One more addition

 We had to get a replacement kitty for the one of the Christmas kittens.

We thought she had got lost while we were one vacation, but it turns out that Merry's kitty must not like the abuse and moved into the orange groves next to us to be a wild and free kitty.

She will come close to the porch but will not come and eat anymore.

 Any who, we go a kitty named Chester as the replacement. 

Eliza loves him, I am not sure he loves Eliza, but he is extremely mellow and tolerates her.

Poor Chester.

 Lest Olaf should feel left out, Eliza gave him some attention too.

Merry comforting Olaf after the torture.  

He still loves to be carried like a baby.

Living at the lake

Happy lake life pictures, celebrating summer.

 First a canoe ride.

Then a dip in the lake.

 Cousin Tara is here to play nanny to the kids while have to work.

 Eliza pretty much thinks she rocks.

 Jacob's mad ninja skills.  At least that is my interpretation of the photo.

 Merry trying to get him back for all the splashing. 

Check out the tan lines on Merry and Tara's backs, that is how you judge if the summer has been well spent.

 This means warrrrr!

Ahh, Jacob is out numbered and out maneuvered by the girls.

Another tooth fairy visit

Surprise!

Adam actually lost a tooth without getting it knocked out.

He did accidentally eat his tooth with his breakfast though.

 One happy boy, the tooth fairy brought him stretchy guys.

Home again, home again

After stopping at the Grand Canyon we made a quick stop  at Brother Paul's house in New Mexico.

Brother Paul took on a short walk to see the magnificent views of the valley by his house.

The child photographer captured a prickly pear

and what appears to be some really dry ground.

The sky is incredibly blue in New Mexico.

After our short visit we took a short detour to San Antonio to visit some old friends.

The kids had a great time playing.

 Fun time.  We did make some cookies and eat breakfast tacos to celebrate the reunion.

It is hard to believe we have 9 kids between the 2 families now.

A really fuzzy picture of the adults.  

The speaker is in focus though.

After a long night of driving we finally made it home.

Grand Canyon - North Rim

Stop # 1 on the way home was the north rim of the Grand Canyon 

 Adam navigated us to find the canyon.

 The crew in front of the lovely scenery.

 Hiking on pavement, it hardly makes sense.

Merry completing the junior ranger badge requirements.

The highlight of the kids visit was the ranger program on horses.  The funny thing was they only talked about mules.  There was around 20 pictures of this horse.  I am not sure who the photographer was that day but they must have loved the horse.

Joseph and Ivan's Baptism

On Saturday Joseph and Ivan got baptized so we all got to reunionize.

I guess only the girls in the family like to reunionize.

Ann, Emilie, Dawne, and Beth

We all have kids the same ages so it is fun for all.

Except for Adeline, who only had boy cousins there her age.

The 2004 models - Paul, Brett, Adeline and Jacob.

The 2006 models - Merry, Ella, Joseph and Ivan.

The 2008 model - Grace, Lorraine, Jake, Izzy.

The 2010/11 models - Luke, Adam, Becca, Owen.

 The babies born in 2012/13 - Sam and Eliza.

Two of the sisters dropped out.

They do have these teenagers though so they have provided their fair share of offspring.

Tara, Ethan and Blayne. 

Ashley and Kyle were to busy to attend.

4th of July

Fourth of July in Elberta with cousins.

I actually ran a 5k with my sister in the morning. 

I came in 3rd which is pretty awesome, okay not so awesome my sister who was pushing a jogging stroller and a grandma beat me.  If I leave out those detail it sounds much better.

We then watched the Elberta parade which consisted of this float, a tractor and some kids on bikes.

That was just the right length for our parade watchers (Jake and Grace).

Later we went to the BYU men's soccer game and fireworks in Provo

with Brett et al.

Eliza in her patriotic gear.