Bear Lake ~ July 5th-10th

For over 35 years my family has been going to Bear Lake for our family reunion, and consistently, a few of my mom's brothers (with families) come every year as well. It was a magical place for me as a child and now it's a wonderful and very exhausting place as a mother. I LOVE IT!

 Sure there's a whole condo to sit, but let's face, wherever mom is, we are!

 

Brother Swen            Brother Sam

 My sister Alexis!         My sister-to-be Hillary!

Swen was such a help with me being w/o Ted, thanks!

Of course there is Volley-ball!!!  I never get to play as much as I want or used to as a youth, but a couple hours was good enough.

 On the Go

 At the beach

These kids run-run-run most the time, there are moments when a movie is just what the doctor ordered.

Our Favorite Things Party

SO FUN!

Last year was the first ever Bear Lake TRI, in which my cousin Danny instituted and I believe will be apart of our reunion from now on.  The competition between family is always exhilarating.  It was a blast!  Great Job setting up this year Trevor, it was a great route!

                            The winner...Paul the super athlete!

Family Games

This represents the saltin' challenge... hee hee

right.... you don't want to know....

Thanks Mom and Dad for an AWESOME and well worth the drive vacation!

To Utah we go...again ~ July 3rd~

For our 4^th of July celebration we (Chloe, Port and Me) were able to be the Butterfield clan.  YEA!  We went swimming at the Good’ol PG pool and then lit “fireworks” at Ted’s parents house, “fireworks” because they were awesome and not exactly legal… which was evedent with the officer showed up to “bare sad news” as he said it.  Of course my brother-in-laws wiggled right out of getting in any real trouble and we all still enjoyed the “legal” fireworks.   Always exciting with the Butterfield’s (smile)

Note:

I have never had some many uneasy and almost glaring looks from my family then when I brought out my camera to take pictures, not so much from the women, but the men, Good-Grief, you would’ve thought I just took away their chocolate ice cream or worse their fishing pole of gun.   At any rate, I got some pictures! We Missed you Ted, thanks for working so hard! LOVE YOU!!!

                                       You see that look!

 

Again. let me emphasize that the women really don't mind the pics

~ A visit from the West ~ June 23rd-July 2nd ~

For the first time since moving to Iowa BOTH my parents were able to come to visit!  My mom has come in the past ( ya know that mom and daughter bond can’t be ignored), and my poor daddy always got left behind (to bring home the bacon ).  My dad actually had a conference in Chicago and they decided to make a couple detours; first come stay at my house, then go to my sis’ house in Davenport.

Leave it to Ted to find a turtle "waiting" waiting to be picked up and put in a car to show to a 3 and 1 1/2 year old.  What a dad!

The kids had a hard time thinking about Grandma and Grandpa going away so soon, so we packed up and went to Davenport as well.  My kids love the “space” at Paul and Lexie’s house and always feel at home there, especially Chloe who REALLY loves to play with her girl cousins.  

 

As Paul is now a super athlete he decided to show me what pain is when running "runs" into a HUGE, LONG, STEEP hill,  5 TIMES.  He let me where is "Garmin" which only told me that I'm not in as good as shape as I thought.  ~Motivation~

 

 

One of the days visiting we went downtown Davenport and rode on the Ferry across and around the Mississippi River, a dream come true for Chloe who has always begs to go on the Mississippi.  Half way on the Ferry trip we got off and spent time at John Deere Headquarters which = awesome~cool~green~machines for any kid ( and inner kid).  The Ferry ride home was super hot and the kids were at the end of their energies ( us adults too!). 

 

My parents went to Chicago and then on their way back they nabbed my sister and family and came to Des Moines and nabbed the kids and me (Ted had to stay home to bring home the pig…"bacon" eventually).