Lisa is "33"!

Today is Lisa's birthday! Dang she is still younger than me! I am so glad we have gotten so close over the years. Some things i love about her are...
I love that she is one of my BEST friends.
I love to talk to her on the phone.
I love to hang out with her.
I love what a good listener she is.
I love how easy going she is.
I love how good she makes me feel.
I love that my kids get to hang out with her when I work with mom.
I love what a great card maker she is.
I love our late nights (when kids are in bed and we just need out).
I love what a good cake decorator she is.
I love the fact that she can blow the biggest bubbles in our bubble gum competitions.
I love what a GREAT mom she is.
I love what a good example she is to me.
I love the fact that she has a strong testimony.
I love her for the sister she is.


Lisa "Happy Birthday!" I love you!


a

Lisa and Whitney great with Bubble gum.


She is an amazing cake decorator. She made this cool "CARS" cake for Jase and Cole's birthday.


Lisa with Brynn she is a happy mom.




Lisa is an aunt that always says compliments to her nieces and nephews.


We think you are GREAT!

School is back in...

Wow where did the summer go? School is back in as of Monday, July 28. All our kiddos are now in the Queen Creek school district! Yeah, all in year round school. I love the schedule and love that they are surround by kids from our ward and stake!

Carly is in FIRST grade with Mrs. Schiermeyer. She is a little nervous about riding the school bus.

Lindsey is in SEVENTH grade at the new Newell Barney Middle School. Boy crazy and begging for a cell phone.

Conner is in FOURTH grade in Ms. King's class. His favorite thing about school is recess where he plays FOOTBALL


Wow where as time gone? My babies are getting so big! I am so proud of them and what good kids they are! I pray they CTR and know I love them!

Caleb turns TwElVe...

It's your bIrThDaY Caleb. Wow "TWELVE" what an important age, you will receive the priesthood. We are so proud of you. You are so musically talented. We love you and enjoy your fun personality.

Caleb and Cole have a special bond. Caleb has always been so loving and protective of Cole.

My turn to talk in church!

Got home from the Dowdle Reunion Friday late afternoon and noticed Bro. Leopard's phone number several times on our caller ID. Checked our messages and sure enough he had left a few and ask that I call him. Know that he is a member of our Bishopric and conducting this months sacrament mtg. Once we finally connected he informed me that Sunday's sacrament mtg. theme was girls camp and wondered if I would be the concluding speaker. I feel so blessed to have gone to girls camp and to have had such a wonderful time. Yes, I would love to share my testimony and share how I felt the girls could keep the spirit they received at camp here at home and throughout the next few months. What they would need to do to keep this spirit and feeling of peace in their lives.

The program went as follows:

Cheresse Peterson

Ivy Larson

Valerie Aguinaga (leader)

Musical number: "I Stand All Amazed"

(Ally Larson, Megan Hunt, Mira Dietze, Olivia Knapp)

Brittany Davis

Me -Lori Morris

I love the spirit that was there and the testimonies of everyone.

What a wonderful experience.

Native New Yorker...adult night out!

Saturday at 4pm we adults escaped and went to dinner at Native New Yorker.

(Heather, Lance, Tyler, Logan, Johnny, and Larissa)

Oh how nice no little ones, we could start a conversation and finish it with no interruptions.

I so believe that it is important to have ADULT time.

(Dad, Kurt, LaSchelle, Larissa, Johnny)

Lisa and Ryan ready for some WINGS!

Mom, Erik, and I happy to be together!

Logan and Tyler - it is so fun to have Tyler around. Glad he is feeling better! He loves to be around Lance and Logan. They are such GREAT role models for him.

After dinner we went back to Oma and Papa's where all the kiddos were. We visited a little longer and then said our GOOD-BYE's. The Romney's had packing to do and Uncle Kurt needed to get some sleep. How soon before you come back and visit???

Dowdle Reunion in Heber, Arizona

Grandpa and Granny Dowdle at our family reunion. Oma and her crazy sisters! They think they are young and in-shape, I bet they were sore the next day.
(left to right) Aunt Candace, Aunt Kim, Oma, Aunt Pat, Aunt Denise, Aunt LaSchelle
I truly think these ladies have lost their marbles. They are acting REALLY silly!

My cousin, April Layton, decided to do LaSchelle's hair. She didn't quite realize how curly her hair would really get. April is starting to get a little nervous. LaSchelle is majorly freaking out!

