The Big 3-0

Well, I have hit my 30's.  I don't feel old, but 30 definitely sounds old!  I guess I have to start acting more mature.  :)  I had a wonderful birthday with my family.


The day started with blueberry muffins, but as soon as they came out of the oven, we had to get Chris to work.  So, the girls and I ate our muffins outside the library...... (we had to stop there to pick up the girls' prizes for the summer reading program.)

 

The girls and I went swimming at Seven Peaks while Chris was at work.  We had so much fun playing in the kiddie pools and floating the lazy river.  After Ellie's nap, we headed up to Salt Lake.  Since Chris had to photograph a bike race at Snow Bird and I wanted to go on a birthday hike, we decided to drive to the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon and hike to Cecret Lake.  It was such a beautiful area.  I really want to camp there someday.  It is known for it's summer wildflowers (though this pic doesn't do it justice...it was my little point and shoot).

 

Kylie was super excited that we got to walk through water.  For some reason, she really loves getting her shoes dirty and wet.  When we started this hike, she kept saying, "This is a hike?  But where are all the puddles and mud?"  She was remembering our last hike to Stewart Falls, which was very muddy.

 

Cecret Lake

While Chris went to take pictures for work, the girls and I found a picnic table to have our dinner.  But there was this amazing park there, so we didn't eat much. :)

 

Later that night, our siblings came over for cheesecake, presents and Just Dance on the Wii.  It was my birthday and I got to choose!  And Chris even played/danced.....(He loves me!)

 

The day after my birthday we headed down to Vegas so that Chris and Josh could help Dad B. move his chiropractic office.  Sunday we got to celebrate my b-day again with BBQ kabobs, chocolate and berry delight desserts, the Olympics and the best card ever.......  (everyone contributed to the list, but Chris and Kylie colored it!)

Thanks everyone for the awesome birthday!  You are the best!

Bunker Reunion

We had the Bunker family reunion July 21-25th in Heber, UT.  It was a beautiful area and it was fun to hang with family we haven't seen since the last reunion three years ago.  The four days were packed with fun, games, swimming and just running around.  Here are a few pictures to capture our reunion...

The whole gang

 

 

Cousins (missing a few though)

  

Cousins and spouses

 

2nd Cousins

We had the first ever Bunker Family Olympics, which included a couple basketball events, a sack race, a three-legged race (which Becky and I dominated!) and a relay race.  The team I was on won!  Go Red Lions!

 

 

 

Ellie's favorite event was trampoline!

 

On Pioneer Day, older generation at the reunion taught us games and activities that they did when they were kids, like making homemade ice cream, shooting BB guns and bow and arrows, and doing the hula hoop.  Later, the youngest generation taught the older ones their kind of games...lightening basketball, texting "shorthand", Angry Birds, and Rock Band on the Wii.  So fun!

 

Homemade ice cream in a mason jar and then put in a paint can to roll around.

 

 

 

 

And the reunion wouldn't be complete without some swimming, where Kylie learned how to jump off the diving board...

Grandma B's birthday

I know I am way behind on posts....we have been gone more than we have been home these last few weeks, so needless to say, I haven't had time to download pictures and get them posted.

Saturday, July 21st was Chris's mom's 50th birthday!  The Bunkers arrived in Provo Friday night since the big Bunker family reunion started Saturday evening.  Becky didn't want to make a big deal out of her birthday and we were just "planning on" going out to lunch as a family.  BUT...we had been planning something else!  We had a big b-day bash for her complete with lunch from Costa Vida, chocolate cake and lemon bites, a picture slideshow, cute decorations (made my Nicole, Casey and I!), and lots of family and friends.  Boy was she surprised!

 

The girls made Grandma a super sweet card (literally)!

It read:

Grandma, Happy birthday!  We are extra excited we get to be with you on your special day.  There are mounds of reasons we love you!  You are always so sweet to us.  You make us smile and laugh and snicker.  You also spoil us good and plenty.  You even think we are cute when we are big, messy goobers.  We love you to pieces.  Love, Kylie and Ellie (Your sugarbabies)

 

I took some pictures of the surprise birthday party, but it was with Dad B's camera.  But Nicole and Josh posted a couple on their blog. 

And make sure to check out Chris's slideshow in the previous post if you haven't already watched it (or if you want to see Becky's cute childhood pictures again).  It was super fun to look through her pictures...and even some slides from Grandpa Rowe's collection. 

We hope you had a memorable birthday Becky!  We love you lots and lots.  You are the best mother, mother-in-law and grandmother!  

Becky Bunker's Getting Old...d...er

My dear Mother recently turned 50.  My family put on a surprise party for her and we decided to put together a slideshow.  We love you, Mom.  Happy Birthday!

