A Utah Family Visit

 

Doug and I took a road trip down to Utah to see my family from August 20-27. It was such a great trip. We visited with over 45 relatives!!

This is what greeted us on our bed at Karla's as we arrived!

Salt water taffy to last us a year, and a 'Stringham Family' framed picture...cute!!

 

 

 

We enjoyed a family dinner with Karla and Kevin and some of their kids and grandkids. We had fun eating and visiting and 'catching up!.

It's always a great party at Karla's!!!

 

Karla and her newest granddaughter, Brynnlee.

I think they have a deep bond already, look at those smiles!

 

Karla wanted her little granddaughter to get her name and a blessing while we down there, and Karla asked Doug to do that for them.

Brynnlee was born on July 1st, Canada Day, so Karla thought it very appropriate for a Canadian to bless her!

It was wonderful, she is a very dear baby!!

 

 

Justin (with the beard) and Chelsea (his wife) and their children, Miken and Brynnlee with Karla and Bryan.

Such a cute family!!

 

 

Kevin playing his grandson, Kristine's little boy. Kevin is such a 'goofy', fun grandpa.

It so fun to watch him with his grandkids!!

 

A 'selfie' of all the girls at the party. Karla, Brynlee (Justin's new baby) Stephie (Jace's fiancé), Chelsey (Justin's wife), Kristine (Kevin's daughter) and her twin daughters and Joeen (Kevin's wife) ...and me!

Fun Times with Kevin and Karla, it was so good to be with them again. I was glad Kevin and Joeen came up from St George!

 

 

All of us, Doug and Kathy, Karla and Bryan, Joeen and Kevin, out for Mexican food!

Fun!!

 

 

Late one evening, Karla took us to see yes new Central Provo Temple. It is the old Tabernacle that burnt down several years ago, they have re-built it as a temple. It will open in the Spring. So beautiful!!

 

 

 

 

 

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We went down to Salem to see my Uncle Clyde and help him celebrate his 80th birthday.

It was so great to see my Aunt Betty (and enjoy her cooking) again and to see my cousins and their families!

They have wonderful children.

 

We went up to Bountiful and visited with my brother Brad's oldest son Brandon and Talicia and their kids.

He works for the FBI, that's kinda cool!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also saw Wendy (Brad's youngest daughter) and her husband, Greg, and their kids. She is Lindsay's age.

 

They are building a home and currently live with her mom, Michele.

 

 

 

While in Bountiful, we visited with Michele, Brad's wife. It was so good to see her again.

She has really adjusted well to living on her own since Brad passed away, and is doing many things to keep herself busy.

She is taking the time to do some fun travelling!

 

 

 

 

We also went up to Logan and stayed with Mom and Ron for a few days. It was really great to see them again. We went up to their property, "The Lazy W", for an afternoon. Mom has a trailer she has fixed up so cute, and put on the property.

We enjoyed relaxing up there, it is such a beautiful spot. We all wished we could have stayed longer!!

We also had a chance to visit with my brother's K and Bryan and their families on Monday night, it was so good to see them all again.

And then on Tuesday morning, we had a chance to help K and his daughter, Amy collect hay bales from their nearby field...it was so fun throwing hay bales onto the trailer with K, who is so brave and dealing with stage four cancer and all that entails! He is such a great example of courage to us!!

Doug and I drove through Waterton on our way home. Beans loved the drive and especially his visit to Cameron Falls!!

 

We love Waterton and the beautiful lakes and hikes that are there.

We took the nice hike around Cameron Lake, it was so lovely and peaceful.

It was great to be back in Alberta, but we thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Utah and seeing a lot of family again!! They mean so much to us!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Kid Fun!

 

 

Ivy's first birthday...it's hard to beleive she is already one. She has eight teeth and is almost walking!

 

 

Ron Eileen and Grandma at Ivy's birthday party.

 

 

Cam and D at the party just getting in some hug time.

 

 

Sam in the hammock at the party.

 

 

 

Horsie time for Mckinley and Brynlee at Cabela's

 

 

 

And a reindeer hug from Brookie!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A visit down to Calgary for Ava's first ballet recital, "Josh says is this how it goes?"

 

 

A cute pose! She did a great job at the recital!

 

 

 

Mom and dad biking and camping in Hinton.

 

Dad with his small tent with his new nail gun.

 

Happy Father's Day, Grandpa...here's your candy jar, please keep it always full!!

 

 

 

 

Mom's fairy garden, it is so cute and the fairies are so happy!

 

A visit with my sister Konnie and her son, Mark in Phoenix.

 

Dad and Mark building a 'Lego' racer.

 

Our new cabin is coming along!

 

 

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Summer Action

Several months ago we made the decision to tear down our little cabin at Wizard Lake.

 

 

 

It was a difficult decision, but we really want a newer, bigger place for our kids and grandkids to enjoy over the next 30-40 years!

 

 

We have had such great times at the cabin!!

It served us well for 14 years!

 

 

 

But it was time to make a change.

I cried as I watched her coming down!

 

 

It was so sad to watch all the work we had put into this little cabin being destroyed so quickly right before our eyes!

 

 

 

This is the driver of the trach hoe that was doing the demolition.

His name was Doug and he did such a great job!

So I made both Doug's pose for me in the debris of the cabin.

Now, nothing but a big, flat open field. However, it won't be for long.

We are excited to start the new cabin next week!

It will keep Doug busy, he is sub contracting the whole thing himself.

 

Ava, Joshie and Elena enjoying some time together in their playhouse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tiff, Elena and Joshie taking a break from exploring the Rockies.

 

 

 

 

Such beautiful kids and country!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elena is 6 months old already, what a sweet little girl!

Is this her first trip to the zoo??

 

 

Cam with Brook and Mckinley at the Telus World of Science.

What cool dinosaurs!!

 

 

Looks like that tyrannosaurus is looking for a meal.

 

D, Colby and Brynn just chilling out under the dinosaur, and hoping he's not hungry!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brooke, Mckinley and Brynn chiselling away for dinosaurs.

Wow...the intensity on their faces...how exciting!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colby made a new best friend at the fish aquarium.

 

Looks like the fish had a lot to say to Colby, he is a good listener!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark went to Phoenix for a few days last week and enjoyed a short holiday there. The car is a perk from his job!

 

 

He went to the Comicon Convention while in Phoenix and had some fun encounters...this seemed to be his favorite, Chewbaccca.

 

Ivy was an attentive listener in her dad's Primary class on Sunday.

She loves all the cute kids in his class...and they love her!

 

 

Ivy just hanging out and looking cool in her dad's aviator's saying...

"Hey, what's you looking at?"

 

What does a teething baby look like...a sweet 'little monster!'

Come on Ivy, get those molars already!!

 

 

 

 

 

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