Saying Goodbye

 

This van has been our most faithful servant.  It was the first vehicle I ever bought and boy have we put it through the ringer.  Its off to live on a bee farm in South Dakota.

Family Trip and Pics

The Parrish Family Reunion this year was a trip to California including a visit to Lego-land.  I don't think Mark slept for the whole week before we left.  It was better than Christmas, he was so excited.  I, of course, forgot my camera but Randi took a lot of pictures that I don't have yet.  So imagine us playing on the beach, meeting the Lego Darth Vader and other various vacationy pictures.  I do however have the family pictures we got a few weeks later when Papa and Mimi were visiting.

My how the family has grown.

School Time

Here she is on her first day of Kindergarten!  No fear for this girl just a see ya later to Mom.

Bring on second grade.  Mark is so excited for his new teacher I think he might just try to get adopted by her.  Gotta love the haircut.

Of course we cant leave out Benny.  He got a first day of school outfit too (courtesy of Grandma).

Oh cute

Our resident Fix it Felix!

His cuteness takes a lot of work!

California Here We Come

I serve as a leader for the Young Women at church.  Specifically I get to spend Sundays and Wednesday nights with the 14 and 15 year-olds.  Part of being a leader is the unparalleled opportunity of going to camp with the girls.

I was so lucky to not be pregnant or nursing so I got to go for the whole week!  We camped on Big Bear Mountain in California and spent a day down on the beach.

The camping was awesome and beautiful.  The hike nearly killed me but we miraculously made it back.  I loved spending time with all my girls.  There is something special about camp that you cant really describe, you just get to remember everything with fondness.

We had a few exciting moments including smoking brakes on the van but all in all everything went smoothly.  This group of young ladies give me great hope for the future.  They are fantastic!

Home

On our return drive from Utah we were greeted by large billowing smoke.  It is really unnerving to drive into the valley and see a huge fire near where your home is supposed to be.  Poor Mt Charleston took a hard hit.  This is the view from our backyard. Thanks to the awesome firemen who got this blaze down within the week- and in the middle of the July heat!

Some More Utah

During our most spectacular Utah visit we went up the canyon for a picnic- the following fun moments occurred.

 Moses- grandpa's walking sticks are the coolest thing since sliced bread.

The older generation attempting to school the younger ones on the fine art of rock skipping.

 We are still working on it.

When skipping doesn't work, just start throwing the biggest rocks you can find.

 Ahh, family pictures.

 Our little gymnast shows off some mad skills.

 Mark tried but just couldn't get past the complicated physics of the move.

Nothin complicated here, just pure relaxation.