I AM THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THAT I AM GOING TO BECOME AN AUNT TO TWO LITTLE BOYS! Jared and Karen just found out that they are having another little boy!! He is Due November 23, 2010! So mom and dad this is a PLEA to you both that we make our way to California for Thanksgiving this year to see the new baby! CONGRATULATIONS JARED, KAREN & KAI! I love you all tons!

The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the one who will win.
~ by Roger Banniste

Memorial Day Retreat

For Memorial Day weekend Caleb, Rachel, Joe, Karen and I made it up to Grandma and Grandpa Stones (and Uncle Nate's) cabin! It was so nice to get away for the weekend and enjoy time with family! We arrived early Saturday morning in the snow! That didn't dappen any of our spirits though! We relaxed by the fireplace telling stories and talking for hours, after Caleb and Rachel arrived we decided to go for a walk in the woods!
Grandpa, Grandma and Rachel leading the way on our hike!

I had to take a picture of myself to prove I went on the walk!

See the blue person in the distance?! That's Karen...she didn't want to be in any pictures!

Luckily I convinced her to take a "face" shot with me!

The whole crew!

Aunt Gretchen, Alli, Megan and Ben came up for dinner Saturday night! It's always a blast to listen to some of the conversations that come up around the dinner table!

I had been craving smores the entire week leading up to going to the cabin! Here are Rachel and Alli "smoring" it up!

A family get together wouldn't be complete without playing a game of risk. I am proud to announce that Rachel was our winner! And that Caleb was the second person to go out!!! Woohoo! Go Rachel!

Unfortunetly Grandma Stones came down with a nasty "flu" bug Sunday morning, so we didn't get to see her the rest of the weekend. Sunday night we had a "Memorial" dedication where we each told stories or our feelings about what Memorial Day meant to us. It was a really neat experience. Grandpa also shared with us his memories of his childhood and some of Great Grandpa Stones journal entries. Afterwards we enjoyed another smore and story telling night around the campfire.

Uncle Nate listening intently to Grandpa Stones stories!

I think Nate got a little frightened, because he decided he was going to have Caleb protect him!

Here is a picture of Grandpa telling his famous "three bloody fingers" story! Rachel doesn't look too thrilled!

The weekend ended way too soon! We all headed back up to Provo, Draper or Vernal early Monday morning. It was a great weekend and very needed! Thanks Grandma, Grandpa and Nate for having us up for a fun and relaxing weekend!

Words Of Inspiration From Elder Stones

``For what we love determines what we seek. What we seek determines what we think and do. What we think and do determines who we are and who we will become.``

-President Uchtdorf

"I love you Sarai, remember that. As long as you try to do what you know is right you will be blessed. You determine your own outcome. Keep your head up."

-Seth Stones