Summer Love

The Summer of 2013 is going to be one to remember.  Greg was promoted and the new job is located on the East Coast.  So we are moving across country BUT only for the summer.  Greg will be able to fulfill his job from our home so we will only be gone for two months.  We have schedules all our weekends with wonderful destinations, local favorites etc.

To start the summer off we headed to visit our daughter, Bailee, and her little family for a few days before we headed to a family reunion for Greg's family.

These two were very very excited to see each other.  What is better that an aunt and nephew being so close in age.  I hope they will be best of buddies forever.

After a short visit we heading to Aspen Grove family camp for Greg's family reunion.  We were strong in numbers with 56 aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmas and a grandpa.  Our family had a wonderful time.  We played sports and participated in all kinds of fun activities during the day and played card games all night.  Grandpa brought his yummy fudge and coconut pound cake.  YUMMY!!

Bethanie and Canyon were able to get to know other kids their ages at a day camp.  Canyon's favorite was the train set.

 Bethanie always enjoys when she gets to play with her cousin, Peyton.  Peyton is one of only two girl cousins on this side of the family.  Bethanie and Canyon both loved the train ride during the Wild West day at the reunion.

Bea has become a fish or a mermaid.  She will swim tirelessly for hours on end and is always so sad when it time to go.

Wedding bells

Bethanie felt like a princess getting all dressed up for her cousin Danica's wedding.  She still calls her flower girl dress her "wedding dress".

 Debut as the wedding began.  The wedding was moved indoors due to rain.  Greg's brother's home is a beautiful location for an indoor or outdoor wedding.

 Looking beautiful in their "wedding dresses".

With the beautiful bride, Danica.

Greg and I our lucky to have supportive extended family.  We love and appreciate every one of them.

Mud Run with the girls

While visiting family for a niece's wedding, the girls decided to do a mud run the morning after. We all had such a blast and really did get into the mud spirit. 

The finish was sliding onto a tarp covered in bubbles. Guess we needed a little suds to clean up the dirt.

 Cousins flexing their mud run muscles!

Some of us apparently believe that tough faces = smiles. Fortunately we got some good growls in this shot. 

Florida cousins

Bethanie and I were able to see the Florida cousins before a family vacation with Greg's brother and his family. We don't get to see these cousins very often and were excited to find out we were going to be near their home

You can't go to Florida without hitting the beach.  The kids loved the water.  It is obvious these two little boys go to the ocean often they were crazy.  Bea girl hung back and wouldn't get as close to the waves.  Paige and I stayed way back, the wind was blowing and there was definitely a chill in the air.

 She was enjoying the sand between her toes.  We are still trying to get sand out of that swimsuit.

 After leaving Paige's cute little beach town where she lives we headed for Orlando.  We took the kiddos to Gatorland.  I wasn't sure what to expect but we were all pleasantly surprised.  We paid for an upgraded package and were able to feed the alligators and after watching the gator show the kids each had their picture taken on the back of a live gator.  Well worth it.

 Little picture opportunity on a not so real gator.  I love how Bethanie wore her sunglasses most of the day.  Paige also introduced me to boiled peanuts.  Apparently, they are a Florida thing.  I actually enjoyed them and may need to try making them at home sometime.

 The token picture on the train ride around Gatorland.

 On our last day with the cousins we shopped and played a round of miniture golf.  This was a first for miss Bea.  She had such a great time she forgot she needed to "GO" and had a little accident right on the green.  She was mortified but luckily our car was close and we had all our luggage since Paige was going to drop us off where we were meeting up with Greg and his family.

Paige thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to spend time with the Bea girl and I.  We had fun and can't wait to visit again.

Tis the Season

Christmas is wonderful every year but always a little better when Bailee, Zach and Canyon join us.  We feel very fortunate because they have come our way three years in a row.  It is going to be very strange not having them around next year.  It will be the first time Bailee doesn't come home for Christmas.  They are already missed.  Here's to 2013 (cross our fingers).

 Christmas tradition=christmas jammies.  This year we were able to find a matching pair for both little ones.

 Oh, what a stocking!  My grandmother has crocheted each child, grandchild, great grandchild, great great grandchild and all the spouses this same stocking, names included.  She is an absolute angel for giving us each this connection with our extended family.  We love her.

Playing with Canyon's new train set.  The kids had fun playing all day with each others toys.

Mr. Grinch

Miss Bea has discovered she loves to dance.  It may have nothing to do with dance but everything to do with her bff, Emma.  But I think she really loves to dance and wiggle to the music too.  They learned a little dance to the song, "Mr. Grinch".  She would dance around the house singing, "You are cuddly as a cactus" all day long.  Emma's mom is the teacher and is absolutely wonderful.  We are so glad they moved here and we have been able to get to know them so well. 

Posing for the Pics.

Here's the whole class.  Emma is the third from the left.  They really are two peas in a pod which can be good and bad.  Depends on the day.  They have the potential of being buddies for a really long time and I sure hope it plays out that way.

Gratitude aboundeth

This year we were able to spend Thanksgiving with Cheeri & her family; Nana & Grandma Martha; Todd, Michelle & Michelle's father.  It was wonderful to get together and enjoy each other's company.

Half of the party.

 The rest of the party.

Our Gratitude tree.  I hope this becomes a tradition for our family. I put together a tree from branches off our maple tree then left a stack of paper and pens next to the tree.  Everyone took a little time to write down the blessings in their lives and hang them on the tree.  After dinner we read each note and were all overwhelmed with love and gratitude.  (idea from pinterest-source to come)