Jacob's Family Arrives; Mark's Family in Town; Sarah's Family Returns Just in Time for Fireworks

It seemed like it took forever for Luke's Covid-19 test results to come back. 

We were all happy when it did and the decision was made for Jacob's family to drive on out to see us. I'm sure Natalie was extra happy to have someone else in the house besides her with the two of us.

The Goldens came up to get reacquainted with their cousins from Omaha.

It was nice Jacob and Laurie's family got here the day before we had a family dinner scheduled at Andy and Amanda's (the chicken house) because Mark and Michelle's family was in town.

They have such a fun backyard for the children.

The playhouse provided just the perfect place for all the children when it was raining.

I was glad there was no birthday celebrating at this dinner. 
It is really quite sad how much the coronavirus has taken so much of the fun out of life!

Rebecca pulled through on the lunches when she gathered enough free lunches at her school to feed all our children. 

At one point during cousin playtime, Madison came upstairs and was outraged at the injustice of what was going on in the basement. Apparently the big kids had built a fort out of Legos and the little kids (her and Claire) didn't have enough Lego resources to make their fort.

When I went down to assess the situation, I definitely had to agree with her when I saw the difference of the size of both forts.

Madison had done a good job presenting her case! I loved looking at her on the days when she wore the red sunglasses (with dark lenses removed).

We planned an outing at the park and decided to pick up Chick-fil-A for dinner.

We switched to another park that had a lot bigger playground area and a giant hill. Some teenagers had big blocks of ice they were sitting on to slide down the hill. Once they tired of that activity, they let our group have the ice blocks and our family had a blast trying their skill at staying on the ice block.

Natalie had spent the day with Rachel and Gabby and joined us at the park and tried their skill ice blocking as well.

The grandchildren enjoyed their grandpa's French toast breakfast.

We had fun playing games together.

Someone was able to sleep through all the commotion. 

All the playing and activities gave cause for a little chill time watching a movie.

It looks like school is in session, but no--it was another game they were playing.

Lots of food was consumed during the time we were having family togetherness.

Rebecca so kindly went out driving with Emma who who has her learner's permit and needs more practice driving.

Sitting on the front swing anxiously awaiting our next guests to arrive.

TA DA!!!! Sarah arrived back in town again!!! This time without Jeff. She's a brave woman to travel by herself with four little boys.

She made plans to travel back here once she heard Jacob's family was coming to Utah.

She looks so happy to see us. With green potty chair in hand. Anxious to have another week of fun in the summertime with family in Utah.

Sarah's family got here just in time to be whisked up the street and over to the viewing spot on Bountiful Boulevard where the rest of the family had located to be able to see the fireworks show going on at Mueller Park for the 24th of July. 

It wasn't like going to Eaglewood Golf Course for 4th of July fireworks because they just had to find a spot somewhere along the road and set up chairs on the sidewalk. But, everyone was just happy there would be fireworks somewhere for viewing.

I was happy to see Jacob was wearing an appropriate shirt for Saturday.

We took an outing to a park in Centerville to eat lunch and then play kick ball.

There were tree carvings at the park.

I noticed them when I was walking from the diamond to the outfield where we were sitting. Glen hadn't wanted to walk any further with his peg leg. It's a lot of work for him walking with that thing on grass and his back had been hurting him from being so unbalanced.

Game over and time to run through the sprinklers.

These are the children who chose to get cooled off in the sprinklers. Glen and I knew it would happen as soon as we noticed the sprinklers were on.

Sabbath day church meeting with Jacob's and Sarah's families. 

We surprisingly got a good photo with all the family's faces looking at the camera patiently waiting for the timer to snap the picture.

The children got busy coloring while Jacob and Sarah got the Sunday potatoes ready. 

I was having a lot of stomach pain that day and spent a lot of the rest of the day upstairs resting and away from the family in case I was contagious. Luckily the next day I felt just fine.

Rebecca's and Ben's families came over to join the rest of the group for Sunday dinner.

The little people went to the basement to watch a movie and play while leaving the adults free to play games to their hearts' content.

Bear Lake Outing; Sarah's Family Leaves: Natalie Stays Here Waiting for Her Family to Arrive

It was nice that Sarah was here for Maggie's wedding. Jeff had driven our car back to Las Vegas to spend that week working while Sarah and the boys stayed here to play.

