Summer of 2011

Since I last blogged, a lot has changed for us. We quit our jobs and moved to Redding for the summer to spend some time with the Madsen family before going off to school. Here's a recap of May and our June thru August vacation.

Before the big move, Mike turned 30 on May 25th. He didn't want a big fuss made, so I of course through him a surprise party and invited all our friends. I had everyone meet me at the park before Mike got home from work and then I called to tell him I had a flat tire and needed him to come get me. He was really mad and then arrived and was totally surprised. Bam! Nailed it! He never suspected. Everyone dressed in black and all the decor was black (like a funeral) for this "so old man's" birthday. It was pretty fun if I do say so myself.

Looks like someone didn't want us to go. She loves taking Mike's shoes and trying to walk in them. A girl after my own heart...loves shoes. Love you Abby!

We got to Redding just in time to spend 2 weeks with the Snows. I love holding my little nephews! Jude was so tiny then! He's sleeping on me in church in this picture..so precious.

What a smart boy! He looks good in Uncle Mike's glasses.
Always smiling...I can't stop taking pictures.
This is a replica of a picture Steven took with Jude's brother Josh when he was this small...Simba!

We spent a lot of time at the lake on my dad's sweet boat. Oh how I love summer and tanning with my girls.

Mike's first time out wake boarding for a couple years. He was awesome! Wish we could do this all year long!
We went to a family friend's wedding on one of the hottest evenings in the summer in Redding.
I saw a lot of old friends at the wedding. This is Hillary. She used to babysit me and my siblings. Oh memories. Love you Hillary-dillary-dock!
Chillin with my sibs on our parents' bed. I love it when we can all be together! That's the thing about everyone growing up. You never know how few and far between these moments are going to be.

We left Redding for a week to go to Utah for a Parker family reunion.

We found these awesome lava rocks to climb all through when we were at a cabin in Duck Creek.

These are two of Mike's sisters: Sarah and Karen.
This is my nephew Wes. He was the lead explorer on this trip. Totally fearless!

We all got our fair share of scratches and scrapes in those rocks, but it was totally worth it!

I hurt myself and had to go back to the car when they all found this awesome little cave and tried to all fit inside for a picture. What a cute bunch of explorers.

Oh yeah. Julia came with us...cause my nieces all love her to death...it was a surprise. Yay!


Another Parker adventure at Bryce Canyon. What a beautiful hike!


Mike's parents, Jim and MarJean. They planned a really fun time together that week!

Lauren and Hannah....Tree huggers!

We've got it..no worries...it's really heavy though!
Nieces Aubrey, Sydney, Olivia, Kali, and Ashlyn. Always ready to pose!

Even little Abby came for the adventure. I was so jealous of her pink parker shirt. Oatmeal is not my color....not anyone's color if we're being honest right! haha!

We also stopped in St. George to see my grandma Tutu and the Ludlow family. While there, we did some more hiking. We went to Zion's...so gorgeous!

I had to take Mike to the Tuacahn theatre in St George one night. He'd never been! I love that place. It's an outdoor theatre right amongst all the beautiful red rock. We saw "Greece" the musical.
Then back to Redding for the rest of the summer. No work, no school, just lounging by the pool, doing little projects for my parents, and having a good time with family. What a nice break!

Did I say how much I love being at the lake! I love being at the lake. I love summer!
I even got to hang out with my best friend from high school, Kat and her cute little girl, Hannah.

Hannah's first time tubing...she loved it!

After the summer was over and we came out to Utah for Mike to start school mid-August. My parents came too for Education week. I loved it! I loved it more with my parents! I love my mom and dad's obvious joy and desire to learn more about the Gospel and become better. It was fun to go back to BYU again also. Here's my mom and I with John Bytheway...one of our favorite youth speakers. He was awesome of course!