Eight is great

This is my sister Jocelyn Jean.

We call her Jocey or JJ.

We love her.

She it eight.

We just had a family dealio for her on her actual birthday.  Mom made a nifty cake and we got to eat it.

Of course, birthdays = presents!

Ha oh boy- can't forget the wrapping, courtesy of Chantel.

Webkinz and bendaroos!  Is there anything more you could want?

~July 11, 2010~

What else do birthdays equal?

Birthdays = parties!

We got to go to Jump on It! for Jocey's party.  There are trampolines everywhere and you just exhaust yourself for a whole hour of fun!

~July 12, 2010~

And what else comes with a birthday?...an eighth birthday?

Baptism.

Jocey chose big brother Nicholas to baptize her. 

We were so happy that we could be there for her special day!

~July 17, 2010~

Summer Nights

Isn't family just great?  Sure is!

After my cousin's wedding reception, we decided to go out to eat with my parents, Aunt and Uncle and some of my cousins.  From left to right: Aunt Luanne, Diana, Uncle Howard, Candace, David, Phil, Me, Allyson, Dad and behind the camera is Mom.

After some yummy yummy Rumbi's Grill, we didn't want the fun to end. So what did we do?  Mini Golfing!

We left the parents behind and the Boondocks, here we come!

They have the coolest thing at Boondocks.  To sole the problem of boring people playing a boring game of mini golf, they kindly provide a fun spinner!

The spinners were at random holes around the course and each time you came to one, you had to spin it before your turn and then complete you turn following it's directions  Sometimes we got to switch balls with another player or even stand in front of someone's ball while they took their turn!

Here is lovely Phil demonstrating his "throw your ball instead of putt it" turn and "behind the back putt" turn.

We had a lot of fun on our cousin outing full of dance moves...

...flooded holes...

...and maybe, just maybe we stayed too late because we thought they were still open and they had to ask us to leave...maybe.

~July 9, 2010~

Later that week it was time for the long-awaited Gates Hall 1912 reunion.

This photo just puts a smile on my face.
Look familiar?

It's crazy to think it all started in our freshman year 2007...

...and we're still besties.

heather hosted us at her house and we had some yummy chicken thanks to Kevin, and the grill, and the hornets.

We played some intense croquet and Kami and Brandon stole the game!  Then we topped off the night with our own new version of Apples to Apples.  We all laughed so hard we cried.  It was a blast!

I love these girls and they're some of my best friends.

Love you my 1912 ladies!

~July 10, 2010~

aaand to top the week and this post off, Phil and I went with my family to the AF Steel Days Parade.  Don't even worry, we were there together last year too...

~Steel Days 2009~

...but we were "just pals" back then.  Little did we know that all of my neighbors who we were sitting with were making bets on how long it would take us to get together.   Ha-who would've thought that the next year we would be attending as Phil and Kaylee Bennallack.

Well obviously my neighbors did!  And luckily, so did Phil.  It just took me a little while to come around.

and good thing I did cuz look what I got!  How lucky am I?

~July 11, 2010~

Park -to the- City!

I always took Utah for granted growing up, and now when it's a vacation to visit, I realize how much fun it is!

My family rented out a condo for a couple nights up in Park City while we were there.  It was so fun!

The resort was awesome and the family time was great. Who knew Park City was that awesome?

Our first day up there we visited the Utah Olympic Park.

So fun.

We learned a lot about the Olympics when the were in SLC and got to see some cool things in the museum.

They even let Phil and I light the torch...that's already lit.  How kind!

We got to watch the aerial ski jumpers practice.  They go right down and jump into a bubbly pool.

Skiing in warm weather?...sounds ideal!

You know, what are the chances of two Aussies being in Park City at the same time?  Not high you'd think?

Then what are the chances of 20 Aussies being in Park City at the same time?

DONE!

The Australian Aerial Team was training that week in Park City.

So who got to watch them? - yes an Aussie himself!

