Panama Family Reunion: 2011

For those who don't know, my grandpa (my mom's dad), is from Panama. He moved here, all by himself, when he was 19 years old to attend Utah State University because he wanted to be a farmer. (He ended up retiring from Kennecott instead.) The rest of my grandpa's brothers still live in Panama. Their children are scattered around the world: Panama, France, Canada, etc.

My mom and her cousin are planning the first actual Panama Family Reunion. My great grandpa's birthday is in April. They decided to have the reunion during his birthday (he's 95 now and he's still doing great!). However, this April is a little soon for everyone to save for plane tickets, get a lot of time off work, etc., so it's being planned for April of 2011. It sounds far away, but I'm sure the time will fly by. I am so, so, SO excited to go! I'm excited to take Mitch; I've been telling him we need to go there someday.

I was able to go to Panama with my grandpa in April 2004 to celebrate my great grandpa's 90th birthday. It was a neat experience, mostly because I was a

ble to meet many family members that I had never met before. I also went to a crocodile farm, ate some crocodile (which really did taste like chicken), visited the Panama Canal, traveled to a small island to see some Cuna Indians, ate a lot of fresh fish and my favorite, fresh pineapple juice, went snorkeling, and tried to get to know my family members (who all, thankfully, speak excellent English). It was a great time and I'm so glad I went. Now, I'm even more excited that Mitch and my family can come.

Here's some pics from my trip in 2004:

My grandpa insisted that I dance with the Indians.

If you wonder how I tan so easily, it's because I'm

related to all of these people.

Here is my great grandpa with is three children.

My grandpa (Kermit) on the far left, then my great

grandpa (also named Kermit), then Tito, then Billy.

Here's the Indians that took us on our hour long boat ride to their island. They literally only grow hair on top of their head and their eyebrows. That's it. They are completely hairless everywhere else. I was so jealous.

I can't wait to see everyone in beautiful Panama! I better work on my tan before we go so I don't look pasty white next to everyone like I did last time. Ha,ha.

Last of the Mohicans

I just finished reading the Last of the Mohicans. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. It was very interesting and I learned a lot about the Native Americans and their interactions with the whites. I do recommend it, but be advised that it did give me nightmares about being killed by savage Indians in cruel and grotesque ways. The book really isn't that graphic, but I have a pretty wild imagination.

Now I'm reading The House of the Seven Gables, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the same guy who wrote The Scarlet Letter, which I have never read completely because I get half through and I'm bored to tears. So, we'll see how this one goes. If it's mind-numbing then I'll read something else.

There's Nothing Like Warm Lemonade on a Hot Summer Day

Yes, I said WARM lemonade. There is a cute little girl who lives right by us and she frequently sets up a lemonade stand. Her stand is WAY better than the cardboard sign and card table I used as a kid. Anyways, I felt bad because all summer long I've been driving by this diligent little girl and I never stopped to buy any lemonade. (I did wave though.) So today, after driving by her stand twice, I decided to walk over and buy some lemonade. I figured I could drink it on my short walk home and feel refreshed from the hot sun. Now this little girl had not only lemonade, but key chains and Domino coupon cards as well. Plus, the lemonade was already poured and sitting out in the cups. Sure, that means it's all ready to go, but it also means it's warm. I asked her how much for the lemonade, she said, "Well, it's 50 cents, but for you it's only 25." Sweet! Little girl likes me and I get a discount. Don't worry, I still paid her the entire 50 cents. (It's actually 50 cents for adults and 25 cents for kids ... Smart little girl, huh? Everyone knows that adults have more money, most of them anyways.) I picked up my cup of warm lemonade and started to walk away. Before I left she said, "Just so you know, you get a free lemonade when you buy a Domino's card." Wow, what a little business woman! I asked how much the Domino's cards were, "They're $10. But my dad only paid $1 for each one so it's a great deal for us!" Ha,ha, I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to tell your customers that. I just smiled and told her I didn't have that much cash, which I really didn't. Maybe when Mitch gets home we'll go back. And Mitch can drink the free glass of warm lemonade that is included with our purchase of our very own Domino's card. That cracks me up. While the lemonade was warm, it was PINK lemonade, which I prefer over regular. Plus, I put it in the freezer when I got home and it got cold really fast.

