Off to Africa...

Our last look at that handsome little face.
Loves with Grandma and Grandpa Miller.

Brekka and Kaid saying 'bye'. No more hugs.

One last hug with Mom and Dad...

Elder Sheppard flew out of Pocatello at 6:00AM, so we were all out to the airport around 4:45AM to say our last goodbyes before he headed out to South Africa. He was so ready to go and he looked great! It wasn't as hard to say bye to Kaid as it was for Marcus, maybe this is just because we have done it before and know the blessings are worth the wait. We're so proud of him and can't wait for him to come back!

All of us back together...for a very short while.

The whole family back together again!!! We had family pictures the day after Marcus got home, so as soon as I get copies I will post them. It was such a blast to be back together, all six of us in the same house was just a huge party!
Crazy eyes, Mckaid and Mom...savoring the last few hours with him.

We love this boy and miss him SOOOO much already, I hope his two years will go by as fast as Marcus' did.

Cuddled up together in Dad's chair, so happy, except maybe Marcus, he was over any sort of family pictures before they even started.

Welcome Home Elder Sheppard!!!

We're so happy to have Marcus home, the past two years have really flown by. He looks great and we know he was a wonderful missionary in the South Dakota mission.

The first time we have seen Marcus in two years!!! Doesn't he look darling!?! **Notice the shoes he is wearing, they're cowboy boots!**

For family night that week we got together and made 'welcome home' signs for him:-)

Friday Night Lights

Ry has been coaching the Century Varsity defensive team this year and has been loving it. He goes to practice every week night and then Friday nights are the games. The games are prety fun as long as it's in the dome or not too cold. Their team doesn't have much size in numbers or physically and not lots of talent yet, but the future is looking better. He has been loving what he has been doing so much that now he will be the head coach for the Highland Freshman girls basketball team.

Mini Anniversary Get Away

Ry and I took a little mini trip to West Yellowstone and Yellowstone Park. Beauty and the Beast was playing at the Playmill Theatre, and I have been begging Ry to go all summer. Finally, he let me get tickets and we spent the day up there. When we got into town we were both starving so we went to this little place that had burgers. I had a buffalo burger and Ry got an elk burger, both were SO delicious!! After we had our little bite to eat we walked over to the Playmill for the show. It was absolutely phenomenal, the music was amazing, the actors and costumes were fabulous, and the entire production was magical!

Chip and Ry...Isn't she darling? She was the cutest actor and had the prettiest little voice.

Cogsworth, incredible costume and he and Lumiere were so funny together!

There were tons and tons of elk out, it's so funny to see how many people actually stop traffic to look at these little guys.

Us in front of one of the waterfalls by Fire Hole...so beautiful!!

A cute little chipmunk by Fire Hole, her cheeks were so full!

We took our time driving through the park and stopped at all the little places we felt like. This is on the path to one of my favorite places, the Paint Pots.

One of the many beautiful pools... and no, it's not Morning Glory, just looks very similar.

Another beautful stop...

In front of the White Dome Geyser, so pretty.

The whole time we were driving through the park I kept my eyes peeled for a bison...and finally on our way out this big guy was walking two feet from our car, I seriously could have reached out and slapped his bum. We stopped at a little pizza place on our way back home and then hit the road. We are so glad we got to go on this get away together, we had a blast and it was a gorgeous time of year to explore the park.

McKaid's Farewell

JULY 29th 2010

The night before Kaid's farewell I was just hanging out in his room waiting for Ry to be down with a fantasy football draft down at our friends' house, for some reason no one was around that night. Kaid got home and it was just us two; he turned on his music since he can't listen to it for two years and instead of writing his talk he and I had a dance party for about an hour, we had a blast and this will be a little memory that I will cherish forever. His talk the next day was amazing, he is so prepared and he is going to make the best missionary. The people of South Africa are so lucky to have him for two years and we are all really missing him already. He is such a great brother who has such a sweet spirit, he sets an amazing example of what the Savior would want him to emulate and I love him so much.

After his talk we had a big barbecue at our house, we had lots of family, friends and neighbors join in on the fun to wish Elder Sheppard luck and give him their love.

A few of Kaid's good friends, Mark, Jace, and Cody--- Little cuties!!

Reily's Wedding

One of my good friends, Reily, got married in the Bountiful temple and I was fortunate enough to get work off and make it down in time for the sealing. The ceremony was wonderful and Reily and Tyler couldn't have looked any happier, congrats you two!!

(**I don't know why the last pic rotated, but I can't change or erase it :-(**)

The Best Two Years

JULY 31st 2010

I can't believe that two years have flown by since the day we were sealed in the Rexburg temple. We have had a fabulous two years and can't wait for the many more to come.
For our anniversary this year we went to breakfast together, and then got our traditional couples massage, which was fabulous! We went home after the massage and we were so relaxed we slept through the Peter Pan play we were going to go see, so instead we went shopping for my new camera and found one that we both loved! We went to SALT, great movie, and then we went to dinner at the Sand Trap and had a relaxing rest of the evening.