Absolutely Awesome Eight: Many June Happenings

This summer has already been a flurry of activity and the second half is likely to be more of the same. With the help of pictures, I'm going to 're-create' the comings and goings of our family during June.

Jantzen - 3rd from left in yellow shoes

Jantzen #11

Anna after Yellowstone Cup Tournament

Anna during Dean Cook Memorial Tournament

Anna - 3rd from right (including Coach Debbie) - back row

We came back from our east coast trip and still had two big soccer tournaments on the schedule for Jantzen and Anna. The break during the season was actually nice and it took some effort to re-commit to the practices and games and finish out the season mid-June.

Matt S., Aaron, Brett R. after 100 mile ride in Brigham City, UT

Brinley was selected to participate in Girl's State (June 11-17) held in the Boise area. She was busy from 7am - 11pm learning about the workings of our state and federal government. It was a great opportunity and she enjoyed meeting girls from all over the state during their time together.

Brinley - back row 3rd from left

Capitol Building

Brinley - back row 2nd from right

Anna made the decision to continue pursuing her musical talents and has worked hard this past school year after switching to a new teacher. We love Paula's ability to help bring out the best in Anna as she has recommitted and increased her practice time significantly. Having her hair highlighted was a long time in coming reward for Anna's efforts.

Our Hawaii cousins came for a visit (June 12-16) and mostly slept at G-ma and G-pa M's house but we packed in several activities including; hiking/exploring the ice caves, lots of night games, visiting the temple for baptisms & going to the new "Wonder Woman" movie (older cousins), attending the "Little Mermaid" at the Playmill in West Yellowstone and more night games! Good times.

Cousins played "Detective" around the house for hours!

Anna, Quinn, Jantzen, Alison, Sariah, Isaac, Elsie, Grant

Elsie participated in a 3-day sewing camp taught by my friend, Stacie M. and absolutely loved the chance to create new items (besides the beanbags she has been making for months). Pretty impressive what these girls were able to accomplish in so short a time.

Elsie made this pillowcase, cinch bag, zipper purse and cord keepers.

Father's Day breakfast for Aaron.

Four generations of handsome guys!

Father's Day photo with Aaron and the kids - June 18.

insert basketball camps (UVU/Mickey D's)

G-pa P and Heather at Costco

Making arrangements to meet my parents at a Costco along the Wasatch front (June 21) allowed us to buy lunch meal makings in bulk for our food responsibilities at the M reunion the following day. It gave the cousins a few minutes to reconnect and get their wiggles out before heading to the SL airport. With Britton and Jenna at EFY, it was only a partial family reunion and since the airport is full of strangers anyway, we decided to join G-ma and G-pa for AJ's homecoming debut.

Elsie, Brinley, Anna, Jameson, Korinne, Quinn - at Costco

Sleep deprived and travel weary, Hilary and Adam arrived with AJ in tote after a (very) long journey from Ethiopia to the US. It's been quite the process getting him here and the faith and stamina of both Hilary and Adam over the past several years has been miraculous to behold. It was a surreal moment for everyone.

Quinn & Jameson

AJ experienced his first 'buckled in carseat ride' home and we continued on to the Alpine area where we stayed at a lovely home in the Timpanogos foothills for a few nights. The theme for this reunion revolved around the 50th anniversary of Bob & Janene. Every family member was in attendance except for Alyssa, Cameron & Tanner.

Gated entrance to the house.

The fact that I remembered the house address came in handy our first morning of the reunion. Bonnie and I chose to go for a long walk and didn't take our cel phones. After two hours, Aaron & Bryant began to panic and several family members went searching by car for us along labyrinth-type roads. Although only momentarily disoriented, Bonnie and I literally ran into my old WSU college teammate, Denise N. who was out walking with a friend. Fortunately for us, we walked another mile to Denise's house and she drove us back to 196 Holly Drive. Though we felt awful about the search party our very long walk incurred, it was a blessing to cross paths with Denise who is battling cancer right now. Heavenly Father answered the prayers of many that morning!