Marble Painting

Yesterday the girls were driving me a little crazy come the late afternoon.  The whole day Kylie and Ellie switched back and forth from laughing with each other to screaming at each other....usually within seconds.  Kylie kept taking toys away from Ellie then Ellie would try to bite Kylie and would chase her around the house....both of them yelling of course.  Yep, the younger sister refuses to be pushed around anymore!  When Chris came home from work he asked Kylie if she wanted to do a craft.  She wanted to do some painting and we decided to try painting with a marble.  We placed a piece of cardstock in a shoebox, dolloped some paint inside and dropped in a marble or two.  Kylie loved it.

 

This is my favorite one that Kylie did.  Reminds me of the ocean.

 

  

Ellie really wanted to do it too, so I just gave her a marble in a shoebox to shake around.....no paint.  She liked it, but I had to take it away because she kept putting the marble in her mouth.  Then we resorted to the markers that only draw on the special paper included.

 

Here is Kylie today...drawing on some butcher paper (actually the backside of the welcome home banner Daddy made for the girls...we finally took it down.)  

Provo Parade

We attended the Provo 4th of July parade again this year and both Kylie and Ellie LOVED IT!  Kylie was standing the whole time and got so excited with each float, banner and marching band that came our way.  I actually was surprised at how attentive Ellie was the whole time.  She clapped and danced and waved her little American flag.

 

Kylie loved the fire trucks and the "sparkly motorcycles" (the police motorcycles had their lights on.)

 

Kylie moving her flag like the marching band's flag girls!  It was so funny/cute.

 

Daddy was taking pictures for the newspaper of course.....here, the girls spied him.

Here are my favorites of what Chris shot....

Oh, and for those of you wondering about the Stadium of Fire this year....there were't any skydivers gliding in carrying American flags with long poles that would hit barracades and make a certain photographer (and his camera) go flying.  I am glad Chris came home unscathed.  

Ohio and Grandma Abe's Funeral

It has taken me a few days to sit down to write about the last leg of our trip.....probably more to do with the circumstances of it than with actually finding the time to do it.  Our original plan after our time in South Carolina was to drive to Ohio to visit my Abe grandparents for two days on our way back to Wisconsin.  Friday morning (June 22nd) while we were in Charleston, Grandpa called with the heart-dropping news that Grandma had passed away that morning.  The 11 hour drive to Ohio seemed twice as long as it really was.  The girls and I were supposed to fly back to Utah on Monday, but postponed our flight until Thursday.   Kylie and Ellie were pretty worn out from our previous travels, so this part of the trip was the hardest for them.  And they could definitely feel the emotions and stress of everyone else.  Kylie kept asking when we were going back home...."to our home in Provo".  She missed Chris immensely and jumped at every chance to talk to him on the phone.  But I am very grateful that I was able to be there with my family at this time and to remember and honor Grandma Abe.

We spent the weekend being with Grandpa and helping prepare for the funeral.  It was fun to go through old pictures to put on our collage boards we made.  Grandma's viewing was on Tuesday and then her funeral was on Wednesday.  Both were beautiful.  I accompanied my sisters when they sang "Nearer My God to Thee" at the funeral, which was very special. All my cousins, except one were able to make it and it was so good to see them!  We haven't seen each other since our last family reunion which was ten years ago!  We were planning a reunion for this summer (and to celebrate my grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary!), but we called it off a couple months ago after Grandma spent some time in the hospital and then at a rehab center/nursing home.  Kylie and Ellie especially loved meeting these "new" cousins and became instant friends with them.

 

Grandpa's home (and where Dad grew up)

 

Channing and Kylie at the viewing

 

Even though this was their first time meeting, Ellie loved Great-Grandpa Abe.  She always waved to him and gave him kisses. 

 

The mausoleum where the funeral was held and where Grandma will rest. 

 

"Cousin time" at the luncheon

 

Jessica, Kylie, Alexis, and Alyssa

All the cousins (minus Jacob)

Miranda, Alyssa, Alexis, Chelsa, Chandra, Derek, Devin, Channing and Jessica

 

Sibling and spouses....my parents, Jeannette and Richard (Canada) and Bonnie and David (Georgia)

The whole Abe clan

 

Our family with Grandpa.  We love you!

  

Finally back in Utah (did you notice Kylie's rat's nest, I mean travel hair?)

The girls were so excited (and extremely tired) when we got home.  We found that three weeks away (with two and a half of that away from Daddy) is a little long.  But we will have fond memories of all of our travels!  Chris said it was like Christmas when we arrived back and even had a welcome home sign and balloons for the girls (and flowers for me!)  It took the girls a few days to catch up on their sleep and to adjust to Utah time again (Ellie was waking up at 5am for a couple mornings!).  Kylie has already been asking when we are going back to the beach.  Well, not for a while my little fish.  I think we will hang at home for a while....or at least until the next family reunion in a couple weeks!