Teya & I had our first funeral services together. Our eight pet goldfish have all gone to fishy heaven: Somewhere where all the worms are big and juicy, the rivers are ice cold, and there isn't a fish hook or a child's hand to be found! We went to the pet shop, and they were only 25 cents each... so the little two dollar purchases lasted roughly two weeks. 
Official Cause of Death: Neglect due to an overscheduled weekend of weddings, friends in town, and sisters moving. It was at least four straight days that T & I were away from the house, and when we returned the horrific scene of death was before us. And the horrific smell. 
Songs were sung: Give Said the Little Stream, I'm Gonna Go Eat Worms, and Swishy Friends
Railey (our recently deceased dog due to stroke/old age) probably welcomed them into the Land of Passed Pets and showed them what a full life can be like after the Strattons....
After we were finished, Teya wanted to dig the fish up again to make sure they were okay. I convinced her not to. Then she wanted to bury the snail and the rolly polly we found in the garden. When I told her we can't bury them because they're still alive and not dead, she said as she raised the rock in her hand "Okay. I'll CRUSH THEM!"
Kara and Todd's pre-wedding dinner was held in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Aside from taking Teya on the 10 minute trek to the bathroom about ninty times during the dinner and program, the night was quite enjoyable. (T is potty trained now, but I still don't have faith in her "holding it" muscles...) 
The creepy dude in the back is Mr. Soon-to-Be, Kara's one and only Todd. 
Here's another attempt without the man-face in the background... I like me pretty little sisters and me pretty little mamma;) It was a happy accident that we all coordinated so discreetly and fashionably without any planning.
The happy c-izz-upple.
Now, when Vanessa & I are taking a photo together with just the two of us, I'm 99% sure it's impossible to get a shot where both of us are cooperating in the same moment. We gave it at least ten tries this night before we just settled with what we got;)
This one gives me nightmares. Really Scary Nightmares.
We were both trying to take a picture like in the days of the pioneers where you had to hold a pose and smile, and hold it, and hold it, and hold it, and the eyes start to droop, and the smile starts to fade at the corners, and hold it..... 
"Please Teya, Just ONE picture so I can document the fact that we both put time into getting ready and we got dressed up all nice... Pleeeeeeease!..."
Cody and Cohen being as cute as possible! That includes you too Cody, you're cute here;)
I love this picture of all us siblings. It's not very clear, it's not artistic or funky, but it shows us all so well in our lounging state. A glimpse of ALL of us together, even the two "lover boys" and the babies are pictured! Teya peeking out from behind Bubba is, of course, my favorite little face in this shot. Look how genuinely happy she is! Bubba looks ginormous with his legs sprawling every where, he's the youngest and the tallest at 6' 4". We're all holding an article of clothing that Vanessa recieved for her birthday... she can cloth an army with all the garb she scored that night! 
My two younger sisters, Kara and Vanessa, had their birthdays this weekend. Vanessa turning 19 is the youngest of us 4 girls, but she's the tallest at 5'11''. The first words that comes to mind to describe her is a TENDER-HEART and INNOCENT ways. Kara turning 22 is the Bride-to-be in only four days now.... I'd say she has a pretty good week going for her;) The words that come to mind for her are KIND and GENTLE. Vanessa goes by the name "Boozie" around here (short for Booz-Bazz-Bu), and Kara frequents the names "CareBear" or "Bubbles". 
There they are together gleefully swaying in the branches, because that's what people do in Utah when the blossoms finally show, isn't it? Filled with rapture and enthusiasm that the snow has finally left...
Vanessa! 
Kara!
I'm lucky to have so many sisters that double as best friends, Love you girls!!
Not long after I arrived in Utah was Easter Sunday. Mom does a wonderful job at making it a beautiful, fun, memorable day. I remembered to take a few shots while we were all coloring eggs in hopes of documenting my painfully camera shy family. Our egg coloring turned into a competition for the most creative piece of art. Dad, the only one not coloring and thus the only non-biased judge, would determine who got the grand prize. In the end we were all trying to finagle our eggs into Dad's favor with the things he likes most, so the eggs read things like "Ken Pick Me," "Lynnette is the Sexiest," "USU Football Rules," and other desperate attempts of the sort. 
