We had a great time with some of my family a couple weekends ago. My Dad, Mom, David (brother...who just got home from his mission to CA in June!), and Joy (hottie sister!) dropped off my other brother Brian at the MTC (Missionary Training Center) (serving in the Omaha, NE mission) on August 12th (Joy turned 15 that day too!!). The next day, they drove from Utah to Arizona to see us! So fun! Thanks Grandpa Clay for loaning them your car! So nice of you! They were here for just a few short days, but we thouroughly enjoyed our time with them! I wish they could have stayed longer. Baxter (our dog) did too!! Here are some pictures from our hangout time...
Parker chillin' on the couch early one morning with Grandpa Clay (yes, my son is playing with a doll...and it doesn't bother me one bit! =) Can I just tell you...I have the best dad!
We took a trip up to see the Mesa Temple and go through the Visitor Center there. It is a really neat place. This is David being a good uncle and keeping Parker happy.
Having fun!
Playing with Grandma! Can I just tell you...I have the best mom!!!
Uncle Douglas (Davey's middle name) helping Chloe with the movie. He is headed out to BYU-I in a week or so! (Yes, he's single!!)
Hottness Joy! Joy really is simply fabulous! She is super classy, intellegent and beautiful....oh, and super sweet! We did some shopping one of the days she was here. It was so nice to have my well-dressed, classy sister giving her older, frumpy sister pointers on how to dress! I need to take her with me every time I shop!!! She was a huge help!
Chloe had planned before they even came to play hair bows with Davey! Look at the sheer excitement on her face! She had so much fun putting her bows in his hair!! Thanks for being a good sport, David! It was great to see you again! We missed you while you were away on your mission!
Chloe's turn!
Did I mention Joy is fabulous! She got Parker to sleep twice in one day. Once was at church (and she held him the whole time too!!) and once was after church. She will make a great mommy some day! (Notice Parker is almost as big as Joy!! haha)
Chloe's first photo shoot! This is just one of the many random pictures she took while playing with my camera.
The other thing Chloe was totally looking forward to was playing dress-up with Joy-Joy! She was super excited when I said she could also put on make-up! She wanted to wear it all - especially Joy's "lip-GLASS!"
Zach decided to get in on the action. (ssshhhh, don't tell him you know!)
He didn't want his picture taken proving that he was wearing makeup!
Yes, Joy is wearing Chloe's tutu! 
Joy turned 15 while they were in Utah, but didn't get a birthday cake on her birthday! So, we made her a belated cake! Happy Birthday, Wiggy!!
All summer long, Chloe has been anxiously awaiting for the start of preschool! She would tell everyone that "when the summer is over, I get to go to preschool!!" So much excitement! We found her a new backpack and lunch bag (she gets to bring a sacklunch to school), which she adores and is SO proud of! 
As we were driving to school this morning, she saw a bus going down a different road and told me that I was going the wrong way and I needed to follow the bus. For a minute she was pretty bummed that school is not at a "real" school, but quickly got over it. A wonderful lady in our ward is doing a preschool from her home for about 8 kids. I am so excited for Chloe, but it was sure weird having her gone for so long (2 days/week - 4 hours). 
And although I know that He knows that I know this truth, I also know that He knows that my heart hurts. That my heart will always have hurt and a longing for seeing my sweet daughter again. I know that this longing will help to keep me always striving to be humble enough to get on my knees and ask for His help to make it back to be with my darling daughter forever. I know that my Father in Heaven helps ease the pain and hurt from this longing when sometimes it feels too much to bare. He lightens my load over and over again - even when I am not particularly deserving of the help. 
We were there to pay respects to a perfect, beautiful little girl who brought so much joy, laughter and peace into our lives. But, it was easier this year. We did what we went there to do, took some pictures, and left. We got through it. We got through it without tears. Amazing to me. The quote that says "time heals all wounds" really rang true that day. It hurt, yes, but we made it through.
But, as I have so many times before, I wiped the tears before I was a huge mess, picked my head up, put my shoulders back and drove away. Away until the time when we again will be able to care for our little Squirt. I am so grateful to those dear friends and family that go to visit and take care of Karleigh. We feel so blessed to have left her in a place where so many people have been touched by her life and are still willing, after all these years, to keep her headstone clean and bring her little gifts. Our load has been lightened by many of these wonderful people. A special thanks to Del and Kathy Slaugh, who were in our ward in Johnstown. They visit her every holiday and bring special gifts to brighten her gravesite. As I thanked Del at church on Sunday, the tears flowed freely. 
The first night we stayed in a hotel in 
Zach was trying really, really hard to do a handstand under that water. He was getting pretty close.
Parker's first time in the pool! He did ok for a little bit, but got pretty cold. He and I ended up getting out early so he could go to bed. 
The next day we headed out after breakfast for CO. It was a beautiful day and we were so excited when we made it to the Rocky Mountains. Beautiful! We stopped at a rest stop in southern CO to feed Parker and let the kids get out and run around. (I am not in many pictures because I was pretty much the photographer for the entire trip.)
Love this picture of my adorable family!
Parker is getting better at sitting. He still doesn't quite have it down, but hopefully soon he catch on to it.
This was his first time sitting in and touching soft green grass. The grass in our yard in AZ is pretty scratchy and hard. I love his squishy little hands and feet!
He had a great day and ended up knowing many kids in his class. He thinks his teacher, Mrs. Barz is going to be good. "She is pretty nice and only a little strict." I asked him what he did at recess and he said that he and his friend, Adam, (from down the street) met up out on the field. When I asked for more details, he said that they ran around because the two girls that they like were chasing them! Oh, young love!! (if you call it love...) They only got to be chased for about 10 minutes and then had to go inside. It was 114 degrees today!! This heat is just nuts! 
Lately, Zach is always requesting to have his picture taken with Parker. I think he is quite the proud big brother and really enjoying having another boy around the house. (yes, Parker really is only 5 1/2 months old, but wearing 12 month clothes!)
Zach has got to be the best big brother EVER!!! He loves to play with the younger kids and is so good with them! He is very protective of them, yet always wants to make them laugh - 
- especially Chloe. (she is cracking up laughing at Zach being funny)
He is such a good helper when we go places. He get Chloe in and out of her carseat while I get Parker situated. He holds Chloe's hand in the parking lots and helps keep her entertained while we are shopping. 
Hmmm....
Shannon and Curtis