Learning how to be domestic

A few weeks ago, our family went up to Oregon to visit Kev's family. We also went there so Kev's parents could teach us how to can peaches and pears (they are pros)! We had a great time and left there learning a whole slew of domestic skills! It was a lot of fun!

Me, with the pears...

Kev's parents with the pears...

Kev's sister, Jone and our niece, Melissa came to help too...

The peaches were fresh off of Grandma and Grandpa's tree, and Benjamin couldn't get enough...

Happy Birthday Derek!

On September 17th, Derek turned 6! It seemed like we celebrated his birthday all week!

First, we had cake and sang to him at my parent's house the Sunday before his birthday (Derek shares his birthday with his Grandpa Martin and his cousin, Erin)...

He was also the Star Student of the week at school...

We opened presents, sung to him and had cookies (cause we were sick of cake) on his actual birthday...

And then he had a friend party on the Saturday after his birthday...
Derek with his Sponge Bob cake

Derek with his homemade Sponge Bob pinata

Derek, hitting the pinata

We played "Pin the Nose on Squidward"

The crew...

Whewww...it was a busy week, but we had a very happy boy!

Random Family Pictures

Well, just like it says, I have a few "random family pictures" that I'm going to post on here...

Tyler, heading off the Webelos Cub Scout Camp...

Derek lost his first tooth...and was SOOOO excited!

Benjamin and his two little cousins...Jace (Laurie's) and Will (Holly's)

The kids enjoyed going to the Zoo with their cousins...

Life always keeps us on our toes!!! I'm glad to finally get this blog up to date though! Oh, also...we are expecting baby #5 on April 4th! Yay...we're very excited!

The Banner Reunion

The annual Banner Reunion was a success! Kevin and I hosted this year and we had a great time...

We played games at the church...

Went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House...
Brooklyn, Tyler, and Derek with some of their cousins

Our family at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple (we didn't know we had stripes!)

Went swimming at Jordanelle Reservoir...

Benjamin loved wading in the water

Brooklyn was VERY excited to be reunited with all her old swimming "stuff"

Benjamin loves his Grandma Banner

The Banners are all "fish"

Neil...

We rode Trax downtown, watched the Joseph Smith Movie, walked around Temple Square, and toured the Conference Center...
Alan's Family at Temple Square

Our family at Temple Square

We also went up Big Cottonwood Canyon...
Kev enjoyed throwing the football around (doing the Heisman pose)...

Like Father, Like Son...

We also enjoyed just spending time together...
Alan's family

Benjamin and Grandma

We had a great time and I'm so thankful to be a part of such a great family! 'Till next year...

4th of July circle party

On July 3rd, our little circle had our annual circle party. We had a BBQ and then lit some fireworks. It was a wonderful night...great food, great friends, great times...

Girls Outing

My sister Laurie came to visit in July. We had a fun "girls day" with my mom, Laurie, my sister Holly, and my niece, Erin. We went up to Fruit Heights and went shopping at the little shops at the Rock Loft in Fruit Heights. We ate lunch at a cute place there called "The Bun Basket". It was so yummy and we had so much fun!

Me, Erin, Mom, Laurie, Holly

Laurie, Holly, Me

Riverton 10k

On July 4th, Kevin and I ran the Riverton 10k (6.2 miles). It was an awesome race and such a fun way to start out the holiday. We ran the first half together, but then I told Kevin to go ahead so he could do his best. Kevin ran it in 53:38 and I ran it in 56:10.

How do you like to go up in a swing?

When I was little my mom used to sing to us when she would push us on a swing. The song she always sang was based on a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson called "The Swing". When I took these pictures of Ben, I couldn't help but sing the song to him also...

"How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!"

"Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
River and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside--"

"Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown--
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!"