Impromptu Reunion!

So Rachel came to Arizona and Beth decided to come. Ben thought it would be a good time for him between classes and trips, Daniel and Tim both thought that since the others would be here, they could make it. Then even David decided to make the drive from Colorado! It was a last minute family reunion!

We started arriving on Thursday, Beth's birthday, and the party started from there.

Picnic cake was her choice, we used to always have it for her birthday when we celebrated it at the Buffalo Crossing campground. It brought back a lot of memories and it tasted really good- even better than I remembered.

We can't all get together without having one ridiculous project, this one: get a ridiculously large tool chest off the Dodge truck and into the garage. Bless the boys for always doing these crazy tasks! This one had a few cars, lots of ropes and I'm sure a pulley or two involved. I'm sorry to say that I missed it all because I was out for a run, but heard about the true test of gravity when I returned. David and Tim then worked hours getting it all put together! Like I said: bless them!

We had a lot of hang out time, we played games, ate and even found time to sleep. Rachel and a few of her brothers made it to GI Joe the movie - making her happy she had someone to see that kind of movie with. The girls were going to go to a "girl" movie but it just never worked into our schedule.

We also spent a lot of time outside, the weather was so beautiful! We played on the swing set, jumped on the trampoline, got rides from grandpa. We even caught a horny toad! After Makenzie was the only one brave enough to hold it and we watched it run home, she wanted to see what else we could catch!

Grandpa even got the spa up and going, we had a lot of little Santas when the bubbles were turned on.

Rachel and I took over the lawn mower for a bit and cut a diamond in the field by the pond. Jaden and Sam were ever so helpful!

When we were finished we got a huge baseball game going. Rachel played spectator (though she did bat once), other than her Ben and I were the only people over 4 feet (not true - I'm sure Elise, Ian and William are all taller - when do they get so big?). It was a fun game and Ben did a great job letting everyone have a turn and making sure they got a good hit in. Sam, however, really didn't understand the taking turn processes and screamed that he was never playing baseball again and stormed off only to return (because we hadn't gone after him) to tell us again how unfair we were. Both Ben and I found him later and talked to him about how you play baseball. Other than that we all had a great time!

In the newly cut area we also took advantage of the wind and flew a few kites we found in the garage. We really didn't have enough wind and the kites had all seen better days, but we had a good time!

We (I should say 'I' though I wasn't the only one) took a lot of pictures! We got some good smiles and happy moments!

Kai helped me take these pictures of his brother - I really like them!

These happy faces say it all! I couldn't think of words to post on the pictures to say how special and sweet each of these kids are - I love them all so much!

What else can you really say?

Saturday August 8th, we went to the Shumway Solomon Ranch where Jon and Kristi live. It proved to be the best place for a picnic and we all enjoyed it so much! Jon had to drive to Texas and back in less than three days to be here for this and he pulled in just an hour before we all arrived. We sat in the shade and talked, we walked to the creek to through stones and fish, we ate and we just relaxed and enjoyed!

We even rode Besty, Bert's horse. She wasn't up for much but it was fun for everyone - it has been so long since I have been on a horse - I loved it!

As promised Grandpa (dad) took all the kids fishing, it seems to be the favorite family sport right now - highly promoted I must add. Jaden and Sam even caught one!

Dad's one birthday wish was to have a picture taken of everyone (amazingly we were all able to come but Sarah) it was quick and not the best lighting, but when working with our family, especially when so many tired children are involved (and men) you just take what you get and in the end it is a great picture no matter what because we are in it!

More Visitors!

After Elise went home Rachel came for a week long class as an intro for her library science masters program and while she was here Beth and her boys came to visit!

The boys got to do all the fun things you can only find at great-grandma and grandpa's house; walker jungle gym, rocket rides in grandpa's mechanical chair, hugs and kisses from grandma and playing with the jeep. Sam and Grandpa, we find, have the same problem when smiling for pictures. I always wondered where Sam got it from, now I know. We also got to go swimming in the evening with the gigantic whale. Thomas jumped in to his heart's content and we even had a game of water Frisbee.

