A Few Picts from this Week

This picture makes me happy.  Aubrey was reading the book about Grandma Vore's life for her 30 minute daily reading.  

This picture will bring on nightmares!  Tanner trying to avoid some dust while mowing.  He comes home with swollen eyes and lovely allergies. 

My first baby boy.  Often I think of him as little and it surprises me when he is towering over me in his man body.  Love peeking in on my kiddos when they are asleep. 

Sunday Night Gathering on a Thursday Morning

July 26th, 2018
This morning when I came home from ministering and picking Parker up from workout we had a fun surprise.  Gram was here and playing games with Aubrey.  Britney had already texted and asked if she and Ella could stop by because Grandpa and her big kids school shopping.  Then Brian stopped by the house to pick up the boys to work with him and Grandpa and the other Birds eventually joined in the fun as well.   It really seemed like a Sunday night gathering...but on a Thursday morning. 

Ella brought over mini M&Ms and was a great sharer.  She also brought her matching game that Parker gave her for Christmas.  (It is super cute...pictures of her family, Gram and Gramp, us etc.)

Aubrey and Ella unloaded the dishwasher.

Aren't they cute?

Brit and Braddock...she was trying to keep him from heading to the other room and to watch Tanner play Fortnite.

A little wrestling

We had a great little impromptu hangout session.  Love our family.

*Update on Brinley: Her group headed to Brazil tonight.  Their schedule is even crazier because they are a day behind.  They should arrive at 10:30 pm and then board another flight at 1:00 am.  They will arrive at 3:00 am and board a boat to float down the Amazon.  They will be sleeping in hammocks on the boat.  She says she has already made several friends and is enjoying getting to know her group.

July 25th, 2018

July 25th, 2018

It's been fun to start blogging.  I have felt that our days are too boring and not really noteworthy.  However, just documenting a few events on a few days has helped me realize how interesting and wonderful our days really are!  This morning at 6:00 Brinley left for HEFY.  She was super excited and just a little nervous about traveling alone and finding the group in Miami.  Luckily on her Houston-Miami segment there was another member of her group so they navigated the Miami airport together.  They eventually found the big group and are boarding to Brazil...but just in....as I type...they have to stay the night in Florida.  She's not sure why--maybe a lightening storm?  Poor girl.  She's been waiting in the airport for hours today.   I am kind of glad though because we were just minutes away from no communication for the next 2 1/2 week and now we have a little bit more time.

Brian and I have been texting her and once she hooked up with the big group we've had NO contact.  I did ask her to send a couple of pictures and right before she was about to board to Brazil she sent these.  I told her this didn't count as two...but I don't think she is going to cooperate.  She's safe from parental demands at the moment!

School shopping with Grandpa!!  Usually he takes a family at a time but it worked out this year to take La and Aub together.  (Charity and Bryn on big trips, boys working)  They headed to Walmart and bought lots of supplies plus some fun extras likes cool pens and new socks.  Then they stopped by Chic Fil A for lunch.  Thank you Grandpa Vore!

Afterward school shopping, Avery McKown joined the group and they were busy girls.  First they played Survivor in the 100 degree heat.  The premise was that their plane crashed and they had to collect supplies on the island and survive.  They came in sweaty and tired--and triumphant.

Then they started a game of Presidents.  I'm not exactly sure how that worked but they had offices and they were busy.  Aubrey said she was the secretary.  Update: When I was cleaning up the offices I found these two notes.  Legit playing Presidents!

(And just an aside...see the flag display in the background of the girls in the office?  It makes me so happy.  Grandpa Gwilliam made that for me and the flags represent the places our family members have served missions!  Well, some of our family members.  We have flags for grandparents, Brian and I and our nieces and nephews who have served so far.  Seriously LOVE it!)

 And now back to the girls.  They finished their hangout with homemade snow cones and plan on meeting up tonight at the combined four ward activity at the water park!

