Independence Day

Independence Day!  We were able to enjoy the 4th of July this year with many of our family members. We missed Elise and her family--Elise was in Myrtle Beach with her in-laws, and Andy was in officer training in San Antonio.  Independence Day is Andy's favorite holiday for obvious reasons and he has spent many years serving our country and putting his life in danger for our freedom.  This year he had to forego the fun celebrations and stay on base.  Even though he had the time off, he could not leave the base and still be paid, and his family was too far away to easily join them.  He was lonely this year and hungry, too, I heard, since everything was closed and he hadn't planned accordingly.  So, Andy, thank you from me for your sacrifices for all of us.  

Max and Maverick on their Fourth of July.

The rest of us had a relaxing and fun day.  We joined the Mark Green family at their home for swimming and dinner, then we moved down to our home where fireworks are legal (Green's are past the line where you can set off fireworks--too close to the mountain I guess), and had a fantastic personal fireworks show.  Thanks to Mark Green and Matt for the entertainment.

Jennie, Cait, Ollie

Nick, Ori

Adrienne, Finn

Adrienne, Matt, Ruby

Ollie

Ori and Yuna love each other--but this is one of those
rare occasions where they really got along

Finn with his grandma Lisa 

Finn

Gunnar announced the name of each firework as AJ got ready
to set them off.

Up at the pool.  Gunnar would swim, get dressed, then swim again.  He's a really good swimmer.

Ori, Yuna, Doyeon

Nick and Gunnar

On Wednesday Roy and I went to Becky Cook's father's funeral. It was an interesting funeral, and sad, too, because, although I think the family had an LDS background, they were never active and did not take advantage of the blessings the gospel could have offered them.  Becky gave a very good talk.
After the funeral, we went to lunch with Bruce and Nan to Caputo's.  While we waited for Nan and Bruce to get there, we stocked up a little on my addictions--Crio Bru and CHOCOLATE.  After lunch we hurried to the lot to meet a Sunroc Representative to make some decisions about mouldings and railings, etc. 

 Speaking of our house, here are a couple of pictures of where we are currently in the building process.

And, finally, a bridge to the backyard so Roy can start messing around back there.  We need some truck fulls of dirt.

Updates on the family:  Sara will be having her baby around the first of August.  She's not due until later in the month but the Dr. doesn't want to take any chance of her going into labor for medical reasons.  Jieun is expecting a baby on January 9, and Crista gave us the awesome news this week that she, too is expecting.  She is due on February 11.  That will make 13 grandchildren.  That's pretty good considering that right now the oldest one is 6.

Roy has gotten really ambitious with his biking.  This weekend, he and Matt and Crista and one of Matt's cousins went on a bike tour in Logan.  "The Cache Valley Gran Fondo.  It was 50 miles.  Well, Roy and Crista went 50 miles, Matt and Tyler were supposed to go 100 miles, but somehow got routed wrong in the beginning and it turned out to be only 96 miles.  Matt was bummed--but the free sunscreen at the IHC booth made him happy so all was well.

Matt's cousin and Matt

Matt's cousin, Matt, Crista, Roy

Grandma with Ruby

We took Jennie and Caitlyn to West Side Story Wednesday night, and Thursday night we took Matt and Crista to Porgy and Bess.  I'm pretty sure I didn't love either story (I like happy endings) though the music was great in both.  Porgy and Bess probably wasn't a favorite of my dad's, but I was reminded of him just the same.  He loved opera.
Friday night before the big bike ride, we went to pizza to do some carb loading.  The only problem was that I wasn't doing the bike ride with everyone; but it was delicious.  Ruby loved it!  Cheese and bread, her favorite.  '

Ruby, Matt, Crista, Catharine, Roy and Matt's cousin

Ruby

Last Sunday night Dan invited us for a walk at his house after we went to the Singles Ward family prayer.  He didn't know he was going to get practically the whole family.  Crista and Matt were down for the weekend and Nick and Sara had stopped by.   It was totally crazy with all of us.  We walked from Dan's house to our new one.  It's fairly close, but there are some busy streets.

I get my heart rate up when I carry Yuna!

Dave commented on one of my weekly letters that we know how to have fun.  Of course, I'm not writing about my boring everyday routines, but we do have a lot of fun together. (That's why I didn't write a newsletter last week, there wasn't much to write about).  It is great to have so many of our family members close, and I'm grateful for airplanes and cell phones and Facetime, so I can interact with Elise and her family often.

Caitlyn

We have had a bumper apricot year!  Dan and Nick each picked a 5 gallon bucket
Nan and Bruce picked a couple of 3 gallon buckets, and our tree is still loaded
(and dropping ripe ones all over the place).

Ori posing for her mom

"Free Swag", which according to Crista, means
she got the shirt and bag free.  Ruby said "cheese" for this
picture.