birthday planning...

You would think that if I have time to take my own stinkin' picture I'd have time to pull a birthday party together??!! Not so much. Sabrina will turn one on the 23rd, and I am SO far behind on pulling something spectacular off... Thanks for setting the bar, Rachael! GRUFF! NO, I'm not out to put on an amazing event that could potentially rival what my sisters/ brother have pulled off for their kids, however, I don't want to jip the kid either. Mia had the worst 1st birthday EVER, since it fell on Thanksgiving weekend/ moving weekend/ announce new bayby slash miscarry new baby weekend. She got a mini-cake and two or three people hung out to watch. BAAAH! I love you, Mia, and I'm so sorry you're so stuck in the middle. This probably isn't the first time you'll be ripped off either. OK! I need to make a concentrated effort for everyone. I must learn from my mistakes, eh?

Buttons. That's my theme. Someone, anyone, throw out some ideas that two/ three-year-olds can participate with. It'll probably be a pancake breakfast party (make the pancakes look like buttons -suggestions???) on the 28th, so I need INPUT.

I realize that this blog is very random, but that's how my brain works sometimes. I am brainstorming, but the storm is fizzling fast. Yeesh!

Jami-Loo!

A few days ago we went to see my friend Jami. I had the girls (naturally), and she was watching her niece Taylor. We visited and chilled on the awesome back porch of her beautiful yard. The girls had a blast jumping on the trampoline with the sprinkler underneath... There is a creek in the yard as well that the girls had fun wading in. Jami and I got to catch up a little bit. She's a dear friend of mine, and we go WAAAAAY back. We met at Mount Logan Middle School in sixth grade. I must have been 11 -so we have been friends for about 21 years. I love that girl. She is very self-assured, and knows exactly what she stands for. I love how she also accepts all, and has a very educated and deep understanding of people. Jami wouldn't let me take her picture, but trust me, she's amazing -inside and out.

Love ya Jami, and thanx for the afternoon!

Birthdays!

Above is the lil' poster I made for Mom... I feel terrible that she didn't get a banner like Granny's, but I hope that the chocolate makes up for it... (heh heh)

Yesterday we headed to Layton for the celebration of Sarah's birthday. I made beans (again) and cornbread. The main meal was a white chili, which was actually quite delicious!

Ella looks precious here! Her little cheeks are SO sun-kissed. : )

Sabrina and Mia kept themselves busy with Phoebe's toys for a while.

It's rare when Mia will actually stop and look at you while she says "cheese" -so this picture is precious! Left to right: Rachael, Sabrina, Dave, Lex, Phoebes, Sarah, and Mary!

Happy Birthday Sarah. You're one of my heroes.

Bryant Family Reunion 2010

Here's the much-anticipated story!

This was my view for 6+ hours -best view in the house, with one exception:

Lance's view!!! NO, I didn't take a demonstrative shot, but this is quite the boob-shirt, and I wore it specifically for the entertainment/ favor-potential of the driver. ...What a great wife?!

Anywho, we left for Bruce and headed down minus one step-son who earlier that morning was siiiiick and needed to go home. :( We did use every square inch of the van for packing, etc., but we missed you, Chaedon!

By early evening on July 22nd, we were getting into Red Canyon ...above is the tunnel that we used to beg Dad to honk in! The drive wasn't too bad all things considered. Sabrina lost it going over the mountain into Panguitch, but we think it was just from the altitude/ ear adjustment.

We made it to our TeePee and unpacked and set up camp. Sabrina was the ultimate trooper, as she lived in the playpen -but kept a happy smile on her little face. When we first got there it was already jacket weather! WOO HOO! *No one digs being dirty from camping AND being hot...

El TeePee!

The inside of El TeePee! After we were settled, we had a weenie roast, and many family members wandered over and said hello!

The next morning we headed out to see Bruce on an up-close and personal level: BY SHUTTLE! We hit the Visitor's Center that is run by the Bryce Canyon Natural History Association, which my Dad has been a member of for years and years.

We saw a few key and beautiful points before returning to camp. Above is Lance and myself on the shuttle.

