We had an Updike Family Reunion in Bryce Canyon National Park over the past few days. We had a wonderful time. Our reunion started at 5am by getting up and driving from San Diego to St. George. We had a nice drive and stopped at Nana's & Papa's for a couple of hours for lunch and to hear about their trip to Samoa. Nana also made Lily a birthday cake since they weren't here for her birthday.
Our drive from St. George to Bryce Canyon was great. There were amazing views and endless forests. It was a beautiful drive and not to windy or narrow roads. Part of the drive we were on Highway 89 which takes me back to the days that we drove between Phoenix and Provo.
We checked into our room at one of the lodges at Ruby's Inn. It was near the lake so we had some nice views. All my aunts, uncles and cousins were in rooms right around ours. It reminded me of the old days when we would do family reunions when we were younger. We loved being up in the woods with the smell of pines. We even had a monsoon go by. We stopped by Old Bryce Canyon Town which was across the street from the hotel. So cute.
Friday morning we drove around the park and hit the visitor's center. We learned a lot of interesting facts in this film that we watched. Later that day as we were hiking Inspiration Trail with the rest of my family my kids were able to ramble off all these facts and my relatives thought they were all so smart. That was funny. It was a great hike though. Lily made a great friend in my cousin Cari who carried her most of the hike on her back.
Friday night after dinner we had a softball game, played with sparklers and then we sat around the campfire and made smores and heard stories from the aunts and uncles about our family. The kids loved it. It has been fun seeing my cousins and getting to know some that I don't really know. We started to set off fireworks until security came by and told us that we couldn't do fireworks there. Fun killer.
Bryce Canyon is beautiful. We really do live in a unique country. I get angry when people say America is boring and dull.
More to come.
Noah and Adam both had amazing teachers this year. They learned a lot, had a lot of fun and were sad, but happy when school was over. They are both looking forward to the new school year.
YEA SUMMER IS FINALLY HERE!!
We are really glad Lily joined our family. She adds another dimension of drama that the boys just couldn't create. Damon says she is a mini-me, referring to her attitude and her ability to glare you down and sulk. I don't think I take that as a compliment, but at least she can stand her ground. 
We love our Lily flower. Happy Birthday #5! 
It was a busy week, but it usually is. Here is what we did. 
Noah had a play at school called, "Gold Dust or Bust". It was a cute musical play telling the story of the California Gold rush of the mid 1800's. He played an Argonaut. They were the Europeans who sailed all the way to California to find gold. I have found Noah's studies of California history interesting because it is new to me. I learned AZ history at his age.
Friday was a fun night for the family. We went to the Padres game. They were playing the Arizona Diamondbacks. It was a little boring at first, but come the 4th inning the Padres figured out how to hit and scored 5 runs. I loved hearing all the fam sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the 7th inning stretch. The kids loved watching the fireworks and the flames erupt whenever someone scored a home run.
Today I auditioned for a San Diego Choir. We will see how that goes. This afternoon we drove up to MoValley to spend time with my family at my Aunt Karin's house. The kids loved playing with the blowup water slides. I didn't even see them all afternoon.
2 late nights in a row make for some very grumpy children and some really exhausted parents. Hopefully we can use tomorrow as a day of rest. 4 more days til school is done.
Lily had her Ballet recital Saturday. She had 2 shows. She did a great job and has such potential in dancing. She has lots of fun too.
Lily and her friend, Kayla. They will be in the same class soon. They both did such a great job in their performances.
This is Lily's teacher, Miss Corey. She also danced in 6 numbers during the show and was fabulous. We will miss her when Lily moves up to the next level in September. I will post a video soon!
We had a free, well sort of free, Saturday and were able to go see Toy Story 3 at the movie theater. It was good, but sad. I think it was sad for me because I am watching my kids grow up and not playing with their childhood toys so much. I am happy they are growing up, but at the same time I wish they would stay young forever. That movie encompassed that so much. It had some really funny moments too.
Noah had his last band concert of the year. He has improved greatly on the trumpet and really enjoys playing it. We have really been happy with him developing new talents. We are so proud of him.
Lily started swim lessons and has improved greatly over the past week. She has conquered her acquired fear of the deep in. She acquired it last year after some horrible lifeguards took her in the deep water for class and didn't pay attention and I had to rescue her from drowning. Anyway... she is doing marvelously and loves being in the pool. She has even figured out how to get her little weightless body to the bottom of the shallow end to retrieve rings. Eventually she will figure out side breathing.
Adam is patiently waiting for school to end so he can start swim lessons. He still loves absolutely everything. He is most excited for his 8th birthday which is coming up faster than I can plan for. Why does time go by so fast?
For Field Trip Thursday we went to the pool all afternoon and then went out to dinner. Since Damon ended up coming home early he met us at the pool and we had a lovely time together.
Saturday was a fun day. We did chores in the morning and then in the afternoon we went over to the Shoff's house to celebrate Independence Day and Caroline Shoff's 3rd birthday. We had lots of fun over there and a lot of great food, with lots of great people! The men folk cooked and had to clean up and then put the kids to bed.
Today is America's 234th birthday. I feel like I need to say something in order to recognize what a great day it is. I read the Declaration of Independance every 4th of July. It's words are very sturring. Those men who signed put their faith in God and a country that hadn't even taken off the ground yet and started to build something great. I am so glad they did.
I just threw these last few pictures in for fun because life would be boring without all these guys around. Again, this was a catch-up post. Sorry about all the pictures!
