June and July 2009

This has been an amazing and busy summer. After we got home from Ashley's graduation back east, we came home and got busy getting ready for the summer. Tyler and Ashley moved in and are official residences of Arizona. Hooray! It's been so fun having them here, being able to play games and swim and hang out with them all the time. We are probably getting in their way a bit and giving too much advice :( but it has been great having them here. They have been both sending out resumes and Ash has been initerviewing and working hard at finding her first job as a Dentist.
Before the visitors came, we wanted to finish a few projects that had been bugging us for years, so we did concrete in the front of the house (enough to create another space for a car in the driveway) and in the side and back yard. We now have a basketball court and play area for everyone to enjoy. We also did some sod and it's come up so green. It all looks fabulous and I am so excited for how it all turned out.
We also got to enjoy having Dave and Delynn and their daughter Dana here with us. Part of the time with us and part in a hotel. The name of the game was R&R. We ate out, we shopped, we saw movies, we rescued a dog (Jackson) on more than one occasion. Swimming and just relaxing was what that week was about.
Overlapping with that visit we were able to have Trev and Summer and kids came down for a short but sweet visit. It was so much fun to see them, and none of us could get enough of baby Chase or Madi. We had so much fun with all of them. The time in the pool was the best. I loved watching the kids and grandkids have so much fun. When we all get together, there is always new pool games invented. This summer it was Waterfall ball. Tiff and Derrick were here those three days as well with Casey and Sophie. Sometimes it was a little crazy, but sooo much fun.
When Trev and Summer left to go visit her family, Ted and I headed out for Victorville. It's a little town in CA just north of Barstow. We were going to hear my brother Brian sing in a band. He has done this for about 10 years and I have never heard him. He and my other brother Steve both live in Utah and were coming to Victorville. We had the best time. First of all, seeing my brothers who I don't get to see a ton. Second, hearing Brian be the lead singer in his band. They were awesome. When we got out of the car where the party was, the band was doing a sound check and there was Brians voice being blasted all through the neighborhood. So exciting! It was a great chance to be together.
This last week-end after church we headed up to Flagstaff and visited my good friend Lori Croshaw. Her family, the McClouds, were having a family reunion. Lori has 4 brothers and all of them and thier fams and Lori's Mother were there. It was so great to have some time to visit them. They made us feel so welcome and like we were part of the family. It was also about 85 degrees at the hottest time of the day which was a definate bonus. The surroundings remind me of Seattle. Lot's of big pine tree's everywhere. Ted got to golf a couple of times with Lori's three boys Scott and Kevin and Conrad. That was heaven.
Besides all of our comings and goings Ty and Ash went to a family reunion at Zions Ponderosa near Kanab, Utah and Tiana went to Idaho Falls for some time over the 4th and did some work in St. George for Student council. She has been working out at the complex this summer. Tiana has worked for 3 different companies, but at the same place. Kinda great. Tournaments that the City of Peoria put on and USA Baseball and of course when we put on our 4 Corner Tourny out there. It's been good for her to be able to have a job :)
Ted and Tiana and I will be leaving for Nauvoo soon and then on to Utah to get Tiana all moved in and ready for school.
Then Summer will be over!!!!