Family Reunion and My Birthday

The weekend of the 7th-10th of June we travelled out to Myton for the Richens Reunion.  I went out early enough to go to a Relief Society Activity with my mom (Hey I lived in that ward for just short of 2 months).  It was called "how to be an 8 cow wife."  Mom requested that I bring my 8 cow necklace that Les gave me a few months ago.

On to the Family Reunion.  For the past few years we have been having the reunion at the old family farm.  Not the happiest place on earth but I must say it has gotten a whole lot better.  There is actually grass there now.  Also now that we have the reunion in June rather than the end of July or first of August it is a lot cooler there.  My grandfather's family was in charge this year.  Here are pictures of some of the things we did while we were there.

Mom set up and ran the "Space Derby."  Everyone had a great time racing the planes.  She was kept really busy.

 You can't tell but that is Emma going down the water slide.  She waited along time to be able to go down.  She went down twice and then was done.  She was COLD!

 This is Khloe going down the water slide.  She had wanted to go down as much as Emma but then almost didn't go.  She kept giving me this look of torture as she approached it.  I finally told her that she didn't have to go down at all.  That apparently made up her mind.  So she went down once and only once.

 Les in line waiting for lunch.

 Jacob chillin out at his first reunion with his dad.

 The kids loved this little bounce house.  By the time I got this picture . . . .

 Sammi was out cold in Grandma's arms.

The three girls on a swing.

Then for my birthday it was a day devoted to me.  Les made me breakfast in bed.  We ran a few errands.  Then we got ready for what I really wanted to do . . .

SWIMMING!!!

 Les worked with the girls on their back floats,

Getting them comfortable on their bellies,

                                                

 and on kicking their legs to move through the water.

 Part of our group playing together in the water.

Les wanted to get something nice for me.  He started out looking at getting me another telephoto lens.  I talked him into getting me this instead . . . .

 A camera bag that will hold my camera and all my lenses. Look at all that space!  I love it!

 The inner part comes out so I can just take the part holding my camera and lenses.

I had originally wanted a much smaller bag.  This one is the size of a regular backpack.  I decided on this one because I can carry my laptop in the back.  How sweet is that!

Later that night we played singstar on the PS3.  I love that game.  Mostly when I get to watch others battle it out.  I had a great birthday and I got to spend it with people I love.  Who could ask for anything more than that.

My next post will be about today - - - Father's Day! 

From Princesses to Baseball?

I have one of the most beautiful girls on the planet.  I'm not just talking about her outside appearances.  She is beautiful on the inside too.  Yes, I am talking about my Emma.  She was quite young when I realized she had a tender heart.  She worries for her family and tries her hardest to take care of us.  I tried my hardest to make her a tomboy.  All efforts toward that were an utter waste of effort.  My dear child had plans of her own.  She likes anything pink and girly.  Yes that does include Princesses.  Specifically, Cinderella.  In fact, Emma has cried over knowledge that her "yellow" (you know Cinderella colored hair) would one day turn brown like her parents.  She seems so trumatized over it that I dare not mention that her eyes are starting to get some green into those bright blue pools.  That might be more than she can handle.

Despite all of the above Les and I want her to experience as many things as she can.  So one day when Les was out running errands he stopped to sign the girls up for swimming lessons he found out she was old enough to be signed up for TeeBall as well.  When she found out about it she got so excited!  I did have to explain a little bit for her to understand what I was talking about.  Fortunately, she has been to several games for a few of her male cousins so that helped her understand.  I think she is mostly excited about doing something they have been doing.  Whichever the case I will take it.  Les too is excited.  He immediately went to a sporting goods store with her to buy a Tee, a ball, a mitt (pink), and a bat.  Later, he took her to get some clothing just for her games.  Here are pictures of her all ready to play.

 Her first game was on the 7th.  I wasn't able to go to it.  It killed me.  It killed her too.  Before I missed her game I promised that I would be to all the other games she would have.  She plays on Tuesdays and Thursdays every week in June.  Here are pictures Les took while I was gone.

 Ready for the game!

 Sitting with her teammates.

 Up to bat (yes this is as close as my camera could zoom in on her)

 Running to home plate.

For her second game I made sure I had my telephoto lens so I could get some better pictures.

 Here she is learning to step then throw.

 Connecting with the ball.

 Running the bases.

Ready to catch a ball.

Many things Jacob

So I really need to get back to doing posts more often.  I have so much to post about and I will need more than one to cover it all.
So on to Jacob.  He is so adorable!  We love having him in our family.  My sisters threw a baby shower for me just after Jacob turned 2 weeks old.  It was great!  Carolyn had a bunch of plain onesies and a bunch of iron on stuff.  Those who attended got to design a onesie for Jacob to wear.  They all turned out so cute. 

 My sister made these shirts for each of my girls. The shirts say "Team Jacob" with a picture of him in the o of his name.
Then I took pictures of the little man when he turned 1 month old.

 Here he is with Emma.

 Here he is with Khloe.

 Here he is with Samantha.

 All the girls with their brother celebrating having him in our family for 1 month.

We blessed Jacob on the 10th of June.  We had quite a bit of family come out to support us.  It was a fantastic day.

 The hundsome boy in his blessing outfit.

 The excited parents with the blessing boy.

 Our little family.

Here is a picture of my pirate Jake!