St George retreat

We had a fantastic week in Southern Utah with JB's sister Sarah, her husband Joe and their four great kids!

These two played dolls anywhere and everywhere they could, especially by the pool (where we were every day).

 

Cousins loved the bunk room.

We played pickleball at a cooler six in the morning with the sunrise.

We visited several awesome playgrounds and parks in the mornings, like Fossil Falls Park by the Virgin River (where the boys found a tire)

Thunder Junction All Abilities Park

Desert Vista Park with good shade where the kids ran through their own timed ropes course.

And a park with a hot wheels track on the playground where I forgot to take a picture.

We hiked on Thursday morning to Scout Cave at Snow Canyon State Park (later learning that someone died of heat stroke at this same park a few days later! We started hiking really early; the fatality happened in the afternoon).

Everyone needs a cousin to talk to as they hike.

Millie has announced in the past that she is "not a hikey person" but she did great this time.

This staircase really had me hurting the rest of the day, haha.

Thursday afternoon, JB and Andrew and Ben did baptisms in the St George temple

On Saturday, JB had gotten us permits to hike Kanarra Falls. 

Much of the hike is through water. The first set of falls has a staircase.

The second set of falls has a log ladder to scramble up and over.

The third set of falls is where you stop, enjoy the view, praise yourself for your hard work, then turn around and go back down the river. And get someone else to take a photo of everyone together!

Here's a shot going back down the staircase.

On Sunday we went to church at a local ward and then toured the St George Temple Visitors' Center and the Brigham Young Winter Home. 

Inside the visitors' center is a spot where people can write blessings from God. Joe saw James go in and write something and he pointed it out to me -- and I got teary-eyed. James had been complaining only moments before about something or another and scuffling with a sibling, and then he was so sweet! Millie is pointing out the words here, how James had written the names of his family members.

Before that moment, I had to sit with the kids to separate James and Andrew here:

 

We went to JB and Sarah's cousin Michelle's house for dinner and swimming in her pool.

Here is a picture of grandpa Byron with John Byron and James Byron.

And sometime during the week, we got a car wash at the Dino Dash mainly for this guy.

Thank you again to the Prestons for inviting us!

Fourth of July and some June happenings

The first week of June, Andrew and Ben went to FSY at BYU. Ben went two years ago, and this was Andrew's first time. They both really liked it! Ben spoke about it in our sacrament meeting and I think Andrew's turn to give a talk is coming up.

 

On June 10-11, JB went with friends to float the "Little Grand Canyon" in San Rafael, in Central Utah. This is only open during a time in the spring when there is enough snowmelt and water runoff.

With school out, we have started going to the park for the summer lunches. One day there were a ton of ducks there.

 June 11 was the annual free day at This is the Place State Park. We braved the crowds to pet the goats.

Look how packed it was at the panning for gold section.

On June 15, our library branch had a petting zoo.

And we got all signed up for the summer reading program.

Andrew and James took some tennis lessons in June. I have them signed up again in July.

They also had a two-day football camp last week.

Sunday, June 16 was Father's Day. We got to talk to Max briefly again and I spoke in sacrament meeting about my Africa trip and had to give a shoutout to how hard JB works around our house! Especially when I am out of town. (Also, I love this new dress Millie is wearing from Pauline!)

On Monday, June 17, JB hiked to Lake Blanche with his friend Tim.

Tues-Wed June 18-19, Ben had a basketball tournament in Sandy and it was fun to watch him play.

For Juneteenth I had a day off work and we hiked to the suspension bridge in Draper.

Meanwhile, Ben was in Arizona for a basketball tournament for a few days. Here is the sendoff at the airport on June 20.

Here is one of the pictures that was sent to us. We missed him!

On June 20, a Brazilian food truck was finally close enough to our house for us to go check it out. We had chicken Coxinhas. 

The county gave all kids free rec center passes, so we've been swimming a lot. (Well, I'm sure our taxes are paying for it or will be raised to pay for it)

And Ben has been golfing as much as he can with friends or with JB.

Saturday, June 29 was a stake Primary activity day up the canyon. James and Millie were in different groups and I led another group of kids through all the activities. It was like FSY for children and they really liked it.

Sunday, June 30 we saw some Richards cousins for dinner.

Max got a new mission president on July 1, and learned during hte last week of June that he would be staying in the north after the Cochabamba mission split into north and south. Here he is with his outgoing mission president -- the missionaries cut pieces off his tie during the goodbye.

They also were able to go to the Cochabamba temple that week.

He's doing well and we miss him! 

JB takes the three youngest on a bike ride each morning during my daily work online meeting.

On Monday, July 1, we met our newest niece, my brother Peter's new baby.

On Wednesday, July 3, we went to another library branch to hang out for a bit.

Today, July 4, was the annual bike parade!

Happy Independence Day!