Heaton Family Reunion in Spreg's

We just had a MEMORABLE Family reunion with the Heaton's.

 It started Friday afternoon in Cedar City where the family all met at the temple. The adult's did sealings, the youth baptisms and the younger kids got to stay at Grandma and Grandpa's house playing with cousins while a babysitter kept an eye out for everyone. Grandma had a big family picture taken on the temple grounds. We're anxious to see them!

After the temple we went to the local park for some pizza and watermelon before heading up to Spreggs for a big family campout. We stopped in Alton to help Uncle Klynt load his bbq spit and then headed up into the trees. 

With no rain in the forecast and knowing we wouldn't get to Spregg's until after dark we decided to sleep in the back of Kory's dump bed trailer. Hunter slept in a tent with the other boy cousins, Maddie and Emily both slept on a cot outside under the stars with the girl cousins and the younger two decided to stay with Mom and Dad in the back of the trailer on cots.  

Before hitting the sack Grandma had planned an outdoor movie for those that wanted to watch. It didn't get started until almost 11 that night. We didn't get to bed until after 1am. It's been a long time since I've been out that late.  We all fell asleep pretty quickly but all too soon we all started to feel something wet on our faces. It was raining. Not a hard rain but a nice soft drizzle that went on and on and on!

These 2 woke up and complained about the rain and getting wet. Nothing we could do. Told them both to climb all the way under their covers and try to sleep the best they could. 

Morning couldn't come quick enough and when it did we were wet!

Our sleeping bags, blankets and shoes were wet. The bottom of the trailer was wet with puddles of water. It's a night we will all remember. 

Maddie and Ruth were wet with nice puddles of water on their tarp. They grabbed an extra tarp during night and threw it on top of themselves trying to deter the rain. It sort of worked they said. 

Emily and Rachel also got rained on but they were able to crawl into the truck to escape and tried to sleep. 

Thank goodness it was summer and wasn't to cold. It didn't take too long for everyone to dry once we all got up and got going. Grandma had a big day planned with lots of activities. 

Dinner roasting on the spigot.

The teenage boys put up the American flag for us for the day. 

Then off the kids ran! 

Maddie and Ruth set up and ran Grandma's fishing pond with prizes.

So excited to get their new little toys.

Miss Kylie and Izzie Bee (Elizabeth) 

Ruth and Maddie

We had a hatchet throwing contest and Brayden loved it!

We brought our quads up and the teen age boys had fun running up and down the dirt toads. 

A little bean bag toss...

And of course shooting!

Grandma had a little raffle going on that the kids could earn tickets for picking up trash, being helpful and doing good deeds.  One of the kiddo's won this awesome display. 

  

After lunch we all packed up and headed home. 

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for a wonderful family reunion. 

It's always fun to see everyone. 

Warm Springs

This is my Grandma and Grandpa Christensen. This picture brings a smile to my face. 

I miss them. I miss the stories, Grandpa's "Damn it" hat and Grandma's homemade twisties or cookies baking. Grandpa always had a movie playing in the back ground. If it wasn't the Jungle Book it was a musical like the Carousel or Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. If Grandma wasn't baking she was sewing. It was always fun to go to Grandma's house. 

For a few years Grandma and Grandpa lived in what they called, The Garden of Eden. Everyone else called in Warm Springs in Moapa Nevada.  

They were the caretakers for this amazing church run site. 

I have many fond memories of being here. After my grandparents were released from their mission here this was a fire. And it burned down the "old house".  Kory and I  were able to have our wedding luncheon here, after the temple sealing but before our reception. And then there was another fire. And then this place sat vacant for many, many years. We've heard rumors and have driven by a handful times over the past 19 years but it's always been locked shut. And then we heard that it was officially opening again. 

When the Christensen family heard about it re-opening it was quickly decided that we needed to have a Christensen Family Reunion in memory of Grandma and Grandpa. 

It was so fun seeing my kids make their own memories at a place I loved. 

Brayden loved the warm water and the slippery walk. 

Hunter and Kylie

Emily

 Although Jonathan was still recovering from back surgery he came to visit for a few hours.

Jonathan and Grandma Christensen holding Abigial (Sheri's little girl).

Grandma and Maddie

Grandpa Christensen got in too. 

Hunter being silly

Carlaya and Maddie

Emily and Kylie 

Brayden taking a turn at being the life guard.  

Cousin Noah and Hunter playing in the newer man made pool. Using pool noodles they spent most of their day swatting at wasps landing on the water.  

Emily liked the newer pool to.  

Aunt Hanna and Brayden

Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle Joe. 

All of my aunts and uncles were there. I wish I had a picture of all of them together. It was only one day but what a marvelous day it was. I saw cousins, aunts and uncles I haven't seen in years. It was so fun to catch up and remanence. 

Look Who's 10!

This handsome young man is finally 10! 

I love his enthusiasm for life. He loves science, lego's, reading and building things with his hands. 

He also loves insects and anything creepy, crawly. 

His favorite series at the moment is Percy Jackson. He has read this series numerous times all ready. He was pretty excited for his Camp Half Blood shirt. 

Brayden specifically asked for Costco's cheesecake this year. 

Yummy, yummy!

We sure love this little guy in our home! He keeps us laughing with his most random facts about everything and anything he's learned through his readings. He also loves to tell jokes. He's quick to share with his family any new ones he learns during the day. Happy Birthday little man!

Easter

The Easter Bunny a few years ago started hiding everyone's gifts. The kids leave their baskets on the table the night before. When they look inside on Easter morning they have a few pieces of candy with one strand of curly ribbon. Everyone's strand of curly ribbon is a different color. They then go on the "hunt" for items they can find wrapped in their color of curly ribbon. 

There is no spot untouchable.

The kids LOVE it! 

Miss Kylie was given a new Easter book, Go Fish Book of Mormon, a jump rope and new necklace. 

Emily also got a new book, new necklace, Who Said It Book of Mormon game and a kit to make her own lip balm.

Hunter also received a new book, Cover Your Assets game, a case of Mountain Dew and a tie tack. 

Brayden loves his new bullets, Spot It game, new book and tie tack. 

Maddie loves the next book in her series, a journal, package of Spree's and a YW bracelet. 

Kids were happy with their new books. This little one not only read her own book but them read Brayden's too!

 She is such a good little reader.

Big 16

How is it possible that my little boy is now 16?

He is so awesome! He's a great student who gets straight A's. He excels in almost everything he tries and of course makes it look super simple too. He has been so helpful when we work on the house. He's just an awesome young man and I'm so glad he's mine!

Maddie made him a candy bar poster. 

His favorite gift? Why that would be his very own set of keys! No more having to borrow mom's or dad's. 

I took off from work a little early to take him to the DMV. How awesome is this going to be? He finally has his license and can drive by himself. He's only been driving for a full year now. We were both so ready for this day!

Happy Birthday!