We were going to talk to them, but I wimped out. Oh well.

Next up, the long jump.  No snow? No problem!

We'll just wet the grass with a sprinkler and you can land right on it.

No biggie.

I'd recommend the Olympic Park to anyone and I hope we get to go visit again.

Maybe we'll meet a few of these skiers while we're there!

Our next adventure was the Park City Resort.

A ski resort by winter and a family fun park by summer.

There was so much to do that we spent the whole rest of the day there. 

 

(check out dad trying to get an underarm tan! haha)

There was the Alpine Slide where we all raced to be ther first one down.

GO GO GO!

Here is Justin getting ready to blaze down.

Then our dear friend the Alpine Coaster.

This ride is a little bitter-sweet for us.

You see, mom lost her camera on the first ride down.  That put a damper on the day, and then the ride broke down after our first ride.  Ugh.  Luckily because it was broken down, mom and dad weren't afraid to break the rules and brave the terrain around it to search for their camera.

Sneaky parents!

But after some good hiking and prayers, Dad fount it, at the very top in the bushes!  Good thing Dad didn't obey the rules that day!

aaaand the ziprider!  There are two tiny specs of people in this photo, promise.

Because the coaster broke down, the lines for the zip line were super long, thus Phil felt the need to rejoice after getting off the ride.

"We made it!"

There was also rock climbing which Jocelyn loved!

And knowing Phil's inner child, he had to give it a whirl.

All and all, it was a fun trip full of nature, missing cameras, swimming, beautiful scenery and family bonding.

Thanks PC!

Seven Peaks Babaaaay!

Growing up in Utah County, there are a few things that a kid just can't go without.  One of them...

SEVEN PEAKS!

Love this place!  I think I've spend many many hours there, especially the years when my family got season passes.

YES!

We thought we'd show Phil what 7 Peaks was all about.

First stop: The Boomerang.

Sounds ideal for an Aussie yeah?  Correct!  We couldn't get enough.  The first drop down is such a rush!

Oh and our other fave, the wave pool!

But- Phil kinda put a damper on it when he decided he would lose his wedding ring in it, while the waves were on!

Silly Phil!

After some stressed moments, a run to the lifeguard shack, some goggles and some searching, WE FOUND IT.  Problem solved. Whoohooo!

We loved hanging out in the Lazy River.

We may or may not have been sneaky and jumped out at one exit and ran and got in further up when Phil tried to race us around the river.
Girl power!

A guaranteed wedgie on a huge, tall body slide sound fun?
Negative- but I guess that's just me.  It didn't stop Chantel and Phil.

Those two hooligans loved it.

I almost forgot!

Justin's epic sunburn!

Oh boy- this was a constant laugh!  People all over the water park wer doing double takes when Justin walked by.

Check it out...

Understand the double takes now?

This sunburn was courtesy of a previous boating trip, Justin's refusal to put on sunscreen and Phil's sunscreen signature.

Classic.

Oh I miss it!  can't wait for the Australian summmmrrrrr!

~July 16, 2010~

Fireworks!

The week Phil arrived in the USA there was a fireworks show at PG High School.  We sat in a park where we were so close that we could see the men lighting the fireworks.  We played games together while we waited for the show to start.

The show started with an amazing sunset...

...and it just got better from there on out.  A couple of fireworks decided to go sideways and into the crowd that was sitting at the high school! 

It was entertaining to say the least!

Then came the 4th of July.

I love this holiday!  It was complete with a BBQ and tons of fireworks!

and cousins too!

Oh and how could I forget

THE CANNON!?

and then!- Phil lit his first firework.

WOOOOOT!

Nothin' fancy, but it did the job.

He surely got his fair share cuz afterwards we went back home and lit some more with another set of cousins.

Our night came complete with the classic "flash dance".

Oh how we love our fireworks.

It was fun to be there with the family to celebrate and to experience Phil's first fireworks.
Thank you America's birthday!
~July 4, 2010~