Bear Lake Reunion

The last weekend in July we got everything all packed up and headed off for the KOA at Bear Lake for a Hocking family reunion. We had a BLAST. The boys enjoyed swimming in the pool and at the lake, they enjoyed a "train" ride through the KOA campground, lots of visiting, playing and eating. The best part was the visiting with all of the family that came from everywhere. I actually remembered to take some pictures with the camera, also. Most of the time I forget. Hence, this post is FULL of pictures. It was nice to visit with Sally, Becky, Nancy, Leah, Aunt Bonnie, Uncle Mike, Aunt Becky, Mark, Tami, Dan, Chad and so many others. I met lots of great family members and look forward to getting to know this family even better through the years at more reunions.


Are you really going to make me do this, Mom? It was one of the first rides through camp that night and just way too crowded for me to dare put Zackary on.


Mmmm! That tastes good!


The train coming back with Anton on it. He had a great time. Later it wasn't quite as crowded so Zackary and Anton both got a ride.


No, No, No! Not without you Mom. Anton and Zackary both got to go for the last ride, Aunt Brook was nice enough to ride with them so I didn't have to worry about Zackary falling out. It looks like he would have preferred mom, though.


That actually was fun, thanks for making me go!


Dan and Linden visiting in the shade of a tree.


Tami and the others from Seattle got there after the boys and I had gone to bed, so I had to wait to get some pictures until the next morning at breakfast.


NO, I WANT MY MAMA!!!


Everyone's favorite Aunt Bonnie.


Linden first got wet and enjoyed playing with the boys in the water, but then he decided to make better use of his time and become a sculptor.


Linden the sculptor, making an image of Uncle Mike.


We even got the real hat from Uncle Mike for a minute to take a quick photo. He relented after enough asking.


Uncle Mike observing Linden sculpting him.


The final result.


Tami, relaxing at the beach.


Uncle Alex encouraging Anton to splash Aunt Claudette and Aunt Brina


Aunt Claudette, Zackary, Aunt Brina and Aunt Brook playing with the sand and water.


We all posed for a group photo before leaving Bear Lake that day, minus Claudette the photograper, of course. Linden, Rachel, Zackary, Uncle Mike, Brina, Alex, Brook, Tami, Misti, and Anton.


Brook (or maybe Brina, sorry ladies) with Alex lounging around visiting with everyone.


Aunt Bonnie with her favorite T-shirt.


Aunt Becky, Claudette and I visiting while Zackary took his nap. (It was HOT!)


Someone gave Anton a fishing pole with a seahorse, octopus and crab. He played with it for about three hours straight, catching everything over and over.


At the reunion Alex and Linden participated in a Redneck horseshoe tournament. They WON!! They must be the most competetive players there or something!


Alex getting ready to throw.


One night Zackary wasn't patient enough to wait for me to get him a piece of cake. He reached over and grabbed one while I was dishing a piece up on a plate for him. Instead of using the plate and fork he just used his hands and would put the whole piece up to his mouth to eat while everyone laughed at him. He really enjoyed the cake. I think he decided that this is how he should eat it every time.


Getting ready to shove another bite in his face. Chocolate cake sure is yummy!!


Anton with his five (Yip, count em!) hats, drinking water, patiently waiting while Mom and Dad get the tent all packed up and loaded with everything else.


Aunt Becky and Dan.


Mark, ready for the long drive home. He wanted to make sure he didn't dehydrate.


A big family photo. Front:Rachel and Zackary, Mark, Tami, Chad Back: Linden and Anton, Uncle Mike, Alex, Brook, Claudette, Aunt Becky and Dan.


A little family photo.


Uncle Mike with his nieces and nephews that were there the last morning of the reunion. Front: Brook, Claudette, Tami, Mark. Back: Alex, Uncle Mike, Linden


A Big THANKS to all of those from the Seattle area that made the long trip. It was wonderful to see you. We hope to see you again SOON!!,

Together Forever, and EVER

Again, I thought those out of state would enjoy seeing some pictures from the big day yesterday. I'll get more details and pictures posted later. It was a great day!


The HAPPY couple coming out of the temple. Leonora was glowing. She couldn't quit smiling all day.


All of the sisters, plus Kevin. Yip, I'm the shortest.


Leonora and Kevin at the Reception.


Guess who is coming to hear Daniel report his mission at Sacrament meeting today!?!?! YEAH! YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!

Welcome Home Elder Butler!!!

We got to drive to the Salt Lake Airport to see Daniel come home from his mission. His other flights got in so late that it was either he stay in a hotel in SLC and fly to Idaho Falls the next morning or go to SLC to get him. Mom and Dad chose to drive to SLC. It was a different experience than Idaho Falls would have been, for sure. There were LOTS of other missionaries on the same flight. The flight landed 20 minutes late. Everyone was super anxious to see their missionary. All of the missionaries decided to wait and come out together. Some of the elders wanted to shave before they came to see their families, so they went to the bathroom while everyone waited, and waited, and waited, and waited, and waited some more. Eventually they came around the corner and started coming down the stairs to lots of cheers and yells, etc. It was great. It was hard for all of them to find which family was theirs because there were so many people there. Luckily we were close the front and Daniel spotted us rather quickly. We are so glad to have him home. What a blessing!!! It was worth the drive to see him come home, although I hope that David can fly into IF. I like fewer people and a more intimate setting. We got home at 1:30 am and Mom and Dad made it home at 2:00 am, after three stops for food and restroom.


