Grandma Miner

The kids had the opportunity to be by their Great Grandma Miner a lot.  She was their Grandpa Bowen's mom who lived with them for a few years while she was unable to take care of herself. The kids were able to go visit with her every Sunday in her room when we were there for dinner. We often got to say prayers with her as well as just talk to her about her day. She loved to talk to us about the church and about their days.  This was the first grandparent that the kids really remember aging and dying.  They loved their Grandma Miner and the memories they made with her. They were not there with her when she passed away but were able to spend some precious time with her after she did pass.  We were thankful for the Bowen's for taking care of her all these years so the kids could have a better relationship with her.

The Cousins at the funeral home

The cousins at the graveside

Asher with Grandma before she died

Tender Mercies (Laura)

I may act like I handle my pain super well, but I always don't.  For some reason my pain is flared up and I am not sure why. I have had to stop doing some of my normal running and exercise activities because my pain is so flared up. I have seen some small tender mercies. I read some church ensign articles about which way do you face and aspiring to do things without asking for mens honors. I went to the temple and cried the whole day.  The next day Nelson came home for an intervention basically and told me the family has to walk on pins and needles because of my moods. Luckily for the tender lessons the day before I was able to take the advice without over reacting and getting upset. So thankful for the lessons I received to prep me to handle the feedback I needed and not be grumpy and mean about it.
I know we have a loving Heavenly Father who is aware of us and guides us.

Max and Nelson's first spartan race

Nelson and is friend Tyler Dixon kept thinking they were ready for something more challenging than the half marathons that they had been doing. The searched for the next challenge that they were ready to took on. When they ran across the details of the Spartan they knew that is what they were looking for.  The Spartan race they picked was an 8-10 mile race with 25-30 obstacles in between.  They did their first race in Heber Valley.  They are hooked and loved every minute of it.

Bear Lake

Like mentioned before we love the time we get to spend in Bear Lake with both our families.  It is always amazing to get to spend time with family. That is one of the most important things to me. I can not get enough family time and memory creating.  Crazy how big our family is getting, seems that time is going way to fast.  Bowen Bear Lake (the weather was freezing if you cant tell)

Time with the Weston Family

bunch of the Weston cousins

Telluride Colorado

This year we had the awesome opportunity to go to Telluride Colorado with Nelson's brother Spencer.  This was one of the funnest places we have been.  We had the best time biking, hiking and celebrating the Fourth of July. Telluride is a ski town so everywhere you went you road the gondola to get there.  The kids had the best time joking around and playing with their cousins in those gondolas.  Some pretty amazing biking and an all around great trip

Hanging out in the river in town

Asher & Nelson

Crazy group of kids after hiking

Day spent in town celebrating the fourth

One of the most favorite memories from the trip was on the ride home.  We headed out on Sunday but wanted to make sure we hit church on the way home. We hustled so we could make it to church in Moab. The only option we had was to change in the car in the back of the parking lot of the church.  We rushed in as fast as we could because we were pushing it and plopped ourselves down on the back seat of the chapel.  We started looking around and realized we were the only family in the sacrament meeting.  We had so conveniently made it to the singles ward in town.  The kids thought it was a bit awkward but I didn't mind. Church is church no matter if you are the only family sitting in the meeting
 
Max changing to go into church

Grand Gulch

Each year Spencer invites friends from Colorado and from Utah to go on a backpacking trip. The kids look forward to it each year and completely anticipate where they will be going.  The kids have loved the experience of going on a backpacking trip.  I get left home each time to help take care of the kids left at home.  This year Spencer planned Grand Gulch down south. The kids loved it and couldn't stop talking about it and how much adventure they always have. So grateful for Spencer and the time he spends setting up fun trips for the family to go own


Asher, Crew & Passion
All the bags of the people on the trip

max's experience in the old wahlquist jr high

For the past 10 years we have had the privilege of living acroosbte street from he old wahlquist jr high. They just recently decided to tear it down and build a new Jr High.  Max went to the old school for 7th grade and then was able to go to the new one.

One day when the old school was closed max was out hanging out with his friends. They had the brilliant idea to ride their bikes over to the old school. While they were there they found a window unlocked and decided to climb through. They thought it was super cool to walk the halls and see their old territory. Lucky for us he told me about it. Little did he know that they had a video camera that was recording everything that happened as well as a system to alert the police. The police showed up 2 minutes after they got out. 

Max learned this day a lesson on trespassing and how important it is to stay out of places that are not ours.  He was truly blessed and watched over as the experience could have ended so differently