A Joyous July!

July is a joyous month for me because it is filled with family fun!  We hold our annual family reunion the last weekend in July.  We are prepping & planning & anticipating making memories with those that matter most to us! Some families come early to enjoy the Riverhouse & their cousins that they only see once a year - here's a collection of randomness...

But first...The day we got home from our Ireland trip, Paul got a short nap then headed to Camp Ritchie for Bishop's Day at Young Women's Camp.  Because of our trip, I didn't get to go this year but someone was kind enough to send evidence of their shenanigans at Camp...these men all have "real jobs" but they volunteer their time to serve the members of their wards - the youth are especially dear to their hearts.

Meanwhile, after my nap, I came home to do some laundry & get ready for a quick visit with the Bassetts who were heading home to Utah after spending a week at their G'ma Bassett's Art Camp.  They shared their finished products by putting on an Art Show for us!

Of course, we had fun playing outside while they were here - Cooper loved the ATV...

Keira & I had a Pogo Stick contest...

Lexi & her "mermaid" pose (the water feature is still a favorite place to play)...

Plenty of fun in the water...

Petersen's joined us for the 4th of July...

Paul went with the Scouts on a 50 miler backpacking trip.  He cut the trip short by a couple of days because he hurt his knee...

I got to take this cute girl on a date to pick out some fabric for a quilt...& then a couple of months later - she's all about that pink!

And then family started rolling in for some Pre-Reunion fun...Cindi & Terri caravanned in from Utah (where Cindi & her kids were visiting).  We didn't waste anytime playing on & in the River!

This was Memphis' first trip to the Riverhouse...he's not quite sure what to think...

...but it doesn't take him long to get comfortable...

Aunt Cindi did a lot of entertaining & keeping the kids busy finding fun things to do - like floating down the River, even with LOW water levels.  They had to walk out past the rocks to get in the current...

We wanted Aunt Christi to know we were thinking of her (since she was on bed rest) so we sent her this picture of Gringo's (she worked her for two summers)...

We tried out the new yogurt shop they opened up down the street...

We went panning for gold at Marshall Gold Discovery Park in Coloma...

Some of us didn't find any...

The kids had fun with the Pioneer dress up clothes they had to try on for fun...

We took Cindi's Christmas Card photo...(I'm kidding!)  Don't they look authentic?

Jill & Leah showed up early with their families, too.  Kiff got a permit to hike Half Dome & Rick went with him. 

Leah hung out for a day & then headed to meet the Bassetts for their family reunion & Rick caught up with her after their hike...G'pa fixed his "World Famous" pancakes (everything Paul fixes is World Famous). The kids thought it was fun to eat breakfast outside...

We were treated to a Bike Parade!  I've collected a bunch of second-hand bikes for the kids to play with when they are here.  Our long concrete driveway & round about is perfect for bikes & scooters!  We've had many g'kids learn to ride a two wheeler here because there is so much room for them to practice & perfect their skills!

I found this little balance bike to help get the idea of riding a two wheeler without training wheels - it was a hit!

Olivia & Penelope, both learned to ride without training wheels this summer!

photo on the left by Terri, on the right by Jill

WE GOT SKILLZ!

The kids made us crowns & we got to be the King & Queen of the Bike Parade...

We filled up water balloons for a water balloon toss that quickly became a free for all...

photo by Jill

Jude was pooped & fell asleep eating his snack...

We took up a whole row in Sacrament Meeting & almost doubled the size of our Primary at church...

G'pa took everyone on another float trip...

photo by Jill

photo by Jill

Memphis is learning to love the River!

Aunt Terri made this game for me a couple of Christmases ago.  These girls are the perfect age for this Family Memory Game - they love finding themselves or members of their immediate family!

Family Night Karaoke was a big hit this year.  Everyone shared a song & many wanted to share MORE than one song!  They aren't shy!

Even the littles took a turn - so so sweet!

The bigger kids (who could read) had fun with my new Teeny Bopper Karaoke Disc...

We even practiced being a good audience...

We wore ourselves out with so much fun!

photo by Jill

And we haven't even got to our reunion yet!