Family Reunion

So the REAL reason we went to Utah was to have a family reunion revolving around my parents 40th anniversary. We got as many together as possible and had a fun picnic at the park (despite the 102 degree heat). There was plenty of food and games but what brought the most laughs was when "Grandpa" started a water gun fight and we all got carried away and cooled off.


Of course Aunt Susie made plans for the younger crowd and had fun stuff including a pinata, games and these tattoos. She has earned her reputation as a party planner and child spoiler so none of this was any surprise. Thanks Sis! You're the best!

And of course, the whole gang that came - My parents with all their kids, most of their grandkids and some of their great grandkids. Quite a crowd. Thanks Steve for handling the awesome photography!

There is still more to come.....

Camp UtIBaCa

A real highlight of the trip was getting to go back to my old summer camp with just our family and the Grandparents. Since my Dad has always helped to run the camp (approx. 35 years now), we had access to the grounds while no camp was in session. There have been many improvements over the years but so much looked the same. We had a cabin to ourselves, which the kids thought was really cool and we did plenty of hiking. Goose just insists that she HAS to go back as a camper in the next couple of years, we'll see...

The kids saw this mountain stream on one of our hikes. I remembered splashing in this creek to cool off when I was a kid and so we had to carry on that tradition. The water was FREEZING but the kids had a blast daring each other to get in deeper. Youthful adrenaline always trumps physical comfort. :)

We drove to the top of the mountain one afternoon and could see so incredibly far. One of the biggest things I miss about living in Utah is the mountains, what a grand reminder of God's awesome power and might. Murph was just taking it all in when I snapped this picture, taken at 10,000 feet altitude.

The real reason for the trip was these two lovebirds. They just celebrated their 40th anniversary (reunion photos to come next) and they are obviously still plenty in love. Goose was completely smitten with them too and struggled between wanting to "stay with them forever" and wanting to come home with us. What precious memories with my Mom & Dad!

We go WAYYYYYY back!

I guess I'm not really covering our trip in order but I will cover it. We got to spend two days with my old high school "BFF" (to steal my daughter's term). We enjoyed lots of crazy laughs ("many much moosen" has been quoted repeatedly Jen), some yummy food, a beautiful hike to Bridal Veil Falls and our typical BFF talks. Her kids are a bit older than mine but they got along great and had lots of fun. You can see all 8 of them here the night before we left.


Jen and I have been there together through thick and thin through the years. Shared our dreams as teenagers, lived together for a time, had wonderful adventures together and have kept up from a distance as God brought husbands and children and moved us in different directions. Even over the distance, we always pick right back up where we left off. She's a "perennial" friend, the kind that blooms again, year after year. I just love ya Jen!

For fun I had to pull this out of an old album. Anyone guess the date of this photo by the big hair and acid wash jeans? This is 1989 - twenty years ago. Here is to the next 20 as we add empty nests and Grandkids to our lives. Ooh, that's scarey!

Our Road Trip

We made it, we enjoyed it and we returned home alive to tell about it! Our first family road trip to Utah and it was filled with some wonderful memories. In the past we made this trip via airplane but with 6 of us (and all our stuff), we are relegated to getting there via the mini-van. Here you see the kids happy faces when we made it to Utah, and you can tell they were still getting along after 20 hours on the road together (we did stop and camp out for the night at what can only be described at a railroad campground. Between the trains, the rain and the flat air mattress, our sleep was scarce.)


Half way through day one we stopped to visit some AGCI friends. They recently brought home their little sweetie from Hannah's Hope and we just had to meet each other's Ethiopian jewels. Precious huh?

Even better was uniting these two girls who once shared a crib together at HH Guatemala. Though we have kept up with each other over the years, it's not the same as an in person reunion. By the way Stacey, the boys still consider playing Legos with Noah a highlight of our vacation. :)

Here was the theme of the 11 days we were gone - DRIVING! In all we covered 7 states and 3,150 miles. We only had to take the van to the mechanic once (God worked that out beautifully) and only one deer tried to hit us (it was close but God protected us on that one for sure). The best part was that the kids did so much better than we dared hope for. They got along so well and enjoyed each other -- 99% of the time. HUGE answer to prayer!

More details to come.....

Reunions

Last week we had so much fun visiting friends in our old stomping grounds. It had been five years (way too long) since we went back to Bethany but this impromptu reunion was a good reminder not to make it another 5. We actually spent the whole afternoon at the park and the kids had a blast playing in the rain and the dirt while we Momma's stayed under the shelter. The kids were filthy for the long ride home.


Amazing how there are now 23 kids between us all and those are just the kids that came. I love to see how our blessings have grown up and multiplied over the years.

Here are the Momma's, only one of them was a new face for me. I miss our old Bible study group and the years we shared while our kids were so little. What a blessing to get back together. Thanks ladies. Til next time!!

Camping

We enjoyed a long planned out camping trip this past weekend and had a wonderful time. Icing on the cake was going with 3 other families from church. Between the four families we had probably 4 times too much food! The Eastin's were such pros though we all learned a thing or two. They were "ultra-prepared"!


Here is a shot of breakfast. My man made us all egg and sausage burritoes. No small feat when you are feeding 19 people. Lisa made monkey bread in her dutch oven and the monkeys ate that very quickly! There was much motivation to walk all around the lake.

Camping with friends is extra fun (the 9 girls loved sleeping together in their own tent while the 3 boys bunked with us). We also had such a good time as a family with plenty of sweet moments like this one. (No surprise this chair didn't hold up the weekend!) Now we are motivated to bring the tent on our trip out West next month for sure.

There was time for a little fishing and plenty of swimming. God gave us GORGEOUS weather for July. Low 80's and low humidity. Very important when you are sleeping in a tent!

Me & my Boo hanging out.

Happy Birthday America!

I'm finally putting some photos from the 4th on here. Aunt Susie sent out a box of patriotic stuff to get everyone in the mood, we made a yummy cookie flag and even Frisbee got in on the action.

Here are my goofy girls hamming it up for the camera.

As is our tradition, we spent the evening at a friends home eating yummy BBQ, talking and laughing the night away, and setting off some fireworks. The kids favorite is always chasing the little parachute guys floating down to the ground. Also, our friend Matt always builds his own major firework for the finale. Way to go Matt! When all is done, we get to see the city fireworks on our way home. We hope you had a great 4th as well.

Happy Birthday America!