Crazy Weekend

I am not really sure why I have not been blogging much this summer. I have just gotten out of the habit but I am glad that all of you are keeping up with it. It has been a pretty crazy weekend so I wanted to share a bit. A few months ago our bishop, who has since moved away, challenged the youth of the ward to read the Book of Mormon this summer and if they accomplished it they would be invited to go on a tubing trip of the Provo River on Aug. 29th. I have been so busy and every weekend has been very hectic for many different reasons and I just was not looking forward to the trip as much as I should have been. I even thought about getting out of it but I was talking to Whitney about it and then realized that we could probably use another chaperone and so I invited her to come with me. There were 13 youth and 8 leaders who floated the river. I was a little nervous at first. It seemed much more intense than the Warm River float we did a few weeks back. I got in the water ( very cold at first) got started. I was trying to keep my eye on the girls and I should have kept my eyes on where I was going. I was trying to also stay near Whitney and then I ran into the side and into these branches and then capsized my craft. It took me forever to get back on my tube. I had swallowed a bunch of the river water and got dragged along while holding onto Whits tube and then I finally had to let go and off she went and I had to fend for myself. I was actually pretty scared and thinking here I am supposedly here to watch others and make sure they were safe and I was feeling very unsafe. I finally got back on my tube and was separated from everyone in the group. I came upon 2 fly fisherman and a girl was tangled up with them and they were trying to free her from their line and then I came right into the mix and then they had to help me. One of the fisherman was trying to push me back out into the faster current and he was in about shoulder deep and his waders got filled up with water and he started going down and I could see this panic on his face and I started panicing and trying paddle closer to him so he could hold onto my tube. Needless to say I made it to him. I think he was embarrased that it had happened but I was glad that us 4 strangers had been there to at least help one another. The river was pretty merciless at times. The latter half was more enjoyable. Whitney and my bishop were wondering what had happened to me. I finally got back with Whitney and did not let go of her tube until we were ready to get out. There was also another rescue at the end. It took about 3 men to get some of the Beehives out of the water. You were supposed to get out at a certain part of the river but the current was so strong that it kept sweeping them further down the river. Some of the priesthood leaders were trying with all their might to get them out. They did succeed I am happy to say. Then we went to the park nearby and had a BBQ and testimony meeting. It was very sweet to hear the kids feelings about reading the Book of Mormon. I was very proud of them.

I was so looking forward to going to church today because it had been a few weeks. I was on call for work and so I was hoping it would be quiet enough that I could make it to part of the meetings. It was so busy that I spent practically the whole day on the phone and pager and did not make it to anything. I had even set up Visiting Teaching and my partner had to go alone. I had heard that weekend call on Sundays was better. It is not. I will never do it again. What a waste of a Sabbath day.

I went over to Josh and Stacy's to have dinner with their family and Whitney. We watched Tenny's soon to be world famous work out on You Tube. That girls is hilarious. I recommend watching it. I however do not recommend doing the work-out itself or wearing that scary thong thing from the 80's.

I am hoping for a great upcoming week. Especially want to wish Zack well on his departure for South America. I am really looking forward to having a missionary out again. He will be a wonderful missionary as I am sure you will all agree.

What a Busy July

July has been quite the month. I have been quite busy and been able to have a lot of family time. It has been filled with lots of good memories and here are the highlights.

On the 24th of July I was able to go to the parade with Banner, Whit, Gabe, John and Rebecca. We had a primo spot and were able to enjoy the parade in the cool shade. Lucky! Later on that afternoon we decided to go on a picnic up to Big Cottonwood Canyon to Mossy Ledge. This is the creek that goes through the area.

Madi had worked earlier in the day and was fortunate to get off in time to go to the canyon with us.

I did not take a picture of the food, but we had the juicest burgers I have had in a long time. It was also a very shady enjoyable spot. We had a great time.
The other July cookout was last weekend up to Joes Valley. We went on the Saturday evening before Whitney had her homecoming. The girls look they are discussing something very interesting. Not sure but I think I missed out on something.

Leah needed to rest a spell and found the nearest spot.

Delicious Marshmallows and thus delicious smores

Whitney having some Lily time. How can anyone resist Lily time.

Jim preparing his lesson for the following day

Finally a chair her size

That Saturday morning the girls decided to do a little slip and slide. This pool was set up for Leah but they just could not resist a little dip themselves.

Leah loves to soak up the sun.

Miranda's perfect form. They were all a little sore the next day. I had warned them.

The girls getting reaquainted after not seeing each other for a month.

Leah and her usual perching

Hannah, Jonas, Maren, Esme were over for an evening and their cousins Heyden and Tucker wanted to come as well. It ended up turning into a sleepover. Here we were having a popcorn party outside while they put on little plays for me.

Lily's big smile


The kids had made a welcome home sign for Whit. It was so great to finally have her home with us. I have so enjoyed spending the last 2 weekends with her.

When Whitney got home the first thing she wanted to do was to go to the temple. We went and did a session at Jordan River. It was a very nice way for her to end her missionary experience. Notice she still had her tag on in the picture.

