We are FAMILY! (you have to sing it)

I had arranged a family reunion for my family in Island Park.  I did all this two years ago!!!  And the day arrived that we were going.  Can I tell you - it was AWESOME.  The cabin was fantastic, the activities were great, and most importantly - I was with all my beloved family.  I'm so lucky for each of my brothers and sisters and especially for my parents.  I love to be with them - ALL OF THEM.  Of my 500+ pictures, these pics will have to suffice to show the fun and love.

Our cabin and a few random pics

Big Springs

Yellowstone 

We had two days in Yellowstone - but to make it easier on me - I'll just group the pics together.  

A family photo op - wait, who's that extra person jumping into the photo!?!

The crew

A buffalo versus a Prius... fortunately, he walked beside it.  He did cross 4 or 5 times in front of Brian's car though!!!

Early morning bike ride - just Shayne and I

Do you see the Mama Moose and her baby?

The hidden lake - Ben and Jenny had friends that told them about this amazing gem.  I'm SOOOO glad we went!  It was gorgeous - and the canoes were great fun too!

Is Cole drowning in that life preserver?

yes, it was freezing, but we did it!

That Papa is one strong man...

Our special day - just my parents with the 5 kids went to the Idaho Falls temple, where we did Temple Work for our family.  We invited the in-laws, but someone had to stay with the kids!  One of my favorite parts of this day was the car ride - just the 5 siblings together talking about growing up, teachers, and whatever came up.  We didn't fight once.  We decided it must have been our parents that caused all those fights when we were younger and traveling by car across the US.  (ha ha ha ha)  

We celebrated Danny's 6th birthday...

All because these two fell in love.

This is the picture I've dreamed of since I had Danny - I KNEW that there were going to be 4 little heads next to mine in my "mommy and kids pic" - I finally got it.  Thanks Devri for the great pics!

If only our modern conveniences included a teleporter to visit everyone more often!  Love you all so much!

The worst swim meet ever

Hunter did the summer recreational swim team again this summer.  He has done this for several years and he really enjoys it.  The team has a few trophies that you can earn.  Every year, Hunter has fallen short of getting this trophy due to his struggles with the Breaststroke.  This year, he was determined to get the trophy and not let the Breaststroke keep him down.  A swimmer can do three different strokes at each meet, and he had to get a "qualifying" time in each stroke to earn the trophy (Breaststroke, Backstroke, Butterfly, Freestyle, and Individual Medley).  A qualifying time does not mean you win - it simply means don't get "DQ'd" - or disqualified.  And, DQ's happen often, for everyone.  

At swim meet #1, Hunter decided to do his hardest strokes - Breaststroke and the Individual Medley (which is doing all four strokes in one race), and then the freestyle to be easy.  He was DQ'd on his breaststroke - and it crushed him.  When he did his IM, he was right in line with his competition - then he got to the Breaststroke portion and he went SLOW... SOOOOOO S-L-O-W....  and by golly, he did not get DQ'd on that one.  He was so happy to have that one out of the way.  He decided while swimming that being last was better than a DQ.  That takes guts.

At the next swim meet, he needed to qualify on his Breaststroke, Backstroke, and Butterfly.  He even had an extra help session with his coach and he was feeling ready for this day.  He swam his Breaststroke - DQ'd.  AUGH!  he was so upset.  He had improved his kick, but something else had gotten him (I don't even remember what it was now).

Then he swam his Backstroke - but mid-race he got confused and thought he was doing an IM (medley) and turned over for a split second then realized his mistake - another DQ.

Finally he had his Butterfly - which is his favorite stroke.  He came up to the side - touched the side of the pool with both hands - but under the water.  (I have the video to prove it) - but then when he turned - he set only one hand on the side as he pushed off and the judge saw that and once again, a DQ.  

I've never seen such a sad Hunter.  So frustrated and upset.  He said, "How can I be so bad at something I practice so much and EVERY DAY!?!"  It broke my heart.  He did get up every day this summer to swim at 7am - and it was all him.

We were leaving the next weekend for our family reunion in Idaho and I was not planning on getting to another swim meet - that meant no trophy.  Shayne and I decided to leave a few hours later on our departure day and give him another chance - it was the last possible swim meet.  So, off to another swim meet at 6 in the morning.

The best thing is - he nailed them.  ALL OF THEM.  AND, he got heat winner for the Butterfly (that means he was first in his heat).  He was BEAMING.  Then he mentions, I'd really like to try out for the swim team during the year - I think that would help me get even better. 

As a mom, I worry about a lot of things.   And I can't even explain the feelings I had watching him grieve and then his decision to persevere and try again.  I don't know how to teach that to a kid - and this one just did it.  He did it and gratefully, he earned that beloved trophy but, most importantly, he didn't give up. I'm proud of you Hunter - I really am. 

Cole's Testimony

Written by Shayne:

In church, the boys can play on the I-pad or Hunter's kindle, only if they are church related games. In our pathetic attempt to get the boys to begin to pay attention in church, the big boys were playing "Testimony Bingo" during a fast and testimony meeting.  (This is a meeting where the members can stand and share their testimonies with the congregation).  The bingo game had key words, such as Savior, love, families, prophet, etc.  When they hear one of these words spoken they can mark off that word from the space on the game.  I told them if they got all the words/spaces marked off that I would give them some kind of reward.  Well, there were several words that just weren't being mentioned, and the meeting was nearing its end so Cole finally says, "Forget this, I'll just do it myself" and takes the Ipad and walks up to the podium.  Cole has never shared his testimony in front of the congregation before (shocker, I know).  Yes, we (his parents) were sitting back there and wondering what this little boy would say or do in the next 2 minutes.  He got up to the podium and proceeded to share his testimony - and he used every word he needed to complete the Bingo game one sentence at a time.  Afterwards so many people complimented us on what a great testimony it was.  If they only knew.

Back to Lea:
Actually, I was really impressed and grateful that it was a wonderful testimony!!  I really was worried that he'd stand there and just say the all the words at once and then sit down!  It was a funny way to get him up there - but it was definitely his own initiative! Shayne claims this is proof that video games are good for our kids...  hmmmm.  I'm grateful it was encouragement to do such a great thing.