Drive to the Redwoods

7.31.09
After a few days at Shasta Lake, 15 of us traveled many hours (the amount of hours in the car is still up for debate. I swear it was 9, but Justin and James argue with me.) to the Redwoods National Park. Cousin Nora, that sweet thing, sat between Trey and Tian's car seats. Before the long drive, I asked if she got car sick. She said, "Nope!" I get terribly car sick, and these roads were AWFULLY windy. In fact, as we pulled over on the highway next to a nice patch of dirt while James and Tina's baby Tyson puked, I felt like puking right beside him. After a few hours of windy roads and a few bouts of screaming from Tian, Nora began getting sick herself. Turns out, she doesn't do well with screaming kids. And I will have you know, that was just about the ONLY time Tian screamed the whole entire trip. And, really, it wasn't even a scream!!!

We stopped after a car change on Nora's part, and a few stops for Trey to go potty (poor guy didn't go #2 for the whole family reunion and decided to wait until we got on the road. Poor little man!!!) at a rest stop. Of course me, the people watcher, HAD to get a picture of a family that pulled up next to me. To this day, I still can't figure out who is a child and who is a grandchild, anyhow, I HAD to take a picture of them. If anything, it should give my mom and I a good laugh! I posed Nora and Trey right in front of them scarfing down their lunches. My sister-in-law Christina saw me taking a picture of Trey and Nora in front of the carni-like family, and began to laugh. Knowing EXACTLY what I was up too, we both giggled for a bit. SORRY, if this family is related to anyone. I am terribly sorry.




Thank you Nora for helping us with our little guys! I really apprecaited the time you spent with us!

Shasta Lake Dam

7.30.09
Justin took Trey, along with a large group from the Ricks Family Reunion on a tour of the Shasta Lake Dam. Justin said he wanted to go on the tour JUST so he could say he "went on that DAM tour." An excuse to sort of cuss I guess!

They learned that this is the largest dam in the nation, due to its water load which is pumped through it daily. (You can correct me if you want; this is only what the family tells me!)

I stayed behind with a sleeping Tian. After Tian woke up, we swam in the pool.

Trey and Aunt Christina
Trey and cousin Nora. Thanks to Grandpa Larry, Trey had some shade from the sun!! (Justin thought Grandpa Larry really DID look like a Grandpa with his 25-year-old Trucker hat. See, even back then Grandpa Larry was hip!)

Grandfather Ricks in the blue shirt and Uncle James in the white shirt behind Trey.

Grandfather Ricks The Dam workers showed the Echo through the Dam tunnels. Trey has been trying to make Echoes any way he can since this tour.

Cards and Musical Chairs

7.29.09
Trey enjoyed spending time with his cousins. He learned a card game from Great Uncle Don, and played Musical Chairs while Uncle Don played Yankee Doodle on his recorder! Trey said he always lost at Musical Chairs because the cousins are bigger then he was. I think he just wasn't paying too much attention to the music and was having much more fun running after his cousins.
I also think he enjoyed playing games so much because Aunt Christina gave them all lemon heads.




At night, it was the adults turn to play cards! We learned a really fun card game that I can't wait to teach someone. Any volunteers?!!!

Family Photo

7.29.09
At each Ricks Family Reunion, a family photo is taken. Prior to this years photo, Grandpa Larry staked out the perfect location, and as he did so, the little great grandchildren gathered around Grandmother Ricks. Aunt Billie said, "Wont that be a priceless picture in years to come!"

I think this picture of Trey is hilarious! There were baby frogs jumping throughout all of the grass we were standing in and Trey was screaming at me to come look at one of them. I was amazed the kids were able to see these baby frogs. They were the size of a teenie pebble. Trey is standing next to his very cute girl cousin Jaide! He really enjoyed playing with her. Isn't she tall? They are very close in age.

Pool Time at Corum Ranch

The Coram Ranch had the greatest swimming pool! Due to the high temperatures and lack of air conditioning in our homes, everyone took advantage of the pool. We were grateful to have a place where we could cool off.

Josh and Dustin-the Big Boy Cousins

Trey really, really looked up to his "Big Boy Cousins" Josh and Dustin. These two young men were the kindest boys to Trey. Whenever Trey would run past them, for whatever reason, they would always stick their hands out to give him a "high five" or give him pounds with their knuckles. Such sweet guys; something I hope Trey and Tian will be. If Trey and Tian grow up ANYTHING like these two great guys, I will be extremely proud and grateful!

Thank you Josh and Dustin for being a wonderful example for our little Trey-Man to follow!

Josh and Trey
Dustin and Trey

Jumprope

7.30.09
Jump rope was all the rage at the Ricks Family Reunion. Aunt Megan led the group with double dutch, and each child tried to enter the maze of jump ropes! I took the challenge, beginners luck I think, I got right in!

Family Dinner

7.29.09

Our Family was in charge of dinner for the reunion on Wednesday night! Christina and my mother-in-law Marie were in charge of enchiladas (Christina made a spicy, veggie enchilada and Marie made one with meat!), James and Megan made salad, and Justin and I made rice krispy treats (one of the Bledsoe favorites.). I got a killer deal on marshmallows and butter a few weeks prior to the reunion, so we took all the fixings for 6 9x13 pans of rice krispies! AND, they were all eaten!!! (this was a first to make them in the microwave! So much easier then stovetop in my opinion! A tip from my mother-in-law. My sister-in-law Christina told me to use more butter then what it calls for. Another WONDERFUL tip!)

Geocaching in Cali

Justin was in charge of a GPS Geocache hunt for the family reunion. Tian was taking his first morning nap and so I watched as everyone went their separate ways.

Justin giving the directions to the Geocaches he hid the night before!

Trey sitting next to his cousins Katie (in pink) and Jaide (in the BYU shirt and khaki hat!)
Tyson up for the Geocache challenge


Trey forever interupting Justin's instructions. He kept shouting out where Justin hid the caches.
Trey's pouty face after I told him he needed to be quiet!

Cali Hike in the A.M.

7.29.09
The boys were up and at 'em bright and early. So, we took them on a walk with Grandpa Larry behind our ranch around the lake. We ran into wild blackberries, some wildlife, and warm weather. For 8:30 am, it was smokin'!










I had told Trey the night before about Dehydration. Trey has a tendency to run and run and run and forgets about eating and drinking. Because the weather is so hot and I knew Trey would be playing nonstop, I told him he needed to drink tons of water, OR he would get Dehydrated. Prior to leaving for our walk, Trey said he was thirsty and needed a drink. Justin said, "We wont be gone for long Trey," and thought we didn't need to bring a water bottle. We heard, "I'm thirsty. I'm very, VERY thirsty. I need a drink, I am so thirsty." And finally, the kicker was, "Mom, I am so thirsty. I am dehydrated." A lesson learned, when this boy says he is thirsty, get the man a drink will 'ya?!






(the faces of Dehydration.)
We got back from our little hike and Trey drank, and drank, and drank.