Our Trip to Colorado

Every other summer, Nathan's parents make it possible for all of the family to get together for a family reunion. (This was our reunion two years ago and this was it four years ago.)This was our summer to get together and boy howdy, was it wonderful!! The fun began with driving to Ogden to stay the night with my brother Jon and his family. They are always so wonderful for letting us stay with them! Here is a picture of the boys totally zonked out. Sarah had flown to Denver on Monday so she could spend a few days playing with Madoka (the oldest daughter of Tom, who was Nathan's exchange student when they were younger.) and Katie's family.

We saw a lot of this on our nine hour drive through Wyoming.


It was all worth the long drive to be able to spend a week with all of Nathan's family. On the first full day that we were together, we went to the Rec Center to swim.





Later that day, we had a family Renaissance dinner and festivities. This was one of my favorite activities that we did. I think it was because we were all together, we laughed so hard and really enjoyed each other. I think everyone looked amazing!



Being silly!


Grandma gave all the girls masks that Heidi (my sister-in-law) had made. (Check out Heidi's etsy store! She's amazing!!)

Grandpa "knighted" all of the boys and gave them swords and shields. All of the boys were excited to receive their sword, but Levi was thrilled!






Our dinner consisted of each family receiving a platter of food to be shared. We could use a knife and our fingers to eat. We ate delicious roasted chickens, small red potatoes, baby carrots, corn and rolls.


After dinner, Uncle Guy taught the boys how to sword fight. Our boys took this instruction very seriously. Everyone enjoyed the fighting!






Nathan and I had been asked to teach everyone a dance from the Renaissance era. We taught two dances and we all had a fun time! (We didn't end up with great pictures of the dancing because everyone was moving so much - bummer!)





The next day, we drove to Larkspur, CO for The Renaissance Festival.




Here we are walking through the castle gates into the village. We are so excited!

Soon after coming into the "village" we met a minotaur.

We went on a few rides. All of the rides are man-powered. They are pretty cool!



Levi was able to practice his sword fighting skills on a mere merchant.


We rode camels, llamas, horses and elephants.





Everyone enjoyed the delicious authentic food. Andrew said this of his meal of a dill pickle and steak on a stick, "This is my PERFECT meal!"

Somethings were just down right frightening. (They are trying to look scared.)

We all LOVED our day at the Renaissance Fair!


The next day we had a talent show. Sarah and Andrew played the piano. Spencer told jokes. Benjamin danced to "Gold" and Levi danced to "Dynamite". The other cousins showed off their talents as well and it was great for everyone to share and see the talents of others. Our Grandma read the book, The Knight and the Dragon to everyone and then gave each family a copy of the book so that we will remember the fun we had together at the Renaissance Fair.



Later that day we went to a Dinosaur Museum.




The following day, we spent the whole day at Elitch Gardens in downtown Denver. This experience was definitely a favorite among the kids! There were so many fun rides to ride and the lines were short so we could get off and get right back on most rides. Our bigger kids were super brave and went on the really scary rides with all of their cousins.










Benjamin and Grandpa both had their faces painted.

Sarah had an artist draw her.

Spencer spent the afternoon with his cousin Elizabeth and Aunt Katie at the water park inside Elitch.

We watched a pretty cool motorcycle show.

Right before the park closed a bunch of us went on the water rides and got drenched.





We LOVED our day at Elitch Gardens!!!


On our last day of the reunion we went to the Argo Mine in Idaho Springs. I love going places and feeling that I really learned something. That's how we felt when we left Argo Mine. We walked to the end of a mine and saw gold and other minerals.


This is a great picture of the Mill where gold ore was processed.

This is what the inside of the Mill looks like.

At the end of the tour we mined for gold.

Later that same day, the kids stayed at home and had pizza and watched Teen Beach Movie while the adults went to the Heritage Square Music Hall. We had dinner and then watched a play.


