ARIZONA CATCH UP

I know, I know I am about a month behind! We have just come back from a fabulous trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. But the days since then have been crammed with many consuming activities. I still want to document our quick trip to Arizona. It was so fun and we got to see a few of those we love so much. I will put Arizona up first and then post some great pictures from Outer Banks in a few days.

I have been missing Arizona and we have not seen Dad and Marge in months. So with very little notice we headed to AZ seriously early in the morning. Arriving just before lunch, we went with Dad to see Marti's most recent expansion of Scrapbooks, Etc. It is huge and beautiful. What a business she has built!

After a quick sandwich we picked up Marge and went to Doug's new facility. Who would have thought Bazzill would grow to such an extent? We remember when he had just one cutter. It is an amazing operation! It was fun to see the whole process, especially after taking orders a few times for all their things.

Dad and Spence were able to get enough tickets for us to accompany them to the Diamondbacks game. It was so much fun! We ate hot dogs and cheered and talked and talked and, of course, ended up winning the game. They have wonderful seats right behind the D's dug-out and home plate. We really had a wonderful time! I was glad to be able to spend some time with Spence, too.

The next day, Alan and Doug went to play 9 holes of golf and had a good time. I spent a lazy morning just talking to Dad and Marge. Then we ran over to see the Jones' remodeled home. It is beautiful, naturally. Here are some of them--Haley, Marti, Doug and Kevin--forced to pose in front of their redone fireplace.

We joined them for lunch and got to see Nathan, Lacey, and their cute little Sydney. Here they are in front of the restaurant. Hope they all come to the beach next week.

Alan has a homing device built in that leads him to any Bass Pro Store or Cabellas in the vicinity. We had to spend a few minutes and a few dollars at this one not too far from Dad's.

After spending a good hour at Barbara's and catching up with her a little, we all went to dinner at a "Cowboy" type restaurant close to the Jones' area. Spence and Louise put their children first and couldn't come to our last minute dinner plans. It was so fun to be with everyone else, though. We have to steal these minutes when we can.

Having Sunday commitments, we awoke early Sunday morning and made the quick dash back to California in time to teach our classes and fulfill our commitments. It was worth the driving for the great time we had.

CELEBRATIONS!

MOTHERS DAY

Mothers Day was especially fun since Sam and Lindsey with Reed and Max dropped in from North Carolina and surprised us. I had all three of my sons with me for a couple of hours. When has that happened lately? It will happen again soon at the Outer Banks in NC when the whole family will be together again.

JR, Adam and Sam with me in a group hug! I miss the giant hugs my sons used to give me so often.

Max says "I do!"

Reed and his oven mitt puppet posing together.

These pictures were hard to get--moving targets. Lindsay tried to corral them for me. They were on their way to Maui with Lindsay's family the next day. Lots of plane rides and things to do to keep them excited.

Sunday dinner with a group again. Could I ask for a better Mothers Day? And I didn't have to cook or clean up. Thanks guys. (Don't look at me on the phone back there.)

ONE MORE BIRTHDAY DOWN

My birthday celebration at JR & Casey's. Casey made me a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. My favorite--what a treat. I am not crazy about birthdays any more or getting so, so, so-o-o old, except that I always think about my brother Ron, whose birthdays stopped at 48. Boy am I glad to have another birthday and share it with my children and darling grandchildren that I love so much. Everyone called me on that day and sent flowers, gifts, schmaltzy cards and emails. I felt very loved and honored.

Mackenzie, Kayla and I admire my delicious cake. Thank you Casey for not putting a candle on for every year. We look like we are blowing out that many, though.

Quick Utah Visit

When I went to Utah during Jack's stay in the hospital I shot some cute pictures I just have to post before I move on.

Halle is such a good help with Kate!

Just Lacey!

Love that Kate smile.

Just home from the hospital, but big smiles for everyone. We are happy he recovered so quickly.

Halle posing for me.

They actually look like sisters in this shot.

Jessie with her Nintendo DS.

Sunny and Riley. Look closely and you will see Riley always posing.

Alex practices piano quite a bit and it shows!

Tristan (phone in hand, of course) with a great new hair cut.

The only shot of Sage where he wasn't pulling a face.

Ashley, their nanny, with Riley and Charlie.

Sunny with Riley and Charlie; Sage popping in.

Alex with little brother Sam, just up from a nap.