Indoor pool/hottub was grand-central station.

I thought to snap a few photos of the house/yard at the end of the reunion (hence no people) since I wasn't mindful of picture-taking much during our time together.

A large playground on site was perfect for little kiddos.

Playhouse had cupboards in the kitchen - the real deal!

Small putting green for the golfers...

Jantzen - (black shirt) loved the crazy basketball games at night.

Alison, Sariah, Brinley, Anna, Lillian - older girls sleeping quarters.

Hilarious dance-off among the littles

Jantzen & Jett

Meal prep rotated among each family.
The older cousins were in charge of dessert one night.

Jantzen & Derek (Breanna's husband) playing pool.

Good-bye Yukon! You've been great.

Without formal reunion plans, Aaron and I took the opportunity to go car shopping in SL one afternoon. We have been anticipating a change in the vehicle department for months and decided to trade in our 2008 GMC Yukon (140K miles) for a 2012 AWD Toyota Sienna (62K). I've always preferred a minivan over an SUV and with only 7 people at home now and future repairs inevitable, it was a good time to make the switch.

Hello Sienna! Welcome to the family.

Jantzen, Alison, Grant, Brinley

Grant, Brinley, Steph E.

Chris, Aaron, Brandon, Jordan

Stephanie P., Bonnie, Aaron, Bob, Bennett

Lillian, Sariah, Derek, Breanna

We enjoyed our time together talking, walking, laughing, eating, swimming, playing games, hiking, biking, (some went golfing) and celebrating the blessings of having Bob and Janene in our lives.

Whitney & Oliver, Brinley & Anna visit hospital

Matt & Whitney were in charge of the reunion this year and planned for things to be relaxed and flexible (aka - no set plans). It was fortuitous such was the case because Whitney went into labor the night before the reunion started. Adorable baby Oliver arrived 5 weeks early - healthy and happy.

Aaron & Anna preparing to leave for Oakcrest Camp

The reunion ended Saturday morning and I headed home with Jantzen, Quinn and Elsie. Aaron remained in SL with Brinley and Anna until he caught a flight to CA on Monday morning for work. Anna enjoyed spending a week at Camp Oakcrest with her friend, Payton F. I have fond memories of time spent at Oakcrest as a teenager myself. It's a remarkable place that strengthens testimonies and helps YW grow and develop in marvelous ways.

Anna & Payton - board the bus for Oakcrest.

Meanwhile, Brinley and her friend, Aubrey attended a Stay-At-Home EFY program in Taylorsville and spent the week (at night) at my parents Murray house. Another wonderful week of strengthening testimonies and making new friends.

Brin will have to give me names of these people:).
She makes friends everywhere she goes!

EFY group

Brinley & Aubrey during EFY

Back at home, everyone else had plenty to do but I'll admit dinner time was certainly more relaxed and different with only four of us around! Elsie loves reading the FRIEND magazine and gets a lot of ideas she likes to try out. Hence, the Blessing Box and the prayer mobile she made one afternoon.

Blessing Box

Steps of Prayer Mobile

Quinn tired after day camp.

Quinn attended cub scout day camp at Krupp Hollow and participated in 6-7 rotations of activities. He especially liked the BB gun shooting activity and a game played with balls. The week of funky weather (rain and lightning) brought the boys home a little early but they managed to come home tired and dirty regardless.

Lexi F. and Elsie

Occasionally, we have college students join us for Sunday dinner. It's been fun to keep in touch with Lexi over the years. Elsie and I stopped by to check out her graduation project on campus - very cool.

Quinn and the smore's supplies...

Friday night (June 30) we had dinner at Chris & Julia's since Brandon and Stephanie's family were in town from Florida. Fun to spend a little more time with them since they aren't around very often. It was well after midnight before Aaron, Brinley and Anna returned from their week away - we were happy to have them home again.