Paul Family Reunion

Pre Reunion festivites. We always have to bury ourselves in the sand. This time we ventured

into mermaid burying.

We just returned from the Paul Family Reunion. We went to Oceanside California and stayed in so condo's on the beach. Before the family arrived Sheldon had a couple day staff retreat/meeting. It was fun to interact with his staff and get to know their children better. Before everyone else arrived we had a chance to spend some time in the game room where Sheldon helped Sydnee learn how to play pool.

Tuesday evening most of the family arrived. Early Wednesday morning we were all at the beach ready to enjoy the sun, sand, and water. Wednesday we spent most the day at the beach, boogie boarding, building a huge sand hole, playing paddle ball and watching all the cousins play together on the beach.

Sydnee and Sierra Boogie Boarding

Thursday was a little slower day. Once we all had a little sun it slowed us down, but we still had an enjoyable day on the beach. We still did plenty of boogie boarding and did a little more exploring to the pier, for sea creatures like crabs, urchins, etc. Thursday night we had a FHE and enjoyed s'mores together. We also took some fun family photos. It is amazing we got one

with everyone looking forward at one time.

Friday was another incredible day at the beach. There wasn't enough time to fit in volleyball, paddle ball, boogie boarding, and visiting. Friday night we were able to go to a church and hold a talent show and spotlight. That was one of my kids favorite part of the reunion. They loved the spotlight where they got to tell about one of their cousins and in return their cousins told about them. We loved all the talents, but I think Jeff and Keri's family outdid everyone with the Bunny Foo Foo dance -- Jeff was just a little bit more talented than the rest of us.

Edwards Family Reunion

The BEAUTY

Preparing for a hike

A "HIKE" with the cousins

Finding Really Helpful Sticks

THE BIGGEST STICK

One of my favorite pictures

The movie making and cute cousins (nieces) with missing teeth

Baptisms (thanks to everyone for helping)

After Girls Camp we headed up to Springville Utah for a family reunion. We were blessed to stay at a beautiful cabin with plenty of room, beautiful scenery, and lots of cousins. We had so much fun. All of the Edwards siblings were there with their children. We were just missing the two on missions.

At the reunion Meagan and Brianna casted and produced an entire movie and somehow bribed the young men to be in this incredible show.

We also ATE, played games inside and outside, hiked, went to the temple, visited, ATE CREAMIES, had a talent show, had a FHmorning, ATE SNACKS, learned about ancestors, ate again, had a few more creamies and just truly enjoyed ourselves. On the movie the girls did a creamies commercial and it typified how many creamies our family went through in five days. I don't think there were very many moments when someone didn't have one in their mouth (you'd like to think by 2AM we were all sleeping with nothing in our mouths, but I don't think that happened -- there were a lot of teenagers enjoying wee morning hours). The weather was gorgeous and it was so much fun to watch everyone interact. I enjoyed learning a few new things about our ancestors and playing Thumper (my nieces and nephews were amazing at this game), Sarah enjoyed learning about the ancestors,too. Meagan enjoyed her movie making, Christiana enjoyed arriving at the reunion and being done with finals, Loryn enjoyed being the star of the movie, Conner enjoyed basketball, games, and creamies, Sydnee enjoyed playing with all her cousins, Sheldon enjoyed the relaxation and playing games. We are just so grateful to our Heavenly Father and His marvelous plan to place us here on earth in families

Girl's Camp

YCL's

CAMPING

BB GUNS and Climbing Wall


Service and Repelling

Rachel, Daughter of Helaman, Mary & Joseph, Ruth, Esther, Sariah, and Eve "Example of Believers program -- each ward visited these examples (Mary Magdelane not pictured)

I was blessed again this year to participate in our stake girls camp. This was the first year I went with the Lone Mountain Stake, but just like every other Girl's Camp I've ever been too it was incredible. Monday was an incredible day. We went up with just our YCL's and did training. Barring the flat tire (that I forgot to get pictures of) that I got on the way up to camp, the day went off without any problems. It was great to spend the time with the YCL's and our priesthood spent a lot of time training and preparing them to help run our activities for the week. That evening we did an activity that words can't express. It was such an incredible activity and the spirit was so strong. We were just grateful that the young women were prepared and the spirit was present because it definitely was the teacher that evening. Tuesday morning the rest of the young women arrived. It is so amazing to me that just 45 minutes from our home we are in cool weather, beautiful scenery, and it has no resemblance of Las Vegas. Tuesday evening we had an incredible program introducing our theme "Be Thou an Example of the Believers". Cameron Steele and McKelly Scholer came up and sang with the YW and for the YW and used these songs to share different examples in their lives. My favorite was the song and video on Joseph Smith. One the highlights of girls camp this year were the trading cards. Tammy Felton spent endless hours collecting the information from every leader, and every young women and put together trading cards with our pictures, favorite scripture and then a list of our favorite things (foods, school class, hobbie, favorite place to travel). It is fun to read and explore and get to know the YW better. We had another night where our stake presidencies wives were interviewed which showed us how they were great examples. We also watched the talk of Pres. Monson's from the YW broadcast in April in the mountains, that was powerful. Our YCL's also retired an American Flag. This was a powerful program I know they will remember for years. The service, craft, certification, zipline, climbing wall, cope course, games, activities, hikes, all help unify us on the mountain. I was so grateful to work with all the young women leaders. Each had such incredible service to offer. I was truly inspired by our priesthood their never ending service and quiet actions while they did so much for us. They were all so incredible and served nonstop. I was amazed at our cooks and their organization and efficiency. It was so much fun laughing in the late night of the evenings as we were trying to help YW find their beds. We as leaders often let down our walls at these late hours and find ourselves doing things that we would not do otherwise (dancing waters)... I was The mountains always bring me closer to the Savior and help me feel his love. Although I was utterly exhausted when I returned home -- I count myself extremely blessed to been able to participate in such an incredible program.

WICKED

At the beginning of July we were able to go with Lyman and Linda's family and the Pickett girls to see Wicked in Phoenix. It was a quick trip -- barely 24 hours all together, but it was a great trip. We had fun spending a few minutes with cousins and traveling with friends. We love this musical and definitely would recommend it to all!!!

Getting ready to go to the show


Linda was prepared with green nail polish ---Bentz was a sport and wore green nail polish too

Just having fun before we t Broadway musical.

4th of July

I love the 4th of July for many reasons. I love our Founding Father's and the sacrifice they made for us to enjoy the freedoms we have here in America. I will always have a great respect for the early settlers in America and the sacrifices they all made to create this incredible nation. I love Patriotic Music and I think we should play it a month before the fourth (kind of like Christmas music). I also love the family/friend parties we have on the fourth. It always brings back good memories. This year after we swam and were cleaning up before fireworks we dressed up three of the little cousins in princess costumes. My girls have almost grown out of this stage so it was fun to watch their faces as we dressed them up and did their hair.

I think they enjoyed this almost as much as the boys enjoyed the fire and fireworks. We turned it over the the teen age boys and they did a great firework show and even let the