Styer Family Reunion

Although most of Spencer's siblings live in Utah, we don't get to see each other very often...everyone is just so busy that our visits with them are few and far between. It's kinda sad because my boys absolutely love and enjoy the time they spend with their Uncles Dave (whom they call Uncle Dude), Doug (Uncle Chopper), and Tom. We were lucky enough to get together for Chopper's birthday and Father's Day on June 19th. Tisa (Grandma) bought Dave (Grandpa) a new BBQ grill without his knowledge so Spence put it together and fired it up. We enjoyed hamburgers, veggies, chips, and birthday cake. The uncles flew kites with the nephews at the park and they had a really great time. Here are the few pics I was allowed to take that day. (Yes, I realize that I took these pics with horrible back lighting but beggers can't be choosers and after getting everyone to finally stand next to each other, I couldn't ask them to then move to a different location.)

Cam & Uncle Dude

The 4 BIG Styer boys and the 3 LITTLE Styer Boys


The little boys ate Fruit Roll-Ups that turned their tongues colors. Cam and Gavin both got green tongues. Owen wanted his tongue picture taken too...unfortunately his was covered in CHIPS! Gross (but funny.)

School's Out, Baby Update, & REAL game

Cam finished 2nd grade on June 3rd!

He has already spent one week at Granny Jane's going fishing, learning to tie knots, starting a rock collection, and reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It's hard to believe that when school starts in the fall, Gavin will be starting Kindergarten, Cam will be in 3rd grade, and we'll be moments away from welcoming two new spirits into our family.

I am now seeing the doctor weekly, having a super-ultrasound every 4 weeks, and feeling these babies move more and more. Most recently, the babies were both breech, dancing on my bladder, which explains why I can't sit through Sacrament Meeting or sleep through the night without having to get up to use the bathroom. I passed my gestational diabetes test and iron count with flying colors and am still feeling great! The only complication I'm experiencing is some occasional numbness in my arms and legs, which the doctor says is not normal but common when carrying multiples. Funny fact, I am 24 weeks, measuring at 39 weeks!!!!! Wednesday night we went to a REAL game. I ran into a woman and her husband who each were holding a newborn baby. I asked her if they were twins, which they were, just 8 weeks old. She told me that by the time she delivered she was measuring at 56 weeks so I can only imagine how much bigger I am going to get. She delivered at 36 weeks, babies both came home when she was released with no time in the NICU, she breastfeeds, and says life isn't as hard as she expected. I hope I have the same attitude when I have 8 week old babies. (Oh yes, she had 3 boys before finding out she was expecting twins. Her twins were one boy and one girl...how ironic is that?)

So we went to a REAL soccer game on Wednesday, June 9th. We got super cheap tickets because the boys were involved in Draper City Soccer so my mom, Jeff & Emily, Callie & a friend also came with us. Other than a 15 minute delay, due to lightening, it was a really enjoyable night. David Cook, American Idol winner, sang the National Anthem and did a mini-concert when the game was over. Cameron & Gavin got to wear their soccer uniforms and go out on the field while they introduced the players. Unfortunately, my camera had dead batteries. Luckily, Emily brought her camera and took some excellent pics. We're already making plans to see another game.

Two Peas In a Pod

My fabulous friends and sisters threw me a great baby shower on Wednesday, June 5th. The theme was "Two Peas in a Pod."

They served yummy food (veggie tray, fruit tray, artichoke dip & crackers, "twins in a blanket", fruit tarts, chocolate cake, other goodies, lemonade slush, etc).

I was so spoiled by my friends. We were given diapers, wipes, onesies, adorable outfits, a diaper bag, baby bath, bath towels, binkies, a high chair, baby monitor, and on and on. I can't even begin to say thank you enough. Here are a few pictures from the evening:












Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Baldwin Bash 2010

Because of these two peopleour Baldwin Family has always been close. We used to get together for some sort of party nearly every month. But as the family gets bigger and bigger, it has become so much more difficult to get everyone together as often. We are finally down to just having one big family reunion every year, right around Memorial Day. This year my mom and Uncle Tim (who lives in Arizona) were in charge and they pulled off quite the shin-dig! The theme that my mom came up with was "Building Our Family." We started by making this brick wall:

Each person in the family was represented by their own brick, color coded according to who, of my mom's siblings, they belonged to. Each brick was numbered 1-255 as to when the person joined the family, either by birth or by marriage. I was number #46, Spence was #148, our kids joined in there somewhere, and our twins will be #251 and 252! Of the 255 bricks, over 160 were in attendance.

As our relatives arrived at the reunion, Callie & I sat behind the sign in table where Callie wrote every single person's name tag and I helped her figure out what their number was.

We had a quick flag ceremony, involving all the cub-scout-aged boys and Cam got to carry the flag because he was in uniform. There was an opening song and prayer then on to lunch.


