More Cherry Hill...

We are just observing....



Suck it in boys...

Some of JR's family

Fun times at Cherry Hill

2 studly grandkids

60th Birthday Surprise

What a surprise after our swim day!

Thanks, girls!

We've been out in the heat everyday!

Today we went shopping for school supplies. In Texas parents have to buy all the school supplies for each of their kid's classes. And as is everything in Texas it's a very large list! Each student has a list that fills an 8 x 11 paper and is very costly. Trying to find good buys on everything is impossible and running from store to store for clothes and supplies has exhausted Mandy and me! We have almost everything but they require name brand items only so it's pricey. What a pain.... I've fallen a bit behind in my racquetball and when I do play it is apparent that I'm out of condition. Gotta get back into exercising for sure. Still, it's fun having Mandy and the kids here and we're realizing that the time is going by way too fast...

It's one hot summer!

I love my family!

I miss you already...

Today we put Marin on the plane to Seattle and Garn and my heart almost broke. It was so hard to say good-by. Garn said we need to fix up the house but I said I want to save my money for air fares! We probably can do a little of each. The girls gave me the coolest birthday party ever! I had posters and streamers and a bag of goodies for the 60 yr. old with each item having a special message attached and a table cloth that had 60 yr. old sayings. It was such a surprise!! Thank you Thank you girls!! We spent about 4 hrs at Murray Park pool with Marin's hubby's mom and sister and friends and all our family and had such a great time. After the party and cake and ice cream we went over to Mandy and Jon's old neighborhood in Murray to see a performing group of kids and then watch our own personal fireworks. The kids were wonderful and the fireworks spectacular. Renewing old friendships and seeing all of Mandy and Jon's friends again was so nice. All in all a wonderful day with many memories shared. Marin, Ali went looking for you in your room a while ago and couldn't find you...we all miss you. You're a terrific aunt and will make a superb mom. Keep in touch...we all love you so much.

Today's my Birthday!

We're going to Murray Park to swim and have a BBQ this evening and see some neighborhood fireworks with all the family. Should be fun! I love how Utah celebrates my birthday!!

Park City Rocks!

Well, I'm home from our shopping spree and we had a great time,albeit too short. We all bought tons, got our pedicures,except for Marcie who had to work late and met us up there. We swam in the pool and sat in the hot tub and steam room and ate out and shopped and shopped and shopped and..... Marcie was amazed that we actually did that much shopping but we got good buys and had a lot of fun. We loved the extra towels and shampoos and conditioners and lotions. Normally I don't care for hotel shampoos and lotions but these were from Bath and Body Works and were great! They gave us extra. Now back to reality..... Jon goes home today, Sun. but I have Marin til next Fri. and Mandy and kids til Aug 22. Wish they all could stay.....

Cherry Hill was so fun!

We all had a great time and no one got too sunburned. Of course we slathered on the sunscreen. JR left when we got home Sun and Mandy and Jon and fam are at Payson Lake for his fam reunion but Marin, Misty and I are going to go pick her up Fri am and head to Park City for 2 fun days of shopping and eating and going to movies. I want to see Mama Mia. I love the songs of ABBA. Then Jon will head home Sun and Marin will stay til the 25. We'll celebrate my birthday on the 24 and Mandy will be able to stay til Aug. 22 when Jon will fly back and they'll all drive home just in time for school to start. On Aug 24 Garn's brother and wife and 2 kids will arrive to drop off their daughter at BYU and stay for a few days. I start back to school on Aug 25 so there's my summer. I'm loving it!

Marin's here!

She arrived Tue. night and we went out to Misty's and Dan's and they came with us to Chili's. We all talked non-stop! JR arrives tonight and somewhere between 12 midnight and 12 noon tomorrow Mandy and the fam comes. We head out for Cherry Hill around noon tomorrow!! Happy days ahead.....

The countdown has started!

Today is Sunday which means this is a new week. Marin comes in Tue., JR comes Thurs., Mandy and Jon and kids come in sometime in the wee small hours of Fri. am and we head out Fri. at noon for Cherry Hill! Probably won't post for a while after that! Have a great month!

A week from tomorrow!

We will be heading to Cherry Hill water park for our annual family reunion. Long awaited this year especially since Mandy and Jon and Family and Marin and JR will be returning. Funny, it seems like they've been gone forever but it's only been 5 1/2 months for Mandy and 1 1/2 mos. for Marin. I guess absence does make the heart grow fonder. Anyway, gotta go pack! ( I know; I've got more than a week to pack my swimsuit and sunscreen but why wait til the last minute?)

I love summer

20 years ago...

20 yrs ago: Mike was 17 and just graduated from HS, Misty was 15 and trying to convince mom and dad she was mature enough to date! Mandy was 11 and excited about being in the last grade of elementary school for the coming year. Marin was 6 and looking forward to a fun summer. I was going on 40 and not at a very good place in my life. We all went to Liberty Park on the 4th to lay in the backyard of Garn's grandmother's house and listen to the radio play music as the fireworks were going off. Garn was still working for the State of Utah in corrections and I was still reffing b-ball, teaching early morning spanish (Mandy and Marin attended too), and tutoring math (if you can believe it! Mr. Webb Snarr had invented "Snarr math and it was a hit.)
10 yrs ago: Mike and Marcie were married with 4 yr old twins, Austin and Devan. Misty and Dan had 2 1/2 yr old McKy and was pg with Mason and they were living in Holladay. Mandy was going on 21 and she and Jon had 6 mo. old Sadie. Marin was 16 and had just finished her soph yr at Murray High and loved the dating scene. I was Still reffing b-ball, soccer and softball but no longer playing those sports but was really into racquetball. Still teaching Espanol in the am but no longer tutoring math. ( Which was probably a good thing since I could never get my time card to add up right!) I was about to be hired as an ESL tutor for Liberty Elem. with Darlene Evans as my boss (love that woman) Garn was still running Marathons and working for the state. We were serving as service missionaries in an inner-city ward, Liberty 8th ward, downtown and loving it.
One Year Ago: Mike and Marcie still living in Murray and the twins just finished their 7th grade yr at Hillcrest Jr High. Misty and Dan are finally back home from living in Meridian, Id and then Redlands, Calif. for the past 5 yrs and settled in Herriman with their 4 boys: McKy 11, Mason going on 9, Marcus going on 6 and Merrick 3. Mandy and Jon were living in Murray across the street from Grant Elem with their 4 kids: Sadie 9, Haylie 6, Carden 3, and Alicyn 1. Marin and JR, newlyweds of a little over a year are living 0n 31st south ( Imperial Lane) having sold their condo in West Jordan. Wow, ALL my kids were still here just a year ago. Garn is now doing tri-athelons and I no longer am reffing soccer; still playing racquetball and doing tournaments.
1 Month ago: Garn and I had just returned the end of May from Kirkland, Wash having helped Marin and JR move up there. Mandy and Jon moved to McKinney, Tx in Feb. Misty and Dan's 4 boys all played b aseball. Mike and Marcie and boys finished up their motorcycle races with no broken bones this time.
Yesterday: I actually got up early ( 7:45am) to prepare my RS lesson for Aug. and do the RS agendas and birthday treats for the next 3 weeks so I'll be free to enjoy my kids returning here for our reunion at Cherry Hill in less than 2 wks! I did laundry and called all those who have to clean the ward bldg. this Sat. then picked up the twins and went shopping and came back home and we played board games. Read my scriptures and watched The Mole on TV.
Gee, Marin, when I accepted your challenge to do this, I didn't realize how taxing it would be on my brain but it was fun to do. Now, I give the 20 yr challenge to ya'll!