Pixar Play Parade is a must see.

We were missing cousin Ben when the first thing we saw coming down the road was Lighting McQueen.
Miss Macy become a good waver at the characters, but not so much of a toucher of strange furry creatures. She needs her personal space.
Kendall was a little creeped out by all the crazy costumes in this parade.
It's was so much fun to watch the kid's faces light up with excitement wondering if each character was real?

All the characters come right up to ya and they look so real. It was CRAZY fun!

Later Mater

Our first day at Disneyland

Heads up that the next few posts are going to be full of simple and maybe even useless tidbit from our Disneyland trip. We had such a great time. I don't know if it's the happiest place on earth, but it's a whole lot a fun. I am so glad that Triple A decided to have the conference at Anaheim. And how blessed be are that Dad likes to bring us along. Thanks Keith for the memorable vacation.

Also a HUGE thanks to Grandma Jones for keeping Taryn while we took the older kiddoes to Disneyland. We quickly realized from our one day experience at Hersey Park that amusement parks are not a lot of fun for babies or moms.

Pluto and Garrett harassed each other all morning.
Kendall didn't know if she liked all the characters. It took her a day to warm up to em. I look like a GIANT next to Minnie.
The Roger Rabbit ride was our first and was kind of scare for the kids.
We walked right into Mickey Mouse House. I don't know where they find all these short people to be the characters.

Goofy just keep coming around.


Our favorite ride in the whole park.
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters


As you can tell from the intense look on Keith and Kendall's face, this ride was thrills by the second. Space Ranger, Garrett was handy with his "shooter" to help Buzz defeat the evil Zarg.
Coming in at a close second would be
The Mad Hatters Tea Cup Ride



Our first day at Disneyland was stinking HOT, thus the dull faces on the kids.
Nothing that a dip in the Marriott Hotel pool, yummy sandwich, and a nap couldn't fix.

Ahh, the BYU days!

Every time we go to California we visit one of Keith's friends from when he was single. (Note, that most of them are girls, and we always seem to visit them when I'm pregnant or just had a baby, so I'm looking oh-so-lovely. Not that am insecure or anything.)

This time we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Julie and Scott Merrill's house, with Keith's buddy Matt Hart. Julie, Matt and Keith hung out at BYU so they enjoyed a stroll down memory lane. We all laughed as they retold stories from college. Many involving late nights, water balloon, playing cards, and harassing others while they made out. Why couldn't they just let others kiss in peace!

Garrett and Kendall loved playing with Ben and Joshua Julie's boys. Good times were had by all. Thanks Julie for a great dinner and fun night. Scott the house look GREAT!

Vern Hatch Reunion

I LOVE my family!!

How could ya not love such a great group of people. I love that we support one another through whatever everything. I love that we keep in touch and want to know what's going on in each other's life. I love that my children have older cousins to set the example of righteousness, happiness and productivity. I love that I always have someone to call for advice about cooking, cleaning, raising children, serving in the church, communicating with my husband, helping neighbors, and generally being happy with myself. I love that Garrett cries when we leave Arizona cause he wants to stay just a little longer and play with his cousins. I love knowing that my sisters love me no matter what comes and goes. I love we are number one on the priority list for our parents. I love that I always have this group of people to enjoy and laugh with through out the eternities.
Huge thanks to David Hatch for taking such good care of Grandpa Vern's Barn and letting us come relax and enjoy Young at his home.
Taryn enjoyed lots of squeezing from family at this reunion. She is very squeezable.
Step aside young one, let Grandma show you how it's done.

The sisters makin' Indian Fry Bread. What a treat!

Notice all girls and Garrett. Good job, son!
Taryn loves Katie Jo!

Mom and Dad relaxing and enjoying the reunion.

Happy memories from the reunion.

Petrified Forest

Because Garrett has been studying fossils and dino bones in summer camp, we decided to take the kids to the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert while we were visiting my parent.

The program wasn't as interesting or informative as we had hoped it to be. Garrett is trying to be a good student.

Above are the kids looking for fossils in the dirt. Those little suckers aren't as easy as you would think they would be to find. Someone needs to teach the Forest Rangers about hygiene when they encourage children to put dirt rocks in their mouth to reveal bone matter. Yuck!

We were hoping for more bones, but all we got were big rocks.

It was stinking hot but good times were had by all. Cousins seem to always find fun!

Vacationing at the Guttery's

( Even after a week at the Guttery's, Kendall still was a little leering of her cousins and Aunts. Miss Macy can make some silly faces.)

After traveling with all the kids in the car on two separate trips we decided NOT to take the girls to Canada. Also I never get to spend as much time with my sisters as I'd like too. Therefore we decided to have Keith take Garrett to Canada and the girls and I spent a week at the Guttery home. It was so nice and relaxing. We went swimming everyday, which Kendall thought was great. We sat around on the sofa and ate a lot of really good food. It was a treat to watch the Guttery's in action. That is a busy home. There was a teenager party the first night we were there and a party the last. In fact not a day went by the there was not a few extra teenagers running through that home. Vonda and Bill are busy talking with not only their own kids but all the youth that come around. Many excellent examples of parenting were performed while I watched. I have always been grateful for the support and love Vonda and Bill show to me, but now as a mom I am grateful for their Christlike parenting skills.

Sunday, Kristal and Danice decided to display their table scape skill for Sunday dinner. And heaven forbid we forget the kids table. The meal and company was great.Not to mention the awesome concoction for a drink they came up with.
While we were there Kayla tried out for American Idol. Even if they didn't pick her she made it on the local news. We think your great anyways Kayla.

Ah, Brio's!! Yummy! We enjoyed a sister lunch, which I wish we could do more often. I love hearing about what's going on with my sisters. They all have such busy lives, it's hard to always keep up. I love my sisters and am so grateful that we do get together as often as possible. They are my eternal friends.

Crazy faces left on my camera!

Day 4 - Whitmer Farm and Hill Cumorah

Garrett and Elizabeth love each other. They were born a week apart and have always looked a little like they could be twins. It was fun to watch them have such a great time on this trip. They love to give cousin hugs and I hope that never ends.

The tour guide was a little long so I took the kids out for a run in the fields around the farm house.
The church does an amazing job of staging the history sites, so that you feel like you are back in the day.

Keith and I checking out the Moroni Monument, and the view down at the stage.

More cousin hugs! We love you, Elizabeth!