Elise Comes to Visit!

After running in the 10k in Snowflake, my friend, Steven (who drove up with me), Elise and I headed back for Tucson. Elise got to spend the whole week with me! She got a scholarship to go to Camp and will be enjoying science week as part of my group. But trust me we did almost as much outside of camp as we did at camp (which is saying a lot because we keep those girls busy!). Saturday Elise and I met Tricia, one of my really good friends who is moving out of state (I still can't believe it!) for ice cream! Cold stone is really yummy! Sunday Elise went to church with me. I got to see the institute through her eyes and it is really awesome! We have ping pong, pool and other games, she didn't have primary to go to so she read quietly in the conference room while I was in a meeting and during Relief Society. We had linger longer after church, where we ate doughnuts! After church we had a huge dinner for Tricia at Shaun's house. We made Navajo tacos and ate them all up (It was a 20 cups of flour recipe!)!

Monday we went to Camp and for Family Home Evening, instead of going to the church with my ward, Elise and I got dinner (pizza) and a movie (Inkheart) for a girls night at Grandma's. It was fun. I love hanging with Elise, it makes me feel 11 again!

Tuesday after camp we got a quick bite to eat and went to the church ball fields to play softball. I played (not well) on our ward team this year, it was a lot of fun and something active to do. While I played Elise played with my phone (a favorite activity of hers - I've found) and made friendship bracelets (camp activity of course).
Wednesday was my day off, so Elise took a break from Camp as well, but not from Swimming! Elise is swim crazy! She would do it all day every day if she could. It is a good thing that she gets to go everyday at camp.

We also went shopping all the time. We had a list of school needs and hit all of the Savors in Tucson trying to find some good deals! Which we did!
Thursday Aunt Louise came down to Tucson and All three of us went to see Harry Potter #6, which I have been frantically trying to finish reading and just made it, I'm not, however, going to wait until right before the last movie to read the last book (I already have!). Elise and I helped enlighten Aunt Louise on the story and a few philosophical points of the book.

Friday went really quick, and after camp and clean-up, we packed up Elise and Aunt Louise and they drove back up the mountain!
It was a lot of fun to have her here for the week! I miss her!

Girl Scout Camp!

So my summer job (makes me sound like I'm in high school or something!) was working at The Tucson Girl Scout Day Camp. I had a load of fun working there and met a lot of new friends! It is hard to express the friendship, the good times and the craziness you can have while working so closely with such great counselors. I'm posting a few pictures and videos so that those not lucky enough to work for so little, doing so much (but having a great time doing it) might get an idea of what it was like. I am going to post a few more pictures later.

Pioneer Day!

Ever since I ran with my stake in a 5K I have been on the look out for a 10K to run. When I was visiting Jon and Kristi awhile back I saw a paper on their fridge that had Pioneer day activities on it and one was a 10K! So I intensified my running (a little) and I drove up to Snowflake for the run. I got up super early went to the temple view chapel and ran for 6 miles! It was crazy and let me tell you that around mile 4 my mind tricked me into thinking I was getting close! The last two miles were difficult - needless to say - but I finished on a good speed and checked my time...
I had been hoping for 60-70 minutes, mostly because of the elevation change and the ups and downs of the trail - also I hadn't been as good about preparing as I should have. But with all the adrenaline and excitement I did it in under 53 minutes! An all time best for me! I got a cool shirt, plus a ribbon for first female in my age category and a trophy for third place female over all.

After the race and awards I went to Jon's were I had enough time to grab some cereal and head to the parade with him and his kids. We met Kristi's mom there, but Kristi and her dad were both in the parade. Kristi was in a volunteer band and her dad was in because of his 50th high school reunion.

The kids got loads of candy and had a great time watching everything - especially the horses and tractors. You have got to love small towns!

After the parade Elise finished packing and we set off for a week of fun at Girl Scout Camp!