Yay for Family Reunions!

Family reunions have a bad rap....well they do with me.  Normally there's a lot of groaning when I think about a cheesy family reunion but ours are never like that....thank goodness.  The week was low key, me and my brothers and their families just hanging out.  It's been two and a half years since I'd seen Jason and his girls so that alone made the trip for me.  Unfortunately, Brandon couldn't make the trip with us which was super sad, but we filled him in via our nightly phone calls.  There was a LOT of relaxing, watching the kids play, laughing, a treasure hunt, crafty time, a mountain excursion, an evening hiking experience, a little shopping, and late night talks with snacks.  The trip wouldn't have been complete without a famous quote from my niece Morgan. While on our hike she yelled, "Hey,  I just saw something,.... it was either a rabbit or a jack ass!"  After we laughed our guts out, we figured that she was referring to a "pot gut".  She also called them "jack pots".  I guess that's where "jack ass" came from. So cute!

 Halle, Livia and Annecy.  Long lost cousins - found!

 Our moment of craftiness...

 

The much anticipated treasure

 Donuts on strings = hour of fun

 My Mom surprised the girls with burlesque/slip skirts.

 

My super cute dad posing

 

There's a munchkin in the grass

 Ahhhh.  Let's not wait another 2 1/2 years ok?

Our first baby

Tiara came into our lives as an awkward and clumsy eight week old puppy.  Brandon and I both payed our equal part of $400 each so we could take her home.  We weren't married yet but new we couldn't wait any longer once we met our puppy.
Tiara (T-Bone) passed away in Brandon's arms early Wednesday morning from natural causes.  She lived to be ten years old, which is  super-granny for a Great Dane.  T-Bone was the BEST dog!!  Those who knew her would say she was sweet, yet protective, energetic when she needed to be, and loungy the rest of the time. She was the most obedient of the Boulter kids.  Around kids she was accepting and would allow them to play on her and inspect her body without snarling.  She only gave kisses to those she really, truly loved.  She would let us dress her up for Halloween (Snoop Dog, Reindeer, Angel).  She rafted the Snake River with her doggy cousins. She was a little bit feminist and had a weapon for a tail. She demanded soft bedding and would sneak around to find the perfect spot, even if it was in a forbidden zone.  She loved sniffing around at the dog park and running freely in the mountains.  Tiara was a joy to have around and loved being surrounded by her family. Her final resting place has a beautiful view of Zions National Park and the Pine Valley mountains.

We'll miss her!