Held at the CherryHill Campground in Kaysville, Utah; mom and dad had reserved 3 campsites
July 23
We all arrived at various times of the day and set up our tents
Mom and dad were first to arrive - they set up an area for the preparing and cooking of meals, an area for gathering and visiting, and several picnic tables lined up for eating and playing games.
Greg and Nancy were last to arrive because they had the farthest to drive.
July 24
We packed lunches after breakfast and drove into Salt Lake where we spent most of the day at the Hogle Zoo. We were able to watch the bird show, visit the Madagascar display, and ride the train. Before we left we made sure each grandchild got a small gift from the gift shop. Very little sleep was had by all due to the thunderstorm, but it sure cooled things off.
July 25
After breakfast everybody put on their swimsuits and headed for the water park, miniature golf, and the many other activities at the campground. Every one of the grandchildren got wore out and fell asleep as soon as their little heads hit their pillows that night.
July 26
Packed up camp and went our separate ways.
________________________________
We had so much fun! This was only the second time we have taken the kids camping (we borrowed a tent from Brian's parents). To see our family crammed into Brian's little car with all of our camping gear crammed in the trunk and around our feet was quite a sight. We took Brian's car because it has air conditioning. Brian and I both decided we would rather listen to the children complain about being squished than sweating to death, but to our surprise there was very little complaining.
At the zoo, the boys ran all over! They wanted to see everything as fast as they could. We had to keep reminding them that we had all day and that they needed to slow down. Parker couldn't wait to see the penguins and polar bear, but the polar bear died a couple years ago and they have not replaced it yet. Kaelee enjoyed watching the little monkeys jumping and swinging around their trees, she also got a kick out of watching the pelicans. Briton seemed to enjoy everything.
I think the kids enjoyed the water park the most. Briton wanted to go down all of the water slides and pulled Brian along with him. They really enjoyed the father-son time they were able to spend together. While waiting in line at one of the slides Briton turned to Brian and said 'I love you dad, this is the best day ever'! I stayed around the kiddie area with Parker and Kaelee. Parker loved playing pirate and climbing on the pirate ship. He ran everywhere and splashed everyone. Kaelee took some time getting used to the water. It wasn't any deeper than her bathtub water is, but there was so much more! She finally started splashing and pushing me onto my back, climbimg on top of me, and pretending to wash my hair like I do with her in the bathtub. It was fun and I enjoyed it too.
We played miniature golf as a family. Watching the kids play was the funnest part. Briton kept holding the club backwards, Parker got tired of all the swinging and missing so he finally started throwing the ball down the fareway, and Kaelee kept chasing the balls and bringing them back to you when they reached the green. Needless to say, we didn't keep score!
Briton tried climbing the rock wall and made it about halfway up! Brian and Briton both played aeroball; Brian played against dad, Thayne, and Andrea and Briton played against Ben and a couple other campers. Greg and Brett spent a lot of time at the batting cages and Briton asked Brian if he could watch him hit a few balls.
The time we were able to spend together as a family was enjoyed by everyone! It was fun getting to know each other all over again and watching the cousins play together like they have never been apart. I think mom and dad got to spend a little bit of time with each of the grandkids too and they loved it!
When I asked the boys what they remeber most about the family reunion, here is what they said:
Briton - going down the waterslides with my dad and playing games with my cousins
Parker - playing games with my cousins
I am thankful that I was able to gather with my brothers and sisters and their families and that we were able to pick up right where we left off, as if the time we spent apart and the distance between us was not a factor. I am grateful for the bond that our children have with each other and for the way they are able to play together so well. The big kids even made sure they included the little ones in their games! I look forward to the next family reunion.
Thank you to each of my family members and I love you all!
(I would like copies of any pictures you took over the weekend and I will send you what I took.)
July 29, 2009
July 07, 2009
Kaelee's kitties
Kaelee loves kitties so we got a couple for her for her birthday.The gray one we named 'Cinderella' and the black one we named 'Tinkerbell'.
She carried them around by their necks and had scratches all over her arms for several weeks. We figured maybe she'd learn not to carry them around that way, but instead the kittens gave in and just let her do whatever she wanted to them. Unfortunately, they ran away after we had been living in Jerome for only a week. I don't think she really remembers ever having them.
Jerome Sweet Home
As promised . . . pictures of my home!
