Honn Reunion | Part 1

"Corbin the Reptile Guy"

Corbin threatening to put a tarantula on Mom's head

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Old Idaho Penitentiary

Some of the weapons that the prisoners used

It was a strange feeling walking through these halls

They look tough, don't they?

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BBQ @ Sandy Point

Ethan with a water snake

Play Ball

Friday night Eric got to experience "Bounce" for the first time...

He's a natural.



Wow, doesn't even look like he's trying. :)



Yeeha!

 

Saturday night, we went to a softball game. Which, I'll admit softball can be a little boring, but this one had a twist. It was the Boise State football team playing, offense vs. defense. We learned that being a great football player doesn't necessarily translate to being a great softball player. But that made it all the more entertaining. It was fun to see all of the guys be themselves and let loose. Everytime one of their teammates got a home run, they would all meet him at home plate and do something funny...like a little celebration dance or something. One time, all of the players were circled around home plate when the home run hitter came into home and jumped onto the plate with both feet, and all of the guys, in unison, threw themselves out on their backs - like an explosion. Just a lot of little things like that that kept the game fun. Plus, it was a nice night to just be outside doing something other than sit on the couch and watch a movie.

Offense (left) vs. defense. Defense killed em.



hehe. Cooper surprised us with this face after he had been quietly enjoying a massive jaw breaker.



Then he surprised me with this face when I was browsing through the pictures on my camera. Cooper's self-portrait. Hilarious.



Throughout the game they did little challenges to earn more runs. Here, they're having a chocolate milk drinking contest (first to 24!) They also did a pizza eating contest.

Afterward, the whole team stuck around to sign autographs. Eric and I weren't really anxious to wait in line for 2+ hours so we took off. The kids thought it was totally worth the wait though. They brought us back a poster with everyone's signatures, and Braden even got a signed, game-worn cleat from Billy Winn. (He was so excited...The first thing he did was take a whiff...he didn't even care that it smelled like "rotten nachos")

Reverent Sparklers

The Sunday before the 4th, we decided to meet up for a Red, White, and Blue themed dessert party...

We all kind of brought a variation of the same dessert, but look at them! Does it really matter??

After that, Tiffany proposed "reverent sparklers" (as it was the Sabbath). I loved my sister-in-law Sheri's response: "Where do you get reverent sparklers? Do you use them with your arms folded or do they whistle a primary song or something?"

I've always wanted to try this with slowing down the camera's shutter speed. I think we had way more fun than the kids did with those sparklers.



Then, when we ran out of sparklers, we used flashlights and cell phones.

Eric did the house. Jason did the tree, and I did the grass. :)

So cool!



Ty had some serious slow shutter/flashlight skills. Despite the backward 4. :)



4th of July

Phase 1 | Capture the Flag with Water Balloons!

This was a blast. Unfortunately, it always takes a lot longer to fill the balloons than it does to go through them, but it was worth it.

Phase 2 | Pool Party

Phase 3 | BBQ & Fireworks

Poor Asher didn't like the loud noises

The boys had the best view from the roof

Ours were legal. The neighbors on the other hand...

Eric and I had planned to go meet some of his co-workers on the roof of the Banner Bank building or on Simplot Hill to watch the big show, but by the end of the day, we were fried - literally and figuratively. But it was a good day. Eric was a good sport and didn't complain once of Honn family overload.

Utah for the weekend

Eric and I decided to take our 2nd roadtrip in a row this past weekend so we could meet our newest niece, Claire Olivia Nelson. It was a quick trip but well worth it.

Claire's parents, Patrick & Natalie recently moved to California so it was nice of Nat to have the baby in Utah just so we could more easily visit. :)

Eric's sister Andrea and her family are also in Utah so we got to stay with them the first night...

Shortly after we arrived, our bro-in-law, Curt, made us a yummy dinner (Andrea was at a Sister's Retreat) and then we got to watch Savannah strut her stuff on the stage with her baton twirling team.

Saturday morning we watched Marielle's last soccer game

Then on Saturday afternoon we met little Claire. Isn't she precious? She is a tiny little peanut (born 5 lbs 2 oz). 

Look how small she is next to Eric's big foot.

Can you believe she just had a baby?

Later that evening we had a fun little BBQ with the Harwards & McDonalds, and I finally got to see my adorable niece Autumn! She's such a happy baby.

Autumn with her Uncle Eric

And of course, sweet Ava. Here she is with her cute cousin Jackson.

This was the first time we'd seen Ava in a year. She had just gotten up from a nap so she was a little shy at first but warmed up really quickly.



This girl has the best laugh!



She loves her Uncle Eric...



Even when he squishes her.

I bought her love with gummy bears



Snuggling with Eric while watching Aladdin on Sunday morning.

Kisses!



Au Naturel Hot Springs

Eric and I had an interesting little roadtrip yesterday. We decided to drive 2 hours north to check out the cabin we have reserved for the Nelson reunion in August. Midway, we decided to stop at some natural hot springs. Turns out, those hot springs were a little more "natural" than we bargained for. After hiking our way up to the hot springs (maybe 15-20 mins), Eric and I were both a little winded when suddenly we spotted them - yes, the hot springs, but also 2 old, round, bare bums. Luckily, we were still a good distance away. There was a group of 8 or so people, most of which, graciously had swimsuits on, but for some reason, it's always the older, chubbier men who have no reservations about these things. They quickly gave us a friendly greeting, and we tried to play it cool and respond with a nice hello and wave while keeping our eyes on the trail. Unfortunately, these hot springs were on the "to do" list for a late night family reunion adventure. Good thing we checked them out beforehand because, as it turns out, they're not so family-friendly. I would rather our year for planning the reunion not be memorable in that way.

By the way, don't worry, I didn't snap any creepy pictures of the senior skinny dippers. I did take a few of the beautiful scenery nearby, however...

Mile Marker 4

Eric likes to dress for his surroundings

Hiking our way up to the hot springs

Here we are at the top of the 3rd level hot pool.

A fox we spotted in Tamarack.

Some nudity, some wildlife, and some beautiful scenery. 2 outta 3 aint bad.