The Van

We finally did it, we got a van. It is a 2005 Town & Country Touring. It's really nice, and the kids LOVE IT!

On the key it has buttons to open the back and side doors. They always find the key and go and play in the van. Hopefully that will wear out soon!

It also has a dvd player so they are always wanting to watch a movie.

On the inside there are also buttons all over to open up all the doors so between Jaida, Kayla, and Joey the doors have been opened a million and one times.

We went up the canyon the day before school started to find a geocache. Inside the cache there was some window paint. So we let the kids decorate the windows. I think that's the best "treasure" we've found yet.

This is a look at the inside. There is plenty of room for all but guess what? Going up the canyon I got CAR SICK!! I'm pretty sure that its vans that get me car sick. ;)

Sitthichai Family Reunion 2010

I just got to looking at this photo and Maia is the only Chaston...where was Tara, Eric, Garrett and Cody?

This year we stayed at Temple Hill Resort in Manti. Instead of me writing about everything I will write what others said. Arie emailed everyone asking us to tell about it and what was our favorite part. So here are the answers:

Suzanne:
The reunion was really fun! It was at Temple Hill campground right behind the Manti Temple so we could see the temple all lit up at night, which was cool. Tanya organized "secret cousins" so each cousin got secret gifts from someone during the reunion -- obviously they totally loved that! She also prepared a bunch of really funny games and paired an adult with a kid for each game, which was really funny. One of them was attaching an empty kleenex box to a belt that the competitor had to wear, then filling the box with ping pong balls so they had to shake their butt all around to get all the ping pong balls out. Yeah...I'm sure you can imagine that was pretty funny.

I'm not a very fun person, so my favorite part (lame, I know) was actually the way Tanya organized the meals. She just assigned one meal to each family and had them be in charge of the whole thing -- deciding what to have, bringing all the needed food, cooking it, and
cleaning up. Genius!

The kids had a total blast running all over and playing at the playground and swimming pool. All the adults enjoyed sitting under the canopy on the camping chairs just visiting.

Tara:
I really liked the location because it was very grassy and the kids could run around and play frisbee, catching baseballs, and just running around in general without getting totally dirty. We (Eric, Monty, and I) took the older kids on a hike to search for a geocache. We were totally unprepared with flip-flops etc. to be hiking around the mountain looking for a geocache. It was kind of a difficult hike as well, with a steep climb to the top of a hill. When we finally got to it I gave all the kids a little "prize" to exchange with whatever treasures were found in the cache.
Unfortunately, it was COMPLETELY raided and there wasn't much in it, so the kids just kept the prizes I gave them. It was still fun, though.

Mom:
We bought a new movie camera and I took movies of the "Minute to Win It" games. I will bring it with me so you can see all of the crazy games we played. I should have taken more, but at least I got some.

There was a swimming pool. We all had a chance to go swimming at least once. They also had a fun playground for the kids.

On Sunday, I took anyone who wanted to go on a tour of the temple grounds. We stopped at different locations and I told stories and showed pictures. It was very nice.
We were in charge of Friday night's dinner. We cooked a big pork roast in the crock pot and then had dutch oven potatoes and carrots with it. Everything was devoured! We were so happy.

Suzanne and Quinn fixed peach cobbler for breakfast. Tanya and Monty had a big hoagie sandwich spread for lunch. Julie and Emmett fixed Mexican food for Saturday's dinner. That night all of the parents spotlighted their children. It was neat. I think all of the children felt really special because of the nice things that their mom and dad's said about them. They were all quiet just sitting around listening to everyone's stories.

Sunday, Eric and Tara fixed french toast and bacon and sausage for breakfast.

I had a craft project for the kids. Tan helped the boys (and some of the girls) make Indian headbands with feathers in the back. I had the girls making those flower clips that everyone is wearing in their hair. They loved it. Even the Mom's were making them.

It was a really fun and special reunion. Glom and his kids came too, and my cousin, Richard Johnson and his wife, Inna Mae (another wonderful name).

I wish you and Mike could have been there. That was the only bad part--you guys weren't there.

Me:
I loved all the same things that everyone else wrote about but I think my favorite was also hearing the "spotlights" on all the kids. I wrote a bunch of questions for the parents and had them spotlight their kids on what they have been doing for the last year. It was cool to hear things like their fav food, what they like right now and what they have done/said that they're parents are proud of. Mom was right when she said that the kids loved it. When it was Maia's turn she was telling everyone to be quiet. :) It was funny.

