Peterson Reunion in Midway, Utah

Wow! 31 days without a post?!? Were you wondering if I was dead? No, I am here but apparently I am a loser blogger. It's true, a month without a post is a pretty sad thing so I promise to do better. I will make up for it now by posting a million pictures from our recent Utah vacation. Here goes!

Me and my Handsome Men

We went to Utah to attend our Peterson Family Reunion in Midway (near Park City). It was a wonderful 8 days and we really had a blast! My Mom's parents, Burke & Brookie, have 89 descendants (5 daughters, their husbands, kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids) and 87 were able to be there- that's everyone except my cousin who is serving a mission in France and my Mom, who was there in spirit I am sure! (You were dearly missed, Mom!)

The Roger Decker Family:

Dad & Carol; Adam, Monique, & their 3 girls; Jaimee, Eric, & our 2 boys; Summer, Cory, and their 4 kids- 3 girls & 1 boy; Shanon, Jared, and their 3 kids- 2 girls & 1 boy; and Jono

The Decker Grandkids

We started our trip by going up a few days before the reunion so we could hit the Utah hot spots. We stayed with my Aunt Jana & Uncle Mark at their "Hotel de Staples" and with the royal treatment we received are thinking about just moving into their basement! Their accommodations, company, and food were too good, so many thanks again, Jana! We went to visit dear friends, Jueneta & Cameron, who moved from Tucson just before we did and now live in Draper. We also took the boys to the Salt Lake City church sites and then to a visit at Gram & Grandpa's house. It was a great beginning.

It was great to teach the boys on Temple Square and to see how attentive they were as we talked about our Savior and His gospel.

I loved being at Gram & Grandpa Burke's house with Tye & Spencer and being able to show them where so many of my good childhood memories took place. It was really special to me. The boys loved their huge, green backyard.

I must say that if you go to a family reunion, attend one planned by women like my aunts and cousins because it was a well oiled party machine! The itinerary was great (*see details below) and we had really fun group and individual activities each day. It was so fun to see all my cousins & their families come together from across the country and be able to visit now as adults. Grandpa Burke and Gram put us all up in private villas at the Chateau Village at the Zermatt Resort and Spa. It was so beautiful there because it has been built to look like you are in the Swiss Alps. It totally had a European feel to it and let me tell you, it was soooOOO nice! Each family had their own 2-bedroom suite with plenty of room and all our villas were next to each other so we could hang out.

Zermatt Resort Entrance

THE JOYS OF PARENTHOOD and POLICE INVOLVEMENT?: Well, my sons and Summer's oldest daughters started the reunion out with a bang! As we grown-ups unpacked, these 4 kids played "spies" and the younger two, using their imaginations, decided to call 911 to report that "one of their cousins had a bomb in the hotel." Needless to say, the police officers that came to the Zermatt were understanding and had a good laugh at our 4 & 5 yrd olds' mistake. (Note to Self: Teach Spencer and Annika the difference between a real working phone and an old unplugged phone that they can play with at home.)

I appreciated Gram and Grandpa Burke's spiritual comments to us during one of the evenings, and the repeated phrase to "keep your knees polished"-- Grandpa's motto to remind us to pray to the Lord always. It was a wonderful week and I feel so blessed to come from such great people. I want to thank Gram & Grandpa Burke again for such a great time. You really know how to throw a party!

Fun "Cousins Only" Lunch (Thanks for the picture, Sum!)

Lunch and play time at the park. Here we are with our gracious hosts, Gram & Grandpa Burke.

All the "Burke Boys": Each of these guys is named after the Patriarch of this family, H. Burke Peterson. My cousins Dallin Burke and Darren Burke, with my favorite Spencer Burke. Spencer continues to remind Grandpa Burke that "we have the same 2nd name!" Cute, cute, cute.

*Pictures From Our Time Together: We had game nights, skit nights depicting scenes from Gram & Grandpa's lives, sing-a-longs, picnics, pool parties, shopping trips, spiritual lessons, and more. It was truly wonderful! (Even Eric had fun with the other husbands getting in 2 rounds of golf, fishing, and going to a midnight showing of "The Dark Knight'.) Talk about a good reunion!

Gram & Grandpa Burke with all their grandkids. (Well, almost all of them--Elder Tanner Staples will be in the final picture thanks to Photoshop!)

My cousin, Jordan, beating the previous family record by stuffing 24 large marshmallows into his mouth at one time. My boys thought Jordan was cool, but after this performance, he went to a whole other level! My cousin Hayden looks on as a marshmallow-handler and supporter.

The boys at Olympic Park in Park City.

Eric took the boys fishing one morning with my cousin Ashley's husband, Nate Quist. All 3 Buckley guys loved it and we hope Nate did, too. (Nate, thanks for your patience with our two energetic-first-time-fishing-little-boys! Eric says next time we're in Utah, he hopes you'd be up to fly-fishing with adults only.)

The Arizona Cousins- these housewives are too sexy! And you should have seen our performance of "Memory" at the Friday night sing-a-long. This is the song that we Deckers and Steeles have sung together for 25+ years every time we get together in Arizona. Usually my Mom plays the piano and then we all sing and, of course, do coordinating hand actions. Mom would have been so proud!

Summer, Shanon, & I with Gram and Mom's 4 Awesome Sisters, Gayle, Robin, Jana, & Keri.

The boys with MyPa and Grammy

Of course we can't leave Utah without visiting my old stomping ground--BYU! You all know how much Eric loves the Y, but he was a good sport and let us stock up on our BYU paraphernalia and tour the beautiful campus. I would encourage the boys to yell, "Go Cougars" while Eric would whisper "Go Devils" under his breath. Oh, the brainwashing competition will never end as we each try to influence our young boys toward our Alma-Maters of either BYU or ASU. One of the perks of parenthood, huh?

*If you are still looking then WOW- you are either a true friend or are extremely bored. Thanks! :)