Tangled Birthday Party

We spent the weekend in Vegas for Abbi's big birthday bash! Thomas and Keira were so excited to see their cousin again. This party was a dress-up party with tons of kids, boys and girls, so Thomas wasn't the only one.

They made crowns...

Played Pin the Tail on the Donkey

(Can you tell Thomas cheated a bit? :)

They had a bean bag toss through the castle window

Thomas got a prize medal

Hit the piñata

Jeff finished off that stubborn piñata. It would not break! :)

Abbi's getting ready to blow out her 5 birthday candles

The kids in Repunzel's castle

It was a big party, lots of fun, very creative! Thanks for inviting us, Abbi! Happy Birthday!

On the way to Vegas, Mike had to work in St. George. The kids and I wondered around the area for a while eating for him to get done. Unfortunately the McDonald's there didn't have a play place. That would have killed some time. But we did eat, we found a park and played till we were hot and sticky, drove around a lot, and found the temple. Some day, I would love to go through this one again!

Activity Days Camp

Last week I had the opportunity of going to Jeremiah Johnson's Camp up Hobble Creek Canyon for a day camp the Activity Day girls were able to go to. I am a leader for the 8&9 year old girls and this was so much fun for them. It gave them a chance to feel a little special like the scouts and do something bigger like them. The camp had these fun little old time buildings set up...pretty fun.

It was like 5 hours long full of activities. First, they started out doing a flag ceremony, then we did a craft in which we made a rope-knotted bracelet. The next rotation, the girl got to make and decorate little wooden boats for a rain gutter regatta.

They shot BB Guns

They got all wet paddling the boat. This was great for team work and a good work out for their arms :)

And the girls got to learn how to tie knots. Some were a little more complicated than they can handle but they had fun trying.

For all these activities they participated in they were able to get a bead for a necklace, which they loved. I love being a part of Activity Days and seeing these girls grow up physically as well as spiritually, and seeing how they do a lot of fellowshipping and invite their friends to the activities!

This is the Place

It has been a long time since I have been to This is the Place Utah (the site where Brigham Young said that this was the spot the pioneers would stop as he was overlooking the valley). I remember being there when President Hinckley dedicated a memorial and getting to shake Russell M. Nelson's hand. But I didn't remember very much of the little establishment there. So, yesterday I took the kids for a quick outing there while Mike had work to do in Salt Lake.

The kids by the statue of Brigham Young and Joseph Smith (I love how Thomas is posing like Joseph:)

The giant This is the Place Monument

Keira found my great-great-grandfather Edward Bunker's name. He was a captain of a handcart company that made its way across the plains. Pretty cool!

Thomas and Keira really didn't enjoy the smell at the barn and the petting coral. But they quickly pet a lamb and little bunny and made their way out to the ponies for a ride.

The train was one of the things they wanted to do right from the start. It took us all the way around the perimeter of the little town. It was good to get out of the sun and let the kids stop walking (Keira especially had a hard time; I didn't have the stroller) So this was a treat!

We saw the Brigham Young Farmhouse he used for guests and social events (not to live in himself)

Deseret News: there newspaper building

Thomas saw this and immediately wanted to get off. So, I let them play for a bit. I don't think this is normally a part of this attraction. They had some special event taking place that night. But the kids sure enjoyed having these balloon slides to go on.

Keira climbed onto the replica of the ship that carried some emigrants from England across. It's 1/3 of its original size.

They searched for gold and was rewarded with a sucker and taffy

And we looked at the school...much different then today

All in all, I'd say Thomas and Keira enjoyed it. I know I did! I wish I had more time to tour the town than what we had. I am so grateful to those pioneers for having the faith, courage, and will to make that long trek across the plains to a place where they would be free of persecution and so our Faith can still be around. It's just neat going to places such as these, seeing all they established and learning the history behind everything.

Walker Reunion

Last weekend was the Walker Family Reunion in Boise Idaho. There was LOTS of food, and lots of family to catch up with. The kids sure found plenty to do with cousins: finding bugs, playing with balloons, playing games.

They found a nice spot on the swing with Grandma

Tyler enjoyed ripping the leaves

After all the visiting was over and before we left for home, we went for a walk down by the river in Boise and let the kids play a bit in the water. We tried not to get them too wet before we left but it was a good way to cool down:)

It was a good trip with Mike's family!

Quick Get-away

Thomas has been wanting to go to the cabin sooo bad, so I found a time when I didn't have piano lessons during the week and made the trip up the mountain with the kids (luckily, I didn't have any problems with getting lost this time :) )

This was the main reason why Thomas wanted to go....and Keira actually did very well at being patient and holding still and was able to feed a few chipmunks.

And Thomas got them to crawl right up on him. (I think we made need to buy our own peanuts next time. Thomas will go through a whole bag if we let him)

The cabin across the road had a little zip-line that was great for the kids, as long as we stopped them before they hit a tree. They sure gave me a work out running with Keira, running back and for to stop Thomas, and to put them both on the handles while GP held it low enough:)

I even tried it but I hung a bit to low for it to be very fun

One of my favorite things about being up there when EVERYONE is not (not that I don't love you guys) is seeing the deer come right up to the cabin to have a snack.

Here's Keira with the deer but I couldn't focus on both

Of course, we visited the creek, which was VERY full, and let the kids throw rocks in.

And one night we roasted marshmallows, which Keira didn't care for so she just ate the mallows plain, and Thomas very lightly toasted to where it was a little "yellow" as he says. Oh well, GP, GM, and I loved it!

We love the cabin and can't wait to see you all there for the reunion! Thanks GM, GP, and Kevin for letting us disrupt your peaceful stay. It was great seeing you!

Keira's Bunny Dance

Last night was Keira's dance recital, where the whole studio, all the classes, did a ballet. This year was the "Sleeping Beauty" Ballet. It was all very well done but pretty long. Keira's dance was at the end of the ballet, so she got to watch most of it with us and seemed to enjoy watching all the pretty ballerinas. She (and her class) were the bunnies, and what a pretty little princess bunny she makes!

I was only allowed to record or take pictures at her dress rehearsal, so this is what I was able to get. There were a couple of times when she dazed out or something, but all in all she did really well! I'm so proud of my little ballerina!

Here she is in her pretty bunny costume

Getting ready for the performance

Her bunny dance. Sorry for the blurry pictures.

On the way home from the recital. She was exhausted, but did great for her dance!