Grandma Monson, and Cousins...come to visit.

We had so much fun the last few days with some family in town. Grandpa Monson was supposed to come down with them, but last min got really sick with his Kidney Stones again. So we really missed him. But Grandma Monson and the Hansen family were all able to make it. We meet up with them Wednesday night to go to Tuacahn for the production of "The Little Mermaid." We were so excited to go because it was just a girls night. Uncle Quin stayed behind to watch all the boys...and have a big sleep-over with them. (Thanks Quin). We had a great time...not as hot as it usually is for August, so the weather was bearable. We loved the performance yet again. But by intermission the kids were done...only down fall it was so dare long for them, and even me for that matter. We had a great night.




We then meet up with them Thursday Morning to go on some hikes up on the red rocks. The kids loved this and even though it was really hot, they wanted to keep going.

We let them hike this little place called the narrow. It is this Little crack in the mountain, you try and fit through and make it out at the top. The kids were a little skeptical, but aunt Heidi, and I assured them they would love it. Well, about half way through I decided I was getting to claustrophobic and had to turn around..so I casually asked Heidi if she was okay, or if she got claustrophobic...she let me know right then, she was going to pass out because she is really claustrophobic, and needed to get out right that second. So needless to say I had her wiggle past me, and I tried to stay calm to help the rest of the kids make it to the top. When we all got tot the top, they all yelled they wanted to do it again, and grandma Monson let them know aunt Amber would take them...I yelled out oh no I'm not once was enough for me. We all got a good laugh out of it, because we were telling the kids they would love it and it wasn't scary and in the end neither Heidi or I wanted to do it again. The kids however, ended up doing it again...all by themselves. They had a blast... When we were done we went to get in our cars and mine wouldn't start, this has happened a lot and we just thought we fixed the problem, but apparently not. So we were finally able to start the car, after waiting about 15 mins in the hot sun. We then went to McDonald's to let the kids play, eat, and cool off. Then it was off to look at Quin, and Dani's knew house. Which again my car wouldn't start. So I decided I needed to head home, and get it into a shop...so we had to bow out of the splash pad that night.

Friday we ended up having everyone come over this way for our big swim day. They kids were all fish and loved the water they of course didn't want to get out. They all got along so good.





We then headed down to St. George for dinner at the Pizza Factory, and a fun ride around the Merry Go round...complements of Grandma Monson...Thank you. We had a blast and love when family come to visit.

2011 Monson Family Reunion.

We started our journey out Thursday Morning. On my side of the family (Eves) we had a wedding to go to. Most of the family meet up at Sizzler before we headed to the reception. It was so good to see everyone that could make it. You really realize how much you miss family when they move away, and how you took for granted them living so close. Anyway it was really fun to catch up with a lot of family at the wedding reception, and the kids were in heaven because they had a Candy Buffet.



The next Morning we sported our Monson Family Reunion shirts to head to Lagoon. This was the kids first time, and boy did they have a blast. Especially with the cousins. Everything is more fun with cousins. We got there at 10:30, and the park opened at 11:00, and we did not stop once from sun up to sun down. We had lunch and dinner, and I think they took a total of 30 minutes all together, and then the kids were off again. Later in the day we tried Lagoona Beach, but we only lasted and hour or two, because Shaylee and Addison were to small for all the rides. So we headed off to play in the park the rest of the day. Addison, and Shaylee have no fear, and they only thing from keeping them off any of the rides was there height. So Addison and I did a lot of rides together, while Preston, Shaylee, and Dean, where able to go on a few of the bigger ones. Preston went on every single one Dean did, and I think he went on all the scarey rides in the park, He loved it.




How many Monson kids can you count in the tree? (Oh, this was a BIG Monson reunion, all of Grandpa Ray, and Grandma Tweet's...posterity) so there were a lot of kids.

We got home from Lagoon around 11:30, got to bed by 12:30 or so, and had to be up by 7:00 to go take Monson family pictures. We went to this old LDS church down in SLC that has the most beautiful garden area with a river running through it and waterfalls, and huge trees, it was beautiful.
This was one of the last shots of the day, as you can tell I think the grand kids where all done.
After that it was off for another fun filled day of Monson reunion stuff. First off the BIG scavenger hunt. Can I just tell you it was awesome. My father and Mother in-law put so much time and energy into this, and we loved it. Thank you Grandpa and Grandma Monson. There were Three different routes...ours started out at finding our ancestors graves, and putting carnations by their graves. Grandpa had a little story written up about each of them, and how we were related to them. It was really neat to hear.


We also had a stop in front of Deans Grandpa Ray's house where Kirk and all his sister's and Brother grew up. We had many stops along the way...there old school, where they went to college, where they played and a bunch of childhood stories, and places.

That is us holding up our best "Y" signs in front of the U.. all of Kirk and his family graduated from the U so that was on our stop.
Holding up our wax lips, and mustaches, grandpa Monosn use to get at the local candy store or market. All in all it was a great scavenger hunt, we really learned a lot and loved it. We then meet up at a church to mingle and eat lunch, do some activities and just have fun. We had a great time with all our family this last weekend. We woke up Sunday really early to come home, because I had a meeting with our new bishopric. We just got put into the brand new 19th ward, so we went last week to see who was in our new ward. We have had a very fun field summer, with plenty of cousin playing I cant believe we start school in a couple of weeks. YIKES.

Another 4th Celebration

We came home Sunday the 3rd from Centerville, since they had done all their 4th celebration's over the weekend. Hurricane was doing theirs on Monday the 4th. Dean had homework so I took the kids to the Hurricane parade. Oh, It was sad. Only like 15 entry's and they spaced them out so it took like 3 mins tell the next one came. Horses and bikes that was about it. The kids left I think with 2 candies each. We then returned home, Dean, and Preston went golfing while they girls stayed home and cleaned and got ready for our family get together that night.



We invited Dean's Sister Marie, and Brother Quin, and there cute families over for a little BBQ, and fireworks. We ended up playing a few games in the house tell it cooled down outside a bit.

We love this golf ball throwing game (we don't know what it's really called) :) and they kids love to play it too. Uncle Quin, Shaylee, and Allie won this one. Probably because the girls would get right up to the one they had to throw it on and just toss it. Instead of staying way back and throwing it, Oh well though they loved it.

We then got out the little fire pit and roasted the Marshmallows to make some Yummy S'mores. It was a really nice night. Not to hot, but with the fire pit we were all sweating a little. Uncle Quin, and Aunt Dani brought the big campfire marshmallows. I don't know if any of you have seen these but they are huge. They were so big they kept falling off our grilling sticks.





A little later it was onto the firework show. The guys did an alright job, but I think fireworks are a wast of money it's like throwing your money out in the street and lighting it on fire. Anyway sorry about that. The kids did enjoy it and the grand finale was a bunch of fireworks up in the sky. It was awesome. We had a great day spending it with family. It is always more fun when you have someone to enjoy it with.