Syracuse days

This year Syracuse Days started for me at 7:00 A.M.

by running the 5k. This was my first race. I was not at

all in shape. I'm not sure why I signed up for it. Maybe

for something to work towards. I walked/ran before

maybe 4-5 times with my neighbors. I'll admit that the

race was hard and I wanted to walk so many times. Thanks

to my friend Mjika who ran with me and kept me running!

This is us crossing the finish line.

Mjika in the blue and me in the white.

Thanks to Mjika's husband getting up early with

all the kids to come and support his wife I was

able to have these pictures of my first and last race!

My knee was messed up that day and for a few after.

How pathetic am I! I'll stick with being out of shape!!!

It's much easier. No actually I prefer other ways of exercising.

I'm not a fan of running if you couldn't tell.

This is us discussing our time, still out of breath.

I thought we did pretty good for it being my first race.

Our time was, 31:37

Thanks Mjika for running with me and keeping

me going!

When I got home from the race my girls were still asleep.

How come when I have to get up they sleep in but when I

get to sleep in they wake up way early? Since I was wide awake

I decided to wash the car. It was nice to be up that early with

no one out bugging me.

I woke the girls up to get ready for the parade.

Paige and Riley waiting for the candy. Sierra

was to afraid of all the vehicles driving by so she

sat back in the chair.

Grandma Gardner and cousin Josh decided to

come and watch with us.

After the parade we met up with my sister Kami and

her husband Mikel to go to the carnival.

Kami and Me being silly!

We told Paige to jump and bounce down the slide,

so she did!

After we took the girls on a few blow ups and rides we

headed home for lunch, naps and their friend Taebia's

swim birthday party.

Brandon had been gone the entire week at scout camp.

The girls and I missed him so much. He got home during the

swim party the girls were at. And couldn't wait for them

to get home to say hi. The girls were ecstatic when

they saw him!

Except for Sierra who Brandon had to wake up from

her nap. He missed the girls a ton.

Later that afternoon we went back to the carnival

with Brandon and we invited Riley's friend Hallie

to come along. We decided to grab dinner at arctic circle

and eat it at the park instead of paying the outrageous

prices at the carnival.

Their favorite was the blow up slide.

Sierra was too little to go on the blow up slides so she

wanted to go on the animal train.

Paige, Hallie and Riley.

These girls have so much fun together!

We went back home and bathed the girls and got them

in their Pj's for fireworks.

Hallie and Riley all bundled up. Not because it

was cold but because of all the pesty Mosquitos.

Sierra was getting tired. 10:00 is way past her bed time.

Fathers Day

Happy Fathers Day Bran!

The girls love their Daddy so much!

He is such a good example to me and the girls.

They have so much fun with him.

This picture is after their naps. Notice their hair!

This is Grandpa Gardner blindfolded before we reveal his

present. The girls thought that was funny!

All us kids and Lisa chipped in and bought him

a grill for the cabin.

Happy Fathers Day Bob!

We love you!

Jeff, Katie, Bob, and Brandon

Michael's Engagement

When ever we go visit my mom in Idaho Falls

we always pack our days with so many activities.

This day Brandon and I decided to start the day off

at the Rexberg Temple. We had to get up at 5:30 A.M. to

make it to the 7:30 session. Way to early for me!

However, we were lucky enough to be the witness couple,

which kept me awake and alert!

Ironically the two times we have been asked to be the

witness couple were both when we were out of town.

Once in Rexberg and the other in Navoo.

I love going to the temple, specially with my

sweet husband!

We were planning on riding the horses when we got

back from the temple. Riley rode first and got bucked off

pretty hard. Her poor inner upper leg was swollen and had a

bruise the size of a soft ball from the horn of the saddle.

Grandma and I took turns reading her books

to keep her mind of the pain and trauma.

Riley was hurting the rest of the day. It hurt her

to even sit up. She did not dare even walk for 2 days. I carried

her everywhere.

She said, "I don't want to ride a horse ever again".

Of course she would say that, but I know she'll try it again.

Later that day we went to the falls for a picnic.

Riley was exhausted from crying that she took a nap in

the car.

Uncle Mikel is so good to play with the girls!

Mikel lifted Paige up so she could hang on to the high

branches of the tree.

Paige loved watching the squirrel get closer and closer

to them.

The falls were so pretty and impressive.

Me and my sisters, Karissa and Kami.

The Idaho Falls Temple. So beautiful!

Okay the reason for our family visiting Grandma and

Grandpa Avery was to celebrate with my little brother,

Michael for his wedding engagement to Skyla!

My brother wanted the entire family up there

to surprise Skyla at the olive Garden in Idaho Falls.

Branson, Kristie, Mom, John, Skyla, Michael, Paige, Mikel, Kami, Michelle, Patrick and Karissa

Kami, Kristie, Skyla, Michelle and Karissa

Michael is the creative romantic one in our family.

He took Skyla on a morning hike by the water falls,

which she thought was a nice gesture for her birthday the

weekend before. But little did she know that Michael was

going to be serenading her with his guitar and signing

a song he wrote for her.

My brothers friends set up cameras before hand to get it

all on film. He asked Skyla to be his wife right above the falls

and she said, "Yes"!

We are so happy for you Michael and Skyla!

Skyla we are happy that you're going to be apart of our family!

You make a wonderful couple!

From how much I know Skyla I couln't be more happy for Michael

picking such a wonderful person to marry!

Skyla and Michael

Bear World and more

The first part of Bear World we drove through.

The girls liked being out of their seat belts.

This bear decided to walk right in front of us.

One bear tried to bite one of our tires. Now I know why

they say not to stop.

We saw a wolf pack of 3.

After the drive in the car we got to go into the gift shop.

My favorite part. And then into the petting zoo.

This baby goat was actually kind of fun to pet and play with.

Of course Paige was a little nervous.

We got to pet a baby deer only a week old.

Sierra was funny. Brandon was trying to get her to pet

the deer and she would not walk any closer.

Notice her feet.

Riley and Grandma petting a wart hog! Yuck.

Paige and Grandma

I'm sure Brandon's thinking I wish I had a gun so

I could hunt you!

It was so cool to be so close to a deer and even pet one.

You still had to move slow around them or they would dart off.

Riley finally got her nerve up to pet the deer by herself.

One of the baby cubs we got to see.

They were only 6 months old. So cute!

There a some rides at Bear World for the kids to go on.

This made me laugh. I was talking with my mom

when I looked over and Brandon decided to humor

the kids and ride with them!

I would guess this was their favorite ride.

The roller coaster!

Riley said she liked "Puff the magic dragon"

roller coaster at Lagoon better.

Paige and Riley

I don't think Paige was tall enough for this ride,

but the workers did not care. Riley had to lift Paige

into the seat.

Brandon and I watching the girls on the rides.

Loving our time together as a family.

Standing in front of the Rexberg Temple.

While visiting my mom we rode out

on the 4-wheelers and saw Grandpa's Horses.

I have always been a horse lover. More so when I was younger.

Sierra is still a little cautious. She likes to pet the

horses as long as the horse's mouth is facing the other way.

The girls loved the baby horse. As did I. She came

right up to us. She was so soft. It brought me

back to my child hood when I wanted my own horse.

I'm glad I grew out of that. It would be too much work.

Brandon liked the 4-wheelers better!