Teya in her new Easter Dress, and my matching garb (Thanks Pam, I got lots of compliments on it;)
Teya woke up from her nap today and said "Mom, I'm grateful!" I asked her, "You are? Grateful for what honey?"
She didn't answer just then, but a gave me great big smile.
A little later my mom asked her again what she was grateful and Teya said "I'm grateful for... my love!"
Grandma asked her "Your love?"
Teya was so excited, she replied "Ya! My mommie's love! I'm so grateful for my mommies Love!"
Oh geeze! I was instantly teared up, Teya is such a TENDER hearted little girl!! That's the first time I've even heard her use the term "grateful." I can't think of anything to say right now that would adequately describe how much joy comes from being Teya's Mama. 
Jessica with an innocent smile, and Vanessa with yet another attractive face. 
Theeeeere's the real Vanessa, look how pretty! She's with her (really really awesome)boyfriend Devin 
MOM! There she is ladies and gentlemen, that's my mom! I would have to say she's the most difficult of all my family to get a cooperative picture of, but WHY?! Look how beautiful she is! No one even believes that she's really 39 because she's so Hot... most people assume even younger ;) What's even more important is that she truly is as sweet, caring, and kind as she looks. 
Here he is deep in concentration, hard at work....Cody won the grand prize with his rendition of a cracked, bruised & bloody Humpty Dumpty.
I need to apologize, but there are about to be a THOUSAND pictures posted because I just can't decide what ones I like the best. (and I only put up a fraction of the ones I like...)
My Grandma Stratton (aka GG which is short for Great-Grandma) lives in the center of a beautiful cherry and apple orchard in Orem Utah. My Grandparents have been fruit and veggie farmers all their lives, and so with my grandparents before that, and before that. I'm very proud of that aspect of my heritage, and when I talk to Grandpa Stratton about it you can see the joy and the love he has for farming. He loves to see life growing and renewing every year.
I took Teya, Ava, and Cohen to GG's house and spent the ENTIRE day outside exploring from one thing to the next. It was heaven for the kids, and heaven for me! I remembered the countless summer days spent adventuring in those orchards with my sisters and cousins, getting lost in the imaginary worlds that are found there. Now I get to do it all over again with my little girl and her cousins. Life is simply beautiful.
Looks like Cohen is radiating light,
The girls wanted to climb the trees, which translated to me lifting them on and off various branches for an hour. They had fun ;)
LOVE her face, my Joy.
A tiff caught in the mist of the action... Teya protecting her bird cage from Ava's grasp!
Ava sees a bug on her flower, squeals, and Teya comes over to investigate. 
She is really NOT liking that bug on her flower.
The look of the guilty and the look of the offended.
I love how the reflection of the sky and mountains can be seen over the lace.
Why so sad?
My beauty.
Ava was looking for bunnies...
...Cohen was looking for rocks...
...and Teya was looking for fairies. 
Has there ever been a chubbier happier baby face?
I posted this one simply to illustrate how dirty they were getting, and this was only half way through the day. It's good for them tough, they're healthier for it ;) I was just as bad as well... only without the stained panties. 
This is at the fruit stand (8th North in Orem) where some of my Grandpas produce is sold turning the harvest. 
Rolling down a grassy hill. The thrill is worth the grassy rash afterward. 
Tangled snared branches.
It's like she's floating high in the blossoms. 
This shot of the girls turned out so neat, but you need to click on it so it enlarges to get the full effect! 
He means business in this picture.
I like the effect of these ones.
In the end, after 6 hours of adventure... 3 nakey babies is what I had left. They were all so ridiculously filthy (I taught the girls how to squat in the fields, but they still need to work on their angels...) that they took a huge bubble bath...
... and it was THEN I realized that I didn't have any clothes to put them in for the car ride home. Teya didn't seem to notice, in fact I think she was excited I didn't have anything for her to wear... Ava on the other hand looks a little worried. Sorry Jessie ;)
Inspiration
