Hill Family Reunion- Utah trip part 2

Saturday evening after the hike, we drove to Allison and Ron's in Murry.

She (Allison) had prepared a true feast for that evening, She had also made it very personal and sweet. She prepared a slideshow of everyone over the years, and had gotten people to say things they loved/appreciated about each other. It really was very touching.

 some of the quotes from that evening:

Of his brother, Kayden: I love when we wrestle together (but when Mama says stop we stop).
—Eli —

Mitchell is very patient and stoic, like when he was holding Eli in his lap at a restaurant and Eli tipped a large bottle of ice water in his lap, he just resolutely went to the bathroom and dried off.
He is also professional and patient at work: When I job shadowed with him, within a couple of hours he was conferring with many teachers, administrators, students, and he was very supportive and helpful to them.
—Dad —
Eli has an inquisitive spirit and adventurous way about him. He is also a great example to his younger brothers and will be a great big brother as they get older together.
-Ron —

I appreciate Melinda’s steadiness. She always consistant about what she does and what she believes. Especially in the wonderful ways she cares for her family, her boys. I admire that she is very athletic—it takes a lot of stamina and effort and have three babies and still go jogging in the morning. Not a lot of women can do that.
—Diane —

Lawrence is a sweet, smiling little guy who fit into our family the moment he came into this world. He brings smiles to all our souls.
—Dad (Mitchell) — 

My best memory of Eli is the smile on his dace when I go and visit Mitchell. You can tell he has a kind heart and a good spirit.
—Carlin —

Kayden is so joyful. He tries so hard even now when he is little to spread cheer. He will smile and laugh and celebrate with you anytime. He has such an open, honest spirit. I am so glad he chose to come to our family!
—Melinda —

I love to talk with Lawrence and play games with him.
--Kayden —

I appreciate Melinda’s joy in literature—because it seems that this joy comes from the same place as her joy for beholding the beauties of life. I see this in the way she incorporates the two in the way she describes things and in the giddy excitement that overcomes her when she’s talking about her a favorite line in a beloved story or a little moment during the day. This joy is something pure and beautiful in and of itself.
—Allison —

Not gonna lie I almost cried.

Sunday and Monday we continued the reunion playing and topped off the day with a picnic at the lake.

A big thanks to Allison for planning the whole thing!

Banbury Hot springs

Forth of July weekend we went to banbury hot springs. Its been a place the Durrant side has had reunions at for a long time.

We (the west children and families) got there a day early to camp.

It was really fun. and we got to see family we don't often see.

 win win.

The kids loved swimming Lawrence included.

Snow shoeing

Pine top gave me the opportunity to go snowshoeing for the first time! This has been on my bucket list since my first year of college!
Mitch didn't feel well- he had hurt his back a little going down a very steep icy slope on a sled, so Rebecca and I set out together for some sister time- kid free.

It was so breathtakingly beautiful and silent and wonderful. Unfortunately Rebecca was in the bad pair of snowshoes because she didn't want her pregnant sister to get hurt, so she did not have as much fun because, her ankle got twisted a few times and she fell twice- that got our heart rates up, it was scary!
In the end we took a trail my dad had made earlier (so several miles more then we had already gone).
I will say that I personally LOVED it. I want to buy some snowshoes and go all the time!  I think my dad enjoyed it too, he said he though he had found a new sport/ hobby for himself! :) It was so still and beautiful, the world and trees covered in white and the untouched snow..... *sigh*
Thank you Uncle Darryl for sharing so generously with all of us!

PIne top 2016!!

This year we went to Pinetop again!
 It is almost a yearly tradition, although some years we missed because we could not travel from Rexburg, and some years we didn't go because...? But I think the first year we went I  must have been in the neighborhood of ten or twelve. I was little. SO it has been a fairly consistent West family tradition for about 15 years now, crazy to think about. They already reserved it for next year too! cousins from far out of town will be here so they went ahead and scheduled us a year in advance. This year it was a last min schedule because several people (my smart mamma included) asked on the right day if we could,  but it was perfect. 2 ft of snow everywhere with higher drifts in places. Perfection!

We got there first out of all the families- that has never happened before, so we got a big ole corner and set up our stuff. Rebecca and family came too and Jessica for the first day, so we had a big bunch of us together like old times.
We played in the snow and sled on the hills and hiked and played games and ate junk and yummy meals and let the kids play hours of air hockey and ping pong.
The snow was just wonderful!
Pictures say it best. It was 3 days and 2 nights. the 29th-31st.
Emily and Jessica went on a snowshoe hike, Eli and  Emily played in the snow for hours, Emily made a dragon in the snow, Mitch and I both played in the snow, Mitch and Caleb played many rounds of Ping Pong, the kids watched movies on grandpas projector, and we all had fun visiting together.