Apple Farmer

It's been years since I've done this, but I felt compelled this morning to bottle apples from our tree. Not being able to reach all the apples I abandoned the ladder and climbed the tree to shake the apples lose. I did wondered how long I would lay on the ground if I fell? Not to worry, I didn't fall.

Sliced apples and pie filling....next will be pomegrante juice. Can you bottle oranges?

Slumber Party

Last Friday night we were delighted to have Chase and Tyler spend the night, only having one twin bed, we opted to let the boys sleep in the living watching movies.

They're getting tired, but as long as the TV is on, they kept their eyes open.

The next day Tyler was playing dirt bike...and must have worn the helmet for several hours before taking it off, even coming in to eat while wearing it.

Delicious apples off the tree.

Prince Charming...at first he wanted to hide from the camera, but then he gave me this most contagious smile.

Copying grandpa, Chase was dipping his cookies in the milk....oh...you can lose a lot of the cookie in the milk....Ahhhh, a fork will get it out.

It was a late night last night, Chase feel asleep while playing Nintendo.

Tyler was enjoying the time alone to play with the train.

Jelly Belly

The Friday before April and the girls headed home, we all made a trip out to the Jelly Belly Candy Factory in Fairfield.

While waiting in line, the kids found this photo booth and on the far side was a curtain that they pulled back to reveal the elves in the candy factory hard at work.

The kids also discovered the funny mirrors and had quite the time going back and forth seeing how distorted they looked.

Not hard to discover was all the candy that was at their level.....

April and Lexie, wearing their Jelly Belly hats.

Shhhhhh, don't tell, but there was a "No Cameras" policy once the tour began...but I got this shot of the kids watching the conveyor belts of candy moving along below them.

Grandkids and the Waterslide

One of the best investments we've made was this waterslide for the grandkids...Whenever they come around and the weather is warm enough, they insist we put up the slide. Logan even has a mixing valve we can put on to give the kids warm water when the weather is alittle on the chilly side.

Chase is daring enough now to not just slide down the slide, but he launches himself from the deck sailing in mid-air before hitting the slide.

Peyton's first ride down the slide was initiated by her sister....Notice she's not exactly smiling, although Halli thinks it's rather funny.

Chase launching himself from the deck.

Peyton checking out the water temperature.

This is where Chase got the idea of launching from the deck...way to show your little brother how to do it, Tyler.

How many times in just one minute can Halli go down the slide.... (I lost count).

Bowling Night

When April and the girls were here, April wanted to go and do "something"....The idea of going to Grandma and Grandpa's house is for them to take the kids of "Mom's" hands and let her relax, unfortunately for April, we were in the middle of classes and work....So on Wednesday night she suggested we go bowling. It was a little difficult to find a bowling alley that didn't have leagues taking up all the lanes...we ended up down on Madison for our bowling night.

Always take little ones with you when you bowl...they put up the gutter guards which helped out tremendously with our high scores and they had a shute for the kids to launch their balls from, Halli even had a couple of strikes. It was fun to watch the girls retrieve those heavy balls, but by the end of the night Peyton was bored and entertained us with her version of bowling alley angel wings.

Au Revoir St. George

Final parting shot as the sun sets over the golf course and pool. Again, I can't take credit for the photo, I'll post who took it when they let me know.

Peyton was fascinated with this frog from the very first day. Just before we left the house for home, I asked her to go touch the frog, I just had to get a picture of her with this frog that was her size.

Happy Birthday Mom

Our family trip to St. George was all to celebrate mom's 80 wonderful years. It was a very wonderful weekend, being surrounded by family. Mom and Dad were able to relax and enjoy the coming and goings of their children and grandchildren.


Dad surprised mom with a wedding band, as she's been unable to wear hers. He got down on one knee and expressed his eternal love for her and presented her the ring. .......awwwww, so sweet.

After our eventful day of hiking on the red rocks of Snow Canyon, lunch at Cafe Rio, more swimming in the pool, watching the kids and Logan run around the golf course in their swimming suits, we ended the weekend with a party. It was meant to be a dance, but as Mormons go, well, maybe we should take dance lessons. We danced with the kids and then put the little ones to bed. Afterwards we played the game "What If..." I think Morgan got hammered with the what if prom questions.

Snow Canyon

I'm a bit slow in getting these posted and I still have more to post. Credit for the photos come from Ryan, Kate, April and Britt. I didn't have my camera with me. While in St. George the gang went to Snow Canyon to hike amoung the red rocks. I love this canyon....

Okay...most of us went out far enough for the family photo and then headed back to the car, Davis, MacKay and Ken hiked over the red rocks, the rest of us headed to grassy area and ate pomegranets and cooled off on the grass.

Kate took some amazing photos of mom and dad.

This picture says it all, I love this one.

Halli and Tyler on a hike

Ken and Shellie

That's Janna.... "Oh my gosh, this looks just like home, I thought we were getting away from the cactus and rocks"...... Mom's so sweet to smile and nod her head and Jason's blocked it all out.

Go ahead and say it ......I look like my 27 year old daughter, now she might not be happy with that observation.

Peyton and Chase did their share of walking, but many of us took turns carrying them.