CALIFORNIA with the CRIPPEN FAMILY

Cody returned from his 2 year mission in Calgary Canada to a BIG homecoming! Besides Justin, we were all there with leis and signs. Yes, we love our brother/uncle!

The 2010 Crippen Reunion included such fun activities as chicken wrangling, the beach, boat fun at Lake Elsinore, grown-up kids temple trip, going to a jump house, karaoke, Scenic tour of lake Elsinore via double-decker bus, fire pit, family pictures, and so much more. The best part? Being together as a family and watching the closeness that exists between cousins.

Nani holding the kids favorite chicken, Chestnut.

Angie got crazy socks for the whole gang... just a sampling of the silliness.

3 generations of Crippen boys singing their hearts out!

Good to see the 'book-end brothers' back together again!

Sea+Sand=FUN!!!

Uncle Tino finally found a solution for babysitting all the kiddos...

Daddy took all 3 girls out on the Lake.

I think I have a picture with all the girls and Autumn... Like me, she appreciates a napping child.

We went with Cody to the Newport Temple, peaceful and beautiful. But the car ride home took the cake! All the siblings sandwiched into Chris's Monster-van... LAUGHING all the way! One of my favorite nights. Sometimes when your a parent, you forget that you are also a sister/brother. Take the kids away for a bit and you remember once again. So fun.

Tino and I found our dream house!

I don't know how my Dad did it... but he managed to get us this AWESOME ride... we took a long trip around to old homes, schools, churches, and other significant places of our past. I don't know about the 2 year olds... but I really enjoyed the ride.

A few family Pictures... What is your favorite?

In our Spare Time...

All Tino really wanted to do was hit the water every spare moment. We went to the beach 4 times in a week! Not that the girls or I minded...

"Which one is Daddy?"

Tino flashing a shaka as he rides the wave in.

2 more U.B.G.B. in the making!

(Ultimate Beach Grand Babies)

It's official... Summer's here!

Woohoo! It's Summertime!!!!!

Whether it is a lake, a pool, or a puddle, these kids LOVE the water. Our neighbors got a blow-up pool that has been a lot of fun for everyone.

These three were just so darn cute... and although I was unable to capture 'happy face cute' this picture sure has character! We enjoyed a picnic lunch with the Crippen grandparents and the Crippen family.

We had a ward Luau with great food and dances... including our girls doing the Hukilau. Sadly, Only Nani and Samara were able to perform because Kea got hurt right before going on to dance. I didn't get to watch or take pictures either because I was comforting Kea. They sure looked cute though. In my next post there will be more on their dancing.

Camping with the Crippens and the Manti Pageant

Year after year we talk about going to the Manti Pageant with the Crippen family... and year after year time passes and before we know it, it's over. Not this year! We booked a spot at the same campground I went to as a child, and watched the Manti pageant that night.

We played,

We swam,

We sat,

We splashed,

We smiled,

We waited,

We watched,

(Then walked the 12 minutes back to camp each of us carrying a tired child in our homemade blanket slings... later on we wondered why we were sore, and then recalled the LONG walk back. My props to the Mormon pioneers!)

We Hiked,

We Viewed,

And of course... We ate.

Tino and Katie's 8th Wedding Anniversary

After our fun camping trip, Chris' family loaded up our 3 girl's in their monster van(bringing their kid count to 10), and Tino and I began our anniversary date. We walked main street Manti for a bit, checked out a Sanpete County art exhibit, and then drove the 'scenic route' home, with no kids in tow. We got beautiful and headed out to remember those things we loved when it was just the 2 of us in Hawaii.

Here we are! Young, happy, and in love.

Favorites? Kua'aina burger, Shark's cove, Walking Waikiki and watching the local artists, playing games at Dave and Busters, Matsumoto's shave ice, going to the beach, bodyboarding, Old Spaghetti factory, Cruising the island, shopping (well, at least I always enjoyed that), and just being together.

Here we are now, kind-of Young, mostly happy, and more in love then ever.

Our little Hula girls...

Poor thing was so tired that she knocked out right before her performance, but Samara was a 'true showman' and pulled herself together for her show at 'the old-folks home'.

They were all so brave, and for what they missed step wise, they made up for in cuteness...

Posing afterward in their Tahitian costume.

I have tried to teach the girls that they can use their talents for the benefit of others. What a perfect example as they brought smiles to the faces of all who watched their dancing. Thanks Siona, for sharing your talent with my girls!

I also got the opportunity to watch all the Crippen kids for a night and a day. What a sweet and helpful family they are. I think they enjoyed having extra girls in the house and even allowed for beauty makeovers! What troopers! It was fun to be Aunty Katie, and Aubree really took a liking to me. I'll do it again... anyday. :)