Last week after our family reunion, some of us gathered at mom and dad's house for 'preparedness week.' Basically, we learned some valuable skills that we all needed to know. We started off with quilting, which is actually a lot of fun once you know what you're doing! Although very labor intensive- I don't suggest taking on three quilts at once! Then, we had a bread making class, followed by other food storage stuff. Mom did a great job, and I personally learned a ton! I do have to laugh that on the morning of starting 'preparedness' week, my mom sent me in a rush to the store because she wasn't quite prepared!!!
After all that learning we took time to play with the kids! We went to the Scera Pool one day in Provo, and dad took all the kids on multiple bike ride trips! He is a great Papa!! The little kids played in the back yard one day while we finished quilting. Tons of fun!!
I had the chance to go to the Temple with my dad one morning at the Salt Lake Temple to do a session. I had never been inside before, so I was excited for the chance. It is beautiful!

I realize I've been overloading on the pictures. Sorry! Well...Not really :)
Grandma Ladd provided all the material for our quilting exploits. Her basement held an eerie resemblance to Joann's....from 1960! It was great!
My mom with her parents


Misty hard at work


Mom and Misty not quite so hard at work!


I think I've got the hang of it!




Posing with their new spreads! Ava however has since held a revolt. She will settle for nothing less than a spread with flowers. I am now hard at work finishing one that will meet her demands!



Mom on bread day. The bread wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be to make and it tasted delicious (if I do say so myself!).


Scera Pool
Ava decided she needed to teach me how to swim. Her lesson consisted of yanking my head backwards, shoving it underwater, pulling me up into her arms and saying 'good job mommy,' while stroking my face! At least now I know how she feels!






Ava sliding into action!


Waiting in line for the big slide. The little one wasn't enough for Ava.


Aunt Mookie


Fun day!









My amazing mother
Taking a well deserved break.


A great teacher.


Also a little bit of a cheater it turns out!! My sister, mother, and I were playing a friendly game of phase ten. I went to check on the kids quickly and came back to the guiltiest faces you have ever seen. Let's just say they shouldn't take up poker any time soon! Mom thought it pretty funny though. She couldn't stop laughing!



Still going.


Still going.


Aren't my sister beautiful
Mookie


Abbos


Not pictured-- Mandoid, and Pete (I wanted the one with you and Seth, Mandy, but decided I valued my life!)

Seth


Emma


Trevin Mookie got him laughing!


Trevin


Grace


Tyler


Savannah


Time to cool off a little more!!


Ava really liked hers!


Fun in the sun!


Ava


Ava


How 'bout some more Ava! (I can't ever get enough!)


Papa was awesome taking everyone on bike rides!! The kids loved it, and I even got to tag along on a couple!




He even made sure Loverboy got in on the fun!




We found a snake in the yard one day. My dad just couldn't resist chasing mom, who is deathly afraid of snakes, just a little bit with it. The kids loved it though.


What's preparedness week without a visit to Costco. The kids thought it was great too!


Papa got a big bag of candy to hide for all the kids. When Ava saw it she was soo excited, she thought it was all for her! Talk about a lesson in sharing!


Grandma and Grandpa's might have to be turned into a Zoo! Snails were all over in their pond. They had fun playing with them, everyone except Belle that is!


They finally got her to touch it. Not for long though!


When I was a little girl, my twisted father dressed up as 'pigman' and gave us a little visit. Warped?....Perhaps. But the legend lives on!

This is my baby coming down a level 4 rapid on the Arkansas River! He spent three days rafting with his dad and brothers-in-law. I'm glad they had fun, but I think I prefer the girls trip to New York! :)

Glory, Glory!

Glory, glory, Ragged Mountain!! We had a White Family reunion at Ragged Mountain Colorado. We used to go there with my dad's parents when I was a little girl, so it was very special to go there with our girls.
I went a little crazy with the camera, I couldn't help it--it was soo amazingly beautiful!
In honor of grandma Tee and Grandad Bulldog, Glory, Glory!! I hope my girls will remember grandma's motto : "Born to be Exalted!" They have an incredible heritage!




































This is the trip up.



Note the box on grandma's lap--like mother like daughter!!



Girl cousins rock!






Megan planned the whole reunion, and it was awesome!! But special thanks to her husband Jerry for providing a little extra something!






Who let those silly girls behind the wheel?!












Aahhh! Aren't they adorable. Seth and Ava. Ava came up to me later and told me "Seth says me his girlfriend!" Someone is eventually going to have to set those kissin' cousins straight, but for now it is just too cute!



My artistic attempt!



Quintin and Bryonna.



Ar, Ar, Ar--Fire! What is it with boys and fire. Like a moth to a flame. What commentary does that make exactly?! And which ones are the boys? :)



S'mores!!! I liked this way of making them. Striped cookies with a gooey marshmellow!









Dinner prep. Mom and Mandy are on the job.



Come and get it!! Karsyn rings the dinner bell.






Dad, Brian, Loverboy, and I took and early morning bike ride. Thank you for the memory dad!















Dad and Quintin fancy themselves Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Not quite the image conjured when picturing these two characters though, is it?!



At least all the kids got a ride out of it!






Fishin'



Fishin'


Fishin'



Fishin'



Fishin'





All that fishin', and this is all we caught! The girls took turns jumping in and Jerry quickly fished them back out again. The water was a notch colder than freezing! But those girls proved how tough they were!






We held our own private carnival! Kudos to Megan for the creative idea! The kids loved it!



There were some minor difficulties when it came to preparing the 'old-fashioned' popcorn. Don't let my mom hear me call it that! He-he.




















Wildflowers! Grandma Tee used to make us crowns from the wildflowers, as we were 'born to be exalted.' We thought it only fitting now that we have princesses of our own that they have crowns as well.















Kissin' cousins. At it again!



Crafts



Crafts.



And more crafts!



All around fun!



























This is the epitome of Ava to me!



























Jerry found the defective chair for all of us!



Papa and grandma with all the grandkids. Not for long though. Three more are on the way! Yay!



Movie time! (Thank goodness! Don't know what those pioneers did without DVD players!)



Loverboy was in puppy heaven!!






A few pics of the girls. Loverboy just wouldn't cooperate. Too many distractions. Ya know, a bug, a blade of grass, etc!












The only down about the trip, Beau couldn't make it! We missed you baby!