Family Reunion

Family Reunion 2012

(Everyone but Scott was able to be there this year)

We had a great family reunion this year put on by my sister Kathryn. My post is a little out of order but I think I got all the fun events in there somewhere! It was down at my moms house in Enterprise. We did lots of fun Easter things! Coloring Easter eggs was top on the list of course. Collin had a good time doing this but was very concerned that the dye didn't wash off his fingers.

He had a Blast jumping on the tramp with his cousins!

We split the kids up in age groups and did a Easter egg hunt. Josh was a little unsure but loved to open them and see what he got. Collin loved searching for the eggs and would even give some to his little cousins while he was at it. He also loved seeing the treasures inside each egg!

Josh was so tired from all the excitement going on all the time that he fell asleep basically sitting up!

My mom sent the kids on a treasure hunt. She gave the girls clues about Grandma (herself) and the Boys had clues about Grandpa. It was fun see the kids figure out the clues. At the end they opened up the garage where there were buckets full of lots of fun treasure for each of them.

(This picture has all the grand kids but Baylee. She was taking a nap.)

We seem to always go down to see my moms this time of year so we have started a little tradition of sending my dad birthday balloons with a note from each grand kid for his birthday. I decided that it was time that I needed to explain to Collin who Grandpa Hess was. I never thought he was old enough to really understand but I am glad I took the opportunity this time to talk to him about it. He was so cute and funny about it. I showed him grandpa's picture and said that he was my dad and his grandpa and he died before you were born. The first thing Collin said was "Oh mom that's so sad" Sweet little thing. I also told him that he probably knew grandpa in heaven before he came to live with us. Then he explained to me that he lived in heaven with heavenly father and grandpa then he game down through my mouth and into my tummy. LOL what a funny kid! I think he got the idea anyway! He had fun writing a note to grandpa and sending it to heaven. We drove by a cemetery the other day and Collin said "hey mom look it is the place we sent the balloons to heaven for grandpa!" I guess they all look the same!

On Saturday we went and spent the day at the sand-dunes in Snow Canyon. It was a blast! We started with a picnic lunch then headed over to the sand hills. We were worried that it might not be good weather but it ended up being perfect! Josh loved it for the first 30min then he was done. I had to basically hold him and fight with his grumpiness the whole time but Collin on the other hand had a ton of fun! He was off playing with the cousins. They made tunnels and raced the colored eggs down them (Collin did his best to wreck the tunnels for them. Little stink!), they buried each other, they dug a big giant hole, and did tricks down the hills. Everyone was covered from head to toe with sand! It was a great day!

Saturday morning when the kids woke up the Easter Bunny had come! Collin had a fun time finding where the Bunny hide his basket. He loved his new dinosaur puzzles and pirate flip flops and off course the hollow chocolate Easter bunny and other candy he got! Josh wasn't so sure about it all but once he figured out that he could take the wrappers off the candy and it was delicious inside he was a pretty happy little boy!

Easter Sunday wasn't so great for me. I ended up getting a migraine. I was so mad. I love Easter Sunday and it was the last day with all my family being together but I delt with it.  So much thanks to my sister Angie for taking Collin, getting him ready, and taking him to church so I could get some sleep while Josh napped. As soon as Josh woke up I headed over to hear the last half hour of sacrament and join in on the family picture that was at the first of this post. Collin loved going to grandma's church! When we got back I managed to get kind of a cute picture of them in their new Easter church outfits.

Overall we had a great time at the family reunion this year! It is fun for Collin to be with all of his cousins. I hardly even see him because he is so busy and entertained by them all! Thanks Barlow family and mom for the great time!

Scott wasn't able to come with us because he had Finals and he went on a trip to Reno for a research conference so I decided to spend another week down there with my mom. Collin was very lonely because all the cousins had to go home but he did enjoy playing with my brothers kids who live around the corner from my mom. We were able to do lots of fun things! I spent some time with my best friend from childhood, Heidi, while Collin and Kelson played. I got to watch my niece Dani play a couple softball games, and also Kimber, Karen, and Becca dance in there dance review. It was also fun to spend some time with my mom so she could get to know Collin and Josh a little more!

One of Collin's favorite things at Grandma's Hess' house is the Skidders! Josh loved them too! They only had a couple days to play on them until it snowed. It is always hard packing to go down this time of year. I packed pretty much one of everything.(long sleeves, pants, short sleeves, shorts, jackets, coats) Unfortunately I forgot the snow gear! Collin wanted to play in it soooo bad!

My boys loved their time down in Enterprise! Thanks mom for letting us invade your space for so long. On the drive home Collin kept saying "mom i think we should go back to grandma hess' right now!" I think we need to go down there a little more often!