Thursday, September 11, 2014

24th of July Anderson breakfast '14

Every year, I get so excited in July because I know this fun tradition is coming up and I have loved it since I was a kid.
24th of July Anderson breakfast
My amazing cousin Steph with my Blake. 
 This was her with Logan last year - whew!  What a fun year right?  Logan looks so tiny :)  I just love Steph, she is such an amazing strength and person - so lucky she is my cousin!
Cousin Allie and Aunt Betty
My dad, cousin Cody and his beautiful wife Corrine with their son's girlfriend Gabby
Cody made me take another pic of him :)  He is such a riot and they have a great family together.
All the kids down by the river - they love it just like we did when we were little - it's so fun to watch them
Ahh..love these 3 more than words!
Sky, Matt and Spence - I'm so lucky to have such a great sister and she chose the PERFECT husband for her and well...so did I!
My boys getting their play on with cousin Gabe
Rio and Halle - they are such great buddies
My mom and Zak - greatest and sweetest mom out there and this kid..wow - he is one amazing kid.  Hope my cuties follow after him.
Cute Allie with Blake
Uncle Matt joined in of course - he is so much fun!
These next pics are the newest tradition for our kids...they all have to jump off this super high rock to their uncles and now "big boy cousins"
Logan went first to Zak...
...got him
Then Rio to daddy
Halle to her daddy Matt
Here goes Austin to Uncle Matt

Love this one - so fun - he's so happy!
Love all these cute kids of ours - the next generation is growing up!
Front row: Austin, Jax, Halle, Rio and Mason
Middle: Gabe, Luke, Anna, Bailey, Ella
Back: McKayla, Lexi, Mia, Jake, Aiden, Zak holding Blake and cute Jordan in the back in the hat.  We have missed seeing him these past few years and we were so excited to see him and tell him how much we love him!
Me & some of my cousins & sister
Me, Allie, Steph, Sky and Cody
LOVE this picture so much - my Uncle Steve and my dad
Made me think back a year when my dad was in the hospital for blood clots in his lungs.  It was honestly one of the scariest and reflecting days I've had so far in my life.   I couldn't even think about him not being here and what all of our lives would be like without him.  I so want my kids to know him and remember him well.  Such a scary thought and I am glad the clots are gone and hope and pray that won't happen again.  Love you dad and I am so grateful for all you do!  I am so grateful for the gospel and the joy it brings to know we are together forever through the blessings of the temple and priesthood.
*Families are Forever*

Friday, September 5, 2014

24th of July preview '14

It's that time of year again to preview that beautiful parade floats.
However...what my kids remember from this event are the balloons that they have gotten each year....of course right?  Not the amazing floats but the .05 balloon character.  Love it!
Standing in line...the hardest part
...still waiting...
Ta-Da!
Jax chose a little cat, Rio has a beautiful heart flower, Logan chose a dog and of course my Austin chose a sword
Yes, Logan was not happy about taking a picture as per usual for that cutie
Introduction to the balloon...
...immediately started crying and his little hands went straight to his mouth to comfort him.
That is where Blake's heart balloon stayed the rest of the time.  He was not excited about that balloon at all :)
This was our favorite float - it was so cute and colorful and we loved that the little gopher popped in and out.  (He's up behind that white flower if you can't see him) 
Holding up the world!
This was my favorite children's parade float - so cute!  Loved all the little insects
Tryin' to get a pic of the crew and you know how that goes :)
Andrew, Kisty, Preston & Ethan and Grandma and Grandpa Morris joined us
My tough dude - love his face!

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Morris family reunion '14

The Morris family reunion took place again in Spanish Fork near the reservoir and we had a great time...
time for catching up, genealogy and playing together.  I just took very few pics but I'm grateful to join the Morris fam and be a part of this great name.
It made me also reflect on my "Anderson" name and I am very proud to be an Anderson as well. 
Ranger, Aunt Mitzi, cousin MacKenzie and her cute fam
 Erin, Bonnie, Aunt Debbie and Uncle Charlie
Our little Morris crew
Richard and Bonnie and their kids and our kids (minus Kristin and her family sadly) 
 Aunt Mitzi's fam (kind of) - MacKenzie was the only one of her three daughters that could join us
Uncle Charlie and his fam
I am glad for this picture because Spencer's aunt Melinda died years ago but she had two sons and this is Sean with his wife representing their great mother
Richard and Mitzi holding up their namesake
Yah for being a Morris!
Grateful for the heritage of this family and honored to have been married into a great family.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Annual Boondocks Trip

YAH for work parties.  This one is the kids favorite by far.
They honestly talked about Boondocks all year and it finally arrived :)
Since Spence's brother works at the same place and so does Matt, my BIL so the kids love it because their cousins and aunts and uncles are there.
Marc is dating this super cute girl Carrie and my kids already completely adore her so I hope she sticks around.  We love her!
The "Spider squash" as the kids call it.  Jax, Logan and Rio played together - so cute to watch them
Jax and Rio playing "Wack-a-Mole" with Carrie
Logan found a little buddy to ride motorcycles with
Rio and Carrie in an intense car race
Logan and Austin ridin'
"TRANSFORMERS" - Spence, Logan & Austin getting some Decepticons
Marc and Carrie playing the kids favorite game...
Dead Storm Pirates.
I'm not sure why they love it, I'm still not convinced they know how to play
Logan found his passion - "hoops daddy"
This kid LOVES any sport and especially when he can play with daddy
"Boat races" were the other favorite of the night.
They love squirting daddy, Marc or their cousins and they had a great time
Lastly came the go cars and as per tradition, Rio and I raced together :)
Love this girl and so glad to share in these fun things together.

Until next year...