Joe's Valley - Labor Day Weekend

Karl and Renae's friends (Lorna and Steve) let us use their "cabin" in Joe's Valley over Labor Day Weekend.  It was so unbelievably nice.  They bought this mobile home and completely refurbished it.  Goldings and I stayed in the house, and Lynn and Sylvia pulled their 5th wheel trailer up there and parked it behind the house.  They had a trailer full with Tyler, Logan, Rachael, Mitch, Kelly, and Dallin.  We started pulling Lynn's boat up with our newly fixed truck, but got to the top of Spanish Fork Canyon and the truck pooped out.  So we switched the boat to Karl's truck and Gordon nursed the truck home and stayed there.  I went on with the rest of the group to Joe's Valley. 

Kelly pulled Lynn's 4-wheelers up to Joe's Valley.  Of course that is the favorite thing to do right off the bat.  Here is Kelly taking Logan for a ride.

Tyler taking Rachael for a ride. (Before the Sheriff stopped him and said that the law says that children under 12 must wear a helmet.)  Ooopppsssyyyyy

They have built this cool fire pit in the front yard. 

Lizzie and Sam on the front porch swing.

This is the view out the front of the house.  Beautiful!  They have a horse shoe pit, sundial, and all kinds of other games to play outside.

Allan's trailer and boat all ready to par-tay!

As soon as we got set up, the first load of boaters took off for the reservoir.  Rachael, Sam, Logan, Tyler, Sylvia, Lynn, Kelly, Dallin, Mitch, and Karl.  Renae, Lizzie, and I stayed behind and rode the 4-wheelers down to the lake.  (My personal favorite thing to do!)

Lizzie rode on back of me.  We stopped on our way to the lake at a little stream that was so pretty.

Lizzie took my picture.

The reservoir was gorgeous.  There were only about 3 other boats on the whole lake.  Carribean blue water and blue, blue skies.  So lovely.

Lizzie and me on the dock.  We just hung out with our feet in the water for the boat to return.

Renae and Lizzie

When the boat came back in, Lynn gave the rest of us a ride.  Here is Kelly with his feeding bag on!  There is something about riding in a boat that calms your nerves and your soul.  Thanks Lynn and Sylvia!

Sylvia's Enchilada dinner on the front porch.

I must have my own 4-wheeler before my life is over . . . . . . so dang fun.

On Sunday we drove over the mountain to Daddy's cabin.  There we found all the Neilsens/Greens/Katie Brown and her two girls.  It was fun to see everyone there.  Here is Lynn, Sylvia, Tim, Renae, Elsa, and Karl standing by the front door. 

How many people can you cram in Daddy's cabin?!?!?!  I think we had 39 in there at once.

They turned Mom and Daddy's room into a "bunk room".  Here is Ellary Green, Ivy Neilsen, Addison Brown, Zoey Green, and Bella Neilsen having fun in the top bunk.

Tim, Brandi, and Elsa out on the deck.  The boys have put on a nice new railing and gate on the deck.

It was such a great weekend.  The only thing that could have made it better is if my family could have been there.  Thanks to Renae and Karl for the facilities, and thanks to Lynn and Sylvia for the toys!

Girls just wanna have fun!! pt 2

We took turns. First I painted jocelyns finger nails orange.

then I painted her toes

then she painted my toes :)

happy artist :D

jocelyn's attempt to take a picture of me

Girls just wanna have fun!! pt1

We decided to make a scrapbook for mommy today :)

all the things that make for a good scrapbook

Picnic up the Canyon with Marlo and Alice

Marlo came to visit Alice in Salt Lake.  Alice arranged to have a picnic up Provo Canyon for all of us to hang out with them and Canyon View Park.  We all brought pot luck lunch and had a great time. It was very windy, but we managed to play on!

We started with a wild game of volleyball.  At times it looked like a Special Ed. volleyball game.  Here is Scott, Marlo, and me.

