TIME NEEDS TO SLOW DOWN...

Man, Where does the time go? Taylor is graduated and has a mission call to Chile. The Taylor I remember used to have a bowl cut hair do and only eat tootsie rolls & cereal. (He has broadened his horizons and will eat Wendy's now.) I drove my Gma and Gpa Hughes down from Idaho to watch Taylor graduate and watched him speak to his class. He is such a great leader and has what it takes to take on the world!
ENGLAND...We had plenty of bumps in the road getting there and while we were there but we made it! Michelle had a small hiccup with her passport and we ended up flying to London together. We made it from the subway to our stop and attempted to walk the streets trying to follow my dads "easy" directions to the hotel dragging our luggage for at least a mile. We got a lot of stares and no help but we made it.
London was awesome! It was so fun to see all the history. Landon and Taylor had not problem getting us around. We had great weather and great food! I loved having my brothers for roommates even if they had stinky feet. I am so thankful I got to go! It was truly an adventure.
My favorite part was the third day we sent Landon and Taylor to stand in line for Wicked tickets and we got FRONT ROW tickets. After seeing The Tower of London, The Crown Jewels, Westminster Abby, the British Library, St. Paul's Cathedral, I knew it was going to be super hard for me to go back to Idaho. We all had something in mind of what we were going to take back with us while we were in London, we found a Princess Diana ring for Michelle a pair of comfy walking shoes and purse for me and helped the boys get the right souvenirs for the "girl friends". Best week ever!
I could go on forever about the trip... We also barely made it to Scotland ALIVE after my dad attempted to drive in London. After a (several) near death experience he actually ended up letting me drive and Taylor navigated. While the boys went golfing Michelle and I got to spend some quality time together shopping and learning a whole lot about Kilts. She was a super grreat friend to me and we had some really good laughs. While in Scotland we tried to sneak a peak at a party that Prince Charles was having at one of the castles.

More attempts at life :)

My Aunties in Texas send these to all their grandchildren. They have created all different types of "boo boxes" to "boo books" and "boo outfits" to send to all their lil' ones that are spread out in numerous states. This was my attempt at the "boo bag" specially made by me. Yes, I made the dang bag not hard but I would rather go buy something cute than try to create something. Only because when you live in the sticks and you forget something you are SCREWED. (If you can't tell that is the same fabric from the cushion on my porch. I just might have ordered a little (actually a ton) more that I should have. He He We live, we learn, right? If you need any call me!) My Aunties are 2 super talented women! They remind me so much of my mom I thought I would copy their ideas! Miss you Aunt B and Aunt Livi!!!!!

This is another attempt to make my house a "home." I love stripes and I have wanted to do them for the longest time. I really wanted them in the kitchen but Randy said that would have drove him nuts. So one day while he was outside I pulled a fast one on him. I got this done in about 2 hours. He came in and did a double take and said "from one extreme to another." I will agree with him it went from super duper boring to POW stripes! I like it.

We purchase a Triplex this summer. We still are wondering why because its just another thing added to our plate but it keeps us going. I love having different places to practice on projects before they go in my home. This building is old but has the best personality of all of our places. I can't wait to re-do the outside! (I just got the eye roll from Randy)

Randy had a great idea to take the kids up to my grand parents cabin. They had a great time and we played games and sang songs. This is the kids at the Island Park Cabin.

We went to a dinner and theatre up at Max Inn by the Cabin. It was a comedy of Pirates. Ambri said it was like "being in the movie" because the Pirates come around and talk to everyone and bring people on stage.

Brindi had her 9th bithday.

Cael's birthday is the 3rd of July so Randy thought it would be fun to take him the girls and Morgan on the fire truck in the 4th of July parade.

Hailey, my only sister left on her mission right after a quick trip to Texas. My brother Landon came home from his mission a few weeks later. He was too busy to grab a photo but I promise will get him back!

more summer

Our little buck-a-roo. She wanted to ride this bull so bad she couldn't stand it. I wish I could post all the pics of her riding it. She never fell off and was the only girl that rode it while we were there. Cael also rode the bull. I know that he was pretty dang scared up on that thing and was mostly looking forward to getting bucked off!

Randy and his dang tractors. He loves them!

Cael and his too cool for school attitude!

Aunt Jodee and Ambri showing us they can ride with "no hands."

Papa Kevin and Brindi giving us big smiles. We got a kick out of watching Papa Kevin getting in trouble for riding on the pony.

One thing the kids love about Papa Kevin is that he loves to go the fair with them. It might just become one of our new traditions for this new little Daw family but only because it is one that brings smiles the whole day. This year we were missing a few uncles but Papa Kevin brought Aunt Jodee and Uncle Al.

summa time

During the summer I set some goals to attempt to learn new things. These things can seem so small and simple to some but I guess I am pretty proud to say that I at least finished all my goals to the best of my abilities. Luckily, I had Shirley! She is the best mother-in-law to help me out with all of them. I sewed curtains, made jam, and leaned to cut and lay tile and molding.

Since I am snowed in...

So, this is the gross, nasty, not to mention filthy porch...I wanted a "mud room" so that I am not constantly cleaning up shoes, gravel, and the unmentionables. Living out in the sticks/country your house NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER (X's infinity and beyond) stays clean. I wanted shoes and coats to stay out on the porch so we tried to update the place. I am still waiting for the perfect tile, or should I say the tile that Randy and I will agree on to put on the porch but this is how it will stay for now!

Up to par....

The Houston Crew gave us a warm welcome. Hailey and I could not have asked for better trip. We had such a great time down there with awesome cousins and amazing aunts. I know it made me a little jealous of their families being super close. Everyone had adorable homes and families. It think it was all amazing to see how much everyone has grown up and what cute little families they had. I can't wait to have my hubby meet everyone down there. Thanks for the best food, shopping, and visiting. It is a new favorite and I will for sure be going back!

Randy and I have been super busy with our apartments. We have learned how to tile and have set goals to update our buildings 100 year old flooring an apartment at a time. I often wonder where our time goes but every time I walk into our building I am reminded of the adventures my husband and I have had learning how to do new things. I being a city girl has given me an eye opener about physical labor. My husband is the hardest worker I have ever met and he has given me a better understanding of what it means to do your job at the best of your abilities. He has proved to me numerous times that he is worth more that gold and sometimes our apartment adventures turn out better than our favorite dates!
Morgan and Jaden came and spent a night with us after my grandpas 80th bday party. They were so fun to hang with. Jaden was a true gentleman and Morgan kept us on our toes. We enjoyed a round of mini golf and we went to Iron Man 2.
Easter was a hit with the kids. We had a lot of fun! This is what happens in the country when your kids get matching outfits and their hair done all at the same time and you try to get a pic of it....A tractor goes rolling by and completely ruins all the good efforts taken!