Family Reunions

Starting on July 1st we had not one but TWO family reunions. That means two times the fun, right? Well it was so much fun, a little crazy and hectic, and we sometimes felt bad that we couldn’t go to everything. But it was amazing to see the families and play with our favorite people (aka the nieces and nephews). So here is what we did.

NEWSON FAMILY REUNION

Friday we MOVED Ben and Brea- yahoo! And then went to the park across the street and played at the splash park!

Sunday after church we had a delicious dinner caught up with each other and just relaxed.

Monday (the 4th of July) we had a family hoedown (more to come on that one!)

Wednesday morning we all went to the park in from of our house and played games (softball and soccer) and then went to the splash park to cool off.

Friday we went to the rec center to swim. Luke had an unfortunate landing on one of the slides and broke his leg (he broke the tibia and fibula right below his knee). He was in a lot of pain on Friday but he is feeling much better now. He will be in a cast for eight weeks and did I mention Sarah is AMAZING!

Sunday was Heidi’s 23rd Birthday (actually not 23rd but we wont mention the real age). We had home made pizza, delicious frilly frothy dessert made by Becky and all the girls stayed up for a spa night (face masks, nail painting and a chick flick). We also had a small talent show and it was so much fun to see the Newson Talent shine.

Tuesday we celebrated Max’s 9th Birthday! We had crepes for breakfast and then went to the Scott Carpenter Park in Boulder and played on their awesome Space Ship jungle gym.

And throughout the week there were always really fun crafts and activities!

STONES FAMILY REUNION

Saturday (July 2) we went to the Denver Temple to do Aaron’s Temple work. It was a wonderful experience. We then went to Erica’s house for lunch, relaxing and games. For dinner we went to Casa Bonita! People say they do not like it because of the food but I would say it is compared to a Coloradian Disney Land- the happiest place in Colorado. It was so much fun to play and see everyone.

Emma smashed the pinata so she got the head!

Tuesday we (the ladies) just hung out while the boys attempted to cut down and pull out stumps in Mom and Dad’s front yard. We were not too cruel and did help- a little. While all of this back breaking labor was going on, the kids made tie-die shirts! That night we had a spur of the moment talent show- let me tell you, we are talented. The ended with games and five cartons of ice cream(we couldn’t decide on a flavor), chocolate sauce, bananas, whipped cream and lots of goey goodness.

And to think- it still took two more days to get it out/hidden!



No decision making skills here!



Emma sang and Wyatt just couldn't help but join in!

Mylie did a DDR dance by MEMORY!

We all tried DDR and...well...you see!

Michael and Taylor tap danced. It was inspirational!

Wednesday- Friday CAMPING (more to come on that later).

Saturday most of the family went on a run (I was thankfully not there yet) and then we again spent the day trying to get that stump out. That evening we had professional family pictures taken (something we have never done before) and it was very fun, not at all as painful as I imagined.

Monday our cousin Mary Elizabeth (Anne’s daughter) came to visit with her family. I haven’t seen her in over 10 years so it was fun to catch up. I brought two of the young women from my ward (Mallory and Alice) to hang out with Michael and Jasey and they all had lots of teenage fun.

Tuesday the family came to our new house and we had a party. The kids enjoyed the splash park and jungle gym (I think Erica might have enjoyed the jungle gym more). It was SO WONDERFUL to have my family over and see everyone!

Picnic in our Front Room!



Emma posing with the Rainbow!



They found a dead dragon fly in the grass at the park. It was beautiful. Alice was a little scared of it!

WE MOVED!

Yes, it is true; you read that correct we have moved. I was so excited to have our own place that I prematurely packed and we have been living out of boxes for 6 weeks but no longer (well a little longer till I get it all unpacked). On Friday July 1 we got the keys and the okay to move in. It just so happened that Ben’s family was all in town so we had 12 little helpers (and my dad)- Thanks everyone for all your great help!


Slowly we have moved over our furniture and got new furniture (craigslist and thrift stores are amazing). Because it was a busy family reunion week we did not really start unloading boxes until a couple days ago but is has been so much fun to open these boxes that we haven’t looked through since living in Rexburg.

