chris.reese.girls1.2.3.4

When planning out the summer, we invited the Apken family to gather in Seattle for a Mariner's game. It was a really fun weekend. We missed Laurie and Steven (too far away) and Matt and Dani (couldn't come at the last minute), but we were glad for Kaelin and Clayton and Chris' parents to make the drive for some fun! Chris made arrangements with our friend Paul, who is the Head Electrician at Safeco Field, to give us a backstage tour. We were very official with our tags...We even got to enter Safeco from the VIP entrance at 3rd base. Super cool! The tour was very cool. Here is the media room for all the internal Safeco broadcasts. The networks have their own rooms next to this...we snuck a peek in one, but otherwise those doors were closed.  A walk down on the field. Super neat! We also saw the press room,The boys also went and saw how and where the roof retracts. Evidently, quite exciting, too! And then we enjoyed the game. Lots of food, snacks and fun.  ...

This is the Stan and Betty Snow Family - my mom's extended family. We enjoyed a reunion during our time in Pine Valley. Catching up and reconnecting is such a wonderful part of family relationships. We all have gratitude in our hearts for my sweet Grandpa Snow. He had a stroke in July of last year and we are grateful he is still with us. My Grandma has also been through a difficult year and they deserved a celebration for their 80th birthdays and 60th wedding anniversary. Here is the amazing posterity...which is even missing 19 people. My mom's family. All my aunts and uncles with their spouses.  And the Dalley family representing (missing my brother, Bryce, and his family) I just love my grandpa. I think I've said this before, but he has a unique ability to make each granddaughter feel like his favorite. He is sweet, kind and funny.Love him! Lots of photo ops this morning... Below is my sweet mom with Paige. She deserves serious credit for all the ef...

Hanging close to the house is such a nice part of visiting Pine Vally. Me, my mom, and my sisters usually just enjoy lounging around the house, prepping meals, chatting, laughing and catching some sun on the deck. The kids are able to roam around, explore and play. With our odd weather this year, the kids often camped out in Grandma's office and played restaurant, interviews, and dress ups. They just love the freedom. The husbands golf in the morning and join the family fun in the afternoon. It's a wonderful step out of normal life.  Here are a few fun things going on around and near the house worth highlighting.  While the mom's shopped in St. George on afternoon, Uncle BW and my dad took the kids on a long four-wheel ride to release one (of many) menacing squirrels they had caught. (Below: Addy, Rylan, Paige, Claire, Carson, Brynn, Graham) More four-wheeler action. Paige was allowed to ride the small one by herself this summer, which is a major mileston...