Temple Square and Lagoon

We kept our family trip close to home this year with a visit to Salt Lake City with our first day spent at Lagoon.

 After a quick just-in-case-we-get-separated photo of the boys, we split up into several groups with a meet up time for later. Hyrum (who wasn't quite tall enough to join the thrill seekers) and I kept it close to the kiddie rides and had a great time! As the youngest of 6 (which has grown to 9) he revels in individual mom time. Our common loved ride was the swings. We would get off and run back around through the empty line to get right back on. 

After a day of rides and wandering we ended up at Pioneer Village. LeRoy (who is not a museum kind of guy) and the younger boys went back to the rides while Levi, Daymia, Derek and I wandered through the old-time shops. We each found a place that called to us: Daymia at the barbershop, Derek at the watchmakers, Levi at the old church full of interesting facts, and Me at the piano shop.

Erika and Kailee Jo joined us for the second day while we visited Temple Square. They had recently moved to Taylorsville and Bret was unable to join us due to his new job. However, we took very good care of his girls, often arguing over who got to stroll with Kailee.

We toured the Beehive House, the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, and the North Visitors' Center where we wandered the lower level with all the videos, paintings and statues as well as the upper level where we had a family picture in front of the Christus.

I love the feeling of reverence in this place, especially when sharing it with those who mean so much to me!

4th of July Highlights

♥  Family  ♥

Vivien and Gabor
Only a few days in the USA and they fit right in with our crazy family just perfectly!

Kailee Jo

Parade and Fireworks
And again, Vivien, Gabor, and Kailee Jo!

Explosions

From a safe distance we watched LeRoy lead another explosive (and messy) summer show. Only watermelon and dumptster treasures were injured.

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.

May - Wrapping Up the School Year

So Many Projects!! The last month of school just about did us in, especially Nathan.

His first assignment was to re-purpose a household item. He decided to take an old shirt and turn it into an apron. The sewing machine was a bit intimidating at first but soon he had the pedal going at a steady pace. At school the next day all the items were set up and judges came to give awards.

Nathan won first place which earned him a new water bottle.


The boys and I decorated Mrs. Garner's door for teacher appreciation week. She has been an amazing teacher for Nathan this year!

Nathan was chosen with three other kids from his 4th grade class to participate in the district spelling bee. He studied and studied his four pages of words and was confident right up to the point of going on stage.

Then stage fright caught him a little. Luckily, he was there with his good friend Peyton and the two of them were able to enjoy the even and laugh at their silly mistakes.

The most time consuming project was Nathan's Idaho History report. We had to go to the sand dunes to take pictures and collect sand. He spent time researching and typing a report and then had to practice his oral report that would be done at their class rendezvous in front of all the fourth grade parents. In spite of the wind, his presentation went very well.

Shortly after the project was finished we hiked the Menan Butte and from the top Nathan hollered out, "hey, it's my sand dunes".

Though Hyrum didn't have projects to do, he had lines to memorize as well as knowing when to say his lines. Not a small feat for this second grader. His class wrote a play and practiced for nearly a month in preparation for their final performance.

What an adorable wolf! He was not big or bad, just clever and witty.

In the middle of all the end-of-school-year chaos, I took a quick trip to Colorado with my mom, Kara, Kate, and Brooklyn to go to Audi's baby shower. John and Audi were flying to Colorado from Georgia and we knew it might be the only time we see them for a while. Audi's family is always so welcoming and I adore both John and Audi!

The traveling was great too. I am blessed with a fun mom and witty, wonderful sisters and creative Brooklyn keeps us all young and entertained.

Hallelujah!! We made it through another school year.
Bring on the summer.