I'm all over the place now, but just picking out some of my favorite events from this summer.  This was kind of a spontaneous family get together we had.  When we had gotten together for Leslie's birthday, we were feeling bad cause we had not gotten our families together for quite some time.  We were talking about some of our kids coming into town for Fathers day and we said "Why not just meet for a dinner together while they are here?" That sounded good to everyone and we decided we would just tell everyone and whoever could come could come.

Camille had been planning on coming earlier that week before Fathers day but then she realized she had some responsibilities with her calling she had to take care of so she ended up not coming till the Monday after Fathers day. 

I was glad everyone else was able to go.  Candice drove up separate because she was meeting some friends after but she got there way before we did.  Teina had given us perfect directions on how to get to this park, but we made a wrong turn and ended up quite lost.  We even had Seri helping us but ended up in the middle of a neighborhood!  We finally figured it out and made it to the park.

It was so great to see everyone!  All the grand kids are getting so grown up!  We enjoyed visiting with everyone and catching up on what's happening in their lives.

It was good to visit with Angie.  She has been battling breast cancer for the past 7 months and has sure been through some hard things.  I sure admire her courage and great attitude.  She keeps us up to date on whats happening through email and her messages are always positive and cheerful. She is an inspiration to all of us.

It was good to see Julie too.  She has some challenging things in her life but is always cheerful and concerned about others, not herself.  Alan has had so many health issues and is in constant pain from arthritis and Teina has terrible pain in her feet from arthritis too but they are there with a smile and always a kind word for you. 

Looking over our family, I realized there isn't one of us that's not fighting a battle of some kind.  It sure is great to know we all have each other and we are all pulling for each other and will always be there to support and lift each other up.  I think that must be why God gave us families...it sure makes getting through this old life a lot easier, just knowing they will always be there for you... to  share the joys and the sorrows each of us are going through.  

I feel like I was extra lucky to be blessed with three wonderful sisters that have married good men and have raised really great kids too! Now the kids are starting their own families and the beautiful cycle goes on.

 Even though my sisters and I are all so different, we are very much alike as well. We have a history and  family ties that bind us together.  These ties are strong and i'm so grateful mum and daddy taught us how important these ties are... I remember mum saying "friends will come and go, but your family will always be there "  That's sure the truth  and hasn't changed in the past 50 years since she said it!  I can't imagine anyone else I'd want to spend forever with than this bunch!

This was from a draft I made back in June. A lot has transpired since then, but I'm trying to catch up on the past couple months, so I'll throw it in now...

This has got to be one of the funnest things I've ever done!  

Katie has been going horse back riding with Paul quite a bit lately and has really fallen in love with it.  Friday night, Paul was over for dinner and invited Kelley and to go for a ride.

We met Paul at his parents home at the mouth of Hobble creek canyon.  Their place was absolutely incredible.  It reminded me of mum and daddy's yard only on a huge scale.

This was a rickshaw Paul has had forever and was going to fix it up to have the horse pull it.

While Paul was getting the horses ready, Kelley and I wandered around their yard. I mean who doesn't have a pond with a huge swan in it!  Also stocked with huge fish they caught in the creek that runs through their yard.  You can see them jumping in one of the videos.  Paul's dad came out and fed them and they were jumping and flipping all over the place.

When we were wandering around the yard, we ran into Paul's dad.  He took us in their house for a tour. Paul and his dad are avid hunters and have been all over the world hunting for  these exotic animals.  If it wasn't so cool, it would have been really creepy.

Their house was pretty incredible.  It sounds like Paul has done a ton of work on it for them.

Paul got the horses all ready and loaded them in the trailer, then we drove up Hobblecreek canyon a ways to get to the trail.  

He got all the horses out of the trailer and figured which would be the best horse for each of us.  He put me on one named Black.  He was such a good horse!  He held real still while I got on, (which was easier than I had imagined it would be....I was still having bad flash backs from our youth conference at Reed Ranch a few years ago...they had horses for everyone to ride and when I went to get on mine, he said " this one has been biting the other horses, so  if he does that, just steer him away from the other horse"  I was like "ummmm  I don't really even know how to steer a horse and haven't ridden one since I was a little girl"  He said he thought I would be just fine.  Well I wasn't just fine.  As soon as we started up the trail, my horse started biting the one in front of it's butt. So then that horse started  rearing up and running and my horse ran right after it!  I have never been so scared!  We were not on the trail anymore, but running up the mountain, through the trees, which were swacking and poking me (haha now I could see the wisdom of the helmets and life jackets we were all wearing!  it was so hot we were all dying in them!) Anyway, I was trying to steer my horse and pull back on the reigns to make him stop but he wasn't paying any attention to me at all.  It took everything I had just to stay on the horse.  Then out of nowhere, one of the guides came riding up next to us and went in front of my horse so he had to stop.  He led my horse back to the barn, cussing it all the way.  I was done with horse back riding.  But the next day, we were supposed to go riding again.  I said no thanks.  The guide wasn't having that though.  He insisted I try again on a more different horse.  I really didn't want to, but he wouldn't let it go. So I got on one called Mr. Darcy.  He moved so slow, I had to keep kicking him to even get him to move!  Ha!  It was much better though and I was glad I did it.)  So that was my last experience on a horse which made me a little big apprehensive, but Paul reassured me this horse was very gentle and I wouldn't have any trouble.

