Utah Trip - Part 4 - Anderson Family Reunion!

On July 25, the Anderson family gathered together for our third annual family reunion. The first half of the day was spent at Sue's family cabin up Lamb's canyon. We all love it here! It is rustic and oh so beautiful! We met around 10:00 am and stayed until around 3 pm. We went on hikes, swung on the swing, had lunch, hiked around the lake, talked and played games.
Here is Megan, Rachel and Chiara sitting in the porch swing...the best seat in the house!
Daniel and Megan hiking together.

Ken and Hannah walking around the lake.

Brian and Hannah with the others in the background, enjoying the beautiful mountain scenery.

Adorable Hannah! Could you get any cuter than this?!!

After the cabin, we all met at Ken and Cheri's for dinner, games and fireworks. They had it very well planned, and everyone had a great time together.

Grandma, Grandpa, Natalie and Ramona enjoying dinner.

After dinner, we had some fun games, including this one...the marshmellow shooters. We had to blow the marshmellow to our fellow teammate and try and make it into the small cup. It was pretty funny!

Natalie and Michael trying to catch marshmellows.

Devin and Megan waiting their turn.

Rachel and Hannah giving it a try.

Now for the adults! This is when it got really funny! Tammy and Ramona getting serious!

Paul and Cody trying to catch their marshmellows. It was harder than it looked!

Brian showing me where to aim!

Dad and Brian waiting for the ammo....

Blow, blow, blow.....

Catch, Sue, Catch!!!

Mom was quite the good marshmellow blower!

Devin looking cool as always!

Cheri thinking about the many reasons she decided to plan this game in the first place!

Ken looks like he is about to take a serious aim at Cheri!

After the fun and games, we all went to the front yard to enjoy fireworks together. It started out with sparklers for the kids, and then got bigger as the night progressed. It was quite a good show!

Devin joined the girls in tag, and grabbed Rachel over the shoulder and did a spin with her, much to her delight!

Here is some of the last fireworks done before ending the night. It looked better in real life....I'm not quite sure how to capture fireworks on camera yet! All in all, this was a very fun reunion, thanks mostly to Ken and Cheri! They planned a lot of great events for us all to enjoy. Mostly it was just wonderful being together, bonding, laughing and playing together. We love being with family and strengthening the ties that bind us all together!

Utah Trip - Part 3 - Daniel's Baptism!

This was the highlight of our trip....Daniel's baptism on July 24 - Pioneer Day! We asked Daniel if he wanted to be baptized in Fresno with all his friends and teachers, or in Utah with all his family. He thought about it quite seriously and decided that he wanted to be surrounded by his family for his baptism. And surrounded he was....there were 72 family members that attended!!!! What an awesome experience for us to feel such great support and love from our family!
Here is Daniel and Dad (Brian) right before his baptism.

Daniel looking excited and proud to be following Jesus' example.

Here we are...what proud parents! A little tidbit of information...Daniel was baptized in the same church/font that I (Sue) was!

Daniel and Mom (Sue). When I saw Daniel in his white baptism clothes, I got quite emotional. Eight years flashed before my eyes, and I couldn't believe how fast the time had flown!

Here is Uncle Steve (Sue's brother) conducting the baptism. He is the ward missionary in his ward, and was perfect for the job! Thanks Steve!

Aunt Kimi (Sue's sister-in-law) conducting the music. Thanks Kimi!!!

Uncle Bob (Sue's brother) playing the piano. No one plays the piano like Bob! He can turn a "normal" hymn into a work of art! Thanks Bob!!!

Here we are after Daniel's baptism singing a musical number, "I like to look for Rainbows." It was fun to sing as a family!

Daniel had asked both of his grandpas to give the prayers; Grandma Anderson gave a talk about baptism, and Grandma Farley gave a talk about the Holy Ghost. The entire program was just family. It was so awesome! Bishop Jardine, who is my parents bishop set the whole thing up and presided at the baptism. We are also very grateful to him for all he did for us!

Grandpa Farley hugging Daniel.

Daniel and Uncle Reed.

Uncle Ken and Aunt Cheri (Brian's brother and wife) enjoying cookies after the baptism.

More family enjoying each other after the baptism.

Daniel with Grandma and Grandpa Farley.

Here are lots of the family and friends who came to support us! I wasn't a fast enough picture taker to get a group picture of everyone before people started leaving, but it was amazing to count 72 people who came!

Daniel with Grandma and Grandpa Anderson.

Here is our family after this wonderful occasion in Daniel's life. We are all so proud of Daniel and this important step in his life. He is very aware of what he did on this day, and we know he will always remember how many people love him and support him! Congratulations Daniel!!! We love you so much!!!

Utah Trip - Part 2 - The McKnight's!!!

On Wednesday, July 22, we headed up to Heber City to visit Candee and Jason McKnight! They lived in Fresno 6 1/2 years ago and we were best friends. We would get together all the time to play games and hang out. I was so sad when they moved to Washington. Last year when they moved to Utah, I was so excited because I knew we would finally be able to connect again! When they lived here, they had four boys....now they have six! They have a big, beautiful home with the most gorgeous mountain scenery for their front and back yards!
Here we are...Sue and Candee....notice our outfits? The color scheme was not planned!!!:)

They have a bunch of chickens roaming around their property, and Daniel became the expert chicken catcher. He loved running around chasing chickens! I think he was born for country livin'.

