Having too much fun isn't a bad thing...

Aspen Grove Family Reunion 2011

Where do I even start?

A week-long reunion/vacation where...

-your kids had something to do and a place to be at from after breakfast to dinnertime

-there is free childcare...oh what a sweet blessed thing this is!

-all breakfast, lunch and dinners are provided - no cooking = sweet bliss for me

-sports - And I could actually participate in them this time!

-adults can have fun too - got to spend some awesome time with hubby playing basketball and racquetball

-ropes course

-rock wall

-family nights

-staying up late playing games

-paint ball

-crafts

-pen making

-time to take naps

-ice cream shop

-bonds made between cousins that will last forever

-hikes

-tournaments

-getting to play said tournaments with my hubby

-getting to know the in-laws and out-laws better

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Man, oh man - I could go on forever. What a special time Aspen Grove was. The Giles family members (hubby, his siblings' families and parents) have contributed and saved for over 15 years to be able to make this happen. I hope and pray that my kids remember how special this time was and know how blessed they were to have this much fun with cousins and family galore because this experience cannot be quantified.

Because we were too busy having fun, most of these pictures are compiled from everyone else in the family who were smart enough to take pictures. Thank you guys!

Aleana on a hike with Uncle Monte, Aunt Nancy and cousins

The whole fam-dam-ly - we sure are a good lookin' bunch!

Paint-ball, which I will never forget, nor will my leg.

Family games

Big ball

These next three pics crack me up - I don't know what joke Trace told, but it had to be funny:

Kayley, Brooke, Aleana and Jessica getting ready for the ropes course

Cousins from the Cubs group - Trent, Eli, Brittany, Trevin, and Jasmine

Trent, Eli, and Brittany

Trent was so bummed that he was too young for the ropes course - but he felt better as he climbed the rock wall. Go Trent!

Putting the kids to be at night was so easy...Hannah loved her "Stomper Friends".

Staying up way too late playing games with the fam

Oh yeah, we're awesome :)

some the guys waiting for family pictures. Check out the second guy from the left - he's HOT!

Bright and shiny at breakfast time...wish I felt the same

games

more games

such skill...

athletic skills require grace...even with a plunger

on the count of three...

These girls spent every second they could with each other...I would have to hunt Aleana down just to be sure she was still alive. She had a blast.

We had way too much fun

a view that fightens this mama bear. Aleana was fearless on the ropes course. She rocked it!

Go Aleana Go!

Both hands PLEASE!

We. Had. A. Blast. (well aside from me and Trace getting some stomach bug the last two days we were there. It's bound to happen when that many people from all over the country get together. And yes, the country store does sell pepto...at a steep price).

It's great to be 8

Trent was baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on August 6, 2011. What a special day it was. I am proud of the decision he has made. It was wonderful to have family come and be part of this blessed occasion.

Trent is one of those kids who's wheels are constantly turning in that bright head of his. He always has questions and he always has something to say. However, he doesn't share those thoughts until he is ready. I used to think I knew what was going on, what he was thinking. But to be honest, most of the time, I don't have a clue. It surprises me when he speaks and asks questions and wonders "why" out-loud. His questions are deep and his convictions are even deeper. Listening to his testimony reiterated that for me. He bore his testimony on Sunday, in front of the whole congregation. It was simple and powerful. None of us had even discussed the whole bearing-your-testimony-thing with Trent. He didn't even tell us he was planning on doing so. He just got up and walked all the way up there all by himself. I was surprised. he doesn't like being in front of a crowd, as he embarrasses easily. It's amazing how our children continue to teach us through their courage and humility.

Trent - what a special spirit you have. I am so blessed to be your mother.

Gunfighter Skies Air Show Awesomeness

The best way to spend a beautiful, glorious weekend? Not much can top taking the kids to the air show. See this picture? Yep, I was there. I got to see that.

There are so many things that I loved about the air show. Shamelessly, I admit to getting teared up a few times, as I watched, with my neck cranked, to see the majestic feats of what these pilots and jets can do. And most of the time those tears can't even be blamed on the sun glaring in my eyes. Dang it - I"ll remember my sunglasses next time.

Trace was busy with media and problem solving and you know - actually working. But he did manage take some time to sit with us and enjoy the "Whoa! Dad, did you see that?!?" and "AWESOME!" and "C'mon planes, drop another bomb!" (that one was all Hannah). And then there were the cheers that neither one of us could hear, because it was too darn loud. Watching the pure excitement and joy that our kids had plastered on their faces in the name of a smile never gets old.

I am unabashedly patriotic. I know that this country has a whole litany of problems. But, as a whole, I could not be anymore proud. Seeing those birds in the sky and what they represent isn't lost on me. It's a reminder of what it is we are fighting for. I am grateful.

