Summer Games

We went to Summer Games for the second year last week. Seven of the grandkids played soccer - Tyler, Justin and Nathan played on Bryan's team; Lex and London played on a team, Amberly played and Jenna played. We all stayed in the dorms again - which was great fun. Sharon and her girls shared our dorm (Gus was working) and Nate stayed with us, since his family was not there. Mike and Amy and Jeff and Angie and their families stayed right across the hall and Bryan and Becky and their family shared a dorm just down the hall with the Wallaces.A few of the family watching Crew FC (Bryan's team).Fun in the game room at the dorm...There was dancing in the halls. Jeff put on Abba's Take a Chance on Me for Chance Blackman, from Crew FC.Nine members of Crew FC stayed in the dorm. There was a lot of interaction between them and Sharon's older girls. We called our dorm Hormone Hall. ÜHere are a couple of shots of the sky before the boys' last game. We got rained on, and the wind blew - but the game went on, and they won 6 to 2! They took the bronze in their division. Amberly's team took the silver, but I don't have a picture to post yet.Sharon snapped this shot of the team at medals.The three cousins and their coach. Nate told us that his priesthood leader asked him what the FC stood for in their name Crew FC. He said, "Freakin' Champions? I don't know."Here's cute Amberly with her silver. Thanks, Amy! Ü

Double Partay!

After the recital, we went to Bountiful for Bo and Rachel's birthdays. It was a barbecue and swim party at Mike and Jeri's. There were a ton of people there - Barbers, Arringtons and friends. Both of the birthday kids enjoyed themselves and ate their fill of cake and home-made ice cream! (So did everyone else!)Here's a shot of Bo's cake - a FORD truck, haulin' dirt! The license plate on the back said, of course, BO.Rachel got a fishy cake. So cute and clever! Lisa and Justin got some better close-ups of the kids. I'll borrow some from them and post them here later.

Piano Recital

From the air show, we went back to the Piano Gallery for Becky's recital. Dean and Amberly are her students. When Dean walked in with his new suit and haircut (Ü) it was an ahhhhh moment for me! (Of course, Amberly was beautiful - as always.)Here's a shot of both kids after the performance, with their teacher - Aunt Becky. Amberly and Dean did a great job! Proud again!!!

Air Show

We picked up Dad and drove to Layton to watch the Thunderbirds perform in the airshow. We followed John and Ann and their kids to the home of Ann's co-worker and her parents, who live next door. Nice, shady back yard and a great view of the planes. At one point, Carson was watching behind us as he jumped on the trampoline. He yelled out, "Here they come! A family of four!"These planes flew faster than the speed of sound, and much faster than my camera shutter. I deleted about 20 shots of blue sky and clouds, but managed to get a couple of good ones of the planes. Ü

PAL Camp presentation

I think a couple of other grand daughters went to PAL camp, but we've never gone to presentation night until tonight. (We didn't know about it!) This year, Katelyn, Baylee and Amberly all went to PAL Camp (PAL is an acronym for Program for Accelerated Learners.) Kate was invited to both visual arts and performing arts. She chose performing arts. For five hours a day Monday through Friday, her group worked on a mini musical - Pirates. They presented it for a large audience tonight. It was amazing! Such talented 6th graders in the Weber District! Kate did a great job!!!Here's Baylee with her art display. I didn't get a picture of her sculpture, which was very good!Here's Amberly with her stuff - also very good!Here's a shot of all three cousins who went to PAL Camp this year. It was a great experience for them. I think they all want to go next year!

Whew! I was WAY behind in posting! If you want to read it all, you'll have to go back about 20 posts! Hope I can stay caught up now!

Piano Recital

Jace and Jenna played in Beth Ann's recital tonight. They did a very good job - both of them! We were all so proud!
Jenna played Starry Night, by Hartsell.
Jace played Creepy Cat, by Alexander.

Another visitor in the neighborhood!

This morning, we were awakened by the loud call of a peacock! He was perched on Powers' rooftop. I'm thinking he must have been lost and was calling for help. Dave scared him off his roof and he flew to the Ferrins'. Last we knew he had flown down to Shupes'. Hopefully, he made his way home.

A visitor in our backyard

Saturday afternoon, we spotted this darling baby woodpecker in our backyard. He was flitting from branch to branch - combing each branch for bugs. He was too immature to be afraid of us. He was soooo cute! You'll have to click on this picture to see him - he's on the right side of the trunk.

Bountiful Baskets!!!

Ann told me a couple of weeks ago that she had joined a co-op called Bountiful Baskets. it's out of the Mesa/Phoenix area and it just recently came into Utah. There is a pickup 3 minutes from my house - at Barker Park. You pay $15 for a basketful of fruits and vegetables. Everything I got this week was lovely! Dalena said she's been in a similar co-op down there and she said it was just like Christmas - every two weeks - fruits and vegetables - and you never know what you're going to get! Exactly my feelings! Here's a pic of all the stuff I got on May 30th (except the pineapple, which I forgot to put in the photo).

