Long time...no see :)

Wow! I've sure neglected the blog this year. With the new school year starting and so much time on my hands, I decided to blog again, maybe. Update on the kids... Brayden: Holy Crap! We have a teenager, Brayden turned 13 this month and actually I'm surprised we are all still alive. ;) Let's hope the teens are better than the preteens for us. He really is a great kid just a little stubborn at times. I have come to realize that having a teenager is a lot like having a 3 year. Brayden started 8th grade this year and it will be his last year of middle school. :0 He is playing baseball and football. He is working on becoming an Eagle and just about has his Life Scout. Braxton: Braxton turned 11 in June. He continues to amaze with his tricks and flips and all sorts of things he does. He never stops going, jumping, climbing and running. He started his first year of Middle School this year and is in the 6th grade. He is in a bit of shock I think but I remember that with Brayden too, keeping up with all 7 classes, homework, projects etc... HE will be a pro in no time. He isn't playing any sports right now, just letting him adjust to his new phase of life.

Last Day :(

Okay finally getting around to Day 5, the last day of the family reunion. :( We had so much fun it was sad to leave.

Anyway...the last day we celebrated the 4th of July. We wore our reunion shirts again, by the way here is what the back looked like.


We also made some really cute scrapbooks on this day and filled them with pics from the reunion, so each kid went home with a small scrapbook of memories, I will have to scan them in later on a different post so you can see them.

We went to see a few Church History sites on this day too.

We went to Brigham Young's Winter Home, The St. George Tabernacle, Temple and the visitors center.

Brynn and Bo were ready for a nap after the tabernacle so you will notice an absence of us and them in a few pictures.








That afternoon we came home and swam for a few hours, for some odd reason, Audrey and I and all the men and boys had swimming races. Another time I almost passed out and needed oxygen. :) It was fun, but it wore me out!

Then we had an all American burger and hot dog bar-b-que. We played games outside, whiffle ball, bocce ball and some others. Later that night when it was dark each family performed a glow stick routine. It was great!




We also celebrated Karly's 14th b-day and had a fun Uncle Sam dessert!

Christmas in July!

Day #4 was Christmas!
The day started out with some fun crafts...we made snow globes out of babyfood jars and glitter ornaments.(no pics)

Next we played mini golf. It was really fun because each family designed and set up their own hole for everyone to golf at. Here are some pics of the course.









Everyone had a lot of fun and it turned out great!





I think after this was free time, and all the ladies and a few girls went "Christmas" shopping.

When we got back from shopping we had an awesome dinner. Chris and Audrey made a brisket that they had started the night before, so it was really good, along with christmas potatoes, corn, rolls etc... Here is a pic of the tables.

After dinner we had Reindeer games which consisted of Bingo and pin the nose on rudolph. Each time someone won bingo they got antlers and a rudolph nose. So cute!





We even had a visit from Santa that night...he brought us each a stocking that matched our families color of reunion shirt. So FUN!


We also did a white elephant gift exchange.

Then we set up a Christmas Movie in the indoor pool area and the kids were able to use their tickets that they earned all week to buy concessions. They loved this and had fun running in and out getting popcorn, nachos, s'mores, candy, soda, snowcones and giant pixie sticks.


It was another fun, amazing day full of fun and laughter. We had another fun turndown treat and sang a few Christmas songs.

Next up...Halloween!

Day 3 we celebrated Halloween, while all the men were off golfing and having a spooktacular time all the rest of us were home making Halloween crafts.
First, we made jack o latern oranges.



Then we made Trick or Treat bags for later that day.



Next, after lunch we had a Monster Mash Wipe out/obstacle course type competition.
We divided up into 3 teams, and went through the course and were timed, we started out at the indoor pool and ended with everyone jumping or putting their feet in the hot tub. I pretty much almost passed out. lol! :)








We had to spell HYLAND with the pool noodles.



Jacob and I were in charge of dinner that night, we did one of those crazy mixed up dinners where you have to order stuff and really don't know what you are getting.

Here is what was on the Menu:


Witch’s Broom- Fork
Bat’s Blood- Spaghetti Sauce
Mummy Brains- Spaghetti
Ghostly Goo- Ice Cream
Pirate slime- Fruit Cup with a pirate toothpick
Moldy Bones- parmesan cheese
Vampire Venom- Garlic Bread
Devilish Dagger- Knife
Mummy Wrap- Napkin
Wormy Juice Sprite w/frozen gummy worm Ice cube
Goblin Guts- Salad
Graveyard Digger-Spoon

I had the mom's serve their families as they order, it was pretty fun and the kids really enjoyed it, I was too busy to get any pics. :(

Next we all dressed up in our Halloween Costumes and had a costume parade and went trick or treating to everyone's room andthen had prizes for costumes.




We even made it out to the street to wave to a few cars. :)

Next we had a spooky night swim/s'mores/halloween story and a ghostly turn down treat!