Grandma and RA's

I promise I will EVENTUALLY finish our summer trip home to Utah and then get on to the rest of summer and now school starting. But since it was "the best trip ever" (according to my kids), it MUST be documented appropriately ;)

Here are some pictures from our stay at Brooks' parents' house.

Everly was SPOILED there always being held. Whenever she screeched for attention, she got it. 

Aleeya was regularly found snuggling RA

 Grandma painting Kellyn's nails. Kellyn happened to be Grandma's buddy most of the time.... probably because Kellyn kept getting left with her. :)

I would NOT be exaggerating in saying that I'm pretty sure RA took the boys golfing almost everyday we were there.

Which was convienent for ME since my sister lives just down the road from the Smiths for me to take the other kids to have some major cousin time..

This picture cracks me up because Emma is one month YOUNGER then Emerson and taller then he is. (and to think that I AM THE TALLER SISTER!!!!)

These two are both......well.....2. And I found these two trouble makers drawing crayon ON the sheets. They look SUPER sorry about it.

Shaving cream with cousins.....oh yea.....

The kids also enjoyed playing with their other cousin Elle......who in this picture looks like she blends in with my kids just fine.

But THESE two look related. Here is Kellyn and (cousin) Emma at Lagoon, the amusement park.

I hope Kellyn had fun that time at Lagoon because all the other 12-ish times we went she was left at home (with Everly).....doing important stuff like helping Grandma weed.

We bought season passes to Lagoon for the older 6 and Brooks and myself. It ended up being the BEST idea ever since we could come and go as we please and the kids could get their first amusement park feel to the MAX. 

Their favorite ride was the new one.....Cannibal.

 The majority of the time we would meet up with cousins at Lagoon, which always makes things more fun.

 Get ready for a LOT of cousin-bonding action....

And I can't get over my nephew Lincoln in this picture!!!

(Royce kills me)

Iris' new attachment-victim..... Emma.

(they are so cute)

This picture has Aleeya/Emma, Royce/Me and Grandma/Iris (Iris was NOT thrilled to be separated from Emma)

Sweet Olivia and I got SOAKED on one of the rides, then our homeless-wet look graced the music ride where she INSISTED that she be the one completely squished by her aunt. I felt so bad but she kept giggling the whole time.

They look like sisters here.

One of my favorite pictures..... hopefully Elle's reaction isn't a future prediction of Royce's dates one day.

good ol' Roycey

Grandma took the older kids to Lagoon sometimes too. Aleeya loved the one-on-one, since the boys just went off by themselves.

I know it SEEMS like we only went to Lagoon the whole time at Grandma and RA's but here's proof we went to hang out with friends as well.....because Everly took a nice tumble on the Hinckley's swingset.

Sunday morning Brooks and I took the three boys (you have to be 8 or older) to "Music and the Spoken Word", a live broadcast of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Then we walked around on the WINDY roof of the Conference Center

This is actually a RARE thing when I get them all smiling normal to me! #handsomestboys

Okay, THIS is more like it.

They got to see the Salt Lake City temple for the first time. Pretty cool considering their ancestors had a lot to do with the construction and dedication of this building.

They also went inside the old Tabernacle that was built in 1867. Their ancestor Joseph J. Daynes was also the first organist to play that organ at the age of 16 and did so for 33 more years. Wonder why the musical talent didn't pass down to my kids.....

Then we went across the street to the prettiest mall in the world, City Creek. All the stores are actually closed on the Sabbath but the mall doors are open to walk around and enjoy the creek running through the middle.....oh, and the escalators.....my kids love those things.

The creek in the mall had a TON of trout in it too!!!! The boys could've stayed there for a LONG time but we needed to get back for church.

My in-laws live in the backyard of the church so it was cute to see my boys just walking home from church and climb the fence to get home.

We also got together with our friends the Gassers from our residency days in Winston-Salem.

Another day Brooks invited all our close high school buddies and their families to his parents home for a Nacho bar. Brooks' parents were SO nice to let us keep "hosting" so many people there.

There were also Grandma dates to movies......

(she took the boys to "Home")

and the girls to Cinderella

I was thrilled Brooks got to go to the temple with his parents. 

I just love this picture so much considering it has three of my  most favorite people in it.

Degn Family Reunion

My mom had ONE wish and ONE wish only......it was to get the whole family together for a family picture. I even peeled Aleeya off her sick-bed to come out and smile for it. 

Seriously, LOOK at all those cute faces!!!!!

Here is my Mom and Dad with all their "Degn kids" (my indian brother couldn't make it)

This is actually the FIRST time us siblings have been together in 16 years!!!!

Me and my "Brazilian Siblings" (we were the three kids that lived down in Brazil with Mom and Dad)

That day was technically the start of the reunion and also the night of the Degn Family Talent Show.

There were dances, trampoline tricks, a self-written play and I think a musical number?

When my mom mentioned "talent show" I couldn't help but think, "uhhhhh, my family doesn't HAVE any talents besides catching critters, teasing and making a mess." All of which, I don't think my mom wanted displayed.

Finally it dawned on me, what talent "our family" could do. Only, the others bailed on me so it ended up being me and Camden....

What did we do? I did my hum/percussion thing I can do at the same time (it's a serious talent, I tell ya!) while Camden accompanied with armpit (and knee-pit) fart-noises. 

