+R Reunion at Yuba Lake

On Friday afternoon we headed down to Manti.  This weekend Grandma Bown's side of the family (the Rasmussen's) were having a family reunion at Yuba Lake.  I reminded Travis about it the last time he was home & since we haven't been to Yuba in 6 yrs and we also haven't been to a Rasmussen reunion in 6 years we decided we should go.

It took us five hours to get to Manti.  This trip is normally only about three-three and a half hours long.  Granted, we were pulling the trailer.  And, we did stop a time or two for gas, etc. But, the real kicker came just outside of Ephraim.  We were driving down the road & Travis says, "I think I just got a flat."  Realizing that this could suck really bad I didn't say too much.  We drove into Ephraim and pulled into the Walmart parking lot.  You have to understand.  This last hitch Travis was on he got a flat tire on his truck.  Not only did he get a flat tire, but he had no jack.  When he did finally get a jack he couldn't get the spare tire off the truck.  When he finally got the flat tire off and someone he works with hauled him to the tire store, they told him they couldn't fix the flat because there was a huge gash in the tire.  He was able to get his truck into the tire store the next day to get the spare tire down and put on his truck so he could come home.  While he's been home he's been trying to find a new tire the right size but NO ONE in the valley carries them.  He now has four of his dad's old tires on his truck so all the tires on his truck are the same size.  See why I said I knew a flat tire on the trailer could suck really bad!

 Well, here's a view of the tire.  It wasn't flat.  But, half the tread on the tire had come flying off.  To improve our experience, when Travis went to take the tire off he realized he had NO tire iron AND NO jack.  Good thing we had pulled into the Walmart parking lot and they just so happen to have those things!  I think we spent a good thirty minutes in the Walmart parking lot.  Guess it could have been worse though!

We spent Friday night out at the farm.  The reunion didn't start until Saturday anyway.  On Saturday before we headed out to Yuba we went up on the hill and Travis let me shoot his "new" gun.  I shot fifty bullets...

 And hit my target about 50% of the time.  Not too shabby considering that I rarely shoot a gun and Travis told me I was quite a ways away from my target to be shooting a pistol.  I do believe he told me that I was three times farther from my target than I would ever be in a real gun fight. :)

I'm quite certain that the kids put an extra 100 miles on Grandpa Butter's four wheelers!

That's ok though because it made it so they all napped for the ride from the farm to Yuba.

Not five minutes after we arrived at the lake the kids had swim suits on and were down on the beach.  We camped in a big parking lot with a large pavilion.  It was nice because there was plenty of room and we could walk right to the edge of the water without having to go too far.  I can say I'm glad we took the trailer though because camping in a tent here would not have been fun!
A little bit after the kids disappeared Sam came and got me and told me to come look at Nash because they had buried him.  Yeah, they buried him alright.  They buried him with rocks and mud!  Poor kid!  He's such a good sport!

Brooke was pretty good to stay up on the black top with us and not just book it down to the water.  I think that we got lucky with that and that it mostly had to do with the fact that it looked like a scary walk down to the water.  I love this picture.  She was telling him, " 'mon dad, 'mon"

Nash & Sam were so anxious about getting to go this weekend that they both packed their own bags about Wednesday.  Well, when we got there Nash looks at me expectantly and asks, "Where are my flip flops?"  To which I had the pleasure of replying, "Well, since you were so rarin' to go and wouldn't calm down and let me help you pack I guess if you didn't pack them they didn't get brought with us."  He looked pretty bummed out because he knew I wouldn't be happy about him taking his new sneakers down by the water.  Lucky for him his dad was kind enough to volunteer his flip flops.  This meant that he had the good fortune of walking around like this:

We went out on my in law's boat on Saturday evening.  That was the only chance we had to get on the water because it was so windy on Sunday.  Brooke wore Caleb's life jacket we got him last year and it fits her just right.  I still have a hard time realizing that they are three years apart, only 2 pounds difference and wear the same size clothes!

Travis rode on the tube with Brookelyn.  She was excited to get on it but I wasn't sure if that excitement would last or not.  He said she was yelling, "Whee!!" the entire time.  Guess the tube is now as good as a swing!

The boys rode on the tube together.  I made the mistake of telling Caleb to hold on tight.  They leaned too far forward and the tube went under.  Nash let go but Caleb went down with the ship!  When the tube came up Caleb came up with it & yelled at Grandpa "You aren't suppose to do that!"  We got a good giggle out of it even if Caleb didn't think it was too funny.  At least I know the kid holds on tight!

