Family Reunion-Whidden Style

We packed and planned and debated if we would drive or fly for this trip and decided to do, half and half.

Our original plan was to fly to Spokane, WA. rent a car and drive up to Kelowna, BC.

The night before we left a flight cancelled to Spokane and against our better judgement we still decided to try the flights in the morning. (we should have decided then , to just pack up the Suburban and start driving)

But to make a very long day short, Ben made it to Spokane, and we made it to Missoula, MT. {3hours}away.

Ben rented the car and drove to Missoula to pick us up. Then we made the now 8 hour drive to Kelowna. Fortunately it was a very pretty drive and we were able to drive through Coeur d'alene, Idaho, which I can't remember if I have ever been there.

We made it late in the evening and it was pretty much time to go to sleep...boo.

It was held at a girl scout camp on a very beautiful lake.

The kids swam, swam and swam, played bocce ball, ultimate frisbee, games and card games.

Above is a cute little boat house that was a great back drop for some family photos.

Ben saying Cheese, while eating "Cheesies" (Canadian version of Cheetos, definitely not as good!:)

The whole family except for me I didn't get any photos of the group including me....yet..

All the families had the same color shirts, that said "Got Roots" Whidden 2011

The newest Nephew was blessed while we were up there, Ben's brother Gary and his wife Allie were serious troopers planning the reunion over the summer and then having a baby the week of.

All 15 grandkids!!

Nana, Papa and the grandkids:)

Here are some family pictures of the individual families.

Above Gary, Allie and Tayson. Gary is number 7/8 out of Ben's brothers and sisters.

Gina-Ben's sister, Jared and her cute family. (2/8)

Jared-Ben's brother, Julie and their adorable kids. (3/8)

Leah-Ben's sister, Byron and their beautiful kids. (4/8)

Our family and Ben is 1/8:)

Jonathan-Ben's brother and his adorable girlfriend Ashley. (6/8)

Tim-Ben's brother and his cute wife Ashton. (8/8)

Seth-Ben's brother and his darling wife Kim. (5/8)

The Mom, The Dad, The Nana, The Papa...the two that started all of this:)

Back from the their mission in Germany and happy to be home.

Thank you Nana for all the hard work into the reunion, the crafts were so fun.

Ben trying not to get wet?

Ben on unofficial life guard duty.

I love this picture this is all the grandkids in order of birth it is fun to see them all lined up together. Even the 10 month old and the 7 day old at the end.....LOVE!!!!

Baby Tayson and some very novice newborn pics.

Such a sweet, mellow, beautiful baby boy..congrats Gary and Allie!!

We had so much fun, it was sad for it to end. The next reunion is being held by Ben and myself here in Utah? Question mark for the possibility of Target Canada in two years? After seeing these beautiful places, Kelowna, Vernon, Winfield, Peachland, Penticton, and many more it wouldn't be hard to move, it would be hard to leave a lot I love behind...

Mother of the Year

 The other day when I was in bed feeling horrible, Kessler wanted a snack and out of complete misery and wanting him to stop asking me, I gave him this bag of chips, he has been carrying it around with him on and off for the last four days and I am happy to say it is almost gone.

A as in Alpha.....

B as in Bravo
C as in Charlie
D as in Delta.......

P as in Pneumonia...
Yep, day three in bed and finally can say more than a sentence with out coughing, and day 1.5 on medicine and am so thankful for it.
I didn't go to church on Sunday because Bauer had a fever and was throwing up Saturday night, and by Sunday afternoon I was down and out. Tuesday I went to the doctor, I knew this wasn't just a 'Cold'. I can't remember feeling this way in a long time and can't wait until tomorrow knowing the medication is doing it's job and look forward to doing the things that I don't like doing...it's a good lesson going through the daily grind everyday, cleaning, sweeping, folding...etc and then feeling so horrible you wish it would go away so you could get up, clean, sweep, fold.

I would post a picture but it aint' a pretty sight.....the positive I did take a shower today and brush my teeth:)

SUMMA!

 There is no question it has been a "cool" summer here in Utah. I was watching the news the other day and they said by this time in the summer St. George, UT has had at least 60+ days over 100 degrees and to that day they had only reached 100 16 times. Here is Northern Utah our average temp is usually about 92 degrees and has been in the high 80's. I could get used to this.

