BOYS WILL BE BOYS!!!

Our neighbors invited us over so the kids could play on the slip n' slide.  Ali was really excited.  Kade would only put his feet in the water.  Ali and Carson were having a great time, they would race each other down the slide and then they would take turns seeing who could make the biggest splash.  Alan and Kyle decided it looked like a lot of fun and wanted to join in.  So they went and got their suits on and started playing with the kids.  The bigger boys were funny, they were trying to show off and see who could do the cooler trick.  Like I said BOYS WILL BE BOYS no matter how old they are.

Carson and Ali

Ali finally was able to go down on the knee board.  GOOD JOB ALI!!!

The dad's racing down the slip n' slide

Alan ended up hurting his knee.  He was trying to get me wet. 

GRANDPA'S FINAL CELEBRATION!!!

On July 8th we headed out to St. John for Grandpa Sagers Funeral. Right after we got the ward house a motorcycle brigade drove up with their flags in honor of my Grandfathers amazing life.Right after that the military showed up, also with flags. It was an amazing sight to see them all standing together with the flags. Every time I saw them I couldn't help but cry. It was a great honor in remembrance of my Grandfather. He had a beautiful casket with Flags and the bald eagle on the corner of it. Instead of getting him a traditional funeral spray of flowers the grandchildren got him a purple heart flower arrangement. All of the Grand kids sang a few of my grandpa's favorite songs. We sang Yankee Doodle, Down in the Valley and Red River Valley. (Bad picture but it's the only one I got).

After the funeral was over we headed out side where they put my grandfathers casket into a horse drawn buggy. He loved horses and I am sure was smiling from heaven when he saw this. There was a person who wore a pony express uniform who was guiding what they call a lone rider. If you look closely in the picture below you will see my grandpa's cowboy boots in the stirrups backwards. As we the buggy was heading towards the cemetery all the horses in the fields ran to the fence line and stood perfectly still as the casket and the lone rider went by. It was the most unbelievable thing I had ever seen. Also on the way to the cemetery there was a house who had put up a flag in honor of my grandfather.

The cemetery had it's flag at half mass and all the motorcycle brigade and the military were there, holding their flags. It was beautiful. Since my grandfather was a prisoner of war they put a POW medallion in his pocket before they closed the casket.

He also was very deserving of the 21 gun salute that was performed at the Cemetery. It was an amazing sight. I was so very thankful I was able to be there to witness this amazing ceremony.After seeing all the American flags that were there I can tell you that I will never look at the Flag the same way again. I will always think of my grandfather and what he did for our country, not to mention all the other men and women who lost there lives and those still fighting for our country.

Next they preformed the folding of the flag. I wish I had a copy of what was said, it was beautiful. Watching these young men do the honor of folding and passing the flag on to a family member was truly heart wrenching but in a good way. It made me so emotional.

My Grandfather's brother was the one who dedicated the grave. He did a great job.

Here is a picture of the casket once all the pallbearers had removed their boutonnieres and placed them on top. The whole day was really amazing. Just when I thought it couldn't get more special it did. I will always remember this day. I was grateful for being able to see all the members of our family. It was under sad circumstances but at least we were able to catch up with one another. I am so grateful I have the knowledge that there is life after death. I am so glad that I had grandparents that taught my parents and who have taught me. I am so glad for the gift of being sealed together as a family and for knowing that I will see my grandfather and grandmother again someday. We love you and miss you and look forward to that day we'll all be together again.

SLEEPY

We were watching and movie and when it ended we looked over to see Kade sleeping.  I love this little man. 

Bear Lake 2009

This year at Bear Lake was the first year that my Grandpa Sagers wasn't there. It was different. It was sad. We miss him terribly but I am so glad he and my Grandma are together again. Alan had to work the first couple days so I was up ther by myself with the kids. Neither one of my kids slept great. In fact I walked the campground one night with Kade while Ali slept in my sisters trailer.  Needless to say I was so glad when Alan came up to camp a day earlier then I thought he would. We went through the Minitonka Cave and Kade made it about half way and then he was done so I turned back around while the rest of the group finished the Cave tour. Kade loved the sand at the beach and really had no desire to go into the water. Ali on the other hand is my little fish, she loves the water. She also loved building sand castles and finding sea shells. We had a great time up at Bear Lake and are excited for next year!!!

Ali and Kylie playing in the sand and looking for sea shells

Kade and Jace playing in the sand.

Kade's make shift bed in the back of my mom's mini van when we were down at the beach.