Overdue

It seems as time goes on and families grow up, it becomes a little bit difficult to find a time when everyone in a single big family can just get together, eat, and talk. This past Friday we were finally able to get that accomplished (well, for the most part. We missed everyone that wasn't there, and we look forward to the time when every single person will be there, but I think we had the majority).
I had a great time visiting with family I rarely see, but love dearly. It's baffling that when all is said and done I am lucky to see everyone maybe twice a year, but it feels like so much more than that because I think of them daily, and well, we are a family. I am a firm believer that your thoughts are never far from your heart, and getting together just highlights my love and appreciation for my family. Some of my dearest memories have come while creating traditions and just good old fun with my Reeves/Barker/Black family. I feel lucky to be related to such great people.
Through all the changing phases of life my cousins have been there, and now half are doing the high school/teenager/college/dating thing, and half are doing the young family/change diapers/kindergarten/potty training/baby/change diapers...change diapers...thing, and for some reason (even though we do it all day) it is great to talk with cousins who are going through the same thing with little ones. Maybe it just feels good to hear that my child isn't the only one who can throw a forty-five minute fit, won't go on the potty, and can create motherly woes of all kinds. OR...that there are unspeakable rewards to having such great little children.
It was a special treat to have Patti and Dan there, and the girls had a little too much fun getting SOAKED in the drinking fountain, playing with cousins, and eating WAY too many chocolaty creations. I am so grateful these are the people I come from-The family I have.

*See Michelle's and Patti's Blogs for better pictures. :)

The only moment I could get Boston to hold still while playing on the playground
Michelle, Patti, Brooke ...for the twentieth time
Spencer, Kaden, Braden, Scout, Lexi, Sam, and Boston (Sorry if I spelled any names wrong)
Joined by Ella and Dallin
Scouty , Scouty, Scouty
Patti and Dan
The famous drinking fountain...Scouty, Kaden, and Spencer
The best I could do at getting everyone....

This Little Piggy

This little piggy got a haircut- That little piggy did too-Two little piggies got chop-chopped and now the little piggies are through.

Scout got her first haircut, and she was really brave. She held as still as a two-year-old could, and her little semi-bob looks really cute on her. I didn't get too many pictures because she was ready to receive her "prize" for holding still, and there were all kinds of nail polish colors on the nail table in the salon to look at...and touch....and, well, you know. As you can see, Mommy was getting a needed hair job as well, and we had a fun mini mommy-daughter date. I can't really do full pigtails in Scout's hair anymore, but before the haircut, that was the ONLY thing I could do because the ends were so frail and uneven, so we are looking forward to pigtail days again someday, but we really love the little short hairdo, and we said a fond farewell to the small mullet she seemed to be growing.

Labor Day Luau

Every year Ben (or Keahi as he is called by his luau group) dances at the Thanksgiving Point Labor Day Luau, and it is one of my favorite events. I love the spirit and dances of Polynesia, and the setting at Thanksgiving point is perfect for a luau. Somehow, no matter how many times I see the dances and hear the music, I still love it the same every time. I guess I am just filled with a grattitude for the many different cultures there are to celebrate, and I am so glad that Ben loves this part of his heritage. The girls love to cheer and clap for their daddy, and even though it was a little CHILLY this year, we had a great time. Sorry my pictures aren't that great....okay they are pretty bad, but I love them all the same. Mahalos to Maria and Junior for all their hard work, and for their little ones who get dragged to all the practices and such, but still love it and smile anyway. Maria gets extra points for being 9 months pregnant and still doing it all. This is a tradition I love.

Hawaiian Ancient


Tahiti


Samoan Slap

Hawaiian Ancient



Hawaiian Couples

Haka

Haka

Repeat (It was an accident, but I like this picture)

Fiji

My little Scout wanted to dance with the little Guava Jellies, but she was too little this year, so I told her that next year she could take hula lessons. Guava Jellies is the name of the little hula class that Taimane's leader Maria does. They are so cute. Impetigo Nose
Tahiti

The Last Tuesday

Last Tuesday was Ben's final whole day off before the semester started, so we decided to go out with a bang (well, a small bang). We went to Park City and Ben and Scouty rode the Alpine slide, and the girls also enjoyed the marry-go-round. After playing in Park City we went to Salt Lake and stayed at the Red Lion before Ben had to be back at work the next day. (Ben actually got a bid on price line...we were laughing about that. He did it just for fun, and then got the bid for the Red Lion, so we had to go, but we were so glad we did). We had a such a good time walking around Temple Square, eating out, and just being together before another (last) semester started. Scout thought the idea of a hotel was so cool!! She and Boston laughed themselves silly jumping and playing on the beds, and eating treats until all hours of the night. The only problem is now Scout thinks we own the hotel and she asks me if she can "go to her hotel tonight." This small little getaway was a reminder of how much I need and enjoy the simple things.

Scout eating her bagel at Einstein's Wednesday morning
Just incase you think we drew a mustache on Boston, she actually was incorrectly diagnosed with cellulitis, and then diagnosed with impetigo....just another lovely thing we got to remedy. She still had a blast, and is healing really fast...oh the things kids pick up!


This picture makes me laugh so hard for some reason...I think it is because Scout looks like a blind person with her sunglasses on crooked:)
what?

This is Daddy and Scout coming off the Alpine slide, but they are too far away to tell

Fond Farewell

This post is a little late in coming, but nevertheless it is here! :) A couple weeks ago we went to Sunny St. George to celebrate Danielle's mission call and go to the farewell. She did a great job, and we had a lot of fun seeing family and friends. That Wednesday we went to the MTC to see her off, and it was especially neat for me because I have never been in the MTC to send off a missionary. She is now doing really well, and will leave for Canada on Tuesday! We know that while she may freeze in Canada, she will be a wonderful missionary. This one is for Sister Kamalu!!

It was so good to see cousin Kalel and Kyle and Kim too!
I love these pictures. Especially when you look at them in this sequence. They crack me up.

Great Grandma and Grandpa Morgan

Yeah....he's not sleeping
Grandma Karen made a yummy dinner on Sunday


Boston and Kalel playing their duet

These cool new fountains in St. Geroge were so much fun for the girls to play in. Boston would take a bite of ice cream then wash her spoon in the fountain and dig in for another bite!