Graduation, Mom's B-day and Memorial Day

This past Friday Kyler graduated from Uintah High School. The weather turned out really nice, even though we were worried about getting rained out. It was pouring all day, and they said they were going to have it outside no matter what. It was a really nice ceremony. It's a little bitter sweet for me, because I am so sad when I think about him growing up! Before we know it he will be leaving on a mission and I can't stand the thought of him being gone for 2 years. We have always been so close and it just makes me sad. I am so proud of him though for all he accomplished in high school. He deserves nothing but the best. I love you Kyler, congratulations!!

Friday was also my mom's birthday. After graduation we went back to her house for cake and ice cream and Kyler opened his graduation presents and we had a little b-day party for her. My grandma (mom's mom) and aunt, uncle and cousins came up from Blanding. Monica and Dwain came out also. It was so fun hanging out with my mom's family all weekend, they don't make it up to Vernal very often! On Sunday of memorial weekend my Monsen family has a tradition of meeting up at the cemetery to visit and decorate my Grandpa Monsen and Aunt Linda's graves. Afterwards, we go to my grandma's and have a nice lunch. It was good to see my family and catch up with everyone!

My aunt and uncle Gary and Julie and their kids Taylor and Logan

My aunt and Uncle Donald and Sherry and her son and his wife

My mom and dad

My sister MiKell and her husband LeeMe and my sweet hubby, Ben

May update

Wow, May has been such a hectic month! We have had so much going on, I don't even know where to start! I had to go through my pictures on my camera to remember everything that's been going on. So I know some of this stuff is late, but here's where I left off: (This will be a long post! )

We went out a couple weekends ago to watch Kyler and the soccer team play in the state tournament against Park City. Unfortunately they lost but we were so proud of them, they played an awesome game! They held on clear through both halves, went into overtime and Park City scored on them in the first minute of overtime. It was really sad that it was their last game and knowing that we wont be watching him play sports anymore, but they had an awesome season in both basketball and soccer and it was so fun going to all the games and cheering them on these past few years!

My birthday was on Mother's day this year, so it was kinda fun to get to share my day with my 2 wonderful moms. I can't believe I'm 25! This birthday hit me harder than any other I've had. It was fun to hang out with family anyway. I totally spaced getting any pictures at my mom's house because we were all too busy watching the Jazz, so I made sure to get some at Ben's mom and dad's. We were trying really hard to get a picture of all of us looking at the camera at the same time here. These are Dale and Shannon's cute kiddos. On Thursday the 15th, Ben's sweet little grandma Lilly Mae died. She had some complications following a surgery and ended up in the hospital for about a week before passing. It was pretty unexpected, as we thought she was doing much better and was going to pull through. Ben and I were so glad we were able to go visit her the weekend before when we were in Salt Lake for Kyler's game. We headed out to Salt Lake for her viewing on Sunday, and then her funeral was Monday morning. The services were beautiful, everyone talked of how she was the most loving, giving person they knew. Everything she did was out of the kindness of her heart. She never once forgot one of our birthdays, and she was here supporting us in everything we did. She LOVED her grandkids, and always said that us "in-law" grandkids aren't any different than her "real" grandkids. She always loved us just the same. We are going to miss her so much, but are grateful for all the wonderful memories that we have of her!

I love this picture. It's the only one I could find of just Grandma Mae and I. This picture was taken by Ben's mom when we were on the way to the airport to pick up Ben from his mission. We were so excited, but I was super nervous and she just held my hand and told me everything was going to work out just fine. Ben's dad with his brothers and sisters

Ben and his sister Misti's cute little boy, Cason.

Happy Birthday Jett and Gracie!

Yesterday was our cute nephew Jett's 6th birthday. He is such a sweet little guy. We went over to their house last night for his birthday party. Happy birthday Jett, we love you!Also yesterday our good friends Tim and Steph had their baby girl. She was 7 pounds 12 ounces and they named her Gracie Jane Rodarte. We are so happy for them, they have gone through so much to get her here, and we know they will be such great parents! Congratulations you guys, we can't wait to see her! This is a picture of Steph and I at her baby shower.

Jazz, soccer and Kyler's birthday

Well we had quite an eventful weekend. On Friday, we left for the Jazz game as soon as I got off work. Oh my gosh, we had a blast! If you have never been to a playoff game, I strongly suggest you go, they are so fun! We went last year when they played Golden State and had so much fun, and this year was just as good! I cannot believe how loud that place gets! The Jazz won of course so they are moving on to the second round. After the game we went and stayed the night in a hotel in Salt Lake. The next morning we had to leave Salt Lake by 6:00 am to drive down to Provo to meet MiKell and Lee. Ben dropped Kaden and I off and headed home to go to work, and we all headed down to Hurricane. Uintah won their game 2-1! It was such a good game, it was so exciting to be there and watch them. The weather was wonderful too, I got pretty sunburnt. Now they are in the top 4 and will be playing Park City this Friday. If they win that game they will be playing in the state championship game on Saturday! I am so stoked for them! It is awesome to have gotten this far! Saturday was also Kyler's birthday, so after the game to whole team and everyone in the stands sang happy birthday to him. He turned 19, I can't beleive it! After the game we drove home, it was a really really long day, but well worth it. We had a birthday party for Kyler on Sunday with all of our family. It was so much fun to be with everyone. Kaden gave me this thank you note yesterday and I thought it was so sweet, I just wanted to share it!