Heidi and Sam hosted an awesome birthday celebration in Honor of Heidi...who turned 30!
Bree and Shannon helped Heidi make this awesome photo backdrop! So fun!
The birthday girl with her mini crown. (smile}
Along with a super awesome photo backdrop...they also had a bounce house for the kids to play in...or adults if they wanted. (smile} In photo four...Dan is standing with a bucket of ice....and yes, it was a gift for Sam. =)
Sam and Heidi had thought of everything....perfectly awesome in pink and gold.
We ended Cousin Camp with an awards banquet and color fun.
Using a square cut from some old jeans....I had patches made for each of the kids- that say, Cousin Camp 2013 and their names.
Using a color mixture the kids ran around throwing color on each other....by adding water { from the hose} the color becomes brighter- I mixed together equal parts corn starch and non toxic-dry powdered paint.
The last Sunday that Shannon and the kids were here...we took them to Sam and Heidi's ward for Church so the cousins could go to Primary together. Sweet!
Conner was so very helpful the whole week- Love that young Man!
Sunday Morning...in our picture spot.
-On our last Day together-
We ate at Happy burger
When to a movie
played on the razors.
What I will miss when they are gone-
Payton's lego design
writing in summer journals
warm blankets and movies
creative play
and of course I will miss them all.....but we had some awesome fun!
We had a wonderful time at Cousin Camp! The kids were so good!
We started by meeting for camp at Catheys Valley...then it was on to our adventure!
First stop- Pittson's House boat. My friend Sandi was so kind as to let us use their house boat for our Pajama cruise and mid- night buffet! They were so awesome to help out. Sandi even had the boat all decorated and ready for us when we got there.
We danced and slept under the stars
mid-night buffet
Captain Steve was so awesome to give rides and make the adventure fun on the boat.
The kids shared stories and Conner and Payton put on a wonderful puppet show.
snow cones 24/7
I made each child a name tag using a plastic pouch hooked to a lanyard. They kept their Happy Tickets they earned in the pouch.
We spent Monday evening and most of Tuesday on the House boat. Tuesday after lunch we headed out for our next stop. A cabin in the woods.
We played games
Papa Dan was in charge of the devotional each night. Sweet stories and Gospel related truths.
We played in the Lake
Ate at Pie in the Sky
Stayed up late talking and laughing
Happy Ticket store was awesome!
Hiked 8 miles round trip to Cleo's bath starting at Pinecrest Lake
Talent show by the kids
Best Quotes of the week-
Conner to Grammer-"I'm so glad that you are my Grammer and not someone like a nun."
Payton after the 8 miles hike- "I will be in my room on my bed if you want to know where I am...and please no one bother me...I'm tried."
So Sweet!
Carlee saving up her Happy Tickets so she could buy a birthday gift for her Mother at the Happy Ticket store.....so sweet!
Anna offering to give Carlee some of her tickets.....so sweet!
Both girls shared their tickets to help each other get what they wanted.
Preston even offered some of his tickets to help the girls....so sweet!
Conner helping Preston all week to feel like one of the big guys........"You can do this buddy."
Payton kept us laughing .....so sweet!
They all were very nice to each other...helping each other during the hike , talents show etc.....I was in Grammer Heaven!
Conner and Papa were the only ones that made it to the top....We thought it might be too hard for the littler ones to climb up the rocks.
We loved spending one on one time with these amazing children....
( I can say that because I'm their Grammer =)
We loved sharing our testimony with our grandchildren... to ensure that they know of our belief so that they can pass this legacy on to their future children and to our great grandchildren.
Years from now when they have families of their own ...I hope they remember Cousin Camp and the love we had for them and the Testimonies that we shared.
Happy Day Cousin Camp was Awesome!
Just a little bit more to come about Cousin Camp =)
At Cousin camp we wanted to find a way to encourage "happiness" and "cooperation" because life will be so much more fun at camp if we have those two things.
