Bishop Family Reunion

The last part of our road trip took us to Zion’s National Park for the Bishop Family Reunion. The last time we had a big family reunion was when we got together to celebrate my grandpa's 80th birthday. We had a good time catching up with everyone that was able to attend. Thanks Aunt Paula and Aunt Linda for getting us all together!!!

We had fun with the games Paula organized. If you don't know my family at all, let me explain...we are very competitive. The in-laws may not have known what they were getting themselves into, but they did a good job keeping up.

The games were broken into age groups. The first group was the little wee-ones.


Drew (Mine) and Cohen (Raelene's) were on the same team. We joke about their size considering they are only four months apart. Raelene and Kirsten (cousin) ran the same course. One month apart in age, literally feet apart in height, but the best of cousins.


One of the "favorite" or most disgusting part of the events was the eating contest. Aunt Paula named the games "Amazing Race, Survival" but if you ask me, it was more along the the lines of Fear Factor.


They kids had it easy but Drew still didn't go for the miniature snicker's bar.


The next group were the 6-10 year olds. Cai was recruited from the minor leagues and participated with the older kids to make the teams a bit more even.


The food challenge got a bit more disgusting. Natalie must not feed Cai green olives at home. :)


One of the games was sucking up skittles with a straw, walking it a distance, an dropping the candy in a cup.


Harder than you think!


Uncle Glen and Ryan resumed their playful teasing, rough-housing natures and entertained us during intermission with a bout of wrestling.


I'm not sure who was declared winner. I think they stopped due to old-man exhaustion.


After lunch the old-foggies had a run at the title. Sadly, this is the time I was putting kids down for naps and I missed the action and subsequently, pictures. I heard Paula got an honorable mention for downing a raw egg. I showed up right at the end of the obstacle course and volunteered to be my grandpa's partner. Even with a 7-month prego belly, I thought I could wax and tax the old folks. My grandpa did great. I did not. Still, it was fun.

Finally we came to the highlight of the afternoon...the cousin match-offs. We were divided into four teams of 6 or 7 people. Following the math, science, political, and family trivia, we went head to head for the food challenges. I can't even recall, or KNOW everything that was inhaled.

Here's Ryan (my brother) and Corey (Cousin Ashley's husband) eating chicken feet...bones and all.


And then Raelene attempted a dried sardine. Brave soul.


By the looks of my face, you would have thought I got the delicacy of duck embryo. But the elders were good to me (pregnant and all) and I got the mini-snickers. Prior to the competition, I told my teammates I would not eat sugar. I had recently failed my first glucose test and had gone off all sugars, lowered my carbs, and upped my protein in hopes of passing the next test when I returned home. After seeing all the crap everyone else had to eat, I took one for the team and scarfed that candy bar down!


The next event really was picture worthy...I hope someone got some footage. We had a canoe race across a large pond. The goal was to get everyone on your team from one side of the shore to the other. Now...remember that competitive nature I spoke of? What if...just what if...one team attempted to put all their members in the canoe at once and actually made it across the pond? They win. End of game.

Well, three of the four teams had similar suspicions or aspirations. My team had seven members. 7 1/2 if you count the baby in my belly. We made it half-way across before we sunk. Treading water fully clothed and pregnant is not that easy. The team with six members actually made it across. When Ryan (my brother) saw their team was not going to be the victors either, a sabatoge mission went into full-force to make sure the other boat didn't make it. Pretty fun.

That night, we had a family program with music and stories. My grandpa is talented in both.


Here's my cousin Andy (our resident film-maker) and his little side-kick Corbin.


And then a picture of all the little ones born last spring. Three of them within three weeks. Pretty cute that you can tell whose is whose. Jason's (Born February), Ryan's (May), Mine (June), and Rich's (May).


And, as part of the reunion “requirements,” we were to submit a family update. What better place than to include it on our blog…

Brandon and Dixie Williams Family - June 2010


I heard someone say the other day that children tell on your age. But I refuse to be that old!!! I can understand why Grandma Bishop, my mom and aunts stopped aging at 29. I happen to enjoy being in my thirties, but 39 may be my limit.

We live in Grand Junction and life for our family continues to move forward at a rapid pace. Our family expansion is definitely telling on our age. All of our children have not fallen far from the apple tree. Strong-willed, rowdy, ACTIVE, stubborn, and independent!!! We wouldn’t expect anything different and love each of their little spirits.

Audrey is almost 9 years old and starting 4th grade. She likes gymnastics, art, swimming, playing with friends and is a huge help around the house with her brothers. She is responsible and good-natured. She’s our favorite daughter. ☺

Corbin is 6 ½ and starting 1st grade. He is good at school, likes Star Wars and soccer, loves playing the Wii and computer games, and is a big tease to all his siblings. He takes after his dad and likes to catch big fish.

