My {amazing} Family

I have a family that I love!

I have been blessed to have grown up in a family with some amazing people.  Some people know... some don't. I am from a blended family. I grew up with my dad and my sister. My dad met a woman with 5 kids and soon they were married. I was 8 at the time. From that time when my parents married we were a family. I have been so blessed to have so many siblings. I have never know them as step-this or step-that. They are my brothers and sisters.

What started as 9 of us has grown to many!! We have spouses and kids of our own now.

Along with all these amazing people that I grew up with I have an amazing cousin. This girl is something else!! She spends her winters in Antarctica, and now her summers in Alaska. She's pretty much a sister too.

I look around and feel so blessed to be surrounded by such amazing people! And the fact that I get to call these people my family is even better!!

My siblings {minus one} and my cousin {b: Eliza, Hyrum, Rodney f: Erika, Me, Jessica, Carolyn {Sariah couldn't make it for this picture} }

Yeah.... this is how we roll. And I haven't ever seen my brothers with facial hair... so I helped the out.

And I have to shout out my awesome Aunt too!!! Aunt Connie {Jessica's mom} is the family photographer... so most of the time she is behind the camera but she is such a part of our family too and we all look forward to seeing her.

We added spouses and kids

 And everyone could barely hold it together.... Let the crazy begin!

My parents I mentioned are amazing too!! I was 8 years old when they got married, and they worked hard to keep our family together and strong. They worked hard to see that we were a family and not a "step" family. We went on vacations together, we played together, served together and worked together. Now with all us kids grown and raising our families they have more time for things that they would like to do. What did they choose as a hobby for empty nesters?? What else.... Riding Harleys! They each have them and when us kids can't get a hold of them they are usually out on the bikes.

{Mom and Dad.... with some extras}

Ok.... here's a quick run down of my family.... do you think you can keep up??? I'll go in order of age....

First: Grandma Mary and Grandpa Dave.... Between their 5 kids... they have over 20 grand kids, and lots of great-grand kids.... {to many to count}
Then there is Mom and Dad.... Diane and Tom
Me and Steve and our 5 crazies
Carolyn and Brant and their 3 - Cierra, Breein, Brock
Sariah and Jake and 2 - Merric and Camden
Erika and Nick and 3.5 - Rozzlyn, Boon, Haliegh and baby boy
Hyrum and Christa and 4 - Bianca, Annabell, Aaron, and Max
Eliza the number one aunt in the family
Rodney and Laralynn and 3 more - Kaylee, Briell, and Myles

The crazy is never far away, and we always have a great time together! I am so lucky to have such great in-laws too!!

It was hard being away for so long watching the families grow up from far away. It took all of 2 weeks after we moved from North Carolina to Utah before the whole family go together for pictures and play!

We got some family pictures too. That is always an adventure. Sometimes good.... and sometimes just plain crazy. They didn't turn out to bad..... {I think Benji might disagree with that}

A long with the family I was born into/given I have an amazing family that I helped to create. I have a wonderful husband and with his ambitious nature we have been on many adventures and have had many experiences. I am surrounded by all my boys and I love them all. I have learned so much from them. Even with how small they are they teach me so much. 

 What do you think?? 

It was work to keep Benji around after the first few pictures he was done and ready to play with the cousins {and if you look real close.... not one boy is looking at the camera}

 I love my boys!! {and 3 of 5 looking at the camera is a good thing}

Family is a good thing. I am so happy to be surrounded by so many wonderful, amazing people. They have taught me so much. I love that all these people are a part of my life.

Family is so important and to be a part of one that is like mine is awesome.