Shall we call her 'CURLY SUE' or 'Olivia Newton John' from the movie GREASE? Her hair turned out SUPER curly. April fixed her bangs and it actually looked cute, especially when it relaxed a little.

Like our DOWDLE shirts (thanks Allen's who did the design, simple)!

What a CUTE family! I love them so much...

Case working on an "OREO" cookie!

There they are FINALLY acting their age!

Lindsey helping out with Adam & Jenessa's twin, Coby.
Who is that HANDSOME man? Oh, it is my husband! Cole and Tanner planning in the dirt. This tractor helped keep several little ones busy.

Cole loved to fill the digger with dirt.

Pinata time...Cole got to hit Clifford trying to get some candy.

There were several fun games and activities.

(Bubble gum blowing contest, pinata, horseshoes, softball, Family Fued, Bingo (with prizes),

cards, games, rocket lauching, and lots of people to visit with!)


Conner hanging out on the pier of a fun pond!
Erik and Conner looking at the FISH!
Row, row, row your boat...

Lindsey, Kayla Romeny, Brenley Layton

Watch out her comes FARMER Cole!

Uncle Johnny and Papa Larsen playing horseshoes.

Uncle Steve Schneider brought a rocket to launch.

It was lots of fun and kept everyone busy for hours.
Erik, Cole, and Lindsey taking a canoe ride. This canoe was lots of fun, although a few people tipped over. The kids loved taking rides. The teenagers enjoyed being able to give others rides.
Cole was hoping to stay dry. Erik took them for quite a ride.
Lindsey and Cole enjoy the beautiful weather.
Lindsey and Brenley Layton hanging out on the pier.

Cole and Kylee playing in the rocks after it had rained. The ground was wet and fun to play in.
Carly chewing gum wearing one of the hats from the Family Fued Game.
Cole and Kylee playing with a hola hoop - they are the best of friends.

Conner and Tanner - 2 peas in a pod.
They LOVE hanging out! We loved having the Romney's here.

Our family reunion was a blast. We slept in our tent and were one of the lucky ones when it rained that our tent didn't leak. Poor Steverson's their TENT LEAKED, ugh!

We love Granny and Grandpa Dowdle and are gratefully for all the aunts and all they did to make the reunion successful. Oma was the sister incharge and she did an amazing job!

July 24, Oma's birthday!

Oma had a birthday on July 24 and now she is "SIXTY-THREE!" Isn't she young? We think Oma is amazing!

Ten rEaSoN's wHy:
1. She still works cleaning homes at least 2 days a week.
2. She is there to watch our little ones in a minute's notice.
3. She supports her grandchildren's activities either by attending or by telephone.
4. She goes swimming, to the movies, to the park, wherever her kids are.
5. She is there to support her children when a baby is born/sick or surgery has taken place.
6. She has us over every Friday for "PIZZA NIGHT".
7. She has a listening ear.
8. She has a testimony.
9. She loves each one of us and PAPA!
10. She is a wonderful example of serving others!

Here are a few pictures of her!Visiting Cole when he was born.

With us at Crew and Brynn's field trip at the pumpkin patch.

Cole loves to hang out with Oma. He love to share her Dr. Pepper and ride in her white van.

Me, Oma, and Larissa hanging out at her house in Queen Creek. Oma and several of her grandkids.

Ramie, Brynn, Oma, Carly, Crew, Whitney

Oma is 63!

HaPpy "40" Uncle Kurt!

July 23

Uncle Kurt how OLD are you?

We love you and are glad we could spend the day with you. Oh, and yes we do have to SING to you everytime you come near us "happy birthday to you..."

Waiting...

Saturday, July 19 Conner, Tanner Romney, Carly, Cole, and myself went to opening day of the Mesquite Groves Aquatic Center on Riggs Rd. and Val Vista. It is one of the FUNNEST public pools I have ever been to. When we were done we had to go meet up with Oma and Aunt LaSchelle to get Kayla, Lindsey, and Courtney who had been shopping. Oma and Aunt LaSchelle were going to meet up with their husbands and go have dinner with Grandpa Jess Larsen. While we were waiting on them we took these silly pictures. Conner and Tanner acting modestly.
Carly and Cole before the fun began.
Watch OUT... the fun has begun. Carly and Cole trying hard to make the craziest faces.
Conner nice picture.
Whose daughter is that?