Home for a week

We are only home for a little over a week before we leave again. We packed it full of fun.

Sunday evening, Gavin came over and we did piano and voice lessons, beginning at 11 pm of course. we finished a little before 1 am. I know we are crazy, but there just aren't enough hours in the day. He worked with Daniel on piano first, then Laney and Susanna for voice. It is wonderful to have him so close by!!!

Monday, we had the missionaries and the Bakers over for dinner. Elder Ferguson is getting transferred this week and we wanted to have time with him before he goes. The Bakers are moving this month and so we wanted the same with them.

We are glad that we get to keep Elder Tutasi. He just finished training with Elder Ferguson.

Kisses for Elder Ferguson! lol

The Bakers and Elders Ferguson and Tutasi

Josh and Daniel are really great buddies. I love that Daniel's friends cross over with the twins!

Freddy and Daniel tried, unsuccessfully, to take down Jon. It was pretty awesome!

Lots of cute girls!

Zanna, Laney, Averi, Charlotte, Lindsey and Kailey

Krista and Jackson

Freddy and Sadie

Daniel, Jon and Freddy

Daniel and Charlotte were having a great time!

Josh and Daniel were at the piano for a long time. This is one of my favorite things!

Tuesday, we had the missionaries and the Bakers over for dinner again, but this time we invited Jessi, Gavin and Cadie and their kids, and Sebastian. We had a full house; full of some of our favorite people!

Lots of love

We played and sang and talked and talked. It was a ton of fun!!!

Wednesday, we had the Bakers over again for a couple of hours in the afternoon. They were moving across town that day, just until they move to Colorado later this month. We also chatted and video called with Sara from the Missionary Training Center (MTC). It was a super fun day!

Thursday, Laney, Daniel and I finished doing this puzzle. It was a tough one, but a fun challenge.

It is of a painting by Yongsung Kim.

Lunch time silliness. The boys skewered Zanna's sandwich with dry pasta.

They have been playing a ton of Exploding Kittens.

Everyone went to Grandpa Alger's for the 4th of July, excepted for me and Laney. She was sick, so I stayed home with her. Rich took a few pics for me.

Ella and Grammy

Josh, Freddy and Daniel

Vivi and Sammy, with Grandpa Alger in the background

Arianna, Seth and Josiah

Friday afternoon, Rich, his sister Kristine, and I traveled to Strawberry, AZ to spend the night at Grant and Joanna's cabin with Rich's siblings and spouses. It was a blast! We talked until after 1 am and ate wonderful food, prepared by Grant and Joanna.

Their cabin is amazing! Grant is a genius architect. There was plenty of room for all of us.

This was upstairs. There was a big gathering room with a sofa and bed, as well as 3 bedrooms and a bathroom up there.

Rich and I stayed in the loft above the kitchen.  We had to climb a ladder to get up there.

This was our view of the kitchen and family room from over the wall in the loft.

We went for a walk around their neighborhood. It was beautiful, lots of flowers!

Here we all are on the front steps. We were missing Mike and Laura, and Aric. They were not able to join us. Hopefully next time we can get everyone there.

back: Joanna, Grant, Kristine, Laura, James

front: Jon, Leilani, Rich, Steph, Steve, Natalie

While we were gone, the kids made their own healthy dinner. They sent me pictures of the process.

Success!

They also made waffles the next morning.

Josh and Leigh had a great 4th of July with little Sammy. They had a trip to Utah to see some friends, check out schools and have fun!

And just look at that adorable, smiling face!!!