This was Sabrina's only morning nap. *NOTE, my blessed Mother offered to take Sabrina off our hands and keep her in her hotel room over nights -which is what made any of this possible. A HUGE shout-out to Mom and Dad for your help with her!

Here's cute Mia on the shuttle! Ella was too busy socializing to be photographed...

This is us at the Visitor's Center -me strolling Bri, and Lance and Ella. Mia must have been wandering... :)

Here's a lovely "posed" family photo whereupon Mia decided to pitch a fit, and we told photogs to shoot anyway, as there wasn't a prayer for moving this little goober.

...She looks sweet...

That night we went out to eat at Ruby's Inn for the "generational dinner" -we were grouped with others from our generation and were able to catch up a bit... Sabrina had the only decent picture from the meal!

After the dinner, we gathered at the conference room at The Grand Hotel (where Mom and Dad stayed) and had "sharing time" -as we all caught each other up on our lives over the last 2 years....There was candy on the tables...

Here's the cute little family picture that was taken of us and later added as an addition to a scrap book for the event (the reunion/ Grandmother's 90th birthday) on Sunday morning.

Off to Panguitch on the 24th! Above is me at the parade (and the side of someone's VERY bruised arm -Mom, is that you??? Are you okay????).

Mia enjoyed herself running around and gathering candy (the bag from the parade mysteriously disappeared the next day...).

*The house I grew up in, Panguitch, Utah!

That night we had a huge dutch-oven dinner. Lance and I were charged with potato duty. We had to do the two ovens separately and then bring them to the family group spot that Dad had rented. ...This worked in Lance's and Seuao's (Lance's right-hand-cooking-man for an hour or so) favor, as they stayed at our little camp to do the 2nd, while Rachael and I struggled with babies. Super fun! Above is the cookie that was made to represent me. I am making the same face that the cookie is making -and it's truly, a dead-ringer. ...Thanks, Sarah! The cookie/ family project was a really fun way to entertain kids and provide some fun visiting time.

Can you tell which kid has been camping??? The next morning was Grandmother's birthday breakfast (I had a horrible migraine, which is why I'm MIA in the final pic) -here she's blowing out a very ugly 90th birthday cake. She was presented with some lovely gifts -especially the scrapbook made by my mother, which was no light undertaking.

I didn't see much of Grandmother during this reunion, and we spoke for maybe a total of 20 to 30 seconds. She was very busy spending time with those whom she wanted to see (as Dad flies her out frequently (see Christmas post, etc.) our family is secondary in priority). My Mom takes this to heart, but it's not a burden she needs to bear anymore --though I understand the mama-bear instinct quite clearly, and see exactly where she's coming from. I have come to a place in my life where I have time for those who have time for me. I consider the reunion an absolute success -no one threw up (VICTORY), and I had an absolutely lovely time seeing adored family members, and enjoying my time with my own family.SOO much work went into this whole event, and my gratitude goes out to all who contributed to its success. Family is so important to me --to us, and I'm grateful that it's been such a deep and serious priority.

Family Dinner!

This afternoon the fam gathered for Mom and Granny's birthday dinner. I'd been shopping for stinkin' fresh green beans to 3 different places, and finally picked some up today. I boiled them up with two ham hocks & salt -they were scrumpy!! I also made my first jello-pretzel salad (a LANCE job), which actually turned out very tasty, but wasn't really eaten... More for me! Here's me and Mia taken earlier in the day. :)
We all chilled outside after dinner -here's our gorgeous Lexie with Noah. ME!

Ella, not being so cute!

Lily-bug!!

Sabrina was making a play for the camera -I'm a ninja picture snapper when it comes to that baby! I get some awesome shots! I seriously have to edit down. She's so stinkin' cute!

Ella -much sweeter!

Here's Nanny opening her gift from us (a new digital camera) -with all of her super helpful gift directors!

My beautiful sister Rachael!

Cute Mia -with Benny-babes in the back-ground.

Ella -I was surprised that she smiled here, because we were mid-drama!

Looking down at Sabrina. Man, I have some amazing girls.

It's been a fantastic day. I love spending time with my family. We tried to plan something out for later in the week for Sarah's birthday ('tis the season), but it's all up in the air. Guess I'll blog about it when it finally happens, eh???