Baylee's 12th birthday

I can't believe Baylee Dawn turned 12 - May 29th! She gets to go to girls' camp this summer!!! Bays is very picky about what she wears (nothing frilly or feminine!), so she pretty much got money from everyone except her parents. The only thing she wanted was a camera case.

Jordan's graduation

Jordan was the last to graduate from preschool this year. His graduation was held on May 27th in the old North Ogden Elementary. It will be the last time we'll attend anything there. It's being torn down this summer! Miss Janna made little "yearbooks" for all the children. Here's a picture of Jordan getting one of his classmates to sign it.

Farr West Elementary talent show

Becky said that a couple of weeks ago, Jace came and told her that he wanted to try out for the school talent show. He performed a piano solo for his grade and was chosen to perform for the whole school. I was able to get away from Wahlquist and buzz over to Farr West to see him perform. He did a great job! I think Becky has a picture I can post.

VFW Memorial Day Commemoration

We decided to go back out to the cemetery on Memorial Day because we thought the Air Force Reserve Band was going to be there. Actually, there was only a bagpiper and a bugler, but we really enjoyed the program. One of my favorite things was when they honored the widow of a local man who died as result of injuries in the Vietnam War. He did not die in Vietnam, so his name isn't on the Wall, but his widow was invited back to DC in April, along with families of many others who lost loved ones as a result of the war for a special ceremony. The VFW presented her with a plaque.The other thing we really enjoyed was the Salute to the Fallen Soldier. One by one, the vets brought up the rifle, the boots, the helmet and the tags of the fallen soldier. After each item was placed, the vet who placed it saluted. When everything was in place, the vets lined up and gave a three gun salute. It was all very solemn and very touching.

Vietnam Memorial Wall

Jack and I drove out to see the wall Saturday evening. It was brought in by Leavitts and was set up in the west end of the cemetery. We found Serge Simmons' name on the wall. We didn't know him - but we know some of his family. We decided to come back on Monday for a Memorial Day commemoration by the VFW.

Marianne's graduation

Marianne's preschool graduation was May 21st. She'll start Kindergarten in July! Syracuse is on a year-round school schedule. I don't think Jo is too happy about that.

Friends and Family Sounds of Time ShowJanna Wallace got a fairly good shot of Dad watching the show.Here's a shot Janna got of Jenna and Jace after the show. They did a great job!

Rocky Mountain's Spring Concert

We left Audrey's graduation the minute she walked across the bridge and got her diploma. We drove off at 5:28 PM and made it to Rocky's concert with 3 minutes to spare! Whew again! This was Lex's final concert with Mr. Saunders at Rocky Mountain. She was pretty sad. When Sharon asked Mr. Saunders for a pic with Lex and London, he said, "Aw...these are the best sisters ever!" As you can see - Alexis lost it!

Audrey's graduation

Audrey graduated from Miss Helen's preschool on May 20th. The program was held at Cold Springs Fish Farm - beautiful venue! Audrey was chosen to lead the Pledge of Allegiance and she did a great job!

McKenna's flute recital

After the race, I picked up my dad for McKenna's flute recital. Amber told us the wrong time, so we got there 30 minutes late, but 5 minutes BEFORE Kenna performed! Whew! She is very good. I had to get a picture of her and Dad after the recital.

Ogden Marathon

Lisa and Sharon both ran the half-marathon in Ogden on the 16th. Jack took them to the starting point - a park in Eden. We both went to watch them come in. Sharon got her best time ever (until she broke her record the following week in Syracuse) and Lisa did okay too.

Haley's clogging recital

I left Bountiful and got stuck in traffic on the way to Haley's recital. I called Dad and told him he'd have to drive. I got there about 2 minutes before the dancing started! Whew! This first pic is of Haley and her team that won a 2nd place trophy in the Rocky Mountain Nationals Clogging competition at Lagoon!I try to get a picture of the kids with Dad when he comes to support them. He really likes the clogging and he gets to visit with Johnsons (from his old ward) when he goes to the dance recitals.

Allison's preschool program

I drove down to Alli's preschool program on May 15th. Jack ran in the Colt Stampede - so he couldn't go. Alli and Marianne were both on the program, although Marianne was no longer in Jeri's preschool. Of course, they were the best performers there! I got this shot of a barefoot Allison before the program. Joann has some more pics - maybe she'll share with me.

Jordan's birthday

Jordan turned 5 on May 12th. We met at Bryan and Becky's for cake and ice cream. Rick and Beth Ann were in Hawaii, so it was just Jack and Dad and me. (Pic when I get one from Becky.)

Cousins Dinner

We've been trying to get together a couple of times a year with Jack's cousins on his mom's side. We hadn't met since Aunt Lu's funeral last Spring. Linda and Richard arranged for us to meet at the Asian Star in Sandy on May 9th. We had the cutest hostess (she wasn't really a server) who took care of us. We had to get a picture of her - didn't get her name - but she sure was a cutie!

New counter top

It took us 5 months to decide on a new counter top. Finally Jack said, "Just choose one and we'll have it done. If you don't like it, we'll change it next year!" I let him pick and I'm pretty happy with it. I like the beveled wood edge a lot.