First things first, we had our 2nd Hoggan Family Reunion in California this August. We had so much fun. It all started out with April and Steve's day (each family plans a day with activities to do). April and Steve held the first Hoggan Family Olympics. We arrived at the park in the morning and we began with our opening ceremonies which included finding a rattle snake by one of the trees the girls were suppose to run around as part of their obstacle course. All of us girls fled the scene and the guys swept in to take a closer look.
My dad has always wanted to catch a rattle snake, he grew up catching all kinds of reptiles; so now, he can check that off of his list of things to achieve in his life. LOL. Christian and Dad got the snake into a bucket and Steve and Dad took it up a hill into some brush to free it. Once our opening ceremonies were concluded we started our Olympics with the girls running the obstacle course April designed. Then we had a family dance competition followed by the catch Kiley competition and a water game.
The Towner Family walked away with the Gold metal which will be passed off to the next Olympic winner next family reunion. We went home to cool off at the pool and have a BBQ. That night April made an amazing four course meal. We celebrated Christian's birthday and we played Minute to Win it. It was so much fun, we were all laughing pretty hard.
For Mom and Dad's day they treated all of us to Disneyland. This was so much fun. The girls were so excited. We did their nails and hair the night before so they would be all ready to go in the morning. Kiley was so excited when she saw the castle. When she watches the Disney movies and sees the castle at the beginning of the movie she calls it Disneyland so this was a very exciting moment for her. We went on a lot of rides like Buzz Lightyear, Peter Pan, Dumbo, Winnie the Pooh, all of the kid ones obviously, this trip was for them. Their favorite part though was meeting all of the characters and having their picture taken with them, especially the princesses.
We had a lot of fun just watching the girls take it all in. Mom got the girls each a Disney scrapbook so we put the pictures in there for them and both Kiley and Quoia look at them often. The girls did really well, we didn't leave until 6pm and we got there at about 8am so it was a long day. April and Steve stayed to do some roller coasters and the rest of us went home to put the girls to bed and relax after such a fun day.
We had a lot of fun just watching the girls take it all in. Mom got the girls each a Disney scrapbook so we put the pictures in there for them and both Kiley and Quoia look at them often. The girls did really well, we didn't leave until 6pm and we got there at about 8am so it was a long day. April and Steve stayed to do some roller coasters and the rest of us went home to put the girls to bed and relax after such a fun day.
The Next day was just a recovery day, some pool time, bowling (which the girls absolutely loved) and game night ( a new game April and Steve introduced us to, Scotland Yard, really fun game). And Trudy, Mark and Kyle came over to say "hi" and celebrate Trudy's birthday (we always celebrate our birthdays together).
Then it was our day to plan. We decided to spend out day at the beach and have lunch there. Kiley loved it. She is in love with the sand. She just can't get enough of it. She wanted to be buried in it. I would have thought that this would have been a scary experience at such a young age, but she thought it was the best thing ever. She wanted us to do it over and over again and then she would just sit there, this little head, and smile and take it all in. She is so funny.
Our day was just a relaxing one and we went home and had movie night that night and celebrated Mom's birthday even though her birthday wasn't until Monday since April and Steve would be leaving the next day.
Our day was just a relaxing one and we went home and had movie night that night and celebrated Mom's birthday even though her birthday wasn't until Monday since April and Steve would be leaving the next day.
That concluded our Hoggan Family Reunion. It goes by so quickly but we had a lot of fun and can't wait for the next one. April and Steve headed back to Utah that next day and Christian and I headed up to his parents to have a weekend with them before heading home to Ohio.
When we got to Sheila and Steve's we took Kiley to the park and the duck pond. She is a very active child so she really needs all the activity she can get. Then we went to Rubio's that night. Oh how I love Mexican food, I can never get enough. The next day we went to Seaport Village and the Mormon Battalion. It was fun to walk around and see downtown. Kiley loved the carousel ride at Seaport Village. There is just so much to look at there...the balancing rocks, the kites, the sculptures, the boats, and the shirts that change color in the sun. Sheila got Kiley one of those and some nail polish. She loves the nail polish, she loves to stand in the sun by the window and then come show me that her nails have changed colors. We had a lot of fun.
When we got to Sheila and Steve's we took Kiley to the park and the duck pond. She is a very active child so she really needs all the activity she can get. Then we went to Rubio's that night. Oh how I love Mexican food, I can never get enough. The next day we went to Seaport Village and the Mormon Battalion. It was fun to walk around and see downtown. Kiley loved the carousel ride at Seaport Village. There is just so much to look at there...the balancing rocks, the kites, the sculptures, the boats, and the shirts that change color in the sun. Sheila got Kiley one of those and some nail polish. She loves the nail polish, she loves to stand in the sun by the window and then come show me that her nails have changed colors. We had a lot of fun.
The Mormon Battalion was awesome. It has changed so much since I have been there. Kiley loved the part where they dressed her up and she loved panning for gold. That night we had IN-N-OUT and relaxed and watched a movie with the traditional SeQuoia is out by 10pm on the couch. Hey, at least it's not 9pm anymore. LOL. They know what I'm talking about. I'm getting better believe it or not. 
Sunday we went to church and got to visit with Sue and Mike before heading back down to my parents house to spend one last day with my mom and to see Michelle and Ryan and their new little baby boy Tyler before getting on the plane to head back to Ohio.
Oh, how we miss Cali already. You can never get enough of it. Until next time Golden State.
Oh, how we miss Cali already. You can never get enough of it. Until next time Golden State.
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