New Calling

Last week Josh got a call from his Stake President asking him to meet with him along with Stacy. He was actually with me at my house working on a sprinkler problem when he got the call. I told him he better go suit shopping. He has been called to be the 2nd counselor in his new bishopric. John and his family and Tenny and myself went to sacrament meeting where it was announced. Then after the meeting John was able to ordain Josh to a High Priest and then help in the setting apart. It was actually a very sweet moment and I am glad that I got to be there.

July 4th Weekend

Happy 4th of July. I just got back from C.D. I turned off the AC while I was gone and so I have come back to a sweat lodge and I thought I could blog while the house is cooling off. I was sitting here watching 1776 the movie and I can hear the beginnings of the neighborhood fireworks. It has really been a good day. The day started off with an early morning walk with Liz and then we came home and started making our food for the reunion. I was upstairs getting ready and I was starting to smell smoke and something burning. I heard Lizzy shreak and thought I better investigate. I went downstairs and saw Lizzy and John battling a grease fire and Dennis calmly decorating the flag cake. I thought I had stepped into the Twilight Zone.

Yes, who new that Dennis also has cake decorating skills. What a Rennaisance man.

Notice the haziness of the picture. It is smoke from the fire. Crazy!

John picked the cherries from Lizzy's tree and he and Rebecca made cobbler and pie for the reunion. They were scumdittleyumptious. Especially with the homemade vanilla ice cream that Arden and Tenny made.

These were the 5 cutest girls at the renuion

We had the most perfect day today for the reunion. While we were eating a rainstorm came in. It was still sunny but rain was coming down. It was just this perfect 70 some odd degree day. All we wanted to do was sit around and visit and visit we did for about 4 hours. It was nice to catch up with cousins and aunts and uncles that I get to see about once a year.

The above is a picture of the hygeine kits that we put together for Chazz's eagle project. We got about 250 done. It was quite the accomplishment. Nancy and Paul came to the reunion and I asked her how her dad was doing. She said he was doing good. I guess he was asked to be in a Mr. Golden Years pageant a month or so back and Nancy had to work and so Paul took him up to the SouthTowne Expo Center where he was in this contest. He had to answer questions and walk across the stage and and a few other things and then ended up winning and being crowned Mr. Golden Years. He was given a crown which he took back to the nursing home with him and proceeded to flaunt it to the point that it was taken away from him and locked up. He was in the Fillmore parade today because he is Mr. Golden Years. They gave his crown back to him for the day. I laughed and laughed. I thought it was the cutest story. Can you not just picture Archie doing all of this. He is 93 years old and going strong.

So Miranda and I were going through Les' closet on Friday to find some gently used toys that we could also give to Chazz's eagle project. We came across some old friends. Can you remember the stories of each.

"I hate Morgan. I hate Morgan"

Flying kitty that Banner threw onto Dennis and Liz's bed.

The lizard that Ben gave Les and then we all played with it

A battered Teddy Ruxpin. He met with an accident and his nose got busted.

I think that Rachel gave this to Les for Christmas. It is a cute puppet.

I just loved this little bunny of Ben's. It just reminds me of him when he was a little guy.

Fives Revisited

I am alone this weekend for the first time in I don't know how long. So I am trying to catch up on a few areas that I have been slacking. My blogging has lagged this past month. A lot has happened but I have not had pictures and so forth but anyway. I liked Les' last idea about list of Fives again. Here is my attempt.

Five things I have to do today

Finish making raspberry rhubarb syrup, compliments of A.A and Lizzy
Mow the Lawn
Do this blog
Laundry
Watch movies from the library. I am on a timeline

My 5 favorite memories of this past year is about all of us being together

Being together in Southern Utah and at the Ranch '08
Being together in Castle Dale for Thanksgiving
Being together at Miranda's Wedding
Being together Easter Weekend
Being together in Washington DC and the Wedding
Being together at the Draper Temple and at Lily's blessing
(okay there's 6)


My 5 favorite movies at this moment

The new Pride and Prejudice
The new Persuasion
Age of Innocence
Remains of the Day
A Very Brady Sequel (for a good laugh)





Five Things that I am really looking forward to

Whitney Coming Home
Being together in August for Zack's Farewell
Finding out where Les is going to go on her mission
Doing what I feel like this summer
Some time off in July




Five of my favorite pictures that remind me of my favorite memories of the past year

In Honor of the King of Pop

My favorite Michael Jackson songs

Don't Stop Til You Get Enough
Rock with You
The Way You Make Me Feel
She's Out Of My Life(tears and all)
Thriller

My Five favorite Authors

Anne Tyler
Georgette Heyer
Charles Dickens
Wallace Stegner
Alexander McCall Smith

My 5 favorite things to eat in the summer

Watermelon
Potato Salad
Nectarines
Grilled Steak
Cherries

Hope that all of you are having fun making your lists of 5 things to do or not to do or to enjoy or to partake of or whatever the heck you feel like. That's what I say.