Drew is a riot and keeps our household interesting. He is 3 ½ and into any sport you will play with him. He is a swimming fool and lacks a healthy does of fear. He is happy with a sparkle in his eyes and wants to be doing everything anyone else is doing. He is a good big brother and big help to mom in the kitchen. He can hardly wait to start preschool in the fall. When asked what he likes, he responds, “Cereal.”

Jake just turned one year’s old and is a new man. He must sense the baby spot is soon to be taken, because he’s growing up in a hurry. He walks and climbs anywhere you can imagine. He thoroughly enjoys food and his digestive system is on the up and up! He loves rough housing with his dad and adores his siblings who tote him around. He is so happy and good natured.

Brandon hasn’t changed one bit. Plays more than he works, is a good dad and a worthy priesthood man. He has been running his aunt and uncle’s trucking business the last couple years and really enjoys the challenges and opportunities. He continues to sit on the Board of Directors for DOBA and fits in fishing trips between scout campouts and family time.

I, Dixie have finally surrendered and put most of my projects on hold to have babies and raise little kids. Due with another boy the first part of September, I have far exceeded my wildest imaginations with a household full of kiddos, dishes, laundry, toys, and homework!!! I still like cooking, mountain biking, and dabble in emotional release work. Sleep at this point in life is sparse.

We truly enjoy being descendents of Dave and Arlene Bishop. They have left a legacy of valuable lessons that help us every day in life - hard work, determination, love, and a commitment to gospel principles.

June Travels

When I saw what plans the summer had in store for our family, I opted to lump several trips together to minimize time in the car, and save some energy packing, unpacking, and repacking.

We started the first weekend in June driving to Salt Lake area for my neice’s blessing. My brother Ryan and his family moved a couple weeks prior so they were able to attend as well. It was fun to have everyone together if only for a couple hours. Hectic and crazy with so many little people running around, but the kids loved it.


Hard to believe this was the best picture we got with grandma and grandpa and the grandkids that were there. My mom and dad were looking at different cameras, Corbin was in a bad mood (shocking), Cohen would not sit down (but at least he stopped kicking Drew), Ryalie was trying to escape the grasp of Audrey, and Drew refused to give up on that booger until he got it.

But look at how darling Shya is. Such a beautiful baby.



My mom made her dress and shoes. She embroidered her name and date on the dress lining. Raelene made the flowers that went on the dress, shoes, and headband. Josh's mom crocheted the blanket.


From Utah, Brandon took the train back to Grand Junction to work for the week. He was a little apprehensive b/c he wanted something a little more direct, but in the end, he thought it was a great option. A one way plane ticket from SLC to GJ was $400. The train ticket was $40. It was funny dropping him off at the station at 5:00 AM. There were a couple of older men sitting there with their suitcases, but no ticket counter or anyone in charge heading things up. You simply sit on the bench and wait for the train to pull up. Once Brandon got on the train, the conductor came around and collected the fare. Brandon said the seats were giant and reclined way back. You could get up and move around and walk to a viewing car to watch the scenery and a snack bar. They also had sleeping compartments that he wanted to upgrade to but for five hours, I think he managed. ☺

My mom helped me drive to Nevada to spend some time in Fallon. Me and the kids went to a park that was one of my favorites growing up. The “rocket” park still had the rocket but had been newly upgraded with lots of fun equipment.



Of course we made a visit to the “center” where my parents run a wellness clinic. The kids played around on the workout equipment for a few minutes until some old ladies got bugged and told me “I wouldn’t let your kids do that, they could get hurt.” And, “We pay a lot of money to come here without kids.” I was very accommodating and polite, but astounded by their nerve. Needless to say, we didn’t go back.


And the trips to Fallon are not complete without a visit to Lake Lahontan on the jet skis and playing in the lake in grandma and grandpa’s backyard when they irrigate. Sadly, we were off by a week for irrigation and the jet ski’s were broke.

But running a close second was haircuts by grandma! :) Haha! My philosophy is once summer hits, everyone gets a haircut. Even Audrey. And this year, I did too. So much dirt and sweat and swimming, it's just better. Less time fighting about combing and brushing hair. Jake got his first real haircut. Now I have proof that the clippers don't hurt. He didn't mind at all. Corbin on the other hand. DRAMA QUEEN. No pictures of him. Drew tolerates it, but he's watched Corbin one too many times and THINKS it should hurt.