Julie:
My favorite part was the games that we played. I really didn’t want to play games at first but they were so fun and FUNNY. Also, I think you all know that I really enjoy just hanging out taking to my family while the kids have a blast playing together. It make me happy.

And of course I LOVE food so that was a plus that everyone made such yummy food.

- - - - -

I'm glad I got all of those comments! I can't believe it, but I hardly took any pictures! Julie and Dad will have to send me theirs.

Picture #1
Obviously the group pic, well, minus the Chaston's and Chris.
Picture #2
Julie and Emmett cooking their MOST AWESOME taco dinner.
Picture #3
Coming back from the geocache hike. Starting from the top of the pic: Tara, Monty, Kayla, Chris, Eric and Garrett.
Picture #4
The kids and Mom in front of the Manti Temple.
Picture #5
The kids dressed up in their Indian head bands
Picture #6
Prae and Garrett. It was the funniest thing! Prae was playing catch with Garrett, and Garrett was telling her how to play. All of a sudden I hear, "Don't you know what wait means?" In a completely serious voice Prae says, "Yes, but I through the ball before you said wait." I started laughing so hard, Prae looks over and smiles. She was such a good sport, she played with him for a long time. He was showing her all kinds of throwing-the-baseball moves.
Picture #8
Richard Johnson and his wife, Inna Mae
Picture #9
My most cutest little boy!

My kids had so much fun. The first night in the tent Jaida says, "This day was short but it was the funnest day ever!" (I'm sure I got that wrong and Monty will correct me)

THANKS EVERYONE FOR A GREAT TIME!

Kylan is Six Months Old

How could I not post this picture?! Isn't it funny how most babies do an open mouth smile? I wonder why that is? I don't care how mad you are, one of these smiles can change your mood in a second.

Kylan all of a sudden became an older baby. He can sit up by himself, roll both ways, grab things, eat solids, drink out of a bottle, get mad when you take a toy away, get scared when someone else is holding him, and pat my shoulder when I am patting his back.

I still have only seen him roll both ways one time. I know for a fact that he has done it multiple times but with everything else going on in the house I unfortunately have only seen him do it once - shame on me. I should have my camera out recording every move - like we were with Jaida. She definitely has most of the video tapes.

He is also starting to lift his upper body with his arms or get his knees under him. Pretty soon he's going to be in the crawling position rocking back and forth. Man, they just go too fast! Kylan is SO much happier now that he is getting mobile. Well that and a few teething pills and he his happy most of the day.

Time Out

I walked out onto the deck and saw Kayla and Joey all tied up. This is Jaida's idea of time out. Sheesh, I like her way! However after some crying, instead of just letting them out of time out we had to cut them out. There is never a dull moment at my house!

Service Day

A few weeks ago we did a service day. We drew names and everyone had to do some kind of service for the person they drew. I was lucky enough to have my name drawn out by Jaida. She made my bed, as you can see in this picture, she washed dishes, took care of Kayla and Joey and played with Kylan. It was awesome! Kayla drew out dad. Since he had to work that night I told her she should lay out his clothes for him. I helped get her get his clothes together and then left the room to do something. When I came back she had laid out his uniform on the bed including belt, shoes, and socks. It was the cutest thing and I had to take a picture. Dad was really surprised when he walked into the room. Dad had Jaida (he made her bed), Joey had Kayla, so I must have had Joey. Me and Joey went down and made Kayla's bed for her (okay, I made it), but I don't think I did anything for Joey - well nothing extra then I usually do. Hmmm...bad me, maybe I did and I just can't remember.

Service Day was something fun to break up the daily routine, and for awhile there was no fighting, just surprised, happy faces.

Kylan's Blessing

We finally blessed Kylan - I think he was 4 months old. As usual we waited way too long and he screamed the whole time.The night before the blessing we had a nice dinner outside with lots of family! The kids had a blast playing with the chickens, jumping in the bounce house, and letting off balloons.


The next day everyone got ready and Grandpa got to take some pictures before we all left for church (on time). I love this picture! Just wish all the grandkids were in it.
Great picture of the family: Monty, Tanya, Jaida, Kayla, Joey and Kylan.