Reunion '09

Wow. There are more pictures here than I expected. Bare with me... And I'm pretty much the last one to blog about this, so you can also read about our reunion here, here and here.

We had a really good reunion this year. It was nice to have all of us there together. Some things in our family are changing and it seems that it's becoming harder to get together.

Here's the latest family picture.

The 6 siblings.

All the grandkids.

Too bad I didn't get one of just our family together, but Nichelle took some awesome black & white pictures.

I liked this one of my sisters in black & white, it's so... candid?...

For the most part Boo was uncooperative during pictures, but my dad get one smile out of her.

While camping there was an array of wildlife found. First, a lake full of crawdads. Here's one of the many buckets of catches.

Boo enjoyed picking them up.

They used hot dogs to fish them.

They caught a lizard.

And a water snake. I think the water snake was Boo's favorite. Since coming home she's continued talking about it.

My favorite part of the week/weekend was the other hands around willing to hold Rex. He got passed around quite a bit. Zack was always happy to talk Rex off your hands, it was cute!

Rex took a ride in the new swing, he was just a bit too little, maybe next year he'll enjoy it quite a bit more.

Boo spent the majority of her time in the sandbox. I think we now need a sandbox!

Before Bo left on Sunday to go home, he let me take his truck and take Nichelle and Zack to Harris cave. The cave hadn't changed too much considering I hadn't been there in a few years.

Zack was the first to go in, but after his first trip Nichelle got brave enough to go in with him. Here's the triumphant two upon their return.

Zack found a torn up pair of pants and some shoes down in the cave so he brought them out. He had the bright idea of putting the pants and shoes on and going back to camp to tell everyone that he'd been attacked by a bear. I had to assist him in trying to put the pants on.

The last day (Monday) we were there, Zack helped my dad finish the driveway. The kids helped as well.

Grandpa & Boo workin' together.

The finished product.

Typical Homestead face.

And then it was time to go home. On the way, I passed the Gila Valley Temple site. Although this was a couple weeks ago, they are making lots of progress.

So there's a little bit of everything that transpired during our reunion. Lastly, Zack and Chelle had a good time helping Rex do a little dance. It's funny. Ignore the voices in the background, especially mine, I didn't know they were filming.

The Impostor

Can you tell the difference?

Boo's idea of a "practical" joke!

Pondering

I can't help but wonder what they are both thinking....

I Want a Wagon for my Birthday...

I couple of things I missed in July. Of course, I had my birthday. Yea... not that exciting. Why is it that birthdays are so much less exciting than when we were kids. Anyway, it was a good birthday, mostly because I got 2 parties. We went out to dinner on my birthday and to the store, and by the time we got home from those activities it was time for Boo to go to bed. She had a melt down because we didn't have a party with cake and ice cream. She sobbed for at least 10 minutes about it. We finally agreed to have another party the next day with cake and ice cream. She even helped make the cake.

Her favorite part of helping? Licking the bowl of course!

While up for Rex's blessing Boo got to be the first to ride in Grandpa's new wagon. He built it! Isn't he so talented.

He even took her for the ride himself, he walked her around the block and she had a ball.

She was ready for an even longer ride. Unfortunately, it was hot and she couldn't find anyone willing to play slave for her and pull her around in her carriage.

Conversations of a 3-year old

If I only had a brain... Do-do-do-do-do-do-do

Listening in to her playing with her babies and her Tinkerbell doll:


Boo: Talking to Tinkerbell. Why did you fly into that?

Boo talking for Tinkerbell: I don't know.

Boo: Because you don't have any brains!


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Chemical, Mineral or Animal?

Boo Being silly while my sister and her girls were here


Boo: Do you hear that sound?
Us: What sound? The rain?
Boo: Yeah, it sounds like this *she makes a crackling sound*
Us: Yep, we hear it.
Boo: Yeah it sounds like a Jerk.
Us: Laughing. A Jerk?
Boo: Yeah, a big Jerk!
Us: What exactly is a Jerk?
Boo: It's pink.
Us: What does it look like?
Boo: A flamingo.
Us: What does a Jerk smell like?
Boo: Turkey.


