Florida Family Reunion

Every year for the last ten years my mom's family has gotten together in Cocoa Beach the first part of July. Last year was my Aunt Betty's 90th birthday, so a "surprise" party was planned for that week. For the first time in 25 years we went to Florida to be a part of the celebration. You might remember that THIS is what happened:

We promised Jeff if he was a good boy and wore his broken-neck brace for the three months he was supposed to we would go back to Florida this year for the vacation he missed last year.

And, yes, he did have a much better time this year. He literally paddle-boarded or surfed 8-11 hours a day, every day except Sunday and the day we MADE him go to Universal Studios. (It was such a trial.)


 
He taught my cousin John to SKUPboard and I think he has a new convert!

John's daughter Kayley also picked it right up.

I reconnected with my cousins Anne and Bert. Also my dear cousin Carol Beth, but the picture of us was hideous (me, not her!)

Maddie realized her dream of visiting Hogsmeade and Hogwarts in "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" at Universal Studios.

She was as giddy as a child and "just wish[ed] it was all real."

 It WAS pretty cool!

A GIANT "thank you" to Aunt Arline, Aunt Betty, and Mom for making it happen!

We hope to go again in 2015 when a certain unnamed aunt will also turn 90! Doesn't she look GOOD?!

Where in the world...?

Ten points if you can guess where we were this past weekend. Specifically, in this photo...Ten more points if you can give it the correct current name.

Gratitude Journal

I have been keeping a gratitude book this year. I know it is not even the end of January, but so far I have written one thing a day for which I am grateful. It is a hard thing to do. Not because I can't think of one thing a day, but because I can't narrow it down to one thing a day.

I have noticed a common theme this month, however. Many of my entries have centered around these people above. I truly am a blessed woman.

35 Years of Wedded Bliss

Man. We are old! Celebrated our anniversary yesterday. Sure doesn't seem like I've lived with this man for that long. I'm glad we still love each other, are still friends, and still enjoy each other's company. I hope we have a good long time left together. Like eternity, maybe?

Happy anniversary, honey.

Homecoming 2012

Maddie went to Homecoming with her fellow yearbook editor, Grayson T. They have been friends
since 6th grade. If you were lucky enough to see the Honors English filming of The Illiad at our house during Christmas break, you may recognize Grayson.

 Brian took photos of Maddie's group at the park and he thought they should have one of Maddie in "the hat."

 

 Maddie's group had dinner at one of the boys' house, played miniature golf and laser tag, had ice cream at the District, then went to the Mayor's house for a movie. (Mayor T's daughter is the one in the red dress with the cute little black bolero.) 

On the bench at the park

 Such a nice, fun group of girls. If you thought Maddie was wearing her cousin Abby's beautiful blue prom dress...that was the original plan...before we found out they were playing laser tab and (original plan) having a BBQ in the park! As you can see most of the girls wore short dresses. Maddie's was long, but not as formal as Abby's. She's hoping to wear that one to prom in the spring! :)

We thought it would be cute to get them all on the playground equipment, but the light wasn't quite right. They had fun anyway!  Thanks, Brian, for the all the photos. (He had lots of fun paying with his new camera!)

He's FREE!!

Today we went to the doctor for Jeff's 10 week check-up. We were excited, as he only had 2 weeks left in the neck brace!

When the doctor looked at today's two x-rays, he ordered another two - different view!

 Looked at those and ordered ONE MORE, just to be sure...

Then he said this neck was healed and he could TAKE OFF THE BRACE!!

Jeff is no longer a Snap-Neck. He is now a Bobble-Head!

Does this look like a happy man, or what??

Summer is Flying

I cannot believe it is July already.

Some highlights (and lowpoint) of the summer so far:

Logan Jeffrey and Justin Liam are getting bigger and smilier. Logan is almost a pound and a half heavier than his "big" brother. They are both cuddly and adorable.

Maddie and I attended Girls Camp at Bryce Canyon. Once I conquered my camping anxiety and tent claustrophobia (I had my own "room" in the tent, for Pete's sake!) it was a lot of fun.

Maddie and I rode the bus with 60+ others to Snow College in Ephraim, Utah for Youth Conference. A fun weekend!

Jeff, Maddie, Grandma D. and I went to Cocoa Beach, Florida during Tropical Storm Debbie for my Aunt Betty's surprise 90th birthday party. (Aunt Betty with her two sisters, my mom and Aunt Arline.)

Jeff broke his neck (C7 vertebra) while diving off his surfboard and hitting an unseen sandbar at Cocoa Beach on the first nice day after the Debbie ended. (He is moving and walking for which we are supremely grateful, but pretty much out of commission otherwise for the next 8-12 weeks.)  :) He wants me to be sure to say he was having a GREAT time up to the point of impact!

My nephew Jacob got back from his LDS mission to Fiji.

My niece Elisabeth had her first child, Evelyn Quinn, June 28.

Shawn and Allyson drove from Arkansas to move Shawn here permanently. Yay! They are currently looking for a place to rent that will take their rather large husky/wolf dog Ronan.

We celebrated a fun old fashioned Boulder City 4th of July! Tyler and Aubrey with their red, white and blue hair. Sydney is in the middle.

Grandma D. holding--Logan? (I can't really tell from this photo. It may be Justin.) :)

Jimmy and Sydney (in the cute shirt Allyson made her) at the parade.



Still to come:
Weekend family trip to Tuacahn outdoor theatre in St. George, Utah to see "Aladdin" followed by Jacob's "welcome home" sacrament meeting in Orem.

Especially for Youth at BYU Provo for Maddie the week after the above.

Mom and Dad staying in Mt. Pleasant while Maddie is at EFY? (Whatever diversions I can come up with to keep my husband occupied while he is incapacitated...)

Camp Nana II.

Organizing and scrapbooking and quilting. Hmmm. Summer is flying...