Derek's 18th Birthday

 The birthday feast, Roast beef, cream corn, Caesar salad, fruit, rolls and Sunday potatoes, YUM!

 Derek's 18th birthday.  I can't believe it!  I am so happy for him and his choices and his hard work and what he has become so far.  I am excited to continue to see what else he has in store.

 Total chaos and debauchery

 Mayhem continues

 The gang together again, silly poses, I love it!

 Derek finally got his ICE CREAM cake.  He LOVES ice cream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 My kids, my spare son, Nick, my awesome daughter Hannah, my amazing son Derek, and my other son, Sam

This was right before the "great balloon pop"  Koda HATES balloons.  She will hardly stay in the house when they are here, so unfortunately we can't keep them for long.  We sure did have fun with them while we had them though, and Derek had a great time popping each and every one.

Oh the Places You'll Go! My sweet Hannah

Dear sweet warrior Hannah has started her new adventure.  She is starting classes for her career as a nurse.  I am so incredibly proud of her.  She is working full time as a CNA at a nursing home and living on her own and now going back to school to full fill her dream to become a nurse.

Our dear neighbor and friend, Emily Schmuhl's wedding in San Francisco

We were invited to go to our neighbor and dear friend's wedding in San Francisco.  Hannah was asked to be one of her bridesmaids.  It was a most wonderful time together as a family and extended family with the Schmuhl family.

Here are some of the many many many many many (you get the idea) pictures. And this is going to go backwards unfortunately in the timeline.

 Here of course is a picture of the wedding cake.

 Emily and Ben dancing

 Richard, Sam, and Derek.  (you can tell how much Derek loves pictures, insert sarcasm here)  Richard has always been an honorary father for Derek

 The boys having fun on their phone

 Richard and Anita making toasts

 Hannah, Emily and Ben

 I sure do love these guys!  This is my "other son", Sam Schmuhl.  The kids have literally grown up together.

                     I absolutely LOVE this picture!

Emily with here mom and dad

Hannah and Melanie Meaders.  Melanie has grown up in our ward.  Her father was our first Bishop even before the kids were born.  Now he is the Stake Patriarch.  Melanie lives all the way in Washington D.C.

2 Beauties walking in.

 The groom, Ben walking in with his parents.

 

Sam walking in with a friend of Emily and Ben

 I love you two!!!

 Beautiful line!

Hannah is the 3rd in on the right, right next to the tall one.

 Probably getting a little tired of pictures...

 The dapper men

 At the wedding rehersal dinner.  This venue was very pretty.

 The rehersal for the wedding

 Emily and her Mom and Dad, Anita and Richard

 Emily's sisters, Heidid and Mary

Hannah and Melanie

This was a wonderful time together.  We had an amazing time with the Schmuhl's.  We have known them and been neighbors for 25 years.  So grateful we could have these memories with them.