Family Reunion 2011

r










































This year we headed to Phoenix for our family reunion. We decided to change locations this time and we had a really great time. It was hot, but the kids love to swim so that is what we did. We were so excited about this resort because of the big slide. When got to the pool they said you had to be at least 48" tall to ride it. Unfortunately, most of the kids were under, so they couldn't ride the slide. There were a lot of tears at first, but they got use to it and still had lots of fun! However, 2 lifeguards were really nice and let the kids ride it, but then new ones came and they had to stop. They had a little lazy river pool that the kids liked and fountains you could swim under and get drenched with water. Ty got a lot better at swimming on this trip and I was really happy about that! Tenley loved the water and really like the wadding part of the pool.

We mainly went swimming, but we did take the kids to this really fun place called JumpStreet. It had wall to wall trampolines, a foam pit, and bounce houses. Everyone loved it and the older guys really loved playing trampoline dodge ball! The boys loved it and Tenley even loved jumping on the trampoline.

We had a water balloon fight and it lasted about 5 seconds. It took forever to fill them up and then it was over so fast. They did complimentary horse rides one morning, so we all headed over to the stables and all the kids LOVED there tiny ride around the arena!

We celebrated my dad's birthday by throwing him a surprise party. It was so fun and I know it meant a lot to my dad! My brothers sang him a song and it was very special! This is the last time we will all be together before my parents leave on their mission to Hungary! We really did have a great time! Everyone was able to come and it had been 2 years since Rikki and Seb had been to the states and I know we were all excited to see them and their children!

We stayed in Peoria for 5 days and then everyone went home, but my family, Rikki's family, and mom and dad. We headed down to Phoenix to stay at a different resort and had a great time. We went swimming twice a day, took the kids to GameWorks and they just loved that! We also took them to the new Cars movie, but we weren't impressed! I know Brice and Ty loved it, but I think the rest of us were pretty disappointed. The boys had so much fun playing with their cousins and getting to know them better. We got to meet little Lucie for the first time and she is just a doll. Josh LOVED her and they spent a lot of time together! He was good to stay home in the evenings with the sleeping babies while we took the kids swimming. Little Damien was a new baby the last time we saw him, so it was fun to see this sweet little 2 year old. He wasn't feeling good for a good part of the trip, but by the end of it he was doing much better. It was fun to just hang out and enjoy spending time together! Josh only stayed for the first weekend and then he had to go back to work, so we missed having him there! I was so happy to be able to spend time with Rikki and it was so hard to say goodbye! I hate having her live so far away not being able to see her, but once every year or two years! I am going to pick up my parents on their mission and then head to Rikki's house, but that won't be for 2 years, so I will miss her tons! Grammy and Poppy were so good to help the kids learn to swim and Ty and Brice had it down by the time we left. They still aren't strong enough to be by themselves, but they are doing so good. They even learned how to dive down in the 5ft. water and get the torpedo! Tenley LOVED the water and would kick her little legs when she swam! I love these underwater pictures of her. She even said "again" to Grammy and Poppy...that is how much she loved it! I think she will be a little fish like her mommy! Tag loved to play in the little baby pool or swim around the big pool...he tends to do his "own" thing!

They had a little playground there and we would go there in the evenings when it cooled off. The boys loved having movie and sleepover night and really loved the HUGE bathtub that made lots of fun bubbles. It was a GREAT 2 weeks and now we are back to reality. That was our big trip for the summer and I am glad it was so much fun! I am so grateful to have such a WONDERFUL family and feel so blessed that we LOVE to be around each other...It truly is a blessing!