Time at the Lake--Finally!

Our garden is making me happy with lots of fresh produce.  I have really enjoyed our raspberries, though they have slowed down with the increasing temperatures.  Right before we left to the gorge I brought in crookneck squash, zucchini, and our first cucumbers.  These cucumbers tasted fabulous on the boat with some smoked salmon.

I took Jennie and Caitlyn to Bridal Image in Bountiful and found Jennie's dress.  She fell in love with a dress in the first dress shop we visited (Yay!)  Wedding preparations are coming along (by the way, for anyone who is not aware, the wedding will be October 3.  The ceremony will be at the Bountiful Temple at 11:00).  We took pictures, but we'll save showing off the dress for the wedding day.

Our thoughts and prayers have been with James this week as he's recovering from being thrown out of a jeep.  Cait and I went to see him on Wednesday.  He's looking pretty good, but is not allowed to do much--he can't even watch TV.  Christine showed me the road rash on his head.  His skull was fractured, and he had a small brain bleed, but on the outside there are few signs of injury.

With everything that has been going on this summer, we have had to defer our camping excursions to Flaming Gorge.  We finally made it up there this past weekend.  All the family was invited, but only Dan's family could come.  AJ was involved with his scout camp (he's scout master of his ward), also at the Gorge, but across the lake at Lucerne.  He was able to take the boys and give Adrienne a much needed break.  Nick and Sara, on their way to Oregon for their own family vacation, also fit in some lake time, as well as Andy and Elise, who have discovered a large lake nearby where they can get in some recreation.

Effie and Ori at Hyde River

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Beverly at Lake Thermon

Our first day on the boat we drove it all the way down to the Lucerne area where AJ had his scouts and his boys.  We were somewhat surprised that we actually found them. 

AJ on left, Ollie on right

These mountain goats were grazing in the same area that AJ had his scouts.

We had a blast with Dan's family.  The girls loved the tube and always wanted Roy to go crazy.  He will take them over the wake, but always likes to be a little cautious.

Caitlyn: driving made her feel so much better.  Hyeji, Doyeon, Yuna
and Dan in back, and Catharine

Dan with Dojin and Hyeji

Dojin

We had gorgeous weather!  Usually the wind picks up in the afternoon at the
Gorge, but we had very little wind and the perfect amount of cloud cover.

Dan and Dojin

Caitlyn

Roy and Catharine

Hyeji and grandpa

The daytime weather was perfect, and the clouds cleared up enough at night that we had perfect conditions for viewing the stars.  Dan, and Caitlyn stayed up a lot later than the rest of us.  Roy tried to see the space station, but came out 10 minutes too late.  Dan and Caitlyn had already seen it.

Surprise Sacrament Meeting Talk

I got quite the surprise this morning when I opened my emails to finish reading Nan's letter.  I clicked on the bulletin for today's Sacrament meeting and saw that I was speaking!  The bishop had called me earlier this week and asked if I could "pinch hit" and speak on the 21st.  I guess I should have asked him to clarify the date when he said "pinch hit." since 1 1/2 to 2 weeks is plenty of time to prepare a talk.  Luckily, I had at least gathered information during the week and had thought a little bit (emphasis on the word little) on what I might say.  It was 11:15 when I saw the email.  I was ready for church but not dressed for church (meaning my hair and makeup was done).  I sat down and wrote out my talk.  During the sacrament I thought of a couple of things to add.  I think my talk was spot on 12 minutes which was how long I was supposed to talk.  Pretty good for not going through it even once!  I have to admit I was pretty nervous.  Caitlyn always tries to calm me down.  She reminded me  on the way to church that I have been attending the temple for many years and I know what the blessings of temple attendance are (my topic).  She said, "Mom, you've got this."
Other than this fun experience, and a quick trip to Logan with Caitlyn to see Crista, Ruby, Greta and Bridget, it was a little bit of an uneventful week.  We decided to have Closet Factory redo our closet so we could be a little more organized, so Monday and Tuesday we emptied the closet.  Thursday the guy came to do tear out, and Friday and Saturday were spent scraping, mudding and painting the closet.  After we cleaned up we hurried up to the temple to get in a session.  Unfortunately, with everything we were involved with during the day, I completely forgot a wedding reception I really wanted to go to.  It was my cousin, Randy Smith's, daughter.  They had their reception at the same place Sara and Nick had theirs.  Oh well.
In Nan Oblad's letter this week she shared an experience that I think is awesome, so I'm quoting it here.
"I had an experience this week that I’m still scratching my head over. An Elder from France came into my office.  We talked for only a minute or two and when he walked out I said, “You speak English very well.”  He replied, “I didn’t speak English.”  I asked Elder Oblad if he speaks English and Elder Oblad said, “Not very much.”  Could I see the replay, please?  Did he speak English or did I get a glimpse of the gift of tongues?" Nan, I think you can totally trust that you just had an amazing spiritual experience!

