We just returned from two wonderful family reunions--one in Palm Dessert, CA with my family, and one in Island Park, ID (just outside Yellowstone) with Derek's family. Our Palm Dessert reunion at the Marriott Shadow Ridge resort was fun and laid back. We spent lots of time at the fun pools and splash pads, did crafts with the cousins, went on Grandpa dates to museums, took the tram up the mountain for dinner and a lovely view, saw Cars 2, knitted with Grandma, and ate yummy dinners together.
Our Island Park, ID reunion was at a mountain resort where we stayed in hotel rooms, a large bunkhouse, and a large cabin. We traveled into Yellowstone Saturday and Sunday afternoon seeing lots of the park's amazing geothermal features and wildlife. We ate dinner together in the evenings and had some fun family activities including a family clue guessing game, talent show, and get-to-know you game. We enjoyed late night talking and games, and we even got to take family pictures, which is an amazing feat with about 65 people, almost 40 of whom are children.
Derek:
1. Took the kids fishing, which they've been asking him to do. Had a great time even though they didn't catch anything. Thankfully it was free fishing day and he picked up several free trout from Walmart on the way home which we ate for dinner. Yum!
2. Took a whirlwind trip to Birmingham for work. Got to play basketball with some old church buddies and peeked at our house which looks great.
3. For Father's day James made him a very elaborate and clever scavenger hunt to find his present (a grill). We also went to Spanish Fork to celebrate with Derek's family and really enjoyed that. For his birthday I took him on a dinner + bowling date, and we had a special family dinner another night where we opened homemade presents and ate cake.
4. Is working on re-submitting some grants that were turned down. They seem to be pretty good, so hopefully they'll get funded this next cycle. Cross your fingers...and toes. =)
Aly:
1. Has done lots of gardening. We're growing strawberries, pumpkins, tomatoes, zucchini, various other squash, and pepper plants. Now that I've got the pest thing figured out here, I think it will work out pretty well. Sadly neither of our fruit trees is producing much this year.
2. Made a summer list of activities for us to do (This Is The Place, swimming, picnic, bike ride to McD's, etc). We've enjoyed the laid back and fun feel to this plan. The kids like picking activities from the list when they feel like it, doing them, and checking them off.
3. Is teaching some new online scrapbooking classes for a couple of websites and has joined a new design team. She has enjoyed these neat opportunities.
4. Loves how motivated the kids have been this summer to do extra jobs and earn money for things they want to buy.
James:
1. Loves the new (old) computer that Derek pieced together so the kids can have a second one to use. Now they don't have to wait so long for their computer turn to come up.
2. Loved the Moosebutter concert that we attended in Springville with Derek's family. He was ecstatic when they sang the Cheeseburger song from Veggie Tales. Here's a sample of their work. Hi.lar.ious.
3. Did lots of extra jobs around the house to earn money for lego battle droids and a Sun Dew plant (carnivorous plant). He loves them.
4. Reluctantly attends summer band camp with Jeffrey. I think he'll love it by the end and thank me I made him go. =)
Jeffrey:
1. Was called as a counselor in the Deacon's quorum presidency. Is really taking ownership and doing a wonderful job. We're so proud of the example he's setting for the quorum.
2. Has been off his meds most days and does pretty well. We just give him small doses for things like church, scouts, etc.
3. Somehow contracted impetigo (hand, foot, and mouth disease) all over his forehead and hairline. Looks much better now. Thankfully no one else caught it.
4. Saved money to buy Battlefield 1942 (PC platform). I think this is by far his favorite video game.
Ashley:
1. Attended her friend Sydney's summer pool party and had a great time. She enjoyed seeing some of her school friends.
2. After her last appointment the doctor decided that her finger is okay and that she will not need therapy. Phew!
3. Performed beautifully in her ballet recital. Was so thrilled Grandpa came to see her. She is now attending intensive ballet/tumbling camp which will be her last class at her current dance studio. We'll be switching to a place that is much closer and has more of a focus on ballet.
4. Earned some extra money to buy Sea Monkeys. Enjoys looking at them with her little magnifying glass.
Lexie:
1. Loved the craft camp she and Ashley attended at the local scrapbook store.
2. Ended up with a winning spring soccer season, and is playing again with her team in the fall.
3. Enjoyed having her cousins over to play. They made handkerchief dolls and other crafts.
4. Earned some extra money and bought herself a Beta fish. She named it Peacock because it's blue and has a very fancy tail.
Faith:
1. Loves having the kids home. She always has a playmate to keep her entertained.
2. During our trip to Palm Desert we discovered she loves water and swimming. She is so enthusiastic about it that we have to watch her like a hawk because she'll just waltz off the edge of the deep end if we don't stop her. Literally.
3. Is talking SO much! It's great that she can communicate what she wants to say and we can understand her. She is learning new words left and right and putting small sentences together.
4. Is such a crazy climber that we may have to take down the safety gates for her safety! She can scale them like a monkey and we even found her screaming for help straddling the banister about to fall down to the bottom floor. She can climb onto the air hockey table by herself, and we put her in a big girl bed because we're sure she can climb out of her crib, though she hasn't tried yet.
That's all for now. Click on the photo collages below to enlarge.
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| Aly's family reunion at Palm Desert, CA |
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| Derek's family reunion at Yellowstone |
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