We moved into this home in Jerome mid-June. Brian began his electric apprenticeship with the union at this time. He is helping build the St Luke's Hospital in Twin Falls. The job is not all he was hoping it would be, but it has gotten us closer to family, which is where we want to be. I am still sekking employment and have decided to post fliers and put an ad in the newspaper to open a small (2-3 child) daycare in my home. I have really enjoyed the time I have been able to spend with my children.
Briton has been adjusting well and has several girls coming over to play everyday (I think they think he's cute). Parker is doing amazingly well; I continue to see improvement with him everyday. Kaelee is just fine as long as she has mommy; every time I turn around she is right there!
We have a wonderful ward and have never been welcomed so openly and with so much love before!!! The kids have even adjusted to Primary after only a couple weeks!
This move has been a blessing for us and I really, really, REALLY hope we are here to stay for awhile.
June 22, 2009
Coming Soon . . .
I will be posting pictures of the house we are currently in in Jerome. I still have a few more boxes to unpack or put into storage.
June 11, 2009
A family amid uncertain times
After taking some time out of my much needed cleaning time to "catch up" on the latest news from my family members' blogs, I realized just how much I take my blog for granted. What a great way for me to keep a journal, of sorts, for my children.
Brian and I were married almost 8 years ago in the Logan, Utah LDS Temple. I have always loved the Logan temple because it looks like a castle; I always wanted to be a princess and I knew that this was one way I could truly feel like one! Brian was my prince in a black tuxedo and although he no longer wears his tux, he is still, and will forever be, my prince.
We started our lives together in a tiny one bedroom apartment in Pocatello where he went to ISU's Tech College studying Electrical Technology and I worked at the Pocatello Womens Correctional Center. Upon Brian's completion of his schooling he landed a job with the City of Burley and with me being 4 months pregnant we moved to a very small two bedroom home in Heyburn. It was here that our first child was born.
I have told my son this story several times and he loves to hear me repeat it often: When I first found out that I was pregnant, I knew I was going to have a little boy. In fact, I wore a blue sweater to work that day and made sure everybody knew I was having a little boy. And not just any little boy; a little boy with blond hair and blue/grey eyes! When it came time for the ultrasound I agreed to find out the sex of this little body growing inside of me, although I really didn't need to know. Briton Craig Blauer was born October 7, 2002. Only my wedding day brought as much joy to me as seeing this beautiful little boy swaddled in my arms!
During the time that Brian worked for the City of Burley, we lived in three different homes and welcomed our second child. Parker Cole Blauer was born December 17, 2004. He is my miracle baby. I know his story may be small and insignificant compared to some, but he is my miracle.
Parker had a very difficult time coming into this world. He was not breathing and his blueness had me freaking out! The nurses took him away immediately and all I could ask Brian was if my baby was going to be okay. He couldn't give me a definite answer because he was wondering the same thing himself. Parker had fluid on his lungs and was having a lot of trouble breathing; he had to wear a special plastic "collar" and I was unable to hold him for the first few days of his life. Brian, Scott (his brother), and Bri's father gave our little boy a priesthood blessing; they wheeled me into the nursery so I could be there. I remember a feeling of complete comfort and knowing that my son would grow up to be a fun, active, and inspiring little boy!
Brian decided to try his hand at a school in Arizona, so we packed up our belongings and headed off an . . . adventure, to put it mildly. Needless to say Brian did not get into the school and ended up being t-boned by a semi truck on his way to work. Things were not working and if we continued to live where we were, we were not going to be a family much longer. We moved back to Burley where we lived with Brian's parents for a little while until he landed a job with Idaho Power. This job moved our young family to Blackfoot, ID.
We found a three bedroom apartment that was just right for our little family especially since we were expecting our third child by this time. Kaelee Elizabeth Blauer was born May 6, 2007. Kaelee's story is similar to Briton's. I knew the moment I found out I was pregnant that I was going to have a little girl. Brian and I had talked many times about the number of children we wanted; I never wanted a large family and Brian didn't care either way. Knowing this baby I was carrying was a little girl made my life so utterly complete so we decided she was going to be our last. Kaelee is my little angel and my life still feels complete.
Living in Blackfoot has brought some challenges, of which I do not wish to endure ever again! Thus, we have lived in three different places here.
