8/8/09

My family dynamic is a bit crazy. Let me try to explain. Ill start off by saying, I don't have a single "full blooded" sibling.

• Mom had a previous relationship= older brother JJ, and older sister Alyse.
• Mom married my dad= me. 
• Mom and Dad got divorced.
• Dad remarries my step mom.
• Dad has a daughter and a son= little sister Kindra, and little brother Drayden.
• Dad and step mom get a divorce.
• Dad is remarrying in August.
• I will gain lots of new half siblings :)

So there is that run down for you. My dads side of the family (Lopez side) is super close. Growing up, we ALWAYS had family outings... like I'm talking whole family. Aunts, Uncles, and all the cousins. You know that saying "It takes a village to raise a child"? We literally had a village. Some of you may not know this, but growing up I moved around a lot. I love my parents so much, and they were truly the best parents, but truth be told, I spent most of my childhood living with family. Try to keep up with this (if you want)- I promise this is all relevant. lol

• Up until 7th grade, I lived with my moms parents- Grandma and Grandpa Seely- along with my older brother and sister. (Upland Terrace Elementary School, Wasatch Jr. High, and then past of 7th, Granite Park Middle School) 
• 8th grade and most of 9th grade, I lived with my dads mom, my amazing Grandma Judy, who lived for a part of the time with my Aunt Kimmy, Uncle Tim, and my cousins, Kaylee and Rachael.  (Granite Park Middle School, and Granite High)
• The end of 9th Grade and 10th Grade, I lived with my dad and step mom. (Granite High, then Murray High)
• 11th & most of 12th grade, I lived with my dad and step mom. (Timpanogos High)
• Then the last half of my senior year (when my dad and step mom were separating) I lived with my Aunt Kristy and Uncle Ricky- before I got married (Timpanogos High)

I was a pretty hot commodity. Kidding. At times it sucked moving schools a bajillion times, and having to try and make friends. Believe it or not my Sophomore and Junior year were my most awkward grades. I didnt know where I stood, and I truly felt like I didnt know how to make friends. This is where my family comes in. I have been so blessed with the family I have. I am truly grateful for all the love that my family has shown me growing up. I always had best friends, and moms, and dads, and grandparents, and confidantes growing up. There were times I was so mad at my parents for making me move so much, but I know that I wouldnt be here if it werent for them. And I know for sure that I wouldnt have met Landon, had I not moved to Provo to go to Timp (moving from Murray to Timp was the hardest move for me... I had just made Varsity cheer, and I did NOT want to leave- but then I made cheer at Timp, and it made the move better :)- little tangent).

So this is a shout out to my AMAZING family. Without them, who knows where I would be :)

Me, my cousin Rachael (middle), and cousin Kaylee

My Main Squeeze. 

My Kay Bugg

Lopez Girls- Left to Right- Tabi, Eva, Kaylee, Rachael, Kindra, Me

5 of us were/are cheerleaders... clearly baby Eva is the one who has yet to be influenced. 

And clearly, I have lost my Scorpion. (well in this pic- I had it up there for one pic.. but whatever. Im such a "has-been" lol) 

Kindra, Drayden, Dad, and my Landon 

THE WHOLE FAM

(left to right, top to bottom)

Uncle Sean (holding baby Eva), Zan, Drake, Aunt Dena, Uncle Mark, Brody, Preston, Dad, Grandpa Lopez, Tabi, Mitzi, Grandma Judy, Drayden, Rachael, Me, Kindra, Aunt Kimmy, Landon, Uncle Tim,  Kaylee, Trent.