The whole family
Six kids and 9 grandkids
Mon and Dad
Jeff, Tiffany, Kayla, Jerika, J.D., and Kamree
It was time for the Annual Williams Reunion. This year's reunion was planned by my Aunt Cindy. She had the reunion at Fish Lake. We had three cabin's, two small and one large, to fit all of us. 
When we first received the post card telling us to save the dates, I had no idea what Fish Lake was or even where it was. Some where in the middle of Utah is what everyone kept telling me. So it was time to head out. We had originally planned on spending Thursday night in Salt Lake going and enjoying some of the Church History stuff, but by the time it was time to go, Jenny's family and dad weren't able to go, so we 
decided to skip Salt Lake. Jeff's family and Our family decided to go down to Grandma Shupe's anyway. Thought it would be fun to go and take Grandma out to eat or something. So our two families set out once Ben had gotten home from work, cleaned up, and the car packed. We met Jeff and Tiff at the gas station and then headed for Orem. We decided along the way to stop and eat in Salt Lake. 
We tried to go and see some of the Church History stuff that both Tiff and Ben had seen while at Youth Conference, but they ended up closing before we got there. So we just went to the Old Spaghetti Factory to eat instead. I love that place, more so, I love Italian food. We decided there was nothing more to see there and got back on the road. In the process Jeff thought it would be fun to go to Cabelas'. Ben and I had never been there before and Ben still needed to get his fish license, so we decided it was a go. Cabelas' was pretty cool. 
I didn't realize they had pretty much a small museum of animals. Gabbi thought it was awesome to be able to see all the different animals. The best part being it didn't cost a thing to go in and look at all the animals. Ben had a blast going through the camping stuff. Dreams for the future, he said. Once Ben had gotten his license and we had had our fill of the store, we headed for Grandma's. Once we got there we settled the kids in and got them in Jammie's and then us adults helped and visited
with Grandma. In the morning we helped Grandma pack her car and waited for the rest of our family to show up. We were all going to caravan down together. Once they got there we played musical cars. Not every one's stuff was going to fit in the cars they were supposed to be going in. It was crazy. But we finally all got situated and headed for the reunion. Once we got there we settled into our cabin's and awaited for instructions. 
Cindy had planned this reunion to be a relaxing one. There weren't affirmative plans, it was a come and enjoy the time together. They rented two pontoon boats, one for those who wanted to go fish and the other for those who wanted to go and site see on the lake. The first night was fishing on the shore and playing games in the yard and in the cabin. G
randma had put together a trivia game about her. She put together 30 multiple choice question. It was funny that some of the question not even my aunt or uncle's could answer. The next day was a day of fishing and site seeing. We had our breakfast and made sack lunches to have at the shore. The first set of fishers went on the boats and the second set kept to the shore. Myself, Jenny, my mom and a few others stayed behind with the kids that couldn't fish. We took the site seeing tour on the boat. 
That was pretty cool. The kids really liked taking turn driving the boat. We all come back to the cabin for lunch instead because it was started to become cloudy. We thought it might rain. And rain it did. But only for a little bit. The next set of fisher's went out on the boat for more fishing and the site seeing boat took more fisherman as well, because no one wanted to go just for the ride. They didn't get to fish to much because the rain came back and it came back hard. 
Cindy planned on craft activities for the kids, they made to-to's and bandanna's and Cindy and Mike planned on taking them to go and see the square dancer's that were dancing in the lodge all weekend. The kids loved it. Gabbi however not so much. She's not a sit on the sidelines and watch type of girls. She saw all of them dancing, ripped off her jacket and wanted to go out and dance with them. Well that wasn
't really allowed, they were doing a competition. She wanted so badly to go and dance with them. Ben ended up practically dragging her out of there. He brought her back screaming because she wanted to dance. Nana and Papa saved the day. They took her in there room and had a dancing party. When the rest of the kids got back, they joined Gabbi as well. They had so much fun dancing with Papa and Nana while waiting for dinner. That night was also a night of games. Jenny made up a trivia game about previous reunions. 
That was fun. It was hard to go back that far to try to answer some of the questions. It covered 14 years of reunions. I was helping Jenny try to think of questions she could ask, that was hard. The last day was made up of packing up and family pictures. We were supposed to attend sacrament meeting there, but everyone pretty much took off. That was buggy. It was part of the agenda, but that didn't stop certain family members from thinking that they didn't have to participate in planned activities. 
The best part of the whole reunion was when it was raining. We were actually all gathered together and played games. Our reunions typically end up being divided in our little groups. My uncles' generally pair off and my family is generally left behind. We are use to it by now after 14 years of reunions. That's why Cindy planned this reunion as a relaxing everyone play together kind of reunion. She told us that at every meal we were not to sit by anyone from out immediate family and we had to sit by someone new at every meal. 
That worked for the first two or so meals, but it quickly died too. It never fails, the groups divide off every year. Maybe one day it won't be that way anymore. I was just glad that it did rain and gave us an excuse to be "stuck" in the same place with each other. It turned out pretty fun. 
They are beans, snap peas, and carrots. The beans are doing great, the peas and carrots however aren't. They have grown at all. The peas popped up a little and the birds got to them before they had a chance. The carrots did pop up at all. We're not sure why. We'll try again next year.
