Another year, another party, another year older~

I've decided to make planning myself a "special birthday party" each year, a

tradition. This year was the 2nd party I've planned...and I've loved every second of it. 

My sweet family all met at Los Hermanos in Provo for a FEAST of Mexican food and fun! 

Erik and Kenron patiently waiting for dinner to be served~

Jack and Dayna having a great time~

Deron and I enjoying all (mostly...missing Dana and Kayson) 

the family together (doesn't happen very often)~

Todd and Kenron...still waiting for dinner~

Mike and Kim...all smiles!

The last time Cameron will be with us for this special day...for 2 years~

Halle and I posing for pics together~

I certainly don't invite my family so they will bring me birthday gifts...BUT

I certainly won't ever turn them down either. I got some fun antique stuff...which I ADORE!

Thanks kids for your thoughtfulness and for coming to party with me!

Kenron and his sweet smile!

planning a birthday party has pro's and cons...

pro's: I don't have to cook my own dinner

cons: SOMEONE always squeals to the waiter that its my birthday and THEN they

come and sing to me, its sooooooooooo embarrassing...but then

they give you fried ice cream...so I grin and bear it!

The gangs....(minus the 2 I previously stated) smiling in the same place we took 

the group shot last year....I'm sure there will be a picture taken here EVERY year from here

on out!

My three boys...goofy, tall, crazy, kids!

After FEASTING on Mexican food, we head up to The Sweet Tooth Fairy for

a cupcake...not that any of us are hungry, but whats a birthday without a little cake to top it off?!

.....and even Mike agree's with me!

Happy Birthday to Me~

(not going to reveal my age...that too would be sooooooooo embarrassing!)

Play time....for the girls!

Starvation Lake is a favorite place for our family during the summer months...we try and 

go play there often. Kim and Dayna came out for a fun little trip and we decided to take

off and go play in the water...just the girls!

I bought some tubes and we played for several hours...just floating around...without a care in the world!

 Kim sang us some tunes....and made us all laugh~

We played until our shoulders were red, our legs felt burnt and our tubes started to go flat....it was a spectacular day in the sun...and I loved every second of it!

A Dam Day Trip~

 Back in July...(yes, I'm that far behind in my blogging) Mike and Kim came up for a visit, so we decided to take a little jaunt up the mountain to see the Upper Stillwater Dam. The drive is gorgeous and the Dam itself is breathtaking because its so unique as well as SOOOOO BIG!

 If you hit the right year, at the right time, you can actually see the water run over the Dam and into the river below...that sight is one to behold for sure! I am not sure if the water got high enough to run over this year or not, but either way our trip was not wasted...it was gorgeous up there!

 We packed a picnic lunch and sat down to eat it, when Deron's uncle (who works up at the Dam sometimes) found us and asked if we wanted to tour the Dam....OF COURSE! It was very cool...just the fact the we were inside of that very large "thing".

 He told us that the walls were 17' thick....17'....THAT IS MASSIVE!...yet in some places there was still water drizzling down the walls, but he assured us that it was "okay"!

 After the tour through the dam, we took the short 1/4 mile hike to the TOP of the dam so Mike could see where the water came to. It is an amazing sight....a fun little hike and was a great day out in nature!

.....nature....my element during the spring and summer months!

"More" Mountain Music with the Family~

Night time in the mountains is always so beautiful (mornings in the mountains is my favorite),

on a clear night it seems the sunset lasts forever....a sight to behold for sure!

Night time at the reunion is when the REAL FUN begins...its family talent show time!

AND not just ANY talent show...we bring the fun alive!

I don't think I've ever seen a talent show with my crazy family that I didn't laugh

until I cried...they are truly hilarious and everyone has a fantastic time performing and 

being a part of the audience! 

the family awaits for the FUN to begin~

Alyssa...the ghost walker..................

Avery said it was too dark to see her make up...so she wanted me to take a

picture of her so she could see what she looked like...ha ha ha WHAT a cutie!

Singing, dancing and a ton of fun...thats what makes us special!!

Kenron and mommy laughing....life is grand!

Alyssa and Brittley singing some "mountain music"!

Morning nap time for some....fishing time for others~

My niece Abri and I decided to take a hike around the lake...see what was on the other side...

the GREY clouds above were only a "threat", so we thought~

We saw darling little yellow flowers coming up through the rocks....

...and some more water~

...snapped a few adorable pics of Abri~

...more of our family fishermen~ 

and one of the two of us.......AND THEN it happened,

THE RAIN, THE LIGHTNING AND THE THUNDER...it all came out of those

NON THREATENING CLOUDS!

Abri and I ran for cover into the trees......hoping to find some shelter from the downpour of rain and HAIL!

IT just kept coming and coming...there was no cover, SO we ended up running back to camp...

soaking wet, feeling like a wet dog (smelling like to too I'm sure) and cold...we made it without

incident! After drying off in one of the families camper, I headed back to my tent for some dry clothes

and my coat...............only to find that my tent LEAKED!! EVERYTHING was soaked, NOT a dry thing 

on my side of the tent. It was flooding (in my tent)...OH WELL, what do you do?!

The reunion was fabulous, wet stuff and all....we had a great time

and I look forward to next year when we all get together

again...........these are the best of times!