A Jerk: A Pink, Turkey smelling Flamingo. Got it.

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Swirling?

We bought Trix swirls cereal the other day because it was on sale, which ensued this conversation:


Me: How is your cereal?
Boo: It's really good. Are my eyes swirling?
Me: What?
Boo: Are my eyes swirling? *as she opened her eyes as wide as they would go*
Me: I don't know, go ask your dad.
*she walks into the other room to ask Bo*
Boo: He said no.
Me: Well I guess you better finish your cereal then.
Boo: Then do you think they'll be swirling?
Me: Maybe. Probably. Just eat.


She later asked again, which caused an almost exact repeat of the previous conversation including the trip in the other room to ask her dad. Bo finally called into the kitchen "What is she asking me?"

Celebrating

In celebrating Bo finishing his tests... oh did I not blog about that... hmm... nope, I didn't. Slacker.
Well, in Bo's Apprenticeship he has to take a series of tests, 5 every 6 months to be exact. He finally finished his for this 6 months to 2 weeks to spare before his review the first of September. He swears, the next 6 months' tests will be done early to leave time to not stress and relax. We'll see.

Anyway, in celebration of him finishing (with an average score of 87%! Go him!), we decided to BBQ for dinner on Saturday. We are a weird family when it comes to barbecuing, Bo likes steak, I want chicken and Boo has "her steaks" which is hot dogs.

We had an enjoyable evening. A good meal, we watched some movies and relaxed as a family. Rex passed out on his daddy's shoulder before dinner while Bo was grilling.

Boo being silly.

Here we are trying to get them both to smile. Rex would smile but Boo would be looking away then she would look and Rex would be done smiling. And yes, that's a hot dog in her hand.

The picture is a little fuzzy, but at least you can see his cute smile.

And at the end of the night Bo and I both had a kid asleep in our lap. At least the one in my lap was a bit more compact than the one in Bo's. Notice she is holding herself up by standing on his foot. And yes, she's completely asleep.

It was a good night!

Getting them to smile is a chore. Especially at the same time.

But when they do, it's well worth the silly faces and crying that sometimes comes with it.

Timely Predicament

Sundays are always a little wild around our house. The early church just isn't our favorite church time. We find it hard to be on time to church... what am I saying, we just find it hard to be on time to church. We're trying okay. But having two kids has really thrown us for a loop. Rex is especially hard to coordinate making it to church in a timely manner.

This past Sunday I got him dressed and he was fussy (he's always fussy) then set him on the bed so I could finish getting ready. He cried for a minute or two in which I kept plugging him in with the plug (pacifier), I turned to do something and turned back to him to find this.

He just passed out! Isn't he just an angel?... when he sleeps!

*And yes, those are camouflaged sheets... don't be jealous!

And of course when I pull out the camera to take a picture of Rex, Boo has to jump in and request her own photo session.

Just Roll With the Punches

So there was a fight at church today.

I'm not sure it was a fair fight though.

I'll let you decide.

Let me recap.

The first contender, standing only 3' 5" tall weighing-in at 45 lbs, Boo:

Her opponent, made of solid wood, measuring 6' long and weighing... well let just say a lot, the church pew:

Here's how the fight went down.

First there was some name calling, Boo had the upper hand in that round, the pew - well let's call him "Holy Oak" - wasn't as quick witted and vocal as his opponent.

Second round was a little more physical. "Holy Oak" threw the first punch, but Boo wasn't phased by the attack.

The third round is where it ended. One quick move and a slip of the hand and Boo took a hit to the face. With a loud crack, her face meeting the edge of the pew, it was all over.

Then the screams began.

With one black eye later; "Holy Oak" won this round. But Boo will be back with a vengeance next time with hopefully better balance.

**She was messing around during church, lost her grip on the bench in front of us and smacked her face into the pew. We happened to be sitting with Jake and Sally, and both Jake and Bo were laughing, with her screaming and all. Sally and I were less than impressed. Boys!