The Missionaries coming down the escalator, FINALLY!!!!


Mom hugging Daniel.


All of us, minus Linden the photographer.

I am still behind a few posts, but I thought family in other states would enjoy seeing the pictures. Wish you could be here with us, Edwin, Jennifer, Grace, Anne, and baby and Paul, Grant and Tucker.

I'm tired, not hungry!

One day I went into the kitchen to start fixing lunch. When I came back into the living room to check on the boys I found Zackary asleep on the couch. He was just too tired to wait for lunch and fell asleep. Normally, he takes his nap after lunch, not before.


My cute little sleeping Zackary. Life sure is peaceful when he is asleep.


Yip, this is really how he fell asleep, half on the couch.

After I got the pictures I moved him into his bed and he slept for THREE hours. Needless to say, he woke up very hungry.

Horse Rides and Home

Saturday, July 18, 2009 was the Melaleuca family picnic. I was so excited to take the boys and watch them run around like crazy, having fun and eating all of the cotton candy, snowcones, and popcorn they wanted. Jumping on all of the big blow up toys, playing in the water zone, riding the horses, playing the children's carnival games, and getting very dirty was on our agenda. Not to mention the delicious lunch of roast pig. YUM!

We arrived and got a good, shady seat for our base camp. We got one thing of cotton candy to share before lunch and then it was off to the horse rides. I knew that Anton would be hesistant to go on the horse ride, but they let him ride with me, so I thought he might start enjoying it part way through. Zackary, I wasn't worried about him, I thought he would love it. Well, luckily Aunt Brook was there to help Zackary enjoy his ride. He tolerated it, maybe even enjoyed it a little bit, until he saw me with Anton and started crying for mom. The ONLY reason Anton was on the horse is because that is where mom was, we didn't even get any smiles out of him. Oh, well maybe next year they will enjoy the horse rides, more.

After the horse rides we had lunch. Partway through his lunch Anton decided that he wanted mom. He came and wanted to sit by me, I took one look at him and he was paler than a sheet. Linden volunteered to take the boys home so that I could stay and see if I won something in the drawing. The picnic isn't really all that fun without kids to watch enjoy themselves. I was worried about Anton the whole time, and I didn't even win anything. Oh, well. Anton fell asleep on the drive home and was fine after he woke up. So much for a fun day watching the boys run around like crazy, it was just horse rides and then home for them.


Before the horse ride with Aunt Brook, Anton, Zackary and myself.


Anton and I on the horse.


A closer view of just how happy Anton was.


Aunt Brook with Zackary on their horse.


A closer view of just how thrilled Zackary was.

Until next year!

Relay for Life

After our trip to the zoo we went over to the Bonneville football stadium to support Jen and Team York as they started the relay for life. They had a pretty good team put together. Linden and I got to go home and sleep in our beds, though, while they stayed there and walked through the night. They raised more than $3,600 to support the American Cancer Society in finding a cure for cancer. They looked great with their shirts with a picture of Chris on them. (We miss your smile and laughter, Chris.) In addition to donations for walking they crafted several baby items that they sold throughout the night. There was lots of cute stuff. Good job, Jen!

Thought I would include a picture of Jen. It isn't the best picture, but you can see cute little Sadie, too. She looks a lot like her Dad.

Animals, Animals, and more Animals

On Friday, July 10 we decided to go to the zoo. (Yes, I am finally getting it posted and yes, I still have more catching up to do.) We had a great time. We saw lots of animals, from penguins to pelicans, otters, kangaroos, zebra, a lion and lioness, lots of birds, a baby camel, pigs, goats, chickens, bunnies, turtles and more. The boys really enjoyed it. I also discovered that I have two little animals for little boys!


Anton with his map. He decided where we were going to go and what to see!


Zackary enjoyed the stroller for the first little while. Later he was too excited to stay in the stroller.


The baby camel.


Feeding time. The mother decided she didn't like to feed her baby, so the baby camel gets a bottle. She looks pretty big compared to the zoo docent, but really she is pretty small still. The zoo docent was just really, really short. It was a bottle just like the ones that Anton and Zackary help us hold while we feed Grandpa and Grandma's baby cows.



Grandma with Zackary, waiting for feeding time for the baby camel.


Anton feeding the goats in the petting zoo.


Zackary feeding the goats.


A pelican, just like the one from Finding Nemo.


A penguin, just like the one from Madagascar.


Anton LOVED the animals and was so excited.


The boys on the fence by the kangaroos, or maybe it was the zebras? I was more interested in the cute boys.

We had a great time. I am glad that Idaho Falls has such a great zoo.