Celebrations with Family and Friends

 Celebrations and fun with family and friends was how we spent the final days of July.

Having a visit from cousins was a special treat on July 18. 

Their fathers are brothers of my mother.

[left]:  Annette Peterson Grant (Alton is her father)

[right]:  Bobbe Peterson Trommlitz (Edwin is her father) 

Bobbe and Ron Trommlitz

from St. Helens, Oregon.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Todd's mother and sister were visiting from Michigan, and a river rafting outing was planned for July 19th on the Green River in Utah with Todd's family and others.  Beth invited Sam and me to go with them, and we had a good time.

 Rebecca and Gramma Narene

rafting on the Green River in Utah.

Grampa Sam proved to be a good rower 

of the 8-person raft.

Most of the time the water was relatively smooth,

but there were half a dozen or so rapids

that brought some thrills. 

It was a hot day, and some of the group

liked getting in the water to cool off.

Megan and Amanda 

enjoyed being with their cousin from Michigan,

Rachel Bloomfield.

Ethan and Joshua with Rachel 

take a turn paddling down the river on the paddle board.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

We were pleased to have Blake and Niki and girls here to celebrate the 24th of July and Spanish Fork Fiesta Days with us again this year.  The hometown parade differs considerably from the Rose Parade they attend on a regular basis, but they seemed to appreciate the up close and personal experience of our community's festivities.  Last year, the highlight of the parade featured Helaman's 2,000+ Strippling Warriors marching to We'll Bring the World His Truth (Army of Helaman).  Beth's Jared was one of the warriors.  It was a nice parade again this year.  Ethan's championship baseball team rode on one of the floats.

Watching the Spanish Fork Fiesta Days parade.

[back:] Amanda and Megan (Beth and Todd's twins);

[front]: Ashley and Holly Hyer (Blake and Niki's twins) 

Ethan's championship baseball team rode on one of the floats.

(Ethan responding with outstretched arms.) 

A happy wave from Ethan as the float passed by 

where we were sitting.

After finishing their season with the best record

and then winning the city league championship,

Ethan's baseball team were guests of the Orem Owlz baseball team,

July 31st.  

Prior to the game, each player on Ethan's team was introduced and

accompanied onto the field the Owlz player who played the same position.

Ethan was paired with the shortstop. 

The Owlz lost 6-5 to the Ogden Raptors

in the 10th inning.

The Orem Owlz is a rookie league affiliate of the

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and is Utah County's only

affiliated professional sports team.

 After the parade on July 24th,

we walked through the midway at the carnival.

Blake, Niki, Holly, and Ashley 

had a ride on the ferris wheel while

Sam and I looked at the booths with their

crafts and exhibits.

[top seat]:  Blake and Ashley;

[below]:  Holly and Niki

Holly and Ashley throw darts and

win a little prize.

Holly cooling off in the pool.

 Ashley's dive is on target.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

We attended the wedding reception for Jaden and Ashley Allen on July 25th in South Jordan.  It was good to be there to congratulate the newly married couple and to see Jaden's parents, our dear friends from South Dakota, Roger and Michelle Allen.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

We appreciated being invited to the piano recital

of Mitchel, Dave and Kayleen's son,

on Saturday, July 26, in Orem.

Dave is my brother's son.

The first half of the program were classical numbers 

ending with George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue.

The second half were hymns, one arranged by Mitchel

and the others arranged by his instructor, David Glen Hatch.

The next day, Sunday, the 27th, we attended David and Kayleen's

ward in Provo to hear Mitchel speak in sacrament meeting.

He has been called to serve a mission in the Oakland/San Francisco Mission,

and he entered the MTC on the following Wednesday.

After the meeting, Dave and Kayleen hosted friends and family

at a luncheon in the park near the church.

Kristin, Rachelle, Jarrett, and Mckay Nelson (Dave and Kayleen's)
and Holly and Ashley Hyer (Blake and Niki's)
at the luncheon in the park after sacrament meeting
with Mitchel's family and friends.
 

Narene, Sam, Kayleen, Kristin, Rachelle,

Blake, Niki, and David;

[in front] Mckay, Jarrott, Holly and Ashley]

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

 We have had a number of swim parties at our place this month.

This one is a birthday party for the six-year-old son

of Randy and Janalyn Clegg, members of our ward.

The children had a good time, 

and so did we.

We used to enjoy the beautiful sunsets in South Dakota,

and we continue to see some nice ones from our home in Utah.

Blake Hyer took this picture when he was here.

