Savoring The "Moments": A BIG celebration...

The very first weekend of summer, actually on the same day as the last day of school, we took our little family down to Paris, Idaho. We were celebrating my parents 50th year of marriage! Wow!

My sister's husband has a real gem of a house in his family that they so kindly let us use for the occasion. There was room to spare, and history oozing out of every crack and crevice of the house. My children were in heaven as they explored the seemingly endless rooms. Jed and I shared a room in the upstairs and there was a room next door just for our kids. It had two sets of bunkbeds and the cutest mini couches that turned into beds as well. It was seriously a child's heaven!

But first, just as we arrived, my sister fed us hot soup. We had gotten in late because we also went to our wards first ever ward party beforehand.

It was so good to see my sister and her family, and it is always tempting to stay up WAY too late. But, we disciplined ourselves, because there was a big shindig that my sister had worked so hard to put together, the next day.

We tried to wind the children down, but they were so excited to see their college age cousins. In fact they had invited Sarah and Emily (their cousins) to sleep in "their" room. They so graciously obliged.....but you can imagine that it wasn't very restful. I was in there with Claire to see if she might sleep in that room, and about 10 minutes after it finally quieted down there in the dark, I hear little Lily's voice ask one of her cousins if they were done sleeping yet? :)

I took Claire into Jed and I's room and we finally dozed off.

In the morning we all cooked together a big delicious breakfast, and then it was onto the activities.

I have an incredibly creative and talented sister. She did so much work and came up with so many fun activities, there was seriously never a dull moment!

They blew up balloons:

My sister enlisted the help of all the kids to decorate the outdoors and the shelter area, and she let them just have at it! They had so much fun:

That is my awesome sister:

Here is Claire just taking it easy, I'm sure she was worn out from working so hard. :)

There was pin the Moroni on the Manti temple:

Bubble blowing:

Ukelele playing:

Coloring Manti temple coloring pages:

A family history game:

A wedding cake shaped piñata the kids helped to break:

A cute little Claire:

Some water balloon volleyball:

Which soon escalated into a full blown water fight, doesn't it always with brothers??

I'm pretty sure this is a picture of my hair as I was trying to flee quickly away from my brother Jeff who got me good I tell you.

I was pretty bound and determined to get him back good, but that smarty pants just hid in the house til the water fight fizzled out. But I haven't forgotten...... :) I will have my chance.

Our family held a fear factor game with wasabi sauce, clam juice, horseradish cheddar cheese, lemons, mustard, and some sort of anchovy something or other. :) I did not participate because I was hosting the game. :) I would have been out as soon as something fishy was brought into the picture. It was pretty fun and gross!

We got to visit with my aunt Karen and a few of her daughters and their children. It is always so fun to see them.

We also skyped my sister Julie and her family. It was so fun to "see" them in Florida and little bits of their new house.

My sister provided a delicious dinner and had a beautiful cake for the big celebration.

It was so much fun! The kids were seriously endlessly entertained with dress-up, crafts, exploring, and all of the other planned things we did. It was no surprise that they did not want to leave.

We unfortunately had to miss the readings of all of the children's tributes to my parents, and the night games they were going to play later on.

But we sure had an action packed fun filled day!

So much has happened in those 50 years! I'm so grateful for my parents and for all of the good people in our family.