Moyes Labor Day Weekend

Nick's immediate family is spread out across the country, so it is rare the whole family is together. We were fortunate enough to have everyone in Provo for the weekend (minus Katie's husband, Ryan--who I still haven't met). This was the first gathering since Christmas, so I was really excited to be able to see everyone. Earlier this week, Nick and I had a couple of opportunities to babysit his niece, Carly. Nick has a total soft spot for Carly. I love sitting back and watching him interact with her. He simply ADORES her!! I smile, knowing that this is a foreshadowing of the future. He is going to be such a good Daddy one day (one day WAY far in the FUTURE--we definitely want to wait a few years after we are married before we have kids). I was talking to his dad, and I told him that if we have girls, I am going to be in so much trouble, because they are going to have Nick wrapped around their little finger the same way Carly does. Carly loves Uncle Nick too=) In fact, between the two of us, she insisted that Uncle Nick was the one who rocked her to sleep for her nap- a fact that Nick won't let me forget.

Uncle Nick and Carly and Grandma Moyes


Carly and "Auntie Lauren"- No, she is not crying.



Silly Face! (this is what she does when you say "smile!") Carly, We Love you so much and miss you when you are away!!!

On Saturday, the family gathered at the park for a picnic to celebrate Katie's (Nick's sister) birthday (part 1 of a 2 part celebration). We had a lot of fun spending quality time together. Karen and Devan brought their significant others, so it gave us an opportunity to get to know Zach and Ashleigh too. We really like both of them, and think that they blended with the family well.

Carly and Uncle Nick playing on the playground



She LOVED the slide!


So did Anne, ha ha


Cutie Pie


Check out the STATIC in her hair...



Carly chasing Uncle Devan- I love Devan's facial expression in this picture.



Anne, Carly and Nick



Kate and Carly- Katie is such a good Mommy



The Entire Moyes Clan, minus a Ryan, plus a Zach and an Ashleigh=)

Part 2 of Kate's Birthday celebration was today at her in laws home. The Williams Family invited the Moyes Clan over for dinner and cake this evening. Again it was another night of bonding and a rare occasion to have all of Nick's siblings together. The Williams had us participate in a family tradition that I really enjoyed--Each member of the family takes a turn expressing what they think makes the person whose birthday it is, special. It was a good time for me to reflect tonight on what a WONDERFUL person Kate really is. I am so GRATEFUL to have her as my future sister-in-law. She is so BEAUTIFUL inside and out. Kate, we LOVE YOU so much!!! You have been a tremendous BLESSING to both of our lives. Thank you for being such an AMAZING and PATIENT sister to Nick, and thank you for accepting me into your family with LOVE and open arms. You are such an EXAMPLE and TRUE FRIEND to both of us. HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE!!!

Devan, Katie, Anne, Nick and Karen

Probably the best part of the evening, was when everyone gathered together in the family room around the piano and listened to different members of the Moyes and Williams Clans take turns singing their favorite hymns. Katie and Karen are especially talented singers and stole most of the show. However, there were a couple of hymns where ALL of the Moyes siblings gathered around the piano and sang together for the FIRST TIME. I thought that they sounded so AWESOME together. Video to follow later, if it will load.