Danielson Family Reunion 2010--Big Basin

We did a game show theme this year and it was absolutely the funnest time we have ever had as a family. Here is the breakdown: Emily & Brian-"Survivor", Mom & Dad-"Jeopardy", Mike & Christen-"Family Fued" and "Good or Gross", Jake and Amber-"Deal or No Deal", The Girls-"The Newlywed Game", and Jenny & Rick-"Minute to Win It". So fun.

Summer's Salon and Spa

I can't believe I forgot to write about the Spa party! It was fabulous. We decorated the living room just like a spa. When the girls arrived, they exchanged their shoes for luxurious spa socks and were given their very own customized water bottle (see picture). Then, they were rotated through 3 spa treatments: a pedicure, a manicure, and a yogurt facial (complete with chilled cucumbers). We had candlelight and relaxing music playing and the boys were banished upstairs! It was a huge success.

At the Pool

Announcement!

I am happy to announce that, after a year of being a "blogger", I officially have enough posts to have an "Older Posts" link on my page. Thank you. Thank you.

Scrapbooking Resumes

Megan and I went to a scrapbook weekend yesterday and today with Misty and Grandma Halley. Holy Moly! Scrapbooking has gotten a little out of control in the last 6 years, if you ask me. We went to Misty's mother-in-law's house. She used to work for Provo Craft, and her scrapbook "room" was more like a scrapbook store stockroom. After a few hours of learning how to use all the gadgets and looking in the idea books, we were officially intimidated and sat staring at our blank cardstock like we had no hope. But, I was able to work on Riley's baby book a little, since he's almost 5. He came up to me yesterday after looking at all the photos I pulled out of storage and said "Mom, was I born?" I thought, "Yeah. Time to get his book done."

Brian partied it up with Summer and Riley while we were gone. They cleaned the house for me (even the bathrooms! BROWNIE POINTS!), they went to McDonalds and got sundaes and brought the peanuts home for me, and raided a Redbox machine for all it was worth. Then, Brian took me out on the town for a little date. We ended up strolling through the Gateway mall in Salt Lake. It was nice to hold my sweetie's hand.

I spent most of the day transferring video from our camera onto the computer. We are one year late now getting Misty and Garrett and Mike and Christen's wedding videos done. (Sorry guys). Also, I went through all of my photos and calculated that I am almost 6 years behind in my scrapbooking! Ahhh! How will I ever catch up? I have four years worth of pictures that still need to be printed. This is starting to sound like a nightmarish story problem. (If Emily does 2 scrapbook pages a day, how long will it take her to catch up on her scrapbooking? A: Like 52 years!)

It was so wonderful to look at all those pictures and remember the last 10 years in a day. So many fun times. I swear my kids are cuter and funnier now looking back. Now that I'm not psycho crazy woman anymore. (Well, at least not as much).

Riley made dinner tonight. (Canned chicken noodle soup and rolls). He was very excited when we all had a picnic on the living room floor and said "1,2,3, THANK YOU RILEY!!!"

Yesterday the kids all made forts outside. They formed little gangs and tried to outdo the other kids' forts. It was a royal mess. They used pretty much everything in the garage and some stuff from the house. It rained in the afternoon, so they threw everything into the garage and then tried to set it all back up again. It took Brian and the kids about an hour to put everything away. I sat inside and worked on my hair clips :)

I did go grocery shopping yesterday though, so I wasn't a total bum. Although, I ran out of budget money and couldn't get ice cream. I don't know if there really is a point to life without ice cream. (Even if it is Western Family). Oh well.

Farm Day

Today we went to the Farm Experience at Thanksgiving Point with Grandma and Grandpa Halley and Michelle and the kids. I love to watch the boys chase each other in the grass with arms outstretched like little airplanes. The kids had fun looking at the farm animals and going on pony rides and learning about farms. I took lots of pictures, but we have still not been able to get them onto our computer :(. Darn card reader. The neatest part of our adventure though, was an art studio across the street from the farm. We got to sit and watch as two artisans blew glass into a beautiful free-form bowl. We were all fascinated. Homeschool for today was glass blowing. Awesome. Then we went and had ice cream cones while the kids got all wet in the water contraption they have there.


On the way home Summer sang a song about how she writes songs from the voices in her head:D. Then, later she had Dad carry her in because her heel was bleeding. I asked her what happened and she said that her "foot accidently kicked her other foot."

Thoughts

It's funny the way some people, when you meet them, or even read about them, even for a moment, can change you. Make you see the world differently. Make you see yourself differently. I wonder if I will ever influence someone like that. If I will ever be a hero to someone. If not, I wonder if my life would be worth much. I think about my children and all that I want them to know. I want them to be better than I am. I want them to be leaders and follow their purpose in life. I worry that I damage them. Their freshness, their innocence and pure enthusiasm for life. I feel like I could do nothing greater with my life than to influence them for good, to inspire them. But, I also feel so unequal to this monumental task. It is not something that can be done in an hour or a week or a year. It must be built over a lifetime. A lifetime of patience and love and understanding. A lifetime of setting an example of who I truly am. Am I truly who I want to be? I have so many shortcomings, but I hope that my strenths will shine through. That they will remember the strengths.

Today Brian had an interview for a marketing director job in Provo. It sounds perfect for him. I waited anxiously for his call to tell me how it went, and I remembered the time right before we got married, he had a job interview in Logan, his first real design job interview. He was so nervous and I went with him. I sat in the truck in the parking lot and prayed for him. That's how I felt for him today.

I've started making felt flower hair clips to raise money for the kids' homeschool supplies and field trips. I spent a lot of time today making them. They are turning out really cute. While I sat there, Summer came in from outside and I asked her what she was doing. She replied, "Nothing. Just putting my pants on backwards." And when she was finished, she went back outside. I laughed. The kids spent every waking moment outside today. I love that they want to soak up every ray of sunlight before the winter comes again. I love how they explore their world.

I was late making dinner tonight, so Summer and Riley decided to make themselves a picnic and eat it upstairs under my desk. I guess they were hungry :).

Brian's interview went really well. They told him to propose his position and salary. Pretty much create his own job. We went out on the porch and brainstormed ideas for what he could do for the company. Now he is sitting by me in bed with his laptop, putting together his proposal and listening to his instrumental music. Cutie.