"Baby, Write This Down, Take A Little Note ...

... to remind you in case you didn't know ..." yes, I went to the George Strait concert tonight. And no, I did NOT pay for my ticket; I honestly don't know why anyone would pay to watch George Strait stand in one spot, strum his guitar, and sing. It was so B-O-R-I-N-G!! He didn't even do anything cool or have any special effects. I will admit, he has an excellent voice, I really like a lot of his songs, and I think he's handsome. But he's so lame to watch, let alone spend money to watch him stand in one spot and sing. Concerts are supposed to be a form of entertainment, not doldrums. Anyways, my parents have some awesome friends, the Terry Wrights, who often invite them to concerts at the Usana amphitheater for free. I try to tag along as often as I can. Let me just say how insanely crowded this concert was. I was baffled at how many people showed up. We ended up leaving early to beat traffic home considering it took us almost two hours to get there from my parents house, which is totally ridiculous. On the way home the radio d.j. said that George hasn't performed in Utah for over ten years. No wonder it was sold out; people have waited ten years to see this guy stand in one spot and sing. Ha,ha.

Okay, it really wasn't THAT bad, but I would definitely never pay to see him, even if I do know all the words to most of his songs. I am glad that I got to spend some time with my cool padres though. They're fun to hang out with. I meant to wear my authentic George Strait Collection cowgirl hat that I got during my short-lived barrel racing days, but it was WAY too hot outside to be wearing a hat (by the way, my secret plan is to have our little girl beg Mitch, with her most convincing pouty face, for a pony. Then I'll have to get a horse too so I can teach her how to ride. It will be great. And if that doesn't work, I'll have her beg her Grandpa Miles. Ha,ha.) Here's a video of one of my favorite George Strait songs; pay attention, or don't because he doesn't do anything anyways. Just listen to his soothing voice. And trust me, this is as exciting as it got.

Also, I just heard that they're releasing the movie, "Where The Wild Things Are" on October 16th.

I LOVED that book as a kid and I can't wait to see the movie. That's awesome. Now I have to buy the book so I can read all 10 pages or whatever it is before the movie comes out. :)

Harvey's New Friend

I babysit this adorable little girl once a week. For the first few weeks, Harvey did NOT know what to think of her. She freaked him out. He wouldn't even come in the room if she was there. Now that he's more used to her, he likes to lay a few feet away from her and just STARE at her. At first I was nervous that he might scratch her or bite her so I was really careful about letting him by her, and I still don't let him by her most of the time just in case, but he's never done anything mean to her and she loves watching him. But, he always runs away from her just when she gets close enough to touch him. It's pretty hilarious actually. Here's some videos of Harvey and his new friend. Don't mind my cheesy little kid voice.

Let the Good Times Roll

We had some good times last weekend. We went camping on Friday night with some neighbors. It was a lot of fun despite the fact that Mitch hates camping. We stayed up Ogden canyon at the Meadows campground; not nearly as pretty as Big or Little Cottonwood canyons, but it was pretty enough. (I've said it before ... the Salt Lake canyons are the prettiest!) The original plan was to float the river, we even borrowed my parents two-man raft, but the river was too low to float. We'll have to go earlier in the year next time. Sadly, I didn't take any pictures, so you'll have to take my word for it that we had fun. The only downer was the tent. We borrowed my parents' tent and it sucked. The door had a broken zipper. It took us about twenty minutes to get it zipped up after we set the tent up, so we didn't want to use that door at all. Instead we used the "doggy door" on the tent. I don't know if it's an actual doggy door or what, but that's the only use I can think of for the tiny door on the bottom of the tent. I fit through the door pretty well but it's a bit of a squeeze for Mitch. We both laughed so hard everytime we watched the other one go in and out of the doggy door. So funny.

