Hanging Out with the Fam!

Last week, my brother and his family came for a visit. My parents and my sister's family also came over. It was a great opportunity to all hang around in the backyard (that was before the heat hit) and sit around and chat.

It was such a nice evening, so I grabbed my camera and took some informal shots of some of the people I love.

Alex had just gotten his braces on, and I thought he looked so handsome. He is just growing up so fast! His voice is getting deep and he is shooting right up. I think that teenage transition into adulthood is every bit as amazing to watch as the transition from baby to child. Love that kid!

This is my niece Zola, named after my mom. Isn't that cool? She is a beautiful little thing and I love her to pieces!

If Zoe is beautiful, she gets it from her gorgeous mamma. I love my sister-in-law Elizabeth! I'm so glad to have her for a sister.

And then there's my only brother Rick. Yep, he looks like me, (a handsome fellow, I must say) only I don't have that crazy red beard. He is a good dad, and he always adds to a lively discussion.

And their little boy Jon, who Lukie LOVES! He is a funny kid. Very, very busy.

And my older, and wiser, sister Lisa. (She is only older by a year and 2 weeks. People often thought we were twins.) What an amazing woman she is, and a great example to me!

Her beautiful daughter, Christyne. She is like her mother in that she is a "sports girl" which is her term for tom-boy. Lisa was just like that. I, on the other hand, was a girlie-girl, just like her oldest daughter Andreya. (I didn't get a pic of her that night.) It is fun to watch those two girls who are also just a year apart, because they remind me so much of Lisa and I at that age.

Lisa's son Ayden is a cute kid and a good friend of Caleb. He seems to have gone from little kid to big boy overnight.

I didn't get pictures of everyone (sorry Mom, Dad, Ossil, Andreya, my family), unfortunately, because it was all informal, and I was losing light. Too bad.

We always have such fun chatting and visiting together. We usually discuss the gospel and politics, although lately things have changed a bit. You see, we have all gotten iPhones or iPod Touches. Last time after we all got together Nathan said, "Mom, you guys used to always all talk about the gospel, and now all you do is swap apps." Oops.

But that night it wasn't all wonderful. Darth Vadar showed up and scared the living daylights out of poor Zoe.

I love my family!