Downpour - July 15th, 2012

It doesn't rain very often here in St. George, but on this hot, humid, July day, we had a downpour. I have only seen it rain this hard a couple times in my life. It only lasted a short time, but it flooded our yard. Mandi was here visiting, and loved playing out in it with her umbrella!

 Mandi

 Front Porch!

 Back Yard!

 Catching the rain in her umbrella!

 Flower Garden!

Mandi's Birthday - July 9th, 2012

Mandi turned 7 this year! All she wanted was to go to Las Vegas and see "The Phantom of The Opera" She had been asking me for over a year. She knows every song, and was so excited to go. We stayed at Brad's house after, and took the kids to a water park. It was a fun weekend.

 Her Cake!

 Waiting to go in to the play!

 All Dressed up!

 Mandi!

The Splash Pad!

 Doll #7!

 Her new Dress!

Opening her Phantom tickets!

July 4th, 2012

We took Jessica's kids to the 4th of July parade, and festivities at the park. 

Then that night their family came to the fireworks with us. It was a very hot day!

 "The Swing"

 "Face Painting"

 "The Train Ride"

 Walking to the Parade!

 "The Bounce House"

Cooling off on the Slip n Slide!

Pine Valley - June 29-30th, 2012

We took Ali, Mandi & Sam camping, fishing and hiking to Pine Valley. 

Riding in the back of the truck! (they begged, and begged, 

so we let them ride one time from the campground to the reservoir) 

 Grandpa getting everyone's poles ready. 

That's about all he does when they are there...

 Sam's little fish!

 Hiking and playing in the stream!

 Roasting Hot Dogs!

On a walk we spotted a deer on the trail!

Brad's move to Vegas - June 18th, 2012

 Emily & Andy's last day in old house!

 Izzy in her empty room!

 Loading up the moving van!

 Excited to get going!!

 Leaving old house!

Arriving at the new house in Vegas!

Our son Brad got a new job in Las Vegas. He is flying tours for "Sundance Helicopters" He flies over Hoover Dam, and takes people down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, sunset tours of Las Vegas, etc., so they moved to Las Vegas. It was very sad to have them leave. It will be very hard not seeing the grandkids everyday, and Stephanie was my shopping buddy, so it will be lonely with them gone. We wish them the best.

Recitals - June 15/16th, 2012

On our way home from Yellowstone, we stopped at Scott's and went to the grandkids recitals. Alex played in an outdoor concert with the Lyceum Philharmonic Orchestra. He is very good on the violin. The 3 girls were in a dance recital. Ellie was in "Where the Wild Things Are", and Gwyneth, and Andrea were in an Irish Dance. On Sat. we went to the 3 granddaughters ballet "Swan Lake". We have very talented grandchildren, and it is so fun to watch them perform!

Andrea & Gwyneth

Us with the 3 girls!

Alex!

Alex!

Ellie with her little sisters!

Yellowstone - June 9 -13th, 2012

 Castle Geyser

 Bison!

 Doug, Cynthia, Tonya, & Kevin

 Grizzly!

 Morning Glory Pool!

 The "Grand Canyon" of Yellowstone!

 The Bison that met us on the trail...

 Doug Fishing!

 Cynthia & Doug at Old Faithful!

 Old Faithful!

 One of many waterfalls!

 Doug at Old Faithful!

Our Camp Spot!

We took a week and went to Yellowstone with Tonya & Kevin. The first day it snowed and was very cold and windy. Everyday we saw such different and beautiful scenery. Their was so much wildlife. We saw a Grizzly, and a Black bear and her cubs. We saw Bison, Elk, Coyote, Bald Eagles. etc. The only thing we didn't see was a moose! The Geysers and mud pots, and sink holes, and waterfalls were magnificent. We had never been there. We spent a day at Lake Yellowstone, and tried some fishing. On one trail, a Bison moved in on us and was only a few feet away. (I happened to be in the truck with a hurt knee, and I got on the radio and told them to watch out for it) They said it was very huge and stared them down for a minute, before it turned and let them go past. It was a great vacation! To see all the pictures click here.

Lilly's Baby Blessing - June 3rd, 2012

 The Calder Kids!

 The Calder Family!

 Jessica, Lilly, Cynthia & Doug

 The Proud Parents!

Lillyana Kathleen Calder!

On Sunday, June 3rd, 2012, Justin gave a name and a blessing to his beautiful daughter Lilly. She was almost 10 weeks old. She is still so tiny and fragile! The doctors say she is doing great. She had a lot of family at the church, and we all came to our house after for Brunch. Her middle name is after her paternal grandmother Kathleen, who'm I am sure she knew in Heaven!