Colorado-Utah Swapp Reunion

The day after school let out, we headed to Colorado for our much anticipated family reunion.  The kids were excited to see their aunts and uncles and to meet their new cousins.  Madeline and Ella brought along their violins, and played Beautiful Savior at church for their grandparents farewell, while Ryan accompanied them on Piano.  Before she went up to play, Madeline told me she was really nervous that Ryan was going to mess up and she wouldn't know what to do.  The nervousness was for naught, as it was beautiful.

Saturday night, we had a bbq, and celebrated Madeline's birthday. We had cake and ice cream, and sang to her.  Madeline was surprised that her aunts and uncles and Gwen and Mike remembered her birthday, and it warmed her heart because she wasn't expecting it.

After church on Sunday, we drove to Utah.  Ryan and I loved being in Midway again.  We enjoyed fun activities every day.  Mostly our kids loved seeing the babies (Max every time he would see a baby, would smile and say, "Ooh, what a cutie-pie"), and playing with their aunts, uncles and grandparents.  

Jenn, Max and Sam in the wave pool at Seven Peaks 

"Let me Down" was Sam's constant move the entire trip

Max loved being in the water

Ella found Uncle Lance and he went in the wave pool with her

Madeline and Ella chatting and warming up on the cement.  It was borderline cold at Seven Peaks that day.

Ella and Madeline really enjoyed all the rides, she went with uncles and aunts and her dad on all the high and curvy rides. 

Gearing up for a hike up to Timpanogas Caves.  Probably sneaking candy or ibuprofen.

An arch on the way up to the cave.  Ryan and Sam, and Greg and Will.

A break on the way up.  

Max, Ella, Madeline and Grandma.  The kids were great hikers.

Grandpa with Edmond, Max, Madeline and Ella

Ella and Madeline loved hiking ahead with Tom and Ashley, or Greg and Darlene, or Lance and Mai.  Ella rode with Tom and Ashley and Afton in the car ride over.  Tom said 30 minutes into the 8 hour drive she was asking how much longer they had.  Tom, in a stroke of brilliance stopped at a redbox at a gas station and got some movies for Ella to watch.  After that, she sat with his headphones on, laughing out-loud, and giving Afton a perturbed look when she cried.  At one point she asked Ashley, "Is Tom ever annoying to you"?  She loved teasing Tom, and everyone else.  

Madeline and Grandma resting in the shade.

Sitting on a bench after the cave walk.  Max was uncomfortable going through the cave, he didn't like the dark and small spaces.  The sheer amount of company and attention in the cave took his mind off of his discomfort.  The promise of a milkshake was how we cooperation to get down the mountain.  We loved the Purple Turtle, the kids followed uncle Greg's lead and ordered corn dogs, and they were enthralled with bubble gum milkshakes, a combination of two great things. 

Madeline with American Fork canyon behind her.

The Dearden family Reunion at Aunt Gwen's house in Fillmore.  Max and Sam loved playing with Misty's boys.

Sam acquired numerous fruit juices while we were there.  He would just take new bottles up to different adults to open for him.

The older kids loved the inflatable water slide.

Ella heading down.

Someone brought out the water balloons, and Ella surprised her dad while we was peaceably sitting by throwing a water balloon at his back.

Ryan grabbed Ella for his revenge.

Gwen's cherry tree was ripe and overflowing with Cherries, so Madeline, Ella, Greg and I picked several buckets to take home with us.

The awesomeness of the family reunion was cap-stoned with a pinata.  My children adore pinatas, and have happy memories of any event we've gone to where there was a pinata.

After they collected their bags of candy, Ella and Max amiably sat side by side to eat as much as they could get away with.

Sam ate several pieces of candy at the same time.

He tried one and then the other.

And then, he let Will taste both of his suckers:) 

Grandpa and Baby Afton at The Brick Oven in Provo.

Edmond was well-loved by my kids.  

Waiting for pizza at the Brick Oven.  Kids were still contained at this point.  

By the end of the trip, and still 6 weeks afterwards, Madeline tells everyone she wants to move to Utah (or Virginia to be near my family).  It was fun to see her so engaged and happy with so many people.  I'm glad she will have as happy of memories of Midway as Ryan and I do.