Alpine Days . . . Annual Bateman Family Reunion

I am trying to add more than one image . . . this has taken me all morning . . . I think I finally figured it out. We will see.

We had our annual Bateman Family reunion for Alpine days. Because of School and Scout camps we weren't able to go to the Rodeo or Parade, but made it to the "BIG" dinner . . . Yummy Hawaiian Haystacks and Wahoo!!! Root Beer Floats . . . . Dad was there for dinner, but then had other obligations. It was good to see you dad, I hope you had a good time. We missed you for the rest of the night.

All the cousins seem to have had a great time playing sports, swinging, running and don't forget the tramp . . .

Jordan brought out the big toys and my kids loved it. I think BJ and Taft wanted to ride, but are trying to be "grown-up" and didn't want to seem too anxious so they missed out on that. Taft is sure he was "fine".

The big kids . . . including Jordan had a rousing game of basketball that no one wanted to end. The game was finally called in the case of it was dark . . . and time to go to the fireworks . . .

Judy bought glow sticks that were the hit of the night . . . the kids had a great time running and moving them all over the place. Heber hardly noticed the fireworks and just kept spinning his (and has been spinning his for 2 solid days) half way through he decided that the fireworks were boring and wanted to go. Once I told him that was always my favorite part of Alpine days and I remembered going with my mom and grandma when I was his age he stopped for a minute and loved the second half.

We had a great time, we got home really late. Late enough for me to have to be up until 3:30 working on my sharing time for the next day. It was really nice to see everyone and missed all of you who couldn't be there.

2008 Cherry Hill Vacation

We just got home from our vacation . . . and jumped right back into our crazy busy life.

I just got back from dropping off Ammon to Mill Hollow (a school camp, similar to Clear Creek). He will be there until Friday afternoon and then he, Taft and BJ will leave for scout camp and get home Saturday afternoon which is when we will head out to Alpine for Alpine Days and our Annual Bateman Family Reunion. Carson, BJ and Taft have scouts tonight, Bill and I are going to girls camp on Thursday with the other members of the Bishopric and their wives, I know we have something Friday, but it escapes me now. (one of these days I will be on top of my schedule, but today is not one of those days.)

I am still new to this whole blogging thing and writing everything down so it all sounds so choppy . . . but if I waited until I felt comfortable I would never get it done.

We were going to go some place new since we have gone to Cherry Hill for about 4 years straight, but with gas prices and signing our life away on our new addition we decided to stay with the familiar. We camped for 8 days/7nights. It was really fun, we camped, swam, went to Get Smart and Journey to the Center of the Earth, cooked by fire and camp stoves and a few restaurants, went to the Ogden and Logan Temples and Ogden Canyon as well as Morgan and then swam some more . . . and more . . . and more.

It was really fun, each of the kids had a meal to prepare and a clean up job . . . if you notice the picture of Heber in front of the tent you will see his job was keeping the front of the tent and the shoes clean, all the shoes we kept in a line the whole vacation. The kids had a great time and it was so nice to be there together, only a few minor fights, brawls and "it wasn't me" or "he did it first" and only one or two "I hate you's" but what can you expect with 5 boys, one tent.

I am not sure what the kids enjoyed the most, but they are all getting to be great divers and are a bit competitive. Even Heber learned to dive and spent as much time as he could in the deep end. I am still a nervous mom and it made me really uneasy as much as he was there. We attempted actual smores and banana boats . . . they were so good.

As fun as it was and as horrible as it is to come home and have to deal with all the laundry and unpacking it is so nice to be home. It was really weird to come home to our addition and wood floor. It wasn't that I forgot about it, but it was just so nice and shocking. I love our house. I am so grateful for my boys, my husband, my house, my life.

I am really excited to see everyone for Alpine Days and will miss everyone who can't be there.