Ward Family Reunion II

Now that I have more time I thought I would tell you about the reunion.

Friday morning we got up and packed up the car to head up to Green Canyon Hot springs, Idaho. I decided to take my brothers kids so they could have some fun with the rest of us too. I also thought that this would be a great way to keep Bryce entertained seems how he didn't know anyone. Having 3 kids is work!
Cam rode with my mom, Chad and Julia came with me. We left at 10:30 in the morning and stopped off at my favorite place in Roy called Berger Bar. If you are ever in Roy stop there! I have fond memories growing up and always stopping there on our twice a year trips to Idaho. good times.
We also stopped in Idaho Falls to do some grocery shopping so we could get things that the kids would eat. By the time we got up there is was after 5 at night, alot later than I planned. We are cruising down the highway following google maps direction and our direction come to a complete halt in the middle of no mans land. We try to keep going but we are just not finding this place and it has been years since I had been there last. Memories were vague. So we decided to head back to the nearest town to get help. On the way back I hit a huge rock probably the size of a soccer ball. Oh did I mention I got new tires on Thurs night?? No worries I didn't hear anything and it didn't sound like it popped. When we got our directions and looks at the tire, the rim was bent and the tire had a bulged. just my luck. We were not far off and made it to camp safely. We traded our tire out for the spare and broke off one of the nuts, clean. looks like we were making the trip back on 3. We got camp all set up and my mom was nice enough to make us all dinner. It was yummy.
Sat we woke up to early morning breakfast and went swimming. We had the kids and all enjoyed ourselves. Soon the family started to arrive. I will be honest and say that I am a bit disappointed in the number of people who showed up. Our family made up half of the group alone. My one uncle has 11.. yes 11 kids and they are all married and have kids themselves and none of them came. I was looking forward to catching up with some of my cousins (and by cousin I mean my cousin kids in which I grew up with because they are all way older than me). After a nice lunch and an auction to raise money for next year we had to say our see you laters. I hate this part and I usually cry because for some this may be the last time I will see them. I tried to keep myself busy by cleaning up. After everyone had left we took the kids once again to the pool and after a few hours of playing around in the water we headed back to camp (did I mention it was FREEZING???) for dinner, fire and a good nights rest for we had a lots of packing to do and a long drive ahead of us.
Sunday we woke up, had a good breakfast, packed up and headed home. We also stopped in poci. for lunch. Now I am at home trying to catch up the laundry and un/re packing we have to do for our next camping adventure. I am sad it is over but I hope to able to return to Idaho soon to see some of my family. Sorry that was so long.. now here is a long list of pictures!

My dad's family: Bruce, Dean, Joyce, Harvey (He looks exactly like my g-pa) and my dad. They are missing their brother Clayton who passed away 7 years ago.


Bryce, Chad and Cam Climbing up to the cave above the campground


My sister Aimee, I am doing her hair.. go figure.


Emi and Bed head.. yes that is me and yes I just woke up


My Nephew, Jayce


Chad and Jayce 'Rolling on the tent' to get the air out.


Emi, she is just so dang cute and 100% my sisters kid. My sister wasn't able to come because she had finales. She is graduating with her nursing degree this Friday. Amazing.


Bryce, me my Aunt Joyce and my cousin (2nd) Rusty


My Cousin Melissa (2nd) me my cousin Jan and my cousin Dan (2nd) Jan is dan's mother and Melissa Mother in law. Does that make sense? See I told you all of my 'cousins' are actually my cousins kids


My nephew Kaleb. He is cute too


My Aunt leona


Emi again, so photogenic

Ward Family Reunion 2009

This weekend we found ourselves making the 5 hours trek to no-mans-land Idaho for my Ward (dad's) Family Reunion. I have tons of good memories of my family and some of the only memories of my grandmother at the family reunions. This reunion is Celebrating the life and descendants of Wilford and Stella Ward (my dad's parent). I never knew my grandfather, he passed away before I even knew how to walk and my grandmother left us to join him when I was 12 years old. It is great to get together and see my cousins, sadly throughout the years it is getting harder and harder on my dad's siblings to camp. My dad is the last of his line and I am the last of my parents line.
I have to say I was very excited to learn there was a family reunion this year, the last time I was in Idaho was 4 years ago. I am sad to say that only 1/8 of the family was able to attend. This was Bryce's chance to meet my family. We had good food, good conversation and all around a good time. I also got a chance to spend some time with my nieces and nephews that I don't see very much and I was also able to get some pictures seems how in their short lives I have never been able to get one. Overall the weekend was great and even with the family problems, we were able to put those aside for the weekend. It has now taken me and hour to upload these photos so throughout the week I will upload a few more to share what we did throughout weekend along with some stories. Here we go.. enjoy!

