Family Time

We had such a great weekend! My grandparents organized a big family deal at the University of Utah on Saturday for their children and grandchildren. On Friday, Joe left work early and we drove up to the Residence Inn in Salt Lake City. My parents, my brother Spencer and his family, my sister Emily and her family, and my sister-in-law Donnetta and her son were all there. My older brother Joe, and my younger brother Jake couldn't make it. We missed them! It totally reminded me of when we were kids and stayed in the Residence Inn with our cousins, the Stonemans. The kids were crazy and running all over the halls and stuff. It was so much fun.

Our kids settle in at the hotel. We've done away with cable at our house, so TV was a big hit!

Joe, Bekah, and I had a separate room

It was also so neat to see my brother Spencer, his wife Kerri, and their two sweety little kids! We hadn't seen them in 14 months (almost as long as Em's mission!) because they have been living in Panama. They have been back visiting a few times, but we have never been in Boise when they were there. They are so great to be with...fun and generous. Spencer may be a little bit of a goober, but his awesome wife Kerri makes up for it! They are living in the states for at least the summer and we hope to be able to see them again soon.

One year for Christmas, Spence wished everyone could be as buff as him. How far he has fallen...

With Sydney's (almost 3) help, Kerri beats Spencer up
Sydney, Kerri, and Hannah
Spence waxes eloquent

On Friday night, we left seven of the kids at the hotel (they were involved in movies and games and didn't want to go with us) and took the remaining six kids out to dinner. After dinner, we took the kids swimming in the hotel pool. On Saturday morning, we got up nice and early. We enjoyed the breakfast at the hotel and got all decked out in our finest. We met at a park to get a big family picture taken with all my Gibbons relatives. We thought it might be a nightmare with that many people (especially because of all the small kids), but the photographer only needed a few shots and it was done! The kids were great.

Joe and Uncle Al with baby Bekars. She wasn't very smiley because she really just wanted a nap...and maybe she thought her hat looked stupid...

Kerri assures me that Preston is completely comfortable with his manhood. He isn't afraid to wear his sister's sweater when he is cold
My cousin Jenny is the cutest new mom! Here she is with her hubby Jonathan and their naked baby, James. I just couldn't resist taking a picture!
Grandma talks with Augie and Collin
Guy talk...fromleft...Aug, Sam, McKay, Spencer, and Ben
It was a constant battle to keep the kids clean while we waited for the photographer

My little brother Spencer is such a stud. Here he is with Sydney, his angel girl.
There were people coming out of the woodworks! With all these kids, we were lucky no one fell in the water...
James (11) and Ammon (10) are the oldest great-grandchildren
Girl power!

My aunt and uncle, Dan and Julie with their kids. I have always thought they had a model family. We would love to have a family just like them! From bottom left...Annie, Jenny holding her little James, Liz, Abby, and Julie. On top...Josh, Jonathan (Jenny's guy), and Dan

My cousin, Ben, and his wife, Melissa, had their third son the night before the picture. Can you believe Melissa decided not to come?! These are their older two boys, Calvin and Gunther, with their second cousin Karl
My handsome Caleb (2)
These are my cousins (Ben and Sam) little guys, um...I think this is Calvin and Collin...gulp...I hope I got that right! Their kids are so adorable that I just want to eat them up!
My cousin, Molly, with our little Bekah (6 months)

What a good looking family! Preston (1), Kerri, my brother Spencer, and Sydney (almost 3)

My kids are getting almost as tall as me! Our little fam...
My sister Emily and her husband Randon with their four kids
My parents have 13 grandchildren and counting!!!

We then took them all back to the hotel for lunch and another swim. Joe and Randon (Emily's husband) went in the pool with the little ones. We fed them lunch and the youngest kids took naps. My aunt had arranged for babysitters at a local church for the kids during our "Gibbons Round Table."

Ready for a monster splash... Ammon (10), Randon, Brielle (5), Addie (8), James (11), Hannah (8), Joe, Lizzie (6), and Karl (6)

In they go...even the ceilings were wet!
Joe threw all the kids up in the air. Here he is with Lizzie (6)
Joe got Karl (6) really flying!
Addie (8), the swimsuit model

A fancy lunch in the hotel room

We had a luncheon and program with the adults at the Alumni House of the University of Utah. It was so wonderful to be with all of my extended family. They are such good examples to me and I appreciate their love and support. The program was very touching. My grandparents have been such exemplary models of parenthood and dedication to the Lord. Emily and I both came out of the event wanting to be better mothers. I sure wish I had better developed some of the qualities that my grandparents have. I know that it is not too late, though, and I am going to make a better effort to follow the path they have paved for us.

I only have a couple of lame pictures from the Round Table...you can see my grandpa in the center with the flower.

Here I am with my sister-in-law, Donnetta, enjoying our meal

They also announced a Mission/Scholarship fund that will go in effect after they die. I thought it was extremely generous of them and a stellar way to leave a legacy for the generations to come. It really shows where their values lie...in following our Heavenly Father and in getting education and personal progression. I am so grateful to have them as the awesome grandparents they have always been to me! I love them so much and I thank my Heavenly Father daily for giving me such a wonderful family.