When the Thunderbirds taxied in after their jaw-dropping show, Trace and I just smiled at each other - and then I realized that we were both emotional. Me of course, by way of tears. Trace just had a grateful look in his eyes. He asked me what my favorite part was...and I had a few parts that stood out more than others...but there was just too much to quantify with a simple answer. There were different types of favorites - like the sheer power of the F-15E Strike Eagle or the unbelievable precision of the Thunderbirds. Then there's the other underlying things that made me think - like the Heritage Flight - where the F-15E and a P-51 flew side by side - representing the past and present. And the music that was played that covered every genre - but most emotionally was the sound track from The Band of Brothers. Just too many levels of favorites...

But I think what I enjoyed the most was the overall experience. Seeing everything and feeling the roar of jets pound on my chest - I felt like a kid again. Dreaming and imagining what it would be like to be in that MiG or Hornet...it allows even us grown-ups to have pure simple fun. And for a brief moment, there are no worries. Then as the roar passes, one of my kids starts back to screaming about one injustice or another brought on by his/her siblings. Being a grown-up is so overrated. :)

The static displays that they had on hand were so cool. The Osprey, which Trent called the Transformer plane was a favorite. There were tanks, spy planes, experimental planes, helicopters, bi-planes, sheesh - even a 757 Fed Ex jet.

Kids having fun, driving this mama to crazy town.

My favorite was the C-5. I guess I kind of like the big birds. I look at them and just can't believe they actually get off the ground. The C-5 is HUGE. And it happens to remind me of a shark. So I called it Jaws.

Jaws - welcoming it's prey...

Now if you look closely - you can see Aleana, at the top of the ramp, just to the left. I wanted to get a picture of her - just to see the scale of the size of this monster.

Then of course, we got so sit down in the C-5, but Trace was busy working, so I had to take some pictures. The plane was kind of stinky - but that's because someone to the left of us decided it was a good time to pull out some food and eat. Whatever they were eating - it had onions on it:

Luke really wanted to sit next to us, but that was a battle that I wasn't willing to deal with. His poor little red face is just another example of why I should win "The Mother of the Year" award. Put sunscreen on his legs and arms, but forgot the face.

This pic just cracks me up...Trent saw it and said he looks like a sleeping lizard. Lizard boy it is.

MiGs and I don't know the name of the other - doing a mock battle.

The Heritage Flight I was talking about. There was bagpipe music playing in the background as they flew side by side...and by the flight pattern, I think it was flown in the shape of a cross.

My favorite solo-act. This is a F-15E Strike Eagle. This is what Trace represents at Mountain Home Air Force Base. These are our guys. And watching this one fly made me cheer. There's nothing quite like being able to feel the raw power and force.

Luke just cracked me up. He's such a chill baby. This is what he looked like when the F-18 did a fly-by. No feathers ruffled. No big deal.

Oh man, his poor tomato face :(

The next 10 pictures are amazing - which means that I didn't take them. They are courtesy of the Public Affairs Airmen at MHAFB. They are some good pics. Even though no justice can be done by pictures to explain the awesomeness of the Thunderbirds, these are as close as you can get:

Hands down, my favorite formation. It's called the Delta 1st. And when they do this, they are coming right at ya.

Love, Love, LOVE this pic.

Thunderbird 5 is the one that is upside-down. It's also the one that does all the upside-down tricks - Aleana thought it was cool that the number 5 is painted upside-down on the jet (when the jet is right-side-up).

Loved the contrail on this one...great pic

And afterwards, the kids got to meet the pilots and get their autographs. Trent was in heaven. And he was pretty good about getting in there and getting things signed. He had 4 signatures before Aleana even got one.

Random pic in front of a spy-plane.

Trent got to stand next to one of the experimental planes. It is the tiniest thing - I would need to shrink a few inches and drop a few pounds to fit in that.

Inside a tank. Every kids dream :)

Too cute

Handsome

This one is for their Uncle Jesse. They got to crawl through a helicopter.

Last but not least, a people-watching picture. Everyone's eyes are on the skies.

Gunfighter Skies Air Show = Awesomeness :)

Smart kid

Quigley, our not so little Yorkie weighs in at a staggering 20 lbs. Yorkies are supposed to weigh about 8 lbs, or so I am told. He's a happy, fat, sausage-like dog whom my kids love. Of course, he loves them too. Although it may or may not have something to do with our kids and their knack for leaving a trail of crumbs. Quigley, in his very focussed and persistant way, follows right behind them mopping up whatever evidence they leave behind. Most of the time I don't mind - it just means I have to sweep my floors far less than normal. Luke, on the other hand, does not care for Quigley's sweeping ways. And I imagine it has something to do with Quigley and his tendency to be a bit over-zealous when it comes to his crumb-cleaning technique. Quigs gets too impatient. So impatient in fact, that he forgets or maybe just skips the step to wait for the said food to hit the floor. No, instead he goes on the offense and just eats it out of Luke's hand. Without Luke's permission. Bad Dog! We all know that Luke likes his food. And he doesn't like to share it. And by golly, I think he's found a way to ration Quigley's crumb-y behavior.

He's a smart kid.

Oh how this kid makes me smile.

Found this quote - I need to frame it and put it on the wall:

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow

But children grow up as I've learned to my sorrow

So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.