Family Reunion- 2013

I am never very good at taking pictures at the family reunion and this year is no exception. It seems for some reason I may have captured the event from Ammon's perspective, not sure why...

At our first airport. It was his first flight since he has learned how to communicate. There was all kinds of delight regarding the us getting on an airplane and going to see the cousins. There was the usual desire to push and touch all the buttons in the jetways that are not supposed to be pushed or touched. No major problems this time.

This year we bought them all new luggage and they had to pull their own luggage through each airport. We were in a total of four on the way out and four on the way back. We had to go through security twice on our journey west. We were worried about Stuart and Ammon, but they were champs. They did great.

Good thing I didn't tell him he was pulling Bridger's stuff as well as his own, he, he.

On more than one occasion, especially when time was of the essence, I pulled two suitcases and Ammon got to ride, so I don't really feel to bad making a little two year old boy carry his luggage 3,000 miles. He had help!

My one shot a the reunion. It was loads of fun. I just didn't get out the camera.

We stayed a couple of extra days, in order to get cheap tickets. So my friend Connie Jo, drove three hours to see us. It was awesome.

I really do like this shot of our family. It is so fun.

I miss my Idaho storytelling buddy.

I think the Richardson and Bagley cousins had fun getting to know each other better. Now I just gotta get that skype working so we can keep it up.

On the way home we completely tired out little Ammon. That means success! Whenever we tire out the littlest among us.
Thanks for the fun good times Charith, Kirk, Arrel, Marcia, and everybody else!

Holding on

I'm trying to hold onto memories. I will miss the babies. Bridger is growing up. I will miss the sunshine clothes. I can't keep everything.

I'll miss the tye dye. I know, I can always do more. But I can't redo this one.

At least I have this moment. Of togetherness. I am full. I am blessed.

Bible School July 15-19

We went to Bible school again this summer. It came and went way too fast.

With days and nights full of cousin time.

It was a party all around.

The only one who might not have enjoyed it so much was little Bridger, who had been working on making way for six new teeth to pop into his mouth.

When it was all said and done we were sorry to see the week end.

Fredricksburg - July 13

July 13 we stuck closer to where we were staying. We went to the famous ice cream place Michael loves. Then headed over to see the rock Mary Washington (George's mother) used to pray for him on. It's called meditation rock.

I wondered if it had split apart in her day or ours? Or somewhere in between?

We had fun discovering it from both the top and the bottom.

Then we went to the museum and the civil war cemetery where over 15,000 soldiers are buried and they know the names of less than 3,000. Did you know there were four battles fought in and around Fredricksburg? It was food for my imagination.

My sweet girl found beauty everywhere we went.

In the afternoon we went to friend's house to swim, rest, and relax. I had been dealing with poison ivy and didn't swim, Bridger slept, and we all had fun.

The next day we went to church, ate dinner, and headed home. It was a fun vacation.

Historical Landmarks - July 12

Next we went down to the Lincoln Memorial. I love this place. It is beautiful, peaceful, and a great place to reflect on our country, or at least that was what I thought the last time I saw it.

This time I was chasing four kids, observing it from their perspective along with the thousands of scouts that were there right before the Jamboree.

Did something impress Josiah about Lincoln's Memorial or was he just posing?

I loved the architecture of this place. Not just because of its grandeur, but also because of how nicely my children fit into it.

As we left Ammon and I were behind everyone else and I couldn't resist one more shot right before heading over to the Vietnam Memorial.

We have a picture at our house with a man in a business suit touching the wall and his fallen comrades or son are reflecting the in the black glossiness of the wall.

So the kids had to copy our picture.

See all the scouts out and about? We headed back to the Ballentines after this day's activities.

National Zoo-July 12

After the temple we went to the zoo.

Goldie's dream come true...to see a real panda.

We went to the panda exhibit first. I was a bit disappointed by its apparent lack of desire to entertain me. All it wanted to do was eat. I thought I'd never get to its entire body as it just sat in that tub and ate bamboo.

So we left it to go ride pandas and see other animals.

Ammon is in this "one eye open for pictures" faze. It's kinda funny.

There was lots of climbing on rocks too.

And a little bit of looking cool.

This one wanted to join our "cool" party, but he just didn't fit the bill so we left him at the zoo...and on to adventure number 3!

July 12 Vacation

We went on a long promised vacation. Along the way we stopped to get gas.

After a good nights sleep at the Ballentine's we went on a grand adventure on July 12.

It started with a stop at the Washington DC Temple Visitors Center where we found Josiah's favorite statue of Christ.
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 Then we headed outside to see the temple

I personally love this temple.

We discovered all kinds of beauty outside the temple.

It was closed, but we still enjoyed it.

Then we headed around back to touch the doors.

We got them all together.

Then it became time for the sillies to come out.

Silly one

Silly two

Silly three