Joy in the Journey: Utah trip 2013....

We made the 17 hr drive out to UT June 22-July 6, 2013 for some much needed family time. We got 2 weeks of nothing but cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents and it was the BEST!!

We started off in Orem for a reunion of sorts, with my side of the family. We rented a cabin up Ogden Canyon in a beautiful little town called Eden. Appropriately named, it was so heavenly, cool, clean, and perfect.

My Brother and his wife were in charge this year, so this is all the nieces and nephew giving thank you hugs for the treasure hunt they just went on.

Bryce and good pal and cousin Eli.

Our family reunions have always included golf carts, so entertaining for everyone. These kids couldn't get enough, and Grandpa was so kind to always ablige.

Trying to get a family picture....

Leah and cousin Brooklyn

cousin Chelece and Katelyn

Cousins Felicity and Joseph

My favorite part of get togethers are the cousin relationships. I had great cousins growing up that were my best friends and I am so thankful that my kids can experience that too.

Brooklyn, Leah and princess Gwenna

All the rowdies.....

(front to back)

Isaac, Felicity, Joseph, Gwenna, Sydney, Bryce, Elijah,

Katelyn, Leah, Ephraim, Brooklyn and Chelece

We have had 2 new babies born since this picture and 2 more on the way. We are rapidly growing!!

My mother is a gem!! Since she doesn't get to be with a lot of her grandkids on holidays and birthdays we always have a big ol' birthday bash for all of the kids at our reunions and this year she even decided to have an Easter Egg hunt. Next year she'll probably want us to dress up and go trick or treating in July too. ;) The kids are in HEAVEN when Honey is around. (my mom's pet name by the grandkids)

Isaac and one of Papa's chickens.

This kid was hilarious with the chickens this year. He loved holding it like a baby, and the poor chicken just let him. I'm surprised he didn't get his eye pecked. The kids are much more brave than me with those stinky chickens.

Sydney was so proud that she is almost as tall as Great Grandma Homer!! I'm just happy she is still around for us to visit. I love this woman so much and I am the person I am today because of her. She is everything good you could want in a grandma. She is sweet with a little spice and so very spunky. I love that my children are getting to know her too.

Bryce man with some nasty snails.

Bryce sleeping with his new treasures. The kids got prizes from Honey through out the week. He got a package of bandaids, a net and goggles. Who knew someone could be so thrilled with bandaids...

Tree climbers

4 generation picture

After a week of fun in Orem we headed down south to Parowan to visit Steve's side of the family.
Steve and I went to a play at SUU during their Shakespeare festival. This is us goofing off in the gift shop. I love dating my husband again, now that school is over we actually get to go out more often.

Our awesome, beautiful niece Tasha is a paramedic and rides in the ambulance. The kids were so proud of her as they got to tour the ambulance.

We took a day to drive around Cedar Breaks and then to Bryce's name sake....

Bryce Canyon. It is so beautiful up there and we had a very exhausting day, driving and hiking. Not to mention by this point I was feeling a little morning sickness.

While in N. UT we found out we were expecting #5.

Bryce Canyon

We celebrated the 4th of July at Yankee Meadow with Grandma and Grandpa, Steph, Lance and girls, Rob, Nisa, and Casey and Emily. Grandpa brought this awesome raft that entertained the kids for hours. Bryce and Steve of course fished, we ate delicious dutch oven made by Steve, and I just sat in the cool shade watching my kids have fun chatting with the adults.

I did go out on the raft with Katelyn, she was in charge this trip. After many circles on the lake I did have to paddle to get us back to shore.