Shakespear visit!!

Megan, Jeremy, Hyrum, Hunter, Emma, Justin and Dallen Shakespear were here at our home for 10 wonderful days - what a great time we had together and we are so very grateful they drove all this way from when we last saw them in Texas.  Where would we sleep our dear family?  Things worked out great especially when 3 of the kids loved sleeping sideways on the futon!  Our toys were well used - glad we saved them! - we spent hours walking Percival Landing downtown; great time at Lattins featuring animals and fritters; Burfoot Park provided many hours of entertainment and even some colorful snakes; we even celebrated Pa's birthday one night; had fun at the Thurston County fair; spent an advertureous day at Westport on the coast; canoeing at Boston Harbor; treats at Wagner's downtown; fun at the downtown water fountain; and always fun playing in the yard and at nearby parks.  We took tons of pictures and show just a fraction here:

Thanks sweet family and an unforgettable visit with tons of wonderful memories:)

Andrew's Baptism

We spent a wonderful week with Zac, Joy and their family at their home in San Antonio - and as the week progressed all of our family was together!!  We arrived on a Tuesday and had a family birthday party for Andrew who turned 8 on Monday - we played inside and out most of the days.  On Thursday Brigg, Havalah and Luke arrived from West Virginia and all of us enjoyed several hours playing in the Guadalupe River.  On Friday we had a wonderful birthday party for Andrew and many of his good friends.  Zac and Joy rented a large water slide and the kids didn't want to get out!  At the party's conclusion Megan, Jeremy and their family arrived from Missouri and enjoyed the slide for a time before the slide rental ended.  It was so wondeful to be together though it was only about 24 hours.  On Saturday morning Andrew was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and what a wonderful spirit we all felt.  Afterwards we drove the quick 2 miles to the San Antonio Temple and took some pictures.  Shortly thereafter the Shakespear's left for Austin where Jeremy's family lives and the rest of us got relief from the sun by swimming for several hours at a local pool.  On Sunday morning, Marcie, Scott, Brigg, Havalah and Luke drove to Austin to meet Megan and family to participate in blessing little Dallen Frost Shakespear in Jeremy's parent's home ward.  We were so appreciative that Andrew's baptism and Dallen's blessing could occur on the same weekend and in such close proximity to one another!  After church, Brigg and family dropped us off at the Austin airport to fly home and then returned to San Antonio.  The Shakespear's took off for a cross-country trip which will eventually lead them to Lacey, Washington for 10 days!  We are so grateful for the blessing of family and for being together at Zac and Joy's - and we so appreciate their hospitality in hosting us all - on Friday night we were all there at their home:  8 adults and our 9 granchildren:)  Here are some of the highlights.

Birthday essentials!

Trying on Grandpa's glasses

Mid-air 360°

Guadalupe River pictures

Zac preparing the bucket of water for his little brother

and the results of the perfect throw!

Birthday party prep and the party itself

Parts of the very ingenious obstacle course Zac built for the party

So far, our only two - but very sweet - granddaughters!

Grandma Darlin' with our youngest

Andrew's baptism day

San Antonio Temple, where we took pictures

Handsome Andrew on his important day

Sometimes family pictures are a real adventure!

So great to be back together again!

Dallen's blessing day

                                                           We love you all so much:)

Birthday!

Scott had a significant birthday the other day - he had a pretty fun day at work.  Most importantly he spoke to each of his children, his Mom and sisters, and had a great date night with Marcie T!  A few photos from work:

Happy 4th of July!

Oftimes the weather here in Washington on July 4th is less than ideal - today however it is absolutely gorgeous.  It is about 74° and quite sunny:)  Last night (July 3) we went to some fireworks down at Bush Park off Yelm Hwy and it looked like the whole county showed up - it was a great show for 18 minutes and then most folks got caught in a big traffic jam - Marcie T played it great and started driving away just as the finale was blasting away and we made it home in 15 minutes - some ward members we talked with today took over an hour to get home!  Here are a few of the pictures we've taken - some last night with the clear moon and fireworks and a couple today at our ward breakfast/flag ceremony which was very nice.  We are very grateful for the freedom's we enjoy and for the men and women who protect those freedoms.