Dyer Family Reunion August 2010

Get comfy. This is going to be a lengthy post. Or just stop here. Or just look at the pictures. It's all good. So, we had our Dyer Family Reunion this year the first week of August. I flew into SLC a week beforehand to visit some friends (see older posts). On Saturday the 31st of July I picked up my sister, Peggy, and her two kids at the airport and we drove 3.5 hours to Elko, NV. It was so fun to drive with her and the kids got along great. We were completely silly, singing, and laughing and I'm sure our kids thought we were crazy. Well, we are and there is just no getting around that. I love being around my sister. She's the greatest.

Well, here is our week in pictures. They aren't any order really.


Ever since my parents moved to the middle of nowhere, I mean Elko, we have lots of projects to do at their house. Last year we (and by we I mean the men) worked on the shed. This year we (and this time I mean all adults and some older kids) worked on making a gravel path around the wildflowers. This is the finished product. It took us probably a total of 10 hours to complete. Andy rototilled, the kids sprayed the weeds, then we put the landscaping tarp down, dug trenches for the wood, and put the gravel in. The finished product was awesome. It was a lot of work! But I love working hard like that. You have such a sense of accomplishment. Plus it's good for the kids to see their parents work together (and not just sit around and play cards ALL day long--but that's good too!).


Mom and Dad with all their grand kids--silly picture.


Attempting to be serious.

Don't ask. I don't know.

We had all the kids make hand prints to put around the path for my parents. They got to put their name on it and decorate it with jewels.

More finished path.

If at any time during the day, or night, you wanted to know where Audrey was this is where you would find her. My brother James' dog and a brand new puppy and Audrey fell in love with him. His name is Chubbs. She sat on the deck and held him forever. She was quite the puppy hog.

Audrey lost her third tooth in two weeks at my parents house too. Then we got home from our trip she lots her fourth in 2.5 weeks! Thankfully she isn't self conscious about it. She practiced some vampire faces in the mirror for awhile.

All the girls watching a movie together. I think they are watching Annie.

We went on a really, really, really, long hike up Lamoille Canyon. It was gorgeous and the day was beautiful. It took us 3.5 hours. It was gruelling but we made it.

We even found some snow!

I think this picture is pretty awesome. It's of Megan by the big lake we hiked to.

We made it! We are all so excited to get to the final destination!

The view on the way down.

The creek/river at the bottom of the canyon. Alexis, Paul, Ellie, and Granny stayed at the bottom of the canyon while the rest of us hiked. They had a great time and Alexis was soaked when I returned!

Exploring the creek/river.

Here is Thanny wondering why I am bothering him while he is playing. I love how dirty he is! That is how all the kids looked every day!

Rachel is wondering the same thing as Thanny. And she is even dirtier. :)

Audrey spent about an hour one day washing all the cars. I love it when kids find an activity that keeps them busy and it helps too!

Since my parents have been living in Argentina for the last three or four months they brought home gifts for everyone. All the girls got these bags.

Peggy and I got these bracelets. The boys got whistles. Dana got a thumb piano. Okay, I can't remember what Andy and James got. Hmm. Books? Not sure. Gee, I guess I stopped paying attention after I got my present.

Here are the girls spraying weed killer on our soon to be path.

We couldn't reach the puppy so we sent Rachel in to get him. :)

Audrey in heaven.

Here is Bekah holding one of Andy and Dana's kittens. They have two adorable kittens. So between the kittens and the puppy all the kids were in animal heaven!

Yeah, that's right. We're licking the bowl clean. That's how we do things in the Dyer House.

Alexis loving the kittens.

I don't have any pictures of the adults and kids playing games but rest assured that we did that every day. And into the night. I love playing games with my family. We laugh and laugh and enjoy each other's company so much. I wish we all lived closer. I miss my family all the time. They are a great source of inspiration to me. I am so glad that we have this week every year. Thank you family! I love you!