Baby Elle

Elle 2 1/2 months old.

What a sweetie, my arms ache.  

I want to hold and love her so much.

I feel a trip to Vegas  coming on...

The "real" 4th of July 2015

On the real 4th of July, Wynn and I went for a ride up to

Jackson Hole and just spent some time together.

It was a beautiful day for a drive.

When we got home Brooke called and

invited us to go to the fireworks in Menan.

We drove to their house and rode with them.

What a pleasant evening!

I am so proud to be an American!

Matt, Kayla and little Elle on the 4th of July

in Las Vegas.

(Boy I miss these guys!

Pre - 4th of July

Sam, Hailey & Jenna got here from Kansas on

Friday, July 3rd.  We were planning on getting

together on the 4th but found out Sam & Hailey 

were going to spend it with Hailey's family so,

we switched and had our celebration on the 3rd.

We went out to Steve & Brooke's for a BBQ.

Oh, the kids had so much fun!

They just played and played.

 Emily 7 & Jenna 3

 Can you see Wynn on Camden's little motorcycle?

Matt said it looked like a watermelon on a toothpick.

Hahaha!

Camden had to ride his bike and show off to everyone.

It was so cute!

It's not going to be long before Steven will have

a riding buddy.  

Man I love my family!

So glad we could get together and enjoy each other's company.

Grandma Hayes and Aunt Pat joined us too.

Elle's first swim

Yesterday, July 1st, Matt sent me these pictures of little Elle

going swimming for the first time.  She is almost 10 weeks old.

It is so hot in Vegas.  I bet it feels so good.

Oh how my arms ache to hold this little girl.

 Elle with Grandpa Tippitts

Grandma Monk loves you Elle!

Ventura Highway and Bike ride

This morning I was out riding my bike.  Oh how I love going for a bike

ride early in the morning.  I go out to the country and it is just so beautiful.

It just smells so good and looks so beautiful.  I love this time to

gather my thoughts and I think a lot, sometimes too much.

Anyway, this morning, Ventura Highway by America came

up on my phone.  This is a special song to me.  Matt served in

the California Ventura mission.  While he was gone, this was

my theme song.  It just makes my heart swell with pride.  

As I listened to this song this morning it brought my thoughts

to all the missionaries in my family.  I can't tell you how

proud I am that everyone in our family is a returned missionary.

(except me)

It just means so much to me.

I loved having my kids serve missions.  It was a time when I felt

so close to them and to my Savior Jesus Christ.  What a privilege

it has been to be a missionary Mom FOUR times.

I miss having someone in the mission field.  I miss

writing to them each and every week.  I don't think

I missed one week of sending my missionary a letter.

Today my heart was full as I listened to that song and

remonised about all my missionaries.

How blessed we have been.  I acknowledge HIS

hand in all things.  

I am so proud of my kids and all their accomplishments. 

 Elder S. Wynn Monk

Virginia, Roanoke Mission

Jan. 1977 - Jan. 1979

 Elder Steven Monk

England, Leeds Mission

Feb. 2001 - Feb. 2003

Sis. Natalie Monk

Finland, Helsinki Mission

May 2004 - Nov. 2005

 Elder Samuel Monk

New Zealand, Wellington  Mission

May 2006 - May 2008

Elder Matthew Monk

California, Ventura Mission

Jan. 2011 - Jan 2013

Birthdays!

Wynn's birthday is June 28th and Steven's is June 29th.

(I always get those dates mixed up, hope this is right :)

Natalie came home for a few days from Vancouver.

It was so nice to have her home.  I didn't get to spend

too much time with her because all she wanted to do

was to be with those grand babies of ours. Anyway,

it was good to have her home.

Brooke and Steve had us out to their house for a cook out on

Saturday, June 27th.  We did spiral hot dogs on the grill.

They were so yummy!  Nothing like a good ole hot dog!

We then watched Natalie and the kids play soceer on the lawn.

When it got dark, we watched a movie outside with a

projector Brooke borrowed from her neighbor.

It was such a fun evening.  This was our birthday 

party for Steven and Wynn.

 On Sunday, Steven, Brooke and the kids came for

Root Beer floats.  Natalie had to see the kids one

more time before she heads for home first thing

Monday morning.  

Our tree is gone!

On June 27th, Wynn, Steven & Loren cut our tree down.

Kind of hated to cut our tree down but, it is such

a trashy tree.  It drops those little worm like things

all year long!  Our rain gutters are always full of them.

I used to be a double trunk tree like a V and one half

of it died.  Wynn cut that one down several years ago.

The half left was leaning towards the house.

We were afraid with a strong wind it just might

tip over and land on the house.  Anyway, Thanks to

good help, we got it down.  Now, Wynn just needs

to rent a stump grinder and get rid of it.

I think we will plant a new tree!