March was a very busy, fun, exciting, emotional, and spiritual month for our family. Toward the beginning of the month, we made an impromptu trip to Arizona for my Aunt Mellani's funeral. We had planned to do a camping trip for Spring Break so we just combined the two trips and added some camping stops on our way down and back.
The camping was so much fun and very relaxing. We needed that time with just our family, it was so good to be just us. The time in Thatcher was very difficult. It seemed impossible and unreal to accept this incredible loss for everyone, particular Mel's amazing kids and husband. It was very special to be together with all of our family and the spirit was so strong reminding us all that this was not the end, but just a long and difficult pause. I didn't realize how deeply this loss would affect me and my family but the fragility of life became so apparent and the goodness of my aunt's life was so overwhelmingly apparent. She is one incredible lady and I cannot wait to see her again.
The camping was so much fun and very relaxing. We needed that time with just our family, it was so good to be just us. The time in Thatcher was very difficult. It seemed impossible and unreal to accept this incredible loss for everyone, particular Mel's amazing kids and husband. It was very special to be together with all of our family and the spirit was so strong reminding us all that this was not the end, but just a long and difficult pause. I didn't realize how deeply this loss would affect me and my family but the fragility of life became so apparent and the goodness of my aunt's life was so overwhelmingly apparent. She is one incredible lady and I cannot wait to see her again.
To start out we rented a camp trailer and headed to a great RV park in Virgin, Utah with hot tubs, pools, playgrounds, and a 10 minute drive to some great hikes in Zions National Park.
Here are the girls hiking away in the beautiful red rock - it was breathtaking and a nice cool day. They were awesome hikers and loved all the scenery.
Here's daddy, always behind the camera :)
This was the view at the turn around point - unreal!
The whole crew - Suz lookin fierce, haha.
Arden at the RV park. She got a new bike for her almost birthday. She was stoked!
I didn't take a single picture during our time in Thatcher. I was so surprised when I found this, but then I realized we were all just so in-the-moment and not thinking about anything else but being there for eachother, and it didn't bother me so much. I have such sweet memories of being there. I stole this sweet picture from Aunt Mel's face book page - I love these ladies so much.
When we got home, Arden's sweet friend (and her mom, my friend) had decorated our door for Arden's 8th birthday. We hadn't celebrated on the trip since it fell on the day of my Aunt's funeral so Arden was so excited to come home and find this darling surprise. We have such good friends and neighbors. Thanks Lisa and Chelsea!
The week after our trip we had lots of visitors in town for Arden's upcoming baptism. It was an absolute blast having so much family here. We had my parents, my sister Jenni and her family, my sister-in-law Amy and her kids, and even Grandpa Arden here for a few days. It was a houseful and we loved every second!
Here's Arden with the first of many parties for her big day - such a fast-talking, matter of fact, easy-goin' girl. Happy Birthday Arden!
Arden and cousin Halle
Making her wish.
Daddy and Grandpa
Randy and Aunt Jenni
Gavin and June
Susan and cute Maryl
Trying on her super special baptism dress made by Grandma Palmer. We're hoping to make this dress a need tradition for all our girls to wear at their baptism. It was sooooo beautiful with swiss dotted cotton and a beautiful sash. Thank you so much Grandma!
Opening her loot!
At her jumping party with cousin Brindy
Brigham, Brin, and Arden getting to launch!
Cute friends Siena and Chelsea with Susan Jane
Ruby-doo
Marezee-Bear
Chelsea, Siena, Arden; cousins Aubrey, Halle, and Carter
Spencer, Gavin, and Carter
"Cart-dogger . . . . check him and see! He's got a fever that's a hundred three" (You know you want to sing along, hahaha)
BFF - Lexi
Palmer girl cousins
Bryce and Lamb girls at Temple Square looking so coordinated, haha!
Cute little girls at the Salt Lake Temple
The girls playing at the Museum of Church History, downtown
This beautiful painting was on display with several others from a collection by my Dad's cousin Lee Bennion. Her style is beautiful and so genuine and unique - I love it.
June, Maryl, Brindy, Susan, & Ruby at the Christus
We were so grateful to have family supporting us during this special time. Thanks so much for coming everyone!