BYU Homecoming and Ellie's blessing

One of the many Snyder family traditions each year involves BYU Homecoming.  We have made the trek to Provo every year since we have been married for it and we have had a fun time.  This year almost everyone made it {we missed you Lee, Jaclyn and kids, Eldon, Shelli and Chiara too}.  Everyone was together and it was so much fun.  I really didn't see my boys the entire weekend.  They were in cousin heaven. 
Friday evening when we got there we went over to the church across the street for pizza and games.  It was the perfect place for all the kids to run wild. Great idea!

Here are most of the grandkids that were there playing.

 Playing tag with grandma and grandpa Snyder

 My little Brantly in his adorable hat, who is going to be a big brother pretty soon! Congrats John and Carrie!!!!

 My sister-n-law and my neice Tessa. Now I must tell you that Tessa was just so sweet. The last time I saw here was when she was a baby.  She was just the cutest, funnest and sweetest little girl. I fell in love with her hair, and you can tell by some pictures I took.  It was cotton candy hair literally and you could just rat it anyway you wanted. So cute!

 Tessa's hair in the morning. Couldn't resist it!

 More of Tessa's hair

I must tell you first of all that almost all of my in-laws live next to each other.  They live just east of campus up against the mountains and it is absolutely gorgeous up there. Lance's parents built a home up there and then two of this other siblings built next to each other.  It is so nice that everyone can just go from house to house and when everyone comes to town, there are plenty of basements to fill.  We stayed with Tom and Sharlene.  Sharlene is Lance's older sister and they were fabulous hosts this weekend. A huge thanks to them.  Tommy is a Chemical Engineer professer at BYU and he just recently finsihed their basement.  It was all ours this weekend and it was so nice to have all the space.  Their basement is pretty  much done. I fell in love with their colors, design and everything else. It is a very modern look. Something completely different and so fun. Check it out....

The wall that holds the T.V. looks almost like golf balls sticking out of the wall. It was so much fun.  It adds so much character to the room.

Here is the bathroom.  It was so clean, and so nicely put together. We loved it Tom and Sharlene!
Even though Owen didn't sleep much, we still had a good time.  Ellie slept like a charm. Thanks Ellie! That helps mom out when Owen is up and wondering the house at night.  Was not fun, let me tell ya!
Saturday we headed to Mapleton where Lance's family gathers.  All 100 of them for breakfast and for the family devotional that Great Grandma and Grandpa Ray put together. Unforunatley we didnt' make it that early in the morning but we headed up there with everyone else for lunch and chit chat.  It has snowed about 2-3 inches up there and they kiddos thought it would be so much fun to have a snow ball fight and to ride the zip line that they have in their backyard.  Andrew was soaking wet by the time they were all done.  I guess being cold/or hot doesn't affect they way they think or act.  Poor boy, was so cold afterwards.
Since the BYU game wasn't until 8 that night I stayed home with the kids while Lance went with his family to the game.  Go Cougars! Horray for a win! They had a good time and we got some much needed rest.
Sunday we all went to church and then we had Ellie's blessing afterwards.  Church was just fine.  It was the only nice day out of the whole weekend so afterwards we set up our luncheon outside and let the kids run and play.  Everyone gathered at mom and dad's house where we had the blessing.
Here was the pictures from her blessing day....

{from left to right - Tommy, Dave, Clint, John, Lance, Paul, Great Grandpa Ray, Preston and Grandpa Snyder }

Grandma and Grandpa Sndyer with Ellie

Great Grandma and Grandpa Ray with Ellie.  These are the two sweetest people you will ever meet.  They are really very sweet Grandparents. We love you!  They have the most energy I have ever seen in a couple over 90 years of age.  Ellie was their 159th Great Grandchild! That is truly amazing!!!

All the Snyder girls from left to right {Sharlene, Lesa, Carrie, Shauna, Me, Camille, momma Snyder, Great Grandma Ray, and Rashelle }

Meet the Masons! They just moved from Mesa to the Salt Lake area.  A huge change for these sweet kids. They are a very sweet family. We love the Masons.

Sweet Tessa

My not so little family anymore

 

Owen carried the train everywhere this weekend.

Lance's younger brother Paul and his sweet family {all girls}

Right after the blessing.

A huge thanks to everyone who made this weekend so special and happy for us! We love and miss you already! Let's do this again sometime soon!!!!