Category: Family Fun

Recent Happenings

Post author By Joy
Post date September 24, 2012

Charlotte started Joy School at the beginning of September. It was fun to do Joy School for Chase, & I wanted to do it again for Charlotte! A group of 4 moms from our ward are rotating teaching our kids (and I think 4 is the perfect number for this). Of course there are no girls anywhere near Charlotte’s age, but these cute boys will do!

We were talking about the human body this particular day, & they were figuring out how to make some letters with their bodies. Here they were making the letter H.

This was our attempt at taking a picture of our little skeletons. We will have to try that again soon, but in the meantime, this photo is entertaining. (The next morning, we went out to breakfast while the kids were still in these pajamas, and we sat near a group of elderly men. One of the old guys pointed at Chase and shouted, “I can see your ribs!!!”)

Warning: Photos of Pace’s masculine chest will be seen in the following photos, and feelings of jealousy may be evoked.

Our ward had a big Book of Mormon Fiesta which we really enjoyed. Here are the hams showing off their war paint.

Scary and intimidating!

This is not only a blurry, weird picture, but I also wanted to capture the moment when there were nine kids all playing in Chase’s little bedroom. This is exactly how Chase likes things to be!

Chase is a master gardener & we recently picked our first pumpkin. Pumpkins are extremely invasive and take over the whole entire garden, and then some—that is what we learned this year!

Caroline is the cutest baby!! I know, we all think that about our own babies. I love to kiss her chubby little cheeks and snuggle her sweet, thick hair. OK, enough of that. Here she was stealing Pace’s dried fruit that he was snacking on.

Aunt Jessica (my baby sister) turned 22 a couple weeks ago. Casey did a great job throwing a big party with lots of their friends to celebrate with Jess. I think she felt very loved!

Birthday Buddies (September 7th & 8th)

Caroline is at a fun age. She likes to rearrange the pantry for me. Whatever it takes to safely entertain her while I prepare meals is alright with me!

This picture reminds me of one of myself around the same age, caught in the act of proudly pulling every single towel out of a kitchen drawer. Remember that one, Mom & Dad?

Family Fun Married Lessons

Park City Adventure

Post author By Joy
Post date September 9, 2012

Every year, Pace & I like to go on an overnighter to celebrate our anniversary (which is actually in December, but that is a very crazy time for us with birthdays + holidays). We are blessed to have Pace’s mom, Gretchen, who is willing to watch our kids while we go!

This year we went to Park City (Pace planned it)! We did some adventurous activities at Olympic Park (I’ve become very afraid of heights in my old age). We then went to our hotel for a very fancy dinner & then walking around Main Street with the McGowans, & hot stone massages in the morning. Such a great retreat! Thank you to Gretchen.

Charlotte Chase Chase Adventures Family Fun

Chase The First Grader

Post author By Joy
Post date September 9, 2012

Yes, he’s big now. Yes, he’s gone all day now. It’s exciting! Every day he whines about having to go to school, but I think he kind of likes it anyway. He has a great teacher (Ms. Chatterley), who has been teaching for 28 years.

I get to have girl time with these cuties! We’re also doing Joy School at home with Charlotte & friends. (Weird that when she starts kindergarten, Chase will be starting 3rd grade)!

Family Fun

California Part 2

Post author By Joy
Post date August 31, 2012

Fishing under the tutelage of Uncle Nathan at Lake Phil (=my parents’ pond)

The one below kind of makes my heart melt! Ah I LOVE this baby!!

Tender-hearted Uncle Nathan brought a BB gun for Chase & Charlotte to try out, in exchange for being well-behaved during family photos (which are coming up in California Part 3! As soon as I figure out how to blog those).

This picture reminds me of that part in Cinderella when the stepsisters push each other back & forth & then peep through the keyhole to watch Cinderella get scolded. I told the kids that, and they miraculously knew exactly which part I was talking about! We’re all geniuses.

Charlotte is basically a model here.

Isn’t Rachel a great photographer (with a great camera)?

Caroline ate tons of delicious baby food that Jessica had selected at the store before we got there (& Caroline even had whole blueberries there for the first time). I love her kissable little face.

Chase & Charlotte’s first time on a Ferris wheel—at Traintown in Sonoma with Pace, Rachel, & Grandma.

Charlotte has been really eager to ride a Ferris wheel since she was 2, when we read a library book about Barbie’s little sister, Kelly, riding a Ferris wheel.

These kids have some amazing adults in their lives!

Rachel could certainly pass as the cute mother of these cute children.

I love this picture. Even the horses were overjoyed that day!! Charlotte’s horse looks like a psycho!

Don’t cry, baby sister.

Big Brother Chase knows how to comfort her.

Chase Adventures Family Fun

The Y Hike

Post author By Joy
Post date August 30, 2012

Chase had been wanting to Hike the Y for quite a while. Pace & I weren’t exactly eager to take the two younger girls along on such a venture. So when my dad was here for a dental convention/Education week, Pace was nice enough to stay home with the girls one evening while Dad, Chase, & I hiked the Y.

Can you tell that Chase was pleased to have finally realized his dream?

Don’t even worry about it that my dad had already hiked it once before, on that morning! Sheesh, he’s so hardcore.

Family Fun

California Part 1

Post author By Joy
Post date August 30, 2012

Yeah baby, I am getting this done! We went to California a few weeks ago, & it was grrreat! I don’t want to forget these fond memories. (Many photos courtesy of Rachel, thanks so much sis!)