Grandpa did give the kids “tractor” rides. He pulls them around in a wagon behind the riding lawn mower. ☺ They think it’s fun and tolerate the bumps and dirt in their eyes.


Brandon flew out on the weekend and we loaded up and headed to Newport Beach, CA. We told the kids no amusement parks this trip. Brandon had to work and there was no way I was doing that on my own…with or without kids. Walking miles and miles is not on my top to-do list right now.

Instead, we kicked back and spent some time at the beach.




Brandon got up every morning at 5:00 to go surfing before work. Now he wonders what he can do at home to keep up his workout regimen.


His uncle Jared bought a new camera hoping to get some sweet surfing shots. He left his lovely personal photographer to figure out the nitty gritty of this beast. LOL, you can't even hold the thing up.


Even Jake had fun watching the surfers. (Actually, he had more fun climbing in the chair and face-planting in the sand trying to get out.)


I on the other hand tried to plop myself down in a chair and move as little as possible. I did manage to dig a hole in the sand and lay on my frontside for a little while. I get comments EVERY day about how close I am to delivery. "Looks like you've dropped." "Ooooh sweetheart, any day now!" My favorite was when the lady at the nursery asked if I was going to be able to get the flowers in the ground before the baby came. That was last month...MAY. I smiled. And then I told her, "I hope so, I'm not due until September!" I would imagine she felt a little foolish. This picture was 28 weeks. THAT'S 12 WEEKS TO GO!!! Sadly, I feel as far along as I look. READY TO BE DONE! When I sit down, my belly is in my lap. :)


We also took a fun electric boat ride around Balboa Island looking at all the big fancy houses, dinky trailer park houses on the waterfront, and sailboats galore. We packed a picnic dinner and ate on the boat.



Look at this fancy house....some day...some day. :)


Finally we wrapped up our trip by attending the Bishop Family Reunion just outside of Zion's National Park. We had a lot of fun catching up and being entertained by the days events...Amazing Race - survivor style. (Loosely translated, "Fear Factor.")

When we pulled into the driveway at home, Drew started crying to visit more friends. Funny thing was a few days into the trip he was whining to go home. :) He may have crossed over...finally a travel bug like the rest of the fam.

Jake is ONE!!!

It’s hard to believe that Jake is one year old. I don’t know if I thought we wouldn’t make it or what. I’ve definitely lived more “in the moments” this year than projecting into the future because many days I could not see past the tip of my nose.

Gratefully Jake has been such a good baby. And yet this year has been one of the hardest I can remember. Jake was born with an underdeveloped digestive system. Doesn’t sound that bad when there are so many other unfortunate circumstances all around, but as a mom, I cringed when my baby was in so much pain and despite all my efforts, I couldn’t make it better. I have been so taxed and stressed with his condition while managing motherhood responsibilities that I have battled feelings of inadequacy more than ever.

So to be where we are today seems almost an act of mercy. Jake has been on goat’s milk since he was four months old. Jake and I both struggled to nurse for two months before I tried other options. In the end, we found the only thing he could keep down was raw goat’s milk. I found some lady 30 minutes away that would sell me unpasturized goat’s milk and then I have supplemented with vitamins and minerals.

It took me four kids with reflux and digestive issues to figure out that Brandon and I do not make the best systems. Nursing may have gone better if I went off of all dairy products. Who knows. But the funny thing is, when we were together with my family at Christmas time (Jake was 6 months old) my dad saw the goat’s milk in the fridge. He said, “Oh, I had to be on goat’s milk until I was 2 years old. It’s the only thing I could keep down.” (That information REALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL MONTHS AGO!!!) I’ve become a pro at traveling with a cooler wherever we go and have even resourced goats in Idaho that have supplemented the supply when we are visiting family.

I have been more accommodating to night wakings and discomfort because I think he has needed additional nutrition. The pediatrician has been concerned for his weight and growth, ignoring my brush-offs that he’s on track with two of my other children. (At his 12 month check-up he was 3% for weight and 50% for height.) In fact, Drew’s the only one who’s had a different growth curve with weight. Drew's actually normal compared to the charts. The others have been tall and skinny. Still, it’s a problem now with a 12-month old baby who wakes in the night!!!