For lunch we served a "Build Your Own Burger". Spencer, Ryan, Jeff, and my dad were in charge of grilling all the hamburgers. I believe they ended up grilling 180 and 8 sliced onions (which I sliced.)

When most people were finished eating we had a small program. No'el led the Primary kids sang "My Eternal Family" from last year's program. Some of the words are "I am a builder working each day to build my family..." so it definitely fit the theme well.

My mom and Uncle Tim each said a few words and then No'el, Callie, and I sang "Loving Families." The final lyrics to that song say, "Families sharing love as each day we find that peace through our task of building loving families."

(I can't say I love the pictures of myself at the reunion but I also know this is the last time I will look this way and I think it's important to remember.)
After the program, we sat around and visited with our cousins, served ice cream cones and goodies for desert, and my mom arranged for a "Candy Cannon" for the kids. The Bergevin's (from Moreland) set off their candy cannon 3 times and all the children had bags full of candy before it was over. There were also foot races, a volleyball net, etc. Best part is that the sun was shining so we all got a little tan.



Many posed in front of the brick wall to have photos taken with cousins, immediate and extended families. Thanks to Ruth for having her camera ready and being willing to stand and take pictures all day. Also, thanks to my family and the many cousins that took care of my 3 boys throughout the day. On the way home I asked Spencer if he'd had time to help the boys get lunch. He said no. I knew that I hadn't had time to help them either. So I asked the boys who helped them get their food and no one had an answer. But somehow they got fed, cleaned up their plates, participated in foot races, gathered lots of candy from the candy cannon, etc without either of their parents. That's truly what family is all about, right?




It was an awesome reunion and we're so glad that my mom is one of seven siblings since it will now be six more years before we're "in charge" again!!!

Lessons Learned on a Soccer Field

***I've been trying to write this post for a week now but each time I try, I get emotional and can't seem to tell the story as well as I want to. If you are the type that will get misty eyed at a touching story, I suggest you stop reading now and grab a Kleenex before reading on. ***

Cameron finished his soccer season on May 25th. He played on a co-ed team of 1st and 2nd graders. I'm proud to say that this year he actually got the concept of soccer and actually became the little star of his team. He has a powerful kick and also loves to defend the goal so he played forward and defender in most games and scored at least one goal at every game. At the beginning of the season, his coach (who had 2 boys on the team) told the parents that shortly after he committed to being the coach, his oldest son, Tomas, was diagnosed with cancer. He just wanted us to be aware so that if he wasn't able to make a game or practice, someone else would be willing to step up and help out. In the first few games, Tomas played just like the other kids...occasionally getting tired but able to run up and down the field. As the season progressed though, we'd notice that Tomas wasn't able to play as long and would ask to sit out more often. When we'd ask the coach how Tomas was doing, he'd reply, "we have good days and bad days."

Due to being rained out the week before, we had 2 games in the final week of the season...one on Monday, one on Tuesday. After Monday night's game our coach told all the kids to make sure they were at the game the following evening because we were going to have some special visitors. When we arrived to the field Tuesday, the entire Alta High School boys soccer team was there in their practice uniforms. They surrounded our team and helped them warm up, stretch out, and then one got on his knees in the goalie box and let the kids kick goals at him. They were especially conscientious of Tomas.

Throughout the game, the Alta team would go out on the field during quarters, cheer on the players by name, and applaud when substitutions were made. They were very supportive. In the middle of the first half, 3 players from the REAL soccer team (the Major League Soccer team in Salt Lake) came to the game. They presented jerseys to Tomas and the rest of his family and stayed for the remainder of the game, cheering with the High School boys.

On the last play of the game, Cameron was dribbling the ball down the field. Parents and other players started chanting, "Pass it to Tomas." Cam kind of looked over at me and I said, "pass it" and so he did...a perfect pass right to Tomas' feet. At this point in the game, Tomas wasn't really running up the field, just standing in one spot because he was physically exhausted. I know that no one else will remember this perfect pass Cam made because that wasn't the focus but I was so proud of Cam for getting it right to him so he didn't have to run after the ball. Tomas dribbled a little bit and the ref blew the whistle, ending the game. Then the coaches and referee huddled together and I'm assuming that our coach was explaining to the other coach why the High School and REAL players were there that night. The other coach quickly ran over to her goalie, whispered some instruction in his ear, and they lined Tomas up with the soccer ball at the head of the goal. Everyone in attendance was cheering for Tomas as he kicked a goal and the opposing goalie "missed" it. There wasn't a dry eye in the crowd.

Many lessons were learned that day. Compassion, team work, caring more about others than you do yourself...and on and on. What a special way to end the season for the entire team, especially Tomas. I'm sure he'll never forget it...and neither will we.


**(top row) Colby, Victor, Cameron, Madison,(bottom row) Hope, Tomas, Coach, Anna, Avalon**
**The team with Tomas' family, Alta High School and REAL players***
***Tomas running through a tunnel made by the Alta players after the game.***