June Tidbits

It's hard to believe we could actually fit in some relaxing play time with all that took place in June! We did manage to take some time for the little moments which make up this beautiful life.

Derek had his 21st Birthday!! 🎂
My joyful snuggle baby has grown into a tall, dark, and handsome young man. He is generous, thoughtful, loving, creative, helpful, hard working and so much fun. I miss seeing his smile and hearing his laugh everyday. I'm so proud of the man he is becoming and so very blessed to be his mom!

 Love you forever, Derek ❤


Kailee Jo is growing so fast and each new stage has us admiring her more and more.

It wasn't until I saw this picture of baby Justin and big brother Levi that I realized their love for and skills on the computer started at very young ages. Levi and Justin are my go-to tech team. I don't understand a word of their coding/tech/computer language and possibly only half of what they explain to me, but I trust them completely. I'm so proud of these men!

2000 and 2018
Those skills have carried to adulthood and future careers. These two could easily pass as twins!

Sadly, so much going on in all of our lives left little contact with our European family, but we did manage to check in at least a couple of times a week.

Vivien is adjusting to and loving being an aunt and I occasionally get spying pictures of both Vivien and Gabor as they study, eat, and sleep.

Bear World with friends is the perfect way to spend a summer day.

Nathan's friends, Ethan and Rhett, joined us for a drive through Bear World and a spin around the rides in the park.

I'm not sure if the boys are attempting a sexy pose in the second picture or if they are eating bear boogers. Pretty sure it has to do with bear boogers.

We were most excited to see the new twin fawns, the little bear cubs that we held when they were just two months old, and Hyrum was particularly fond of this fat little goat. We were silly enough to think it was pregnant but after asking when it was due we found out that HE was just fat and that his belly could jiggle like jello.

The afternoon was complete with a pizza to refuel.

I almost felt bad sending three pubescent boys into Little Caesar's without first forcing deodorant on them but their high pitched giggles and cracking voices make them easy to forgive.

Nanny & Papa

The month started a little sketchy with a sudden snow and wind storm on the 6th.

By the end of the month our beautiful summer weather was back with deep blue skies, crickets and frogs serenading from the fields, and a warm shining sun. The perfect combination that tricks us into staying in Rexburg for yet another year.

We were so grateful for the perfect weather to welcome Nanny and Papa for their first Rexburg visit. Though our days were still full of wedding prep, which left no time to travel surrounding areas, we were able to get in a few highlights.

Nanny loved the flowers and grounds at the temple and they both enjoyed the peace that is felt in one of my favorite Rexburg spots.

I thought for a minute that the military man in Papa was saluting Moroni but he was just pausing for a pensive look at the temple while shading his eyes from the perfectly clear and shining sky.

At home we played our favorite games, both inspired by LeRoy's Texas upbringing.

It was such a treat to have Louis and Donis visit us from California. With Papa, LeRoy and Louis together, it was a must to play poker but we put our Idaho twist on it and played with Tootsie Rolls instead of money.

Papa taught the boys a true poker face by keeping his expressions serious and hiding his eyes behind shades. In the end, his mischievous grin broke free and he shared his winnings with Hyrum.

I hope that our future includes a sweet, caring relationship like Nanny and Papa have. Many times they were quietly observing how our family functions but I admit, I was also watching them and I love them both even more after this visit.

Cynthia Darlene and Frank Edwards

Levi and Daymia's Wedding

June 24, 2017

The day was so perfect in every way!

My very handsome son gave the most touching vows and had us all in tears.

His gorgeous bride's smile lit up every moment of the day and we welcome her with open arms and the same love we have for all of our children.

Individually they are special.
Together they are spectacular.

Each member of our family, as well as Daymia's, contributed in some way to the joy of the day.

Top: Levi & Tami, LeRoy & Kimber, Hyrum & Jordyn, Nathan and Erica
Bottom: Justin & McKell, Derek & Cara, Brett & Erika with Kailee, Daymia and Jon


We not only gained a daughter today, but also her amazing family as our extended relatives.
It is so easy and fun to be with them.

The Sanders family: Katie & Shane, Jon, Daymia, Tami, Cara, Erica, Jordyn


Korben was a perfectly responsible, and might I add, dashing, ring bearer.

Lane, Daymia's uncle, was a wonderful officiant who prepared a very heartfelt ceremony.

Did I mention tears?

Top Photo: Justin and Nathan with cry face and Hyrum leaving his emotions on my waist while Levi and I share a tearful hug.

Every one of my boys had a red cry nose and free-falling tears as they watched their brother and new sister-in-law. Hyrum wouldn't look towards them during the ceremony because he doesn't like anyone to see him crying but LeRoy still caught him with his cellphone (bottom right photo).


Speaking of Edwards Boys . . . and a handsome dose of Hellbusch.

