Waynes 50th Class Reunion

These are our friend from Alabama. Wayne guided them through Yellowstone Park. We took them to the Joseph Smith Building and to the show on Joseph Smith. They had lots of question about the church. Our Church is fun to talk about. Their favorite thing was when they went to see the Tabernacle Choir Broadcast.


Ruban and Sandra Gallegos, Ruban was the President of the Class of 59.

Paul was Wayne's best friend at Granger High School. It was held at the Grand Hotel.

Swiss Days

We celebrated Debbie Watterson 50th Birthday at Swiss Days. There are some picture of Grandma and my sisters.

Other stuff we did that we forgot to mention...

So we had a few odds and ends of things that we've done lately so I thought I would combine them all into one post.

In July, right before Holden left we spent some time at the beach and took the kids to Disneyland & California Adventure one last time (well not the LAST time, but the last time before Holden will be gone for 2 years) - Noelle went with us as well. We had a lot of fun. It was the first time Jordan wasn't afraid of any of the rides - she actually went on the Tower of Terror which was a major accomplishment for her!









We also had the chance to babysit Julie's baby Audrey - she is so cute! We watched her while they were at the hospital with their little boy - if you don't know what I'm talking about check out her blog on the side-bar. Anyway we couldn't resist taking some photos of her while she was here - darling little girl!




Good News! Our house is going to be featured on one of my favorite online magazines - it's called Apartment Therapy and they do occasional home tours online and our house is going to be one of them - I'll let you know when we have a firm date.

Choose the best TIME to go on vacation

We can go Grandy August 3rd (Tue)-Aug 7th (Sat) we can probaly say Sunday and travel on Monday if you would like too. But the main events will happen Tuesday through Saturday. The other week is the 10th (Tue) through 14th (Sat). Kirk's kids start school early. So this one many not work.

Tomorrow I am going to Swiss Days with my sisters and Mom. Friday we leave for Yellowsone. It should be a fun week.

Last week we went to Rockport. It was great. Eric took off a few days and we went camping. Mom and dad took their trailer up to Rockport for us, our RV was still getting fixed. The kids loved swimming in the lake. They had a blat with the canoe. Michael loved to get in it by himself, he was very good at steering. Jessica, Michael, and Ashley were canoeing when Ashley lost the oar. So Michael decided to jump out of the boat after it, needless to say they all got wet. The new rule is no jumping out of the canoe. Mom and dad came up and joined us for a BBQ. Then we went to their place and had smores and rode the Rhino. On Friday night they moved their trailor down to the house, all the camp sites were full that night. We roasted starburst that night. Matt learned that trip at his Cross Country Camp. The kids loved it. We had a great time. This trip was Jessica's choice. It has been a lot of fun this summer. We have seen Eric a lot more than usual during the summer and we were able to let each child choose a place they wanted to go.

The kids are back in school. Yeah! They started back on Monday, the first week is always the hardest. We didn't have dinner until 9:00pm and we were still dealing with homework at 9:30pm. Usually homework is done by 6pm. Anyway by Wed. we were getting back on track.
We took our first trip in our RV on Friday. We went to Chrystal Hot Springs, Michael's choice. It was a lot of fun. The best part was the rv. It was so nice to not have to set up camp when we got there, and there was a place for me to rest. We also stayed longer than usual because we had a place to sit down and play games and relax. Eric and Matt gor up early on Sat. and drove 2 hours so Matt could race for Cross Country. Matt races again on Wed. and then on Sat. for the BYU invitational. That will be fun to go to.

Elder Holden Glenn Hays

For anyone who wants to follow Holden on his mission - we are posting any letters or photos we get at this site: http://www.missionsite.net/elderhays

I can't believe he's already been gone almost 2 weeks. Crazy. We miss him but we are so happy he is doing well.

Grandma and Grandpa suggest the last week in July for our Grandby vacation. What our your ideas?

GRANDBY COLORADO

2010 Summer Vacation in GRANDBY Colorado. We talked to Russell last night about setting a date. He said that July was open except for the week of the 4 of July. He gave me a website that has pictures but I am not smart enough to put it on the blog. Maybe someone can help me. The web site is www.homeexchange.com in the right hand corner you add the ID code 32961. Here is some information about the Lodge its self.