We enjoyed going to the Sonoma County Fair, just like we did when we were kids. Our whole family was there together! As you’ve probably already heard, Chase tried his hand at Mutton Bustin’, & did quite well! I knew he would do well because of his determined (ahem, stubborn) personality. He held onto that sheep for dear life & it was hilarious to watch.

We couldn’ta been prouder of our little guy gittin’ that there first place.

Charlotte stuck to activities that she knows best, like intense tea parties…

And basking in the attention of a whole bunch of doting adults. How cute is my dad?!

She especially adores Aunt Rachel. It was nice to have her be someone else’s shadow for a change!

We got to see Great Grandma T. a few times!

Some of the group went camping at Bodega Bay. I heard it was pretty fun, but then very cold & wet by morning. And I can’t forget to mention that Nathan & my dad rode bikes out there, & then Dad & Pace rode back mostly uphill, 30 miles, Pace wearing his cutoff jean shorts! My husband & dad & Nathan are intense!

We went out to a few classic favorite restaurants, like Crepevine & Omelette Express. The kids loved spotting Snoopy character statues all over town (Santa Rosa is Charles Schultz’s hometown).

And the #1 place we always have to visit, Howarth Park! So many fun things to do there, including my favorite boingy horses on a spring. And so many fond memories for me there, of years of cross-country training. Including meeting there at 6:30 am for summer morning runs. I don’t know what I was thinking back then, but… Go Me of the past!

Family Fun

Fun With the (Second) Cousins!

Post author By Joy
Post date August 20, 2012

Our kids still don’t have any first cousins, but they sure do have tons & tons of second cousins! And it’s always wonderful to spend time with them.

The Dynamic Duo, AKA Nada Payne & Marisa Whitaker, drove from Tennessee to Utah with little Luke & Natalie in tow! Impressive! (Something I would never be woman enough to undertake.) Chase & Charlotte were in heaven playing with those two kids.

Pictured: Luke & Chase getting intense with the LEGO Star Wars video game in the family room.

Not pictured: Charlotte & Natalie getting intense with the princess dress-up in the office room.

Family Get-Together at Jim & Gretchen’s before Scott & Christina’s BYUI graduations (& Erica & Josh’s wedding). David Whitaker is a funny guy, just like all the men in this family!!

Speaking of funny guys…

And here are a bazillion photos of the family, for the record.

GG, Tyler, & Chase win the awards for craziest facial expressions in this next one!

Some adorable children. From left: Kyle, Joel, Chase, Caroline, Charlotte, Luke, & Natalie.

Kyle didn’t put his green sword down all evening.

Photo Op with Great Grandma Lipps. Charlotte really enjoys saying that name.

Later, in the backyard, I caught the kids in the act of being very cute. Chase gladly embraced his role as as Swingmaster/Eldest Great-Grandchild Present/Tough Guy.

Charlotte Chase Family Fun

Our Little Fishies

Post author By Joy
Post date August 20, 2012

I should blog about our California trip… but first I have to backtrack to right before that trip. Chase & Charlotte took a few weeks of gymnastics classes, which they really enjoyed. I never took any pictures, boo!

They also took 5 days of swimming lessons in someone’s awesome, very warm backyard pool.

Chase did wonderfully with the swimming lessons! He is a completely confident little fish in the water now, a great swimmer, & he & I both don’t have to worry about him drowning.

Charlotte, on the other hand, hated “getting water in her ears” & really wanted nothing to do with putting her face in the water. She would cry whenever the teacher asked her to blow bubbles in the water. She did alright, but I probably should have waited till she’s 4 to put her in lessons. You never know how they’re going to do!

Chase Family Fun McVideos

Mutton Bustin!

Post author By McAdmin
Post date July 30, 2012

We visited the Santa Rosa County Fair, there were lots of fun things and I’m sure Joy might talk about all of them later. The most important thing was a Mutton Busters group had setup camp on one end of the fair. After watching the noon show Chase said he wanted to try his hand at Mutton Busting.

For those not familiar, kids between the age of 4-7 weighing less than 60lbs get put on a sheep who’s been separated from the flock. When the door opens the sheep runs to the other end of the ring where the rest of the flock is. The kid holds on to the wool as long as possible. Whichever kid who holds on the longest wins. In the noon show the winner was on about 5 seconds and most rides last less then that.

Chase was up against two other kids, the first one didn’t last long enough to get a score, and the second kid was on about 5 seconds and scored 85. So Chase needed 86 or higher to win. Check out the video to see what happened

Family Fun

More Summer Friends

Post author By Joy
Post date July 12, 2012

We met up with my old roommate Chandice to swim at a fancy pool at her in-laws’ vacation home! It was a beautiful place. I was glad Chandice contacted me & that we got to catch up! It’s handy to live in Utah, because old friends, roommates, mission companions, etc. are often passing through to visit family, go to General Conference, whatever! And we get to see them, too. We love it.

A whole bunch of kids whose names all begin with “C”! From left: Chase, Crissa, Cora, Caroline, Chase, & Charlotte.

Pace joined us for a few minutes after he got off work.

Chase & Cora especially got along well. Cora even started calling him “Domino.” I don’t know where that name came from, but it helped out since there are two Chases, and there was even another Chase swimming there, too!!