Garrett Family Reunion July 2009

Every summer over Pioneer Day (July 24th) we have the Garrett Family Reunion. All of Jimmy's siblings try to make a trip to Utah to spend time together. On the 24th we all make the trek down to Holden Utah - the small town Janet grew up in. The town puts on a huge celebration including a parade, the most amazing breakfast known to man - YUM, bottle rocket launching, the great race (a youth and adult relay race), the children races, and finally a homemade ice cream contest! One of the highlights are the children's races. By age the kids line up and sprint to the finish line. This is my kids very favorite activity. They love running races! Many of Jimmy's aunts, uncles, and cousins come to Holden to enjoy the festivities and visit with all the family.

After the celebration at the church, we all head over to Uncle Norman's home for another huge meal. For the last couple of year they have made ribs on the barbecue - Delicious! The kids have a blast playing on the rope swing, riding horses and four wheelers, playing on the play set, exploring the farm, and just spending time together. Some of the older kids and adults take Uncle Norman's challenge of climbing up the rope swing. If you can climb the rope and touch the tree branch you get a fresh, crisp dollar bill. However, climbing the rope is not for the faint of heart, there have been many rope burns throughout the years, but if you succeed you have bragging rights! :) This is Jimmy's favorite holiday of the year (I think it is because of the hometown cooking)! :)

The day after Holden we all met at Julie's house for another day of fun. We took tracks up to Salt Lake to visit the Gateway. My kids loved riding on the tracks train. At the Gateway (which is a big outdoor mall) there is a fountain that the kids can play in. Spencer and Trenton had so much fun running through the fountain with their cousins. TJ wasn't to keen on getting wet. :) After the Gateway we decided to go see "Night at the Museum 2". It was a fun movie. Afterward we went back to Julie's for dinner and down time. The kids played and played while the adults visited. Spending this time together is always a highlight of the year.

A Hike to Stewart Falls July 09

We live in such a beautiful state. The mountains are right there for us to enjoy. We took a morning to hike to Stewart Falls. This was the first time we have hiked to the falls as a family. We have such amazing little hikers, the boys just love being in the mountains. Jimmy says we have some good future hunters. The day was a little overcast and drizzling, and it was a little cold once we reached the falls, but the kids had a great time exploring. And, the views are amazing - this is a beautiful hike! This hike is a great family activity and we hope to hike there every summer.

Fourth of July Family Olympics

For the Fourth of July my brother Chris decided to start a family tradition in holding an Annual Family Olympics. He sent us all invitations and planned a day full of fun in the sun. We played in the pool and slip-n-slide, had water relay games, and an award ceremony in the evening. One of the highlights of the day was when we pulled out the blanket toss. The kids had a blast flying up into the air. We also had fun playing with the giant parachute. It was a fun day and the Family Olympics will be a great family tradition.

Camping with the Olsen's

The first weekend in June we took a trip with Jimmy's sister, Julie, and her family. We went down south to an area we have never been called Kodachrome Basin, which is near Bryce Canyon. It was a beautiful area. We enjoyed hiking, hanging out, and visiting Bryce. There were also some very unique rock formations. The kids loved to sneak up on the rabbits, which were found all over in the campground. There was one incident when Brennan (my 3 year old nephew) wandered off at the campground. We spent a few minutes searching and then another couple staying in the camp saw him and pointed us in his direction. Trenton noticed all the attention that Brennan was getting (also noticing a few tears shed by Brennan's mom). So, my tricky little Trenton decided to "wander off" on his own, hide in a bush, and then not come out when we were calling for him. When we finally found him he asked me "Mom did you cry?", thinking that he would get the same reaction. What a stinker! What am I going to do with that boy!?! At Kodachrome Basin State Park they have a Junior Ranger program. The boys had a great time completing the Junior Ranger booklet and passing off the requirements to be "sworn in" and become a Junior Ranger. What a great idea. Bryce Canyon was so beautiful, although I was a bit stressed that you are basically standing on the edge of a cliff as you view it. We went on an awesome hike at Bryce. It was called the Navajo trail and I highly recommend it if you ever go hike the canyon. It was so cool! We also hiked to a small waterfall and a cave a few miles from Bryce. This was Trenton's favorite hike, it was called the Mossy Cave hike. We have really enjoyed camping this year. The kids are old enough that it is not as stressful anymore. We will be looking forward to our next big camping adventure!

Garrbear

"I'm Garrbear's Daddy" that is what Trenton always says. Trenton has fallen in love with his stuffed black bear he calls Garrbear (said like Garrett bear just take away the "ett"). Seeing him play like he is a daddy is completely adorable. It gives me a small taste of what a little girl might be like. This little bear goes everywhere with Trenton. He places it in his backpack when he goes to school, he carries him around the store, he even puts him in his pants when he doesn't have pockets (that I frown upon). In a typical day he feeds, cleans, and puts his bear to bed. He creates little sleeping bags out of blankets, tucks him in, and even turns on a night light. I have even found him putting Garrbear in time out, he said to me "Mom, Garrbear's in time out because he was hitting and biting" then he picks up the bear and says "Garrbear you do not hit and bite, now you can come out of time out". I have discovered that if you want to get a straight answer from Trenton you ask the bear first, and Trenton will answer honestly - for the bear. It is hysterical. You can always tell when "Garrbear" is talking because Trenton will speak baby talk in a high pitched voice. He also told me that he wanted to scrapbook Garrbear a baby book. Isn't that just so precious!?! It was my birthday a few weeks back and I asked Trenton what he was going to get for me. He said "I'm going to get you a bear Webkin, it will be a girl named Laci, and it will be Garrbear's mom". SO CUTE!!! (Webkinz are the brand of stuffed animal, and Laci is the name Jimmy and I chose if we ever had a little girl). Sure enough I got a Polar Bear Webkin which I named Laci. He is such a loving little boy and now "Laci" the Polar Bear will become quite sentimental to me. I just love seeing this side of Trenton.