Bushman Extended Family Reunioin

After our big trip to California we drove up to Idaho for the extended Bushman reunion.

It was in a beautiful little town called Albion.

I seriously fell in love with this place. 

Too bad that town couldn't support a chiropractor...

 Tate checking out the tractor.

One of the old buildings on the campus of the reunion site. It used to be an old church college, like Ricks, but it never made it big.  Too bad.

 There were so many cousins.  They had a great time doing relay races and playing games. 

 I tried to get Tate to do the sack race...

 Apparently he didn't want to do it. 

 Here is Brandon Flamm, Dallin, and Cody hopping towards victory!

 Tate and Lyndi, I'm predicting kissin' cousins in about 12 years...

 So carefree, what a life.

 He's hiding from Grandma Bushman. 

 She found him, but he doesn't know it yet.

 And he's off again! 

 The peacock that was patrolling the grounds.

 Our family with Great Grandma Bushman

Birthday Boy

Cody turned 6! 

He requested breakfast in bed.

He wanted crepes and a fried egg. 

I aim to please, so that is what he got. 

 When we were walking into his room I saw him peaking through a barely cracked open eye to see if we were coming.  When he saw us he quickly pretended to be asleep again. 

 He was one happy boy.  :)

 He was super happy to get a new bike from Grandma and Grandpa Carter, and Nana.  Thank you!!!!!

Long Horn Cow

Doesn't every family get together and sing cowboy songs? 
NO!?
Well, they are missing out. 
Good times with John and Sharron Lamont.  :) 
Probably only the Carters will enjoy this...

Basement Fort

Where's Waldo?

How many kids can you find...

 This is what we did today.  A lesson in construction.

 Obviously they were having fun with the fort we made. 

Sour cream

Tired Tater

a brief funny...

We found these whitey tighties in the bag of cleaning rags and we had to have Kayla sport them for us. 

 Lookin' good, Kay! 

 I was cleaning off my mom's cookbook shelf and came across this little treasure. 

Richard Simmons Sweetie Pie cookbook. 

I know, I know, you all want a copy... well do not fret, I actually found TWO of these babies up there!  So, if you want one, let me know!  ;)

Riding Horses

My sisters and sister-in-law took all the littlest kids horse back riding while the men and big kids went on a quading trip.  I think the little kids had a great time on the horses. 

Here is Rayne and Rigby.

 Saidi, she looks like a natural!

 Brylee and Saidi.  I'm pretty sure Brylee looks like that because she is in back, just like I'm pretty sure Saidi looks like that because she got to ride in front first.  :) 

These two girls definitely had a little competition going between them. 

 Cydne and Tate

 Cody

 Kayla and Rayne

 Tate and Me

 Side view...  just what you wanted, right?

 And again.  Tate was loving it.  There were a bunch of cows there that he liked looking at, too. 

 But Tate's favorite thing was probably this big tractor.  He had to climb up and check it out. 

Pedal Pullers

While in CA we went to the Merced County Fair.  We were sitting down to watch a kids pedal pull (pedal tractor competition), and Tate didn't think he should sit with us.  He moved to the next bench and sat alone. 

 The tractors were pulling a trailer with weights in it.  The older the child the more weight they had to pull.  The farther they would pedal the farther forward in the trailer the weights would move.  There was a skid plate at the very front of the trailer so when the weight moved forward the skid plate would push into the ground more, making it harder to pedal.  If the kids could pedal past 25 feet it was called a pull-out, then they would get another turn with more weight to see how far they could go.  They continued like this until the child couldn't pass 25 feet. 

 So, here is Brylee on a pedal tractor.  She went 13 feet, pulling 55 lbs.  (So she was done, you only continue if you go 25 feet)

 Here is Dallin.  He went 18 feet.  We cam back a few hours later and entered the competition again.  The second time around he went 25 feet with 100 lbs, so he got to go again with 145 lbs and pulled that 15 feet. 

 Cody pulled 55 pounds and got a pull-out, so then he pulled 70 lbs and pulled-out again.  Third time, he pulled 100 lbs 16 feet.  He was the only grandchild to get a pull-out the first time we were there, and he got two!  The second time we came he got three pull-outs again.  He was the only one then as well.  During the first competition there were just the cousins from our family and about 2 other kids.  The second time there were about 20 kids, and Cody was the ONLY one to get more than 1 pull-out.  He's one tough cookie.   

Dallin got to mow the lawn for the first time on this trip. 

 Some of the grandkids at the fair.

 Sorry this pic is sideways...  This goat was eating Tate's shirt.  It was pretty funny. 

Cool hair, dude!

I had to get a picture of Tate's AWESOME hair on our long drive. 



Joplin Drive-thru

On our way out to California we stopped for lunch and gas in Joplin, MO.  We saw a lot of the devastation from the Tornado there last year.  It really was amazing.  In the distance is the hospital, it was hit really hard. 

 On this side of the street there was complete destruction.  On the other side there was minimal damage. 

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

This is a cool truck we saw that reminded us of Mater.  The truck was rusted through in some spots, but the engine was super clean and shiny.  It was awesome. 

 At Santa Cruz Beach, lots of grandkids, Brian and Aunt Casey.

 We didn't think we would be at the beach for very long, so us adults didn't even have our swim suits on...  the water there is cold anyway. 

 Surfs up!

 I think he is going to catch a wave...

 Cody catching sand crabs.

 Tate and Cydne Beans diggin' to China.

 This kid loved the sand and water.

 Tate loved the rides.

 Pretty much all the kids loved the rides.  Here is Brylee, Dallin, and Rayne

 Grandma and Halle

 Halle, Uncle Ryan, and Brylee

 Cody, Brian, and Brylee on a drop zone ride

 Aunt Casey and Halle

 Fuzzy Brylee

It was such a fun day, we just wish we had had more time there.  Next time I go to Santa Cruz I want to spend one full day at the beach, then go to a hotel to clean everyone up and spend the night.  Then spend the next full day on the rides.  It is such a fun place.