Monkey Business

Can you take a wild guess at who that monkey is?

Monkey Business from Ryan Rasmussen on Vimeo.

Benson Bash 2011

I come from a large family as most of you know and currently we are scattered everywhere from California to London and Chicago to Houston but for the past 3 years or so we have been lucky to get everyone together once during the year. It started with my Dad's graduation from MBA school and now has become our own reunion. I guess our family has grown old enough to have those. Anyhow, this year was great.... and CRAZY. I have posted about all the babies that were born (5 boys Noah's age) and then the next round of 6 new ones. So all in all we had 15 grandkids 7 and under but of that 15, 11 are 2 and under. It was toddler town. I guess I should start at the beginning...

The drive to Utah.


Thanks to Grandma Rhonda (who rode along for most of the way only to turn around and ride right back home), Jacob and Deidre (who let us crash at their house there and back, sorry about the futon!) and two good boys. This is what we saw most of the time.

Once we got to Utah the cousins got right down to the nitty-gritty of getting aquainted... fighting over who gets to play with Lighting McQueen and who get Buzz Lightyear.  We has our fair share of toddler squabbles while the boys figured out the pecking order. But for the most part they got along fabulously.... as you can see...

This is Andy and Noah catching up

J.Will impressed us all with his flexibility while welcoming Charlotte to the family by tickling her nose with his foot (She didn't seem to mind)

Park time was great lots of races in between trees and around the trees

The Ipad was a big hit... Monster at the End of this Book was a crowd favorite. (Luke, Russell, Noah & Andy)

Luke and Madison played house. Madison was the baby in the crib and Luke played the part of a very competent father tipping the crib over to get the baby out of it. This got old quick and so they moved onto dress-ups. Madison was Cinderella (sorry no picture) and Luke wore his "man-dress". 

This might have led Ryan to question the wisdom of letting me take the boys.

Russell and Noah shared some good times at Bridal Veil Falls thanks to Uncle Mike for chasing them around!

We hit the Springville pool. I had never been there before but it was awesome. Who knew?  It was perfect.

Some adults lounging the toddler end watching the kiddos play. Others played hoops at the opposite end.

The water slide was a big hit... even with the little ones. Luke may have manipulated multiple aunts and uncles to take him on them while I tended to little Charlie. Thank you all!

Even Charlotte enjoyed the outing and I enjoyed dressing her up in a little swimsuit. (Why are the hats always so big for such a little suit? Or do I have pinheads for kids?)

With more swimming, lots of popcicles and great weather the weekend flew by. Noah may have lost a popcicle or two in the pool but somehow he would come back with a new one.



Luke ventured into the bouncy house for a bit and loved it.



All in all it was a fabulous trip. So much fun to see everyone together. It made me wish we all lived closer to each other. Maybe someday. For now we are looking forward to Benson Bash 2012... and looking for a compound/cabin/ranch that could hold us all under one roof.


Last but not least I need to thank my sweet grandma and grandpa for letting me and the kids crash at their house for a week.



I loved the opportunity to visit with them daily. What a blessing they have been in my life and still are. I have been blessed with wonderful family from top to bottom!

End Of Summer? Not in Visalia!

Summertime Fun from Ryan Rasmussen on Vimeo.

Less than 30 minutes after the pool, these two were zonked

And a special thanks to the Burkinshaws for helping us with

our family christmas card! Never too early...