Danae and Rob's Wedding

Crazy as it is, there are two grandchildren married now in the Crowley Family.  How did we get to this place so fast?  Life just must slow down a little....so we can enjoy it more.  Regardless, we couldn't be more thrilled that our Danae found a wonderful man to marry!  

She followed her heart and went out to Washington DC, as per her Aunt Annie's advice (because I lived there once while I was working as an intern) I told her that there are huge singles wards out there full of professional single adults.  And lo and behold she found Rob!   They  have such a sweet love story  and are a wonderful couple and we couldn't be happier for them.  

They chose the end of July to get married in the Twin Falls Idaho Temple.  It was a great weekend.  I love this picture of them..as they came out of the temple..newly married!

Here's a few pictures of the work crew who got things ready for the pre-wedding party...

And Steve too.... and me...

 The future Mr. and Mrs. Rob Cosman...

Father and Mother of the Bride... Sorry Gayle, I guess this is why we hire professional photographers!

 Ditto.

A few of my beautiful sisters....

I love watching kids at weddings.  They get so excited and they love hanging out with each other at such an exciting event.  

Ahhh...  cute-ness.

I think Jacob really loves his girl cousins.  What do you think?

Father/Bride dance.  Sweet.

 Time to party...  everyone get on the floor...

Cousins hanging out together...  we so love these times!

What little kids do at boring grown up events.... they find and hill and roll!  

Brother and Sister Cuteness.

Happy 20th Anniversary Caryn and Brian!!!  Wow!!

Shake your groove thing..Shake your groove thing....

Next Day, July 30th, 2011, Wedding Day.....

Anticipation.... All the kids waiting outside the temple.

And that is one cute little boy..

Wedding Dinner Entertainment...They did a beautiful job...

Ahhhh....sweet.  

We love weddings!  We love Danae and Rob and wish them all the happiness in the world.  It was a beautiful weekend.  

Summer Visits and Visitors

August was one busy month.  We were so lucky to have visitors at our house for about two weeks straight!  We loved it!  

First, Sharon and her family came...

We took walks down at our park, ice-blocked down the big hill and I just loved having those girls with me, all to myself.   It was so delightful.   

   

One day we got together with the Haruch's and all three of us sisters showed up with our hair done exactly alike.    We must be sisters or something! 

We went to the new Joseph Smith movie at the Legacy theater.  It was so so wonderful!  Isn't that a bunch of cute people or what?! 

After this, we went to the Lion House Pantry to have a treat.   

We had such a great time together.  This was right before we ran into Elder Oaks.  And before running into him, we ran into Elder Holland too.  It was a special day that Aunt Annie will cherish always.   

We also took a tour at the local Sweets Candy Factory with our little sweets.  

And, then went to the Olympics Fountain to play in the water after.....

  

I must say that is one beautiful joyful momma!

Sharon and I had a little accident before we could get out of there..... 

I will cherish this time we had together Sharon!  

And then we had the privilege of having Gayle, Richard and girls at our house the next week.  We so love these annual visits and will be sad to see them end.  Unfortunately, we didn't take any pictures. 

Then we had a family reunion on the Knudsen side.

Analee and her darling little family stayed with us, literally the minute after Richard and Gayle and their family left. It was great to see Analee and her family!  It had been too long!  

It makes life busy  but we love Summer visitors!

And They're Off!

Registration materials in- check

School Supplies bought-check

Summer Reading for English Honors classes done-check

A few new school clothes and new shoes bought-check

New School Year Pep Talk-check

Father's Blessings given-check

And they are off!!

Joseph... starting his senior year..! 

Jonathan starting High School!!! A Sophomore.... 

Michael starting 7th Grade!!!  This picture was taken on the day he left for 7th grade orientation...He is looking like he is not so sure about this whole thing....

But, here on the official first day of school..he is looking much happier!

And with that my heart goes ..... a flippity flop.  Happy Sad...all at the same time.  

The Summer was too short.  We got out late (June 12th and started early August 22nd)  So, I have never felt more unprepared to let my children go..  

Yesterday (Sunday) was about the best Sunday we have ever had.  We just so enjoyed being together.   It was like we knew we needed to enjoy  the quiet before the storm.... our time together as a family..just us...no demands, no rigid schedule..just us.  

We had a wonderful dinner and a relaxed afternoon, talking, laughing, sharing this and that.  Then in the evening, as we do every year, Steve gave everyone a blessing.   I will not forget the feeling of love, warmth and closeness we felt in our home that day.  There was a lot of love there and a feeling of support and strength...everyone encouraging each other on, ready to start a new year. 


And I will never take for granted what a wonderful husband I have...and how he blesses our family.  Sweetest day ever.  

Snapshot of Summer 2011

Just to record any random information about life at our house Summer 2011.


Steve went to Scout Camp with Michael in June... who I can't believe is 12 and old enough to go.  Boo Hoo...!  Everyone is growing up too fast.. I am beginning to feel a little panicky about this...no really.


The boys...are eating us out of house and home.  I think it might just continue to get worse.  I make lots of food, big breakfasts, dinners and everything gets eaten up. 


Jonathan is doing personal training at TOSH.......  His coach recommended that he do this to make his running faster and those explosive moves bigger, quicker.  He is working hard to prepare for football.  I admire this boys determination and passion for this sport.  It is so good!


Joseph has a good little group of friends.  The other night he and two friends sat at our kitchen table with the Highschool year book open and they began calling girls to find dates.  It was very entertaining to watch.  And they all managed to get a date!