July 24th, 2018

July 24th, 2018

Aub and I headed over to Nimitz for registration today.  My baby is starting Middle School...I'm in shock.  It was especially weird not going to Reagan Elementary for registration.  I have been there every summer for the past 13 years registering our crew.  After picking up the boys from workout, we (minus Bryn) headed out to work with Brian.  Aubrey and I weeded for about an hour and a half and then I was ready for lunch.  The boys worked for 4-5 hours...they are great.

We stopped by the Strombergs after weeding and snagged
Callie for the afternoon.  They made yummy chocolate
chip cookies and watched a movie.

And Morgan is BACK!  Brinley is whole again!

Photo shoot with Buttercup

We had an eye doctor appointment for Parker.
He needs new glasses and is hoping to find
a brand of contacts that he can comfortably wear.

Notice the missing ear piece on his glasses...Parker
has been sporting this cool look for a few days.
He's also been adding a huge glob of hot glue
and gluing the piece back on--it's attractive!

Pay day for the kiddos.  Tanner said "Thank you for not giving
me hundreds, I have too many of those."  I don't think many thirteen
year olds have that problem.  *Side note: One day the boys will
outgrow this lovely stage of not cooperating with pictures.  Ugh.  The turkeys.

 Parker, Aubrey and I went to the house to help move some
heavy flower pots and Aub decided to go for a swim fully
clothed...so Gram and I visited outback and watched her.

About thirty minutes later the boys  decided to invite the
Terry's to swim and Bryn came over to join Gram and I on the deck. 

Harper and Parker, who both have man bodies and are almost
sixteen, paired up against their little brothers.  (insert eye roll)
Eventually they switched the teams and made them a much
more even. (10th and 8th grader vs 10th and 8th grader)

It was almost 10 when we left.  Night swims are the best!

HEFY Brazil 2K18

July 22, 2018

HEFY Brazil is happening.  Brinley is really getting excited.  She will be gone for 2 1/2 weeks.  I will miss her but am so excited she has this opportunity to visit another country and serve.

Brinley has been packing and prepaing for HEFY.

See, she's 90% packed a she leaves in 4 days.  Impressive!

Today in Sacrament meeting Brinley started doodling but her paper was quickly taken over by Grandpa and the boys.  She wrote Brazil 2K18 and Grandpa stole her paper and drew a piranha.  He handed it back to her and Parker stole it and drew the person being attacked by a mosquito and piranhas.  Then Tanner took the paper and drew the person building a house with the caption "pay money-to work."  (Park and Tan legitimately think she's a little crazy to pay to have this experience.😂)  Lastly Parker added the checklist at the bottom: Malaria-check, Eaten alive-check, 5 days of travel-check, No fun allowed-check.  

It was kind of entertaining and kept the row somewhat still as we listened to the talks on pioneer ancestors and modern day pioneers.  (And can I just add that Grandpa is one of the ones on the row who has to be busy or things get rough but that is okay.  One or our favorite parts about Odessa 4th ward is sitting with Gram and Gramp each week.)  

Bryn used another piece of paper that didn't get hijacked and it turned out pretty cute!  Humanitarian Experiences for Youth here she comes!!!

             

Daily Life

Thursday June 19th

Thursday was a day for the dentist.  It was the one year anniversary of the day Bliss Dental opened here and they were having a 10% off special.   I scheduled my root canal, a check up for Brinley and the three fillings Brian needed so we could take advantage of the deal.  Unfortunately for me and Bri the newby dentist took care of our teeth.  It was rough.  Bri said he felt like the guy was trying to shove his tongue down his throat and that he kept hitting his teeth with the instruments.  The dentist kept apologizing to me because it took so long and because I had to open so wide.  The side of my mouth is split and a sore is forming...darn.  Next time we will ask for the other dentist!

 When I walked in to the dentist office they offered me a donut before my
root canal...kind of confusing?  Maybe it was for their anniversary.

Aubrey had Avery McKown over for the afternoon.  They were so cute together.  They hung out on the swing (until the washer repair van came and freaked them out.)  They also made Musicaly videos, yogurt parfaits, jumped on the tramp and watched An American Girl show.  Aub is always a happy girl when it works out to have a friend over.  

