OUR SUMMER 2011 SO FAR

A miracle happened in June when Jared and Candace were finally able to adopt our sweet new granddaughter, Adele.  She is a joy to watch, hold, and kiss!

The family fixed up the baby's room in black and white to surprise  Jared and Candace when they returned from Colorado with Adele.

Also in June was the Choir's tour to the Eastern Coast and Toronto, Canada.   We took off in 3  jumbo jets.

We had a sound check and rehearsal for each of the 7 concerts.

There was time to let the Choir do some sight-seeing.  We visited Colonial Williamsburg, VA where the workers are dressed up in costume and they re-enact scenes from the past.

We even got to participate in a "flash mob" to the crowd's surprise.

Some of us toured Arlington Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

And the Smithsonian.

The Washington Monument is always  dramatic to see.

When we performed at the Mann Theater in Philadelphia, PA, my sweet sister, Susan, and  her family met me beforehand and bought me dinner.

Thanks Kimberly, Michael, Doug, and Susan for coming.  I could  see you in the audience as I sang.

The next morning in Philly, some of the Choir walked to Macy's and  sang with the  famous organ there for its 100th anniversary.

I'm lucky to rub shoulders with very nice people like Lloyd Newel.

We stopped off at the Joseph Smith homes in Palmyra, NY and sang for visitors that were there.  It's so moving to be in that sacred place.

On Sunday I took a walk in Buffalo, NY with a few friends in the Choir and we found the  LDS Church house.  A baptism was about to take place so we stayed to witness it.  It was for a blind man who brought his seeing-eye dog along.

Then we continued our walk to see the many old and beautiful church buildings that are in the area.

Twelve buses had to go through the check point into Canada.  We had to show our passports.

Toronto is a very clean and beautiful city!

Can you find me?  These are our newest dresses made in time for the tour.

Our largest suitcases were carried to and from the East Coast in a big truck.  We had to pick them up from the Conference Center the Sunday after we got home.

Next came our Howard Family Reunion at Bear Lake.  Bruce's mother has joined us last year and this.  Wyatt and all the children enjoyed her company.

It's a good time for the cousins to play together and get re-aquainted.

Adele is our newest member this year and Joshua was the newest last year.

Norah was born a couple months after JJ.

A few brought their guitars and grandpa Bruce taught Zachary  some things on his new guitar.

Diane and Dallon posing for me

Denis and Sarah were in Ukraine last year so this was their first.

We had a birthday party for the kids on the first night there.  It was Sophie's 4th birthday that day, Wyatt's 3rd birthday on the 31st, and Joshua's 1st birthday on August 3rd.  Diane brought gift bags and fun masks that they loved.

Each of the married couples took their turns at making our meals.  Everything was delicous!

Our cabin was very cozy and had enough room for everyone to visit and eat together.  We had a second smaller cabin nearby so there was extra sleeping rooms.

Whitney is our oldest grandchild.  I kept hearing her ask her dad,  "Can I call _______ now?"  Hopefully she had fun anyway.

The next day we visited Bear Lake and the beach.  The water is so blue but because of all the snow and rain  Utah had last winter, there wasn't so much beach and the edge of the water was muddy.   We had fun anyway.

Jared and Candace set up a shade tent.

And kids enjoyed shoveling in the sand.

Sandcastles were built and deep holes were dug.

We had family photos Sunday morning (thanks to Karyn) and then some of us walked to a nearby Sacrament Meeting in Garden City.  

The kids loved playing on this fort with swings and a slide.

Lee and JJ.

Spencer and Norah.

Hope and Andy were married last month.  Hope is helping to  tie one of the baby quilts  to give away.

We had a show and tell time and Spencer decided to stand on his head.

Each family took their turn to catch us up or perform something.

Denis and Sarah sang a song.

We had a baby shower for the new moms and dads.  One of the games was like the Newly Wed Game.  Here are the dads.

And here are the moms.

Karyn was very helpful with the games.  Thank you!!

The end of our reunion came too soon and it was time to say good-bye.                                                                                    

  Thanks to all who came to our reunion.                                                                            
Well I finally got caught up but there will be more to come with two new grand babies on the way this year and one in February.