They also have a gorgeous horse that they were given! They have enough room on their property for this horse to get plenty of exercise. Daniel loved riding it!

Rachel also loved being on the horse!

Looking good, Brian!

Here we all are, right before dinner....making silly faces! Let's see if I can name everyone...Jason, Candee, Brian, Tyler, Rachel, Logan, Chad and Braydon. At the small table was Rikker, Daniel and CJ. The dinner was fabulous! We had homemade lettuce wraps that would give PF Changs a run for their money! For dessert, we had oreo balls! If you don't know what those are....don't ask! They are highly addictive and incredibly yummy!!!

After dinner, we proceeded to break out the Ma-Jong game and play until almost midnight....for old times sake! It was a blast!

Thanks Jason and Candee for hosting us in your beautiful home! We loved reconnecting with your family! The years apart seemed to disappear! We love you guys and can't wait for our next visit! (We have a new game we want to play with you....Dutch Blitz!!!!) Until next time....

This was one of the big highlights of our trip!

Utah Trip - Part 1 - Pinedale Reservoir

We just returned from a fabulous vacation spent in Utah with all our family! We were there from July 18 - August 1. The first week was spent with my (Sue) family, and the second week was spent with Brian's family. On Tuesday, July 21, we spent the day with Sue's brother and family - Bob and Kimi Farley, Tanner, Christian, Madi, Collin and Andie. Bob brought his boat and two wave runners, and we had a fabulous day on the lake.
Here is Brian and Rachel heading out on the first wave run of the day. This was the first time Rachel had ever been on a wave runner. They had a great time until the engine died in the middle of the lake. They had to be towed by another boat back to shore. We were now down to one wave runner.
Here is Daniel and Andie being pulled by the boat. They had a great time!
Bob, Brian, Christian and Rachel looking for some excitement.... trying to see if they can get the stalled wave runner working again.

Lunch time!!! Everyone was hungry and made silly faces at me! The seagulls were out in force...they actually punched holes in our chip bags with their beaks!

The returning boat! Rachel loved riding in the boat, right in the very front.

Here is Daniel and Andie being pulled by the wave runner. Daniel said it was a bumpier ride than behind the boat!

Here is my handsome hubby relaxing on the shore! It was such a gorgeous day....not too hot, water just right, and company perfect!

Here is Brian on the knee board! I didn't know he could do this! He looked great and had a blast! Look at that form!

Here is Daniel being coached by Aunt Kimi on how to get on the knee board. He was pretty nervous and wasn't sure he wanted to do it. He is pretty brave, though, and he decided all on his own to give it a try.

What a pro!!!! Daniel got up on the knee board and did really well! He had a blast until he hit a wake and wiped out! He didn't like that part at all. We were so proud of him for his bravery! He told us (way later) that he would actually try it again! Go Daniel!

Rachel was our flag girl! Here she is at the front of the boat....her favorite spot!

Thanks Bob and Kimi for spending the day with us! We loved being with your family. It was the perfect day and one we will always remember!

Happy Birthday Daniel!!!

We celebrated Daniel's 8th birthday in Utah with lots of family. Monday, July 20th started with balloons in his bedroom at Grandma Farley's home. We had a yummy breakfast and then opened presents. I thought all the Bakugan's and the new yoyo would be his favorites....
No....his new radio/alarm clock was the most exciting present he received! He got more excited over that than anything else! Go figure!
He also loved his new tie! I'm glad that he is so easy to please!:)
That evening, we headed over to Doug and Becky's for dinner. Bob and Kimi and Grandma and Grandpa Farley were also there. Becky and her son Caleb made Daniel's birthday cake.
Blowing out all eight candles!
Yum!!!
Later that week, we went to the Farley cabin for the Anderson Family Reunion. Part of the reunion was to celebrate Daniel's birthday! Yea!!! More presents!
Transformers!
Aunt Cheri's cupcakes! The best!!!

I can't believe that Daniel is 8! It was so fun to celebrate his birthday with family. There are so many wonderful things about Daniel, I could make a huge list! But here are my favorite eight:

1. Daniel is one funny kid! He has a great sense of humor and loves to make people laugh! He loves to be a goofball, and he is an optimist! He keeps us all laughing!

2. Daniel has the kindest heart! He is always concerned about anyone who is sad, and will do whatever he can to help make them feel better.

3. He is a hard worker and will always pitch in when it is time to work.

4. He is not afraid to bear his testimony. He has gone up in church quite a few times now, and has done it all on his own. It is quite touching to hear his sweet, sincere testimony!

5. He has the most gorgeous eyes of anyone!!!!!!!

6. He loves to read the scriptures, and is becoming quite the scriptorian! He knows how to look up things and is starting to mark his favorite verses.

7. He has an amazing memory! He remembers everything...down to the littlest detail! (He remembered the exact date of his dentist appointment six months ago!!!)

8. He is a very grateful person. He had 72 people come to his baptism in Salt Lake (mostly family), and he thanked them all for coming to his baptism. He always thanks me for "this wonderful and delicious meal," everytime he sits down at the table.

Daniel is a joy to be with most of the time! :)I am so lucky to be his mother! I love you Daniel!!!!! Thanks for bringing so much joy to my life!