Reunion Randomness

Our family reunion this year (my side) started as a three day event but ended up being a five day event! Too much fun ... we just couldn't quit.

Day one: arrive, reacquaint with family, hugs and kisses all around, set up tents and yard games, trampoline, tree swing, organize the barn loft for older girl cousins to sleep in, set up garage for meals.

Day two: official opening ceremonies with flag ceremony, hike up Darby canyon to the wind caves for older cousins (and Grandma!), splash pad and carousel rides for younger moms w/kids, more yard games with trampoline and swing time, evening outdoor projector movie with treats, goodnight devotional by Grandma.

Day three: early morning temple session for adults, back for a late morning baptism session with the youth, boat making time, more playing with cousins, evening cookout at Shirley's with water-balloon v-ball, zip-line, ladder golf tournament (congrats Dane!), family program & talent show, "boat sing", bonfire

Day four: breakfast at the park, arts and crafts, making/launching bottle rockets, pool time in Shirley's flooded back yard (too fun!) with canoe races, swamp monster attacks, human slip and slide, water volley and foot ball, evening fireside with reports from cousin missionaries (returned, serving, and called).

Day five: church, packing up, good-byes with final hugs and kisses.

Welcome to Grandma's

Splash pad

Carousel riding
Carson, Caley, Jack, Ike

Water-balloon Volleyball
Reid, MK8, Kyle, Gage

Caeden and Rachel

Sunny and Uncle Joe

Gage and Jean

NY Wildings (minus MK8)
Arla, Jonathan, James, Thomas

Scary painted tattoos (it's ok Uncle Dave)

Face painting with Melayne

Kelli, Diane, Dave (good luck in nursing school!), Kayla, Hazel

Aaron & Kaylee

Cook out at Shirley's

Perfect dogs
Susan, Paul, Spencer, Rachel, Dave

Smoke follows beauty
Ammon, James, Layne

Joe, Rose, Shaleen, Kaylee, Mariann, Jill

Grandpa and Sunny

Sunny, Gage, Michigan birdhouse boat (with cardinal and blue jay feathers and firefly glow sticks)

Human slip and sliding

Maryah

Band of brothers
Joe, Layne, James, Dave

Rose, Joe, Layne, Jonathan, Reid, Dave, Ammon, Paul, Jake, Spencer

Saying good-by

Love you Grandpa!

Open the Flood Gates ...

Or in this case I think my sister may have closed the flood gates? Not really sure of the irrigation technicalities but definitely sure of the fun had by ALL. Old and young alike. Grown men acting like boys ... and their boys loving every minute of it. Women tending the babies under the shade tree, dipping their toes in the cool water, cheese nibs saving the day.
Running, splashing, shouting all highly encouraged.
Canoe races, swamp monster attacks, water volleyball, water football, body surfing contests. Best outdoor pool EVER!

Something old, something new

Carousels are magical.

The painted horses dance slowly up and down

while the light hearted music takes you swiftly round and round.

This particular carousel invoked a particular bit of emotion in me. It stands the same spot, in the same park, playing the same music, as if twenty five years never happened. I felt the same little butterflies in my stomach as I herded my two youngest monkeys on board. I found myself scoping out the prettiest horse to perch my sweet baby up on.

Then starts the same music, and up go to same horses, and there I am ... watching with new eyes ... the eyes of a mother. Excited for their excitement and joyful for their joy. Emotional to be there this time as the mom. Not a rider any more. A stander, a picture taker. Loving every bit of it as much, if not more.

POOL PARTY

Our impromptu POOL PARTY.

We decided to have dinner outside so the kids could soak up as much summer sun as possible.

Watermelon ... mmmm!

This pool is just too fun!!

We LOVE to play in the water ...

Steve with the picinic spread...

Sunny and Ike just so happy ...

I LOVE SUMMER!!!

What a fun day.

The 4th

Our Super fun 4th...


A bike parade ...

We met at the school to decorate our bikes and then were escorted around the neighborhood by this fire truck who flashed his lights and blarred his siren the whole way. Neighbors came out and sat in thier driveways to wave to us as we passed. Why go to a parade when you can be IN one!?!

Gage, Sunny, and Ike by the fire truck ...

and exploring IN the truck ...

Star spangled boy ...

Popsicles after the event!

Gage is braving the gigantic titanic slippery slide at the park festival.

Steve was thrilled to see an El-Camino at the car show ...

We watched this life-flight helicopter land and then got to check it out up close.

Ahhh ... what a GREAT day!!

Betcha didn't know ...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVE!

33 years old! Whew ... That's really getting up there!

Some little known (and some more well known) Steve facts:

1. Steve is awesome!

2. He loves toys for his birthday

(seriously, the guy got a GI Joe and a toy grenade this year)

3. He loves licorice
4. He still rides motorcycles

5. He's a master griller

6. He makes dinner at our house 80% of the time

7. He's dedicated to exercise (this guy can do chin ups and push ups for days)

8. He'll dress up in winter gear to exercise in the garage when it's freeeezing out there (that's commitment)

9. He owns more pairs of shoes than Sunny and I combined

10. He's an El-Camino man

11. Or a 1979 Ford Bronco man

12. Or a 1964 Chevy Impalla man

13. He turns his head every time when a girl is riding a motorcycle (I've learned to just accept it after 10 years)

14. He'd love to skydive some day

15. He loves seafood

16. Including sardines (I'm trying not to gag right now)

17. He spent his grade schooler years in England which means he's:

18. Seen the crown jewels,

19. Been to Merlin's cave,

20. and has to fight the urge to speak with a brittish accent when he hears it.

21. He was born in Texas and learned to talk there which means

22. he fights the southern accent urge quite a bit too.

23. He's a Miami Vice guy (who doesn't love white linnen pants and wicker shoes?)

24. The ring tone on his cell is the Duke's of Hazzard theme song

25. He's a big Queen/Freddy Mercury fan (can't argue there, that band was awesome!)

26. He's a classical music fan too (Moonlight Sonnata anyone?)

27. Loves to play cards - Hearts, Spades, you name it

28. He used to work in a womens clothing store

29. He had a paper route as a kid

30. He's a big Sherlock Holms fan

31. and a big Shaekspear fan

32. He loves being a dad

33. and WE LOVE HIM!!!

HAPPY 33rd STEVE!!