New Specs for Gram

Beautiful lady but outdated glasses!

Much better!

Check out Grandma's new glasses!  They are a great improvement over her old ones don't you think?  There's only one problem with them - Standard Optical put the wrong lenses in and she can't see out of them!  Nice.  Jeff and I went to Logan today to see "Aida", an opera that Grandpa and Grandma bought tickets for.  We got enough culture today to last a lifetime!  It was 3 hours and 20 minutes long!!!!  It was in Italian - or so they said - Jeff couldn't tell!  It was minimally enjoyable, but a nice gesture from great parents!  

It's official - her name is Abigail Jean!

She looked so beautiful in her dress - and it's long enough she can get baptized in it too!

The proud parents in front of their apartment

Cutie patooties, Tauna and Jer

Hmm, is it the look of love?  Lacey and Jacob

Gram, Amy, Jonathan and Abbie

There was a time when we wondered if our sweet little Abbie would keep the name we had been calling her for months so some of us held our breath Sunday when Jonathan blessed her!   We were relieved to hear him say "Abigail Jean" as it would have been hard to start calling her Jane, the name they considered for her.   Everything went as planned though and it was a great day.  We all enjoyed our time with each other, though we missed Spencer who had to work and of course our Boston kids.  Jacob and Lacey came from California which made the day even more special.  Jeff drove to Logan (what a great guy!) in the morning to pick up Grandma Barr so she could be with us but Grandpa & Grandma Miller weren't able to make it.  Abbie was a perfect angel and we were so glad to be there for her special day.  Jaxson was asked to give the prayer before the meal and he brought a tear to my eyes and made my heart soar with pride when he said, "We are grateful to be in the presence of this beautiful baby girl."  He's only eleven!  What a sweet, gentle boy he is!  

Jeff, Jaxson, and Grandpa Ivan Run the Snake River

On Wednesday, July 23, Jeff, Jaxon, and Grandpa Ivan drove to Jackson Hole to float the Snake River between Hoback Junction and Alpine.  They loved it!  Grandpa was in a 10 man raft with some of Jeff's co-workers at Living Scriptures (LSI).  Steve Ott, the CFO of LSI owes the rafts and the two man kayaks, called duckies, that they used.  

Grandpa had a blast!  He is wearing his white round hat sitting near the back right on the boat. Pretty good for a 90 year old to run the river!

Jeff and Jaxson floated the river twice.  This is their second time down.  Grandpa Ivan decided once was enough, so he didn't go with us the second time.   Jeff is steering the boat while Jaxson yells "watch out for that rock, Grandpa!"

The first time down the river, Jeff and Jaxson were in a two man kayak.  They got soaking wet, but didn't tip over.  Both of them loved it.  Jaxson thought the 10 man raft was pretty tame compared to the kayak.

Some other co-workers at LSI, Dave and Lori, didn't fair so well going down "Lunch Counter".  They were in the same type of boat as Jeff and Jaxson but ended up swamping!

Could she be any cuter? I don't think so!

A nostalgic trip to Wisconsin

Mom, Sue, Andrea and I went to Wisconsin for the wedding of Katie and Travis.  We had a fantastic time and crammed a lot into the 6 days we were there.  We shopped, laughed, went down memory lane and wondered why we moved  - till we swatted mosquitos every 15 seconds!  Then we remembered , oh yeah, we hate humidity and bugs!  The wedding was beautiful, as was the bride.  Cyndy and Buzz were so proud and we felt honored to be there.  

Lake Mendota

Bonnie, Lee, Sue and Mom

Gram cuts a rug with Matthew - wow - he's tall (or is grandma just short?)

Sue, Mom, Lee and me

The house I grew up in - until I was 12. (418 Washburn Place in Madison)

Cyndy, Lee and Andrea

Sisters, Kristin and Katie

Chip's daughter Kaia and Grandma

Chip, Kaia, Karisa, Zane and Colt

A unique way to get to the reception

Travis pedaled Katie while she rode side-saddle from Cottage Grove to UW in Madison - about 40 minutes away.  It was hot and muggy but they loved it!  Hey, they're young!

A Sunday with family

Aunt Marilyn came from WI and Tobias from CA so we had a cookout.  It was lots of fun to get together and we all enjoyed the afternoon on our deck.  Jeff always does a great job cooking on the grill and everyone pitched in to make it a yummy meal.  Afterwards Marilyn and Jeff played a couple rounds of Scrabble, each winning a game.  She is pretty serious about her games so it was fun to tease her.  Scott stayed home with the 6 puppies, Tauna had pink-eye (yuck) so they didn't come and Melissa and Spencer both had to work - we missed them all.  Someday we'll have Sundays together again!

Andrea meets Abbie for the first time

Jim and Tobias

Cute Mason - 6 years old

Regan got teased by Uncle Jim cuz she has a cell phone (with lots of texts from boys!)

Aunt Marilyn visits from Wisconsin - we had a fun time with her

Our annual Lagoon outing

We can't get our kids excited about going to the Living Scripture Lagoon day, but luckily for us, Jax and Bay love to go with us.  My favorite rides are the Tidal Wave and the white roller coaster.  I got Bailey to go on the roller coaster with me for the first time this year.  He was hesitant at first, and even started to cry, but by the time we pulled it to the station, he was hooked!  He wouldn't go on the Tidal Wave though, maybe next year huh Bay?  Jeff and Jax went on Wicked and LOVED it - though for the next 2 days Jeff had to go to bed early saying "that ride really took it out of me"!  It was a fun day with our cute grandboys and we look forward to it every year - thanks LSI!

I have quite a few handsome guys in my life but these are 3 of my favorites!

Waiting for Rattlesnake Rapids

Watch out - Jaxson is a hot rod!

Jeff and Bailey at the Young Chev raceway at Lagoon