Camping with the Hartneys

This is my bestest girlfriend, Samie. We have only known each other for two years but it seems like a lot longer! She is such an awesome example to me! I love it when we can spend time together, although that doesn't happen often enough since she lives in Twin Falls and leads a busy life with work, church and three kids of her own. However, we did manage to get away to the South Hills together for a quick camping trip this summer.

Wading in the creek was just what we needed on a hot afternoon.

These three girls are so cute together...

Especially with matching hairdos. Aliya and Emily were dressed the same, too so it was hard to tell them apart sometimes.

This is Samie with her husband, Drew, who is always the life of the party! He keeps me laughing!

Here are Noah, Aleise and Ziggy. Zig loved taking care of Aleise, helping her hike up the mountain and leading her on all kinds of adventures. Porter and Elijah managed to hide from the camera. Porter shared all his best stories and songs from scout camp with Elijah. (Sorry again, Samie and Drew!)

Here are the kids enjoying popcorn cooked over the fire. I love spending time with such wonderful friends!!

Roomie Reunion

One of the highlights of the summer was a visit from one of my dearest friends. Becky Devereaux was my roommate my freshman year at USU. We bonded instantly and the three of us (including Heather Bailey Allred, who was my roomie too) have been close friends ever since. Heather and I grew up together and I love it that we still get to see each other when she comes home to visit her parents. Becky, on the other hand, has never been back out West. She and her husband and sweet little girls came and stayed at our house for a few days in June. The kids instantly became buddies and we all had such a great time hanging out together!

All three of us girls, along with our families, got to spend the weekend together in Utah. The six of us went out to dinner and spent the evening talking together at the Gateway on Saturday night. Then all our families went to church together the next day. It was such a great time!

I am so grateful to have such good, lifelong friends who inspire me, make me better and are always there for me. I love it that we can lead such busy lives but when we talk the years just melt away and our friendship is as strong as ever. I couldn't ask for better friends!!

All Wet

Here are all my swimmers. Porter was on the swim team this summer...well, the first part of the summer anyway. I didn't realize how busy he would be this summer and how much running around he would be doing. So he only competed in one meet. I was disappointed that he couldn't participate more. I think he is a really good swimmer and that he would have really enjoyed it. Maybe we will try again next year...

The weather finally warmed up enough in August to enroll the other three in swim lessons. This was Aleise's first time and she loved it. She was a regular fish by the end of the session, bobbing under the water with no troubles at all!

Noah was in Level II this year and said he missed the games they used to play in Level I. :)

Emily swam in Level IV this year. She is also a great swimmer! But her favorite thing? Diving! She was the only girl in her class and showed up all the boys on the diving board! They all just wanted to jump in but not her -- she dove in every time!

We had the chance to go swimming after hours at the pool this year, too. Aunt Trish manages the pool and she invited us to go over with all of her family one night. It was so much fun playing in the water after dark with only our family there. We all loved it!