Family Campout

I have a brother and sister that live here in Utah, so we decided to get the families together and have a 2 night camp out.  We camped out at American Fork Canyon in the Little Mill sites...Tana is 38 wks pregnant so we kept it close to her house so she could go home at nights.  That first night it was just Jeff's family and ours, and we had a lot of fun.  The kids just loved playing together.  The creek was nearby, games, and hanging out by the fire...  

Our family was in charge of dinner and we did chicken/beef tacos/quesadillas.  I also tried a bit of dutch oven with cinnamon rolls...but they exploded.  Remember, this weekend it reached 105 degrees, so it was close to that in the canyon.  The rolls rose too fast and just over flowed before I realized it.  Oh well, it became pull apart bread.

Eating altogether...

...my brother, Jeff, kicking back

The creek was cold an refreshing!  Couldn't keep them away from it...

Jeff and Alice had brought their 4 wheelers.  It was tons of fun.  Rian and Jarom both learned how to drive them.  They've driven 4 wheelers before, but only automatic ones.  This was their chance to learn shifting gears.  They did awesome!  Drove up to Silver Lake Reservoir (gorgeous) and many other trails.

That second night, Tana and Matt were able to make it up with their family.  We roasted mallows and made smores.

Oh the bliss written all over their faces... PRICELESS!

Family History

Activity Days

Beginning of June, we talked about what family history is, and why family history...they all brought pedigree charts.

We had some great discussion.  Pres. Faust had a short article on this that I shared.  And the best part was seeing the light bulbs go on for some of these girls.  I'm sure here in Utah, they've been exposed to it, but never had a deep discussion about it.  The final "ah ha" was when I brought the temple into it.  Linking our family together through the amazing blessing of temples.  I shared a dvd the church had put out about one of my ancestors my great great great grandfather John Tanner.  I explained that even he and I are linked because all of our temple work has been done...Sealed together as family.

Next activity I had the girls prepare a little something to share about an ancestor while we were at the temple grounds.  (Temple is down the street, what an amazing blessing to take advantage of!!)  This was cools to hear and see the girls learn about their own heritage.

Such a glorious group of girls.  Their future is so bright!  Brings me such joy to be around them.

 

front: Spencer, Brooklin, Sydney, Abby, Madison, Jace (Madison's cousin visiting)

back: Emmie, Brooklyn, Noelle, Raegan, Tarin, Kazmyn

 Because there is so much potential in these girls, I wanted them to always think of the day they will be able to go to the temple.  Now is the time to prepare and keep themseves ready for the Lord.  I gave them each a "recommend".

 

Finally as a gift, I had rewritten their pedigree charts on to this cute family tree, then laminated it, so they could keep it always.

 

And So It Begins...

Finally, the dirt has moved and basement walls have gone up.  Here's for hoping for a speedy and smooth building process...

Water Park Fun

We all spend a long day at Seven Peaks.  I had to get this picture of everyone.  They look tired, but they sure had another 2 hours in them...

Baylie, Rian, Ammon, Jarom, Brenin, Raegan, Denham, Averie, Tarin

Half Marathon Week

This past week has been fun.  My two sisters flew in for this half marathon that we are running together.  It was fun spending time with Traci's kids Jordin and MacKenzie...Ammon and Jordin loved hanging out.

Hanging out at Sunset park, then took pathways to Heritage park to play in the creek.

My other sister lives nearby, so we all met up.  I don't know the last time we had gotten a picture altogether...

Shanda, Tana, Traci, Me

Friday, Alice and her boys and little Brynlee came down from Salt Lake to let the cousins hang out and to take some pictures.  They all did a great job...

Afterward, we hit the Highland Splash Park...this is most of them together

Race Morning
riding the shuttle up the canyon at 4:30am

Starting Line at Tibble Fork Reservoir at 6 am...sun rising

 We all did a great job.  Traci and I finished about the same time...but Shanda smoked us by about 4 minutes.  My final time was 2:12:31

Kneaders provided French Toast, so we hobbled around and ate a great breakfast.

Afterward, we went to get pedicures and met up again with Tana for a sister dinner.  It was so good to hang out with my girls.

Shanda flew out Sunday, Fathers Day, but Traci stuck around for the rest of the upcoming week.  Her husband, David, drove in from Colorado.  The kids had fun.  We went to Vivian Park for a picnic and Seven Peaks Water park.  A busy week.

I also found time to take my sisters family pictures.

Water Park Disaster

Last week we went to Provo water park, and today we decided to try the Salt Lake one.  We all had a great time.

 

Ammon was finally brave enough to do this slide.  Tarin was a great big sister to help him.

We got to the park about 10 am and by 1pm I came to the van to grab our lunches...and this is what I saw.  It was a bit surreal and still I can't believe it happened.  The one time I leave my purse out...it was tucked behind the passenger seat but still visible.  My purse was taken and Jarom's itouch was stolen out of the glove box.  Luckily nothing else of worth was in the van.  Called Trent to start the process of cancelling cards and then called the SLC police...which was no help at all.  They don't send anyone out, only a call back for a full report to be filed...which took them 6 hours to call back.

We were all in tears, feeling violated, vulnerable, and shocked with utter disgust.  I sat everyone down and tried to calm their hearts with their picnic. 

 Jarom was just given his itouch from Rian and had the screen replaced by Trent so he was really feeling let down and disappointed...and now you see Ammon was in tears for Jarom and the situation and just wanted to hug him forever.  It was a special moment.

Although many sentimental items and knickknacks were in my purse, no long term damage was made.  The thieves did try an ATM but were unsuccessful.  I've been a bit jarred by this experience, not sleeping well and worried about identity theft and all the daunting things we need to do to fix everything, but I know we were blessed and watched over.

Girls Camp 2013

Yep, another year for Rian at Girls Camp.  Last year was a stake camp, so this year it was at the ward level.  They were only there 2 nights, but had a blast horseback riding, swimming, canoeing, and many other fun things!  Glad you had a fun time cutie!

Vivian Park/South Fork Park

Every week we choose a new park to try with our picnic.  This week we chose Vivian Park or South Fork Park up Provo Canyon, close to Sundance Resort turnoff.  I remember this park as a kid when visiting my family at BYU.  It was a great day.  We had a fun time playing in the creek and eating great food.

YUM!