These men stood tall in their parts and had my heart overflowing with admiration.

Our patriarchal Papa Edwards doesn't show his true grin often but he could not resist when welcoming Daymia to our family. He's so cute!

The stunning girls of our family. I love these three more than I ever thought possible!

I hope Daymia knows that she didn't just marry Levi, she gained a whole troop of protectors who love her as well.

It is an honor to call these two our children!

An eternity of hope and love stands here to support Levi and Daymia.

Papa & Nanny Edwards, Dad and Mom, Daymia & Levi, Grandma & Grandpa Fullmer

First Dance with the Bride and Groom, followed by the father/daughter and mother/son dances.

Levi searched and searched for the perfect song for us to dance to. After going through memories and lyrics we immediately settled on Shape of My Heart by Backstreet Boys. We used to dance around the kitchen at the blue house singing at the top of our lungs to the Backstreet Boys. As Levi pointed out the line "you can save me from the man that I've become" we looked at each other with knowing and teared up just a little. It ended up being the perfect song for us to do the middle school slow dance for the verse and then break out into our blue house moves to top off our moment.

From the moment that I held my minutes old Levi close to my heart I have had a vision for his life, hopes for his future and a protective love to go with him wherever he goes. Though his vision for life has not been the same as mine, standing next to him on his wedding day gave me a new vision with all the same hopes for happiness, joy, and laughter. My protective love continues in a much less visible way as I step aside and with tuggings of a momma's heart, I reverently and respectfully give him to Daymia with full confidence that he is in better hands than any vision I had imagined up for him.

The first time I saw this photo it caught my breath. I saw them standing before their unknown future: sickness and health, lack and abundance, conflict and peace, sorrow and joy. As they look off into the not so distant Light, holding hands and supporting each other, all will be well.

As they forge forward into the lone and dreary world of jobs, bills, stress and whatever else life throws at them, I have no doubt that their life together will also be glorious and beautiful; full of laughter, love, and joy.

Their wedding video makes me laugh, cry, ooh, and ahh, every single time I watch it. This kind of perfect never gets old.

Wedding video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgTIgGlo7d8
Engagement video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_GnyPTnH90&feature=share

Watch them together and it's the perfect 10 minute chick flick!
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The day was so perfect, beautiful and wonderful in every way that even our broken septic pump couldn't damper the day, though it did add a touch of odor.

The night before the wedding we had 15 people staying in our house. My biggest concern was that the air conditioner would freeze up on us. Never did I imagine that we would lose showers and toilets! Gratefully, we were informed with enough advance that the downstairs toilets weren't flushing right and the tub drains were plugged. Upon further inspection and a call to our good friend who owns Advanced Plumbing, we learned that our septic pump had gone out and that we could have a few flushes to go but that any given flush or shower could cause all septic to back up into our basement.

Our guests were so understanding as we waited until morning for the parts store to open, a technician to come and switch out the pumps, and a plethora of wedding showers to be taken. The smell did knock us over for a time and we had to forgo all air conditioning to open every window in the house to release the nastiness before breathing it all in.

With only a minor set back in time, all wedding plans moved forward and no one was the wiser as we arrived at the wedding in full spiffiness with nary a septic odor to be detected.

The Bridal Dunk

Daymia's crazy wonderful friends, Brooke, Morgan and McKell, took their hosting skills to a new level and had a bridal dunk for Daymia instead of the usual bridal shower.

They even rented a dunk tank and parked it in the middle of the back yard. Levi answered their questions before the party and if her answers were different than his, the guests threw a ball to try to dunk Daymia.

The rest of the games were set up Carnival style including a lingerie race, popping balloons with darts, and shooting bottles with Nerf guns. The most popular game seemed to be Bra Pong.

It was particularly fun for me to watch my mother and mother-in-law cheering each other on in Bra Pong, all while my mom wore her missionary name tag.

Many of the gifts ran in a similar theme as the games and if there was to be a favorite it might just be Kate's origami money lingerie.

Such detail work and oh, so much laughter!

I am delighted to have Daymia join our family. She is a joy to be around!

It was easy to smile for our group photo because our adorable photographer had us giggling.

Thanks Papa ♥

"It's About Dang Time"

Their families have both been waiting for this day to come!

Tami (Daymia's mom) had hinted to Levi that he should propose.

We didn't hint at all, just came right out and told him he should.

The younger boys threatened to marry Daymia if Levi didn't.

Levi waited for the perfect time and the perfect setting to ask the perfect girl to be his wife.

February 10, 2017

I cry hopeless romantic tears everytime I watch their engagement video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_GnyPTnH90&feature=share

The line that was clipped out of the video says it all. As Levi stood from his down-on-one-knee position and they hugged, Daymia exclaimed, "It's about dang time!"

We all agree and are so happy for the two of them!