Our Family Reunion in Spanish Fork

In June, our home in Spanish Fork had its debut as a fun place to hold our family reunions.  From Sunday evening, June 23, through the official end of the reunion on Thursday afternoon, June 27, we had 55 people sharing in all or part of the activities.

Our family by the marriage tree

in our backyard in Spanish Fork.

[Todd and Beth, Tauna and Brent, Kristine and Scott,

Sam and Narene

Marla and Curtis, Ryan (Tani was in the hospital),

Rochelle and Jeff, and Shannon and Doug]

We missed having Seth who could not get time off from his summer job, Sam who was at a wrestling tournament in Florida, and Trent who is serving a church mission in Australia.  We also were sad that Tani could not attend having had two back surgeries just prior to the reunion, but she received visits from family members during the reunion.

Doug and Shannon did a wonderful job of planning the reunion; and in the tradition of former reunions, this one was also a big success.  Jeff and Rochelle had the farthest to come, traveling from Arkansas.  Brent's family and Marla's family came from South Dakota, and Scott's family came from Denver.  The rest of our family members live in Utah.

The "Grandma and Grandpa Game."

Sunday, after our evening meal featuring pulled pork sandwiches,

we gathered at the pergola.

Family members were grouped into teams from younger to older.

The youngest got simple questions,

but some of the older grandchildren and even their parents

learned some new things about us they hadn't known before.

After the game, Judd and Trevor served ice cream sundaes.

Having fun at Get Air Hangtime,

a huge trampoline recreational facility.

This activity followed our traditional reunion family photo

shoot (to be posted at a later time) and

a snack at Pioneer Park.

Here are a few of the photos taken at

the trampoline place:

 Kate flying high.

Scott and Ethan watching
Brent and Matt
trying to be "king of the mountain"
using their wrestling tactics.

Kyle going up and over 
while Trevor, Derek, Doug, and Ethan watch;

and Judd ready to give a hand if needed.



 Mason would like to get in the action.

It was fun for all ages.

(Doug with Mason and Isaac)

At 3:00 p.m., we returned to our place
for water games that Ryan organized
and for swimming.

 
Ryan explaining the rules for a water game.
One competion involved diving down to see who
could recover the most rings.


 
 A water game version of baseball.
(Brady and Joshua) 

Of course, the bases are filled with water 

when you are playing water games. 

(Ethan helping Rebecca run the bases.)

Family Home Evening activity

at the fire pit.

(Isaac, Sam, Austin, and Joshua)

Marla led us in singing the Hello Song.
We kept adding another name until 
everyone's name was sung.

She shared an article about the importance
of families growing up knowing stories and
information about their parents and grandparents.



 Kyle with his fiancee, Koryn.



We were happy Kevin and Lauri Hyer joined us.
(Marla, Lauri, and Kevin).

Marshmallows were roasted on the fire pit for
S'mores.  The rest of the evening was spent visiting,
and some went inside to the sport court 
to play family-style wally-ball.

Hot Pots in Spanish Fork Canyon.
We hiked the trail along the
Diamond Forks River to the Hot Pots,
which are natural warm/hot springs.
The hike is approximately two and half miles each way.
(Tuesday morning, June 24)

Marisa, Rebecca, and Haley

 A waterfall brings cold water into the hot pots.
(Brady, Scott, and Jacob)

 One of the first ones to leave the hot pots,
we took a side trail and waited for
the others to catch up.
(Sam and Narene)

Ready to leave the Hot Pots:
Megan, Beth, Todd with Rebecca,
Joshua, and Amanda.
Others behind are preparing for the hike
back to our cars.

After the hike, some of the grandchildren
 waiting at the bottom of the trail
in the Three Forks parking lot.
(Brynlee, Joshua, Jamon, Jacob, Ethan,
Austin, Zack, Weston, 
Megan, Rebecca, Amanda)

 Jeff was in charge of setting up the obstacle course.
Here he is probably on the winning run;
but, unfortunately, he lost his footing
while he was crossing the seating in the fire pit area
due to his feet being slick from the wet lawn.
(Tuesday afternoon)

Going through the ball was a challenge
for the bigger competitors
and finally had to be replaced with chairs.
(Curtis helping.) 



The obstacle course involved going over,
going under, going through, zigzagging, climbing,
and running.

(Jared jumps over as Sam steadies the obstacle.)

 Brady is timing Ethan's progress.
 Among the younger boys, Zack was the winner.
Jamon's time was next, with Ethan's very close.