Travis also rode the tube with Sam (she doesn't look too sure about it in this picture but she got on willingly!).  

Brooke decided she was going to help grandpa drive the boat while he was pulling Sam & Travis.

Travis skiied too.  I kept taking pictures trying to catch him in the air when he jumped the wake (not an easy thing to do but I finally figured out the trick!).  I finally got one of him!

On Sunday we played Bingo rather than just do a raffle.  My family made out like bandits.  Travis won the quilt that Grandma Bown donated.  Sam won the quilt top that Travis's great grandma put together before she passed away in 2000.  And Nash won a 2 liter bottle of Pepsi & a bag of popcorn.  They were all pretty dang excited!

We had a good time.  I'm glad that we went and that no one broke any limbs this trip (our last trip to Yuba ended with Nash breaking his arm).  I'm also glad that we didn't have any other tire trouble!  We even made it home at a fairly early hour (thanks to the wind) which made it so that we could get Travis ready to head back to work and still let him get some sleep!

Mountain Man Rendezvous 2013

We kicked off some summer fun today.  I got up early & made a quick trip to JoAnn's Fabric to get some items that I needed to finish the Mother's Day gift for my Mother in law that I haven't exactly started yet (oops).  When I got home I got a cake and a batch of cupcakes made for an order.  Travis decided we were going to go to the Mountain Man Rendezvous.  Little did I know he had invited his brother & sister's family to come along.  The kids were thrilled and I was doubtful my caking would be done in time for pick up.

Caleb insisted on wearing his chaps and cowboy hat and cowboy boots and taking his play pistol.  Everyone that saw him that he was pretty cute.  We ended up letting him get a double barrel shot gun (a wooden play one).  The guy we bought it from burned his initials into the gun with a magnifying glass.  Caleb tried to tell the guy he only spelled half his name because he only put CB on the gun stock.  The kids sure liked playing on this giant pile of rocks.

Brooke & Olivia are pretty cute together these days.  Olivia talks so much more and so much better than Brooke.  I'm sure it has to do with the fact that Sam, Nash & Caleb were talking for Brookelyn until I got after them.  Brooke looks bigger/older but when you talk to them you'd think Olivia was much older.  You'd never guess they are only three days apart!

We had to have a family picture while we were up there.  Trying to get four kids to look in the same direction at the same time AND smile...yea, I pretty much have given up on that idea!

This one is the best shot & it's my favorite one of Caleb.  He's all cowboy all the way! :)

You will notice in my hand I'm holding some dolls.  I found the cutest dolls for Brookelyn!  They are called Honey Button Dolls.  You can find them at their website here: http://www.honeybuttons.org .  I know that I could make these dolls - they aren't that difficult to do.  But I love the story behind them.  Every doll that is purchased, the money goes into making more dolls that are then donated to charities/kids in need.  The owner told me they just did a big donation to Primary Children's Hospital.  The dolls aren't super cheap ($25 each or 2/$40) but they are adorable.  I got her two dolls - 1 boy & 1 girl - that are twins (their tops are matching fabric).  Brookelyn loves them and I love that I get to help other kids by buying something for mine.  Go check out their website - I bet you'll love them as much as Brooke & I do!  

When we got home from the Rendezvous Travis invited his brother's family & his sister's family to stay for a bbq.  I had to finish "caking" so the order was ready to pick up by seven.  I made it with about 15 minutes to spare.  No pictures of the cake this time because it was Hello Kitty cake with Hello Kitty cupcakes again.  The bbq was fun and the kids had a great time playing together.  Kash's birthday is Monday and the kids are anxiously awaiting the day so they can go to the jumpzone and play!  Should be interesting.  I'm just hoping no one breaks a limb...because that would be just our luck!

He graduates

Caleb had his preschool graduation tonight.  He's all done with preschool & anxiously awaiting Kindergarten to begin!  He's been dying to go to Kindergarten since about March when I brought home the Kindergarten Readiness bag from Canyon for him to practice with all the things in it.  Goofy kid!

 Don't let him fool you.  He may look all cute & innocent in these pictures, but both Travis & I had to go up to him and whisper in his ear telling him to leave his hands in his lap & quit hitting the kid in front of him on the head & elbowing the kid next to him.  Stinker!

