Blue

O suns and skies and clouds of June,

And flowers of June together,

Ye cannot rival for one hour

October's bright blue weather.

Helen Hunt Jackson 1831-1885

West Point Volleyball

Because it's a grey, rainy morning in October, lets go back to a warm, dry evening from summer.

Towards the end of summer we got together for a big family dinner and some fun and games at Grandma Jeannine's place in West Point. Volleyball was the feature event and for some of us it's a bit unnerving. I played volleyball my senior year in high school. Well, practiced really. When tryouts happened I was working out for track and thought I'd join in just for the exercise. The coach thought it would be great to have my legendary wingspan up front blocking shots and I made the team. Silly coach. That was my first and last year of organized volleyball. Loved the workout. Feared the games. Sure its a big ball, but you could still lose an eye.

Due to my volleyphobia I haven't spent any time teaching my girls how to play. This was painfully evident at the big family game.

Not. In. My. Comfort. Zone.

Nervous, but still smiling.


Aunt Renee loving and coaching.

Sarah is warming up... Em still not sure.


A little coachin' from cousin Brock.

Comparing sports injuries.


Okay. Now it's fun.


Aunt Amelie and Uncle Dave


My nephew Kyle and his beautiful boy Cole.





Our sweet nephew Ryan and Grandpa


Our niece, Emma Claire. What a dolly.


Em midflight.

It was a fun evening. Good food and a nice time visiting. Rich's sister Renee was in town getting ready to pick up her son Dallas from his service in the Alaskan Mission. Ohio is a long way away and we don't get to see her often enough. It was so great to be together! I didn't catch a shot of Grandma Jeannine because she was a blur keeping us all fed and watered. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for a lovely time.

The rest of the story

These are the last of the pics from our Fall Cabin Fun '09. We had such a great time.

This is one of Megan's friends (I can't remember her name but tres adorable) getting a ride from my nephew Clark. I'm so sad this pic is a little overexposed because I want you all to see his face. Look closely at that smile! I love this boy. He's in his twenties but I used to change his pants so he's still a youngun to me.

Hona, Megan, Connie and Henry kicking puzzle booty.

When the sun went down or the weather was uncooperative, the jigsaw puzzles came out. 1000 piece puzzles with ridiculously small pieces.

Rich and Hona deep in puzzle mode.

My beautiful sister Tatiana and her Hillary.

We listened to all four sessions of conference, but thats a lot to ask of these kidlets. Found Em and little Henry (bud bud) up in the loft engaged in an intense game on the DS.


Early one morning, Bambi dropped by.

I remained true to the tradition of Church in your jammies on Conference weekend. Very seductive I know. Make-up next year for sure.

(Glamour Shot courtesy of Sarah)

And again, for your viewing pleasure... another dignified shot of my brother. Why? Because I can. I only wish his face was in the frame. Choice.

Once more, thanks Connie for the invite and for the time together. It really is the best.

Oh dear...

It would appear that I have inadvertantly corrupted the youth of my family.

A while back I posted a clip from SNL of a lovely and warped skit satiring the Lawrence Welk Show.

Up at the cabin I'd hear someone humming the tune and within seconds they were joined by others 'til we were all singing along. Then one night, Megan came downstairs and recruited some of her cousins to do this...

A reinactment of The Merrill Sisters

"and I'm Juneece"

Please look closely and note the use of props. Megan found a sad old doll in the loft and ripped its arms off. Love the baby hands. Tank you, Tank you Megan. It was fabulous.

Just in case you missed the skit the first time I posted it, here it is again. Please forgive the little commercial that accompanies it. I couldn't ditch it.

"And a one and a two and..."

Building a Snow Moose

Can you see how happy Emily is? Pure bliss at being back at the cabin.

We leapt at the chance to go to the cabin this fall! Mom and Dad were traveling but we had the rest of the fam (minus Chase in Chile) all together. It snowed during the drive up and when we arrived it was just getting dark. Silent, dark, snowy and then the sound of very large animals nearby. It sounded like elk but we're told they don't hang out there so it must have been moose. Do moose bugle?

Upon arriving, Em found some Christmas music, cranked it up and asked for the pleasure of a dance with her cousin Hillary.



Then the flame master got the fire going.


We woke to this lovely sight.


Emily was a little disappointed there wasn't enough snow to build a snow moose, so she busied herself by brushing the snow off arts and crafts projects from years gone by. (Yes, that is a teenage mutant ninja turtle rock.)


Later in the day it warmed up enough to go ride the four wheelers.


Happy girl.


Prepared girl. Em brought her ski goggles and serious boots.





Meg brought along a fun group of 6 friends to stay over one night. They were darling. It was cold enough that the always fashionable cabin coats were brought out for some of the friends when they went four wheeling. Only really adorable girls could pull off this look. Way to choose good friends Megan.

More cold weather cabin fun coming soon.

You put your right foot in...

Actually, this is not the hokey-pokey gone ugly. It's eleven of the thirteen of my clan who went bowling in Heber City recently. (Rich was searching for the perfect bowling ball on the other side of the lanes and Big Henry was tying up some business and hadn't made it to the alley yet.) I wish I had more pictures to show how much fun we had.

You'll just have to trust me.

My parents were in Europe having a blast cruising riverboat style. (Think modern, Viking cruise line... not Showboat, Huck Finn era.) While they were gone, the rest of the family went back up to Connie's family cabin over conference weekend. Four days and four nights of great fun and relaxation. While we were there we drove down to Heber for some bonding time while wearing recently sanitized shoes. More pics to follow.

And just in case you're wondering, not surprisingly, Connie beat the rest of us bowling. The girl is a natural. At everything.

p.s. Thanks Connie for the photo. Love it.