Of course we made S'mOreos. (You roast a marshmallow and then put it in between an Oreo.) We've used mint Oreos and Double Stuffed Oreos and they're both favorites. The mint S'mOreo is a little more favorite though.

Even though Mitch hates camping, he actually had a good time. Maybe it was partly because there were tons of little kids with us and they were HILARIOUS! Kids roaming wild in the outdoors... so funny. Plus, the food was really good. Our friends, the Musters, are excellent dutch oven/fire cookers. I think Martha could have been Laura Ingalls. Thanks again, guys, we had a great time.

On Saturday Mitch had to get fitted for a tux for my baby bro's wedding next month. We decided that since we were in SLC we should do something there that we can't do at home. First, we got free slurpees from 7-11 (they give free slurpees on July 11th every year because it's 7/11. Cool huh?). Then we went to the world's biggest dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point. It was awesome. Mitch was OBSESSED with dinos as a kid, so I thought he would like the museum. He did enjoy it. I did too. We also saw a 3-D movie about whales and dolphins on the I-max screen and it was really cool. Here's Mitch scared to death of the big T-Rex that's coming to eat him. I love Mitch's face in this picture. Ha,ha.

After that exciting time we went and ate dinner at Hire's Big H. My grandma Ruth and brother LOVE that restuarant. I haven't been there in a very long time and Mitch had never been. We both loved it. We got a rootbeer freeze. I have to say, Hire's has the best homemade rootbeer ever. Way better than Call's and The Pie's. Plus, Hire's has amazing fries and fry sauce. Now I'm hungry just thinking about it. I'm glad we got to enjoy the night considering it was all last minute and totally on a whim.

Island Park 2009

We started celebrating the 4th early on Thursday with most of my family at the West Jordan Stampede Rodeo. Mitch is not a fan of rodeos, much to my dismay, so he was a good sport to tag along. My mom bought me cotton candy. Probably cuz she felt bad about going to Lake Powell without us, depsite me hinting and flat out begging for the past year to go. I can't blame her though, they got invited to go with some friends and couldn't pass it up. The rodeo was fun; I love rodeos. Does anyone want to go to the Weber County rodeo with me next month???

Mitch and I spent the 4th at Chase's family's cabin in Island Park, ID with Mitch's family. It was really pretty and a fun trip. Here's some of the highlights:

• We saw lots of buffulo, elk, buffalo, bears, wolves, and buffalo. Did I mention there were a lot of buffalo in the park?

• We ate ... a lot. We all brought too many snacks and I'm pretty sure I gained 5 pounds.
• Mitch and I ran a 10K. We didn't think the altitude would make such a big difference, but let's just say we both struggled and didn't do quite as well as we originally hoped. My legs were really sore the next day. Pretty sure I won't sign up for another high altitude race.

• We made s'mores over the campfire. Katie invented a new way to roast marshmallows ... stuff a piece of chocolate in the marshmallow and then roast it. Yum!
• We watched the neighbor's light off lame fireworks. They gave me a sparkler. I spelled my name with it.
• Chase did some fly fishing. He might be obsessed.
• We saw Old Faithful go off in the rain.
• The weather was crazy- rain, then sun, then rain.

• Mitch and I accidentally left our tennis shoes outside and they got soaking wet from the rain.
• We ate some more.
• We saw some stinky hot pots.

• We saw "Alaska" on the I-max screen. Kathy told me that Sarah Palin resigned. I was elated.
• We saw more buffalo.
• We saw a gorgeous waterfall and took our picture by it.

• I saw a bear in real life for the first time, besides the zoo.
• We came home to Harvey, who won't stop meowing for some unknown reason. He's so weird.

It was a great trip. I hope we keep up the tradition!