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! 

It has been a while since I have posted anything.  So to catch up on our doings this summer here are pictures.

On May 21st we took the kids for a walk and picnic by the Logan River. 

 For Les' birthday I made him a cake with inspiration from mint chocolate (one of his favorite ice creams).  There are mint chocolate chips in the cake and mint candy on top.

 My brother Daniel blessed his newest edition on June 5th.

On June 6th we went to Liberty park in Salt Lake.  The girls fed the birds . . .

 and played in the water.

 Sammi started throwing a tantrum when water playing was just beginning so she didn't get to participate.

 Here is Les in his new suit and when we went to see the very pink "Pink Heals" firetruck.

 We have done many things at home too!  Here we are playing with sidewalk chalk.

 We ride our bikes everyday!

 Here are the hats we got to decorate at Texas Roadhouse when Les took us there for my birthday!

 We also had swimming lessons from June 20th - 30th and July 5th - 15th (today).  Here is Khloe doing Alligator Crawls.

 This is Emma practicing her kicks.

Last of all Samantha jumping off the side of the pool (yes on purpose).

We went out to the Basin for the 4th of July but that weekend requires a post of its own.  So that is our update for the last little while.  Oh I should share a funny story.  Les had taken the girls to the store when they saw a big van full of kids.  Les said, "Look at all the kids in that van."  Emma replied with, "I bet they had to go to the hospital a whole bunches of times to get all those kids!"  Les told her that they could be babysitting some of them.  Emma said, "I don't know Daddy, some people have lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of kids!"  It made Les laugh so he called to tell me so then I laughed too!  I hope you enjoyed it.

Bear Lake 2010

Carolyn invited us to go to Bear Lake with them.  It was great!  The girls loved playing in the sand and water.  Then Emma decided she would like to go for a ride in Uncle Ted's boat.  Then Khole wanted to go.  Sammi couldn't be left out so she wanted to go.  In the end Les even had to go cause there was no way I was taking all three by myself.  I think they all enjoyed it even if Sammi cried through most of it.  Thanks Ted, Carolyn and fam.  We had a wonderful time.  Thank you for inviting us.

 

 

 

  

 

That is my brother-in-law's boat in the background.

 

Sammi giving me a dirty (more ways than one) look.  Our newest niece Chrislyn asleep in her mother's arms.

July = Swimming Lessons

I enrolled the girl's in swimming lessons for the entire month of July!  It started out slow but by the end the kids were having fun and looking forward to their lessons.  The first session of the month Emma was in the Preschool A class with her cousin Kailey.  When my brother and his family moved into their new home (during the second session) she was really sad that she would be alone in her class (not really cause there were other kids).  Samantha and Khole were in the Water Babies class.  One problem is that each child needs an adult to swim with them.  Two kids, one me.  Big problem.  Then my sister-in-law Jana stepped up and took the class with us so I could put them both in.  Then Les' cousin Sydnie came up to stay with us.  She was such a big help.  Not only did she help me with swimming lessons but she also helped when we moved (that is another story).  The bad part is that I didn't get any pics when she was there to help.

Each child inproved a lot during the lessons.  Emma only wanted to hang on to the instructor in the beginning.  Midway through the month she was holding onto the wall, walking across the pool, and many other things all by herself.  She would tell me each day that she had done it all by herself.  We were both proud.  Khole was a little unsure of the water.  By the end she was ok with being dunked, doing bunny hops on her own, and doing great alligator crawls.  Sammi was just plain difficult.  She started crying when I got her ready each morning and continued through the lessons.  By the second session she loved bunny hops, tried to run through the water to get away from me so she could do her own thing, and didn't cry when she got dunked.  Over all I feel it was successful.