As you can see, it was truly an amazing time with family. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for memories that will last us forever! Also, a HUGE thank you to Rob and Katie for being fabulous hostesses, letting us all crash your house, and for giving Nathan and I the perfect vacation! (All of our kids stayed the night at Katie and Rob's while Nathan and I stayed at a hotel. Yes, it was absolutely dreamy!!)

NINE

Spencer wanted to spend his birthday in Provo and spend the day at Seven Peaks. (Again, we didn't take one picture while we were at Seven Peaks. It is a super fun water park and we absolutely love it there!) He was totally spoiled and got many nice presents! He got a rock tumbler, stuffed owl, Bath & Body smelly stuff, lots of crafts, socks, a shirt, gems and mining pans.





Spencer had a friend party at our pool several days after his birthday when we got back into town. He invited the Allen's, Boettcher's, Burket's, Deka's, Alyssa Hansen, Merchant's, and the Ramey's. It was such a fun party and we have such wonderful friends, who all LOVE Spencer!!





When we were in Colorado, we celebrated Spencer's birthday with Keegan's actual birthday. We thought it was SO sweet of Keegan to share his birthday celebration with Spencer. We had a picnic at a park, we played games and then sang Happy Birthday and ate cake! What a fun time!




Spencer is our happy and kind boy! He is a great brother and loves to help his mom in the kitchen! He is very talented in many ways and loves to make crafts! Happy Birthday, Spencer! We love you SO much!!!

July

Right after Sarah's birthday party, we packed up our car and headed south to Provo. We spent almost a week playing with family. Of course, we had to spend another day at the Skating rink since everyone had so much fun the last time.




We spent a day at Trufalga.





Can you tell that this was NOT one of Benjamin's favorite rides?


We also spent a day at Seven Peaks but didn't take any pictures - big bummer! We love going to Seven Peaks, but we have so much fun that we don't remember to take pictures.

On the Fourth of July we woke up early to watch the Provo Parade.



We were thrilled that Jon, Heidi, Palmer and Caleb came and spent the day with us. Ryan's whole family came to watch the parade and BBQ.

Later that night just our family minus Levi went to the BYU Men's soccer game. Andrew bought a BYU soccer ball at the game and afterwards had almost the entire team sign his ball. We had a great time and after the game we stayed and watched the fireworks from the field that we set off in the football stadium.



On our way home from Provo, we stopped in Salt Lake for lunch. We went on a tour at the Beehive House and then had lunch at The Lion House. Afterwards, we walked through the Joseph Smith Building and had our picture taken in the Family Search Center. This was one of my favorite things we did this summer!


Sarah went to Girl's camp for a week and she babysat some more. Andrew worked really long and hard at Ball Manor.

We got TP'd for the first time. It was when Sarah was at Girl's Camp so Andrew was convinced that his friends had done it, but none of them would fess up to it.


We swam A TON and as you can see, it wore some out!

One evening Sarah, Levi and I went for a bike ride and we got drenched in a rain storm. Levi did NOT like the experience!

With all the hard work that Andrew had been doing and all the money he has been making, we decided that he should get a cash card. This is a picture of him getting his card in the mail. He was over-the-top excited!!

We spent an afternoon at the Discovery Center using our passes that we got from our Summer Reading program at the Library.







We had a wonderful month of July!

THIRTEEN

We have a TEENAGER in our family now! I can hardly believe Sarah is 13!! She is beautiful inside and out and is such an amazing young women. Oh, how her family loves her!!
She got completely spoiled on her birthday. She got a new Pottery Barn comforter and sheets, gift card to Home Depot for paint and an IOU from her dad that he will paint her room when she's at girls camp, Bath and Body smelly stuff, earrings and lots of new clothes.


She had a pretty amazing pool party with her friends at the Whitings.

Look at that cake!! That was Sarah's idea and her dad did a beautiful job creating it!

She got so many nice presents from her friends!


Her dad organized plenty of fun pool games.


They were such a fun group of kids! Sarah is ONE lucky girl to be surrounded by such fun friends!


Happy Birthday, Sarah! We love you so much!!!

I couldn't resist. Doesn't he have the cutest legs!!!