April 18, 1934 - June 26, 2009

???

I'm spending a lot of time back and forth between Bountiful and home these days. My dad's health has been rapidly declining and we're basically waiting for the end to come. I'm very grateful for his sweet wife right now and wonderful Hospice care workers. It is hard work keeping someone comfortable while waiting for them to die. I guess you can't know this until you've actually gone through it. I'm so glad that so far we've been able to keep him at home. It's been about a year of real visible decline, and almost 2 weeks now of his being completely incapacitated.
I doubt I'll be posting here for a while. Prayers for a comfortable, soon, merciful passing would be appreciated : )

Christmas 1988

So I've been scanning my oldest brother's pictures for him this week. He trusted me with all of his precious albums...I'm up to picture 162. Sigh. But ahoy! Suddenly I came across these little gems. Pictures I'd never seen before! It is a rare thing to find a picture with BOTH my mom and dad in it. I love this one. My dad's health has been rapidly declining this week and this little scanning project has been a bit of therapy for me.
Then whoa. Pictures of Andrew and me 3 months after we were married. We did not own a camera at the time...we owned practically nothing in fact. There aren't many pictures of us those first couple of years, and whoo-hoo! Dave had some in his album. Crazy. Wonder what he's whispering to me...

Kangaroo Zoo and Field Trips

We've been trying to have a field trip to somewhere fun at least once a week now that summer is here. Here is Grace with her best friends at Kangaroo Zoo...a seriously fun place with tons of inflatable things to play on and in.
We're planning on going to the farm, This Is The Place, the real Zoo, Peppermint Place in Alpine (although this isn't as fun anymore now that they don't let you watch the candy making or decorating process!?) ...but does anyone have any fun, cheap places to go or other stuff to do in Utah???

Hiking near the cabin...

Grace hiking near Splash Dam....
Tyler's "friend" Kenzie came with us for the weekend....Jillian had to stay home to work.

Thus ends our yearly trip to the cabin...good times.

How to Catch A Fish

Grace spent time with Andrew trying to fly fish...
As soon as she got bored and left, he caught one.
Then she tried again, and caught some weeds and a rock.

How To Eat A Smore

Ahhh...summer!

Picnics outside...with Slurpees!
Sprinkler/water fun in the backyard....
Park-hopping with friends!
It's the most...wonderful time....of the year!!!

祝賀

"Dear Ryan,

Congratulations! You have been accepted to Brigham Young University’s Chinese StarTalk 2009 program which will begin on Monday, July 20, and end on Wednesday, August 12. We will be mailing you an acceptance packet this week. Please fill out the forms included in the packet and return them as soon as possible. Again, congratulations and welcome!"

He's going again this summer! He had to write an essay and have 2 teachers write recommendation letters to get in. We didn't think it was a big deal, but he has a couple of friends who didn't get in...he's super excited!