Welcome Home Elder Beal

This week we have tried to get back into the swing of things a little bit after being gone for nearly 2 weeks. Scott went to Texas again this week. On Tuesday night we had a girls night at my house and we watched The Host. That movie is terrible, but we had a good time. After the movie we stayed up and kept talking until 2:30 in the morning. I think I am still trying to recover from that. On Wednesday I met up with Anna and her kids and we went to the river. We always enjoy that but it was especially fun with cousins.

My brother Keaton returned home from his mission in Mexico. Scott always planned on just driving over Sunday morning for his mission report and big family picture (too many Beals in one hot house). I planned on driving separately early but decided I wasn't up to that and we didn't want to spend that much money on gas right after our St. George trip anyway. Luckily Anna decided to drive separately from Alex driving their truck and trailer so Corbin hitched it with Alex and Gabby and I hitched a ride with Anna. Great! It was much more fun to ride and talk with Anna, plus I hate to drive. We left Friday around 11:00. The whole weekend we mostly just sat around in the shade and talked. All of the grand kids ran around for 2 days straight. Gabe packed his swimming pool which was a great idea and a big hit. The volleyball net was set up and a group of much fewer girls took on a big group of the boys and we (Rachel and Kelsey) dominated.

This weekend was also the city of Arco's Atomic Days. Alex and Lance had their 20 year class reunion. There were booths set up in the park downtown and baseball tournaments and a parade. It was fun. The kids all loved the parade. It's always fun to come to Atomic Days. A lot of people come home that weekend so it's fun to see who you will run into.

Keaton gave a great mission report. I'm proud of him.  My family is so big! We are just getting bigger. It's kind of crazy to get together but it was good. I think this is the first time in a long time to have not one person missing. That is a miracle and a good idea to snag a picture. As my dad was rammed three times with a mean bull last week my mom said we could have all been gathered for his funeral. Thank goodness that was not the case. My poor dad has some major bruising and broken ribs. He is still in a lot of pain and any time anyone made him laugh this weekend it nearly killed him. Hang in there dad!

My friend was also at the river with her daughter and our favorite babysitter Paige. She made Piper into a mermaid. Cute!

Hammock in Granny's backyard. That thing was sweet!

4 Wheeler Rides

Why yes I found another Harry Potter closet (my mom's fruit room AKA food storage room) to escape this weekend. I figured it was the coolest, darkest place for me to have my own space this weekend. I pretty much loved it. I would much rather brave the spiders than the heat of my parents non air conditioned upstairs! At one point this morning Corbin, Gabby, and I were all crammed on this mattress catching some last snoozes before getting ready for church. 

Parade

Parade

We got our first family picture since I was a senior in high school. Hooray for being pregnant, NOT! Oh well. We also took a picture of all 40 of us including our spouses and children. Only the professional got that shot. Somehow she managed to take a picture with all of us and our kids with no one crying and everyone looking at the camera. She really is amazing. She's been doing it for at least 30 years though.

I can't help but take sleeping pictures of my kids. Piper slept for at least an hour. That's got to be some sort of record for her. Scott and I had a most pleasant talk and drive with our sleeping kids in the back...that is until they woke up. It was heavenly for awhile. Can I please not have to take my kids on a long road trip for awhile? Seesh!