Quotes of the Week

"It is more fitting for a man to laugh at life than to lament over it." 

 -- Seneca 

"Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory." 

 -- Albert Schweitzer 

"Minds are like parachutes. They only function when open." 

 -- Thomas Dewar 

"If I were given the opportunity to present a gift to the next generation, it would be the ability for each individual to learn to laugh at himself." 

 -- Charles M. Schulz 

Homeward Bound; Conference Weekend; Ben's Surprise

Our vacation had come to an end. Sad! Cereal for breakfast. Then packing everything up so we could head out the door for home.

By then Madison knew the drill--stand by the picture wall before leaving the house.

Glen and I and Ben and Haley got our last photo opportunity in as well.

Then it was time for loves and hugs as we said good-bye.

Ben and Haley flew to California, but they decided to ride home with us. We kept ourselves entertained in the car with a rousing game of Outburst.

We got to Vegas and stopped for lunch just ahead of the lunch bunch.

Sarah's family stopped, but when they saw the ordering line winding all around the restaurant, they decided to go somewhere else. We didn't see them and they didn't see us.

Wish we could say we all got home without a hitch, but Rebecca's family ran into some difficulties. First problem was the need for potty breaks very frequently. Then Dallas insisted they stop for a car show which slowed them down even more.

Worst of all was when their car died in St. George. Luckily they were able to get to a gas station and a nice mechanic helped figure out it was their alternator. He gave their van a jump and they were able to make it to Auto Zone where Dallas was smart enough to figure out how to replace it. Hooray for Dallas!

Needless to say, they arrived home many hours past bedtime. But at least they made it home and didn't have to spend the night in a hotel.

We didn't have too long to wait before we saw some of our vacationing buddies again.

General Conference was the very next weekend. Ebelskivers and popcorn enticed the grandchildren to come for a visit. Meals they didn't have to cook enticed their parents to come.

 

After much speculation from his sisters about when Ben might shave off his beard, he surprised us all by shaving it the very next day.

 Ahhhhh! So this is what Ben really looks like under all that facial hair.

Perhaps he felt like he may get hired more easily if he goes on interviews clean-shaven. He's on the hunt for a new job.

I would hire him! Not only is he cute, but he has skills. Let's just hope he gets paired up with the right job for his particular skills. Good luck, Ben!!

Quotes of the Week

"Family is not an important thing. It's everything." 

 -- Michael J. Fox 

"Just smiling at someone walking down the street can make the person's day. It's all about paying it forward." 

 -- Mariska Hargitay 

"Until you see fear as an opportunity for growth, you won't grow beyond your current self." 

 -- Robert Tew 

"The best teamwork comes from men who are working independently toward one goal in unison." 

 -- James Cash Penney 

 

Pool Party All Day!!!

With five days of theme park adventure behind us, most of us were tired and looking forward to spending a relaxing day at the house on our last day of our trip. This little guy looks happy at the prospect of not being dragged around Disneyland in the extreme heat.

Speaking of happy faces...Luke's smile is the best!!

Here's a group of people who need a little coaxing to get themselves ready for the big pool party Brooke was conjuring up.

Caroline was on board all the way with a pool party. The day before she told me she was going to eat breakfast on the table outside. Then she was going to swim and swim and swim all day until bedtime.

I don't think she ate breakfast outside, but it didn't take the grandchildren long to get a treat table set up for their enjoyment. They feasted happily on cheese balls and root beer.

Madison is looking out the window just wishing she could join the festivities.

Jeff and Sarah made a big splash as they joined the pool party.

In jumps Eli and Carson.

The Goldens taking it easy on the sidelines. The question is did their little Madison ever make it out to the pool or was she stuck all day peering out the window of the sliding glass door?

It was Ben and Haley's turn to fix dinner. They got busy making a crock pot chicken chili meal before they headed off to Disneyland for another day of amusement park fun.

Back to the pool party. We were probably on pool party #4 by this time. Brooke was set on having 13 pool parties before she went to bed that evening.

Claire was enjoying which ever number of pool party we were on.

There goes Emma jumping into the pool. I just can't get enough of the kids-jumping-into-the-water photos. They are so cute!!

Caroline was terrified of the water last year during her swimming lessons (reminded me so much of myself when I was little). She has certainly come a long way since then as she was jumping into the water every other minute--or so it seemed.

Jeff made me laugh every time I saw him surface wearing his full-face goggles he had found in the pool storage bin.

Carson rocking his upside-down goggles.

Emma knows how to take it easy.

All that swimming makes little people hungry...for cheese balls!!!!

Felt pretty good sitting in the shade doing absolutely nothing.

There goes Eli...!

There goes Caroline...again...!

Friendly little pool game going on with this group.

Caroline took a break from all her swimming to eat leftover mashed potatoes and gravy for lunch--her favorite food.

And there she goes again!!! We loved how she would cross her legs and tuck them under as she jumped in.

Pool party break for a little while. Candy time!!

Light saber dual matches were held in the entryway.

Rebecca got busy making chocolate-covered strawberries to enjoy later in the pool party day. Abe requested this special treat and he left before we could get them made. Take our word for it, Abe, when I tell you they were delicious!!

Baby cuddle time was a must for Laurie and Lincoln.

Time to go back out to the pool for pool parties #9, #10, #11, #12 and #13.

There's Madison! She was FINALLY able to join the pool party fun! She had to take a nap before she got in the pool.

Everybody line up and JUMP!!!!

Glen had a little Spencer buddy sitting with him for a while.

Then Lincoln took a turn keeping him company.

Madison was making up for lost pool time enjoying every minute she was able to be outside in the water.

Here are a couple of cute pictures from a previous swim day which depicts the utter joy and happiness of this little girl who loved to jump in the water.

The hot tub was a frequent popular gathering place for everyone.

Let's see how many people we can get in the hot tub at once.

 Everyone raise your hands if you're having fun at the pool party.

Okay, I guess Emma is now having fun.

Look! It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman...uh, no! It's Dallas holding his camera above everyone trying to get a great overhead shot.

 Line up everyone! Time for the last splash of the day to end pool party #13 and call it a day!!

Rebecca did a great job shredding the chicken and doing the last minute preparations on the meal in Ben and Haley's absence.

Abe and Newland FaceTimed with us that evening. They were missing us and we were definitely missing them!!!!

All the cousins gathered around to talk to Newland.

Good night Newland. Hope pool party day was as great for you (minus the pool and minus the party) as it was for us!