Fullmer Family Camping Reunion

We had such a fantastic time with our extended cousins at the Heritage Grove Campground in Mt. Pleasant Utah!

Good food, fun games, late night conversations, and plenty of laughter filled our weekend. Two nights hardly seemed long enough!

Each of us left our hand prints on the big family tree.


Grandkid cousins

Parent cousins

Grandparent siblings

Four generations of the Vern and Reva Family:
1 - Fullmer siblings: Alice, Sylvia, Evan
2 - Oldest son, Evan's kids: James, Kimberly, Jared, Kate, Joe, Kara, Jake
3 - Oldest grandchild, Kimberly's kids: Justin, Erika, Derek, Hyrum, Nathan
4 - Oldest great grandchild: Kailee Jo


The lake was a highlight throughout the entire day!

Graceful . . .

Not so graceful . . .

Yes, that is an "adult" pushing a kid (his nephew) off the diving board, on a bike, into the lake.

Dedicated Hikers

Bubble Challenges

Volleyball At Dusk

Evan and Trudy Fullmer Posterity

Evan and Trudy Fullmer Children

Memorial Day Hike

We celebrated the first summer holiday with a hike up "R" Mountain in Menan.

It was the first time that it was just Nathan, Hyrum, LeRoy and I doing a family activity. What a solemn reminder that after Justin's upcoming senior year, it will just be the four of us.

Nathan was excited to get around to the north side so that he could see the sand dunes. After doing his Idaho report on the sand dunes, he really wanted to see a full view of them instead of just pictures.

 Hyrum, with the shortest legs in the group, pointed out how far away the van was from the top.

My Boys

We took the long way home so that we could stop and visit the Fullmer graves. I turned around at one point and found both boys saluting the flag near Grandpa Vern's military plate. We took the opportunity to discuss the holiday and to thank Grandpa.

We also talked about Great Aunt Donna, who didn't even know who I was (blood relative) but never forgot LeRoy, and Great Grandpa Will and Great Grandma Fannie who settled the Menan area where we have our yearly family reunion. The visit brought to mind some of my favorite memories of Grandma Reva.

Later that day I went on my own to the Rexburg cemetery to take a brief time remembering the stories my Evans Great Grandparents, Jessie (who Hyrum is named after) and Sylvia.

Mesa Falls and Warm River Rail Trail

On a warm Sunday afternoon we took to nature once again, this time heading for one of our favorite yearly spots near Ashton.

The falls never disappoint. The crisp, clear air and the rushing of the cascading water mutes the noise of a busy life. One of the biggest advantages is that LeRoy has no cell phone service which means we get his undivided attention for family time.

Erika and two month old Kailee came with us.

We also took Charlie along with us and quickly found that his short, stout legs are not built for steep stairs or hiking. His wheezing breath caused him to drop on his belly in the first spot of shade that we walked through, refusing to leave.

Following a rejuvenating walk along the falls, we headed to the abandoned Warm River Rail Trail.

The tunnel under the road offered a comedy of echoes and a touch of shade before we took to the trail along the Warm River in the full heat of the sun.

 The abandoned train tunnel is an impressive build in size and design. One end was blocked off for safety with a large gate that LeRoy didn't even hesitate to climb over, and the other end was open due to the massive gate being crumpled in a rock slide. The dates, names, and marriage proposals carved into the huge beams led our imaginations to create stories of those who had hiked before us.

Walking the half mile back to our van in full sun left us a bit sunburned but extremely satisfied with our spring Sabbath in nature.

Dinner was a simple picnic in a shaded grove of aspens.

June - Summer Is Here

Our first summer morning was spent sleeping in and Nathan making Hyrum's favorite breakfast of One-Eyed Sailors.

The first Summer Saturday was the boy's gymnastics recital. I love seeing how they have progressed and watching the students interact with Justin as their coach. Many of them asked for individual pictures with him or gave him hugs.

Just like at home, Brock fits in as one of the brothers. We all have nicknames for him and he grins at each one. Justin call him Brock and Roll, which seems to be his favorite.

Eight Saturday's were dominated by Hyrum's soccer schedule.  Hyrum is an excellent soccer player! He has energetic stamina, is always aware of the ball and this season he was one of the high scorers on his team.

The most random moment at soccer was when a girl brought a rabbit on a leash and then put the rabbit in her chair and she sat on the ground. Odd.

Derek also had a break from school for the summer which means we get to see him a bit more. After purchasing a new-to-him (but really kind of old) car, we welcomed those extra trips with a lot less concern for his safety that will his previously owned $600 car.

During one of his trips home, Daymia convinced him to let her pluck his uni-brow.

My morning joy throughout May and June was my three hours with Kailee Jo.

I'd happily delay a shower, laundry, housework, office work, cooking, and just about anything else to snuggle with her . . . and I did.

I tried to put her down while she was sleeping so I didn't create any bad habits that Erika had to undo but that didn't mean I wasn't just sitting there staring at her. And, no matter how tightly I had her swaddled, she would work her arms out to get them up along her face.

In just two short months she grew so much! Those gassy smiles in her sleep turned to real smiles with eye contact and completely melted my heart. I'm just mush with her! Being a grandma really is as great as everyone said it would be.