Elder Ballard

 Oakley's tour group got the incredible opportunity to travel to Salt Lake and dance as entertainment at a new stake merge.  Elder Ballard was in the stake and we got the chance to hear him speak and then they danced for him and about 1000 other people.  Oakley has had so many incredible opportunities through this tour team and we haven't even gone on tour yet! Soooo cool!!

After they danced they taught the Virginia Reel.  Oakley grabbed a little girl to be her partner.  Hard to see in the picture, but so stinking cute! 

Once everything was over we were helping clean up and a mom and her little daughter came over and asked Oakley and Brooklyn if we all had traveled down from Idaho and then told them that her little girl (about 6 years old I'd guess) was sad because she didn't get to learn the Virginia Reel.  Oakley and Brook hurried and grabbed a few boys and a few other girls and one of the boys ran and grabbed the fiddler and they taught this little 6 year old the Virginia Reel just out on the grass in the dark.  It seriously made this little girls day!! Little things like that make all the difference in the world.  Proud of Oakley and Brooklyn for serving. They are growing and changing so much from these experiences!

Happy Birthday Oakley

I can't believe this little baby is SIXTEEN!! She has had a count down going all summer long.  Her friends have been able to date for months and she was patiently waiting.  And now it is finally here! She had a big day yesterday.  It started at midnight when her best friend Lauren woke her up (I'm not sure she was actually asleep though) to tell her happy birthday and eat cake and ice cream.  She then had to get up early to teach dance camp.  Her and her friends planned a day date to go to lunch and Squealers (mini amusement park) and then she had an evening dance performance followed by a party at our house.

 Usually our kids only get 3 presents for their birthdays, a tradition passed down from my family.  But Ryan's family had a tradition that on their 16th birthday they got 16 presents.  So we went with that. So fun!

 I was sneaky and got a picture of her leaving on her first date! Eeeek! It looks like he was leaving her behind, but actually he was hurrying to open the door for her! He also brought her roses after her dance performance.  What a great kid!

 This is her and Brooklyn just before the dance performance.  It was a HOT day to dance out in the sun. They did great though and loved it like always!

 And then PARTY at our house afterwards.  We seriously had pushing 50 kids here.  She invited her school friends, her Rigby dance friends and her tour team dance friends.  We had a HOUSE FULL and love, love, loved it!! The night ended with a cake to the face thanks to her besties Lauren and Nayia. I got to do clean-up till about 1 am, but worth it for her to have a great day! We love this girl.  I will never forget the moment the doctors put her in my arms.  She changed my world! Happy Birthday sis!

Girls Camp 2016

This is the only picture I got of Oakley the day I was at girls camp for bishops night.  She had a great week and we were blessed that she was able to go for the entire week.  We were worried with her crazy dance schedule that she wouldn't be able to.  This is her 5th year so she was able to hike Table Rock Mountain. It is a HARD hike and I am so grateful she got the opportunity! I want my kids to know that they can do hard things and this was a great example of that! I am so thankful for amazing Young Women leaders that take time out of their crazy lives to spend the week helping my daughter learn and grown and feel the spirit. 

 These are a few pictures Oakley took on top of the mountain. BEAUTIFUL! So proud of her for setting the goal and sticking with it. So worth it in the end!

Rope Swing

Ryan is a great dad and every once in awhile surprises us....

Like the other day when he put up a rope swing into the canal.  The kids were on it immediately and loved it. (Till the wind ruined the fun anyway)

Oakley was at girls camp so she hasn't tried out the swing yet.  We will definitely get pictures when she does. 

Sisters

With grandma's funeral came family.  I LOVE family get together's.  My parents, 4 of my siblings families, my cousin Nanette and my nephew Jake's family were all able to stay in our new home.  I LOVE this house! We made it so the people would come....and they do...and we fill it...and there is NOTHING BETTER! My sisters and sis-in-law Diane had planned a day where we were going to spend time at a rental house my dad inherited from his parents that the renters moved out of and left filthy.  Filthy really isn't even the word to describe this house.  There are no words! We had planned to clean and then go to the Playmill in West Yellowstone to watch Singing in the Rain that evening.  Grandma's funeral was on Saturday and our tickets were for Monday, so my sisters stayed the weekend with me.  SOOOOO NICE!! What a great few days together.  I was so grateful for their help at the nasty house too.  It has been a HUGE project and I have spent alot of hours there.  The hours go by so much faster with help and good company. :)

And Singing in the Rain was a BLAST too! The Playmill never disappoints! 

Pioneer Day Celebration

We went to the annual stake 24th of July celebration again this year.  They had the live fish pond where the kids got to catch a poor fish. :) Rhett and Dallin both came home with one.  We had my brother Shane's 4 youngest kids and Sam came home with a few fish as well. 

I got to help with the games again.  It's even better when I get to help my family.  This is me and Memory doing the bubbles.  Such a fun night!

This Girl

Oakley cracks me up! To this girl all the world is a dancing stage! Here she is in her pj's headed out to move pipe with her music blasting and dancing away.  Love her!