Anyway, Black stayed right with the other horses and would turn which ever way I led him. I was a little scared going up and down some steep trails, and through the river, but soon realized he was very sure footed and wasn't going to fall down.

After I was able to relax, I just had the best time!  It was so beautiful up there.  The trail went by a creek we had to go back and forth over several times and everything was just so green and pretty.  My horse had a gait that was very comfortable to ride on.  Even when he was galloping, it was really smooth.We stopped after a while to let the horses have a rest.

I can see why Katie has fallen in love with these horses!  They are so beautiful and smart!  The way they look at you makes you feel like they just know stuff.  I really just couldn't stop smiling the whole time.

 These were a few more shots from Paul's parents yard.  It was kind of magical and felt like a fairy tale.

We had the funnest day yesterday!  KC had the day off work, so went went up fishing. Dave Matheson came with us too. Toby and Michelle were going to come too but his relatives that are visiting wanted to go boating at deer creek instead.

It was such a beautiful morning!

The reflection of the clouds in the water was incredible.

 Kelley and I were on the back of the boat and Dave and KC were on the front.  Kelley and I started catching right away.  The first one I caught was really a doozer!

KC and Dave weren't catching anything so KC had to jump in the water to try to wash the skunk stink off himself.  Ha!

Just kidding...after KC got back in the boat, he started catching and caught more than all of us!

(mine was definitely the biggest though hehe)

 Dave finally caught one but his reel wasn't working very well so it got away just as it got to the boat. I love Dave.  He is such a good guy and a great friend to Kelley.  I think him and Kelley both miss all the good times they had working in the bishopric together and just being able to get together and laugh.

It was calm as could be all morning, but the wind started picking up about 2 so we decided to call it a day.  A very good day.

Man that week goes by so fast!  Katie and I walked down the beach to 25 looking for the Wright family cause we heard they were staying there and found Charlene and Amy.  We had such a nice visit with them.  It was fun reminiscing about when Amy and Katie were young.  They were pretty inseparable and made up clubs and collections  and were so silly and funny together.  Charleme and i spent a lot of time together too and she became one of my dearest friends.  Later that day Kelley, KC and I were still down on the beach and Carla, Bryan, and Stix came walking by.  They were just getting there for the beginning of their week at newport.  It was good to visit with them too.  I wish we could work it out to all be there together like we used to.  I sure have a lot of wonderful memories of our families spending this magical week together on the beach, and I know my kids treasure those memories too.   

 I was thinking it would be nice to have our family picture taken since we were all there so we got cleaned up and asked Dan if he would be our photographer.  So needless to say, we were all pretty much hysterical in all of the pictures cause he was making us laugh so bad.  We wanted the picture down by the water at the cute new park  but as we were walking down there, Dan Says "lets do a picture right here by this tree.  We thought it would be dumb but I think that shot of Camille's family in front of the tree is my favorite!   

Aren't they just the cutest!  Many thanks to Dan for putting up with our crazy bunch.  He's just the best.

We went over to Spaghetti Factory for dinner and just had an extra fun night.  The food was great and as we were finishing up, the balloon guy came to our table and make the cutest things for the kids.  He was super talented and entertaining to watch.  He was also just funny to listen to as he made the animals.  Sam got a turtle, of course, Emily wanted a pink puppy and Liv got a shark.

 We got up early Saturday morning and got on our way home.  It was sure hard to leave those kids.  After spending the past 6 weeks with them, my heart was full but still aching to see them go back home. Liv and Sam were starting school this week so there was no prolonging the trip.  They got up a little later cause they didn't have so far to go to get home.  Camille said Emily threw up before they even got on their way.  She has such a hard time with car sickness.  

 They used the turtle I made for Sam for their mascot on the way home and said he got them through it!

 There was quite a big fire near Scipio as we drove by and I heard on the news tonight that they haven't got it under control and it's gotten even bigger.

Candice wanted to stop at the petting zoo in Scipio so we did.  The goats were pretty cute and didn't seem to even mind when Candice held them!

I sure do love spending time with my family. There really isn't anything better.   I feel so blessed to have kids that love each other and love and respect Kelley and I.  We really do just enjoy being together.  And the grand kids are the frosting on the cake!.  They bring so much joy into our lives!  Sometimes  when I sit and watch my kids and grand kids, and I see them laugh with each other, love and lift each other,  I just feel so much gratitude and love i think my hearts going to bust!  I don't know what I did to deserve this bunch, but it must have been something good.