Some Joys of July

Another perfect reunion with our family in Heber, AZ. 

Stopping at the Pizza Palace in Payson for lunch is traditionally our first item on the agenda. After that it's ...whatever!!!

 

 When we arrived at the cabin we found, much to our dismay, that people were already there! After speaking to them we found out that we were double booked! Here we are, all 33 of us with food and gear for the next three days with nowhere to go! The other family graciously agreed to pack, clean up and go since they had been there three days already. So off to the park we went, to play in the overcast, beautiful weather while we waited our turn at the cabin. Horse shoes, badminton, collecting pine cones, making pyramids, and playing silly games made the hours fly by. Not to mention just hanging out together!

 Johnny and Bastian out on a treasure hunt.

 

Allison, Mollie, Taylor with Mindy and baby Kaylee

 Taylor was swingin'!

John made climbing this pole look easy!He takes gymnastics three times a week for four hours each time!

 Bottom- Jaxson, Nina, John, Charlee. Top-Bastian, Ashlyn, Sam, Carter and Oaklee

 Ashlyn can do the hula hoop while walking!

 Taylor LOVES her food!

 Monopoly

Devin and niece, Millie checking out a game

 Playing the 'Ha" game. Everyone lays their head on another person's stomach. The first one says "Ha" and the next one  says "Ha Ha" and so on with each person adding another "ha". The first one to laugh is out and the game keeps going until one is left. We never got too far since we were all laughing too much, especially when Rich yelled out, "I get to lay on Anya's stomach!" (Adam's wife) and we all hooted!

 Adam and Anya saw some people trying this recently and thought they would give it a shot. They did pretty good! (Devin and Allison-not so much!)

Slime time! Another tradition we have that keeps the kids happy for hours is to make slime...borax, glue, water and food coloring! It makes toot noises and that is always a BIG hit!

 Allison trying to cure her baby hunger by snuggling with Mindy's baby Kaylee.

John and I took a little drive to Snowflake for the Pioneer Day celebration. We found out when we got there that we were a day early, but we got to see the temple and that made the trip worth it!

 We made crafts with "warm fuzzies" (Sam's words) Thus Ashlyn's crown. We played our annual marshmallow war game and this 'see who can end up with their balloon attached to their ankle after everyone tries to step on each others' game. Fun!

 The brothers really got into it!

Those three days flew by in a blink! There was not a bit of drama (Except when Devin almost stepped on a rattle snake right on the steps to the cabin and Ryan had to chop its head off!) I feel like I got a glimpse of what it is going to be like in heaven!

 From the cabin in Heber, John and I went straight to Utah for his siblings and family reunion in Orem. The whole thing was planned to coincide with John's brother Jim and his wife, Marilyn returning from the Jacksonville, FL. mission where they presided. Their 'welcome home' talks were inspiring and being with the family for a whole day at Scera Park couldn't have been better either!

 Being the gad-a-bouts that we are, John and I took off from Orem to go home via Jackson Hole Wyoming! I know, it doesn't compute, but John had not seen the Tetons and so off we went. The above picture is of main street in Afton, WY where we stopped to see our friends who moved there last year. The scenery on the way to Jackson was just what I picture Switzerland looking like. I think this is as close to seeing Switzerland as I will get, but I'm okay with that

 Here we are at town square in Jackson Hole. What a quaint town with high prices and great atmosphere! We actually saw Brooklynn's friend, Duncan, who was there visiting his sister!

They must have a thing with deer antlers! Cool!

 I can see why this is such a popular place to go!

 I was hoping to see a real moose since there were caution signs on the sides of the road coming in to town, but in reality if one this size got near me, I'd be scared to death! Bears are sighted daily too!

 We drove out to the Grand Tetons and boy, does that name fit!

 A boat took us across Jenny Lake so that we could hike these beauties!

 Waterfalls!

 Looking out on Jenny Lake with my water bottle between my legs!

 Breath-taking...and the mountains are nice too!

 Driving back, we took the road that led us to Bear Lake, UT. I had never seen it and I was really impressed with the turquoise water. In UTAH??? That isn't the Caribbean!

 We also got to drive through Logan, UT and see the magnificent pioneer temple.

That sums it up for July 2013. I can't imagine being given any more bounties than what our generous Heavenly Father gives us. I know there comes a price with those bounties and I will be forever trying to pay that price in grateful living.