on. It was super fun. Davis. Jackson.A rare shot of Clara playing in the sand.

Clara hugging Gwen... a little too tight.

Thanks Lisa for creating these fun memories. We love this tradition!

California Part 1

These are the only two pictures I took of the first part of our trip.

And both of them prove how miserable we were.

Poor Clara. Sick and tired. Scott and Jack... exhuasted.

California...

We had an interesting week in California. The trip started Thursday morning with me being sick... sick with what Jack had last week... I was miserable. But the trip could not be delayed, so off we went. The drive there was long. 10 hours long. Clara screamed 50% of the time. I was too sick and too tired to do much... so the screaming continued.

That night we realized, Clara was sick too. Great. It was a rough night in the hotel.

We woke up and went to the first place on the list. Walked through some different floor plans... Clara screamed... walked around the pool, the playground, and the clubhouse... Clara screamed... asked lots of questions... Clara screamed.

Of course we would never base our decision off of just one place - so off we went to look at some more. But each time we pulled up to one... the thought of getting her out and going through it all over again, was more than I could handle. So we drove. We ate lunch. We explored.

That night we went back to our first location... a fellow dental student had invited us over for dinner. We ate and got to know some future new friends.

We went to bed that night, slightly confused. We had only looked at one place - who makes a final choice of where to live when you only look at one place? Ugh. Oh-well, we liked it, it was in our budget, and we already had friends there. That next morning we went and handed in our application.

So there you have it... our trip to find a new home was not at all what we expected. I was sick. Clara was sick. And to top it off - it was all somewhat emotional for me. Maybe it was being sick. Maybe it was the lack of sleep. Maybe its just the fact that its alot of change. But lets just say -- there were alot of tears on my end, especially when Jack saw a Y, and said it was BYU cougars. Little does he know, no one will have a clue who he is talking about.

We ended the trip in San Diego. The Randall beach house trip. It was a ton of fun. I was still sick, but nothing compared to what I was feeling before. And each day got better... the kids had so much fun. Jackson loved the beach. Clara -- well -- she was interesting, as always. But I have some pictures that I will post eventually. It's time I get to packing this house into boxes.

4th of July Marshall BBQ and Oakley Rodeo

TRADITIONS....

This is one of my all time favorite traditions. The 4th of July has always been a big holiday for the Marshall clan. Back when we were all younger my grandparents would take the grandkids (no parents) to Aspen Grove... best memories EVER!

Well now that we are all older... Aspen Grove is out... but what would the 4th of July be without a BBQ and the Oakley Rodeo!

The Richards clan...
*please ignore my sons hand. Lovely I know. The couple.

Clara. She actually looked at the camera AND smiled for this one. Shocker!

Lounging. Always a must after the good food has been devoured.

Grandma Rose. Mom. Aunt Robin. Uncle Kirk (or kook as I used to say).

Scott. John. Cody.

Grandma Rose. Clara Rose.

The Marshalls. My Mom and Aunt Robin placed us all according to colors. Very well done.

Ready for the Rodeo... complete with Rodeo Popcorn made by my mom!

Jackson was SOOO excited for tonight. We walked over the hill and he saw the stadium and just stood and starred.

Everyone loves Clara. How could you not?!? She gets passed around from one person to the next... its so funny.

But Judd has a place in her heart.... Clara loves Judd, Cami, and of course Peppy one of their horses.

*** My Grandma Rose and Candice made all of the older girls matching 4th of July bracelts. They are soooo cute and I am so excited to have it and wear it every year.... whether I am in UT for the 4th or some other part of the world - I will always have something that makes me feel connected to these special people.

Swimming

Melissa and Dave were in town and we all spent the day in Midway swimming. Melissa and Pete.

We thought Jackson was on the mend. But I think taking him swimming made things worse - because that night and the next day were miserable. He even looks miserable in this picture.

Henry.

Jetta's belly flop. Although it must not hurt because she does it over and over again.

Clara taking a break.

Back at the house. Cami and Jetta.