More Reunion Moments

This is the second batch of photos from the family reunion. We had a great time at the cabin and it was a very nice setting for a family gathering.

One of the highlights for me was spending some time in the creek. We splashed, walked and tried desperately not to fall in the water. It was sweet to watch Jadyn walking with Jared. I hope my little girl always looks to her Daddy to keep her safe and steady.

Here are a few more shots of the family. We had so much fun just hanging out for a few days in great summer weather! It was a nice change for us.

Aunt Tawna played with Hyrum as we watched the volleyball games. She kept "helping" Hyrum hold the glow sticks in both hands. (He really favors his right hand.) She was determined to have Hyrum use both hands. He kept putting both sticks back in his right hand - they must have gone back and forth for 20 minutes. I don't know what I liked watching more: Hyrum playing with the sticks and giggling or Tawna trying to convice Hyrum not to put them in his right hand.

Isn't he so cute? I loved watching him play and laugh at Tawna's expressions. She was (eventually) successful in getting him to use both hands. Go Tawna!

Reunions are fun, aren't they? It is always good to reconnect with extended family, hear funny stories, rehash old memories, and make new memories to laugh about later.

Skousen Family Reunion: Volume 1

I have been needing to write about some of our memories from the Skousen Family Reunion in Utah this month. If only we could blot most of the long car ride with young children out of our minds, the remainder of the trip was a blast. If only...


Jared hates road trips. He was never a fan of driving for more than a few hours anywhere for any reason. Add restless children and 'Poof' - one of his least favorite things in the world. The trip that I remember taking 8 to 8 1/2 hours in my single days took almost 10 1/2. Uggg. Someday when we are forced to road trip again, we'll get an obscenely huge motor home where we can keep the kids at least 10 feet away from Daddy while he is driving - and possibly behind a closed door! It wasn't bad all of the time, just when Jenna was kicking Jadyn because she was bored, or Hyrum started crying because he had been in his seat for 5 hours and just wanted to crawl, or Jadyn was mad because I didn't pack the movie she wanted to watch next, or when Jadyn spilled milkshake all over sleeping Hyrum and his blanket, Kyla's kids didn't want to fall asleep even though it was after midnight... Get the picture? Yeah. Good times, good times.

Snow (College - not the white, fluffy stuff)



So, the reunion was in Manti. I felt a little like I was returning home. It has been years since I attended Snow College, but I can trace some of my greatest growth, friendships, and fun memories to my years at Snow. I seemed to get all nostalgic as we drove closer. Jared had no other choice but to listen to me tell my favorite college stories and memories. He was such a good sport. Go Badgers!

We spent Friday morning walking down memory lane. We tried to take mom to Fat Jack's Pizza for her birthday lunch and some delicious Fat Sticks, but there was no Fat Jack's Pizza! It is now called Roy's Pizza (we were informed that Roy is Jack's brother). The Fat Sticks were still on the menu and they were as yummy as I remember!


A group of us headed to Snow College. Kyla wanted to show her kids the school she ruled (OK so she was student body VP and has claim to her "ruling year"). I just wanted to see one of my favorite places. We took photos out by the bell tower. I can't believe how much campus has changed in the last few years. A bunch of the old buildings were torn down and the new music building was finished. Crazy. I guess I am getting old...

\I had to go to the institute to see the place I spent to most time while I was at school. I ran into a few teachers that remembered me and that was kind of nice. I hope that when my kids have a chance to go to college, they will select a place that they can grow and be as active as I was. I loved my college experience. I loved doing music, performing, dancing, singing, touring, working, hanging out, being an RA, and the majority of my classes & professors. It was fun to go back and walk around with my family.

Fun and Games back to the reunion...

The reunion was fun. It is insane how much my cousins change every time I see them - most of them are married now and have little munchkins running around. It is fun to sit back and watch the kids play together. It wasn't that long ago when we were the young kids running around at reunions. Time really flies. We enjoyed just hanging out and had some good volleyball, ping pong, Settlers, and card games going - we are all a bit competitive.

Of course, it would not be a family reunion without Grandpa's favorite inflated water bed mattresses. He picks them up at the auction for nothing, but when they are inflated, they are a fun (although dangerous) toy. You can climb on them, jump on them, attempt to stand or run across them, charge them, or be launched off of them. We have spent hours as a family watching adults and children injure themselves in countless attempts to master the mattresses. You would think we would learn and stop blowing them up, but that never happens.

This time, Jared sent some of the little kids flying. There were two honorable mentions: Jadyn went the farthest (landing about 17 feet from the mattress) on one launch and Matthew went the highest (probably 6+ feet in the air). After Jadyn flew so far I ran over and she told me, "I'm OK Mom, I am pretty tough, I think."

Little Girls!

This summer we were able to have some fun play dates.