I think I will put together a "Happy Ticket Store"
Every-time a child is Happy or show a great deal of cooperation - They will be presented with a Happy Ticket...once they have three or more they can go to the store and buy whatever they want....depending on the number of tickets they have.
3 tickets gets them one item from the "3" pocket
4 tickets gets them one item from the "4" pocket and so on.
With the thinking that the best items are in number 8 (smile}
The Happy Ticket store is made using a over- the- door shoe Organizer I found at Target. It works perfect for what we are doing, and it's mobile too.
I'm 99% finished getting ready for camp...just some cookie making and loading up the car is left.
Here is a short list of what will happen at camp
Day 1- Starting early evening.
Pajama Cruise- (using a friends House boat}
Activities- "Dancing with the Stars" Hola Hoop contest and Midnight buffet
Cousin Camp starts in less than a week! Since the wedding is over, I've moved my efforts more to cousin camp. This week I will be finishing up all the little details.
Like these- Pillow talk goodies.
I found the idea at this site. Jenny has some awesome ideas.
I also made a bunch of these. You can find them at WhipperBerry too!
I'm storing all my cousin camp ideas on Pinterest. If you would like....here is a link to my cousin camp board
Each night I plan to put a little surprise on each of the kids pillows.
Today I'm working on a recipe experimenting actually not sure what I'm doing....but I'm making something using tempera colors and a food processor. Good thing I have lots of outdoor space up in Catheys Valley...to test this out. (Don't worry, it will be tested before I use it on the kids=)
I've been a little busy over at Flourish....come on over and see what is going on.
Plus we would love for you to join us ....come take a class or two!
My daughter Shannon and I will be presenting a class Saturday June 22 at 10 am .
"You Put the Lime in the Coconut & Summer Fun list"
$20- making things with Lime and Coconut, fresh Flower craft- a summer must for your hair and to top it all off....An Awesome Summer Fun list presented byShannon Brown.
You do not want to miss this....going to be super summer fun!
Just email me and let me know you are coming flourishclass@gmail.com
We will be making something like this for our hair along with a fun body scrub and summer fun list!
Plus you know we can't have a class without lots of yummy treats!
We got up bright and early to be at the Los Angeles Temple at 8- am the marriage sealing took place at 9:30 am. We were so very excited for Mason....his Happy Day was finally here.
They both are so very cute together. First picture as man and wife. (smile}
All the nieces and nephews...but Ellie....it was a long day.
Long Day for the kids....but they did great all things considered.
Thanks to everyone that came to help and be supportive this day. Especially Ashlee, Mikayla and Brittney....for helping with the children.
I didn't focus much on taking picture....Can't wait to see what the wedding photographer comes up with.
There were so many pictures that I wanted...Like one of each family...but I didn't get one....hopefully the photographer did. Or someone.
At the Recpetion- Jessica's Dad had Kathleen do all the wedding decorations. She worked hard and it showed. Thanks Kathleen.
The girls loved dancing, the food was great and best of all Mason and Jessica were happy.
Family by family they started to arrive on Friday- we were all staying in the same place....which is nice because if there was any down time we could hang out together.
(lets just say there was very little down time this trip.}
Shannon and her family came in first on Thursday night...so we had a little more time with them. Which included a breakfast of all bacon for Payton. (with a little fruit on the side =)
The Gardens were beautiful where we stayed.
Payton and Conner pretending to be fish- silly
Ellie and Audrey Hanging out together
Nicholas and Anna fishing
Shannon getting her baby fix with adorable Cole
400 year old Bonsai- Jessica's Dad's hobby. He has quite a few.... around a 100 or more.
Payton acting like a fish.
Mario hosted a family lunch at his home. (set up by Kathleen} We enjoyed our afternoon with Jessica and her family.
After the lunch it was time to get ready for Mason's Bachelor Party....we have a tradition in our family; where the night before the boys get married... as a family we decide on something fun to do together...plus it is a good time to embarrass them one more time.
And the sign...they have to wear the sign the whole time.
We gathered by the fountain at the hotel....to start the party.
