End of summer=Labor Day Fun

The night Kerry and I landed in Salt Lake I was very happy to be on the ground. Our flight in was the roughest flight I think I have ever experienced. At one point we dropped at least 50 feet and it was pretty exciting! It's that same feeling in my stomach that I experience on roller coasters and those who know me well know how much I really don't like roller coasters! On Labor Day Natalie and Dave had invited the family to their house for a BBQ. It rained all night the night before and most of the day at points we even had a pretty good hail storm. We had just decided that it was going to be an inside event when the sun came out and things warmed up. While we were waiting for everyone who could be there to arrive the Guitar Hero came out. Natalie and Rebecca were the first to challenge each other. Grandma "Pat" and I both got a kick out of watching them.

When the boys got there Natalie had these huge stuffed animals that they started playing with, the duck was a big as Caleb and the teddy bear was actually bigger than Spencer so he had a little trouble getting around with it.

Peek A Boo guys!

When Dave got home we headed outside for dinner, as the sun went down we all started to feel the fall air and some went in for jackets.

Kerry actually found the BBQ a very warm place to be.

These two always seem to be the center of attention and naturally pose for the camera.

Time to go in and warm up. Where are the guitars?

Spencer tried his hand at it, Grandpa worked at showing him how to use the buttons.

Spencer got bored and Granpa kept playing.

Caleb watched them play with his duck and Spencer once again found the big bear. While the rest of us talked, laughed, and got warm again. Thank goodness the cold hasn't stayed but evenings are definately "fallish."

When everyone was getting ready to go we found Spencer in the kitchen having a conversation with the bear. It is hard to believe that summer is really over but it sure has been a fun and very busy one for our family!

No longer in mourning!!!!!!

Great news Kerry surprised me by ordering a new camera for me. It was supposed to arrive before we went to Kansas City but it arrived several days after we left. I won't be sneaking his anymore or asking him to take pictures for me. I am very excited to have it and grateful for his effort to try and surprise me. Thanks Sweetie!

Deleted photos

These pictures accidentally got deleted when I posted, this is Charlie under the coffee table and them in front of their apartment.

Visiting Kansas City and parts of Missouri

We were able to see Cyd, Ken and Charlie for a week in Kansas City. We were able to go to some of the Church Sites and some of the local places that they enjoy. Most of all it was just great to be with them and see where they live and what life is like there for them.

Our first stop on the Church History tour was to Independence Missouri to the Temple Site and Visitor's Center. Of course we saw the Temple from the Community of Christ Church (below) across the street. It's hard to imagine it as it was because it is so built up around the area.

Our next stop to was to the Liberty Jail, which is also built up around and would be easy to miss if it wasn't for historical markers. I had been there 30 years ago and it was pretty much as I remember it. I was touched by the feeling there. Part of me wanted to get on the floor which is the original floor just to be where he was, of course I didn't but it made me think.

Originally built as an ice house and turned to a jail the insulation made it impossible to escape and impossible to keep warm, to think of the conditions that existed for those men. And yet what was gleaned from that time is also amazing.

Next stop Far West Missouri. I was also there 30 years ago but I remember it so differently. It was hard to imagine that there were over 5ooo people living there at one time before they were driven out of the area. At one point I tried to visualize in my mind what it would have been like and where my family would have lived. Ken thought I had my head stuck in the fence the way I was standing and looking at the valley.

This is the temple site. With the cornerstone below.

When we were there years ago the road to Haun's Mill was muddy and we were not able to get the bus out there. This time I really wanted to go there. All that remains is a memorial stone so it was as Cyd says it "a field" I would like to have wandered through and spent some quiet time but we were on limited time so maybe next time. I just get to sentimental at times.

It is difficult to see but there were frogs all over at Haun's Mill by the stream bed. Everywhere you stepped tons of frogs hopped away and we thought the boys would have loved it. This picture was for them but it is like Where In the World is the frog. Good luck.

The last stop for the day was Adam-Ondi-Ahman. It took me awhile but it became much more familiar as I walked around. I had forgotten how beautiful the area is. I was also surprised to see how much the area is being farmed.

Back at the apartment we found that the entire family had come from the Cabin to visit. Imagine all of Jessica's and Dave's family, Nat and Dave, Rachel and Cameron, Rebecca, and Rosemarie and Patti.

Charlie loved getting to know everyone!

One of the great BBQ places that Ken and Cyd have discovered there in Kansas City is called Oklahoma Joes, it was so good. Enough that we bought some of the rub and sauce to get ready for the Rib throw down we keep talking about at home.

While Kerry and Ken were playing video games we had the door open to cool the apartment down a little bit. As the afternoon wore down the sky got darker and darker as a storm approached. It was an eerie site and the sky actually had a greenish color, the picture doesn't do it justice. This picture was taken at about four in the afternoon. When it started to rain in poured buckets and buckets but it smelled so good!

Before we left we had Ken take us to his school and show us around. Because it was between semesters most everything was locked up but he was able to show us around a little bit.

We played games and relaxed our last day there. Charlie was in the middle of the coffee table where she got quite comfortable. It was difficult to leave them when it was time to return home. They are such a cute couple and are doing so well in their Kansas City Home. We will be glad to hopefully have them closer one day because we miss them so much. It was great to be with them.

Memories of Gooseberry Cont.

As we headed home from the cabin the guys decided to try an easier place to fish for the little ones. We headed up Fairview Canyon to Gooseberry which holds lots of fun memories for our family. The first memory I have is with the entire Smith Family fishing and camping. We laughed a lot and the men fished, but that night because we were so high in elevation we were able to watch the most spectacular meteor shower. It is one of my fondest memories of Seth. We also went up this canyon many times on our way to Camp Shalom to girls camp, one of my favorite places on earth. Then we have several trips with our own family on fishing expeditions where each of the girls have learned to fish and play with dad or at least most of them have learned to fish. Quate even got into the picture by running and plopping into the river very often because he couldn't see the end of the bank because of the grass. Very fun times. So now we have one more fun memory. Even though it was terribly windy when we first got there it calmed down and we attempted to catch fish with the boys. Caleb hung in for quite awhile and Spencer loved Grandpa's tackle box.

Rebecca is suffering from the sunburn that she got from riding on the four wheelers the previous days.

After the boys tried it for awhile and it was evident that the fish just weren't biting Kerry swapped to a fly rod and went to the stream below the lake. We could see fish in the pool but again they were just not biting. We wandered down the bank for a little while and then he reeled in pretty big one. The boys were able to watch him and to see it. I really love to watch Kerry fish and see the enjoyment on his face.

Spencer was still trying to fish in the pool of water but managed to tangle himself up with the fishing line.

Kerry let each of us see his catch and take pictures and then he gently let the fish go back to it's home in the river. We decided that is was also time for us to head home. Kerry and I were heading to Kansas City the next day, and I had a lot of laundry to do to get ready. So now this weekend goes on the list of the fun times with the family.