Ackerson Family Invasion 2015!

We had a close repeat of last year's Ackerson family reunion... but I wasn't complaining, it was only 5 minutes from my house.  Ultra convenient for storing cold stuff and running back to grab all the things that I forgot!

The fun started Thursday morning with the annual hike up Timp.  I was still deciding if I wanted to attempt it... but then I found out the 9-year-olds, Paige and Meg were hiking it too.
"Well, if they can do it..."
It was so much fun!  We went nice and slow, which I was silently grateful for.  Bevan acted as my sherpa and carried all my water and food.  What a wonderful husband!  All I had to do was breathe deeply and keep going.  Timpanogos basin was so beautiful, but the wildflowers were a little past their peak.  We made it to the top in just under 4 1/2 hours.  Not bad with such a crowd!  There were 15 of us total!  We had the top shack to ourselves and there was hardly any wind!  Very unusual for the summit!  It was hard NOT to spend all day up there!  The hike down was obviously more easy, but those last 3 miles were tedious.  My legs were so tired!  I think everyone felt the same way.
We spent the rest of the evening setting up camp and waiting for everyone to arrive!

Friday was spent at Deer Creek again.  The lake was higher this year, less of a walk from the parking lot!  The kids were in heaven with all the water and sand.  We had a blast with the wave runners, kayaks, paddle boards and countless water toys!  We made it back to camp and found Paul and Stefanie, who came down for the fun!  Stefanie was a little more than 2 weeks till her due date... but that didn't stop her from going into labor later that evening!  It was so exciting!  They made it over to Heber hospital and she ended up giving birth the next day!  It was definitely the highlight to the reunion!  Little baby Joshua was already 7 pounds and 19.5" long.  Yep, he definitely cooked long enough!  Lucky Stefanie.  Now how do I get MY baby to come 2 weeks early?  Go on a road trip, I guess!

Saturday was a "chill" day at the campground.  The guys went shooting and golfing and the rest of us lounged around and ate, or if not eating, then anticipating the next meal!  The kids did crafts ala Vanessa and played games ala Nora.  We sang Happy Birthday to Mom, ate some amazing barbecue and chocolate cake, and ended with some funny skits.  It always amazes me what my family comes up with!  What a great reunion!  Until next year!

Pioneer Day!

We started out the festive day with an early morning 5K in Charleston!  I was curious how other people put on small-town races and it was worth taking some mental notes.  I'm always looking for ways to make the Swiss Days 10K better, but I'm starting to realize, it's already as simple and organized as it can be!  I mean, we inherited a well-oiled machine and there's very few things that need to change!  I'm totally not stressing about it this year.  Everything has been ordered, posters are hung, people are signing up, and it feels totally weird not to be stressing!  Sure, there are a few things that have to wait for that 2-weeks-prior mark and I'm worried there won't be enough volunteers to help on race day... but we'll take it as it comes!  Time to enjoy what's left of summer!

Going back to the race, Bevan signed up for the 10K with a competitive motive, so that left me to push the kids with my friend, Kristine.  She's been my official running buddy this summer and kept me sane and motivated and making it so my body doesn't completely go to pot this pregnancy!  We mosied along and got a decent time.  Anna even ran the last little bit.  She's a good little runner... but Dallin is getting pretty fast himself.  He's especially good at running away from me!  Maybe I'll stick him in the kids race next month.  I'm just so curious...

Bevan won the men's 10K with his best time yet!  We did have to wait an extra 45 minutes for his medal to be presented (one thing I'm glad we do NOT do in our race).  Go Bevan!

Naturally, I had to spend some time at work, since Pioneer Day is only vaguely observed in Park City.  It's mostly just the banks, post offices, and liquor stores, not landscaping!  Oh well!  We made up for it by spending that night at the cabin, grilling hot dogs and zucchini.  Bevan went on a "long" run the next morning and I took the kids on yerf dog rides.  It was a fun mini-vaca!

Hawkins Family Shin Digs!

I really admire my mother-in-laws family.  They've had a reunion every year for... like 50 years!  I was really sad that my own extended family cancelled the annual reunion this year in Provo.  Boooo!
I tell you what, you skip for just one year, it is sooooo much harder to get them going again.  I miss seeing all my cousins.  Maybe each family should take turns planning?  Oh, who knows how to keep these things going?!

This year's Newton reunion was in Brigham City.  The kids had fun and Dallin only wandered off a couple times.  Luckily we had lots of eyes watching out for him!

The next week we had a fun dinner with ALL of Bevan's siblings!  Yummy smoked pork, coleslaw, desserts (gotta keep that steady baby-weight gain going!)  We didn't want to leave!

Oh BOY! Here we go again!

Yep, it's official!  We're having another boy!  Another active, happy, hyper, moving, wiggly, busy boy to keep us on our toes!  Maybe we'll get lucky and get the model that just sits in a corner and reads or plays quietly by himself.

Not likely!

I'm glad Dallin will have a buddy.  Not comes the fun part of figuring out a name because I've got nothing!  Any ideas?  Send them my way!  His official fetal name is "Joey" (we let Anna name him temporarily).  Now here's the official, cute, alien-head, baby picture!