DAD

Utah = Fun with Grandpa

The kids always love to spend time with my dad when we are in Utah. Like past trips we had some fun with him again. He is so patient and kind and is pretty willing to do just about anything with the grand kids and kids! Not so sure he is going to like all these pictures I am about to post because he doesn't even know I have them. He was busy sleeping while we were busy laughing and taking pictures. Thanks for being such a good sport dad. Hope we don't have to use any of these for blackmail photos one day!

Dad fell asleep on the couch holding this toy gun and the way he was holding it looked like he was sleeping with it to protect himself (maybe he was trying to protect himself from all the grandkids jumping all over him). We couldn't pass up the opportunity for pictures. Jackson had to get in on the action and give us a thumbs up which made us laugh even harder. Dad you didn't even flinch with us laughing and taking the pictures. Makes me laugh thinking about it right now. Mom was in the kitchen laughing so hard she was crying. Should of been there dad. Oh you were!

Did you laugh looking at these dad? C'mon you have to admit they are pretty funny! We always have so much fun with you. So glad you can roll with it, you are awesome! We are so glad we have you and so glad that the kids have you for their grandpa. Jackson just asked me the other day can grandpa from Utah come here for my birthday in December? Thanks for being that kind of grandpa and dad that we all want to spend time with. We love you!

The Whiff

Utah = Whiffle Ball


Every Summer while we are in Utah we always end up playing this game I call Whiffle Ball. I am not sure if that is the right name, but we will go with it. And every year we laugh while we play until someone gets a black eye (Jackson) or somebody quits in the middle (we are a very competitive family) there are always tears shed (because something isn't fair) but we keep on playing it every year.

Who knows what these two are coming up with?

Any way you say it Sixty is the Bomb!!!!

Utah = A fun 60th birthday celebration!

60, sixty, the big 6 0, sixxxxtyyyyy!!! SIXTY SIXTY Sixty sixty sixteeeeeee!! Hooray!!!

While we were in Utah we decided to plan a little surprise 60th birthday party for my mom. I mean turning 60 is a big deal right? In my family that means you are going to get a joke played on you and you better be ready for it!

Me and my sisters had been planning this for about two months. Trying to think of a way to make this fun for mom, let her know how much we appreciate her and really celebrate the 60 years she has been on earth. So this is how it all went down...... Keeping in mind we had to keep this under wraps because we were trying to surprise her. My sister Katy lives about 20 minutes from my parents so we had to think of way to get her and her three boys to my parents to spend the night. Hmm... what could we do? Got it! All the girls and kids would sleep out in the backyard in a tent (cause it would be fun for the kids, wink wink). We also needed the kids help to blow up 200 pink balloons, put marshmallows on toothpicks and decorate the front yard in the middle of the night. After everyone in the house went to sleep we got busy with the surprise. The kids were so excited to help. I am so proud of them for keeping it a secret. Around 2:30am we snuck around to the front yard and stuck the 200 balloons in the grass along with 6 pink flamingos and the marshmallows. We had made posters to put up in the front yard and we also stuck posters up on main street letting everyone know that Pam Buchanan was turning 6o. I am from a small town where everyone knows everybody so we thought this might be a little embarrassing for mom. We finally got it all finished around 3:30am and tried to get some sleep. Little did we know that it was supposed to rain and be freezing that night ( it was July 11th). We did not put the rain gear on the tent so we got wet. Try moving 6 tired, wet, unhappy kids in the house at 5:30 in the morning. Fun times!!

The next morning this is what my mom woke up to.....

We found this cute hat that said the big 60 on it and had candles shooting out the top of it! We made her wear it all day! Look how cute she is!
After she saw the front yard we were trying to figure out how to get her up town so she could see the posters. This is sad really, don't judge... still all of us in pj's about 9am we say c'mon mom lets ride up town and get a d-coke. She said this early, sure d-coke at 9am sounds pretty good to me. Does that give away that I am highly addicted to d-coke? yikes! She went for it and off we went up town. When she saw the posters she almost died. It was quite funny! I think they stayed up for the next 3 days. We thought the city would take them all down. Lucky for mom they were displayed for at least 3 days. Hooray! Later in the day we made dinner and had cake and ice cream. She was a good sport and wore that silly hat most of the day.
This is mom and all my sisters. We were sad that our brother Ben couldn't be there. He and his family live in Logan and they had already been down visiting before we did this. They had to get back home for work. We missed them.

Just a little about my mom from my perspective......I have been lucky enough to be with my mom for 38 years of that 60. Mom you are without a doubt the funnest mom I could ever dream to have. I have had so much fun with you over the years. You taught me how to be a good person, friend and sister. You taught me how to keep a really clean house. You taught me how to laugh and have fun. You taught me how to be a mother. You taught me how to respect others. You taught me the gospel. You taught me that you love me no matter what I have done and you always will. You taught me how to take care of my body and spirit. You taught me that I can have a fun and enjoyable life by seeing you enjoy yours. Since I have lived far away from you for the past 13 years I have come to appreciate you so much more. I love our phone conversations (pretty much every other day). I love that you look forward to when we come every Summer for two weeks and take over your house and everything else. I look so forward to the times you get to come to Texas and see us. I know I am in for a good fun time. Thanks so much for everything you have done, taught and continue to do for me. You are something special and I am so glad you are my mom!!!!

4th of July

Utah = Stadium of Fire

My mom and dad got us all tickets to the Stadium of Fire for the 4th of July. I was so excited because Carrie Underwood was the "Big Star" performing. Seriously, that girl can sing! She was so great! It was so much fun hanging out with family, listening to some great music and watching an awesome fireworks show. Thanks for the tickets mom and dad. So much fun!

10,897 FT

Utah = Jeeping up in the mountains... Oh how I love and miss the mountains. Utah ritual when we come to visit is a ride up the Manti Lasal to Sky Line Drive in the jeep. We see snow every time even in July! The kids love it!