Seth and Tiffany's Family visits Oregon - week one

Monday morning, July 15th starting out with the arrival of our wonderful Seth Lewis family from Minnesota. They flew direct and so it gave them a day to relax and rest before their three weeks of fun. But before they left, they gave Grandpa a big hug as he was leaving for the Stake Trek in Eastern Oregon just hours after they arrived.

With family in the area we enjoyed a combined dinner and FHE with the Caudle's and the Vance's in the Vance's beautiful new home in Vancouver, WA. 

We missed Grandpa that day while he was on the Youth Handcart Trek in Eastern, OR.

After the lesson by Grandma, Gary kept the children entertained playing games.

The next day we spent the afternoon at the Cottonwood Beach along the Columbia River in Washougal, WA, just 15 minutes from Ondalynn's home. What a great way to enjoy the beach without driving to the coast.

Sydney, Addison & Jackson enjoying time together.

Julia & Bryson 

Daisy& Clark.

Preston Lewis, surveying his plans as an explorer like another famous Lewis explorer. 

Isaac delighted being in the canoes honoring Lewis & Clark's Expedition. 

Grandma having fun with the younger ones.

Enjoying the hot tub before dinner.

Dad arrived home late that night, driving 3 hours after he spoke at the campfire program. It was a late finishing preparations for our trip to Orlando. We each only had less than 2 hours sleep and then we were up to catch an early morning flight to Orlando for the Reliv Conference. We felt badly about leaving Seth & Tiffany's family, but fortunately, they were going to spend time in WA with Tiffany's sister Katherine, and then time with her Gee family reunion the next week and the Arvidson Reunion later in the week at the beach.

Wed., July 17th the Seth Lewis' and the Vance's enjoyed visiting the Mt. St. Helen's Visitor Center.

Kenna's Baptism

I flew to SLC on Thursday, Aug 1st to be with Alice-Anne's family for Kenna's baptism. Seth & Tiffany's family were with us while they had a vacation and reunion in Oregon. Dad stayed to be with their family. 

Elliot is getting so big and talking a lot. 

Spencer loves art and he is always working on a project he has envisioned from making birthday paper hats to reading glasses to color patterns as a gift to me. He also wrote and illustrated the cutest book. He is very creative. 

Kenna is full of life, too, and keeps busy. We are proud of her for finishing the Book of Mormon a month or so ago. 

She came home from school to find 8 white roses for her baptism. 

Despite a windy evening we had fun walking along Day Break community lake area. 

Friday was Spencer's first day of Kindergarten. What a cute boy!

Saturday Kenna was baptized by her father, Gary Johns, in their ward building. It was nice she was the only one to be baptized. It was extra special that she could bear her sweet testimony and then the Bishop called on her parents to share their testimonies. Many from her Johns side of the family were there, along with Julia and Austin from Rexburg and Crismon and Danielle left their Swain reunion in Jackson Hole, Wyoming to join us. I loved the special feeling that attended her baptism. 

There was a production the night before preparing muffins for refreshments. 

Kenna's cousin Kylie Johns was being baptized that morning, too, in American Fork so we cleaned up and attended her baptized,too. Afterwards there was a nice luncheon for all at Stephanie and Nathan Johns home.

I enjoyed attending the Jordan River Temple with Julia & Austin and Crismon & Danielle where the new temple film was shown. It is very nice and caused us all to think more deeply about the sacred ceremony. 

Sunday it was nice to be in their testimony meeting to hear Alice-Anne's sweet testimony and attend her YW's meeting where she serves as the Pres. in such a devoted way, blessing the lives of those girls. Gary and Alice-Anne prepared another scrumptious dinner for all of us. 

Gloria Terry came by for me to give her the kits (each containing plastic strips cut from plastic bags) going to Africa for the women to crochet bags to be sold to feed their children for a month. We were blessed to hear of her experience in doing this act of love for over 30 years just out of the goodness of her heart. Mary Lou Nordstrom provided 54 kits for me to bring to Gloria. 

Then our evening ended with a fun game of Ticket to Ride. 

Day 2 with the Girls

All is well! 

What to do when tears flow missing Mommy and Daddy? Hot banana muffin and "Sound of Music" do the trick.

Ruby is in green in all these pictures.

Busy morning playing with friends in the Community Center. Beautiful afternoon to enjoy the sunshine. Need to do something with that hair. 

Grandma loves the convenience of this fun play area. 

I did ask Dorothy to save this trick when Mommy is home. 

They had a great afternoon.

Fighting over Grandma's Reliv. 

They couldn't seem to get enough. 

Back home to watch "Sound of Music " doing "Cuckoo."

Dorothy enjoying her own world. 

One last time in the sand before bedtime.

Saying hi to Grandpa while he is doing Reliv calls and giving him kisses. 

More fun at home. 

FHE

Grandpa's new office. 

Listening to Primary songs during treats. 

A busy day full of laughing, singing, crying (just a little), dancing, playing and most of all...loving.

First Day on the Job and Lovin' it!

Janelle was such a good sport to pick us up in Chicago after our plane had a 3-hour delay in Orlando, arriving in South Bend at 3 a.m. She didn't even go to bed, but finished last minute details and took the 4 a.m. bus ride back to Chicago, to the O'Hare Airport, for her flight to London to be with Dallin for ten glorious days of sight-seeing together. And do they ever deserve a break! 

It is our joy to be able to be here with the girls until Friday afternoon. We're having so much fun. Norah, especially is bonding to Grandpa. He's such a great help, and all the grandchildren adore him!

Coming home from church. We're glad it didn't start until 11 a.m.

I'm doing "My Favorite Things" being a Grandma! 

Lunch time!

Ruby loves wearing this hat. So cute!

Norah wins your heart, too!

Rudy found her way to Norah's bed during nap time. 

Dorothy was patient while the rest of  us napped! 

On our way to the Community Center. 

Dorothy giving Grandpa a tour of the garden. 

Ruby and the girls having great fun playing. Grandpa is reading in the background. 

They love being goofy! 

Bath time!

Scripture time is over and almost ready for bed.

Norah loves being with Grandpa.

Dorothy enjoying her new "Dot-to-Dot" book. It kept her busy all day.

They delighted in webcamming with their Mommy and Daddy right before bed. What a wonderful day being with these adorable girls!