Waite Family Reunion 2011- Part 2

A little blurry-eyed and without much sleep, I got up early to help make/serve breakfast for the family. We had breakfast burritos and juice.

After breakfast, Dean/Candice organized some games for us to play.

First up, tug-o-war.

We took turns; big kids vs. big kids, little kids vs. little kids, Utah cousins vs. Idaho cousins, BYU vs. BSU, moms vs. moms, dads vs. dads, etc.

Gunny sack races were next.

Again, we did several heets; big kids, little kids, couples, teens (sort of) and dads.

The dad heet was a full-on competition... of course.

Short gunny sacks = handicap for tall dads.

Back at the lodge, gaming continued, while Karen painted the kid's hands and cheeks.

The kids chose what shape and color they wanted. Pink and purple butterflies were popular with the little girls.

After lunch, people went to the lake to take a dip or try their hand at the canoe. The report I got was that the lake was FREEZING... but beautiful.

While my family was at the lake, I took a needed nap. I woke up feeling so much better. Ahhh.

After the lake, gaming resumed, while Tianna set up crafts for the kids. The kids colored in coloring books, made "eye of God" yarn crafts and worked on friendship bracelets.

After a delicious dinner, the Waite Family Talent Show was next. We sprayed ourselves down with bug repellent and headed to the outdoor amphitheater for the show.

Karan and Vicki started us off by sharing stories of Grandma and Grandpa Waite. They also talked about Uncle Mark and some of his stories/accomplishments.

Neil/Sarah's family did 2 scout-type skits.

Here they are sitting on the "invisible bench".

Johnathon/Kendra's girls did 2 dance numbers, they had learned at school. They were so cute! Their oldest son, McKay, showed off his basketball skills, by spinning the ball on his finger.

I videoed a bit of one of the dance numbers (at the end of the post). Hopefully it will work.

Uncle Grant showed us old pictures of Grandma and Grandpa Waite and told one of Grandpa's favorite stories, "Heap Good"..."Throw it away Sam"..."No, heap good" BOOM!

It's an inside-the-family classic.

Dad/Uncle Lynn told the "Pig won't jump over the sty" story... another one of Grandpa Waite's favorites.

For our family's portion of the talent show, I had everyone bring something they had made or created. I told about how I love to craft and create and recently have had fun decorating and putting on parties, I showed a fabric banner I had made, as well as a little cake banner. Then as the other members of my family shared their creations I blew up and made a flower balloon... one of my favorite party go-tos.

Jason shared some of his drawings, Rylee shared 2 skirts she had sewn, Taylee shared her drawing of Grandpa Waite (Lynn) she had recently finished, Treyson shared his pinewood derby he made for cub scouts this year and Abree shared a princess picture she had drawn.

Dean/Candice's family put on a very funny and cute skit.

It was about a VERY handsome knight, asking the BEAUTIFUL princess to marry him.

Levi was the handsome knights trusty steed.

Candice was the gate keeper/messenger,

"King, there is a man here that wants to marry the princess."

King Jackson- "I'll have to ask the Queen."

"Queen, there is a man here that wants to marry the princess."

Queen Micaela- "I'll have to ask the princess."

"Princess, there is a man here that wants to marry you."

Princess Lizzy- "Do you like my ring?" (said in a British princess accent--so cute!)
Queen- "No, not really."

Princess- "Then I WON'T marry!"

As each person relayed the message back to the handsome knight, he was not happy with their answer, he took his sword/light saber to them and they died.

Finally, no one was left, but the princess herself.

Princess- "Do you like my ring?"

Knight- "No, not really. I've come here to ask you to marry me."

Princess-"Are you rich?"

Knight- "Yes."
Princess- "Then I would LOVE to!!!"

And then the HANDSOME knight, swept the BEAUTIFUL princess off her feet and they lived happily ever after.

Tim shows his skills with card tricks.

