Catch Up Catch Up.

Summer, Slow Down!

I can't believe it's almost August.

We were lucky to have the Sheltons in town for a quick visit.

Dave and Bruce were happy to squeeze in a bike ride.

 We celebrated the Hunter Birthdays with my mom, George, and the bonus sibs.

Merrilee, Liza and I, our girls.

 We honored the Sabbath Day by riding the Tote Goat.  I don't even know if that's the right spelling for this crazy apparatus.  It made a real racket, and Merrilee and George live right between our current bishop and our old bishop so I'm sure some kind of special interview is in their near future.

Amber nearly killed herself.  The brothers were quick to blame her, but Bruce verified her (shocking!) claim that the tote goat had some mechanical issues.

The kids were clamoring for rides and the uncles and dads were quick to oblige.

July is a big month for birthdays- after the Hunter celebration we headed to the West's for more partying.  The West's know how to throw a party- Papa Doug cooked a huge brisket while Grandma Trea passed out toys and treats galore.

Let me say a word or two about Ben West.  He, together with my brother Dave, was a formidable foe during my childhood.  The teasing, torturing, and frightening were non-stop.  It was all in good fun, of course, and would qualify as typical "brother" behavior.  Ironically for Liza and I, our children ADORE him and Dave both.

Singing to the birthday girl, guy, and lady.

 Every now and again I really enjoy the Cal-Ranch ad.

Gay chicks cost extra.

Elise got to stay with us again.  It has given me a lot of happiness to see Kate and Kiki enjoy their cousin sleepovers.  My own childhood visits to my cousins' houses remain some of my favorite memories.  I still remember Rose saying, "I'm going to play you a song that is REALLY GOOD."  Then she popped in her Dolly Parton tape and proceeded to sing every word of "9 to 5." 

Actually, that song IS really good.  And probably I could sing every word of it too.

Last Saturday was my TWENTY YEAR high school reunion.  I'm kicking myself for not taking a single picture.  I was kind of nervous but I wound up having a ton of fun.  I was mainly nervous because on a whim I had bleached my hair almost totally blond only a few days before.

I was praying that I was still recognizable, which I seemed to be.  The name tag helped.  It's always fun to see people you haven't seen in two decades wearing a hairstyle you plan on keeping for two months.

 

Enough silliness about my hair, though.  Here is what I really want to remember about the reunion.  First, I was so happy to reconnect with a couple of people that I had lost touch with.  It made my night to catch up with some old friends.  Second, I love Facebook.  It made it so much easier to visit and enjoy each others' company because we already knew some basics.  Last: I spent almost all of high school feeling so awkward and like I didn't really belong.  I never felt like I had the right clothes or shoes or "look," and I was still figuring out who I was and what I was all about.  When I walked into the reunion, I did it feeling good about who I've become and what I've done in my life.  I've definitely made strides in life and made mistakes in life (as most of us inevitably do in 20 years),  and it was a happy experience for me to be with this particular crowd of people and truly feel like I was okay with who I was.  I still feel like I have some stuff to work on, of course, but I was satisfied to realize that I have come a long way since those insecure high school days.   Honestly, I think a lot of people there felt the same way- I had a ton of great conversations and warm hellos.  It was a good night. 

 

I took the girls school clothes shopping.  Kiki picked out the BRIGHTEST purple sequined backpack ensuring that I will have no trouble at all spotting her at pick-up.  Kate and Kiki each picked out two pants and two shirts and "modeled" them for Bruce.  Kiki looked like such a grown-up in her skinny jeans and backpack that I had to choke back the tears.  I am having a crisis about her going to kindergarten.  She still seems so little to me!  I was relieved to receive a postcard from the school letting us know that Kiki got on the track we wanted for school, which also means we will get the teacher we want for her. 

 

The first day of school is only a few weeks away, but we have some milestones before then: Bruce has the Spudman in Idaho on Saturday, I have a different race here also on Saturday, Youth Conference is coming next week, and then the Hatch's are making their yearly pilgrimage.

 

I guess summer isn't quite over yet.

 

 

Wise Words From Kiki

Today Kiki asked if we lived far away would we miss our family.  I replied, "Kiki, we did live far away in the Philippines!  Did you miss our family then?"

"Yeah," she said, "but now the whole world is our family."

I had to wipe away a tear or two.  To have a child with a perspective like that makes every second of our crazy Philippines life completely worth it.

