Our first Ballard Family Reunion

Well, now that three out of the 12 members (four come January) of our family live in Provo, it looks like we might just be going down there a little more often than we used to.  Especially when we can't get enough of this little cutie!

We went to lunch at the Cannon Center (uh, YUM!) with the whole clan on Saturday, which made Redge really excited for BYU, and then headed back to the condo for the night. We ate some bean dip, played some games, and watched the Avengers. Karen feel asleep against the wall, while standing up,she was so tired.  That takes talent!

A lot of the weekend was spent like this: surrounding
 Arlee and seeing who could get the best smile from her, and then get it on camera.

 

The next morning, we ate breakfast and got ready for church.  Austin had home teaching and Karen had visit teaching, so we got to babysit Arlee for an hour or two!  I really wish we would have had time to take her while they got to go on a nice long date, but hopefully before too long.  Their church was a married ward, so we just took the whole family to all three meetings.  The kids did great!  After Chinese sundaes back at the rental, we took a drive up Provo Canyon.  So pretty!
















 On Monday Dan, Redge and Natalee were flying to Florida, so we all went to Salt Lake for most of the day.  Karen and Arlee got to join us while Austin did his manly duties and went to school and work.  We missed him. 


Brother Brigham with little brother Brigham

 It's been way too long since we took a trip with everyone here.  We have always loved Temple Square.  The museum was great, we went up on top of the Church office building, and walked through part of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.  We even got to go into the chapel where President Monson goes to church.  Teagan touched every bench so he could be sure and touch the one where the prophet had sat the day before.  I sure love the Church!  It's fun to see the kids' testimonies growing as they visit places like this.  We ran out of time for a lot of other stuff, so definitely more to do in the coming visits.  After lunch at the new City Creek mall, we parted ways and headed to the airport.     Sure love our family!

The Homecoming video

Here's the video of Redge getting home.  Enjoy!  :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nShMu0vQ7nc&feature=youtu.be

Hooray! He's home!!!

Anticipation at the airport


Alright, I know that just a few posts ago I was bloging about Austin coming home.  Just ignore that, because someday I'll catch up on that 2 1/2 years.   Cause now Redge is home!!  What an exciting few days it's been.  Austin, Karen and Arlee met us at the airport.  At first we thought his flight was going to be a half hour early, which would have been a few minutes after we got there, but luckily it was right on time.  He came down the stairs a little quicker than we thought!  He looked so good, the same really, but oh what joy as we were all reunited!

 

 Enjoy all the smiling pictures, and I'll see if I can get the video put on!  :)

Back to School...

Here they are--the six 2012 Ballard school goers.  We have three high schoolers (oh yeah, registration fees, we paid 'em), one in junior high, one in middle school, and a second grader in Hibbard Elementary.  Brigham was very worried at first that he wouldn't know which bus to get on, but he found out it isn't that hard.  Just look for the green frog on the bus window.

 Teagan is in fifth grade now, so he's at the middle school.  He likes it a lot, and is excited to have his first guy teacher for math.  He's going to play the baritone in band.

Keaton really likes high school so far.  He is in mens' choir and they told him he's a bass.  He and Tanner both have a video making class together, and hooray--he thinks he'll do fine in math!

Tanner, the other sophomore, started football this year.  He's taking a engine building class and one of his YM leaders told him if he took his go cart to class and fixed it that he'd let him ride it whenever he wants.  Hmm.

Shandee started junior high this year---where did my young little girl go?  This is the first year she's gotten into school clothes shopping, and boy does she have some cute stuff.  I wish we were the same size and I'd borrow her clothes.

And, last and the oldest kid in the household for a few more days, here is the senior class of 2013 president.  She's wearing her student council outfit, which I think is pretty classy.  Classes this tri are government, economics, anat. & phys. and math.  Whew!  Glad it's not me.

I wish I would have started the tradition years ago that Rebecca and Jeremy's family does with a theme for the school year.  I guess it's not too late.  Have to think about it in between everything else.

 

Arlee's Blessing!

What a sweet feeling little Arlee brings to our family.  There's nothing like seeing your child, that you still remember being a child, and not that long ago, become a parent.  It brings a whole new meaning to having joy in your posterity.  But I'll elaborate more on that in the post on becoming a grandma.

Austin has always given beautiful priesthood blessings.  Seeing him carry his precious little daughter up to worthily use his priesthood and give her a name and a blessing was a sweet experience for me.  Dan, Rich, Jake, Karen's dad Larry, their bishop and a few of Austin's friends were in the circle.It was a wonderful blessing. Arlee laid there without making a peep.  Afterwards we had about 30 people here for a luncheon. 


(sorry Karen, I need a copy of the other picture.  I think you're looking at your mom's camera.)  :)

The beautiful dress was sewn (in a day!) by Great Grandma Bratsman.  She was worried about it being too big, but it wasn't that bad.  Little Arlee is a dainty 8 pounds, but she looked so pretty in it.

It was such a wonderful day.

We are sure going to miss these guys!

 

Wow...it's been a while!

Okay, I'm pretty sure that anyone who's reading this is noticing that it's been OVER TWO YEARS since there's been a post.  Kind of sad really.  So much has happened in our family since May of 2010!  The last post was Austin coming home from his mission, and two weeks from tomorrow (!) Redge will return.  Well, this weekend we were taking Austin, Karen and Arlee to Provo.  No more dropping in at their Rexburg apartment (not that we did that as much as I would have liked), no more getting together every other Sunday or so for dinner after church, celebrating birthdays and going to the kids' concerts together....  Anyway, we as we were driving down, Austin mentioned that a blog would be a good way for us to keep connected.  Things happen every day, at least every week, especially with the big group we have in this house, and he is going to be hearing about that stuff a lot less. So, even though I feel like I have lots to do, I decided to recommitt to this blog.  It's our current family history, after all, and I know how important family history is.  Our family is growing, changing, moving, and I'm hoping that a half hour a week of doing this will help keep us closer, and record important, along with ordinary, happenings.  Definitely a worthy use of my precious time!

I'm thinking about going back and trying to fill in some of the missing two and a half years.  We had major life changes!  The summer after Austin got back, when we were all together for the last time, was SO much fun.  Austin and Karen's courtship, Redge's leaving for Brazil, Austin and Karen's marriage, and then our first grandchild Arlee joining the family, along with all that happened in between, can't be left out.  I really will go back and add that stuff, but for now, I'm going to do a current post for starters.  Here's to my new goal! 

Wendi

HE'S HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey I'm thinking it's about time I posted on here!!  Wow, the big day has come and our Elder Ballard has returned.  He looks so good!  He's the same old Austin but has grown up a lot.  It's so good to have him here, and to have ALL of the Ballard kids under one roof for a few months.  Life is wonderful!