Now This is Where . . .

the summer gets a little interesting.  To say the least.  Grandma Chris has had her share of health problems and this summer has been a doosey.  An MRI on June 11th found a golf ball sized tumor on the right side of her brain.  The tumor was cancer - it was removed with surgery on June 18th, with more than a little bit of stress about just how that surgery would go.  However, Chris is doing so so well!  She seems to improve all the time, has amazed us all, and is very upbeat about her upcoming treatment.  She has an appointment tomorrow to see just what that treatment will be. 

 Matching hair cuts!!  Guess they got their hair from their mom - not their dad! ; )

 Yes, Corey is a freak.  Proof.

 Bran was a little nervous in the hospital - he liked the wheelchair in the hall.

 On the mend! : ) 

WE LOVE YOU GRANDMA!

Happy Birthday Brady!

 Brady!  Brady!  Brady!  Oh I love this kid!  And I think all these kids love Brady too!  And each other - which makes me extremely happy and proud.

 Rae made his cake herself!  Yep - golf again.  He's obsessed : ) 

 Bran the helper.

 Bran the hugger.

What a handsome 15 year old!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRADY!!

Wouldn't Be Summer Without -

Happy Birthday to Me!

I had a great birthday this year!  I felt truly celebrated : )

My honey brought be flowers - but still waiting for my card ; ) . . .

 My visiting teachers brought me a cake -

 My Sandy brought me cupcakes - (and yes, they were so incredibly good!)

 
My family and friends brought me cards and other gifts that I didn't get a picture of -

It was a great day!  Thanks all -- from this OLD LADY!

Horsin' Around

Ah summer --- remember how I never blog in the summer?  My life just kinda gets running me - and I don't seem to find the time.  Then I do marathon catch-up blogs.  So prepare yourself for some major catch-up!!  And we have been busy with lots to catch-up on.

To kick off the summer -- Rae's doing royalty again.  Dead horse and all! ; )  Her friend Saydi loaned her a horse for the summer so that she could try out.

 Queen dress!  When you try out for queen - the western wear turns into a western dress.  Fringe baby!  Oh yea! 

 And here is the fill in horsie --- meet zipper!  She is great.  Rae likes her a lot.

 And at the end of it all - another crown : ) very fun. 

The Park

To end our fun weekend we had a little get together and cook out at the Grover Community Park.  It didn't actually snow - but the weather was not great.  We must be Wyoming people - come rain or shine - we gotta have us some fun!  And fun we did have!

 Cook out complete with SMORES!  However - I have yet to have a campfire smore that was as good as a microwave smore!!  Gotta melt that chocolate  : )

 Rae's peeps

 My peeps

 We had a great game of kickball after dinner!  Yahoo!

 Brady with a good kick!

 Tyler with a great kick himself - his partner and side kick Addie was a permanent fixture at his side!

 Bran was kinda sad at first - he kept saying - I don't know how to play this game!

 Reese's and her peeps

 Yea - Bran got happier.  He finally figured it out - kinda.

 And a rainbow to end the night and our fun weekend.  Of course the sun came out as we all packed it up and went home : )

Remembering

Reese, Brannen and I went with Grandma Chris and Grandma Marge to watch the soldiers do the gun salute at the Afton Cemetery on Memorial day, and then came back and decorated Garrett's grave and my Mom's grave.  They looked great.  I love that Grover cemetery.  I love it because it is so beautiful, some of my favorite people are there, and because I walk there practically every day.  It is awesome.

 Grandma Chris is always great at explaining to my kids about Memorial day and what it is all really about.  She is so patriotic and I'm glad that my kids have all gone with her throughout the years to the salute at the Afton cemetery.  There are many Burtons buried there and you always see a Burton or two there to visit with.  We missed giving Uncle Mel a hug there this year.  But we did see Aunt Mary, and it was fun to go with Grandma Marge. 

 Bran was ready for those guns to be fired. 

 A couple of the nice soldiers, came over and gave Brannen the brass from the shot-off rounds.  Little did they know that those happen to be his favorite things!  We have collected many many of them up the canyon for his collection. 

 Ty Campbell was nice to come and say hi to Bran and pose for a picture.  Bran thought his uniform was great!

 Garrett's grave - all decorated. 

 We found this fun little turtle this year and thought that it needed bubble gum in it for sure!!

 Such a beautiful headstone.

 Mom's grave. 

 I always try and get a picture of the canyon too - because I know how much dad loves it!  : )

 Bran had fun running down the little hill right by the graves.

 We miss Grandma and Garrett so much.  It is nice to remember them and think about the fun we had with them, and think about how happy we will be to see them again.