After workout, Parker headed to work with Brian and Tanner hung out with Tate and Sawyer Terry.  They walked about 5 blocks over to the elementary school to play football and then came and hung out here for awhile.  At four we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's pool for a couple of hours and they continued playing football and some basketball.  It was fun to look out and see them playing.  Aubrey joined them at the pool about 5:30 and I stayed in the house and visited w/ Gram and Gramp.  Can I just say I LOVE being able to stay in the A/C and read a book, visit with my parents or work on the computer while my kids are having so much fun in the hot afternoon sun/cool pool in a group.

Tanner

Tate

 

Sawyer

Brinley was a big help and the chauffeur for the morning.  Not only did she take me to and from the dentist but she also took Parker and Tanner to and from their morning workouts.  In the afternoon, she and Grandpa headed back to the dentist for her appointment while I stayed home for the washer repairman.  I hear he treated her to a DQ Blizzard too.  Lucky girl!

Friday June 20th

It's been a random day...but just random like it is everyday because there is No Set Schedule!  I was up early and figuring out some finance stuff with the new business.  I also made a deposit at our business bank and went to check on the Bonifay's house/take in their mail.  Parker broke his glasses so we headed to Walmart to try to get them fixed.  We ran a couple of errands and then I headed to a hair appointment.

Parker was my driver for my morning errands.  So handy!

Tanner slept in and Bryn and Aub got up early to pull weeds for Brian.  At 2:00 the girls headed to Midland to meet up with friends (Kramer Smith and family) at a water park.  I'm excited to hear about their afternoon.  Tanner headed to a movie with a friend: Ant Man and The Wasp.  Parker had Austin Jacobo and Harper Terry over to play Fortnite and football and to walk to 7'11 for snacks.  I think they bought half the store.

Fortnite....maybe I'll do a daily picture.

Austin, Park and Harper with their loot!

I texted the girls to take a picture or two of their
group but they were already heading home.

I'm excited about tonight because Brian and I are planning on having a date night.  Usually we just go out to eat.  He has been so busy and working so hard with the lawn business this summer that our time together has been more scarce.  A couple of weeks ago we mixed it up and went to the "Chinese torture" place and had massages and then went to the duck pond to visit.  It was really fun...we are wild and crazy like that sometimes. 

* Update: Our Friday night date did not happen.  Brian worked on lawns all afternoon in the heat--he's a good man!  Saturday morning we got up and pulled weeds together at one of his communities.  It really was nice to visit while we worked.  Saturday night we made it to Olive Garden and also did our assignment for our marriage class we are taking at church.  

Vore Family Vacation, June 2018

June 2018

We headed to Mapleton, Utah for our Vore Family Reunion.  So much fun.  Chris found a really cool VRBO house.  It was humongous: three floors, an indoor pool and basketball court, an outdoor tennis court and playground. Brit and I planned some activities and Angelique handled the food/shopping for the days we ate at home.  I will just try to post a few pictures from each day.

Saturday June 9th

Flying as an extended family.  It's always an adventure!

Bri and Bryn

BOYS-ugh...so hard to get a normal picture!  Holden and Tanner
came on board with their own looks.  Holden had his headband
and Tanner was "Swaggy T"

Parker and baby Lincoln-he's very popular

La, Aub and Dylan Hill (Kerry's girlfriend's son)

Charity, Bryn and Park (ugh-boys and their faces for pictures!)

Sunday June 10th

We, the Gwilliam fam, headed to Draper for Kyle's homecoming while the Vore family had church, Temple Square and other activities planned.  Kyle did a great job sharing his testimony and it was so fun to be in town for this big event!  I didn't take many pictures but Keith and family, Jeff and family and Grandma and Grandpa Gwilliam were all able to be there for his homecoming.

McKayla and Kyle

Tan being goofy...what a lovely church look

Monday June 11th  

We spent the day in Provo Canyon.  We played ultimate frisbee and razzle dazzle.  The little kids had fun with bubbles and playing in the freezing river.  Everyone enjoyed the foil dinners (lunches) and making smores.  Then we drove up the canyon to float down the Provo river. Tanner was with the Kerry Vores and Parker and Brinley were with Charity and Benja and some others.  Brian and I were on a raft with Adam Bird and kiddos.  The Bird kids were AWESOME!  The river was super slow and they appreciated the tiniest motion in the water.  Hudson and Braddock were super paddlers too. 