Trevor took the honors with the fastest time,

and Brady and Doug were close contenders.

Haley nearing the finish line with a good run.

Among the ladies, Rochelle had the best time,
followed by Rachel and Shannon.

The Irelands enjoy their competition!

 

Scott was the emcee for the talent show

Tuesday evening.

Here he is introducing the next act,

which involved Brittney, Judd, and Sarah

demonstrating their imitation of animal noises.

 The talent show began in the family room

to have access to the piano.

Maggie is accompanying the trio with

Haley and Maren singing "The Chain."

Piano numbers were played by Ethan,

by Brynlee, and by Jacob.

 The talent show continued in the backyard.

Miles and Mason are on center stage! 

 Jenna and Shannon

sang Such Great Heights,

and Shannon also sang a solo

of I Will Always Love You.

Shannon, Rachel, Maren, and Jenna

sang a cute song accompanied 
by shuffling cups around.

 

 Kate and Rebecca did a dance,

and Kate also showed us the

dance number she had done for a recital.

 Brynlee sang a song in Chinese,

a language she is learning in school.

 Curtis, Ethan, and Ryan

showing their skill in catching

M&Ms in their mouths thrown high in the air.

The jugglers, Doug and Brent.


 

 With Anna on his lap and
imitating Grover from Sesame Street,
Derek read
There is a Monster at the End of This Book
while Sarah held the microphone.

 

Changing the pace,

Jamon

recited a scripture he has memorized.

Carson doing flips on the trampoline.

Jacob and Austin also

demonstrated their skill on the trampoline.

Showing their unique "bear crawl"

are Zack, Jeff, Austin, and Jamon.

Jeff and Zack also showed us how

they can walk on their hands

with their feet in the air.

Mason appears to like the song

that Matt is singing, which

he learned on his mission.

Following the talent show, Todd set up the

screen for the outdoor movie,

George of the Jungle,

ending the evening with a movie and popcorn.

The next evening, the movie was Megamind.

The games Wednesday morning were

organized by Brent

and included volleyball in the backyard.

 Doug serving the ball.

 Indoor games included dodge ball
and walley-ball. 

Outdoor games included 

corn hole (Jeff and Ryan, right)

and

horseshoes (Sam and Doug, left).

Curtis and Ethan playing corn hole.

Playing bocci.

(Sam, Doug, and Joshua)

Rebecca riding the horse swing.

Craft time making fuzzy spider mobiles.

(Maren, Ethan, Amanda, Megan, Shannon, and Rachel)

Lunch time.

Thursday afternoon, Beth had arranged for

four blowups for Joshua's birthday, which

was actually on Sunday.

The bungee run provided another

opportunity for a competition

to see who could get their "mark" the farthest.

(Doug and Jeff)

The obstacle run that ended in a slide.

Doug and Jeff coming down the slide.

Shannon and Amanda

ready to try the sumo wrestler blowup.

Jeff and Doug have had a lot of wrestling

matches, but never as sumo wrestlers!

We had fun celebrating Joshua's 8th birthday
with a cake on Sunday and with a party on Thursday.

Pool time was always a favorite.

Jamon and Ethan

riding on Matt and Derek's shoulders.

Zack and Weston get a turn.

Anna is quite content in the water.

Relaxing in the pool.
Now in several sections, the big ball continues to be enjoyed.

(Marisa, Brittney, Sarah, Jenna, Maren with Anna,

Haley, and Maggie)

Rachel and Jared in the pool;
Shannon coming down the slide.

 Jacob, Joshua, Weston, and Zack in the water;
Brynlee is on the slide.

Rebecca, Isaac, and Kate have fun in

the wading pool as well as the swimming pool.

  

Kate with Brent and Tauna

Grandma Kristine with Monty

Rochelle and Kate

Maggie enjoys being Anna's aunt.

Monty and Anna will grow up enjoying being "cousins"

like their moms, Brittney and Sarah, have.

Monty needs a bigger truck.

Kate and Rebecca having fun in the playroom.

I played with this cupboard when I was a little girl.

It was made by my dad.

Miles found some animals and cars

in the playroom.

Ready for bed after a fun day.

(Rebecca and Kate)

Saying goodbye to the horses and mule.

(Brittney, Monty, Rebecca with Amanda, Joshua,

Megan, Haley, and Maren)

It has been a fun reunion being with cousins.

(Zack and Weston)

It was nice to have a visit from Barbie and Roy.

They just missed being here for our reunion by

a couple of days.

(June 29)