Joseph is dating and driving and doing all those teenage things.  He also auditioned for and made Vocal Ensemble.  He is so excited.  I am so excited to see him excited about something.... dating, driving, participating in life.  Hooray.


Jacob was just invited to participate on the Boys Competition Team at Olympus Gymnastics!  He is even ecstatic that he gets to go to class for 3 hours twice a week.   Who am I to stand in his way?   He is truly amazingly driven to excel.  I love that.


Steve and I prepared all Summer to be a Pa and Ma on the Stake Youth Trek.  We have been walking together in the evening.  This has been so much fun..like a mini getaway at the end of the day.  Also, we have been reading!  Reading the Book of Mormon, pioneer experiences etc.  I have read Fire of the Covenant.  We all saw the movie, "17 Miracles."  This has been such a great experience and I come away from it in awe and with a stronger testimony and love for the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.  




Jonathan and Joseph finished up EFY a couple of weeks ago.  They both declared that their week at EFY was one of the best weeks of their lives so far.    Oh, if we could just keep the good scripture study and prayer habits going......  


Scott is finally sleeping in his own bed.   This is so good.  It was getting crazy there for awhile.  We so loved having him sleep with us but the time had come for him to sleep in his own bed.  


Jacob is usually the first one up in the morning.  He gets right to getting his jobs done and practicing piano.  I love to hear him working at his music first thing in the morning.  I love his determination and drive to excel.  


It has been just delightfully warm this summer.   The days haven't been too hot.  We have only had one day hit over 100 degrees.   


This morning I took Scott on a hike with his little friend Jacob Stout and Mom.  It was an adventure and afterwards Scott was invited to play at Jacob Stout's house for a couple of hours. In the car on the way home, he announced, "this day has been the best day of my life!"  Oh, the simple joys!


I miss my Mom and Dad.  They've been out on their mission a year now.  They are having the best time of their lives and I would be selfish to want them anywhere but right where they are.  Still miss them though.......  


Scott is a very patient little person.  He has to wait in line a lot and does so with a smile and laughter. (most of the time)  I admire this and love him so much.  


This Summer is one in which I am hanging on....while life gets taken inside out ...  this is when all those Sunday School lessons really kick in to gear.  


Without the help and support of my closest friends and everyone of my brothers and sisters (both sides of the family) I am sure I would be a mess right now.  


Exercise is necessary therapy. 


We had an awesome Family Home Evening lesson last night.  As part of the lesson everyone wrote down something nice about each person in the family.  It was very fun and filled our home with an abundance of nest warmth.    

My Idea of a Perfect Afternoon.....

The other day when my house was full to the rafters with neighborhood kids and a chaotic variety of activities going on I realized that this is what makes a perfect afternoon for me.  I feel so calm and content with so many good things going on...

Such as ... Eric playing continuously, sometimes loudly on the piano for a very long time

Friends of all ages over to play, atleast one for each of my children. Mary and Scott toddling around, Jacob, Michael and their friends running in and out of the house from one activity to another, to the trampoline, off to shoot hoop, and whatever else they do..I just know it is full of energy and they are always on the move.

Jonathan very engaged in a science project ..working with a buddy trying to perfect their "egg box" assignment. They had to create a box that would safely house an egg from breaking when dropped from a 3 story building. They first climbed on the roof ....and then realized that they could die doing that (literally) started dropping it from the window on the second floor of our house instead. Something about seeing my son work so hard on something with a friend just makes my mother heart sing.

In the midst of all this I helped this person and that person with this and that and picked up Joseph from a rehearsal and took him to a job interview...such good work Joseph! It was a very busy afternoon!

Dinner was in the oven filling the house with a delicious aroma. And no one was fighting...everyone was happily busy.

I think the main thing that made me feel it was a perfect afternoon was the chaos. Isn't that funny? It was a happy, productive sort of chaos. I analyzed why this would make me feel so happy and I determeind because it reminded me of the happy, hustling bustling home I grew up in, where everyone was welcome and the more the merrier. Where there was always someone playing the piano or singing, something yummy cooking in the oven, and at least one project being worked on.

Chaos makes me happy..who knew... ?

Activity...people... connections... it all reminds me of home.

The Simple Pleasures

happy things of Summer 2011

-invigorating excercise on early, cool, fresh Summer mornings
-blustery, thunderstormy Summer afternoons
-the smell of a quick Summer Rainshower

-pushing Scotty in the swing while he begs me to push higher!

-watching my teenagers enjoy life

-having more control over the family schedule, enjoying the slower pace and more time with each child.  

-inspiration and empowerment to be better, learning more about what I know and finding hope to press forward 


-the beauty and power found in the scriptures


-nightly walks with Steve ..holding his hand


-golden pink, red orange sunsets with brilliantly lit clouds


-crawling into clean, cool sheets at the end of the day

-beautiful music

-free outdoor concerts

-the joy and companionship of really good friends

-laughing so hard I almost cry

-reading a good book

-a meal with the family that includes sharing stories and much laughter

-Eric's sense of humor

-flowers, flowers, everywhere

 -having my house packed with people I dearly love

 -Waking up to a clean house...the quiet of the morning + clean house = bliss

-the temple

-remembering sacred days in my life

-the security and power of having made covenants with God

-knowing that that my Heavenly Father knows me...  and my family... and is on our side

-and in knowing that..... feeling the joy of serving a being as glorious and perfect as my Father in Heaven and Savior 

-car trips with good conversation

-playing games around the kitchen table

-heart to heat talks with Steve late into the night

-moonlit Summer nights so beautiful that it almost feels like the night is singing.