BYERS PEAK LODGE

Byers Peak Lodge sits atop a rocky, wooded ridge on 43 acres, just 4 miles east of Granby Colorado. This magnificent, 5 bedroom, 7 bath, 5000 square foot, custom log home is a masterpiece of Colorado mountain architecture. Completed in 2002, the Lodge provides numerous amenities.

Custom rock fireplaces grace the great room on the main level and the entertainment room on the lower walkout level. The fireplace in the great room features two 6000-pound, lichen-encrusted boulders taken from a cliff on the property. One of these massive boulders is a natural replica of Byers Peak, the 12800 ft. , snow-capped peak oriented directly in the center of the Lodge’s panoramic great room windows. The Lodge’s unobstructed views are unparalleled in Grand County.

The dining area is designed for gatherings of friends and family, with a wide, family-style table and adjoining bar and stools. The kitchen features an enormous, wood-paneled refrigerator, two conventional ovens, a microwave, a vented cooking range, two dishwashers, a trash compactor, and two disposals. For outdoor cooking with a view, the Lodge offers a deluxe, stainless steel, gas barbecue located on the main-level deck, which wraps around 3 sides of the home. Or, for those not inclined to cook, restaurants in every price range are abundant in Granby, Winter Park, and Grand Lake.

Each of the five bedrooms features handcrafted, natural aspen log beds with adjustable mattresses. Adjoining bathrooms offer jacuzzi tubs; separate, seated showers with handrails; sink and toilet. The lodge boasts four sets of washers and dryers, one set in each of the main and upper floor bathrooms, and one set shared between the two bottom-level bedroom suites.

The entertainment room, quietly isolated on the bottom walkout level, provides the latest in home theater technology. Surround-sound Bose speakers compliment a ceiling-mounted projector and movie screen to provide the ultimate movie-watching experience. Guests can choose from a variety of videocassettes and DVDs, or browse through 500+ channels of satellite television, while relaxing on reclining leather sofas, loveseats, and beanbags.

Call or enter your best date on the blog.

How To Write Holden

We dropped Holden off at the MTC a few minutes ago. He was excited to finally be going. His best friend Austin was waiting at the door for him.

To write him go to the website dearelder.com you will see where you can write a letter to a missionary in the mtc for free - you just type it into the box on the website and enter his MTC box #and info. His box is 151-1013, his expected date to leave the MTC is October 18th (they ask for that too)

Write to him lots and soon - he will appreciate it, they get the dear elder mail every day except Sunday. If you feel like sending him something you can do that easily through dearelder and another website called2serve.com - or you can send something to the Mtc their address is 2005 n 900 e Provo ut 84604 or if you happen to be going to Provo you can go downstairs in the wilkinson center and send something to him for a couple of bucks - they will even package it for you!

We will update you with more info as it becomes available!

This summer we have decided to get out and see Utah a bit more. We went up to Moon Lake which is in Ashley National Forrest. You can guess who picked this spot. Ashley got to choose the first choice. It was a great little camp area by a great lake. We borrowed Kyle's canoe and had a great time. I was even able to get in it. Poor Eric got soaked helping me get in and out.
Last week Matt got to choose and we went to Kent's Lake by Beaver. Matt picked Beaver for thier icecream. They have a great creamery there. Eric picked the campground becuase all Matt cared about was the icecream. Eric bought a inflatable boat and kayake. They decided the boat was much easier to use and they didn't get as wet.
Our neice, Crystal just got married so we went to Rigby, Idaho yesterday to celebrate with her. They had a open house all day. It was nice, she got to spend more time visiting with everyone. They also had a ton of great food that I got to eat for hours. I went off my diet for a day. We also got to spend time with all of Eric's family. The kids were in paradise, the nieces and nephews found grasshoppers, a lot of them. They started bringing them up on the deck and putting them on the decorated table out there to show Eric and I. It was fun to see them get in groups and run around.
Matt is getting up and running with the Woods cross crooscountry team at 7am, which means I get to get up and take him. He is also turning 15 this week, which means he can get his learners permit. I can't believe I already have a kid who will be driving.
Jessica is taking summer band at ther school. She is devistated that the teacher is on vacation and she gets four days off---NOT. Jessica and Matt went and helped our a family this year for Youth Conference. They had a lot of fun. Jessica got to walk a lama.
Ashley had a rough month in June. She got very sick-- the flu we think. She was down for 2 weeks. Then the day she started feeling better she fell off a step stool and hurt her knee. Luckily we had crutches she could use. She used them for about a week. Just when I thought she was getting better she would reinjure it. Falling down the stirs twice didn't help.
Michael went camping with Eric and Matt to Crystal Hot Springs in May. He had a lot of fun, but didn't sleep weel. There was a train track right next to their camp site. They had about 6 trains come through and every time they would blow their horns, to make sure noone was on the track.
But Michael must not have been put off too much because that is the place he wants to pick for one of our family camp outs.
We also bought a 33 year old RV. You wlk in and it is a time warp back to the 70's. A lot of orange, Ashley isn't complaining. She loves almost anything orange. But the brown orange carpet has got to go, she doesn't even like it. I can't find my camera, so no pictures of it yet. It has been in the shop for almost two weeks, but it isn't passing safety inspection yet. Hopefully, next week.

