We interupt this vacation for....

ANOTHER VACATION!!! In the middle of Chad & Michelle's visit we left & flew to Indiana for Tanner's 12th birthday & ordination to the priesthood. This gave Chad & Michelle & family time to visit with her sister Lisa who lives in Springville & her mom & dad who were here from Singapore. So, it was good all around. We arrived on the exact day of Tanner's birthday - June 29 - just in time for some of his Lego birthday cake. Here's Kaden bringing it to him so Tanner could blow out the candles. And just in time to give him his present - A BYU snuggie...which is exactly the same thing we gave his cousin Mason... they both wanted BYU snuggies! ha! I swear those boys are joined at the hip! The next day was a trip to the pool, which was wonderful since Roger & I had forgotten what real heat & humidity feels like.
Here we all are: Left to Right- Papa holding Austin-2 1/2, Tanner-12, Nana holding Devon-5, Kaden - 9, and Trevor-7.
Of course we HAD to stop on the way home at a cool little place that serves soft ice cream cones dipped in chocolate...
The next day brought work! Guess we were expected to work for our supper! ha! So we headed for Lowe's (and Home Depot & several nurseries) to pick out some edging pavers & plants for the garden, and some shrubs & trees for a spot at the bottom of the stairs to their backyard deck. Of course it was soooooo hot - so here are the boys & Nana holding up in the only shade we could find while Brooke & Chad shopped! We got most of the stuff & went back home to drop everyone off - so they could begin the work. Then Brooke & I went back to get some plants for the garden & a beautiful Japanese maple tree that we had seen at the first place (never can buy at the first place, right... must shop & shop and THEN go back to the first place & buy!) So, when we got home Trevor & Papa went to work getting the wooden crate off the tree.
In the end, it all turned out beautifully...lots of sweaty work, but beautful.
And the garden turned out looking like a work of art!
We had fun doing just ordinary things. One night we got into old-fashioned exercising- like the stick pull:
and, of course, Nana & Papa had to show them how to do the leg wrestle:
Then Trevor had to challenge us all to a pull-up contest... He totally blew all of us away & won handily:

But we gave it our best... Then, every morning brought bike rides for the boys (thank heaven SOMEONE had to stay home with Austin!!! thank you Austin!). It was usually a small little EIGHT MILE JAUNT!!!
After all that work, Tanner graciously agreed to baby-sit while Chad & Brooke & Roger & I went out to a cute little morroccan place for dinner.

Then the family gave us a going away on our mission present. A beautiful and SOFT blanket with embroidery that says Canada Montreal Mission - August 2011 and a maple leaf! Thank you so much Monroe family!!! We love it!!!
Another day we went to see CARS 2 -
Then, Sunday July 3, 2011 rolled around. Tanner's big day to be ordained a Deacon! We felt so privileged to be there and be a part of things.

And, of course, we needed to take a shot of us with all the boys... since they all looked so nice! The next day was the fourth of July. Newburgh is a wonderful small city where everyone brings their chairs down to the banks of the Ohio River and watches the fireworks being shot off over the river. We were no different. Loved it!~ The last day - Tues. July 5 - was spent driving 4 hours each way to St.Louis to take in a Cardinals baseball game. We really appreciate Chad & Brooke because this meant we had to take 2 cars! (bless the person who invented in-car movie screens! ha!) It HAD to be at least 195 degrees that day! Well, if not then I'm pretty sure it was at least 195 per cent humidity! Those bleacher seats were WARM!!! We had to be there early so the guys could watch batting practice and try to catch some fly balls- alas, no luck. But we had fun watching the game. In the first inning the Cardinals hit 2 home runs. With every home run comes fireworks... Austin really enjoyed them...
Did I mention it was HOT????
Still, everyone had a great time! Devon was all ready with his glove, his foam finger, and his fan... of course.... it was REALLY, REALLY HOT....
So, we HAD to get some sno-cones to cool us off....
It was a wonderful day! Of course, this is the way I spent most of it.... 'cuz, need I remind you... IT WAS HOT!!!
Thanks Chad, Brooke, Tanner, Kaden, Trevor, Devon, & Austin for a wonderful trip! We love you so much! And the best news?.... The Cardinals won the game!!! WAHOO!