Fishing!

For James' birthday (Happy 50th dear!)... Brad arranged to take him on a fly fishing weekend!  His buddy's family has a ranch close to Fallon Nevada, and owns an outdoor/fly fishing supply company called Adam's Built.  They really took great care of Brad and James with all the gear they could need,

 great company, wonderful memories.  The only thing that would have made it better???... having Tyler and Ben along too.  Maybe next year!  Thanks to Brad for treating your Dad to a great, much needed weekend away!

Cuties...

These two make me smile!

Watch out!!...

 Who me???...

Elder Ben!

While I was at the grocery store yesterday I got a text from my sweet Jennie... "Guess What?? One of my old Young Women and Friend Brynn Hewitt (who is living in Los Angeles) just sent me this picture and said she taught a lesson with Ben today!:)"  Oh.my.goodness!! Can you imagine me stopped in the middle of an aisle at Smiths squeeling??!! This was a picture of my boy right at that moment!! That doesn't happen every day ya know... or ever, really!!! Ben is serving in the singles ward... he said the members are amazing are always helping the missionaries with referrals and bringing friends to church.  I am assuming Brynn must be in that ward and invited Ben and his companion over to teach a friend.  What a Tender Mercy for us today!! Thanks Jen and Brynn!

ALSO... In Ben's email this week he gave us his release date... DECEMBER 18!!!

 One week before Christmas!  PERFECT Christmas present for this Missionary Mama!

Nature!

My boys LOVE to be outside and enjoy nature.  A couple of weeks ago, Brad called and said... "Come with us to take Asa on his first hike!"... So we all loaded up and went up to Tibble Fork in American Fork Canyon and had a blast!

Then yesterday Brad called and invited Ethan to take "Uncle Rico" off- roading in the hills above their new home...boy did they have fun!

Boys are the best!

EFY

Noah had a great experience this summer at Especially For Youth!

He LOVED last year when he went to Utah State in Logan... but this 

year he went to BYU.  It was a great, spiritual experience.

 Late nights meant for sleepy early morning devotionals!

 You gotta admit...Noah has style!  He was known as bow tie guy! He is definitely unforgettable~

 Oh...Noah!

Prayers for Caleb

Our sweet nephew Caleb is having surgery today. Because of his neurofibromotisis, he is having his leg amputated.  He has been so brave!  We love him and pray all will go well with the surgery today!
We know your sweet Mama will be there with you... and Grami too!

Love you Caleb!

Skype

It seems the past many months the only way to visit with our oldest children was through Skype...

Here we are on Mother's Day "talking" with Elder Ben...

 With Tyler, Kelly and Kalvy in Nebraska, we usually visit on Sunday evenings...

 (This was how they participated on Asa's Blessing Day!)

And with Brad, Cami and Asa in North Carolina for the summer,

this was how we watched Asa grow over his first 4 months...

I do love the benefits of technology, but it sure makes me grateful for the times we can be together in person!

Sweet Kate

I have always loved this picture of my sweet niece Kate!

Then I found this picture of me when I was little... I have decided Kate and I are kindred spirits!

 When Kate and family came to visit this summer Noah showed her that her picture is the screen saver on his phone and that when he shows his friends he tells them she is his "Princess"!  Later that night the doorbell rang with friends of Noah's... Kate responded...
 "I sure hope they haven't come to see his Princess!"  Oh...she makes me smile!

Trek

 A few weeks ago Noah had the opportunity to go on a Pioneer Trek... 3 days, HOT, desert, dirty and dusty, over 25 miles...  Appreciation gained for ancestors, testimony grown, friendships deepened!
Such a great experience!

Beach!

We were lucky enough to join the Schlauder Family at Del Mar Beach Club in California!  We had such a wonderful time!  We have decided that the ocean is healing... we really needed some time to breath and get away from all the struggles...  Thanks so much Linda and Allyn for letting us spend time with your family in such a beautiful place!

Cousin time!

Boogie Boarding...

Ethan and Levi loved playing ball!

Noah and Aunt Linda...

All 18 of us went to a San Diego Padres Baseball Game!  Not a great game, but lots of fun because of the great company!  We ate at Hodad's in the park...great burgers and amazing onion rings!

My favorite memory of the night... Caleb was being a trooper walking all around the park to get to our seats, but our sweet Jennie saw he was struggling and she bent down and said "Hey Caleb, climb on.." and she carried him all the rest of the way!  She is such an example to me of love and caring!  Love you Jen!!!

James and I took Jackson and Ethan to the aircraft carrier USS Midway... they had a blast!  EJ loves anything to do with planes...so this was a must see!~

 The boys favorite part was the flight simulator!

 UPSIDE DOWN!!

Uncle James and Caleb...

And he was great at building sandcastles with all the kids!

 We went to seal beach...

And then out for frozen treats!!

 Aunt Lisa with Caleb and Olivia and Miss Kate...

Amy and Ethan on a breakfast date!

James and I spent an afternoon at the Mormon Battalion Visitor Center...so awesome... we found that we have two ancestors that were in the Battalion! 

We then had a wonderful authentic Mexican dinner in Old Town San Diego!

Our last night...saying goodbye to the beach and a beautiful sunset!

Such a wonderful and much needed vacation!