Recent Events - While the Boys Where Away

While the boys were off fishing for BIG fish, the girls did a "little" fishing too. This was Sarah's first fish of the year. We went to Butterfly Lake (sounds like a girly lake doesn't it?). The girls enjoyed getting dirty, playing with the worms, and making sure the fish was good and dead (does that really sound like girls?).

While the boys were away we stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Bills while our floors were refinished (yeah!!!!!!!)

Grandpa Bills helped us do some work in our backyard to put in a place for a garden instead of weeds (darn weeds weren't producing very good tomatoes). We also have a spot cleared for another patio with a fire pit and a basketball court where the old sheds used to be (I'm not sure if this will happen in our lifetime or our children's but we can dream!).

The girls got to participate in the Days of 47 kid's parade in Salt Lake on the 18th. The North Canyon Stake's theme was "All Fired Up" which went well with the day's temperatures, but not the kid's attitudes (they were smiling for about the first 30 minutes and then all it was from there on out was "when is it going to start?" "I'm hot!"). The girls could have participated in the Bountiful Handcart Days parade on the 23rd as well, but when they told us it could be up to a two hour wait before the parade even started and we were expecting 100 degree weather we said no, thanks!

Lake Michigan Fishing Trip

Jennifer and Ken were kind enough to invite Dad, Kyle, Nate, Holden and I along on their family vacation fishing for salmon on Lake Michigan. It was awesome. Here's what happened.

We started off with a lottery to see who would get to reel in the first fish. I drew number one and earned the right to catch the first fish....

...which I promptly lost. This became a recurring theme whenever I was given a pole and I'm sure I led the pack with most fish lost--although Kyle was a quick second with his Incredible Hulk hook setting technique!!

Here is Holden in front of our boat Lucky Boy IV, ready to go out on our first day of fishing.

We motored straight out from the harbor and set up 13 poles trailing lines behind the boat.

When you hooked a big fish on one of the long lines it was an epic battle to bring in the fish. Here I am battling a 15-pound King Salmon. When we hooked him he was almost two football fields behind the boat--that's a lot of reeling. It would take 20-25 minutes to land one of the big King Salmon.
By the time I landed this fish I had blisters all over my hands. It was great!! Here dad and I joke around with the first fish we caught.

Holden hooked into a big King--the first one he ever caught.

Here Ken starts off his fish derby--he caught more kinds of fish than anyone else on the trip.

Whenever Kyle would rush for a pole we all had to yell "Don't set the hook!!" His restraint paid off and here he brings in a big King. Gotta have that tongue sticking out!

All too soon the day came to an end and we headed back to the harbor.

We laid out our catch in front of big group of people that came over to see all the fish.
The next morning we had to get up at 1:30am Phoenix time to head out on the water. Holden texted his girlfriend who was going to bed as he was getting up. This early morning schedule led to a few naps on the boat.

The fishing was a little slow but with great company to enjoy, who cares.


If you spend enough time on a boat, you begin to notice things about each other. For example, Ken seemed to enjoy kissing his fish.

While Kyle preferred to smell the bait.
Ops, my mistake--he actually caught that wee little thing. We ended up catching 7 fish that morning.
The next day Jennifer joined us on the boat.
And thanks to her and a rainstorm we had the best day of fishing yet--12, including Kyle's first steelhead.


Kyle and Dad left shortly after we landed so Ken, Jen and Chandler took us to Green Bay where we went to Lambeau Field.

And I demonstrated my amazing gracefulness.

Everyone was rightly impressed.

While none of us wanted to go home, that is the only way we were going to be able to BBQ up some of the delicious fish we'd caught.
Thanks again Ken and Jen for a wonderful trip!