Brando joins the army!

Many of you know that Brandon decided to join the army! He is in the army reserves. We are all very proud of him for this decision. He had to spend 4 months in basic training. His basic training was done in Fort Leonard Wood Missouri. He had a good time but they definitely don't mess around at boot camp. Hearing his stories over the phone made me want to cry for him. I am so grateful for him and all the other men and women that choose to serve our country. It is such a blessing that I take for granted every single day. I just wanted to share some pictures of my brother and say how proud I am of him!

                                    

     Here are some pictures he sent me while he was gone!

His group having fun!

My parents got to go 

visit Brandon for a 

family weekend. I was

sad that Bray and I 

couldn't go but we 

had school! 

Easter 2012

Easter at the Bare's house can be a pretty wild party. Yes we are all "grown up" now... whatever that means but we don't mess around when it comes to the Easter egg hunt. Let me back up a little, We woke up and Taylee got her very first easter basket. Easter baskets are always the best around this house. My mom is the best. She always puts the cutest things in our Easter baskets. I remember when I was little I was so excited to wake up and see what was in my Easter basket. Easter also wouldn't be the same without my dad. He has bought me a new Easter dress every single year since I can remember. I look forward to my pretty dress that he picks out for me every year. I am such a daddy's girl. 

Taylee & Shawney looking at what great things Taylee got in her Easter basket!

She was a little confused about the whole thing ;) haha just a funny pic

The cute Bare family!

Baby Taylee all ready for church on Easter morning! What a pretty girl!

The whole family (minus Brandon because she was at basic training)

   

Me and my handsome hubby in our Easter outfits! Bray is such a girl (shh don't tell him I said that)! Just kidding but he was so excited when we went shopping for him to get a new Easter shirt and tie. I love that he loves to shop just as much as me! And a cute pic with our Ella Bean!

So now lets get back to the fun stuff. Everyone comes over and the fun times begin. Our Easter egg hunt is your typical Easter egg hunt. The kids get the egg hunt in the front yard. Their eggs are filled with the typical candy and change and the golden egg has a little cash. For the big kids hunt, our eggs are filled with a piece of paper that has a grocery item typed up on it. Then some of them have money and the golden egg has a $20 bill! So it gets pretty intense, elbowing each other for eggs and screaming at your spouse to pick it up cause whats his/hers is yours ;) lol! Couples make a game plan to hopefully end up going home with quite a few groceries and some cash. Not to mention all the bribing to get hints of where the golden egg is! Here are some pictures of the eventful egg hunts!

The little kids getting ready for their Easter egg hunt!   

                                       

Kendyl Bug

Jonathan

 Parker got the golden egg!

Parker showing off all his eggs

The boys counting their eggs with Jon

Ty and Tay

     Shawney and her sidekick Daly finding the hard ones

Me

Tayler and the cheater...Tammy

Trevor, Ty, Jase, and Bray looking deep in the rocks

The groceries are all lined up ready to get divided out (bad picture)

The golden egg winners!

eyeing all the groceries!

So excited to get all of our goodies. We are worse than the little kids! Our parents make it so fun! Love it!

Life is a beautiful thing!

Life is such a precious gift. Shortly after our first Christmas together, Bray and I welcomed someone new into out family. Our niece Taylee Jo Bare was brought into this world January 19, 2012. We were so excited (as was everyone in the family) to meet this sweet little girl. We all rushed to Idaho Falls, ID, where she was born, to greet her.

Taylee Jo Bare 

January 19, 2012 at 8:06pm

6lbs 11oz 20 inches 

{First Family Picture}

My very first picture with Taylee. I was in love with her before I met her. I am so happy I got to become an aunt. I just know she love her auntie Jessie and uncle Bray Bray too ;)! She has brought so much joy to our family. Children are such blessings. We have so much to learn from them. She always brings a smile to my face whenever I see her. She is the only one who knows how to cheer me up!

Life is crazy and our Heavenly Father works in mysterious ways. After gaining a new member to the family, we lost a very special person in our family. My great grandma Tootie had a stroke right before Taylee was born and was in the hospital. After spending much time in the hospital they transferred her to a rehab facility across the street. She just never really recovered. Luckily grandma got to meet baby Taylee before passing. Grandma was feisty! She fought her very hardest right up until the end. No matter how tired she was or how hard it was to talk she was still cussing at the nurses and making crude jokes to all of us. One of the last jokes I remember her telling us went a little like this... We all walked in the room and there grandma laid on her bed. She said the nurses just left the room. They had come in to give her a bed bath. She told Bray that her momma always taught her to wash her PTA no matter what. We all looked at her a little confused. Then she explained to him, "your pussy, tits. and armpits." We all died laughing. Grandma told us that she explained it to the nurses, we were all embarrassed. She had a great sense of humor, even if it was a little crude. She always called herself a heathen. Regardless what she called herself, she was one of the sweetest ladies I have ever met. She was always so kind and watched out for everyone in the neighborhood. She would make them meals and homemade bread. She would even watch their kids. Her greatest joy was seeing her kids and grandkids. She always greeted us at the door with a hug and many tears. She cried all the time (I guess that's where my mom and I get it) Not only did she greet you with a hug and tears but with a huge meal. Even if we told her we just ate, she would prepare a meal for us to eat. She got so lonely in her little trailer park home. She would do anything to get you to stay a while longer. If only I could go back and spend a little more time with her. Life is so short and we never know when it's going to end. She was a beautiful woman. 

LaRue (Tootie) Fleetwood

July 5, 1923-March 5, 2012

I miss my grandma daily. What a blessing it is that I got to know my great grandmother so well. Most people don't get to know their great grandparents that great. She taught me so much in the life. I love her dearly and will never forget her. I am so grateful to have the gospel in my life. I know that families can be together for time and all eternity. I know I will have the opportunity of seeing her once again. I cannot wait for that sweet day. Don't take life for granted. Spend time with your loved ones and tell them daily how much you love and appreciate them. Life is such a beautiful but unsure thing. 

Our forever family

We have had so many "firsts" this year. Our first Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and so forth. I have loved blogging about all of these things. They are memories so dear to me that I will never forget them. Along with some of these, Bray and I had our first family pictures taken together! It was especially fun for us because both of our families were there and we got great pictures with all of them. The pictures turned out so cute... Thanks to Annette! She is an amazing, talented photographer and we owe her a ton! She took all of our engagement, bridal, and wedding pictures! Thanks-a-million Annette! We love you!

Bray and I with my family! The Bare clan!

The girls!

The boys!

The "real" Bare family haha I love this picture!

The Bodily clan! I love my new family sooo much!

 The Bodily girls!

Our fun flirty pose!

The guys!

The Bodily side again! Everyone teases me that I must have always been a Bodily and that Bray and I look like brother and sister...luckily we aren't haha! I do seem to fit right in as you can see. I just look like one of them! :)

We both lucked out with the best parents in the whole wide world! We love them so much and will be forever grateful for all that they do for us!

Our entire family! This is by far my favorite picture. We are so truly blessed to have such a wonderful family who always supports us in everything! I hope our family knows how much we love and appreciate them! I am so happy that we are all sealed together for time and all eternity!

Last but not least, here are the pictures of Bray and I! I have loved the past three months with him. I could not have asked for a more loving husband. He is so sweet, kind, patient, forgiving.....and the list goes on and on! I am so glad I get to take on life's adventures with him by my side. He is such an amazing example to me and I look up to him so much! I love him with all my heart and will forever and always!