USPS dropped off another really great gift! I love it! It is proudly displayed in my front room. This is a gift from my friend Monica. Our friendship has lasted since we were 3 or 4 years old. We lived next door to each other in Spanish Fork while our dads built our homes. After we moved we would still have play dates and eventually we joined 4H together.
Our wonderful family vacation started a little early for us. We drove to Richfield on Thursday afternoon. Angie and Jerry followed us down and we met up with Jim and Christie. We went to dinner at a cute little cafe and went for a short dip in the pool after. The little boys were not happy about the pool. We all went to bed early. In the morning, we ate at JB's (free with our nights stay). After breakfast, Curtis had some work to do at the local grocery stores. Christie and I took the little boys for a walk and gave Angie some time alone to get ready. Once 10 o'clock hit, I headed to Christensen's. I love that store.
After my shopping spree, we headed to Torry. Christie had packed us a lunch. Kari, Ben, Kevin and Kenton arrived in time to join us for lunch. After, we all went to the pool. Warmer waters and less splashing made Max a happy boy. He love his new floater. After everyone unpacked we spent some time "down town" and met up with everyone later for dinner. Christie is amazing when it comes to travel food. She had packed Taco salad for everyone. Max made friends with a stray cat. I was not a fan.
Saturday, We all got up early to go for a hike. Isaac stayed back with Christie and Kenton to hold down the fort. We headed for capital reef. It was a really nice hike. I remembered how much I love to hike. Then I rolled my ankle ... not the most graceful hiker.
Max took a 3 hour nap after the hike. Being backpacked around can really wear a kid out. We hit the pool again later that day, ate sandwiches at the park for lunch and went to my favorite little spot for home made ice cream.
I shared with Max. We tried Strawberry and Raspberry. So good. I had peach last year and was sad they didn't have it this time. That night, Jim took us all out to a nice dinner. Max slept on me and Angie though all of it. After dinner Curtis and I cruised Torrey (15 minutes). Curtis gathered all of the boys together to check out a race track - only to find out it was a private track with a lot of advertisements. That night we all went out for Ice cream.
Some how, between all of that, I read a 563 page book. We came home Sunday and didn't do anything. A perfect reunion.
I got a package in the mail this week. I love to get mail (even bills). Anyway...I signed up for a "pay-it-forward" kind of a thing a few months ago and this is what I got! I love it. Jackie continues to amaze me with her homemaking skills. I don't think there is anything this girl couldn't do. Thanks Jackie!
We have come to an end of the Finch reunion. Sunday we all had dinner together before Claire left for home. After we said good bye, we went to the Payson band concert. My dad picked up our grandparents and we all enjoyed a night in the park and watermelon at Grandma's.
Today we pulled out the pool and the hose for our homemade water park. Max does not like cold water so Papa hooked the hose to the water heater.
We had a great time and ate two jack's cheese sticks for lunch. I don't think life gets much better than this.
Well...I could get better if the JJARL family could have been there. We miss you and talked a lot about how much we admire what you are doing and all of our plans to come see you. Love you and can't wait until you are with us again.
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A few years ago Curtis found this bug and turned it in to the Bean Museum. He said he is not sure this is the same bug but it is the same species.
Thursday afternoon Max, Curtis, Claire, Kari and I went to the Bean Museum because we thought it might be a fun place for Max and we wanted to see Curtis' bug.
We spent most of our time looking at the mounts. Max fount the samples of fur types. I'll I could think was what germs are probably all over those - but he loved it.
It is more a learning center rather than the fun center we were looking for.
So... We started having fun with the camera.
As it turns out, the Bean Museum does a live animal show every week night at 7:30. I'm sure we will go one of these nights. Thanks Claire and Kari, we had a great time with you.
The reunion was held in Saint George this year. We met on Thursday at the hotel and planned out our weekend. This is how it went:
The workers started offering money for the kids. We insisted they were not for sale. They kept feeding the kids and made them origami. It was a really fun/crazy meal.
We had a good laugh over the fortunes we got. A lot of "Treasures".
Then it was off to Tuacahn for the Footloose play. Turns out a boy I went to school with was the lead. It was over 110 degrees and before the play started, dad laid on the grass to cool off and the babies climbed right on. They love Papa. We arrived back at the hotel around 11:30. It was a hot night and we ended up hitting the showers for a little refresher before heading to bed.
After some coxing from Papa...Tyler, Lindsey, Curtis and I held a chicken fight. We were laughing so hard. Lindsey receintly broke her hand so we decided we should fight one handed. It was not going anywhere so Curtis got board and dumped me off.
After the pool, we ate sandwiches in the park and Papa sugested we go see the new Harry potter movie. On the way to the theater, our AC went out. 115 degrees out side and no relefe. Curtis opted out of the movie to take our car to a mechanic. They wanted $1200 to fix it. We decied to bare the heat. We put Max in my moms car so he wouldn't over heat. After that, We just hitched rides with everyone else. 
That night we called in our order to Cafe Rio. We all cramed into a hotel room to eat together. It was so good, I really would have finished off my awesome salad but we had tickets to another show at Tuacahn.
Amanda babysat for us this time so Curtis and I could enjoy the show without interuption. This time we watched Annie. Bailey and Kennedy loved it...They also loved the mist at the top of the stairs. 