July 2013 Highlights

July has been an event-packed month. Some of the event will be on separate posts. It started out with a little hike up Green Canyon. There is a little trail right at the beginning of the canyon that is just right for a young family. We were able to climb up to the cave as well.

The hike begins 

Sisters - Alyssa, Kamary, and Hanna

Best friends

Or enemies 

Around the camp

Up to the cave

Back from the cave

Alyssa is our creative playwright. She writes the script for her and her younger siblings. this one is in celebration of our county's birthday. 

Alyssa with a captive audience

We went to the hillside by the stadium to see the fireworks on July 3rd (Don't ask me why Logan always celebrates the 4th of July on July 3rd). We were close enough to even see the low flying fireworks in the stadium without having to buy tickets. We went to Tony Grove Lake to celebrate the 4th of July (see the separate blog).

Diane and I decided to take a trip to Washington to visit her parents and to look around the Pacific Northwest a little. It ended up that I had some business in Oakland, California so we continued on to that part of the world before we returned to Utah (see the separate blog).

When we got back we celebrated Kamary's 12th birthday on July 22nd. It's hard to believe she is in Young Women's already. Our grandchildren are growing up fast. 

Candles on the birthday cheesecake

She can still blow the out

Some happy birthday cheese (from the cake?)

After Kamary's birthday we celebrated Pioneer Day (July 24th) volunteering at the American West Heritage Center. There are a lot of activities around Logan, but AWHC is a nice place to be. Besides driving the train Paul has been learning about being a mountain man, a wood wright, and blacksmith. He would really like to certify as a steam engine operator and run the steam-powered tractor. 

Pioneers on Pioneer Day

Mountain man trading post

Wood wright shop

Mike, the blacksmith 

Steam-powered tractor

We decided we needed a family vacation so we all went to Yellowstone and Teton National Parks. It has been a long time since Andrea was there and Jason was only a child when his family went. None of the grandchildren have been there. It was a lot of fun (with plenty of rain), but the pictures will have to wait on a future blog. 

We rounded out the month with a stake swim party without the grandchildren. The were visiting Salt Lake and planning to return for the swim party. They were involved in a traffic accident (a teenaged boy ran a red light and totaled their van). All were shaken up, but none were really injured (a miracle indeed). Now they will need to learn how to get around with out their van.

June 2013 Highlights

Summer has started full swing. Diane has been selected as the artifacts leader for DUP so she now has to find out what that means. She had to opportunity to help out at the DUP museum here in Logan. It has a lot of interesting (meaning old) items to look at. Diane is also in charge of special meetings for the Relief Society. The meeting this month was on Family History. Both Diane and Andrea were involved in it and it went very well (of course) in spite of much consternation leading up to it.

Diane in her normal working position at the computer

Paul has been working with the varsity scouts in building a trebuchet (an medieval siege engine) that should be able to launch pumpkins hundreds of yards. It is a slow process and will take several months to complete.

Building a trebuchet

We have returned to the American West Heritage Center again this summer. diane is a pioneer and Paul is the train engineer. We will give a greater account in the future. As part of this we joined the AWHC trek experience to give stories about handcart pioneers. We chose Elizabeth Tait who was born and raised in India then joined the Willie handcart company.

June is always a beautiful time to live in Logan.

A Logan sunset

The mountain across from the park

We got a little culture this summer by checking out of the library the BBC miniseries "Lark to Candleford" we watched each of the episodes for the two years. We also went to see "Anne of Green Gables" at the Eccles Theater which featured several of our friends. We first saw the production when we visited Prince Edward Island while on sabbatical.

June is a good month to work in the yard. Since the grandchildren didn't use the small playhouse in the back yard (afraid there might be bees around it) we took it down and planted an herb garden in its place.

Most of the month was spent having fun with the grandkids. There are advantages to having then live with us.

Kamary in her normal playing position on her bed

The Gong Fu duo, Kohler and Alyssa

Lauren sleeping with the dog

Atlas (Brynlie) holding up the world

A normal morning for Kamary and Alyssa

 One evening we decided to go to the park and play softball for Family Home Evening. I decided I'm too old for softball.

Kohler, the catcher - look at that concentration

Jason was the designated pitcher

Batter up - Alyssa and Kohler 

How do we fit three on the base?
Brynlie, Hanna and Andrea

Strike ten - Kamary is a #10

Diane is ready to hit a homer

There is always extra-curricular activity with Alyssa and Kamary

This has been a nice month to start the summer.

May 2013 Highlights

May started out celebrating Andrea's birthday. It is a good way to start the month. She had her special Black Forest Cherry Chocolate Cream dessert. Diane was able to take her out for lunch at the Hu Hut Mongolian Barbecue while Paul stayed home with Brynlie. We all enjoyed the barbecue chicken, roasted vegetables, and pineapple rice for her evening meal.

Andrea is not the only one who likes her dessert

We are trying to get ideas for plants in the garden. There is so much to do we don't know where to start. We visit nurseries and try to get ideas form well-landscaped gardens.