Camping Isn't camping without s'mores.. you want some?? (sister, Aimee)


This is such a cute picture of my niece Emi


Keeping the kids entertained with bubbles, Kaleb LOVED these! (Chad)


Getting the fire going. Did I mention it was FREEZING up there??? (Cam)

Classic


Leave it up to my dad to make us laugh. Yes that is a purple Tinkerbell hat and yes it is Emi's

Such a cute kid, very photogenic (Kaleb, my nephew)

More Yummy food, our favorite meal... hobo dinners


Cousins, Emi and lolly (real names Emily and Julia) They were two peas in a pod

Busy, Busy, Busy

This weekend we found ourselves busy. Friday I had to work late and came home to our last day of having the house to ourselves. Bryce's mom was out of town so we have enjoyed the week of being home alone.
Saturday morning I get an early morning nudge by my wonderful man. He found our 'baby'. He also had a paintball game that he was heading up to so I figured I would hit up a few stores. That was a mistake, I was LATE to everything on Sat. oops.
My cute nephew Garrett was baptised in the afternoon. I was late to arrive, early to leave. My brother was a bit disappointed that I didn't stay for the lunch (I did, but it took them 40 minutes to even get it going, I had to leave!). Every time my family bails on him and this time was no different. It was only me and my other Brother who stayed. I took my camera out to get pics but I was so busy trying to help with the food that I failed miserably!
I got home and we got ready to head over to Destiny's wedding. This would be my new found friend, Brittany's sister. I have become quite fond of her sister and am looking forward to the new friendship that I have found. She is so very different than Brittany but just in the same in other ways. We completely missed the ceremony but were able to have dinner and hit up the dance floor. The bride was beautiful, the food was awesome, the toast was AMAZING.. sniff sniff, I am sad that these things don't happen often enough. It is so hard to think that a year ago Bryce's sister had her reception and we found ourselves in our wedding attire once again that we had wore only a short year ago. we boogied the night away.

Brittany, Destiny, and Me

Eddie, Brittany, Me and Bryce.. we matched her colors!

Once we got home, it was late and we were tired but we had to go pick up our new baby. We are a bit disappointed that we wont be able to take this thing out for a few weeks but we are counting down the days that we do! I present to you baby Hardman.

As of right now, Bryce's mom is home, the house is cleaned, Make-up is worn off, shoes put away, and the dressed pressed in the closet for the next time that I will be able to pull it out again. I am exhausted and now I have to think of the next weeks events.. 2 teenagers, 1 sassy 8 year old girl going on 18, 1 partner in crime, 4 hours drive, equals me with 4 'kids' and insanity... I think I am going to go CRAZY..

????

Well that last post really blew chunks now didn't it? Oh well I guess the winner is ME! so I guess now I will use the money to go buy me a new swimsuit before my family reunion. We wouldnt want my chest making an appearance there like it did the last time I went swimming now would we???? (that is a story I didnt tell!)

His or Hers

I thought while showing you all what we ended up with while testing our new camera I would involve my first game. It is called his and hers. I want you all to tell me which pics are the ones I took (hers) and which ones Bryce took (his). some are easy some aren't so easy. Whoever gets the most right will get a prize, even if I have to ship it. Even if I don't know you, guess! It'll be lots of fun. I will close the guessing on wed. night and give you the answers/winner on Thursday! Good luck!

#1

#2.

(Hint: Click on the picture to blow up and look into the eye)

#3.

#4.

#5.

#6.

#7.

Love the blurred background

#8.

#9.

(this one was taken after midnight, It looks like it was done in daylight but it wasn't. tricky Tricky)

ok now that you have looked through them all.... GO!

Taking the Plunge

We started discussing this last night. making the big decision.

Didn't get much sleep, tossed and turned all night long.

Woke up with eager anticipation, today is the big day.

I'm nervous.

Big Commitment.

Got showered, shaved my legs.

Put on my best make up, chose my best eye color to accentuate my best features.

Got in my best dress, found my favorite pair of shoes.

Oh the butterflies!

Drove to 'the place'

Took the Plunge.

Got strawberry frappachinno and pumpkin bread from Starbucks on the way home to celebrate.

We did it!

And in case you didn't catch on, we got our new DIGITAL CAMERA. I am excited! I get so flustered and nervous about loans, credit cards, and debt but I really am trying to build up some more credit. We took the plunge and I got it! Finally. Now 9 months of being tied down to a new commitment.

Sinful Apple Dumpling

Someone requested that I start working on my recipes again. Please let me know if you like them. I know everyone puts up recipes but I try to make mine super easy and healthy (with the exception of this one.) Feedback is awesome!

Sinful Apple Dumpling

2 Granny smith apples
2 can crescent rolls
2 sticks of butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
cinnamon
1 small can (8 oz or less) mountain dew

Peel and core the apple (I forgot to peal.. oops). Cut apples into 8 slices each. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll. Place in a sprayed pan. Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir. Add vanilla, stir, and pour over apples. Pour mountain dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with Cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve with ice cream (optional) and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.
Then go to confessions. Quickly

For my calories counters, I wont tell you the calories in these. Eat and enjoy then figure it out cough cough 285 cough cough