Sperry Vacation

Here are a couple shots that Spencer took of Mesa Verde. I haven't loaded the pictures from the other cameras yet. I had to do Spencer's because his memory runs on battery power and I didn't want to lose the shots. The first is Cliff Palace and the second is a long distance shot of one I don't remember the name of. It's not one they let people go to. Could be because of the cliffs. I can't imagine living in a place like this. We had the advantage of nice paved paths and stone steps.

The third shot is Spencer in the hotel.




We took it easy for the 4th because of my pneumonia. (And also because losing Calton in the park last year was just not fun) Jason got a package of fireworks from the store and Spencer lit them. The kids discovered that the flashing lights cast a funny shadow on the garage so Calton and Alena danced in the flickering light while Spencer tried to remind them that the fireworks were in the other direction. Then Spencer noticed how much bigger his shadow was, since he was farthest from the garage, and played the giant trying to crush Calton and Alena. People in our neighborhood are really into the illegal fireworks so we had fireworks going off all around us. Surrounded by my giggling children and the blasts of color, I thought about how grateful I am to live in this country and how glad I am that the owner of the field behind us cut back the weeds so I don't have to worry about fire this year. :)

It's Summer

We went to Zion National Park and Sand Hollow State Park for our vacation this year.

We traveled with another family with two boys, and stayed in a very beautiful house in Hurricane. (Thank You L's brother)

It rained a little the first day we were there, but after that the weather was wonderful.

There were snakes, deer, lizards (lots), birds, squirrels, tadpoles, chipmunks, red ants (big), big horn sheep, and a huge mean looking insect.

















































Sand Hollow State Park- We had fun swimming and - sigh - throwing rocks.

Oh weather, you are acting so very strange this year. A friend who babysat my house didn't have to water my plants. It's been nice to have a break from watering the yard this year. My raspberries, strawberries, and peas are so happy. Rainy weather makes me want to curl up with a book.

Speaking of Graduations

Christopher graduated from the Academy for Math, Engineering and Science last Friday. The graduation was held at the University of Utah and was similar to other graduations only the students and audience were better behaved. There were more student speakers, ten of them, and no long dignatary speakers. The student speakers represented a wide, politically correct, ethnic array with most minorities represented. There was of course the stereotypical self-proclaimed rebel, dressed in jeans and long hair, who gave the same speech every such self-important nut gives at such occasions. There were also some excellent well-prepared speakers and musical numbers by graduating students. These kids (71 of them) had an impressive number of scholarships to their credit. Chris has three!

We went on a tour of the new Oquirrh Mountain Temple yesterday. It's beautiful and we're looking forward to serving there. The wind was so wild while we were in the introductory tent, we were a little nervous, but other than a lot of noise, the tent was fine. The staircases and chandeliers are pretty remarkable. The paintings in the session rooms are nice, but a little dark and I was a little disappointed in the bride's room. The bride's room is nice, but a little more modernistic than I care for. Most of the decor is gold tones with some browns and sage greens. There's a stylized star pattern that appears frequently in glass, mirrors, and the chandeliers. I want to go through again soon.

More graduation...

So Brandon graduated from pre-school last Wednesday...sniff, sniff, sniff.Brandon and his friend Chelsea. These two even had ice skating classes together.

Waiting for his teacher to call his name.

Yeah!!!!!! It's over. Miss Tammy giving Brandon one last hug (and treat).

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

I know, I just posted last night, but I didn't mention that MarJean and Darrell just celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. They didn't want a big party, but just to go out to dinner with their kids and grandkids. Congratulations! In today's world fifty years is certainly a number to boast about.

Happy Days!

Boyd and I started off May with a trip to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point. Sharon, Mary Jo and Brandon went with us. I love that place. The gardens are always beautiful, but the Tulip Festival is incredible. Here's Boyd and me in front of some raised beds of tulips.

Brandon joined the girls and me in front of a showy red and gold bed of tulips.

Mary Jo, Brandon, and Sharon sitting on a bench in the middle of the frangrance garden


A long shot of the gardens. Brandon is having fun rolling down the hill.

The girls and Brandon playing like they are tulips.


MarJean sent me some cute pictures of her little great granddaughters, Nora and Holly.

Levi and Wendy's little girls.

Nora looking for eggs.

The girls in their make-believe car. Or maybe it's a space ship.

Nora swinging. She's wearing her favorite dress.

DADDY AND JERRY

Last Monday we made a quick trip to Twin Falls to keep a promise we made to Jerry and Daddy to have Jerry sealed to his parents. Monday night we got together at MarJean and Darrell's place. Of course we ate too much, but we had a great visit. Teresah and Gene came both for the sealing and to see two of Gene's kids graduate from BYU. It was the first most of us had met Gene and he made a favorable impression. He fits right in and is a great guy.

Dave's wife Peggy helped us make the arrangements and I tracked down all of the appropriate paper work. Daddy and Jerry had hoped to live long enough to have their sealing done in the new Twin Falls temple, but they both died before it was completed. We felt it was appropriate to have it done there anyway. The temple is beautiful and all was as satisfying and moving as we had expected.

Afterward we took a few pictures. I took these first two, then I handed my camera to Gene so I could be in a few shots. Being unfamiliar with my camera, he accidently turned on the video feature.