This was the back of the sign.
Here we all are- {John & Libby, Amy & Brian and family met up with us there}
We always have to take a second picture because Kent has a joke to tell.
All my children- Shannon, Sam, Kent, Denver and Mason- {hey... so....how do they do that all the time without thinking?...line up in birth order. =)
Welcome sir Mason....is this really your Bachelor Party?
It was super hard to get a good picture inside...so please forgive the fuzziness.
We took up two whole rows! Holy Cow!
We ate with our hands, screamed at the top of our voices.....yep....pretty much a guy thing....but fun. I even heard a few of my Granddaughters yell..."off with his head" . Good activity wouldn't you say ? (smile}
Fun, fun, Fun!
But while that was a blast......this is my favorite part.....
(Scott is there...on the ground...taking one for the team...all seats were taken....didn't want to get too tight on the beds =}
Meeting back at the hotel for family counsel, gifts, talking, laughing, sharing advice and laughing.
Each one shared some heart felt advice about marriage ....very touching and sweet. Danny also gave Mason a Father's Blessing.
He opened some fun gifts- camera, Binoculars, batteries, a set of books...The art of being a man.....and few other things that will remain unmentioned. ( the little children were in bed asleep...in the linking room... video baby monitors are wonderful things.}
this statement is from Shannon's blog....for some reason the link I have to Kents party is broken....
The family Bachelor Party. Once we arrived in Logan and Kent returned from his pre-wedding breakfast with Becca the festivities began. Kent loves IHOP (I didn't know this before last week). Like really, really loves IHOP. So the plan was to go to IHOP for breakfast, lunch, and wait for it, wait for it . . . . dinner. Well Kent got stolen away for breakfast (ahhh, newlyweds -- can't you please keep your hands off of each other for 2 seconds?! Sheesh.). Kent & Becca were unaware of our plans and guess where they went for breakfast. IHOP. Throughout the day Kent had to wear a sign that said, "I'm getting married tomorrow, Wish me Luck!" After lunch our next stop was Best Buy (a.k.a. the holy land for Kent). My parents told Kent they were getting him a PS3 for wedding/Christmas (that put a giant smile on his face) so we all set out to find games & accessories. Of course this led to gaming back at the hotel. And when it came time for dinner a a mutiny surfaced and the plan for IHOP was abandoned. Instead we went to the Olive Garden and enjoyed Sam's 25% employee discount.
Sam bachelor party- was before I starting blogging....so no links. =(
We took him to Home Depot where he too had to wear a sign. We stood at the front doors with a basket. As the family paired up and ran all over Home depot looking for a gift....if you put the same thing in the basket as someone else you had to return it and look for something else. Tons of fun....They even broadcast over the speakers that he was holding his bachelor party at the store....several people {Strangers} left gifts in his basket also... that they had paid for...fun!
We have a plan....Shannon missed out on a bachelorette party....coming soon!
We drove down to Newport beach on Thursday to meet up with Mason and Jessica at the Newpost Beach Temple. It was a beautiful day.....getting to know Jessica's family and spending time with them in the Temple.
Grace, Kathleen and Jessica
Grace is Jessica's sister...awesome young woman. She just received her mission call and will be serving in Salt Lake City Utah. (but first she is going to the MTC in Mexico for language training etc. She already speaks Spanish)
Kathleen is a good friend of the family and has stepped in to help out with all things Wedding and much more...she has done an amazing job! { with the passing of Jessica's Mother a few months ago, she has been so kind and helpful to the family.}
Jessica's family is so sweet and kind. Jessica's Grandmother, and Aunt & Uncle flew in from Guatemala to be with her on this special day.
My Blog began in 2005- I write about "whatever" I am doing- about my husband (Danny) and our 5 grown children and grandchildren. I write about the things I love...from creating a new room to playing with my grand-kids...I share my blessings and my testimony about my Mormon Faith.{The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints} I love finding ways to be happy and enjoy the blessings I've been given....come what may.....Happy Day
