Reynolds meet in the middle!

I had know idea that living in the center of the country would really ever have any perks. But this weekend it totally did!
While we were in California I was talking about how tough it would be for me to go back to Kansas after the Bylund reunion--(that's, right, I did NOT call it home... not yet. At some point I will try. Just not quite ready). She quickly chimed in she had nothing going the rest of the summer and would love to come see where we live! She knows how I love anticipation, and this would give me something to look forward too! LOVE YOU WENDY!
So we hadn't been back in KS for 48 when I get a call and she has found a ticket and is ready to click purchase! As things evolved over the next few weeks it worked out that the weekend she was to come Larry could have flown home to CA but instead, they met each other in the middle at our little Casa de Reynolds! Wendy flew in Wednesday morning and Larry flew in Thursday night. It was such a fun few days for a whole family!! Pretty much everything we did we all did together for the first time. First Costco run in KS, first movie trip, first time to Liberty Jail, first up close drive by at the temple, first time to Home Goods. But then there was the famous trip to Fritz that no one will go without if they come to visit us!:)

A picture of Jackson inside Liberty Jail with Joseph Smith in the background. Jackson kept saying he didn't want to leave and he wanted to hear the story again. He knew a fair amount about the story because he was fascinated by the picture of Joseph kneeling in the jail that is in the Gospel Art Kit. He reminded me on our way home that the Joseph in this jail was just plastic and not real.

We are soooooo soooo soooo excited there there will be a temple in Kansas!!! WAHOOO! We have heard lots of rumors of when it will really be done, but have not seen anything in print from the church for an official opening. The outside is done, there are still windows to be worked on and landscape is in progress. Should be fun to watch it and be a part of the dedication and open house. Who wants to come and visit us when it happens...!? We have an extra room and basement! ... any takers?


Each time we go to Fritz at the Crown Center we also go to the little explore play place put on by crayola. Right now they have a rainforest exhibit. Jackson loved being the explorer complete with real binoculars (He's been really into those recently), compass, flashlight and vest.
We went up to the clinic before going to dinner so Larry and Wendy could really check out the clinic and envision what Adam does all day. Since it was Friday evening there weren't really many patients so the boys got to sit in the chairs and Adam gave them a little water and air from the tools.
Love this look of Drews'. It's classic. He likes to look up at you first with just his eyes before bringing his head up.



Papa keeping Drewsies awake so he'd take a nap when we got home from our adventures!

Bylundfest KY 2011

Another rocking weekend with my family! This one was especially fantastic since it was the Bylundfest KY 2011. We were all there, minus only Adam because he had only been in ortho residency a couple of weeks and couldn't come. We were most bummed, but made the most of it and had a great time!
Our opener was on Thursday July 14. That's right me and the boys had only been home from our near month in California when the 3 of us took off again to go back to KY! It was so worth it, and again the boys did fantastic on the plane. I have been amazed at their traveling abilities and flexibilities. I have certainly built confidence in myself in traveling with them and without Adam. They are 2 very impressive kids that everyone adores as we walk down airplane isles and through terminals. It is a fun feeling as a mom to watch others' faces just light up when they see how completely darling they are. Anyway, our opener started with the unveiling of the family t-shirts designed by Jon! They were awesome and will be worn for years to come--so long as I can fit in it! They are fitted and athletic and very breathable. He did a great job. Mom and dad "TRIED THEM ON!" after much cheering and chanting. Mom read a book about being a bucket filler that helped the grandkids focus on being positive and happy versus being a bucket filler that is selfish and negative. Jackson got into and called cousins bucket fillers and specifically dippers during the weekend. It was quite funny and cute.


We packed as much in to the next 3 days as possible when you have 16 grandchildren and 9 adults in a house in Morehead, KY. Some the most memorable included 60 Krispy Kreme doughnuts from Jason and Erin for mom's 60 B-day, day at the lake with a boat, picnic, and lots of fun and sun, bubbles, chocolate fountain, planetarium, rodburn nature hike and kickball, Bingo and celebrating mom's 60th birthday! The adults played "the name game" and good memories were made.





Thanks to Erin for busting out the chocolate fountain, and to Julie and Angela for teaching us how to do it!

Jackson took the nature hike pretty seriously. Grandpa was a great sport and helped him all the way through. Weeks later Jackson told me about the hike and how we need to stay away from poison ivy because it can hurt our whole body!



Jackson thought the planetarium was pretty awesome and talked about "constellations" for nights to come telling Grandpa they forgot to look at the stars. Drew on the other hand needed a break from the fun day and slept hard at the end.
When we asked mom what she wanted for her birthday the only thing she would say was "to have everyone here and to get along". I felt like as adults we could probably handle that, and we could pull it off. However, we thought she would also enjoy a memory book of the last 60 years, and a Erin put together a fun and incredible video of all the grandkids saying a totaly of 60 words that describe mom. It was a hit.
The other things she wanted that goes without saying was a family photo and a picture with she and all the grandkids. Again, the kids rose to the occasion and we got some cute ones.

Courtney and Bobby Kallush!

Courtney's and Bobby's wedding day was wonderful! They were married July 9, 2011. It was such a blessing to be able to be in the sealing room watching them make the biggest decision of their life and see the excitement and peace they felt as the kneeled across the alter. I was so excited for Courtney to experience the joys of a temple marriage and the blessing of having her family be a part of it. Bobby is a wonderful addition to the family and we are anxious to make more memories with him!







While waiting outside the temple for Bobby and Courtney, Jackson got excited to seem them appear. He saw them and ran straight for them before anyone else had a chance to say hello or congratulations. They were sweet to him and he thought it was pretty exciting.


Love you Court! It was fun for me to spend time with Courtney here and there the week before her wedding. She is such a fun easy going girl! She was truly a beautiful bride!!



The reception was absolutely gorgeous! These pictures don't do it justice. It was a vintage theme and everything looked AMAZING! Robyn Wilson, Wendy's sister, did all the arrangements and flowers and everyone was so impressed by how wonderful it looked!






Jackson was content to dance the night away! HE found just about everyone he could to dance with him. Grandma Little and Aunt Robyn were good sports. We had a great time dancing. Drew loved it as well, but we only caught him on camera loving the food, my little eater!