Melanie came over a few times in July and brought her little girls Razzie and Addison. Razzie is right between Jadyn and Jenna in age, so she is a desirable playmate for both of my girls. While she was here I had to take some photos of these cute little girls - just being little girls. It really is entertaining just to watch them play.

The Princess dresses had to come out and then the girls got creative. Jenna and Razzie learned that if you used the words, "Boppity - Boo!" and hit the toilet paper with the magic wand, the toilet paper unraveled. Don't you love those precious guilty faces?

The girls decided to hold the Royal Primary on the stairs. They sang some songs and read their scriptures. Jadyn even gave a "talk" on being righteous princesses. It included a story about always treating each other with kindness and love - like Jesus and Cinderella. (Apparently I need to work on taking the fairy tales out of gospel study...) Still, it was perfect to listen to from the couch as I took care of Hyrum.

My girls are so lucky to have such a lovely cousin that lives nearby. I hope for many more fun play dates in the future with our cousins.

We are the Settlers of Catan

OK, so if you don't know this about us we enjoy good games and love to have game nights with family and friends. Jared especially likes strategy games and Rook is a family favorite that never seems to get old. Several years ago we were introduced to a game called The Settlers of Catan. Wow! We were hooked. For month and months, that was the game of choice.

Chelsea and Chas came over to play with us at least 3 nights a week. The game always changed and the intensity was there every time. After awhile, we moved up a notch to Cities and Knights of Catan. Again, tons of fun and hours and hours of working on winning. We are all competitive by nature, but the McClures take is up a notch. Playing with them gets pretty cut-throat. The games were always interesting and close. Some nights we had dinner before we played. A few evenings, Chelsea and I traded off making cookies and cakes to snack on as we planned our attacks. We seemed to consume a lot of cheep pineapple soda and red vines on all of the other nights. Our lives became busier (again) and Settlers game nights were not as frequent.

Before Chas could leave for Canada, we decided to revisit the game nights of 3 1/2 years ago. Settlers was dusted off, Red Vines and Pineapple Soda were purchased, and we were ready to play. (except we had to wait until almost 10 for Jared to get home from work) Chelsea won the 1st round, Jared the 2nd, and Chas won the final bid for Catan. He left on his mission as the last winner. Not bad.

If you ever need a fun game that changes around every time you play, we highly recommend The Settlers of Catan. But, be warned, it is pretty addictive.

Uncle Elder Chas

Chas (Jared's younger brother) is off to Canada, eh. He was about as prepared as a missionary could be, and we have been so excited for him. When Jadyn said one of her first prayers after he left she called him "Uncle Elder Chas" and I thought it was adorable. We took some photos the night before he left for Utah and the MTC with Mom and Dad. These are some of the favorites! (Yes, he really is as tall as he looks!)

Uncle Chas with all of his nieces and nephew. Boy our family is going to change while he is gone.

The brothers. Funny, funny boys!

Chas with his Sis and Sister-in-laws. Doesn't Chelsea look great for being 8 months pregnant?!?

And (of course) the new Elder with his happy parents.

Good luck, Uncle Elder Chas. We are so proud of you. Our thoughts and prayers will never be far from you over the next few years.

The Most Bestest School Trip

With limited summer activities, Jadyn really was looking forward to our school trip to the Fire Station. After both activities were over and we were on our way home Jadyn happily told me, "Mother, this was the Most Bestest School Trip I ever had!" Poor deprived kid...Of course I had to laugh. I knew that she had a great time with her friends.

I was a little stressed with the 3 young kids running around, but it worked out for the best. Hyrum was so good at the station, and he just loved watching the rest of the kids play in the water. He even fell asleep for awhile. He is such a good baby. Jenna was a little more of a handful, but just because she is such a monkey. She has to check everything out and is quick to run, climb, slide or do whatever to get involved in the world around her. She was bored with the stroller after about 10 whole minutes of cruising around the fire station. She is not one for sitting around - ever.

Here are some of the photo highlights of our fun "school" trip. Since I didn't do any of the planning or coordinating, I felt like it shouldn't count for a school trip, but we didn't have Mommy School that day. I was tired by the time we got home.

Here are the girls in their red hats. Jadyn wore hers around the house for days afterwards - she even decorated it with flowers and glitter. In this photo she seems happy with the "plain" red hat.

After visiting the Fire Station we went to Lori's house to let the kids play on the water slide and let the moms relax and eat lunch. That inflatable slide was something else. My kids had a blast on it and never wanted to leave!

Here are the last batch of pictures from the water slide. Jenna splashed around so much and laughed the entire time. It was so much fun for me just to watch the kids play. What a cool contraption. It turns your back yard into a water park.

We had a great time at the Fire Station and the Super Slide - a special thanks to the ladies that put it all together for taking care of all of the arrangements. It was a great day for us... just like Jadyn said.