Some of My Favorite Faces In Utah

When we were in Utah at Conference time, we had several times we were all together. Sunny and Steve open their home to all of us and we have a great time together. I took dozens of random pictures, but could only pick a few.

Steve and Sam

Jessica and Charlie

Lindsey and Kate

Harmon and Kate

Adam says every picture of Kate is the same because she has such a big natural smile. Here she even smiles her face off with a pacifier in it!

Halle and her unnaturally dark curly hairdo!

The Fierce and Scary Pirate Jack!

The sweet and loving big sister Riley with Charlie.

Jessie and Lacey.

Sorry, girls I didn't post the crazy ones that came after these.

Travis and Jade trying to calm Charlie.

Jade, Lacey, Bailey, Sage and Jack on the trampoline.

Tristan, can you see the good looking boy under the hair!

A normal position for the mother of twins--Sunny with Charlie and Sam

Conversation! Always lively.

An unlikely pairing, but great picture--Adam with Alex

Bailey and Jade on their way out the door.

Alan with Rosemary

Our weekend was so crammed that the only way I got to see Rosemary was that she came over to Sunny's to see us on Monday morning before we hit the road for home.

CONFERENCE?

Last month we went to Utah over General Conference weekend. Alan had Friday and Monday meetings and I had no Sunday RS obligations. Adam had much to do on his house to get it ready for sale. So the 3 of us headed to SLC. On Saturday we saw portions of Conference. But we also saw Riley's soccer game, Bailey's dance recital and Lacey's volleyball game. What are these Momons thinking, scheduling over Conference?

Riley plays on a 4 year old team with all boys. She is a full head taller than all of them. She is also the best player by far. But they are still 4 year olds. The pregnant mother just behind Riley was the coach of the other team. She kept trying to drag her players to be in position to block the ball since they didn't seem to get the game. Before the time was up her team didn't want to play anymore. I wonder why?

Bailey is on a cute dance team and we were lucky enough to be there to see her dance at a competition. She is very good and really projects and loves to be in front of an audience! None of my pictures during the performance turned out since we were so far away. Isn't she cute? How we remember when she and Lacey were little and used to perform for us after Sunday dinners! How time flies! We are excited to have Bailey and her family in California so we see them more often.

Lacey is playing on a volleyball team with her friend Kennedy and this was only their second game. They are just learning to play the game. They play in a coed league and with older kids. But they both were pretty good for their team. Don't these girls look alike except for their color hair? They have a lot in common and have a great time together. Besides they live across the street from each other.

We missed some of conference, but we couldn't pass on the opportunity to watch our grandkids perform while we were there. Steve's wonderful grandfather, Britt McConkie, passed away between Sunday sessions which added sadness to the visit and one more distraction from Conference. Luckily we have other ways of viewing and reading Conference later. It was a wonderful historic Conference. It is something to see the mantel fall on President Monson. I always think that my love for the previous prophet will make it harder to accept the new one, but the Lord helps us feel that love, acceptance and reverence for the successor.

More Blessings

I know it has been a month since we went to Boston where Todd and Ashley blessed their little Chase. But maybe you will forget that you saw similar pictures on Ashley's website a month ago. We love these three darling boys who really give Ashley and Todd a run for their money. They are so smart, charming, and boy all the way through. Chase is growing so fast, but beginning to sleep through the night and make his mother's life a little easier.

Todd gave Chase a beautiful blessing. Sam as well as Todd's parents were also there for the blessing. We had a good time just being together. We went out to dinner Saturday evening and it was fun in a different way.

Ann and Randy Harris get to see these guys all the time. I am so jealous. The boys are definitely more comfortable with them than us. Sometimes dinner is fun with them there and sometimes it is a trial! It was mostly fun, depending on what end of the table you were sitting at.

Thanks, Sam, for coming all that way for a special day. He spent most of Saturday in the airport trying to catch a stand-by flight but persisted and made it. It wa fun to have him with us!

Papa has always been a welcome place to snuggle up to...


...and sometimes a comfortable place to nap. What's a man to do but join him?

Todd is such a good dad--

He gets up early in the morning and gets the boys breakfast...and often finds his arms full.

He takes the boys to the skate park as often as he can, weather and work permitting.

And sometimes has a little time for fun himself.

Then in the evenings, he patiently finds things to keep those active boys busy and learning.