4th of July trip to Utah

We just returned from a great trip to Utah.  We drove up in the suburban with Jake & Vanessa and Sierra & Ashton.  It was so much fun.  It was great to visit with all of our family in Utah and also nice for Sierra and Ashton to spend time with their Utah cousins Blake and Gracie.  Great memories!

Gracie is trying to smile but the sun is just too bright!

Grandma with Gracie at the Promontory Pool.
The Youngs and Norris & I went to Salt Lake and walked around temple square, went through the Church's History Museum and then saw the Joseph Smith movie.  It was a very special day for us!

Cute couple Norris & Brenna at the parade on Center Street at the Halladay gathering.

Christa and I took Blake and Gracie to a local school that had a fun jungle gym.  Here is Gracie looking as adorable as ever!
Blake honing his zip-line skills!
Gracie could not be left out (the little daredevil). It was so funny because she would only hold on with one hand, but she was giggling up a storm.

As we were waiting for the fireworks Christa and Blake were playing throw the goldfish in the mouth game.  

We took a drive up to Sundance and were in awe that everything is still go green!

We went to this awesome recreation center in Kamas, Utah (near Park City) with Vanessa, Sierra, Ashton, Ryker, Christa, Blake, Gracie, Norris and myself.  They have this huge pool with a lazy river; a giant spiral water slide; a jungle gym inside the pool and then another lap pool with a high dive (5 meter), which both Ashton and Sierra jumped off - Brave kids.

Thanks Ryker & Christa for such a fun afternoon.

Here is Tori with baby Gracie.  She loves the water and is quite fearless.  

Norris with Ashton
Ashton loved the big yellow slide
Ryker with Blake riding piggy-back

Kauai May 2009

We just came back from yet another fabulous trip to Kauai.  We were able to go for two weeks.  Our first week was on the north shore at the Cliffs with Nate and Trina (they had one free week there and so they let us crash their party).  The second week we went to Poipu with Nate and Trina, Rod and Jenny and Brittan.  Norris' mom, Lucille, passed away as we were traveling to Hawaii and so half way through our trip we flew back to L.A. for the funeral and then returned the next day to Hawaii to finish our vacation.  Lot's of flyer miles!

On another hike to the Lava Pools - Brit, Jenny, Rod & Tori.

Norris took Jenny and Brit to Kauai's Grand Canyon.  It was about an hour and a half of winding roads so most of us opted out - but the three that went had a great time.  Here is Jenny with Brit and below is Jenny with Norris.

On our hike we stumbled across this beautiful little rock/water formation.  Norris used his expertise in balancing the camera on a tree branch so we could take this picture by timer.  Not too bad, right?
After kayaking we hiked to this beautiful waterfall.  Here is Jenny and Tori in the pool at the base of the waterfall.

Rod & Jenny on our kayak trip

Out for Pizza
Brit - at dinner
Coming back from our hike to "secret beach".  Not a bad view!
Nate, Trina and Tori on our way to Larson's beach - yikes!

Brittan's Clean Sweep

BYU has one of the largest and most competitive intramural programs in the country. This last season Brit has participated in three different events: Women's tennis singles, all-girls Women's basketball and inter-tube water polo (for which we all have a hilarious visual). Brit has been participating in BYU intramurals for the past 3 years.  If your event wins a championship . . .  your prize - the "coveted T-Shirt".  Those of you who know Brittan she is quite an athlete.  She has obtained 5 "T-Shirts" - coed basketball, ultimate Frisbee, soccer, softball & 3 on 3 women's basketball (all over a three year period).

Yesterday was a momentous occasion for her. All three of her events resulted in a championship win . . . clean sweep for our Brit! Three T-Shirts in one day; we think that must be a record.  Way to go girl!

Roadshow: Rock The Boat

I just recently finished directing our wards Roadshow and it was a really great experience. When our Bishop asked me to do it I was very reluctant (inside) and knew that he was obviously desperate.  I felt very guided and blessed during the whole process.  My number one goal was to make it a good and fun experience for the kids and I think that we were somewhat successful in that endeavor.  They were so great to work with and I could not have been prouder.  I never got any complaints or moans during rehearsals and they were very happy with their performance.  

The story is about a young man that comes across his great-great grandpa's missionary journal which then takes him back to the late 1800's where is grandpa is sailing home after serving a "failed" mission in England.  The set is that of a ship. You also get the impression that there may be a love interest between a female investigator (Alice) and the Elder (awkward).  Our big dance/song number was to "Rock The Boat" with the lyrics changed a bit.  The ship ends up getting attacked by pirates and the Elders end up baptizing them, plus Alice.  Alice then bears her testimony and declares that she has fallen in love with . . .  the pirate captain (Jack).  A wedding takes place on board.  The play finishes with the young man reading that his great-great grandpa would then land in America and cross the plain where he exclaims "Indians!"; then we had about 15 primary kids (ages 7 through 3) run across the stage in indian garb.  Cute script and sweet message!

So here are some fun shots of the event!

This is our last rehearsal before the performance . . . pep-talk!

Our Pirate Jack with one of his crew.
Three sailors - Maddie McKeon, Cindy Crockett and Frine Coley (Alice)
Myself with Captain and Captain Jack
The green room, performance night
In the green room - cast photo
Rock The Boat dance/song number
Elder Newhall II confronted by Pirate Jack
Yo Ho Yo Ho A Mormons Life For Me number
Curtain call
Rock The Boat
Indians running across - that's Lincoln

Ryker & Christa's Visit

So here are two attempts to get a picture of all eight of our grandchildren . . . sometimes brilliant ideas just don't quite pan out, but we did all get a good laugh out of the photo shoot.

I love this one of Lincoln holding on to Rocky with all his might while Ashton is wondering why is Gracie scared beyond belief - too funny!

How about them eyes?  Gracie is such a happy and adorable little girl.
Here is Blake and Lincoln working on a puzzle.  Something they LOVED doing while they were here.
Angel Gracie!
Like father like son - cookin' away!
At Sierra's baptism Jake rented a jumper and the kids had a blast . . . here is Lincoln and Blake.
Blake, Lincoln and Rocky - such handsome boys!
Blake, Nixon & Lincoln
Another one of Ryker's moments where he had everyone in stitches . . .  which was quite painful after we were all so stuffed from his delicious dinner he prepared.
The older boy cousins were watching a movie in the game room and I just couldn't help but imagine all these boys out on missions in about 15 or 16 years.  It will be here before we know it.