It was nice that Jeff got back here at the end of the week so he could join his family for Bear Lake outing day. Rebecca's family also participated in the day of water fun.

 

One morning Bill and Jan stopped by to deliver some more freshly-baked, warm-from-the-oven Great Harvest cinnamon bread. When they knew we had a house full of people, they gave us two loaves of bread. So kind of them!!

 

Jonah was already anticipating his breakfast, which he must have thought would be best eaten with a glove on his hand.

 

Natalie had spent the week at Andy and Amanda's house with Rachel. Natalie was anxious to see Kade and so Rachel and her friend Gabby brought Natalie here. 

Her chance to see him and her other cousins came when we had a family dinner.

Sarah's family left to go back home on Sunday. They decided to stay long enough to have a shortened church meeting with us so they could take the sacrament. 

The boys were allowed to wear their play clothes during the meeting so they could just jump in the car and be on their way at the end of the meeting. 

Carson was willing to join us for our weekly Sunday photo.

Photo taking with the Excells is always an interesting, entertaining experience. I have learned to take many photos in the hope one will turn out with all of them looking at the camera and smiling at the same time.

These are a few of the outtakes of Jonah and Lincoln.

It was time to say good-bye. I was sad not knowing when we would see them again. Little did we know it would be soon...

I laughed at Lincoln's single-gloved hand wave. Sarah heard me mention the glove and Lincoln got busted!! He was trying to leave with the coveted glove and also a couple of toys. Good one, Lincoln! Almost got away with it.

Natalie spent the following week at our house while waiting to see if her family would join her. If so, she would ride home with them. If not, she would fly home. 

She joined me for a morning walk.

One day she wanted to go to some temples to get her picture taken.

We were so happy to have her join in with us in our Sunday sacrament meeting. She reported to her family it was the longest church meeting she has ever attended!!

We thought Natalie would enjoy Texas Roadhouse take-out one of the nights she was here.

Another day she was so kind to offer to babysit Kade for a while. Ben and Haley were thrilled with that idea. Kade was doing fine until Rebecca's family left and then Kade got a bit anxious.

Natalie's friend Adam came to spend a few hours here and was happy with the Chick-fil-A meal he ate with us.

Natalie loves sunsets. She wanted to go up to Bountiful Boulevard close by the Bountiful Temple to get a good view of the setting sun. 

I have to agree with her that the location gave a great, unobstructed view and we weren't the only ones who thought the same thing. It is a popular place to hang out and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Sarah sent a photo of Jonah showing they had gotten into the swimming pool to cool off. There is a limit of 50 people and she and her boys were one of the lucky few to make it in. 

There is definitely a big jump in temperature from our weather here and their weather in Las Vegas. I thought of her when I saw the following meme. 

Abe sends a photo every once in a while to let us know what's going on with his family as they are on the other side of the United States this summer.

Jacob's family had planned to come visit us this summer and then with the Covid-19 scare, they canceled their trip. They let Natalie come out to be with Rachel. Then they got thinking it would be nice to drive out and have a vacation after all and then Natalie could ride home with them.

It all hinged on one thing... Luke... who had gotten pneumonia...

He had been put on medication and was making progress toward recovery, but Jacob wanted him to have a Covid-19 test just to make sure before they came out. They had to wait several days for the results, but once they got the NEGATIVE notice, they were home free. Free to come to this home. 

During the waiting to get word of the results, Jacob put his time to good use by getting this family artwork framed and hung on their wall. 

Last year before the BYU/Toledo football game, Jacob's family went to Put-in-Bay. There was a place where they were skipping rocks on the lake. Luke found a couple of rocks that looked like states. That led to them trying to find more. 

They carried home the rocks and finally got around to putting all the rocks together. It weighs 40 pounds. 

What a fun memory for their family every time they look at their personalized artwork.

Quotes of the Week

Most of us clearly understand that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is for sinners. I am not so sure, however, that we know and understand that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is also for saints--for good men and women who are obedient, worthy and conscientious and who are striving to become better.
--David A. Bednar

Your testimony of Jesus Christ is your personal fortress, the security for your soul...When we live the gospel of Jesus Christ, when we draw upon the Savior's Atonement and press forward with faith, not fear, we are fortified against the wiles of the adversary.
--Ronald A. Rasband

A correct understanding of Heavenly Father's character can change how we see ourselves and others and help us to understand God's tremendous love for His children and His great desire to help us become like Him.
--Brian K. Ashton