Summer Play

We have had some watering issues in our meager berry patch this summer and the verdict is out on what will survive. What a fun surprise to actually eat a few raspberries!

The bucket of delicious cherries turned into freezer jam this past week.  Brinley and Anna had the privilege of pitting all of them.  Good work girls!

Heather, Brinley, Anna

Even though Elsie was in UT and Tanner had class, we wanted to use our 8 free passes for a game of laser tag before the expiration.  Jantzen invited a couple of buddies along.  We had a blast!  Afterwards, Aaron left to catch a flight for CA and the girls decided we needed to pick up Little Caesar's $5 pizzas for lunch.  Later that evening, the girls floated (froze) the river with YW/YM.

Brinley, Max, Spencer, Jantzen, Aaron, Quinn, Anna

Matt, Max, Andrew, Ben, Sam, Tanner, Isaac

One by one, Tanner's friends are heading out to fulfill mission assignments around the globe.  Early Tuesday morning a few of them gathered in front of the temple for a picture.  Matt Sommers (and mom/Katie) bought matching ties/clips for each to wear every fast Sunday while they are out serving.    It will be a fun reminder for them that they are united in their efforts to share the gospel with the world.  Jacob Child stopped by the house late Tuesday night to say his good-byes to our family.  He will be a great missionary and we appreciate his special friendship with Tanner.  

Wednesday night I hosted a bridal shower for my niece, Breanna.  Well, perhaps the word 'hosted' isn't exactly accurate.  I simply provided a house for 30+ women to gather in.  The truth is, I wasn't even home for most of it because I had a meeting to attend.  After the party ended, Bonnie, Breanna and Lillian spent the night.  Thursday afternoon, Bonnie took Anna and Lillian back to Layton, UT with her for a little more cousin time together.  

Kathy, Cole, Riley, Parker (Flounder), Larah (princess), Dustin
Oakley, Abigail, Elsie

Meanwhile, Elsie enjoyed her cousin time in UT.  Besides singing in church, swimming, making anything and everything from duct tape, getting a Happy Meal, eating a huge shake from Iceberg, going to the zoo, Elsie attended a production of "The Little Mermaid" that featured (Lewis family) Parker, Cassidy and Larah (my cousin, Dustin's family). Uncle Brent and Aunt Kathy were also in town for the show so some of the group met for breakfast together Friday morning at a new diner in town.  White pancakes again - how dreamy for Elsie!

Riley, Parker (Flounder), Tif
Oakley, Abigail, Elsie

Aaron returned from CA and we loaded up to head south again.  It was strange to not have Elsie or Anna with us as they were already in UT.  We dropped Tanner off at Robert Rueben's house (heading to France in Sept.) and they performed baptisms at the Draper Temple together.  The rest of us cruised up to the Hogle Zoo for a quick outing.

This marks the squeakiest train ride ever endured but it's a fun way to see the animals. 

Elsie & Abigail - Eagle's Nest

Elsie, Brinley, Abigail - seals

Elsie, Brinley, Quinn - lion fountain

G-ma and G-pa P purchased a season pass this year which allows them to take up to 10 grandchildren (and 1 extra adult) at a time.  Aaron and Tif stayed back at the house so I was the extra adult.  It worked out well since the zoo closed at 6pm and we only had about 80 minutes to explore.  I believe this pass has paid for itself in the first week...

 The seals know how to entertain.  The kids watched them swim around, flip and show-off for awhile.

 These two are such troopers - always up for an adventure.  They really do a lot for their children/grandchildren.  Nice that it was overcast which kept the temps down a little.

Didn't know the zoo has two lion head fountains...

Jantzen and the peacock

G-pa P, Jantzen, Quinn lean against a giant elephant

After our trip to the zoo, we headed back to the Murray house for dinner, picked up Tanner then drove north to spend the night at Bonnie and Bryant's house where we met up with Anna.

Tanner (oldest great) with Great G-ma Kerr

Besides picking up Anna and Elsie, our main purpose in driving to UT (again) was to see G-ma Ann and attend the "Peter Pan" production at the Hale Center Theatre in Orem with extended Kerr/Thueson family members.  Unfortunately, there was not an official gathering afterwards but we connected with cousins, aunts and uncles we rarely see (no pics!).  This was G-ma Ann's way of giving Christmas gifts for all the grands and great-grandchildren.  It's impressive that she has sent gifts for EVERY member of the family for so very long.  I can't even keep track of the names and faces anymore...

Elsie and Quinn with Wendy & Peter Pan

The show was very well done and the kids were quite entertained. 

Britton, Elsie, Quinn, Anna, Jantzen, Brinley, Jameson, Tanner, Abigail, Korinne, Jenna

G-ma and G-pa P scouted out the local parks before the show so our smaller clan could gather for a picnic lunch later on. Here the cousins hold up the box containing the sandwich we managed to eat 3/4 of along with salads, melon, chips & salsa, veggies, drinks.

Steve Kerr joined us for lunch

After getting tummies filled, we jumped back into the car to begin the long drive home.  So much summer road construction has added time to the drive - not our favorite thing.  Brinley, Jantzen and Anna still had an office to clean and Tanner had a primary lesson to prepare so we skipped out on stopping by IKEA on the way home.  It's hard to get all 8 of us together for a weekend away and we enjoyed our fast and furious trip.