Labor Day - September 3rd-5th, 2011

 The top of the big tree!

 Alex, at the base of the tree!

 New life!

 Doug, Andrea, and Mike relaxing at camp!

 Mandi

 Ali

 Ellie

 Ali

 Ali ...putting her first worm on the hook!!

We had a very busy weekend. We went camping with Scott and family ( and Luann's dad from Wisconsin).We were at Duck Creek. Scott's family took off for the day to Bryce Canyon, while we came back home for Izzy's baptism. The rest of the time, we managed to get in some hiking and fishing, and lots of good food, and good company. A couple of years ago, we hiked to a geocache that was by a huge dead tree. We didn't mark the spot, and so this year we went hiking to find it again. Alex has a good memory and took us right to it. It is one of the biggest trees I have seen around here. While the guys went fishing alone, I stayed at the camp with the girls, and we went hunting for firewood. We came back to camp and I let them all take turns learning to use an ax. I told them that women can take care of themselves if we need to, and they needed to learn how to do this kind of stuff. They loved it. Doug cringed when he came back to camp and watched them chopping!!! On the trail, it was great to see that there is new life already growing  after the devastation in the spring. The Aspens had new little branches starting to grow. Nature is so Awesome!!

Izzy's Baptism - September 3rd, 2011

 Izzy in her new dress!

  Hairbow

 Izzy & Grandpa Keith

 After Baptism (check out the shoes)

 Izzy & Grandpa Doug

 4 Generations!

Izzy was so excited to get baptized. She was baptized by her grandpa Keith, and confirmed by her grandpa Doug. She had a lot of family and friends there to share this day with her. A couple of weeks ago, she and I spent the day shopping for her new dress. She tried on LOTS of different ones. I knew right away which one she wanted, but she had to make sure. She had a "no" pile, a "maybe" pile and a "yes" pile. It was so fun watching her face light up when she tried on the ONE. We found a hair bow and the perfect shoes. I am glad she made the decision to be baptized! If you notice, in the top picture she is wearing a little bracelet. She wore the same one at her baby blessing, her baptism, and will also wear it at her wedding! At her house after, I was able to get a 4 generation picture of Douglas R., Douglas L., Brad and Andy Hawker. (as many of you know, it is almost impossible to get great grandpa to be in a picture. So this is very rare)

Izzy's Birthday - August 5th, 2011

 #8 Doll

 Izzy and Andy

 Light Bulb???

Izzy turned 8 years old this year. We went over for cake and presents. She got her # 8 doll. We got her an Easy Bake Oven, but before she opened it, she opened the package that had a light bulb in it (for the oven), and she just laughed and laughed. She had no idea why she got a light bulb. It was so funny!!

New Carousel - August 4th, 2011

 Carousel!

 Mandi & Ali

 Mandi, MaKayla, & Sam

 Ali & Izzy

 Sam

 Mandi & Sam

 Izzy

 "Cousins"

Our city bought and installed a permanent Carousel. They put it downtown in the city square, next to the splash pad. The little kids enjoyed riding on it and then cooling off in the water. MaKayla and I had to trade off riding (Sam had to have an adult ride with him) because we each got sick going around, around, etc.

Home Theater - August 1st, 2011

Our kids sold us their projector, so we got rid of our big screen tv and turned our family room into a theater room. We sanded, re sanded, & painted our wall, and made a screen. (103"x48"). We found a matching console, pier, & end table. The console is a perfect fit to go underneath the screen. We put surround sound speakers around the room. We really like watching movies, etc. Actually, we are watching a little too much tv in the evenings!

Hawker Family Reunion - July 30th, 2011

Standing: Susan, Douglas R., Pat, Joanne,& Betty

Sitting: Glen, Karl, Kenneth & Cousin of Ralph

 4 Generations

(Doug, his parents, Scott, and his 3 girls)

 Scott, Doug and Uncle Kenneth

 Uncle Kenneth and Doug

 The Cannon ready to fire!

 Running after the candy!

The Hawker Family reunion was held again this year. Everyone brings food, and we spend a few hours catching up on each of the families. It is for all the children and grandchildren, etc. of Ralph and Wanda Hawker. Of their children (there were 12) Doug's dad (Douglas Ralph Hawker) is the oldest. It is fun to get together and see all the relatives, (and to see how you might end up looking someday). You can sure see the resemblance in these pictures. Every year, Doug's uncle Kenneth makes a cannon for the kids. He sets it up on a hill and fills it full of candy, then he lights it and it shoots hundreds of feet out to where the kids are all waiting. They have so much fun waiting and chasing the candy.

Mandi's Birthday - July 9th, 2011

 6 Years Old!

 Castle Cake!

 She loves her miniature dolls...

 Sisters!

Cynthia & Mandi

Mandi turned 6 this year. Of course she had a princess castle cake. (her grandma Francis makes her cakes every year) We made her a book full of pictures from her birth until now. She loves looking at the pictures. She is such a happy little girl.

Camping at Duck Creek - July 4th, 2011

 Downed Pine Trees behind our Trailer

 Uprooted!

 Snapped Off!

 Over!

 Under!

 Doug, Ali & Mandi

 Jessica, Justin & kids (wet, but happy)

When we went to Duck Creek this year, we were saddened to see that a huge storm had knocked down thousands of trees. They were broken off, tipped over, roots out of the ground, etc. We went on our favorite trail, and we couldn't tell where it was. We had to climb over, under, and around all kinds of debris. We still had a lot of fun fishing, hiking, and spending time outdoors. We were caught in a downpour and were soaked by the time we got back to our camp.