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.

April

Chef Hyrum pulled an April Fools prank on every one of us.

He carefully made some marshmallow brown E's and had us all look in the oven to see his dessert.
Tricky boy . . . now we are all craving brownies!!

He then followed (loosely) a recipe from his new cookbook and made a delicious (really it was!) yogurt dessert with strawberry yogurt, crushed Oreos, marshmallows and a slight drizzle of caramel.


We also had some delicious dessert per Nathan's birthday requests.

Oreo Pizza and Fruit Pizza

Happy 10th Birthday, Big Boy!

While Bret's family was in town for spring break and Derek was home for General Conference, we gathered at our house for Kailee Jo's baby blessing.

A member of the bishopric came to preside and act as witness while we filled our living room with a whole lot of people who love this new baby girl.  Bret gave her a beautiful, tender blessing.

Kailee Jo
First child for Bret and Erika
First grandchild for Ron and Jill
First grandchild for LeRoy and Kimberly



Happy Easter!

The boys were a little too helpful when Daymia was making an Easter wreath for her front door.
Nathan left; Hyrum right


I woke one morning to find Justin sound asleep in front of the fire.

He'd had a rough night and needed a little extra warmth from the fire. By the time the sun was coming in through the windows he and Charlie were cuddled up on the couch soaking up the warmth of the sun.


Now that the weather is warming up the boys have been begging to walk the 2 miles to church.
They also walked home from church along with half of the neighborhood kids.

They looked like mini missionaries heading off into the field.