Rock pathway on north side of house

We decided to visit the grounds of the Logan Temple to get ideas for Diane's rock garden. It made a good outing for Lauren and Brynlie.

Logan Temple rock garden

Lauren and Brynlie at the Logan Temple

Family Home Evenings are a lot more fun with six children. We are able to rotate lessons, prayers, and refreshments.

Andrea giving the FHE lesson

We also enjoy outings. On May 11th we decided to drive up the canyon for a little outing. We ended up at the Hydro Park and then 1st Dam at the mouth of Logan Canyon. The children enjoyed climbing the mountain and playing in the water while we enjoyed watching the Canadian Geese with their 9 babies. Paul hiked up the mountain across from the lake and found some very nice views.

Lauren on the rocks

Kohler, the mountain climber

Alyssa & Brynlie get their feet wet

Andrea and Kamary - the onlookers

The beach from across the lake

On May 14th we took a stroll around King Nature Park at the mouth of Green Canyon. It is possible to hike from the park to Tony Grove Lake up Logan Canyon. 

One Saturday the Varsity Scouts were planning on a hike up Green Canyon. Paul got ready and went to the church to meet with them. No one showed up. Since he was ready for a hike he decided to go up the canyon to find them. After hiking from our house to the end of the road (about 6 miles) he returned in the evening (another 6 miles) tired and sore without finding them. It ended up that a few of them changed their minds and hiked up to the reflectors on the mountain east of us in stead of Green Canyon.

Super hikers

Lauren and Brynlie

We returned to our Memorial Day tradition this year. We went to Ogden on the Saturday before Memorial Day to decorate graves. We spent Memorial Day planting the yard. Paul took off for a bit to check out the Mountain Man Rendezvous being held up Blacksmith Fork Canyon. He better not start wearing leather and growing a beard. He wants to be able to be a mountain man at the American West Heritage Center.

Paul went to Cinnamon Creek camp at the end of the month for Varsity Scout training. It means he may be a little more involved with the scouting aspect of his calling as the Teacher's Quorum adviser. 

Summer is officially here so we are preparing for the heat. The grandkids are out of school, so we will see what the summer break brings.

April 2013 Highlights

April brings spring so Andrea and Jason (with their family) spent their spring break housesitting for Jason's parents in Salt Lake. We were empty nesters for a week. Spring time means "working in the yard" time. We tried to get the sprinkling system going after two years of neglect. One line stayed on no matter what we tried - bad valve. Paul tried to fix it, but finally gave in and had a neighbor come to fix it. This lead to the main valve breaking which resulted in a 6-foot deep hole in our front yard and the water turned off for a day. It turned out OK; however, since we had a 50-gallon barrel of water we used to flush the toilets, etc. It was an adventure in survival. By the time Andre & Jason returned we had running water again. We were able to continue our yard work, which included redoing our waterwheel and pond as well as Diane's rock garden.

Old waterwheel and pond

Old rock garden

Before our mission our nephew Steven and his wife Melissa would visit us in Logan for General Conference. He just accepted a job offer with Google in San Jose so they made their last visit this month. We have always enjoyed their visits, but we were especially pleased when they gave us tickets to the Utah Symphony in Salt Lake. Several years ago as a student at BYU, Steve had tickets for the BYU orchestra performing Tchaikovsky's 5th symphony (one of my favorites). Since he couldn't attend he gave us the tickets. Actually the symphony played Tchaikovsky's 6th symphony instead of the 5th. Now he had tickets for the Utah Symphony playing both the 5th and 6th symphonies. Since he left for California the day before the concert, we got the tickets. It was a wonderful concert (thanks Steve). We decided to stay the night (Apr 13) so we got a room in the Marriott across the street from Symphony Hall. We arose early to attend the Tabernacle Choir broadcast. We attended church at the Portuguese branch in Salt Lake. Diane said she understood most of it. 

We also had a brief visit from my brother Doug and his wife Linda as they were passing through Logan. It has been a long time since we have seen them. 

At the beginning of the month we volunteered at the American West Heritage Center for their Baby Animals day. Paul was an engineer and Diane a pioneer again. Since we were last there they built a new shed to house the train.

Train in the new train shed.

"In the meantime" (the title of the the stake Relief Society spring conference) Diane was able to learn more about organizing records, adult wellness, and 72-hour kits. She really enjoys the activities presented by the Relief Society - at least until now that she is responsible for the activities in the ward. Diane has been made an honorary High Priest - at least she was asked to play the piano for the annual High Priests Quorum Meeting held on April 28th. Does that mean she can now sleep in church?

Paul is still working with the teacher-aged boys (14-15). This means he can attend joint activities with the young women. This month it was bowling. He was able to take both Hanna and Kamary.

Is that a strike, Kamary?

Kamary with her friends Valerie and Brittany

April is birthday time for Paul. He always enjoys his strawberry-banana pie (gluten-free, of course). This year he had to hunt all over the house for his gifts using clues left by Kamary. I also got a cross-stitch from Hanna who designs and makes her own patterns.

One of Kamary's clues

Hanna's cross stitch

Another month passes by, but spring is welcome.