We are now living in a three bedroom (well two bedrooms and a den) one bath duplex- It is so cute! We also live across the street from a community park with a splash park, horse shoe course, boci ball course, separate dog park, awesome jungle gym and a patio area where they have a live band perform every Thursday in the summer. Yes we are very lucky.

The guy that lived there before had a dog and smoked so the landlord painted everything and replaced the carpets. There is still a lingering smoke/dog/new carpet smell but we have been cleaning everything and keeping the windows open to try to air it out; but slowly but surely we will be all moved in and it will feel like home.

Tonight (Tues 12) my family all came over to help clean, move big heavy furniture (they bought me a hutch- so beautiful), play in the park and cook so that it smelled like yummy food. It was so much fun to have a party at MY house (I felt really grown up). The kids loved running around and playing with anything that resembled a toy (and with our five nerf guns). The adults lounged around (well that was mostly the teenagers) and helped me clean. It was so wonderful and I am so glad that they came to see our new place and so grateful for all their help and support.

Here are some boxes and mess as we attempt to get unpacked.

I had to clean the nicotine and dirt from all the blinds in the house. Here is a before look of the kitchen blind!

Hiking Revelations and Temple Work

As anyone who has recently been reading this blog knows- I have been really thinking about Aaron. Maybe thinking is not the best word- mourning would probably describe my feelings better. The one year anniversary (which sounds like a celebratory word but I have found that it isn’t always) was on Tuesday June 28. I woke up that morning dreading life and decided to take a hike in the beautiful Rocky Mountains to clear my head and cry a little. I went by myself up Maple in Boulder and just kept going; past the normal hiking spot, over a mountain, up a mountain and I finally landed at an off the road hike all alone. I slung my backpack- containing a journal, the Conference Ensign and some yummy snacks. I started hiking, crying and fervently praying for some sort of feeling from the Lord. Half way up I saw a sign “Mountain Lion Country” but I just grabbed some rocks (for protection) and kept going. Only about a minute past this I got a distinct feeling that I should turn around and go back to the car- I listened. I went back to a table near the car took out my stuff and started reading.


I have harbored such angry feelings at the Lord for allowing this trial to come upon my family and for taking Aaron. I have been worried about where Aaron is? What is he doing? How does he feel? Would he receive the gospel (and temple work we were going to do) or would he turn from it? I was worried that I would not feel anything while doing the temple work and therefore my faith would be shaken again. While up on that mountain top I felt so close to the spirit and to my Heavenly Father. I felt assured that I am a child of God and that he loves me. I felt an overwhelming feeling that Aaron loved me and that he was happy and going to be okay. I am so grateful for that experience and how it prepared me to go to the temple with my family.

On Saturday July 2, 2011 the entire Stones Family went to the Denver Colorado Temple to do the temple work for Aaron Lawrence Stones. I was tearful getting the little blue card. I was a little tearful seeing all my siblings and their spouses in the temple. But I was SO full of joy. All my fears or trepidations had vanished. While standing in the Celestial room Michael David (who has such a way of saying things) looked around and said, “Look Mom and Dad, ALL your children are here!”

I love my family. I love Aaron. And I love the temple. I am so grateful that we were able to go and give him this last wonderful gift!

Tough Mudder Colorado 2011

On June 25^th Ben participated in the Tough Mudder.  This is an obstacle race that is hosted in multiple states throughout the year.  The Colorado Race was in Beaver Creek (between 8-11,000 feet above see level). The challenge: run with your team 9 miles in which you all work together to get through 25 obstacles. Now generally you think 9 miles- meh, maybe I could do that! But the difference here is that they are running UP and down ski slopes (aka up horizontal slopes).  Ben ran with a team from Crocs (work) and they did really well. They managed to all finish in about 3.5 hours and after wards everyone was VERY sore and tired. Ben said it was super fun and he would defiantly do it again but with more training next time!

Ben walking in after a hard day at the Tough Mudder!

Here is a video of the Crocs Team  (The crocs team is all in green and Ben is wearing red shorts- he is in it a lot.)