Star Valley Peck Reunion

We spent last weekend at the 5th Annual Peck Reunion. Chad's family is so much fun to be around--there are 10 kids so there is always someone to laugh with! Everyone was present (except for Chad's sister Kami who lives in Omaha and the 18-hour + drive wasn't very enticing!)

We (well, I can't really say we) camped in a beautiful place with trees to provide shade and a little creek (or 'crick') that the kid weds threw rocks in the entire day. Myself and Myka decided to 'rough it' by sleeping in a little motel right around the corner. I know, I am a tent-slacker. Truly though, I did it for Myka. It turned out for the best, because the second day she came down with some runny-nose-yucky-cough thing that would not have gone well with paper-thin tent walls.

We arrived Thursday afternoon looking like a bunch of hill-billies. We were loaded to the max. Camping is a lot of work (and requires a lot of crap)! Chad and I decided we need to become a 'simplified' camper...We take too much stuff. It's because we wanted to do EVERYTHING. We took four-wheelers, bikes, tennis rackets, fishing equipment, golf clubs, cook stoves, tables, chairs, etc. and beyond etc.

The first evening was spent riding doom-buggies and four-wheelers and helping to set-up camp. Carsen immediately fell in love with the doom-buggies and was begging anyone to take him for a ride. (Myka even liked them; but she just wanted to crawl all over them and see how they tasted).

Friday morning my sister-in-laws Robyn, Candi and myself hopped on bikes and headed out on a bike ride. I was already exhausted of chasing Myka all around the camp (and up on chairs and tables), so I loaded her in the bike-trailer and we went out on a 15-mile bike ride around Star Valley. It was beautiful! (And Myka took her morning nap)!

That afternoon we went swimming at the pool and the guys went golfing. I tried to get Myka to take a nap in her pack-n-play under a tree--but that didn't work. She kept seeing people and saying, "hi."

For dinner we headed to a near by town where we ordered some pizza and let the kids play at a park. Chad said it best when he described the park by saying, "Whoever built this park did not like kids." It was a suicide park! The slide was monstrous and so fast, and the teeter-totters were a sliver waiting to happen! The kids loved it, but we adults had to stand by and make sure no one got hurt. The night was ended with a campfire, some sticky s'mores and fun-family stories.

(Myka has a new face she pulls when hold up a camera. She squints her eyes and does a silly smile.)


Saturday morning we took a nature hike to Period Springs, which was absolutely amazing! All of the kids were such troopers and hiked all the way to the top of the geyser--I opted to not risk falling on Myka so I stayed at the bottom.


We went swimming again (and the guys took the chance to go golfing...again). That evening was the traditional "Survivor" amongst all of us. Evey year a different couple is in charge of planning (before the reunion) some games which test each couple's skill. We used to vote people off, but now we just use a point system for elimination. Chad's brother Jared and his wife Candi were in charge of the games this year--and they did an excellent job. (I will also add right here that they drove all the way from Arizona! What a drive!) I had to eat a powdered doughnut dangling from a string held behind Chad's back while I was lying on the ground.....just to give an example of some of the games we played. Everyone looks forward to playing, and this year Chad and I were first-time winners at the end of the events.

Sunday morning we wrapped things up and headed home. My kids were so exhausted they slept the entire 4-hour drive home! Another successful reunion, and the next one is already in the works. We are hoping to do something a little more relaxing next year and go to an all-inclusive resort in Mexico! (Crossing my fingers that it happens!)

Carsen's Response.

I saw this on my friend Natalie and Allison's blog...so I decided to see if Carsen would go for it. He did.

These are questions I asked him and the first response he gave.

What does mommy always say to you?

"Umm…go take a bath.”

What makes mommy happy?

"When we go somewhere."

What makes mommy sad?

"When I don’t do something."

How does mommy make you laugh?

"When you laugh"

What was mommy like when she was little?

"You broke your leg. That’s it."

How old is mommy?

"I don’t know….cuz it’s hard."

How tall is mommy?

"Not tall." (isn't that the truth!)

What does mommy like to do?

"Do chores." (Oh gosh. I'm not fun.)

What is something mommy doesn't like to do?

"Let me watch a show."

What does mommy do for a job?

"Do chores."

What is mom's favorite food?

"Chicken." (Not quite my favorite.)

What do mommy and Carsen like to do together?

"Drink water." (I think at this point he was getting impatient with so many questions).

How do you know mom loves you?

