4th of July Fun!!

We spent our 4th of July just as we usually do in Logandale. It is our very favorite place to celebrate the 4th and this year was just as fun! Maddy got lots of time with cousins, we got lots of time with some of Josh's siblings and some WONDERFUL memories were made!

Mia and Maddy playing some of the games after the candy was shot from the cannon and before the firemen showed up with the big water trucks for a refreshing water fight. :)

The kids playing Uno with Grandpa on the fair grounds lawn.

I LOVE the girls' faces in this picture. They were having so much fun feeling the overspray of all the hoses. (I tried to get Maddy all the way in the water fight but she REFUSED) Little stinker.

Yes I entered a pie eating contest, well it was really just a pie tin FULL of pudding and whip cream. Tasted so yummy!!! But I lost horribly to the 5 other teenagers I was up against. So much fun though!

Our nephew Brad enetered the watermelon eating contest and totally won! He ate 7 pieces in 2 minutes. Way to go Brad!

After all the fun morning festivities we went back to Christy's and had a FABULOUS lunch and then swam it off at the local swimming pool. Came back to Christy's and let off our own fireworks and made homemade ice cream. Maddy thought the fireworks were great except for the few that made REALLY loud noises. Luckily daddy was there to hold her so she could see them without being too frightened.

We then headed back to the fair grounds for their patriotic show and fireworks display. Always turns out FANTASTIC!

Mia fell asleep during the BIG firework show, silly girl!

And Maddy LOVED the sparklers!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

Graduation Day!

Graduation Day was so wonderful! My feelings that morning were of an overwhelming peace, gratitude and excitement. I was filled with emotion as all the graduates came walking in and I couldn't help but feel so much pride for Josh. He has worked so hard and put in MANY long hours to accomplish his dream of becoming an architect and the day had come. I felt so grateful to our Heavenly Father for the guidance he had given us during our years in school and for the blessing education is in our lives. Knowing we were where we were supposed to be and that we have done and would continue to do all that we can to put Heavenly Father first, brought so much peace to my heart and an affirmation that He would continue to bless us as we enter this new adventure in life.

The President of the University spoke that morning and said that this was the largest graduating spring class in UNLV's history.

Josh above is with a few of his friends that he has gone through the program with. And today was extra special because Josh's aunt Jeannie graduated with her Bachelors. Josh couldn't resist the opportunity to hug his aunt and let her know how proud of her he was.

Such a great day! Thank you to all of our family and friends for the constant support and love you have given us through this adventure. We could not have done it without you!

As Josh and I have talked about the blessings that have come to us in our 5 years of marriage we both believe the greatest blessings have been our beautiful daughter Madelyn and our upcoming son who will join us this November. We are so grateful for the privilege to parent these children of God and hope that we will be able to instill in them the desire to fulfill their own hopes and dreams and to live worthily of the blessings that are in store for them.

EASTER and HUGHES VISIT

We dyed eggs for the first time with Maddy this Easter. It was so much fun to watch her get so excited. We didn't realize we got a tricky kit (it was tye dye versus just colors) so we tried doing a tye dye egg first. But then resorted to just using the colors.

All of our finished eggs. She was so proud of them!

April 22nd was our 5 year wedding anniversary. Josh took me to the Titanic Exhibit and then to a wonderful little Italian restaraunt called Nora's. The whole evening was wonderful and I was able to keep the morning sickness to a minimum. I love this man so much!!! I am so grateful he chose me and that we were blessed to be sealed in the temple for time and all eternity. He is a wonderful husband, father and friend. I count my blessings each day I get to wake up next to him.

For Easter we spent the late morning early afternoon with the Waters Clan. It was so much fun, the aunts and uncles had games for everyone and then we had a HUGE egg hunt. The kids were definitley spoiled by the end of it. We love being close to both families so that we can be apart of all these family memories.

Maddy and cousin Sarah getting ready for the pass the life-saver from one another using a pretzel. Well before the adults could get the lifesavers handed out all the kids had eaten their pretzels so we used toothpicks instead. :)

The annual 3 legged race! Something funny always happens and this year did not fail us. In the picture below you can see a team go down....yes that is Josh and Melissa. SO FUNNY!!

Next game on the menu: How many cookies can you stack on your partners head?

I NEED MORE COOKIES!!!

Get your cookied from your forehead to your mouth without using your hands. Dallin was a total pro!

And then the long awaited EGG HUNT!

In the late afternoon we went and had dinner and egg hunt with the Mangum side. It was extra special this year because Jessica and Kevin and Kristin and Ryan were able to be here during this holiday.

Another game of get the cookie to your mouth without using your hands. Maddy even tried it this time.

And more egg hunting, definitley the highlight for Maddy.

Cousins make the BEST of friends!

HAPPY EASTER!!!!

Easter is over and now it's time to just have straight cousin time before they go back to Boston.