June

 Rylee at Girls Camp

Alex and Kayla went to a color festival:

Then Alex came home and hugged me!

His colorful back!

And AFTER the shower - the armpits!

The Wrights boating:

I find myself taking pictures of Alex - to imprint in my mind what it's like having him home? He leaves in August for Marine Boot Camp then on to MTC, MOS training and then 4 years of active duty. It makes me weepy to think about it. So be prepared for random Alex pictures from here on out - it's just for me andI know he thinks I'm a creepy stalker, but really I'm just an over emotional mom trying to capture these daily moments because my memory is getting more and more forgetful. 

This is him sleeping - and the state of his room on most days....

Rachel, Rylee and Ashtyn in the playhouse!

Alex and Kayla watching movies - or Alex sleeping while Kayla watches? 

Our Great Grand Goat

Rylee as a drag queen - gah!

Good Neighbor Flag Day Breakfast

Fiddler On The Roof  dress rehearsal

Snapchat from Kayla - sushi date

Fathers Day Breakfast

Pizza lunch date!

Austin on a rock climbing adventure - I stole this off of Facebook. Proof that Austin is still alive and with us? 

Camp Williams Poole Activity

Fiddler Pictures!

Hanging out at home!

Rylee at EFY

Our long time friend, Brad Burton passed away suddenly. 

 Wright's trip to California

Fiddler On The Roof

Devree's Family Bridal Shower

Memory

 I was wondering through my blog this morning and found this unpublished entry?  I wrote it a couple years ago. It was a memory that happened in 2000.

When I was young I took the piano for five or six long and grueling years. I am no Beethoven. But my Grandpa Johnson loved to hear me play and would ask me to play in a room of crowded people and I would. And he would listen intently and clap when I was finished - even though everyone else continued taking and didn't really pay any attention. 

I played a super hard piece at their mission farewell. It was really too hard for me but my Grandma insisted that I play "Fur Elise". I muddled through and it was pretty embarrassing but because of that, I mastered that piece eventually.

Anyway, when my grandfather died  (I was about 33) I attended his viewing. It was held in the Relief Society room at the church and no one was assigned to play the piano. It was kind of eery quiet so I thought I'd sit and play a few hymns as background music. Normally, I just try to stick to songs without sharps and flats and mostly pick out the top hand? Well, on this day I sat down - thinking of my Grandpa - and I began to play and I played like I've never played in my life. Sharps and flats were not problem. I could flip to a song and just play. People commented on how  they didn't know I could play like that. And I can't. And I never have again. It was my last performance for my grandpa and for some special reason I had the gift of music that night.