"Cause I play with you."

Eventful July (So Far...)

I am so far behind that I have been procrastinating the day of my update. I suppose today is as good as any to begin.....(Actually this has taken me about 4 days!)

I have to hurry and get my blog updated so we can leave tomorrow for Star Valley, Wyoming for the Peck Family Reunion. I love the busy-ness of summer!

What an eventful two weeks. My parents were in town (staying at a Condo in Park City and at my brother's house in Orem) so it seems there were constant activities and get-togethers.

Here's what our July has consisted of thus far:

Thursday (July 3rd)

Carsen just didn't get enough fishing in Moab, so we decided to take all the kids (my little niece and nephew Katelin and KC) to Strawberry fishing.

My Dad has his little fishing boat and my brother and I decided to go along for some good company and quite honestly to make sure our children didn't drive 'Pa' crazy. (Or that they didn't drowned or eat worms).

We found out after driving for an hour and a half (each way) that we could've stayed home and put water in a kiddie pool and let the kids play with a styrofoam cup full of worms. They were so intrigued with the cup of worms that they were oblivious to the fact that we never caught a fish.

My Dad thought he would add some entertainment by showing the kids he could put a worm in his mouth.....What a great thing to teach little sponges.



Carsen has been beyond excited to have his cousins back from Arizona. Carsen and KC are 5 days apart (and about a foot apart in height). They play so well together and can't keep their hands off each other.


Friday (July 4th)
We spent the afternoon in Orem with the fam. Kye's neighbors set up a giant slip'n slide at the park and the kids (and adults too) had a riot sliding down the mountainside. (It was an excellent idea, and one I plan to copy sometime!)

We visited the Freedom Festival and found ourselves eating all the naughty festival food. (I read in a magazine yesterday that funnel cake is one of the worst things you can eat at a Fair.....I will make a mental note of that from now on!)

The kids enjoyed twirling their sparklers around when it FINALLY got dark enough for some little fireworks. I am so glad they are still at the age where any little firework is still fascinating and fun.



Saturday (July 5)
We had a Pre-Baby Blessing Dinner for Kanyon at Kelly's parents house. They have the best house and are always inviting us over. The kids have a riot and we adults always have a good time. (The swimming pool might be a slight bonus too!)


Sunday (July 6)
We traveled back down to Orem for Kanyon's baby blessing. He is such a sweet little guy and kind of gets lost in the shuffle with the older kids. I have never seen him be unhappy! He looked so handsome in his little tux! Myka and Pa were out in the hall the entire Sacrament Meeting. It pleased me for him to know why I don't enjoy church very much!

(Myka is very into sticking her finger up her nose....She loves to stick her finger up other peoples nose too. Very attractive!)



Tuesday (July 8)
The kids and I headed to Park City to spend the day with Pa and Gigi. I hadn't been to the Olympic Park yet, so we decided to take the kids there. There was a free-style ski jumping camp taking place, so there were people practicing their jumps off of the ski jump into the water. Carsen was fascinated.

Then we rode the "Quicksilver" Alpine Slide. Carsen was a little nervous about the ski lift up the mountain...He was wondering how we were going to get off of it. Once we had our feet on the ground and were aboard our sled he was excited. He kept telling me to go faster! When we reached the bottom of the hill he hopped off the sled and ran to Pa and said, "Will you go with me Pa?" Who can say no to that? So they went again.

Myka found a little hill that she walked up and down probably 50 times. It was like she had discovered something new she could do and she wanted to master it.

If you haven't visited the Olympic Park--do it! It was beautiful and such a fun thing to see!




Friday (July 11)
THE ZOO.

Kye and Kelly went to Jackson Hole so we were able to have Katelin and KC come and spend the night. We wanted to do something fun on Friday, and the zoo seemed like the perfect place to take a bunch of little monkeys!

It was a beautiful day, but of course it took us forever to get going. (4 kids and 3 adults...takes a bit of time to coordinate getting everything ready to go). We made it to the Zoo and visited all the animals (quickly). Three hours later we were exhausted and finished with the Zoo.

Myka was hyperventilating the entire time. Her biggest fascination was with the birds. I thought she would be intrigued by the bigger animals like the elephants and giraffes, but I think she thought they weren't real. The little animals were her favorite.

Pa and Gigi took the older 3 kids back to Park City with them to their Condo to spend the night and go swimming. I took Myka back home with me where I put her to bed and put my house back in order now that it was free of three little monkeys!