I was still basking in the afterglow of the exchange when she asked, "What's a bung-holio?"

Two Guys and a Girl

Bruce's brothers Burke and Mark came to visit last week.  Burke brought his girlfriend Gabby, who was in the United States for the first time.  We had a ton of fun: hiking, Thanksgiving Point, grilling on the deck, and a visit to Temple Square.  Temple Square was beautiful and there was plenty of shade to keep us cool.   

Milestones

Last week our dear Paige was married! Paige has been a part of the family for years- she was my babysitter (the word is not adequate, however, for all she did) since before Kiki was born.  She has been a huge part of our lives, and as she became a "grown-up" she and I have have developed the loveliest friendship.  She found her Mr. Right this year, and vows were said and parties were thrown.

I made her bouquet and Kate insisted on helping deliver it. 

My internal dialogue was something along the lines of reminding myself that Paige wasn't 14 anymore and to prepare myself because in a blink it would be the one on the right getting married.

Kiki wore her "dress-up" pajamas.
It was a wedding reception after all.

This is Hannah.  I was her leader in Young Women's years ago and now SHE is married too.  I might be in the early stages of a mid-life crisis.

Kiki thoroughly enjoyed the refreshments.

In other VERY exciting news, my sister-in-law is the proud mother of a new baby girl!

We celebrated a couple of weeks ago. 

Lots of happy times around here...I feel really blessed.

Cousin Time

After the great Father's Day/Birthday celebration of 2012, Charlie and Elise stayed in town for cousin time.  While Elise was content to stay mostly with us, Charlie made the rounds with cousin Porter, Grandma Ellie, Max and Russell's, and a little Grandpa Jack.  He was quite the social butterfly.  Also, we only have girl toys, which made the various "boy" houses he visited even MORE exciting. 

We did all convene at Grandpa Jack's for trips down the zip line.

Elise, Kate, and Kiki created some sort of seminar based on conquering their fears.  I noticed lists of fears for each girl laying around, but my favorite was this page:

Notice that Elise, who is generally the brains behind these schemes, has no "missions" or "fears" listed.  I think her only fear, while yet to be expressed, is that one of these days someone is going to say, "Why do we always have to do what Elise wants to do?!?!?"

We met Liza in Morgan to give her kids back and visit Grandma Judd.  Morgan was pretty exciting because there was a cattle drive coming right down the main road.  We had to pull over for a good 5 or 10 minutes while they all passed.  "I think it's Cow Day!" the kids said.

Maybe it seems like I'm a jerk because I have a picture of the cows but not of my
Grandma.  Liza has them...let this be the reminder to her to email them to me.

I don't think anyone loves the zip line more than Kiki...listen to that laugh!

Finally Getting Around to Father's Day

It was more than just Father's Day on Father's Day! The Shelton's came to visit which meant we also got to celebrate Whitney's and Elise's birthdays all together. 

Jill, Merrilee, Trea, Doug, Jack, Whitney, and Dave.
I'm trying to figure out why everyone has such strange expressions on their faces. 
This was not a candid photo...

All of us Barratt Brats with Jack.

George and Merrilee were happy to help Whitney open her presents.

Between all the father figures and birthday girls, it seemed like everyone was celebrated.

Whitney, why so serious?

"I wish I didn't have to share a cake with my sister!"

And, because there were more than two Barratt's under the same roof, there was a wrestling match.

Kate Performs

I think of Kate as shy, but I guess she is braver than I give her credit for.  Near the end of school she informed me that she had volunteered to play a piano solo in front of her whole class.  Here is her big performance!

Our New Best Friends

Sadly for Liza, her best friend (and family) recently moved up the road from Bruce and me.   We've sure been having fun with them!  Her daughter (my niece's bestie) was in the same school class as Kate, and they quickly bonded, although they insist that the three of them are ALL best friends. 

Bruce and Greg have been going on bike rides and barbecueing meat for us.

The kids have started running in a pack in our neighborhood.

Probably Russell and Kiki are going to get married.  She's irresistible when she starts posing on rocks.

Cara and I have been having fun getting the kids together and hanging out with MY friend Janet.  Now we are ALL friends. 

Also, although I couldn't get the pictures to upload, there have been birthday parties,

swim days, and pony rides.

Liza, the only thing missing is you!

Don't you want to be our neighbor?