 Getting his diploma from Miss Shannon!

I have to mention (again) how much we LOVE Miss Shannon.  Miss Shannon was Sam's Kindergarten teacher at Lincoln.  She was FABULOUS with Sam.  When I realized she lived just up the street a few blocks & did preschool I was SO excited!  Caleb went to her last year and again this year.  He has also done summer camps with her for the last two summers.  We are very sad that she's moving June 1 and not only will Caleb not get to go back in the fall, but we also won't get to do summer camp with her & our Brookelyn won't get the fun of having Miss Shannon as a teacher either.

The graduation ceremony was cute.  This year she did it in the evening and she did it with the three & four year olds combined.  I was impressed none of the kids feel (or jumped) off the table!  One sibling (not of Caleb) did get a bloody nose on the trampoline though).  I also had two moms introduce me to their kids and tell them that I will be there teacher next year - makes it a little more real (scary!).

The Wellsville Mile

I'm fairly certain the date on this scrapbook page is wrong!  My brother was born when I was in 5th grade, which was 1990.  I'm figuring this would have been my fifth grade Wellsville Mile.  Must not have any photos of my fourth grade Wellsville Mile.   I can't believe it's been 22 years since my last Wellsville Mile run!  Now I get to sit on the sidelines & cheer my own kids on!  I told Sam today that I now get to watch the Wellsville Mile for FOUR years in a ROW!  Then I'll get a short break before Caleb runs it & a short break after his two years before Brooke runs it.  Crazy to think how many years this thing has been going!  It had been around a long time when I ran it!

Sam was in the first heat today.  That means she was in the very first group that ran!  Lucky her, she got to do it & get it over with before it hit 90*!  When I asked her how quick she was running the mile at school she told me she was about 15 minutes because "I walk a lot."  Hmmm....sounds like she takes after her mom a little! :)  Today she bested her best time by a full minute!  She clocked in at 12 minutes 9 seconds!  She was 106th in her heat (and there were still a lot of kids that came in after she did).  Not too shabby for a girl that "walks a lot"!  I think she was pretty proud of herself - as she should be!  When she was asking her friends what their time was they were all around 9-10 minutes.  I think she was disappointed that she hadn't been that quick.  I think she might keep running off and on until school starts in the fall & the official training kicks back up.  For the last month every time we go to my mom's house she jumps on the treadmill and tells my mom, "I've got to train for the Wellsville Mile!  It's coming up soon!"  She cracks me up!  She's more like me every day (now that's a scary thought!).  I sure did miss Grandma Lea today.  She was there to cheer me on at my Wellsville Mile both years.  I think Sam could feel her there as much as I could though. :)

 After the kids came over the finish line Sam said they scanned part of the runner bibs and gave them a print out of their time.  That was cool - technology has improved since my last mile! :)  They also had the kids go through a walkway (reminded me of the stalls they herd sheep through) to have the nurses check them out, get sprayed with water, pick up a drink & an ice cream.

 My cousin teaches fourth grade at Wellsville Elementary.  Sam got to talk to Aleisha as she went through the walkway where Aleisha was stationed.  When Sam got through the walkway she said, "Mom?  What's your cousin's name that teaches school again?"  I told her "Aleisha."  And I got a "Yea!  Her!  I got to talk to her back there!"  She was pretty excited :)  I was impressed she remembered Aleisha was my cousin!  We don't get together with the whole clan too often any more!  Thanks for the moral support Aleisha - Sam thought it was pretty awesome!

 Here she is coming out of the walkway (she's done being a herded sheep) :)

 Sam had lots of friends run today.  There are nine schools that participate in the Wellsville Mile.  Next year should be fun because her cousin Jade will run it too!  Sam managed to snag one of the girls from our neighborhood for a picture.  She wanted a picture with the other kid in our neighborhood but he had left earlier with his mom.

 I took the day off work and stayed for the ENTIRE event - Sam wouldn't let me leave.  We ate lunch together with her friends and did some chillin' in the shade.  I even took a short nap in the sun/shade of a tree and ended up sunburned on the back of my arms!  Oops...

I think Sam's excited about doing the mile again next year.  Running is torture to me but she sure seemed to have fun and that's all that matters.  I'll take all the sunburns necessary for the next three years in a row just to see these crazy kids of mine smile!