Avie--she's having a "smash cake preview"
I'm not sure exactly what Sara means by
that.  Her 1st birthday is on the 23rd of this month.

Maverick--Spiderman Zombie

Beverly

Caitlyn with baby Bridget

Ruby and grandma--coloring together

Max and Bevy

Doyeon.  I asked her what she was doing in this picture
and she said she was cleaning the basement.  She said, "It
was a lot faster that way."

Yuna with the blanket I made for her when she
was a baby.  She never sleeps without it.  Jieun says she
has to ask permission to wash it.

Bevy

Jieun made cream puffs.  She was very
willing to share.

4th of July

We'd like to announce the engagement of our daughter, Jennie Melia Rasband, to Jordan Howell.  They got engaged on July 4.  

July 4th is also the birthday of the amazing J. Verl Rasband.  He turned 90 this year and that called for a celebration.  We waited until the 6th to celebrate his life.  Most of his family and many of his friends were present.  I'm sure he was exhausted by the end of the evening, but I know he was delighted to see so many of the people he loved.  The food was definitely in honor of the Rasbands.  We had the traditional fare of Kentucky Fried Chicken, homemade potato salad and coleslaw, pasta salad, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, watermelon, rolls, and sheet cake with strawberry topping (I remember  my Aunt Carol and my mom making this cake with Danish Dessert).   With all this food, Yuna informed us that the only things she liked were rolls and watermelon.  Caitlyn enjoyed her Chocolate Boost Protein shake.  When she was done Yuna pointed to the empty bottle and said that she wanted one of those.  

   

Lance Rasband with Dan.  

Effie (looks like she only liked the watermelon and rolls, also)

Jieun, Sara, Avie and Nick

Caitlyn and Catharine (Caitlyn's looking a lot better.  She has to
relearn how to smile as the doctor severed her muscles so her jaw
won't move back to its original position).  

Finn

Ori and Dojin (Dojin thinks he's one of the big kids now)

Grandpa Verl (right) with  Roy's cousins Mark and Shirley Pyper

AJ, Adrienne and Ila.  Jordan and Jennie, Lance, Dan, Sara and Nick

Nan Theobald cutting the cake that Adrienne made in honor of Grandpa's 90th.  Notice the layers.  I think this is one of Adrienne's most delicious cakes yet.  It was gone in seconds.

Ollie

Caitlyn and I left the party after only a little more than an hour.  I'm sure even that was taxing for her, but I'm sure it meant a lot to grandpa that she made the effort.  We missed Crista and Matt, obviously recovering from Bridget's birth, and Elise and Andy.  

Elise and Andy celebrated by sharing Grandpa Verl's picture with the kids.

Beverly, she was kissing the picture.

Like everyone else we celebrated our country's birth.  Our celebration lasted 3 days.  On the 3rd, Catharine, Roy, Caitlyn, Jennie and Jordan, went to Adrienne's house for pizza and fireworks.  On the 4th everyone was invited to dinner at Mark and Lisa Green's.  Dan and Nick and their families had been hiking so they didn't make it for dinner.  We were going to head over to our house for fireworks, but as it was raining and everyone was so tired, we decided to postpone until the following night. I got my phone out to take pictures Friday night, but it was after Adrienne had taken her boys home to bed.  She's so quick to leave when her kids get tired (understandably), that I often miss her kids when the camera comes out.

Avie and Grandpa

Effie, Ori and Avie (picture taken by Sara)

Hyeji

Jennie and Jordan with Ori (and Dojin and Effie)

Yuna, Hyeji, Doyeon and Effie

Yuna wanted me to take a picture of her alone

All in all, a busy and eventful week.  

