Gwilliam Family Reunion at Yellowstone

June 2013

     We were so excited to join in the Gwilliam family reunion fun this year.  We met in Island Park,  Idaho and had lots of fun.  ALL of the Gwilliam cousins were able to attend this year.  Yahoo!  It may be the last time in a while.  Kayla is in college and Andrew recently received his mission call to serve in Russia.  Megan, Conner, Kyle, Emily and Kaitlyn will soon be following...and it just keeps going from there.

     We had a wonderful time together.  Happy 50th Joyce and Jerry and thanks for all of your hard work and planning Bruce and Denise.



Caroline, Grandma, Macy and Brinley



Max and Tanner (sorry about the eyes...gotta love IPhones)



Caroline, Macy and Bryn



Old Faithful

Bri, Park, Mike and Karol.  Notice Parker's lovely $40 outfit from the gift shop.  Women's p.j. pants and a Yellowstone t-shirt.  Unfortunately for Park and all those in the van he was riding in....he got the stomach bug.



Can  you tell these three did some hanging out together?  I think we have at least eight different pictures of them together.

Kaitly, Meg, Bruce, Ruby, Aubrey, Lindsey, Tyson and Denise  (Bruce and Denise did an excellent job of planning the reunion.)

Max, Joyce and Jerry (aka Grandma and Grandpa)

We saw lots of bison right outside our car window.

Jack and Tanner hanging out after one of our hikes.

Meg and Tyse

Grandpa knows nature. It was interesting to hear him share about vegetation, insects, bears and more.

Aubrey was pretty sure she was one of the big girls.  Kaitlyn, Megan and McKayla were AMAZING.  They let her do their hair, hang out with them in the outside cabin, and snuggle up pretty much anytime Aub needed a snuggle!


We went by a hot spring and it was humid, misty and windy!
 



The Group!!  Aren't we a good looking bunch!?  I had more pictures from the reunion on our regular camera, which is currently misplaced. (ugh!)  So, just know we had a ton of fun mingling with everyone in our Gwilliam family!



Our Life Is Baseball

March, April and May 2013

     Both Tanner and Parker signed up for baseball this year.  Shoot me now!  I didn't come from a baseball playing family, but I am a quick learner: it takes a chunk of time! Practices started in March and the two hour games started in April and continued until the last week of May.  We had two to three games a week depending on the schedule.  When the games started at 8, the boys wouldn't get home until after 10 on school nights.  I was really feeling overwhelmed with the amount of time baseball was taking from our family life until I talked to my mother-in-law.  They had six very athletic boys and she remembers having up to 10 games a week.  Yikes!  I should count my blessings.
     Tanner played machine pitch and was on the Astros.  He was the first baseman and he was goooood!  They finished second at Jim Parker Park.  Parker also played first base and was able to pitch at a couple of games.  He was on the Royals, and they placed first at our park.  They placed third in the city tournament.
     I hate to admit this, but baseball is growing on me.  We got into a routine with gymnastic drop offs and late night games.  It was fun to have some time to visit with Brian while we watched.   Both boys loved it and were real assets to their teams.  Count us in for next year!

Tanner and Grandpa.  I need to get some of Grandpa or Brian's shots of the games.  This was the only picture I have on my phone.  Sorry Parker:/

Brinley's last month in Elementary School

May 2013

Brinley had many exciting events in May to wrap up her 6th grade year.  Here are a few of them below!

She had a GT project, Night of the Notables, and chose to learn about Shawn Johnson.  She read books and researched about her life. She wrote a magazine article about her and made her table presentation.   She also wrote an amazing poem, dressed up as her notable person and then presented it on stage at school.  Great work Brinley Kate!

Briana D. (as JK Rowling) and Bryn

Breana S. (Clara Barton) and Bryn

Sixth grade program presentation (Maryam, Daisy, Breana, Courtney, Bryn and Sydney)

Grandpa was in town and slipped in to watch Bryn.



Brinley performing at her end of school piano recital.  She did great!!!  This is her first year with a teacher besides Gram. 

Aub pouting at the recital....she usually is upset about one thing or another!



 

Bryn and I decided to have a last minute graduation party.  Soooo fun!  We had yummy food and celebrated with about six friends.

Breana, Bryn and Daisy w/ Aubrey photo bombing in the background!



Our two graduates: one from 6th and one from Kinder

Parker, Tanner, Brinley and Aubrey on the last day of school.  It was really fun and convenient to have them all at Reagan this year.

I thought is was a little cheesy to have a graduation for 6th grade.  However, when I saw Brinley and some of the other kids we have known at Reagan for the past several years walk to the stage, I got a bit teary eyed! (Maryam, Breana, Courtney, Daisy, Brinley)

Isn't she just beautiful?!



One last hug from our wonderful VP, Ms. Hawkins.

Two Oldies But Goodies

I ran across these two photos recently and wanted to post them.

Aspen Grove about 1984  This was a picture of our family performing "It Takes Two" for the family talent show.  Brit, Nate, Kerry, Erin, Chris, Mom and Dad 

Oh ya, the two men in my life!  1997 (Brian and my Dad)