Orme family reunion 2011

This was an amazing family event I wouldn't have missed for the world. I have always loved feeling connected to family and wish we could all live closer together. We dedicated the entire event to the legacy of Merlin and Erva Orme my wonderful grandparents. We stayed in Bear Lake, Utah at really the best Inn at the Lake. There was golf and swimming, volleyball and basketball, swimming and bbqs, biking and hiking, talent shows, slide shows, and devotionals. I left feeling completely satisfied with the exception of wishing it didn't go by so fast. I reconnected with cousins I haven't talked to in years, and they felt like best friends. I invited everyone to come to CA and I meant it!
This was the teen/college room and pictured are some of my favorite Guinn and Wertner teen/college kids. (Looks like Brody snuck in)

Josie made fast friends with second cousins Mikayla and Isabel

Kellen swimming in the pool. He loved it until he realized how much colder it is than the California pools he is used to swimming in!

Kellen met his second cousin Brielle. She was so cute and so were Jane and Eli, the other two toddlers his age.

This was the dining area. It accommodated 67 of us perfectly if you can believe it! Pictured are my Mom and Dad, cousin Jake, and Aunt Tricia.

I wanted to eat this little guy,Eli, along with his little sister Lily. His dad is my birthday cousin, Kirby. We were born 1 day apart 40 years ago.

The kids got so much use out of the Jacuzzi and pool. The hard part was keeping the toddlers safe and the mosquitoes out with the door opening so often!

These bathing beauties are some of my amazing cousins. They are all talented and beautiful inside and out. The thing I was most impressed by was what wonderful patient mothers they are. Even with the exhaustion, a million little kiddos really had no issues the entire time. One small child did get into an adult room and do some beautiful art work on a white chair with a black sharpie - it very well could have been Kellen so thank you to Jennifer for using calmness and magic to get it out :)!

Lauren and Emmie had a great time. They were buddies but had fun making some new buddies too.

Brad turns 43 !!!!

I know you hardly ever look at this blog. I can't believe that I married you when you were 23. I really don't remember life without you anymore. We are stuck! haha! I do love you so much and definitely don't mind being "stuck". You are so patient and kind, solid and confidant, most importantly, however, is that you have the best shoulders and arms I have ever seen! Happy birthday - I think this year is going to be your best one yet.

Emmie turns 8 !!!!!

What a great birthday! Emmie started with a Luau themed party with all of her friends and some of her family. She had a great time and was really satisfied with her day. Then just a couple of weeks later, she was able to be baptised a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Here she is with Brad just before. I think she looks so excited.

Here she is with me. I just love this girl soooo much. She looked forward to this day with much anticipation and excitement. She invited neighbors, friends, all of her church classmates, and a lot of her family. So many of them could come it was really special. The best was that Grandma and Grandpa Guinn made it from Washington and Aunt Lynnette and Uncle Travis and cousins came from Nevada. We were so grateful that Emmie was able to be baptised before her Wertner cousins moved to TN!!!!!!

Here is the whole family on her special day June 18th, 2011.

Emmie - you are a beautiful daughter of God. You are kind, smart, lovely, and talented. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father sent you to us. I love your sense of humor. I love to watch you dance because you can see how much you love it in your face. I especially love the way you set an example for your younger brothers and love them. No other 8 year old can do push ups the way you can either!!!! Keep on being the best you possible. Love you my big 8 year old.