Faith's Reunion Pictures

A reunion wouldn't be a reunion for Faith without Eliza. Eliza helps Faith be more assertive and it's good for her.













Pretending to ride the four-wheelers with cousin Abby.















The first time I talked to Faith on the phone during the reunion she told me she had eaten about 100 licorice. I'm not so sure she wasn't exaggerating.













Someday, some young man is going to be ecstatic to hold this little lady's hand. It just didn't happen to be this young man (John) on this day.














In a family this size it's a pretty special thing to get both Grandma and Grandpa to yourself for a picture. Faith IS a pretty special girl.

Elinor's Reunion

The great thing about a HUGE family is that there is someone for everyone to play with. I suppose if you're at the very top or bottom of the cousin line up this isn't true, but so far all of our kiddos have NUMEROUS cousins within one year of each other.










Elinor and Annie having a blast at Silverwood.















Elinor and Annie are only 3 days apart in age, but there is an obvious height difference.















Fun, fun, fun.
















Thanks to anyone who helped Elinor with her hair!

Reunion for Bethany

For Bethany, it doesn't get much better than cousin play-time.















Bethany can play forever. I asked Abe if he saw or talked with Bethany at all on the trip. Not that Abe was negligent-- quite the opposite-- I think he did a great job of taking care of the kids. It's just that Bethany had such fun with her cousins.










One of the great activities was renting out the Roller Valley Skating Rink. This looks like so much fun to me. I hope it's repeated next year.














Lots of girl cousins perform "Pearly Shells" for the luau night. Bethany is in the middle in orange.














Fun to drive Grandpa's golf cart.

My Peeps are Back and Clark's Reunion

Everyone is home again. Hooray! Cannon and I sat on the grass under the shade of the tree and anxiously awaited the family's arrival. When he realized who was in that car that pulled into the driveway he was ecstatic!










He mauled the girls. He was getting pretty grumpy those last couple of days without the kids.














They all agreed my tummy had indeed gotten bigger while they were gone.







Abe was the photographer for all these pictures, but he was okay with my putting them up here and commenting. I don't know how good the commentary will be from someone who wasn't there, but here goes.

Family reunion time often falls right around the 4th of July, which is right around Clark's birthday. So he gets to celebrate his birthday with lots of family.













Much to Clark's delight, there were snakes to be found. What are we to do? Does anyone want to help produce a YouTube show for Clark so he can break into the business with his own wildlife show?











Clark had a great time with his older cousin. It was very gracious of Abe's oldest sister's family to host my people. They have nine children, so it was a very full house with the addition of our family. Thank you!











Abe and his next younger brother, Jesse each took their three oldest children to Silverwood (a northwest amusement park) for a day. It worked out well because everyone had a riding partner. Clark and Alexis are about three months apart and have always been good friends.










A favorite part of the reunion for Clark was leading an adventure with cousins.

Roller Valley Dance Fight

This is Jesse and I (Abe) at the Fox Family Reunion in Spokane, Washington re-enacting the Michael Jackson "Beat It" Knife Fight.....But on Roller Blades!!

Also, I completely meant to fall down at the end...........

Emily

This is my Emily. We've been friends since our sophmore year of high school in Virgnia. She came out to visit me while my family (except Cannon) went to Spokane for a family reunion. At which reunion they have all had a fabulous time. I'm sad to have missed all the fun activities, but Emily and I have had such a marvelously relaxing few days together. I feel rejuvenated. I feel like I can make it (happily) to the end of this pregnancy. She is such a gracious, giving friend and has taken such good care of Cannon and I. I hope everyone has an "Emily" in their lives.











Cannon quickly discovered that Emily is WAY more fun than me. That is fine with me. I know I'm no fun. I haven't been for quite some time. We all spent quite some time enjoying the kiddie pool in the backyard. We never bothered to put Cannon in a swimsuit. He didn't mind.

















Emily's visit was good for me in lots of ways. She reminded me that I am not a paralytic. In my "condition" I was beginning to feel like I just couldn't move my massive self around. It took too much energy. It wasn't worth it to move and do anything. Emily LOVES the mountains and I would feel beyond guilty if she came all the way out to Utah from VIRGINIA and I denied her a trip to the mountains. I was doubtful I could do a VERY easy one mile walk around a lake (with a boardwalk, mind you!) I don't know what I thought would happen to me, but I think it involved my pelvic floor giving way and birthing the baby at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon. As it turns out, I can still walk! We had such a great time. It was cool up in the mountains, Cannon loved it and Emily can return home fulfilled.
Proof! Me at 8 months pregnant-- not on my couch.






















We got pedicures one evening. I know I do not have lovely feet, but I put this picture up so I can remember how much fun it was for us. In fact, not just the pedicure, but waking up each day with almost no commitments to have to go anywhere or do anything. This wouldn't be a very fulfilling way to live your life long-term, but it's been so delightful for a few days.
So many thanks to Abe for so willingly taking the children on such a lengthy trip and encouraging this get together with Emily and I. To have such a friend for so many years, who knew me in when I was younger and so ridiculous and boy crazy and still finds my friendship worthwhile is a wonderful thing. Abe will come home to find a much happier wife than he left.

Another great thing about her visit, was that it distracted Cannon from missing the family too much. He has yelled out a few times, "Clark, where are you?" Not articulated super clearly, more like, "Cak, are oo?" but we knew what he meant. Cannon also watch a youtube video of Abe about 15 times, yelling, "Daddy!" I think he's ready for his regular entertainment squad to come home.
I must say, I too am looking forward to being with my peeps again.

Summer of the Forgotten Mother

Abe began his second trip with the kids this summer without me, as I am too far along to make such a long trip. I saw them off at 5 am this morning. This time I am left with only Cannon. He is alseep right now. I suppose I could have sent Cannon along as well, but that wouldn't be much fun for anyone. Cannon is a busy little guy and Abe will be kept busy enough keeping track of the four others. So I will happily keep him with me. Besides, Cannon and I really like each other and we'd miss each other too much. As it is, he looks around occasionally, puts up his hands, and with an inquisitive look says, "Gone?" He's not letting me out of his sight. Smart boy.

I cleaned up a bit this morning and IT'S STILL CLEAN.
I watched a bit of Wimbledon this morning.
I went to lunch with girlfriends.
Cannon and I will go out and buy some hotwheels cars this afternoon.
I think I'll go read my book now.

This is really, really strange. I hope I don't get use to it.

I'm Sorry- So Sorry

We had one of our quarterly Primary activities this afternoon. It was a repeat of an activity we did last summer-- water games at our neighborhood park. Each member of the presidency was in charge of a game and the kids rotated around to the different games. We all enjoyed otter pops at the end.
I am apologizing for being such a GROUCH to all those sweet primary children. Here are my excuses: It was hot and I was tired. Being 8 months pregnant has that effect on me. That being said, I feel really bad. I should have tried harder to put on a happy face.
Abe and the kids are getting ready for their trip to Spokane and I'm getting ready for one of my best friends from Virginia to come visit me. When Abe first told me he was planning to go to Spokane for the reunion without me I was pretty sad. Sad because I would miss it, but also sad at the prospect of being home alone (with Cannon) for a week. Perhaps I should have relished such an idea but I was afraid my pregnant emotions would get the better of me. I told him if my dear Emily could come stay with me, then I would be just fine. Emily is someone who takes care of other people. She is a nurse by profession. She's a giver and I'm looking forward to hours and hours of chatting, plus a pedicure just to be spoiled.