After Brian found out that he was going to be losing his job with Idaho Power, he began looking for something else. It has not been an easy thing for him knowing that he needs to find someting that will be sufficient enough to continue providing for his family. He got on with the Electrical Union where he could do his apprenticeship and get his Journeyman's license. This job has us moving to the Magic Valley. We found a small four bedroom home in Jerome, which is where this new family adventure begins today . . .
I am thankful for all that my Heavenly Father has blessed me with, for the challenges that I have been faced with, and the lessons I have learned from such challenges. I know that I will forever continue to be a work in progress. My greatest hope is that one day my children will look back and say, "My dad and mom are my heroes and I want to be just like them when I grow up!"
Brian and I were married almost 8 years ago in the Logan, Utah LDS Temple. I have always loved the Logan temple because it looks like a castle; I always wanted to be a princess and I knew that this was one way I could truly feel like one! Brian was my prince in a black tuxedo and although he no longer wears his tux, he is still, and will forever be, my prince.
We started our lives together in a tiny one bedroom apartment in Pocatello where he went to ISU's Tech College studying Electrical Technology and I worked at the Pocatello Womens Correctional Center. Upon Brian's completion of his schooling he landed a job with the City of Burley and with me being 4 months pregnant we moved to a very small two bedroom home in Heyburn. It was here that our first child was born.
I have told my son this story several times and he loves to hear me repeat it often: When I first found out that I was pregnant, I knew I was going to have a little boy. In fact, I wore a blue sweater to work that day and made sure everybody knew I was having a little boy. And not just any little boy; a little boy with blond hair and blue/grey eyes! When it came time for the ultrasound I agreed to find out the sex of this little body growing inside of me, although I really didn't need to know. Briton Craig Blauer was born October 7, 2002. Only my wedding day brought as much joy to me as seeing this beautiful little boy swaddled in my arms!
During the time that Brian worked for the City of Burley, we lived in three different homes and welcomed our second child. Parker Cole Blauer was born December 17, 2004. He is my miracle baby. I know his story may be small and insignificant compared to some, but he is my miracle.
Parker had a very difficult time coming into this world. He was not breathing and his blueness had me freaking out! The nurses took him away immediately and all I could ask Brian was if my baby was going to be okay. He couldn't give me a definite answer because he was wondering the same thing himself. Parker had fluid on his lungs and was having a lot of trouble breathing; he had to wear a special plastic "collar" and I was unable to hold him for the first few days of his life. Brian, Scott (his brother), and Bri's father gave our little boy a priesthood blessing; they wheeled me into the nursery so I could be there. I remember a feeling of complete comfort and knowing that my son would grow up to be a fun, active, and inspiring little boy!
Brian decided to try his hand at a school in Arizona, so we packed up our belongings and headed off an . . . adventure, to put it mildly. Needless to say Brian did not get into the school and ended up being t-boned by a semi truck on his way to work. Things were not working and if we continued to live where we were, we were not going to be a family much longer. We moved back to Burley where we lived with Brian's parents for a little while until he landed a job with Idaho Power. This job moved our young family to Blackfoot, ID.
We found a three bedroom apartment that was just right for our little family especially since we were expecting our third child by this time. Kaelee Elizabeth Blauer was born May 6, 2007. Kaelee's story is similar to Briton's. I knew the moment I found out I was pregnant that I was going to have a little girl. Brian and I had talked many times about the number of children we wanted; I never wanted a large family and Brian didn't care either way. Knowing this baby I was carrying was a little girl made my life so utterly complete so we decided she was going to be our last. Kaelee is my little angel and my life still feels complete.
Living in Blackfoot has brought some challenges, of which I do not wish to endure ever again! Thus, we have lived in three different places here.
After Brian found out that he was going to be losing his job with Idaho Power, he began looking for something else. It has not been an easy thing for him knowing that he needs to find someting that will be sufficient enough to continue providing for his family. He got on with the Electrical Union where he could do his apprenticeship and get his Journeyman's license. This job has us moving to the Magic Valley. We found a small four bedroom home in Jerome, which is where this new family adventure begins today . . .
I am thankful for all that my Heavenly Father has blessed me with, for the challenges that I have been faced with, and the lessons I have learned from such challenges. I know that I will forever continue to be a work in progress. My greatest hope is that one day my children will look back and say, "My dad and mom are my heroes and I want to be just like them when I grow up!"
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