Back row: Adam and Britney, Quetta and Kerry, Me and Brian, Parker, Brinley, Adam, and Benja
Middle row: Stevie, Gram, Charity, Gramp, Ang and Chris
Front row: Holdon, Ty, Aubrey, Tanner, Lauron, Becky, Dylan
Sitting: Braddock, Hudson, Charlotte, Eleanor, Perry, Griffin and Blair

Gram and Gramp with the little girls.

Megan, Aubrey, Hudson, Adam, Parker and Bryn around Lincoln

Later about half of the group headed to Sandy to watch Tuck Everlasting at the Hale Center Theater. (Tanner saw me typing this and in reference to the play said "ugh, that was a terrible time."  He's not a big fan of plays.) 

In and Out Burger before the play.
Charity, Brinley, Benjamin and Paker

Aubrey and Lauron with the leading actress who was just their age.

Tuesday June 12th

We met for an Escape Room activity and lunch at Cafe Rio and then had a "Choose Your Own Adventure" day.  Most of our group spent at least some time at the mall and then had a blast at the house playing racquetball, tennis, swimming and hanging out with cousins.   I loved that my one of my very best friends from High School, Shawn Bonifay, drove down from Salt Lake to visit us!  One other fun thing was almost every evening the kids, from Griffin 7 years to Adam 22 years, played capture the flag.  

Back row lft-rt: Parker & me, Chris & Ang, Benja & Charity, Grandpa & Brinley, Adam & Britney, Adam, Megan & Lincoln, Brian   Middle row: Ella, Tanner, Becky, Braddock, Hudson, Quetta, Kerry & Blair  Front row: Charlotte, La, Aub and Perry, Griffin

Braddock, me, Charlotte, Tanner, Lauron, Aubrey, Brian and Hudson

Brian, Aubrey, Tanner and my group...one of hour pure chaos and excitement.  (Braddock's face pretty much sums up that little room experience...And no, we did not get out!)  

Shawnee, Me and Angelique.  I love these two girls so much.
They were my closest two friends during my teen years!

I think Shawnee called this our "cougar" selfie!  If the age fits....

Provo Center City Temple

We had to do two pictures because there was
nobody on the grounds to take one of our whole family.

Wednesday June 13th

We did a prospective student tour of BYU for Bryn and Parker and then we hit the bookstore and the Cougareat.  LOVE BYU!  That evening while the other half of the family went to the play at the Hale Theater (we split the group for babysitting options) some of us did a tour of the Missionary Training Center.  Erin Miesje, who is currently serving in the Independence Missouri Visitors Center mission, set it up for us.  I am so glad that we took the time to do the tour.  We were all worn out and the kids were grumbling but once we got there everyone settled in and really enjoyed the experience.  The spirit was so strong on the MTC campus.  It was amazing to see so many young men and young women walking in groups reverently from one area to the next.  We all felt the peace and every one of our children expressed gratitude that we went.

Bryn and Tanner at BYU.

Hudson joined our group...this sign was so huge
we didn't realize he looked so little and alone.  

Chris and family, Grandma and Aubrey were in a tour 30 minutes later.

The new building with lots of windows and light
for the missionaries who are studying all day.

One of the new classrooms.

Thursday June 14th
Our last morning.  Mostly everybody just packed up and headed out to the airport. I am including a few random pictures (out of over 200) from the week.  We stayed in Utah six more dayts to get in some Gwilliam family time. We loved our Vore Vacation.  Thank you Gram and Gramp for making it possible!

Charity and Bryn...several family members sat down
and worked on this puzzle throughout the week.

The Vore Boys.  Chris, Adam and Benja

Josh and Sara Martin stopped by a couple of times (Ang's brother and sis-in-law). 
Adam and Britney visiting with the kiddos in the sandbox behind them.

Ang, Grandpa, Gram and Adam at the Provo City Center visitors center.