Advice

Today I have 2 pieces of advice for all adults out there.

#1. DO NOT wear flip flops, in the rain, going up and down a wooden ramp.

#2. DONT FALL.

This is all. I'm gonna go back and ice my whole body now.

ow.

Farnsworth Ranch 4th of July Reunion

Every year that I can remember from my childhood until I became a teenager we spent the 4th of July (and the majority of the summer) at my families ranch in Pinedale. Its a very special place to me. Its full of my family history and many memories. Its even were Jace and I went on our honeymoon and every year on our anniversary. Nash's first trip ever was to the Cabin.

As our Gunnell extended family gets bigger and older, it gets much harder to get everyone together. My uncle Gary's kids (with the exception of 2) live across the country. My aunt Sally was still on her mission and most of her kids were waiting at home to go up to the cabin with her when she got back. But my whole family got up there (miracle!), and we had my aunt Joyce's girls and their kids, uncle Wain, and my cousin Natalie's family there this year.

So we had our traditional flag raising. The story of the flag is pretty great. My great uncle Alfred fought in WW2 as a pilot. During a training exercise in the middle of the war, the pilot he was training panicked and crashed the plane. He survived, but uncle Alfred did not. The flag we raise is the flag that was given to my great grandma when he died. We honor him and all those who have fought and sacrificed so much for our country and freedoms.

During the flag ceremony, uncle Wain who fought in Vietnam (and has a purple heart), talked about war and why their are soldiers. It was educational, and nice to hear his testimony of what they do. We then sung our family song of "Forever and Ever". I love my family.

I wish I had gotten more pictures---Nash had developed croup and I was busy entertaining him most of the time we were there. It also rained a bit every day (which was heaven!!) and so we werent out trecking around in the mud. Jane also spent the majority of her time playing with her cousins--which was so fun for her! (but i dont have a ton of pictures of her).

I love my family. and I love the ranch. Its so very special.

Melanie took these pictures. Samantha, Bailey, Brianna, and Jane. 

Julie did the girls hair for the 4th in stars! Cute.

Samantha and Nash. 1st time we've used the pack n play as a play pen. WHO KNEW!?

Sammi

Our view from the front porch. The Rodeo fire took alot of our trees out, but its still beautiful!

Watching the rain.

Went in the rain--look he DOES have hair!

Sammi has more though!

Flag raising...and Jane jumping on the handprints of our family members.

Dad, Randy, and Jeff

Wain, Natalie and her boys: Matthew, Cade, Zach, and Josh

Joyce, Gevan, Bri, Lynlie, Bailey, and Jane

Julie and Tommy

JoyAnn, the Martinez boys, Jane, Mel and Sammi

Raising Alfred's flag.

Wain

Tommy, Bailey, Gevan, Lynlie

Julie, Brianna

Melanie, Jane, and Samantha

Jane and Nash watching Baby Signing Time

Nash and Jace! He finally made it up!

Nash and his Papa.

Handsome Boy.

Cabin tine!!

So over Memorial weekend my family goes up to our Ranch typically. My brother Jeff offered to help my mom go a few days earlier than if she had to wait for my dad and his work schedule. Well, I was on maternity leave and so I decided to go up early with them as well! (Jace had work the same as my dad).

The weather was delightfully COLD!! I had packed some warmer clothes for nash, but not nearly enough!

Nash experienced his first long car ride...(2.5 hours)

He experienced his first change in altitude...

He experienced going and walking around in cooler/cold weather for the first time...

He experienced his first sprinkles as well!

Nash finally gained enough weight to fit the bjorn! We tried it out for the first time and it worked like a charm!! He loves the outdoors and the cabin is the perfect place to be outside!

He co-slept with me and he LOVES sleeping in big beds. 

We also celebrated Jace's birthday up there!

All in all, it was a super fun trip, although in my opinion too short!

 (Back home it was in the 100s....and we were sitting at 70 degrees...so not fair!)

We also had a rough time on our way home...the change in altitude didnt go as well as it did the first time. We kept feeding him...which resulted in LOTS OF messy diapers. We finally pulled over and changed him... ON THE TOP OF THE TRUNK. Oh yeah...we were THOSE people...

We cant wait to go back up for the 4th of July and experience our first fireworks! Woo hoo!