Warmer Days of Summer

It snowed today and I am not ready for snow yet so I decided to remember some warmer days of summer. My friend, Sharon, invited me to come swimming and so Stacey, Londyn and I went over one evening for a relaxing swim.



Thanks Sharon! We had a great time!

Harvest Time

A few of the many zucchini that we grew this year...


We are ready for Halloween with these pumpkins... 2 of 6


Our peaches are just getting ready for the eating!!! Can't wait!!!

Chicago Part 2

I just love scrapbooking my visits with the grandkids... so of course I took some pictures of us together.


I bought the girls matching dresses that were sooo cute. Here is Avery in hers...


Trey got a new tie! Doesn't he look handsome?


Here is Kinsey in her dress.


And look at these sweet grandkids! I just love 'em!

My trip to Chicago - Part 1

I was able to go and visit Kim and her family this past week. I really enjoyed being there with them. On Saturday we took the kids to a place called Pirates Cove. It was a great place and the kids really had a good time. Here we are at the entrance ready to see what was instore for us.


They had a fun play ground area where there were things to climb and slides to slide. This one required climbing up some castle stairs and sliding down a slide. The kids had to do this one at least twice!


The fun thing about this park was that alot of the "rides" were kid propelled. Here is Avery in the boats and to make them go you had to use your arms to make the paddle wheels move. She and Trey had to do this one twice too!


Can you believe this? They had this climbing wall for the kids. You had to be bigger and weigh 45 lbs to really get this to work right. Trey was too small and so he couldn't do it but even though Avery was too light, they allowed her to climb up a short distance. Look at her go!!!


Another great slide. This time you walked up the stairs with a potato sack which helped you slide down this BIG slide. After Avery, Trey and Kim went down, Kinsey and I decided to go with them. The park was really set up for kids about 2-10 years old. It was a great concept!


The merry-go-round is one of 2 rides where you didn't have to do the work to get it going. But the kids really enjoyed going uuuupppp and ddoowwnn and round and round.


Of course there was a pirate ship at the park.... but it was more a place to sit and eat your lunch rather than play... but we had to check it out and do some pretending.


Kim and Kinsey are ready to go on the Safari Train. This was the other ride we just enjoyed sitting on without having to do any work. Avery and Trey enjoyed this one as well. When I asked Avery which ride she liked most she named them all, one by one. I guess this outing was a success!

Summer Boating!

With the crazy, busy summer that we have had we didn't get to go boating very often but we really enjoyed it when we did. For Lynn's birthday the best present he could have gotten is to spend the day boating with the family. So, we did. Mindy came out with Ella and Jeffrey. We had tons of fun.


Jeffrey was ready to go!


We stopped for lunch and then played in the lake for a while. Jeffrey was a little nervous at first but when he realized the life vest would keep him from going under he thought it was awesome. Look mom, no hands!!


Jeffrey, let's practice your swim strokes...


Ella enjoyed playing in the water too!


Everyone took several turns on the tube. Mindy went with Jeffrey and Ella... and then I went with Jeffrey and Ella. Yes, it is true... for the first time in years I was out on the tube. We had a great time and can't wait to do it again!

Future Pianist

I miss this smile!!!

Watching the Grandkids

When we got back from California, Mindy and Dave left for California. Lynn and I watched Ella and Tyler while Shauna and Renard watched Jeffrey. Ty and Ella were happy to have Londyn here to play with too.


For some reason I only got pictures of Ty this time. He was just such a character that I couldn't help take pictures to document it.


This picture is dark but it is of Ty figuring out that he was tall enough to open the doors!!


After opening the door, this is where I found him.


See what I mean about being a character... he found the visor I bought for Ella and decided to put it on himself. What a silly boy!!!

Happy 4th of July

Lynn had a conference in San Diego the end of June... he invited me to come alone. I packed 3 swim suits thinking that while he was stuck in a conference center with air conditioning blowing... I would be outside at the pool or beach soaking up some rays. Did you know that San Diego has a mediteranian climate? Well, it does, which means it stays about 69 degrees all the time. Which also means, I didn't have to pack my swim suits for San Diego. Sigh!
Luckily, after San Diego we decided to go and spend a few days with my mom and dad in Thousand Oaks. After church on the 4th we attended a concert at the park. It just isn't the 4th without patriotic music!




We had a good time and then afterward we watched the fireworks from my parent's backyard.

Wishing...

It is June and if I had done it the way I always do then I would be at Kim's house right now. I am missing that cute little family! Mindy's family has been busy and so I haven't seen them for a while (I did see them for a few hours on my birthday but only eating dinner was involved - no playing). So, I decided to post some pictures of what I wish we could be doing together right now.


Here is Jeffrey on a tractor at the Wheeler Farm


Ella in her cool sunglasses


Avery, taking a break with Poppy


And Trey going for a horsey ride


Luckily, I have this little one to help me through the wait until I can be with the others!

Remembering on Memorial Day

On Monday Lynn, Stacey, Londyn and I went to the Heber Cemetary to take some flowers to Grandma and Grandpa Giles. We decided Londyn needed a picture here for her book of remembrance. Stacey will be sure to tell her about how special her great-grandparents were and what they meant to her.


We decided to wonder around the cemetary to see who else we might discover. We happened upon Ralph and Mina's grave. More good people that were great examples in our lives.


Then Lynn showed us the grave of Grandpa Giles' baby sister. I didn't know that he had a baby sister that died before her life really began.


This was a cool headstone of another Giles... we weren't sure if we were related.


And then we found this one that is Grandpa Giles' Uncle. The cemetary was so beautiful filled to the brim with colors of beautiful flowers. It was also filled with people who were enjoying the sunshine and talking about memories of their own. I am grateful to have the gospel in my life so I know that we will see our loved ones again. I am grateful to my Savior for making that possible.

Colorado Springs

I just returned from a quick trip to Colorado Springs. Stacey and Londyn came with. We went because my nephew, Cameron, was graduating from High School. It was so great to see everyone. We went out to lunch to celebrate the big occasion.




We were even surprised with a overseas visit from Michael. He was able to fly back for a few days to be there as well.



Congratulations Cameron!!! We love you!!!