But the goat’s milk has only been one part of the problem. He couldn’t keep things down on the upper end or get things out on the lower end. The gastrointestinal specialist had no suggestions that I hadn’t already tried. His best advice was “maybe he’ll grow out of it by 10 months” but he had no rational explanations. Interesting to note, when I was taking my friend’s Zone Reflex class a couple months ago, she said exercise helps strengthen the muscles of the digestive system. Jake was 11 months when we started to see some improvement. About 10 1/2 months Jake started crawling on all fours. (Army crawl had been his preferred mode of mobility since 8 months.) He had already been climbing and walking around furniture, but we could not get him to crawl. 10 days later he was walking. “Exercise” for him finally included his lower limbs and the results with his bowel movements were amazing. In fact, all at once, he became a new baby. I delayed introducing baby food but he didn’t seem to be phased once 11 months rolled around. He has been catching up on everything he’s been missing. Forget flavorless mush, he wants FOOD!!! And he seems to be handling it o.k.

I must say, there has been a residual side effect that the entire family is growing tired of. When he would have a bowel movement, or be attempting to, he would SCREAM bloody murder. And this would happen once or twice a day, never really predictable. That’s one reason leaving him with babysitters was so difficult. How do you explain to a teenager, “When he starts screaming, hurry and pull off his diaper and “help” him poop.” A little too much for them. ☺ But that’s what would happen. Jake figured out because he was screaming out of pain (hemorrhoids and bloody stool) I would come running and apply pressure to help move things along. Once when he was sick he had a diaper with direah and I cried tears of joy! Who cared if he pooped up his back and ruined all his clothes? I know this all sounds gross, but that’s life.

So the side effect of his condition is he knows if he screams at the top of his lungs, he gets attention. He has been nick-named, “The Raptor.” It’s rather annoying.

Aside from his physical pain, he has been very content to be a part of the family. Adjusting to the siblings took a while (they can be a bit overbearing) but now he LOVES their attention. He wants to be part of the action and is doing a fair job to keep up. He is sooooo sweet and loves to give hugs but he saves most of his kisses for mom. He is so cute and loveable – the type of baby that makes you question why you don’t have more.

I definitely take lots of pictures of his development because I just can’t resist. He is so proud of himself when he accomplishes something new. He is quite the Houdini and fits right in with his agile siblings. (See "Up and Coming Trouble Maker") He climbs like a monkey which is why for his first birthday, he got a monkey cake. AND, he inherited the cursed “Bishop” ears (my mom’s side), but I think they are cute!!! He wears them well.


Jake, we love you and are soooo glad you came to our family. We would not want life to be any different.


The kids helped me decorate for the party. I don't remember going to this much effort on their first birthdays, but when you have older kids, they want to make everything a big deal. (Or maybe now they are my excuse.) They appreciate the party decor much more than the one-year old.


More than eating the cake, Jake loved to squish the chocolate between his fingers. Still, he had his fair share of sugar that night. :)

Hooked on Fishing

After Corbin's big catch at Steamboat Springs, the kids have wanted to go fishing. (The addiction must be in the blood.) So Brandon took them out to a nearby resevoir. Audrey and Corbin claim Drew caught a fish every cast. He must have eventually grew bored, either that or he got too hot. Brandon turned around once and found Drew hanging off the edge of the deck chest high in water. I doubt Drew would have been able to reach up and grab the deck if he fell in, so he must have just climbed under the fence and lowered himself in. :) Perhaps next time I should send them in life-jackets. :)

All three of the kids caught fish at the same time.


Brandon was proud of his photography skills with this one. I must admit, it does look pretty good.

Steamboat Springs

For Memorial Day Weekend, we took a trip to Steamboat Springs, Colorado. A quaint little ski town that’s about a three hour drive from where we live. We went with some friends and had a good time playing and relaxing. The trip started as a camping trip, and then a trailer trip, and we ended up at this nice townhome with a hot tub and swimming pool. ☺ One of these days we will get back to nature when the kids are a little older and I’m not pregnant. (Truth be told, Brandon is the whimp. He’d rather hotel-it any time camping is an option. Must be all those scout camp-outs he “gets” to go on.)

We hiked Fish Falls, which is a nice paved "easier" trail. We had quite the group with so many little kids but only one passerby was brave enough to ask if they were all of our children. I chuckled and answered, "Only half, the other half are theirs." :)


Most of the group passed on by the snake on the side of the trail, but Corbin and I stopped to say hello and take a picture.


Jake was a trooper, but I can't say I would complain much at this point if someone was carrying me on their back. By the end of the hike, I was a little winded. For the most part, the kids like to hike but friends always make the trip less work and more fun.

We went swimming at the town pool with natural hot-springs, and the kids went fishing. Corbin caught a HUGE fish!


Brandon says it was a record for the lake and he should send in the picture. Sadly the camera was out of batteries and the I-Phone was the best we could get. The fished weighed 7 lbs. and Corbin tells anyone that asks about the picture that the fish was a female. She had eggs coming out when they pulled her out of the water. ☺