RUSH Concert

These 2 had a great night together at the RUSH Concert - Robert's favorite band

Family Reunion

Tonight we had an unexpected family reunion, with my sisters Barb and Michelle and their families and my cousin Steve and his family.  The kids spent much of the evening playing together in the pool.

Megan, Quinton, Michael, Anna, & Brenna

Kayla, Aubs, & Katie making s'mores

The CREW     

from left to right backrow:

Aubrey, Michael, Tariah, Janae, Harrison, Quinton, Katie, Nicholas, & Quincy

from left to righ middle/front row:

Kayla, Emily, Lindsay, Anna, Brenna, & Megan

The Adult Crew:

Jenna, Barb, Steve, & Michelle 

Michelle and her 4 kids:

Michael, Quinton, Michelle, Tariah, & Nicholas

1st day of School

July 25th - Back to School for our elementary school girls.

Emi is starting 5th grade 

Brenna is starting 2nd

So grown up

Off they go

Their school is currently getting Air Conditioning, so they are being bused 1 mile away to another school for the first 3 weeks, until the project is complete. Nothing better than riding a big yellow school bus!

Here's to another great year at Jordan Ridge!

Emi's Cake Creation

Emi went  to a birthday party at a local cupcake shop.  She made this beautiful cake for our family.  Loved it!  You are an awesome decorator Em!

Brenna's 7th Birthday

We Love this Girl!  So glad she came to our family 7 years ago today!

Cake with a picture of herself on it. She was very surprised.

But loved sharing it with all our neighborhood friends.

Her church teachers

Our neighbor and home teacher, Woody - aka. the girls 2nd tooth fairy

Her best friend Karley

A favorite dog card from Grandma & Papa.  

It was only fitting to invite the entire neighborhood over for Brenna's birthday, as this girl is literally friends with everyone!

Youth Conference Day 3

Our ward did a temple walk from Jordan River Temple to the Salt Lake Temple

21 miles of walking

Kayla trying to walk on her pulled muscle (which we later learned was a broken leg)

Syd and Mike bringing up  the rear

Final rest

before seeing the 'temple spires'

We knew we had made it.  Nothing like your first glimpse of the temple

WE DID IT!  Decisions Determine Destiny.  The Destiny of these youth will be Determined by the Decisions they make.  And their decision and determination to walk 21 miles to the Salt Lake Temple was truly in'spire'ing.  You guys ROCK!

Youth Conference Day 2

Dad going craxy with Aubrey and friends on the tube up at Jordanelle 

Then driving Kayla, her friend, & the YW President 

A little smoother ride

Youth Conference Day 1

The Amazing Race.  The Bishop Family put together am awesome 'Amazing Race' that took the youth all over the Salt Lake Valley, looking for clues in library books, in the State Capital Rotunda, at the bottom of our pool, etc.  

The Race ended at the top of Ensign Peak, where in 1847, Brigham Young surveyed the Salt Lake Valley and declared to the pioneers "This is the Place".  What a great day and fun way to think about the Decisions we make each day.

Kayla's competitive edge kept on moving right along with her teammates, but by the end of the race, her leg was throbbing and she was ready for a ride down the mountain...

and then for a snooze in the trunk of the car.

BYU Cheer Camp

Aubrey loves cheering and loves BYU cheer camp.  

Cheer has been a hard sport for Aubrey and Kayla to fully participate in as they reached the highest levels of this sport, because they do not cheer on Sundays.  Aubs continues to work out at Mac's and this summer, was asked to be a 'flyer' on their Level 6 (Collegiate-18 & older) Worlds Team.  What an amazing honor!  This "Legacy" team travels and competes with the best in the world.  She has a definite talent in this area, but the open-mid uniforms and Sunday competitions, will keep her from being a part of this opportunity.  She is an amazing example to us of  'Keeping the Faith' and being true to herself. 

Our family has had many tender mercies that have testified to us that the Lords hand is in our lives, and in Aubrey & Kaylas's live as they make these difficult decisions, and know that any experience that is denied them now will be compensated in other ways.

Who knows, one day she may be a cheerleader teaching at this camp.  

Gummy Bear Snowcones

We have a favorite snow cone shack that we like to stop at after visiting the 7 Peaks water park. I don't even remember what it's called, but the put 1 gummy bear in the bottom of your snowcone, so everyone is tryign to guess the color of their gummy bear and it's like BINGO when you finally find it.  It's the simple pleaseure in life, that bring us much joy.

Physical Therapy HURTS

Kay has been in physical therapy since the 20th of June.  Each session (2 hours a session/3 times a week)  they do electrostimulation (shown below); deep ultrasound (to  break up the scar tissue-which feel like little rocks in her quad and seem to grow and multiply every day); deep tissue massage (painful); excercises on her right leg (which are extremely hard) followed by stretching, iceing and her personal favorite - KT taping. 

It has been a hard journey and the end is not in sight.  She struggles to walk and go up and down stairs, let alone RUN.  It's hard to see her teammates out on the road doing their morning and night workouts.  She hopes all this will soon pass, and she will be back out there with them.  So Sorry Kay!

Mrs. L's Park Party

Oneof Emi's very favorite people came to town this week - the legendary Mrs. Lifferth 

and her son Lincoln

Emi put together a party at the park for some of her classmates to visit with Mrs. L and meet Lincoln 

There's Zach photo-bombing them

Such a fun group of kids whose lives have all been touched by this amazing teacher!  Lots of love to Mrs. L