For Maximus

I just saw Max's VERY EXCITING comment on the last post, so this is my attempt to redeem myself! He requested more baby pics. It will be a sad attempt, because my camera died and I just have these few pics that I took with the ipad. But here we go.
Taking pics of ourselves, me trying to get her to smile:)

Then Claire attacked from the other side and Amelia got squished. It's rough being the littlest.

This is me trying to get my kids to bed the other night, and them thinking it would be hilarious to all sleep in my bed. Caleb didn't share their sentiment.

And finally, us having home-primary on Sunday because we were not well enough to go to church.

Ok, Max. It is now your assignment to get Tess to come over here and take pics of my baby before she grows up and moves away!

Thank you, Cami

I know you all get to read Cami's funny emails each week, but I thought I'd share this too. Her written letters are also quite entertaining, including the envelope decor.

I love this girl so much.

Hey Family! I am officially enlisted!

        I, Austin Thomas Slade am officially enlisted in the Utah Army National Guard! I ship for basic on June 25th, 2013, (happy birthday Dad, haha). I am going to be in a Green Beret Support Group. No big deal, I just get to be with special forces all the time! Oh and did I mention jumping out of airplanes? Muahahaha! I will be in training from June 25th to around Thanksgiving time next year. Then I will go on my mission! Yup I'm happy. :)

I love this pic

Isn't this a great picture?  This was at Sara's wedding reception earlier this year up in Sacramento.  

I miss you, Mom!  I think you should plan on coming to Cali for Christmas and staying for the winter.  Just say good riddance to the snow and cold (and your other kids and grandkids), and come hang with us.  Just sayin'.  You're officially invited.

CJ and Kaitlin

We just got your wedding announcement in the mail and I just have to say that it is the coolest announcement!  You guys seriously look like you're models on an Ad or something.  Very cool guys and congratulations, so excited for you!!

And Hanna and Tom, congratulations to you two love-birds as well!  I can't believe Hanna is married!  We're sorry we couldn't make it to Utah for the wedding, but we'll be moving to Utah next summer and so hopefully we'll be seeing more of you guys and everyone else. :)

Tied the knot!

 These two goof-boys finally got hitched !!

I have to say, JoJo and Hanna pulled off a pretty darn close to perfect day.

The reception was beautiful, Hanna was Beautiful, Tom was...   :)

And have you EVER seen cuter kids??

These little boys in their suits were just melting hearts left and right. poor people.

Welcome to the fam Tom! and Congratulations to the both of you.

We named her! Miracle.

Amelia Kate Kepsel

We like her so much a lot.

The kids call her Millie, so that's what she'll go by. Yay hooray we did it!

It's a Kepsel SHE!

And we're so happy:)

Camping!!

 Here are a few random shots from our Crystal Hot springs camping adventure this weekend.

I honestly have no idea who took this feet photo, but it was on my camera and I kinda like it :)

Everything about this picture cracks me up.

1. Christines rockin hair

2. The cool dudes at the grill

3. Lil' Bachano doing her thing 

Best boy Cousin EVER

 Seriously. I went from being a stressed out, exhausted mommy, to a Happy, relaxed mommy real fast when Jesse was around. Thanks Jess :)

 And then there's Nick...

Where did this kid come from? 

 I have a feeling Cal will be very similar to this cousin whom he adores

 And then there's these Super Awesome people

 Dang

 Even good-looking from behind

 Max in his element

Have you ever seen cuter trouble than this?

 There are no words.

 And then there's this, GORGEOUS child

 I've never had the pleasure of getting to know little Ammon Steinagel

But after a while he warmed up to me and we became Buddies

 I'm in love.

 Anna actually specifically asked that I NOT put this on the blog, but...

Its for posterity :) Plus she's one of those people who looks amazing even when she's camping

 hahahaha Love you Syd.

If I get around to it I'll post some pool pictures. 

But in the meantime, lets see your camping photos!

And to those who didn't come: We missed you'd and You BETTER come next time!!

~Tess

Crazy News From Hanna!