Annette, Byerly, and Ashley

Jojo just really wanted to join me and Shayla on the volleyball action. 

Joel, Net, and Byerly

Marlo and Gordon in a battle at the net.  Lynn, Scott, and Alice lending support!

Jojo and I decided to go play on the playground for a while.

Gordon's killer serve.

I think Kelly used Alice's face as the net on this great shot.

Tee hee . . . . Shayla's best pose!

Allie Baba and Marlo

Kelly, Mollie, Sylvia, Lynn, and Rachael

Shayla, Lexie, Gordon, Jojo, Gabriel, and Cory (just freshly out of surgery)  They couldn't stay too long because Cory needed to get back to his bed.  I was glad they could come for a little while.

Gabriel enjoying some watermelon

There were 6 of us siblings there at the picnic.  We missed Murlene and Mel!

Then we got a shot of us siblings and our spouses.  Very fun times!

Cute Dakota, Lizzie, and Kailey

Darling Cory Rose

Marlo, Alice, and Mitchell

Deskin, Ahsley, Renae, and Jamie

Cheryl and Marley

After the picnic Logan and Rachael came over to play for a little while.  I just had to get a picture of Gabe and Logan together.  I had to shoot quick because these two little boys don't sit still for very long. 

Rachel, Gabe, and Nate left to go back to Arizona this morning after Rachel and Gabe being here with us for 3 weeks.  They made it home safely leaving our house at about 5:30 a.m.

Back-to-School Family Home Evening

Every year in August on the Sunday before school starts Gordon and I host a back-to-school family home evening for the fam.  We always enjoy it and we hope that everyone in the fam enjoys it also.  I loved this year again.

Before we got started Rachel was helping Renae Skype Amanda and Paulie in Texas so they could "join" us.  Here is Angie, Bella, B.J., Anders, Kailey, Dakota, Gabe's head, Ivy, Jessica, Annette, Renae, and Rachel.

Our three darling daughters, our two fabulous son-in-laws, and our two adorable baby dolls!

How many people can you cram in the Billings living room?  We have 8 little people chairs for the little kids.  It was a fun sight.  The boy in the pink chair ducking is Tyson's nephew Mason Hathaway that came with Chelsea and Tyson.  They were taking him home from Oak City to Ogden so he joined us.

 

Gordon gave a really good lesson including these cool puppets.  It was about being an eagle and not a duck.  I think the kids really liked it.  Gordon also laser engraved some signs for everyone that had to do with the lesson.

After the lesson we had our talent show.  We had Sammy play his violin.  Lily showed us her cartwheels (outside in the rain).  Byerly showed us his sweet paper airplane design.  Gabraylie, Ellary, Zoey, and Kailey sang for us.  Lizzie showed us a DVD of her dance performance.  Lexie showed her VanGuard show. 

Rachael made brownies all by herself.  She shared her talent with everyone.

We had our traditional fashion show where the kids (that wanted to) modeled their new school clothes.  We handed out everyone's back-to-school bags full of school supplies, then we had banana splits, cake, and brownies for dessert.  What a fun evening.  We also had a mini celebration of Ellary's birthday.  Her birthday was the day before. 

Lexie's Welcome Home BBQ

Lexie got home from her summer long tour of competitions with Santa Clara VanGuard on August 15th.  We had a little impromptu welcome home BBQ for her to welcome her home.

I bought this cute whale pool for the little kids.  Logan, Jojo, and Gabriel had a blast until they got too cold.

Lexie (with her black hair), Rachel Allen, Kelly and Mollie long.

"WoGee" and Amanda Long

My Jojo, Shayla, and Cory.  (Notice my new curtains that I made for the back deck . . . I love them!)

Lizzie, Emma, Renae, and Karl.  It was yummy food, I must say!

Lexie saying something profound, with Rachel pondering upon it.

We are glad to have Lexie home and safe after her summer living in a bus and on gym floors.