Sadly this year Pioneer Day was on a Monday and Ben had to work. So I did the unthinkable and took the kids out by myself. We go to the Pioneer Day parade every year with Ben's mom and she didn't have to work so I called to see if they were planning on going to the parade this year. They had set out a spot close to the end of the parade route. Normally they try to get a spot around 28th street in the shade of the bank, but there was construction going on and the sidewalk was blocked off, so they got a spot in front of the Bexter building by the only tree on that block. Its too bad the sun was too high for the shade of that tree to even be a benefit unless you were standing. 
The parade felt like it was taking forever. It was almost 11 o'clock before it even got down to us and it started at 10. By then it was hot and the kids were getting cranky. They got passed around from person to person, but I could tell that neither of them wanted to be there anymore and I wasn't enjoying the parade. I didn't get to visit very much with Ben's mom so it was almost a waste. I decided to pack it up and head back to the car with about a fourth of the parade left to go.
I had seen all I wanted to and had taken all that I could take with the kids. So I packed up all my stuff and packed up the kids back in the wagon and headed back to the car. That was almost an impossible measure. People were just stopped on the sidewalk and I could barely get through with the wagon. But we did finally make it back to the car and we headed home. I got the kids their lunch and once we were all done, I put them down for naps. I was very excited to take a nap myself and surprised I was able to fall asleep.
Once Ben got home he did some homework and then got cleaned up and we decided to go out to eat. We went to the Texas Roadhouse. We had a coupon, which is the only reason we were able to eat there. We don't normally dine out at a restaurant like that. But it was very good and the best part was the rolls and their butter. I'm not sure what they put in the butter, but it is soooo good. I think we went there just for the rolls. I know I did. Dinner was fun and the kids were good. That was a surprise considering the morning we had. Once we were done eating we went and ran some errands and then went home to enjoy the rest of the evening with a redbox movie. Even though it wasn't a tradition holiday and we didn't do the things we normally do on Pioneer Day, it was still a fun day and despite the chaos I am glad I did it. 
One activity that Ben and I have been enjoying a lot this summer is the drive-in. We both love movies and to be able to watch two movies for the price of one, its the best. We try to invite anyone who might want to come. Some times they come, some times they don't, but we still have a blast. We have gone at least three times so far and intend to go a few more times before they close for the season. 
We load up the back of the jeep with goodies, blankets, pillows, games, chairs, and the radio. Some times we will bring food with us and eat dinner there, sometimes we will make sure we eat before we go. When we get there, we set up our chair and then we set of the jeep for the kids. We lay down their blankets and pillows and then pull out the laptop and put on a movie for them while we play games.
The kids have been really good each time we have gone to the drive-in and the best part is Owen is generally asleep before our movie even starts. It makes it more enjoyable when he is asleep and we only have to worry about Gabbi. She normally falls asleep during the second movie. The only bad part is having to wake her up to put her in her car seat when it is time to go. But for the fun that we have at the movies before and during the movie, it makes it all worth it. 
Every year we normally go to at least 5 Raptors home games. Sadly this year has flown by and we have only been able to go to one game so far. Nelson and Deann called and invited us to go to a game for Tremonton days. 
They were able to get some free tickets and we were glad that they invited us and that we had nothing else going on, so we could go with them. They brought with them their grand kids; Nakayla and Braden. Gabbi just loves Nakayla and Nakayla is really good with Gabbi. They hung out the whole game, which made it a lot easier for Ben and I. We were actually able to enjoy some of the game. 
They were so cute to watch too. It was a lot of fun to watch the game, eat ball park food, and visit with Nelson and Deann. That doesn't really happen as much as Ben and I would like. So we are glad they called.
I swear, I didn't pose him at all. I had just finished feeding him lunch, put him on the floor in the kids room to play with his stuffed animals and then I went into the kitchen to get Gabbi her lunch. While I was in the kitchen I heard a couple of whimpers and then silence. I just figured he was having fun playing. Once I was finished getting Gabbi's lunch, I went in to check on him and this was what I found. Isn't it sweet.
This picture was taken the morning after we had gone to lagoon. I was in my room folding laundry and the kids were playing just fine. I had yelled for Gabbi to come do something and she yelled back, "Mommy be quiet, I'm putting Owen to sleep." I came in to see what she was really doing and low and behold, she was putting him to sleep. She let him use her blanket, that's a first, and made sure he had his stuffed monkey. He of course didn't go to sleep, but it was sweet of her to try to help me out. What a good girl.
I love fireworks and I am glad that my family has made it a tradition to go to the fireworks at Weber State every year. They truly are my favorite. We have a giant group that goes every year. It consists of about 4 to 5 different families. My mom and her friend made giant sheet blankets with rivets in them so they could be staked down. 
Its about 10 queen sized sheets altogether. We each take turns setting them up and cleaning them up. It is well worth it to make sure we get a spot around the same spot every year. We normally don't go up until around 7 so by the time we get to the blankets the sun goes down shortly there after and its not so hot. We play games and snack on cookies and licorice while we wait for the fireworks. Every year Lana bring glow in the dark sticks for the kids and that occupies them for a good chunk of time. Then the fireworks begin. We all just sit there and admire the wonderful firework show. 
I have noticed over the years that not very many people make the oo's and ah sounds any more, like we used too. Its the one day I look forward to every July and am sad when it's over. Now I just have to wait another 365 days til the next one. 