Caitlyn's surgery and Bridget's debut into the world

 Last weekend Roy was involved in his annual HAM Radio camp and contest.  He's always takes a lot of responsibility upon himself.  He brought all the meat, all the breakfast, and helped cook everything.  He's chaired this event every year for several years, now.  Nick and Dan and their families, and Caitlyn and I, went up to the camp for dinner Saturday night.  Most years they camp at Monte Cristo, because it's a high point where they can work to get lots of radio contacts.  This year there was still snow in the usual camping area, so they went to Hooper, which was a lot closer for us to visit.

Roy and Effie

My daughters are all very creative with their cake making abilities.  For Max' birthday, Elise followed a Mine Craft theme.  She invited all Max' new primary friends (thank goodness for the church, you can make friends wherever you go).  Max is 6!

Max and Mav

This past week has been very intense.  Caitlyn went into surgery on Tuesday afternoon.  They told her 12:30, but big surprise, her surgery didn't actually start until 4:00.  Roy took the day to be with her at the hospital while I went to Costco and Smith's to try and find food she could drink when she got home.  The surgery was over around 7:30, but we didn't get to see her until she was out of recovery and assigned a room.  She told us that when she woke up she was mad and tried to get up and out of the bed.  They had to restrain her.  I'm surprised she remembered.  All we were told was that she had been emotional.  When they brought her to the room we almost cried she looked so beat up.

She was in high spirits in the morning.  We took one last before picture.

Still feeling fine

Not so fine, here.  This is when we first saw her
following surgery.

  1st day home

         

2nd day home (Thursday).  Her face is much less swollen.

I am not sure of everything that went into the surgery but I know she has 24 screws in her jaw now, along with Titanium plates and a new chin (not sure what that's made out of).
Caitlyn spent the first 12 hours following surgery throwing up the blood that was in her stomach.  It was heartbreaking.  It's pretty hard to throw up when you can barely open your mouth.  Roy was the saint that spent the night at the hospital with her.  After 10:30 Wednesday morning her stomach settled, until Friday, when she spent another day throwing up--probably because of all her pain meds. Maybe  her antibiotic contributed as well.  Roy called the doctor in the early afternoon and we were able to get some things to help her nausea.  Saturday she seemed much better, but today (Sunday) she has been a little discouraged that she is so weak and that her diet is sooooo boring.  We hope that the surgery will fix her bite so that she won't have so much tension in her jaw--then maybe that will help with the arthritis as well.  If so, all this will be worth it.

Even with all the difficulties of Caitlyn's week, we had a wonderful blessing thrown in!  Bridget Carina Vance joined our family--2 1/2 weeks earlier than expected.  She was 6 lbs. 11 oz. and 20 inches long--TINY compared to Ruby and Greta, both over 9 lbs.  She is absolutely beautiful and already adored by everyone.  Obviously, I was a little disappointed that I couldn't be available to help Crista at this time, but thankfully, Jana Vance came up and tended the girls while Crista was in the hospital.

Apparently, Ruby has been calling the baby "Watermelon Leaf." She informed us Saturday that the baby's first name was Bridget Carina Vance, and her middle name was Watermelon Leaf.  I thought maybe she got Watermelon from the size of Crista's stomach, but maybe not, since there was a Leaf added to the name.

Bridget Carina Vance 6 lbs. 11 oz.

Greta, Ruby, Bridget and Jana Vance

Nick and Sara were able to meet her on her birthday!

Roy and I drove to Logan Saturday afternoon to see the baby.  Nick came over and took care of Caitlyn.  That was much appreciated!  I think they may have had a little too much fun.

In the last newsletter I showed Dan and Nick with a huge mushroom.  I didn't realize it was heavy.  I was told it probably weighed 10 lbs.  Dan was brave and fixed the mushroom for eating:  He said it was all right, but I didn't get the impression he'd be out looking for more.  The reason he is researching mushrooms is for an App he is developing for  people to photograph and identify mushrooms.  He said that at first they were going to have "edible" and "not edible" as the first identifier, and then decided that the liability would be too great.

 Avie was really enjoying the raspberries in their garden.  She must have not have been fed fast enough to make her happy, because she took matters into her own hands.