The Maughansters

We have great friends.  For the last 8 years we have lived across the street from some of our favorites, the Maughan Family.

In that time we have had many adventures together.  Our kids are similar ages and each pal up with theirs.  

The groups usually are:

The Olders - Zach and Morgan

This group only really hangs out when we go somewhere together...interestingly when we are home they rarely do.  Funny huh?  They both just like their own things at home I guess - but when we are all together they are thick as theives.

Then comes "the Boys":

Jake, Luke, and Cam (with occasional appearances from Zach)

These are Jake's brothers...since so far he has none in our house.  

Finally there's "the Princesses":

Abby, Claire, and Ash

They are so fun to listen to.  Constant giggles from these three.

Trev and I have our buddies too.  

Brandon and Lindsey

It is really magical how our families just fit together.  Everyone loves everyone and so it makes this friendship so much deeper.

Is my love for this family accurately coming across? :)

It is hard to find a fun memory since we met that doesn't involve them.  They have become family.  

In fact, we even have close relationships with their extended families and they have them with ours.

Our kids love "Papa, Debbie, Heather, and Grandma Snow."  Brandon plays basketball with Rich and Dan most mornings and serve his mission with Heather's hubby, Dallin.  

We are just interconnected.  

  

I may or may not be tearing up right now thinking of all the great memories we share.  I love how the fabric of our lives are so intertwined.

Well, a few weeks ago we had another fun adventure.  The memories just keep stacking up!  You see the Maughans are super generous.  They also have far better toys than we do. :)  Which makes us feel like such moochers but uber-grateful to be invited to play with them. 

In fact, I remember one year Jake saying he wanted Santa to bring him a motorcycle for Christmas.  I told him that Santa didn't bring those kinds of toys...to which he promptly replied, "Oh yes he does!  He brought one to the Maughans last year!"  

That instant I had to sit him down and be real.  I told him the Maughans will ALWAYS have better toys than we do and so just be super happy they share with him. :)

And boy do they ever.  Maybe one day we will be able to contribute, but for now we just love them for their kind hearts.

Like taking us 4-Wheeling Camping for example.

We went last year with them and were ecstatic to be invited back.

I mean really, does camping get any better than this?   

They sure take good care of us.

Even patiently waiting for us when we got lost trying to find them.  For like hours.  That is true friendship people.

Here we are taking in some sunset beauty while we found service to take a bathroom break and check the GPS directions once again.

 

We got there just as the light was sinking on the day.  We shuffled sleeping arrangements a few times, finally got settled, slept well, woke up to delicious smells, and the fun began.

We always take a "family ride."  This is seriously my favorite thing.  Just to cruise around, watch and photograph our families having a great time being in nature, and just soaking up life.

Even if the moments can get a little scary at times with Trev behind the wheel. :)

So gorgeous!  Here we are at the top last year...

The rest of the weekend was spent just hanging, chatting, eating, 4-wheeling, Yoga-posing, and photo-bombing.   Boy those kids are good at that last one.

So so so much fun.  That day we drove home and still hadn't had enough so we had this cute family over for Fish tacos and World Cup Soccer.

Oh how we love the "Maughansters".

True friends that become family are such treasures.