Father's Day

This year's father's day was pretty interesting since Allie was gone to Lake Powell.  So I didn't get Kevin's traditional "Father's Day" picture with all the kids.  Kevin was out of town a few days before, so I thought to have the yards, trees, and shrubs trimmed professionally for him and got him some Fall lawn and tree care for Father's Day.  He is also otherwise known as the "Lawn Fairy" but won't admit to it, so I thought it'd be great if I could do him some yard-related present this year.  The kids were sweet and got him a perfect card and his favorite candy bars to go along with that.  After a nice meeting at church, we all got together with Pop and Grandma and the Merrills for a delicious dinner.  Like I said we didn't get a Father's Day picture with all the kids in it on the actual day, so I thought to do it on Pioneer Day when ALL his kids were present.

See below and see what you think!

 I had to get a couple more for some good memories:

Wolf!

Collin got awarded his Wolf badge at pack meeting last month.  He had it done back in May and since it was only a week before pack meeting, he didn't receive his badge then.  In June he was hoping for sure that they would - but got to pack meeting and it didn't happen.  So after waiting for two long months, they were finally ready to give him his Wolf badge - along with his gold arrow and three silver arrows, which he had also been waiting for at least 3 months, but I think those couldn't be awarded until the Wolf badge was awarded.  He made sure to tell me to get them on his shirt before the next den meeting - so I did, well, except for two badges he got from day camp last June.  I am behind!

Unfortunately for me, the day of pack meeting was the day I had scheduled presidency visits to new families in the ward - I didn't realize it until the day of - so I missed the whole thing!  Kevin was there though and did a great job with the face painting.  He said Collin was a little embarrassed about going out in public with his face painted like it was.

So of course after they got home and I got a picture with his painted face, he went and washed it right off!

He loves Cub Scouts and is so eager to earn as many belt loops (I have yet to get a photo of all his belt loops too), pins, and arrows as he can!  Good job Collin!

More Utah Summer

Park City, Summer 2012

We were going to do Park City on the 5th, but it rained all day!  So we went bowling instead.

Maddie bowled with this thing.  Pretty funny!  And she didn't care too much for bowling shoes.

This explains pretty much what Allie's game was like.  Gutter balls. On purpose. So that she could play...

The "Forever 21" game. Don't ask me why. 

Moo is Maddie.  Kevin won.

Alyssa bowled with us. And didn't get a photo but Andrea and Aireen came too.

Park City day 1:
It was so sad to have my dSLR's battery die on me before the day was out.  So the phone pictures will have to do - not the best quality and I am dreading what they would look like printed, but I guess they are better than no pictures at all.

 This was Allie before she got on the slides.  She almost passed out because it was so hot and the line was long - but quickly recovered and was able to go.  I was most thankful that she didn't pass out when she was on the lift and that it happened beforehand.  Small answers to prayers!

I did the chair lift with Jack and Lorraine - this was the view up top.  Nice hot weather unless you were in the shade, then it was perfect.

Going on the slide -- and since I was on the lift still I didn't get photos of them coming down.

 On our way back, we spotted the couple who got married at the resort.  Here they are after the ceremony, I had to get a photo.  The mountains made for a gorgeous backdrop!
We had a few more tickets to use, but we were late for a BBQ, so we left and planned on coming back a different day.  That night we met up at the Largey's for dinner with the former Bishop Bliss and wife whom I served with in the Stake Relief Society.

Kevin served with these two for a time when we were in the BYU 109th ward.  It is hard to believe it has been well over 7 years since!

On Saturday we had Owen's baby blessing.  It was nice to visit with family and to be at this sweet little boy's blessing day.

The Harris boys (men)

Maddie played with her food and made a dress out of her pizza.  Danny, Aireen, Andrea went to dinner with me, Collin, and Maddie at California Pizza Kitchen one night.  Kevin and Allie decided they were not crazy about the food and went somewhere else.

 Park City Day 2:  It rained again on the day we were going to Park City but thankfully it stopped, which cooled off the weather very nicely, and left the park fairly empty when we got there.  The kids got on the Alpine Coaster - Kevin has pictures on his phone - so I will load those later, and then the Alpine Slide again.  Danny, Aireen, and Andrea came to hang out with us.  It was so fun! And this time I made sure my camera battery wasn't dead :).

Zane found a new buddy to hang with.  He loved being with Danny!

Explains mostly what he did that day: run away from all of us

Zane and Aireen

Moo and Andrea

And a few randoms on our trip:

Day at the Riverwoods with the kids and Andrea.  Kevin had gone home to go back to work for a few days.

Allie and Maddie had fun with these glasses at our favorite toy store, Blickenstaffs.  

One night we played a game of Yahtzee.  Allie killed it with 279 points.  She was crazy lucky that night.  

On some days we just veg-ed and spent time with family at the "house", watched all the Marvel Comics movies except for the Incredible Hulk - pretty proud of that - I never make time for movies, and that week I did it.  And it was so fun to do it with the kids and my sisters.  We slept over two nights at the house, which was fun for the kids!
One day we met Megan and the boys at Allie's old school.  It was a short visit - the roofer showed up too fast and I had to go home!

Then we also made time for Thanksgiving Point - and went to the Dinosaur Museum.  This was the day that again, my camera's battery was out (yet again).  The phone photos are not good!

All in all it was a fun day!  We finished the day with dinner and cupcakes.  It was another rainy day.  And one more day til Kevin flew back.

We missed him!

Since we were already in Salt Lake City, we went to the City Creek Mall and finished our back to school school shopping and then some.  That place is so nice and has all the nice stores - I wish we had one right in Gilbert!  We did lunch at Crown Burgers - take out only, we ate in the car - the place was old and didn't look too appetizing inside.  But the burgers and fries were good!

At City Creek.  That place is dangerous for your wallet.  :)

On Saturday, we left rather late - and drove back home.  Zane did pretty well on the drive back too.  We were glad.  The heavy rain made for a slow drive, but it was quite entertaining for the kids.

This was the visibility for an hour or two of our drive back. 

The rain made for a nice welcome home.  It was a cool 78 degrees out when Kevin unloaded the car.  Not too bad for Arizona, and I was grateful for that!