Time Flys (Part I)

I thought about starting fresh, but I don't want to forget the past 8 months. I noticed I stopped blogging when I started working full time, and I let time slip away. It is time to kick it up again, so here is a sampling from May through September.

8th Grade Graduation and Dance

Family Reunion and 4th of July in Utah

Isabel's 14th Birthday in Utah

Hiking Timpanogos Caves

Oliver's 10th Birthday

Summer and Fun

Back to School (3rd and 5th grade)

Camping

Starting High School - I can't believe I have a high schooler

Birthday and Baptism - the same day

Starting Preschool

Whewwww, that was a lot. I got through part I. Now, on to part II.

Homecoming

While I was in Utah this weekend I was able to go home. I know I shouldn't call it home since I don't live there anymore but in some ways it will always be home to me. I took this picture from my parents backyard. This is what I miss most about Utah, is living so close to the mountains. They are right in your backyard.

My parents backyard

Anyway about coming home. My nephew, Alex who is my sister Nan's son came home from his mission to Houston, TX. I was able to go to his homecoming which was great because I missed his farewell. He has grown up so much in the two years he has been gone.

Alex

It was wonderful to see him and hear about all his great experiences. It was also nice to see all my sisters and their families. I haven't seen them since April, which seems like forever ago. It was the icing on a great weekend. Every time I go home it seems like everyone has changed and grown. I will always remember my nieces and nephews at the ages of when I first got married and moved away. I go back and they have all grown up. It seems like we are in a cycle now of saying goodbyes to missionaries. I also have a nephew, Elliot who is serving his mission in Tokyo, Japan and I have a nephew who leaves for the Dominican Republic on Thursday. What great guys they are and I'm grateful for the example they set for my own boys.

Cathy - my oldest sister

Nan - My second oldest sister

Jenni- my third oldest sister

I missed my brothers, they were not able to come.

Trent - relaxing at the homecoming

Kids playing with their cousin Max

Phoebe playing

Miles goofing around

Family Reunion Part Two

My Grandmother (Matriarch of the Chatterton Clan) and my Uncle Jerry.

On Saturday of the family reunion they had rented out a place not to far from where we staying where there was a huge water slide. The slide started up a hill which was probably 100 feet high with 300 yards of slide. My kids had an absolute blast. We stayed for 5 hours! and they were still sad to go. You would think some of them would have been nervous but no. Every time and I mean every time Phoebe would come down she would get up and say "Again, Again" They had to climb to the top of the hill every time, I thought they would get tired but they didn't they ran every time. I had a hard time even getting them to stop and eat.

Phoebe running to get to the top again

Miles getting a face full of water

Oliver trying new tricks

Isabel with cousins

Trent leading the 'Hart Train'

Isabel & Phoebe after their train run.

They finally at the end of the day talked me into going, I was happy just watching and had not dressed for the occasion. I have to admit it was really fun. They also had a swing that you could swing off of. You swing off of a rickety platform probably 3 stories high. The boys thought it was great, they both went twice.

Oliver goes off first.

Miles is lovin' it.

It was a great day. It was the highlight of the reunion. On the way home to Denver they all asked if we could go back next year. We had lots of fun, I know because I'm tired and I feel like I need to recover from all the fun. It was sad to see it end. What a great weekend! And no toys, computer, or Wii, who knew.

Family Reunion Part one

This past weekend we made the trek to Utah for a family reunion of my mom's family. I haven't been for 7 years due to living away and kids in school. This year I said "we are doing it anyway, no matter what." I need my kids to feel their roots and to have memories of family other than their own. Anyway, we left on Wednesday night and drove to my sister Jenni's house where we stayed until Friday when the reunion started. The reunion was in Paradise, Utah which is just south of Logan, Utah. Most of my mom's family live in Cache Valley. My kids were so excited to go camping they couldn't stand it.

The area was beautiful and it was great to reconnect with cousins, aunts and uncles. All of my cousins now have families so there were lots of friends to be made with my own kids which didn't take very long. Most of the time I just saw my kids at meal times, they were usually off with others having fun at the creek or running around all over the place.

The only thing missing were my parents, so that gives me a reason to go back next year. More to be continued.

This is the typical face of the kids all weekend!

Notice the lack a picture of Isabel. She found new cousins and could never be found except for dinner.