We're off to the cabin

4 can equal 1

When does 4 equal 1?...when it's the Tyler's on the teeter-totter.

All tuckered out...

T'was the night before tomorrow when all through the cabin, not a person was stirring, except for grandpa with the Nikon clicking.

The grandkids were nestled all snug in their bags, while dreams of flaming marshmallows and moose danced in their heads.

Aubrey and D. had just settled down for a long night of rest, when what should they hear, but Cam rootin' to be nursed.

...hey! I taught early morning seminary today, so don't give me a hard time if it doesn't rhyme. We had a great weekend and I hope you have a great time looking at the pictures.

S'mores, s'mores and more s'mores

I bought the ingredients for s'mores 4 times this summer, but we didn't actually make any until this weekend at the cabin. I made up for it by eating 2. Yum!

For her birthday, Abigail received a manicure set with 3 different colors of nail polish. She brought them to the cabin and offered to paint everyone's fingernails. Luke was the first in line. All men, even when camping at the cabin, should look their best.

Sammer-jam jumping

Matthew filled up the 4-wheeler 3 times with gas. I'm not sure we shut it off all day Saturday. The kids definitely have something fun to tell their friends they did over UEA.

The baby of the family, but definitely not little.


Matthew and I tried and tried to get everyone to look at me at the same time. I always say I prefer the candid shots, but truthfully that is about all I can ever get with all the grandkids.



I love how the cousins love each other. They will share everything, from corn dogs to runny noses. Oh well, the family that eats together blows their nose together.

For UEA, Matthew and I took Aubrey with P, M, A, and L, and D. with Sam and Cameron to the cabin. We stopped at Polar King in Oakley for lunch on the way up. Luke loves his red cowboy hat almost as he loves Grandpa. They are best friends.

Luke was trying to make a funny face for me, but he is so dang cute it didn't work.

What do you do with a toddler who has been sitting in a car seat for hours? You sing songs, eat snacks, read books, roll down the windows, point out the 500th cow you have seen, take off their shoes and socks, put on their shoes and socks, eat some more snacks and sing another song. It looks like it worked. Emry is definitely having fun in this picture.

Mike, Erin and Emry spent the fall break from school in Yellowstone. They went to Bozeman for a day and visited Grandpa and Grandma Coil. The 5 of them went for a drive up Hylite. Everyone really enjoyed the drive, especially Emry who couldn't contain her excitement. Sweet dreams little Em...so sweet.

I took this picture following our traditional General Conference Sunday morning waffle party. I love watching Emry with Mike. She is so content to sit on his lap. You can tell she loves her dad and he likes nothing more than having her close. As much as I wanted to take Emry and squeeze her myself, it made my heart swell to see her loving her dad. There is nothing better for a little girl than to feel safe in her dad's arms.
I love our family tradition of waffles on Conference Sunday. We don't just have waffles though, they are actually works of art. Fresh strawberries, real butter, syrup, whipped cream, blueberries, bacon, hash browns, orange juice and this time we had 4 layer chocolate dream cake to celebrate birthdays. D. was gracious enough to let us all come over and we had a fabulous time. Thanks to D. for providing the house, Chris for frying the bacon, my fabulous husband for his gift with a waffle iron and to all the family who came.

Best Friends

October is a busy month with birthdays in the Coil family. Luke is the last one we celebrate, but his enthusiasm starts at the beginning of the month. Every time I talk to him he tells me his birthday is coming and the only thing he wants is a green light saber.
Luke is the absolute, all-American, blue-eyed boy. He loves ice cream, chocolate, spiderman, dirt and Nintendo. The one thing he loves the most is his mom. I love to see his eyes when she has been gone and comes home. He runs to her with a huge grin on his face, wraps his arms around her leg and squeezes as hard as he can.
He shares his room with his best buddy, big brother Preston. I will always remember the day Luke was born. Matthew, Dani and Lala brought Abbie, Madison and Preston up to the hospital to see their new baby brother. Abbie and Madison came running into the room absolutely thrilled begging to see the new baby. They weren't screaming, but their excitement was heard down the hall.
On the other hand, Preston quietly walked up beside the bed and looked at his little brother wrapped in his mother's arms. He whispered, "Hi buddy. I love you already." Then Preston sat down, I laid Luke on his lap and the look in Preston's eyes told me he knew this was a little angel fresh from heaven. He sat there for several minutes, then leaned forward and gently kissed him on his cheek. There were all kinds of noise and activity around them, but sitting there on that couch I saw two brothers become best friends forever. I will always love them for the way they love each other.
I believe Preston and Luke recognized each other. This wasn't the first time they were together and for just a brief moment the veil of forgetfullness opened between them and their spirits were thrilled to be together again. Fishing partners, story tellers, living room wrestlers, snake chasers, bug smashers, adventure chasers, best friends...brothers. Lucky Preston, lucky Luke...lucky us for getting to watch them love each other.

LUKE is turning 4

9 lbs. at 9 days

Cameron is looking more and more like his dad. The doctor asked D. how much Cam weighed when he was born? She told him 8 lbs. 1 oz. but he dropped to 7 lbs. 10 oz. when they left the hospital. At his first doctors visit at 9 days he was over 9 lbs. I heard once that, God tells us life will go on by blessing us with sweet, new babies. Cameron is beautiful (sorry Jake, I know you don't want us to call your son beautiful, but he is gorgeous)and we are loving every new ounce of him.

LIttle Jake

Fortune's Rock

Happy Birthday Andy and Carlee,

This picture was taken at Fortune's Rock in Biddeford, ME, the day of Andy's graduation from medical school. It is one of my favotire memories of that day. I saw Andy enjoying life fully for the first time in years. And how better to celebrate than flying a kite with the light of his life, Carlee, in his arms. I'm not sure how high the kite flew that day, but I know Andy's feet weren't touching the ground.

Today Carlee is having her Tinkerbell Birthday party. (For those of you who don't know, Tink is Carlee's favorite) Her goldfish is named Tinkerbell, the rolly-polly bugs she kept in a paper cup were called Tinkerbell, her Dad calls her "Stink", which rhymes with "Tink", her stuffed horse is named Tinkerbell and when we asked Carlee what we should name her new baby sister, she always answered "Tinkerbell". If you say it out loud a couple of times, it kind of grows on you. I wish I could be there to watch her blow out her candles.

P.S. Carlee, Please be like Tink and don't grow up too fast. We love you just the way you are and you are slipping through our fingers much too fast.

Happy Birthday to Andy and Carlee, our little Tink Stink. May you only think happy thoughts today.

Love forever, Grandma Kaylee