Priceless Conversations

(Great Grandma and Grandpa Lloyd as newlyweds)

While we were up in Wyoming visiting Chad's family for the holiday we were able to visit with his Great Grandma Lloyd. It was so amazing to sit and visit with her. She is 96 years old and so very alert and aware of everything. She took the time to show us pictures of her family and tell us stories of when she was younger. It was so wonderful to have a small piece of history that day. She was so fun and very funny. I am truly honored that she took time out of her day to share with us her stories and time. It's not often that you get to just sit and shoot the breeze with your Great Grandparents. None of my Great Grandparents are alive but Chad has 2 Great Grandmothers that are alive and well. It was such an amazing day that I will never forget. Thanks Grandma Great. We look forward to seeing you soon. Love you!

(Grandma Great telling Chad about her brothers and sisters)

Also while we were up there, I mentioned to Grandma Lloyd that I work for Ancestry.com and she told me that when she was younger she had taken the time to fill out a bunch of genealogy sheets. She offered to let me take them and make copies so I could get my family tree built on the Lloyd side. It has been so amazing gathering all of this information and putting the pieces of of our history together. I've been able to build our tree like 6 and 7 generations back on Chads side. It's been a great summer project and I've officially been bit by the genealogy bug.

(Grandma Great and Chad)

Fireworks on the Fourth

This 4th of July Chad and I were able to go to Wyoming with his brother and sister. We met his parents there and had a blast. Grandma and Grandpa Lloyd live in Wyoming and they have several animals. It was so much fun to spend time with his family, many of we have not seen since we got married over 2 years ago. We sat around the fire pit outside and roasted hotdogs and smores and listened to country music while listening to Grandpa tell stories. I love my husbands family and I wish we lived a lot closer to them so we could visit more often. As it started to get dark there was a fire that started a few housed down. Chad's Grandpa is on the fire department so he had to rush down the road to help put out the fire.

Then when it got dark his Uncle lit off some fireworks and it was awesome. Since Chad and I have been married, we have never seen fireworks together. So this was a cool first for us. In order to see fireworks like this in Utah we usually have to pay or travel to a designated location because big fireworks like this are illegal in Utah.

One of the coolest things was as we were driving home that night, all of the town was still setting off their fireworks and it was so amazing to see huge fireworks all over the valley. I wish I still had my camera out so I could have gotten a picture of it. It was truly something I've never seen before. Next year we are planning on doing the same thing and I plan on being prepared with my camera.

The Boys are Back in Town

My nephews are back!!! My brother in law is in the military and had had to move a lot in the last few years. I'm very close with my 3 nephews and love being around them. They have lived in Virginia, Pennsylvania and most recently California for the last year. I've missed them like crazy and well... they are back in Utah. They are staying with us for a few days until their parents get here with all of their stuff.

One of the traditions we have when the boys are here is a burger-off. The boys like to compete with Chad to se who can make the biggest baddest burger. This time Kaelan and Chad put flaming hot cheetos and crushed red pepper in their burgers. They loved it. (not my cup of tea)

Usually after burgers I'll retire to my room or my craft room and then Chad and the boys stay up all night fueled on pepsi, candy and chips playing video games. Then I get up the next morning and make a big breakfast.

We love it anytime we get to spend time with our family and we love it when the boys come stay with us and we get to share our life with them for a little while. I am so blessed to be the Aunt to 8 nephews and 6 nieces with a a little niece on the way. I am not able to be a mother right now in my life, so I am very grateful to my brothers and sisters for sharing their children with me. They are such a blessing in my life.