Jeff and Sarah's family arrived here on July 1st following their Lake Powell vacation with Jeff's side of the family.
Although their faces might say otherwise (they had the sun in their faces) Lincoln and Jonah were happy to be here to play with their cousins.
Rebecca taught Sarah the trick of free lunches while she was here. Their elementary school offers free lunch to anybody who stops by to pick them up. It seems Madison only likes to drink the chocolate milk from her lunch each day.
I spotted a huddle of boys at the bottom of the stairs.
The adults liked to gather around the kitchen table to play games whenever they got the chance.
I think Carson's demeanor represents how we all felt knowing there would be no fireworks show at the Eaglewood Golf Course on July 3rd this year due to COVID-19 as has been our family tradition to attend.
Chef Sarah was in the house and she planned and fixed delicious meals for us all during their visit.
We planned a fun excursion on the 4th of July. We went to Mueller Park Canyon for a hot dog/marshmallow roast. I love that place because it is so close to us, not requiring much travel time. It's close to the Bountiful Temple.
The park caretaker was so kind to us. The picnic sites were all full except one. He asked the small family who had set up camp in this larger picnic site to move to the empty smaller picnic site.
He also went against the park rules and let Glen hop in his golf cart to get him from the parking lot to the picnic area. Love that guy!!
The grandchildren love wading in the shallow river.
Don't even think the fun (and the food) stopped when we left the great outdoors. We brought the fun (and the food) indoors. Dinner was a group effort.
Ben's family lit some sparklers when they got home.
This is how the Floridians did fireworks.
Breakfast on Sunday morning.
We had a nice home sacrament meeting with the Excell family.
They even let me participate by doing singing time using some of my Primary visual aids I made many years ago.
I was hoping to get a Sunday photo with the whole group, but the second the amen was said, the boys shot off like little rockets removing their Sunday shirts and shoes as quickly as they could.
The boys had food and coloring on their minds.
Eli helped fix his bread specialty for the group that would be assembling for Sunday dinner.
But first, a matter of business had to be conducted. Dallas and Rebecca were having a Zoom call with their stake president who called Dallas to be the second counselor in the bishopric. (I was peeking out the window watching them get all set up for the call.)
Rebecca is pretty sure this will mean she will be getting released soon from her Relief Society President calling.
It is so entertaining watching the grandchildren playing. We especially loved this duo all dressed up and in character for whatever it was they were playing.
Especially cute was the walkie-talkie in Madison's back pocket and the glasses perched on the brim of Lincoln's cap.
The older grandchildren enjoyed creating with legos.
The next day the boys colored while waiting for their cousins to arrive.
Many hands make light work...when making meatballs for dinner.
We had to celebrate Ben's birthday a little early because Maggie planned her wedding on Ben's actual birthday--July 9th.
Sarah planned a delicious Cafe Rio-inspired meal. Ben came to dinner late after he got off work.
Before dishing up the food, I requested a group photo. Carson was front and center and with the paper sword from a previous Come Follow Me lesson, he was using it to his amusement.
After many clicks of the camera, and urging him to put the sword down, he made this metamorphosis.
With all the distraction with Carson up front, nobody noticed what was going on with Eli in the back. These kids make me laugh!!!!
Ben arrived, ate and then it was time to sing Happy Birthday to him and have some Oreo pie Haley had made for him and to share with everyone else.
The trick candle Haley used provided many opportunities for Kade to help blow out the candle.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, dear Ben!!!!
