Sunday Gathering and Monday Goodbyes

Sunday after church we all went over to Kim's parents' house.  She had some cousins in town visiting from California.  The Loveridge family and extended family are all wonderful people.  Again, it was like being at one of our big family gatherings.  We had lots of yummy food and company.  The kids had a blast making friends and playing.  

Laney made friends with one of the cousins.  They have the same name, so it made bonding all the more easy.

It was pretty hot that day, especially with so many people in the house.  We moved the party out in to the shade of the tree.  It was great with the breeze.  I drove Richard and the little ones back to go to bed, since we were leaving in the morning to head home.  We needed to have at least one rested driver.  I went back and stayed with the older kids and Kim until late.  

Monday morning was filled with a bunch of packing and goofing around.  The boys had battles with old drum set equipment in the basement.  

The little girls were busy playing too.

Zanna, Bethany and Laney

Nate, Daniel, Timothy and Matthew

Tim, Andrew and Sara

Drew, Natalie and Nate

Josh, John and Tim

Ashley and Josh

Josh and Natalie

Natalie and Sara

Sara, Kim, Laney and Susanna

Josh and Kim

Timothy and Tim

All 19 of us!

John and Sara

Natalie and Susanna

Kim and Steph - I love this lady!!!

It was a wonderful trip.  We loved every minute.  I can't thank you enough, Kim and John, for such a fabulous vacation.  Thank you for squeezing us into your busy lives and for letting us crash all of your fun family gatherings, sleep all over your house, eat your candy and treats, keep you up late partying and for spoiling our kids rotten.  We can't wait to meet up with you all again, any time, any place!!!

Saturday Afternoon Fun

I guess it's time that I finished recording our Utah trip.  This is the second to last one.  So Saturday afternoon, after our temple trip, we came home and played with smoke bombs.  My kids had a blast, being new to all the pyro fun.  

Tim and Drew brewing up something magical.

The weather was beautiful.  It makes me long for the cooler months when we can actually play outside and have the windows open.

Then several of the boys decided to paint their toes.  Silly kiddos!

Kim did a little touch up for the little ones.  Their toes were well coated.

We watched videos of old school plays and such, giggling about how cute Ashley was as a little girl.  There was lots of laying around relaxing and just enjoying each other.  

It was a great finish to the day.  

The Jordan River Temple

Our last Saturday in Salt Lake City we made a trip to the Jordan River Temple.  This was Sara's first time inside the temple.  She just turned 12  at the end of May and was excited to share this experience with Ashley and Andrew as well as her older brothers and Mom and Dad. Richard and I had never been to this temple before so it was new to us too.  We were planning to take them to the Salt Lake Temple, but it was closed for maintenance.  

We stopped for some pictures outside first.  The clouds were unreal, they were so gorgeous!  The inside of the Jordan River Temple is beautiful too.  

Sam got a few fun pictures of the temple, of course.

We had such a wonderful time in the temple.  It was truly a beautiful experience to be there with our four oldest children.  There is no place on earth that brings me such a feeling of peace and eternal love.

As we walked out of the temple doors, I was completely surprised to be treated to this view.

I always think of the temple as being the "view".  And while the temple is amazing, walking out to see the mountains across the valley, framed by beautiful trees and clouds was stunning!  

A Wii Bit of Gaming Going On

The kids had done a great job of playing together all week without the Wii.  Friday, after chores were done we let them turn it on and play and play.  In the early afternoon, we had some visitors.  The Lyon family dropped by.  Howard Lyon is an incredible painter / illustrator.  He has done some amazing work.  Check it out.  We got to visit for a couple of hours with Howard, his charming wife Shari and his delightful parents.  Kim and John suggested that we take our party over to Normandie Cafe.  It was my second time there, and definitely not my last.  Richard ordered the fruit tart and I got the lemon meringue tart.  Mmmmm!  

It was wonderful to hear Howard and Shari talk about the research and experiences that have gone into his paintings.  His parents are certainly proud of him and had wonderful stories to share as well.  If you ever get a chance to hear him speak or to see his paintings you should take it.  His paintings of the Savior are magnificent!

That evening, John spoke at a youth conference and took Sam, Josh and Ashley along.  The boys had a wonderful time.  They love his way of teaching with the Spirit, while also being entertaining.  His talk was based on the YW / YM theme of Arise and Shine Forth.   Afterwards, the four of them went to Five Guys and goofed around, quoting movies and being silly.

When they came home, the real party started.  Kim broke out the fireworks!  My kids had never gotten to play with fireworks before.  They were illegal in Phoenix until recently.  

The tanks were cool!

Silly Little Girls!

Low light and no flash makes for interesting, ghostly pictures.

I am worried that my children have now had their inner pyromaniacs let loose.  Most of them had never lit anything on fire before.

Beautiful Ashley!

Sam was having a blast jumping over the flower ones.

Drew

Nate

Susanna

Natalie

Timothy had dressed up like a missionary earlier.  With his torch, he looked like a little Harry Potter.  Such a cutie!!

Daniel

Sara

Kim provided us with another new experience.  Zotz, fireworks for your mouth!  We had yummy fun with this fizzy candy

In case you can't tell, that is a Zotz, fizzing away in Tim's mouth.

Thank you Auntie Kim for tons and tons of fun!