Hey Slade fam, just wanted to let you in on a little not so secret :)
I'M ENGAGED!!!! :)
So here's the story: so he has been planning this for like over a month and he skyped with my dad forever ago and asked his permission, so of course my whole family knew! Monday I drove with my brother, Mac, to Cali then Tom picked me up at his house in Sacramento. We had to go pick up Kayla (one of the guys on Tom's team is engaged and his fiance was coming to surprise him so we picked her up at the airport) at 10:50 and Tom said he wanted to go to San Francisco because he had never seen the golden gate bridge and he had a couple look out spots picked out. then on our way we calculated time and realized we wouldn't have time to go to San Francisco and Tom was like super mad about it and he just kept saying that he really wanted to go see the golden gate bridge and i was like uh hun we'll have other opportunities to see it haha poor guy. So we're driving along the freeway and it's like 9:30 at night so it's dark and Tom all of a sudden just takes an exit and i was like um Tom dear what are you doing this isn't our exit! haha and he pulls into the nearest parking lot he can find and it's this little ghetto ghetto diner called Eppies. It was a pretty interesting place, i'm pretty sure there were drug dealing going on in the parking lot hahaha. So he stops and turns off the car and then just gets out. He didn't say anything, just got out and closed his door. Then he comes around to my side and opens my door and is all "Get out now" and it freaked me out, i was like hold on what is going on, what did i do?? and then he pulls a ring box out of his pocket and he was like, i have been carrying this around and i had all these plans of how to get engaged and none of them were working out! And then he just smiled and then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him!!! :) :) I was totally freaking out of course and it was just the cutest thing ever :) :) So yes I got engaged in a little ghetto diner parking lot somewhere in California and it was perfect :) Couldn't have asked for a better moment :)
There You go! Also, here's the ring:

What Ramses does in his spare time

He isn't bored either.

Never Bored.

I love all these posts, and I want to play too!
I don't remember the last time I was bored. Truly, legit-ly bored. Because I live in Provo, and I have very not-boring friends.
Today, I came home after a lovely weekend at my parents' house expecting a very boring day. But when I opened my bedroom door, there was this massive cardboard thing in my doorway.

I laughed my head off for about 10 minutes. Because it was so random and un-boring. You know!?!?
And this is the kind of things my friends do all the time. Last week, they threw me a surprise "mocktail" party for my birthday.

I'm not bored.

So Not Boring

So everyone is posting about their kids and as you all may know that I well don't have any but I couldn't be left out of the fun! The thing is though, with this face you don't even have to hide behind kids...

This is one of my latest faces I'm starting to learn how to make funny faces so i'm pretty advanced.
Let me tell you ladies and gents, I'm so not bored... :D

Inspired by Bethanie

No boringness!

 As the days go on it is getting harder and harder to keep clothes on this girl.

 This is one of her earlier developed "funny faces."

 Vitamin C sucker from Whole Foods.

 Resting on the front lawn.

 Making faces with crazy mom.

 And here is a man who is getting healthier and healthier.  I can't even tell you what good it does my heart.

We will be in Utah for the WHOLE month of July, and I am ecstatic.  We miss everyone, and can't wait to visit again.  We'll see you all in just less than a month!!!

Ok, me too!

Ladies and Gentlemen, I will now not even attempt to post anything nearly as cute as that last post about Calvin. 

I will, however, share our lack of bordom with you.

 This day was anything but boring.

And check out that beard, eh? He's been growing that for a whole week, thank you very much.

Ok, this one's kinda boring. I think it might be time to lay off the ice cream.

 This one doesn't know what boring means. She hasn't experienced it yet.

 This is not my fault. My sister in law, Katie, the one with the dark head? She made me do it.
Yes, that is the front of our heads.

 This one has yet to experience boring as well.
I've almost forgotten what it's like to be bored myself! Are you seeing what I get to look at every day?! This face right here.

You'll just have to take my word for it that he's walking high off the ground, since you can't really tell from this photo.

See, Bethanie?! We can resist the boring!
Thank you for inspiring me:)

That is it.
Your turn! Yes, you!