PROVO CITY CENTER TEMPLE OPEN HOUSE

We had such a great Family Night last night! Our friends got us tickets to the Provo Temple Open House and we got to tour the whole, beautiful masterpiece. It is amazing to see what they've done with it. I was so very impressed and so happy we were able to attend. 

My happy mini family.

After the open house (and photos) we went to eat Indian food at Bombay House in Provo. I really like Indian food if I don't eat it too often and I hadn't had it in a long time, so I was thrilled! Seriously, sooo yummy! My kids had never had it and C Man is now a fan. Princess P? No, but that's no surprise. She doesn't like much. Big C hadn't had it since his mission (20+ years ago) and enjoyed it too. A great cultural night all the way around.

Happy Family Home Evening!

THE GORDONS GIVE THANKS

This is the year for Thanksgiving with the Gordons. We went up to the Barn and had a good time with all the cousins. 

The kids eating their yummy turkey!

This year we got a new addition to the family right before the day! He is the cutest baby ever! 

Elder D and his new cousin.

Princess P takes her turn holding her new cousin, W.

C Man gets a man bun! Yuck!

Watching movies instead of shooting guns.

Trying to keep warm by the fire. It was chilly!

Trap shooting on Thanksgiving- a Gordon Family Traditition! (D on the right).

PIONEER DAY DUTCH OVEN

We didn't have any plans for the 24th of July this year, so the Gordons got together and went up to enjoy an evening in the mountains. We made 'dutch oven' (a yummy stew) and played. Then the guys rode their bikes home.

Big C and family.

Uncle C, Princess P and Miss K.

Mr L, Gpa and Gma

SCANDINAVIAN TRADITION

Spring is here, school is out, it is Memorial Day weekend and that means Scandinavian Festival! Most of my ancestors are from here in Sanpete County and are buried here as well, so much of my family comes here for the Scandinavian Festival (click for link) we have every Saturday before Memorial Day in our cute, little town.

The parade this year. We even had a plane buzzing the route, dropping t-shirts and bouncy balls on us.

 We always meet at my younger sister's house first, because she makes us all pancakes before the parade! Yum! It's the perfect start to the day.

Princess P and Sister S ate many pancakes!

 After the parade, we go over to the college for the Mountain Bike race, fittingly called 'Vike on a Bike.' The boys usually all ride in it, just for fun.

Cousin C in blue Nike shirt, Big C in orange helmet in back, Elder D in Green helmet, C Man in front in the red shirt/black helmet and Cousin A in turquoise blue shirt with silver helmet.

C Man and Elder D after the race.

Big C chatted his way to the finish line. No real hurry.

The girls go get Sanpete BBQ turkey while we wait for the guys to finish the race. YUM!

Later in the afternoon I have a BBQ at my house for all the visiting family. I love being able to see all of my cousins that come. It is like a mini reunion. (Yes, I actually like family reunions).

Sister S, Elder D and Cousin A.

THANKSGIVING

It was my turn to host Thanksgiving this year for my family and I knew that there was no way that we would fit in our home, so I reserved the church building that Big C's YSA ward attends. It worked out perfect! Plenty of room and it was so fun to see everyone!

Cousins- J, Princess P and Miss B.

Cousins- M, Little C, M2 and M3.

The food line. YUM! 

BIL, Big C and nephew RM-A.

One of the kids' tables. Great memories!

I sure love my family!

ICE FOR K

The Ice Bucket Challenge has been all over Facebook for the past three or so weeks as awareness for ALS. A cute girl from our ward in her Sophomore year of college was just diagnosed with ALS a week or two ago. Our community decided to do a town-wide ice bucket challenge just for her. 

K and I.

There were raffles and a bake sale as well. I even bought a t-shirt.

Our family and a friend photobombing us. (I guess I thought it was super funny, huh?)

The dumping of the buckets.

We didn't do the ice bucket part because we had family night to go to afterward. We did do the bake sale and the raffles. The support from the community was amazing! They raised a lot of money and it was very exciting to see all the people (both friends and others that didn't even know her).

Little C getting a hug from all of his wet friends.

Dark dinner.

Afterwards, we went over to our BIL and SIL's for dinner and Family Night. The electricity had gone out and we ended up having dinner in the dark in the carport. It was really fun and really good. Then the kids went and played night games. The power didn't come back on til after 8 pm (out for about 4 hours.)

FAMILY AT THE FARM

My niece that got married last year while I was in Europe came into town this week and we had dinner at the farm so that we could all see her and her husband. They are so cute and happy! 

Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt J.

Everyone visiting around the table.

My cute niece and her husband (the blondes) and my darling daughter, S.

NEW CANYON CLIMB

Big C wanted to take his sister climbing one more time before she had to leave town, so we all went up New Canyon for a few hours in the afternoon yesterday. It sure is fun to have so much family around and we sure enjoy each other!

K takes a photo of me as I take a photo of him and C and L.

Big C with two of his sisters, N and N.

Princess P and Little C wait their turn to climb.

 I let Princess P take the camera to take some photos. This is the first one. She has always loved selfies.

Princess P- I just love this girl!

Baby W and SIL, J.

After climbing we went down to the farm and ate dutch oven stew. It was a fun, very Gordonish day.

Everyone gathered round watching a funny video on the phone.

THE BAR J

My exercise buddy and good friend invited us up to her family's ranch yesterday. It is up in the mountains above Salina and a VERY beautiful place.

The Salamander Pond.

First we drove and then hiked to the 'Salamander Pond'. The kids didn't catch any salamanders, but it was a very picturesque place.

The boat ride.

Some of them even got in the boat and rowed to the other side.

Princess P with Hopie and Juta.

Some of us hiked to the other side to meet them...

The kids eating dinner, surrounded by dogs.

We then drove back down to the ranch house and had a BBQ. They have lots of dogs, so we spent the evening surrounded by them. They were very well-behaved and sweet.

The adults on the back porch- surrounded by dogs.

After dinner the kids roasted marshmallows and made s'mores. Yummy!

That is the biggest grill I have ever seen!

It was such a fun day! I hope we can go again sometime. It was an awesome place to be!

FATHER'S DAY 2014

I was really excited this year because I bought Big C an awesome Father's Day gift and I just KNEW he was going to love it. He's wanted a long board for long time (pun intended). However, I had it hidden in the trunk of my car and when we were putting groceries in there, he saw it and ruined my surprise! 

The boys on their boards.

 I was sad that I didn't get to give it to him on the day, but he was thrilled just to have it! Now all the guys can go long boarding together! They love it!

Princess P and Baby W.

We had a Father's Day BBQ at Big C's brother's house with all the in-town Gordons. It was lots of fun! 

The cousins at the tree house.

FAMILY NIGHT @ THE FARM

It was combined Gordon Family Night last night, so we went up to the barn to be with everyone, BBQ and enjoy everyone's company. The weather was very cooperative and we had such a good time!

Eating burgers and dogs.

 I just love that we live by so many of our relatives. The kids just have so much fun together and cousins are sometimes the best friends we ever have growing up.

Little C, Cousin C, Little Miss C, and Niece A.

Big C's sisters and our brother-in-law.

The uncles having a BB gun showdown. (Uncle C won).