Father's Day & Family Visits!

It's a rare thing to have Aaron home before church (usually at meetings).  So - we scrambled to get a breakfast put together before our 9am meetings to celebrate Father's Day on June 17.  It was a rather calm & relaxing day which we totally appreciated!

Breakfast in Bed for Dad

Our YM/YW donated services for a recent ward auction where I scored on an auto detailing for Aaron's truck.  Best. Gift. Ever.  Along with some beef jerky and a few other items, he was a happy man.  It only took a few weeks to get our schedules to work out for the detailing - the results were worth the wait.  I'm so happy there are teenage boys that love to do stuff like clean dirty trucks!?!

Happy Father's Day to Aaron!  And to our awesome G-pa's and Great G-pa LaVerne.  We are so blessed by your dedicated service to the Lord and to our entire family.  Thank you all!

At the airport - 5am

Aaron left town for a conference in PA so I put Jantzen in charge and drove Brinley to SL on Monday evening.  We stayed at G-ma and G-pa P's place since she had an early flight to catch for HEFY Thailand on Tuesday, June 19.  It was a quick trip down and back for me.  I even made it home to take Elsie to her last tap dance class at 10am (Tuesday).  Elsie had fun trying something new in June.

My Cub Scouter was all about attending day camp at Krupp Hollow (June 20).  He stayed for most of the activities but chose to leave a little early so he wouldn't be late for the Mickey D's basketball camp.  He and Jantzen both participated in this week-long basketball camp.  Jantzen attended in the morning while Quinn went in the afternoon with the younger kids. 

Quinn at Krupp Hollow Cub Scout Camp

Anna, Jessica, Elsie

We were really excited when McKay and Tricia's family pulled up to our place on Thursday afternoon (June 21).   They don't often make it this far north so it was a special treat to have them spend a few days with us.  It was a busy weekend with Jantzen participating in a basketball camp/weekend tournament and Anna attending Stake Youth Conference, but we did what we could so the cousins had some time together.  .

It didn't take the girls long to bust out the camera and change their wardrobes for a few 'photo shoots' together.  They took a lot of pics - here are just a few.

Cameron, Jessica, Anna

Friday morning before Anna left for the overnight Youth Conference, I took these three to the temple to do some baptisms for the dead.  McKay ventured out on Aaron's bike for a long ride while Quinn, Thomas and Elsie played back at the house with Tricia.

Anna heading to Stake Youth Conference

Quinn finished up his last day of basketball camp in style winning a new pair of Stance socks for making 9 shots in a row and beating out his competition.  He came home a very happy boy!

Friday evening we checked out the pizzeria in a nearby town we've heard good things about .  It was pretty good but I had a feeling most people probably raved about the old-fashioned sodas and shakes (which we didn't try).  It didn't take us long to head into the mountains for some exploration.  The weather was funky and another hail storm hit the Mesa Falls area just before we arrived.

We came upon a potential "will you marry me" scene complete with a photographer nearby so she kindly snapped a group shot of us while she was waiting for this couple to arrive.  The soon-to-be-engaged couple was approaching the area as we were leaving so the timing was perfect.  The college-aged gal holding the guy's hand had no idea what was just around the corner as we headed back to our cars.  So glad we didn't spoil their romantic moment - haha!  Surprisingly, nobody else was around (maybe because of the weather?).

Quinn at Mesa Falls

Elsie and Jessica

Jessica, Thomas, Quinn

The long summer days allowed for a little s'mores-making before calling it a day.  

Cameron, Tricia, Elsie

Saturday Aaron attended some of Jantzen's basketball games since the tournament was not too far away.  The cousins had fun riding the 4-wheelers, bikes and scooters around, Cameron practiced his auto driving skills, I enjoyed learning more about their family time in England and looking at the extensive book Tricia made and Quinn and Thomas were busy with LEGOS or balls.  They played together really well and usually showed their faces around meal time.  Since it was a little cool to play at the pond, we opted for playtime at the sand dunes instead.

Cameron, Elsie, Jessica, Thomas, Quinn

Tricia, McKay, Heather, Aaron - eating creamies

It was a great help to have McKay, Cameron and Jessica join me, Jantzen and Elsie in cleaning the HCP office later that afternoon.  Yeah, McKay ran the vacuum downstairs for two hours straight.  Loads of fun!  Then it was time to get pizza/movie for the kids.  The adults ate dinner at a local Thai Restuarant then visited some of the campus before returning home.  Anna and Jantzen eventually made it home Saturday evening also.  More night games anyone?

Anna, Jessica, Cameron, Tricia, McKay, Heather
Quinn, Elsie, Thomas

Sunday morning - Jantzen left early to help prepare the sacrament and missed the group picture Aaron took.  In fact, Jantzen isn't in a single photo!  We occasionally saw him around, however.

Anna and Jessica saying their "good-byes"

Thomas, Cameron, Quinn, Anna, Elsie, Jessica

Tricia & Heather

After sacrament meeting ended, Tricia and McKay's family loaded up and headed to CV via a 'family history tour' route through Blackfoot.  Anna left for a week-long basketball camp with her team.  A few hours later, I drove Quinn and Elsie to CV where we arrived in time for the baby blessing of Preston, son of Jen & Taylor.  It was a rare occasion to have 5 of 6 siblings together but somehow we pulled that off for 24 hours.  Preston was blessed by Taylor at Mom & Dad's home and they were able to see us via Skype.  Several of Jen's family members also made the drive and we had a nice meal together afterward (thanks to Tif!).

Extended family after the baby blessing

McKay, Tiffany, Heather, Taylor - out for a walk

Monday morning started early as Tif and I volunteered to help with registration for the week-long Patriot Camp (9-12pm) several of the cousins participated in.  It's become an annual event and a wonderful way to expose our children to American history.  They don't get enough of the 'good stuff' at school so I'm grateful for an inspired lady willing to put this together each summer!

Jameson, June, Quinn

Quinn - exploring the ship

Korinne, Abigail, Elsie

Korinne (youth leader), Abigail, Elsie, Will
Quinn, June, Jameson

This was Quinn's first year to attend Patriot Camp and he impressed me by fulfilling all the requirements for the "Patriot Challenge".  Being veterans of the camp, Elsie and Abigail recited the memorized documents on Day 2.  Way to go kids!

Lunch at Cafe Rio - Tif was beside Hilary...

Meanwhile, the adults found time to walk, talk, laugh, eat, foot zone and everything in between during our brief time together.  The older cousins were adept at keeping themselves entertained which was lovely.

Elsie, Jenna, Abigail, Korinne, Jessica - dressed up at "CLUE" characters.

Thomas, Will, Quinn

McKay, Taylor
Hilary, Heather, Tiffany

Tuesday morning (June 26) I caught a ride with Taylor who was headed for the SL airport then on to China.  Jen and the kids had plans to remain in the US for a few more weeks.  Tiffany agreed to hold down the fort with Quinn and Elsie in Utah then drive our minivan back home after camp ended on Friday.  With Brinley in Thailand, Anna in Oregon, Jantzen heading to High Adventure in Montana, (Tanner in Pennsylvania - haha!) Aaron picked me up at Bonnie's (Taylor dropped me off en route to airport) and I joined him for a conference in Nashville, TN for a few days.  And the adventures continue...