It also has been full of thunderstorms and some warm, rainy afternoons.

 Horsing around with the cheese stuff......

 This is our new yard decoration, I can only get away with it for one it was 75% off at Target and that we live in Saratoga Springs.

 We went to the annual Pioneer Commemoration Concert put on by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and guest artists. It was so good and it was fun to take Alivia and her cousin Kyleigh.

Alivia has been very busy lately, she has been still taking guitar this summer and not wanting to practice. She has been staying up late every night, the other night she stayed up until 2:30 and the next day we paid for that dearly. She has a baseball game coming up that her choir gets to sing the national anthem. She is very excited.

She went on a fun activity to Camp Jeremiah Johnson for an activity day afternoon, she was able to shoot with a bow and arrow, make bead necklaces, go to a little store and buy some fun little prizes.

She also has been swimming everyday in the backyard pool, which has been a source of nervousness and  fun for me and the kids. 

Cooper has a serious tan, he has been outside everyday playing and having a great summer, he isn't very excited for school to start and asks me almost everyday when it will be here again...He still asks the craziest questions and still judges a lot of things based on the way they smell....:)

Bauer is still the cautious one, he always wears his swim shirt so he doesn't get sun burned and if he doesn't have one on, he will ask about sunblock and make sure he is careful not to touch it until its dry?

He loves to ride his scooter and we have been trying lately to get him to ride his bike without training wheels but the cautions side of him hasn't helped him much.

Kessler  is still a mamma's boy through and through to the point he won't go to Ben sometimes or will cry and night for me, especially when I am gone. He has liked swimming this year too, but gets cold fast and doesn't last long, he says the funniest things and is such a joy to have around. BTW the mosquito's have been so bad this year, Kessler got a bite on his arm and it swelled up so much and was bright red and hot. He looked like Popeye with a big forearm. 

I have been doing lots of yard work, if there were not so many weeds and morning glory coming out of every nook and cranny in the yard I might have more free time, I also tinted our back windows this year, I should have done that MUCH sooner. We bought some solar/heat blocking tint and put it up, it will do for now. It has made a difference though, so I am glad we did.

I haven't worked that much for the month of July we have had some sickness traveling around these parts, and Bauer, Kessler and myself are the latest victims of this, cough, fever, stomach problems. Bauer threw up at dinner last night and got some on Cooper's arm it was the saddest and funniest thing I had seen in a long time, Cooper our boy that judges everything on the smell about when through the roof last night, when a tiny little drop of it got on him....I WISH I had a video camera, so funny!

I work the next couple nights...boo, I hope the passengers don't mind my hacking cough (I am on antibiotics, and it isn't as bad anymore:) and I also have been packing for our trip up North for the long awaited Family Reunion. This trip will no doubt be the trip I have brought the most stuff ever, even though we will be borrowing blankets, camping chairs and possibly other items for this trip. We even debated driving the whole way......I know .

Ben

Is very busy at work and has been spending lots of time in our garden, we successfully have harvested, peas, onions, potatoes, carrots and made the most delish dinner the other night...a version of tinfoil dinners in the oven with all the fresh ingredients from the garden.

He has gone swimming with the kids a few times and has been busy trying to keep the pool blue and not green.

He has also been spending LOTS of time (more than I prefer) on a game that he is trying to save a world that has been mutated by a radioactive? problem. I do remind him everyday that he is 36, and he just laughs and un-pauses his game:)

July

 Bauer and Cooper have had a summer full of super hero's, they went and saw Green Lantern, Transformers, Cars 2, Kung Fu Panda 2, and are excited for Captain America to come out there latest imagination gig, was they took the black yarn, put it around each other just in case they have to use it like spider man uses his webs? 

Bauer has been into sunglasses lately.

 A mini summer photo shoot, we were out at a park one day and stopped by a familiar place that we had our latest family picture taken at, this time it was a bit warmer and a little too bright.

Hello July

 Our days consist of playing, swimming, playing, swimming...an occasional chore or two.

Dirty faces, Popsicles, ice cream sandwiches, flip flops, friends and family.

 Sparklers are my favorite number. Blurry pictures because of the slow shutter speed (and me holding it and not putting it on a tripod)

25 days until our family reunion, we are so excited:)