LAGOON FUN

We always like to go to Lagoon all together at least once every summer.  Somehow it usually ends up being the weekend before or after my birthday, and that stayed true this year as well. Best part of todays fun was having both the grandkids with us.

Kai loves fire trucks (2nd only to trash trucks) so he loved hearing all the sirens as you rode this ride.

Em was also a big fan of the 'Fire Truck' ride

The 'Whale' ride was just kids his age, so he spent much of the time watching what they were doing in their whale.

And being a great Big Brother

Jeepin' in an orange Jesse with Em

Ringing the bell on the Boat Ride.

I loved seeing him on this ride.  I can so vivdly remember the girls on this rde when they were little , so there's something nastalgic about seeing the next generation of our family riding in the little green boat at Lagoon.

Airplane

Helicopter

Back to the litttle green boat

Aubs and Elan and the boys left early to go visit friends that live up in that area, so then the crew started hitting the big rides.

Since Kay's TBI, her head/brain can not longer do some of these bigger rides, so she caught a few cat naps while the others rode.  Thanks Lagoon for always proving us a great day of Family Fun!

 

Russel takes on Tibble Fork

Time to take Russel up to Tibble Fork

It had been stormy, but the rain stopped just before we got there.

No Rain....just Mud

 

Movie of Kai's Life

A quick look at Kai's first 2 years

Birthday Party for Kai

It's birthday celebration time for Kai whose turning 2

Started the weekend Camping with Mon, Dad, & Koa in the backyard

Them spent the day swimming with his friends

So many friends and cousins to play with

and opening a few fun presents 🥳

 

Beauty of the Earth

Sometimes I am in awe of the beauty of this Earth

Ans how lucky we are to live so close to the mountains and rivers that cover this part pf the landscape.  

Cecret Lake up Little Cotonwood Canyon. Breathtakingly beautiful in everyway.

I so love my early morning hikes with Amy.  She is ao good about getting us out and into the mountains where we are energized and rejuvenated by the beauty, peace, and love of God that surrounds us.

Oh how I cherish the good friends in my life

and the time we get to spend together.  These pictures could seriously be postcards.  

 

Frontrunner Traveler

This is soon to be a very familiar sight.  Little Brenna getting off the Frontrunner train. With Kay and Em moving to Provo in August and Lindsay joining them in January, Brenna will spending quite a bit of time on the Frontrunner riding back and forth between Provo and South Jordan.  Last night Kayla was up at the house for a bit, so Brenna went back to Provo with her for the night and took an early train home so she could get home, changed, and to practice by 8:00am.  These girls seriously are each others best friends and love, love, love being together!

 

Poolside

We've been trying to enjoy the pool a little more this summer.  It's super fun when Aubs and Elan bring the boys over to swim.  Kai is already such a good swimmer.  I rarely have my phone outside, so not many pictures, but I did get one of Aubs and Koa.  This captutres how they spent much the summer.

And then there's Jett....lounging on the outside couch soakign it all in.  He always wants to be outside when people are out there, so he's gottena lot of sun and outdoor naps in lately. 

 

Butterfield Canyon with Russell

B is such a good driver.  She drove us all the way to the top of the mountain so we could see inside the mine.

A little bouldering with some fun tunes.

We were surprised how lush and green everything was even during this drought

Our fabulous chauffeur

Looking into the Bingham Copper Mine from the top.  This is one of the only mines that can be seen from space, its that massive!

 

Gale Center

The Gale Center of History & Culture offers a unique look at the history of South Jordan and Americana. With its interactive displays and hands on approach to learning, it is a great place to visit with young children to help them visualize the past to make the future better.

One of Brenna's responsibilities as a South Jordan City Youth Council member is to help and volunteer throughout the city.  Due to Covid-19, some of the docents that normally serve at the Gale Center have not been able to return yet, so Brenna was filling in for one of them.

With Brenna there, Aubrey decided to take the boys over to play and explore. 

Kai learning about the Bingham Mine

 It's so fun to see the next generation enjoying some of the same activities that the girls and I enjoyed when they were young. 

 

Menchies Memories

Menchies is a fozen yogurt shop here in South Jordan.  It is definintely a local favorite and we love to eat our Menchies outside (see below) and enjoy the beautiful summer nights. Back to this picture-- they have a bulletin board inside with polaroid pictures of different groups that come in to Menchies,  

The above photo was taken during a birthday party Brenna attended for her friend Jayly (Brrenna is 3rd from the right.) As you can see from the caption, this was from when they were 8 years old.  These girls are now 15 - that's over 7 years ago.  HOW is this still up on the Menchies board, I have no idea??? Isn't that crazy?  

The Crew enjoying our Menchie masterpieces

Always fun to drive home next to Em and B in ' Jessse'  (that is the name of the the red Jeep that Em currently drives)

  He is all lit up at night and you can't miss him when he's on the road.  I sure love summer nights with teenagers. Trying to enjoy every minute of it!

 

Happy 4th of July (Saturday version)

It was a day full of festivities, but few pics

Morning parade and neighborhood breakfast

Grandpa hanging out with Kai

and hanging out with Gigi

We swam and ate and watched a few late night fireworks.  

 

Temple Time

This morning we were able to attend the Draper Temple with the Young family as Peter received his endownment.

We have not been inside a temple since March 14, 2020 when Lindsay received her endownment.

Temple with Lindsay

We have missed being in our Father's house and the joy and peace that can be felt within these sacred walls.  We have missed performing ordinances on behalf of those who have passed on, knowing they have the agency to accept or reject the covenants associated with those ordinances. We've missed reflecting on how we are doing at living and keeping those covenenats in our own lives.  We have missed being in the temple with our adult children.

For everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.  Though we have not been able to be in the temple these past 16 months, it has allowed us time to learn and grown in new ways and to better understand our role and purpose here on the earth. 

In October general conference, Elder Jaggi taught us so profoundly about 'Letting Patience have her Perfect Work and Count It All Joy'.

Read the full talk here:Count It All Joy

I loved when he taught:

“Where we make sacred covenants with God — the temple — is temporarily closed. Where we keep covenants with God — the home — is open.”

I have thought about that quote many, many times over the past 9 months.  While we could not be found in the tenple the past year or so, we have every opportunity to work on living and keeping the covenants we have made there.  Grateful to all those who have worked tirelessly so that temples can be open again.

 

St. Louis to Sao Paulo

Once a missionary, always a missionary.  Today Lindsay was transfered from the St. Louis Mission to her original assignment in Sao Paulo South Mission.  So many tender feelings come with this transfer. Devastation about leaving behind all those she loves so dearly in St. Louis and excitement about new relationships and learning opportunities ahead in Brazil. 

She traveled alone from St. Louis to Dallas, but quickly made a friend. So glad she to share her time, testimony, and Book of Mormon with her new friend, and his kindness brought great peace to her heart.

In Dallas she connected with her travel companion Sister Hancock. These 2 served in the same online MTC district and such a great reunion as they now get to go to Barzil together.

Boarding pass & Passport.  Brazil.....here she comes!

Fun little welcome from her new companions 

Our first Zoom with Linz from Brazil. These sisters were so happy to be able to connect with each other today,  Not always an easy task.  Linz is doing awesome - tackling the challenges of a new mission and new laguage with great faith and soooo  excited to be serving the Lord and the people of Sao Paolo 💓