I think it's safe to say my family is pretty strong in that area....and if I may be so bold.... TALENTED in that area.

Everyone was just playing until it got dark for the fireworks. And honestly, I NEVER saw my kids and especially my babies the whole time. My sweet nieces just took them over and I never worried a second. Honestly, easiest times I've EVER had with my kids!!!!

The menfolk retired to the shed for a pool-game laced with smack-talk.

These four cousins are the cutest. They are all in the same year in school, all 12 year old cute boys and within 7 months of each other. College Roomates one day maybe?

Time for a quick walk down to the rope swing with Brooks pushing them...

Oh, did  I mention that the ropeswing is over a nasty green/algae-covered pond?

DON'T. LET. GO. ROYCE.

Even my 74 year old dad joined in. 

Aaaaaand some more family fireworks. #pyrofamily

The day even wore IRIS out....which says a LOT!

These three girls (Vivian, Iris and Toni) are all within 9 months of each other and now sharing a bed to sleep!!!! Both of them are my two sisters' girls. It reminds me of all of our sister-sleepovers in each other's rooms growing up with all the snoring, kicking, drooling, back rubs and giggling all night.

DAY 2

My parents rented this cute "Redneck waterslide" for the family and it turned out to be a blast!

The slide is SO fast. As in REALLY fast and you feel like a bullet being shot out.

Since it's so fast the water flies up in your face so here's Aleeya covering her face. (YAY, she's FINALLY feeling better!

Juuuuuuust in time for KELLYN to get it and lay around ALL day.

Whiiiiiiich, actually ended up being super helpful if I do say so myself.

The menfok were having competitions to see who could reach the field at the very end of the slide. Here's Brooks, donning his sunglasses (to block the water) trying to beat my brothers. 

The MOST fun was going down in trains. Can you tell my kids were having a blast?

......EXCEPT Everly.....she didn't much care for it. hahaha

water. in. face.

My sister's dog Bob kept getting sent down the slide. Emerson says he misses Bob more then anyone from our trip to Utah. Wow....

The four 12 year old boys......again.

We woke Kellyn up to go down as well. This was her first time. I don't think she SAW much of it though. haha (she started going down by herself after)

I LOVED going down with my nieces. They are so cute.

And I loved that they kept playing with my girls......again. (Did I mention I've never had an easier time anywhere with my kids?)

A moment of silence to admire those adorable watermelon-cheeks please.

My parents in their old fashioned swimsuits.

And yes, my dad DID go down.

All the grandkids

(except Kellyn who was asleep again and completely knocked out)

I just have to include this picture. These girls (if they weren't playing with older girl cousins) would hide away in the "Girls Room" and play kitchen/house/or who KNOWS what.....but they were in there forEVER. #kellynssmile

At night I hired another babysitter to leave Royce, Kellyn and Everly home so we could go to Pickleville Playhouse with the family.

Loading up a bunch of cousins in a van that the AC doesn't work in the back was fun....apparently the  heat didn't bother them!

There a a TON of corners through the canyon up to Bear Lake where Pickleville Playhouse is, which makes it a perfect opportunity to play "corners".

We took up most of the first five rows. Pretty sure we got those seats since my dad played the piano there for over 25 years. ;)

Pickleville is actually one of the places that make me the happiest in the whole world!

Obviously.... ;)

My sis and I have spent MAAAAAAANY-a-summers up there with dad. Either of us could probably still break out into any of the songs performed there from our childhood.....with the dance moves too.

I performed there 4 summers total but only two of those with my sis. Such happy memories with my dad and her. (2001)

We tried to re-create the above shot and totally got the wrong sides of my dad to stand on. :)

It doesn't show....but my kids really LOVED it.

DAY 3

Before everyone split we needed to do ONE more family tradition....

A WATER SACK FIGHT!

Since water sacks can legitimately hurt and leave some MAJOR mark-age we broke it up into two "rounds". The first where the little kids could throw bags at their parents and we gently threw them back.

Speaking of back, my brother Matt got Aleeya RIGHT in the back as she was running away.

Royce even got me good.

Then it was the "Big-Kid" round. 

To say it was intense and red-mark-making would be an understatement.

One of my favorite additions to the game is when one breaks the "rules" then they get lined up in front of the firing squad. 

I can't remember what Camden did (pretty sure my brothers make up rules as they go just to put people in front of the firing squad) but here he is ready for us all to "throw-on-3".

My nephew Caleb decided to face the firing squad instead of turning around. I think this picture depicts the speed at which the bags are thrown pretty good. haha

As we were winding down, cleaning up and packing, something happened that I'm pretty sure I will never forget. I cringe of embarrassment even NOW as I type this.

Emerson caught a snake. 

Actually that's nothing new, I realize, but it was what happens next that I want to die!

(the look on Emerson's face basically tells what will happen next but I will continue anyway....)

A certain someone in my family is terrified of snakes and I told him NOT to take it near her, nor obviously in the house.

OF COURSE he did just that, and ended up scaring her to tears. Literally. He made her cry. SHE actually felt bad that she had cried and I'm thinking, UM, IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT!

I. FELT. AWFUL.

(and actually so did he)

Sooooooo, I guess that's how we Smiths end a family reunion......with a bang, right?