Tim/Karen, Amber and kids (sort of) sang, "Twinkle , Twinkle Little Star".

Tyrel was our MC for the evening, but also showed us how he could whistle 5 1/2 different ways.

Necha did a little animal skit.

Tianna folded paper into an origami bird that flew.

Eric sang a tongue-twister of a song, from "The Pirates of Penance".

We finished outside, just as it started to rain.

We went back into the lodge and heard 2 piano performances from Molly/Scott's boys.

Eric accompanied Zach on a piano piece he had learned, just the day before.

Although some didn't care to participate, I think the family talent show was really fun.

Here's the video of Johnathon/Kendra's girls. Crossing my fingers and hoping that it works.

The night was finished out with more games. Our "Hand and Foot" card game resumed too.

We stayed up late into the night eating candy, talking and laughing.

Overall ,a great way to spend a weekend.

Baby Shower for Candice

If you know me at all, you know that I LOVE to throw parties! I love all the details of planning and making. I also love to decorate the party room so it's visually stimulating and fun to look at.

Thank goodness Candice was having a baby and there was another reason to have a party. :)

I had offered to throw Candice a baby shower for Jackson or Lizzy, but she didn't want to trouble me. This time I wouldn't take NO for an answer. She just got to tell me what day and time would work and give her input on what direction I should go with a theme.

Because she liked the color combination of green and brown for a baby boy, we went for a jungle and monkey theme.

This was my first, and maybe my last, attempt at making a sock monkey.

It wasn't nearly as fun or as easy as I thought it would be. The socks I had chosen were quite long and VERY stretchy. So this made my monkey extra long. My family had concerns as I was constructing it, but in the end I think it turned out OK. :)

I had fun making this banner and I liked how it turned out.
I used brown paper grocery bags, green paper and computer printed letters and monkey. Then stapled the circles to one of my grocery bag "vines".

When my kids saw my making and decorating efforts, they wanted to help. Taylee, Treyson and Abree made these monkeys and bananas for decoration.
The yellow thing that kinda looks like a flower is a banana peel. Taylee's cute idea. Love it!

Grandma Ison's sock monkey came to the party.

The vines were made out of brown paper grocery bags that had been cut, folded and then sewn together attaching green felt leaves randomly.

My kids also helped by getting their Webkins jungle animals and decorating the bookshelf.

Treyson was just sure we needed a HUGE snake at the jungle party. He let me use Bowden the Boa Constrictor to decorate the banister.

Vines were everywhere! It was a JUNGLE in there. :)

I wanted to make a jungle themed diaper cake. In my creating process I came up with this diaper tree instead. This was another of my ideas that my family was skeptical of at first. I LOVE the monkey we found to hang out in the tree. His face is so happy.

The party wouldn't be a party without yummy snacks.... jungle themed of course.

We had a nice turn out of friends and family at the party.

Jacque & Nici

Amber

Amber & Lisa

Mom-LoraDawn, Tera, Miriam

Daisylyn was part of our entertainment. She was a cute little busy monkey.

Tammy

What is a shower or party without games? Don't say "perfect"!

The first game we played was fun. I had Candice's kids (Micaela-8, Jackson-5 & Lizzy-3) draw pictures of Nursery Rhymes. We numbered them and then had everyone guess which nursery rhymes they were. They were SO cute.... even with the additions of snakes and camouflage, that had nothing to do with the rhyme. :)

Wish I had taken some pictures of them. I was too busy holding the pictures and being hostess, I guess.

Next, instead of giving Candice baby advice, we wrote down "Wishes for Baby". I gathered these and put them in a little photo album for Candice to take home.

Next was draw a baby on a plate.... on top of your head.

The winning "baby".

Joan-Candice's mom & Candice

After snacking on jungle food, opening gifts was next.

Candice received lots of C-U-T-E baby boy things.

This diaper cake was from Jacque.

See? I told you she got lots of C-U-T-E stuff.

Can't wait to meet baby boy!