Aaron, Camile, Carly, Ellise, and Aubree

My aunt gave this book to my Mom as a gift when I was younger. Up until the late 90's the Idaho Falls Temple was the temple that my relatives in Wyoming came to. So, if there was a youth temple appointment or a relative getting married we would have a houseful! Of course my brothers and sisters and I would give up our bedrooms and there would be people camped out on couches and on the floor. I LOVED it! It was fun to play with cousins and listen in on adult conversations and just to have a house packed full of people.

This week for us has been the week the relatives came.

_____________________________

First, the Souths. Josh, Franci (and bun-in-the-oven), Kaylie, Anna, and Suzie. The girls all love each other so much - they say they're long lost sisters. But, just like normal sisters, things get a little dramatic with that many girls under one roof! (It didn't help the stress level that the AC was broken and our thermostat reached 90 degrees on Saturday!)



We cooled down at the swimming pool - all of our girls are little fish! Carly and Kaylie put the life jackets through their legs and looked like little sumo wrestler/swimmers. 



Kaylie and Carly are so similar and truly such good friends.



Anna is two years younger than Ellie, but love, love, loves her so much and wishes Ellie was her big sister.

 Matchy-matchy for church

We also went to Temple Square while they were here and Antelope Island to take a quick dip in the Great Salt Lake.

__________________________

Next, the Parsons - Kathy and Leon came the day that Franci left. They only stayed one night, so we only got to see them for a few hours. Leon just got a cochlear implant a few weeks ago (it's an implant that will help him hear again) so they've been coming up for doctor visits.  

___________________________

And finally, Sophie and Scotty. Ang, Jimmy, Conner and Kali are in Oregon for a cousin's homecoming. So, we get to have Sophie and Scotty stay with us for four days. Just so you know, four days is a lot of days for me to have FIVE kids!!  But I'm determined to make this a fun and happy adventure for all of us. (And it helps to know that Ang is going to return the favor sometime when Aaron and I decide to go on a vacation together.)

 I tried to get a picture of the kids watching Aaron pull out Carly's loose tooth. It was quite the show - Carly cried and cried for about 5 minutes BEFORE Aaron even pulled it - I wish I had it on video. And this is the 5th tooth she's had pulled! She was so scared, and it was making the other kids nervous too.