Panguitch...Where "Owens" Means Something

Kenny, Makenna, Big Cameron, Little Cameron, Lexi, Brooke, Mandi, Bart, and Joyce

enjoying the dinner at the old Owens' house.

Kenny keeping the girls entertained with bubbles during the auction.

Kinlee has always loved dogs from afar, but she is finally getting brave.

We couldn't keep her away from this dog. Thanks cuz.

Daxton just loved playing in the tree swing with Tess, his cousin from Washington state.

Every year we make the pilgrimage to the homeland of Panguitch, Utah where the descendants of Kenny's great grandparents gather to celebrate all that is Owens. The place where at the Owens' Bros. Store at Panguitch Lake you may be treated to an Owens' Bros hat (if you happen to be with Kevin). And where if you need a hotel room for a shower, they will give you the Owens family discount and you get a room for $40 when all the other rooms are over $100 (if you happen to run into Katherine and Greg in the lobby). Oh, the perks that come with being an Owens (at least in Panguitch). I'm sure that is how it is when you come from such families as the Hiltons or the Kennendys.

It was great fun and the boys got to go fishing in the boat that they have worked on all summer. Maybe next summer they will work on the motor a little more (now that it is fixed up inside) so they can use it a little more.

We made the short drive to Bryce Canyon with Cameron and Brooke because Brooke has never been there. It is also a good time for a nap for the girls. Kinlee has a pass to get into all of the National Parks for free. So the whole carload gets in for free with her. One of the many perks that you get with Kinlee. It was a fun time, especially since it was raining back at camp and we were nice and dry. It always rains in Panguitch during the reunion. I found out that it is because of the summer monsoon flow that begins about this time every year. I just thought that we were extremely unlucky. I don't remember a time in the last 9 years that I have been going that it didn't rain at least once. Thankfully, only one year has there been a storm so strong that I thought we might die. Nothing like packing up in the rain. Next year a trailer to stay in, right Joyce? Or maybe the next, or the next? We love Panguitch and all that comes with it.

Red, White, and Blue ....or in our case Black and Blue

Kinlee and Makenna practicing their "princess" waves.

Daxton, Kyle, Kristin, and Jake showing their patriotism.

Jen, Kenny and Kinlee just chillin' in the shade.

Kinlee's shiner.

We had a great 4th of July. We did some of the usual things. We went to the Riverton city parade the night of the 3rd. It was a lot of fun. I think my brother Troy and I are really the only ones that enjoy the parade. Thanks again to Tiffany who allows us all to cram in front of her house once a year and enjoy her shade trees. (I think the trees may go with the widening of the road, so sad.)

On the morning of the 4th, Kenny ran the Riverton 10K race with his running buddies and his friend Milan (way to go Kenny!)

I took the kids to the Copperton Park activities. We love going up there for the small town feel of the activities. Daxton looks forward to the races every year. Kinlee usually runs the races for her age group and for the kids with special needs. They give money out for the three fastest kids or adults in each age group, but she gets money each time she runs. She always comes home with the most money. This year she didn't want to run, unless it was someone elses race and I was chasing her across the field. Troy took her out to run with the kids with special needs and she didn't want to run. Unfortunalely, her big brother Daxton, wanted her to. He picked her up from behind and started running. It ended three steps later with him body slamming her head into the grass. I was on my way out to get her when it happened. I don't think I have ever been that mad at Daxton. She got a tiny cut from her glasses under her eye and was bruised around her eyes (see picture). I took her to the playground where she immediatley forgot she was hurt. Daxton stayed with his cousins to run the races while mom cooled down.

We went to the splash park, got free lunch at the Chick-fil-A and watched fireworks on the lawn at Riverton park. It was a fun day.

Bear Lake Fun

We made a couple trips up to the lake this year. We went and stayed in the fifth wheel with Grandma and Grandpa Korth while Kenny was at Youth Conference. Thank goodness for family helping me with my three kids. It was fun to play all day at the lake. Makenna wasn't feeling great, but eventually she left my lap in the shade to play ring around the rosies with Grandma.

It was fun to see the extended Korth family and camp in a tent for the family reunion. I was really nervous about the camping thing. Camping didn't go so well for us last year with a baby. This year it was a thousand times better. I had decided after our two camping trips last year that we just weren't going to be a "camping family". The kids slept in the tent great. Now we just have to make sure that we don't lose kids during the day. I only panicked once and yelled for everyone to search for Kinlee. She only wandered into the fifth wheel. Thank goodness for nieces and nephews who would come and ask if they could take my girls to go play. It really felt like a vacation to me.

Since seven of us at the reunion were training for our half marathon races, we got up on Saturday morning and took a run down the canyon coming from Evanston. Jen and I ran 5 miles, but Donnarae, Jon, Beau, Becca and Russ ran 8 miles. We liked it so much that we think we might have to start a Korth Family 10K race the weekend that we are up there. Thanks to the family for getting us running and keeping us on track!