"The More We Get Together, Together, Together..."

Oh, joy! July was filled with grandkids! 

Roger speaks in a different ward once a month as a high councilor,

 and in July he was scheduled to speak in our branch. 

High councilors always invite someone to speak with them, usually a returned missionary, 

so how perfect was that to invite Josh to come to St. George and  speak with him? 

And why not have him play How Great Thou Art on the piano for a musical number?

Rick, Jodie and the kids were already vacationing at Lake Powell the week preceding that Sunday, 

so Josh drove to St. George from there with two of his sisters. 

Rick, Jodie and Katie had to be back to Salt Lake for various reasons, 

so we got to have Abby and Sadie also come for a Grandma/Grandpa visit.

We love to have the grandkids all to ourselves for one-on-one chats,

  and I was tickled to have a chance to spoil Josh (just returned from his mission), 

Sadie (just to depart on her mission) and our cute Abby with home-cooked food.

Roger got an early tee time at Sunbrook 

and I fixed a breakfast of fresh peach and coconut muffins and yogurt, berry and granola parfaits.

   

Josh is a pretty amazing golfer. 

He had the chance to birdie eight times. He said not to tell how many times he did (or didn't)!

Grandpa loves to golf with him.

The girls hit the outdoor pool after breakfast . . .

. . . Roger hit the hot tub after golf . . .

. . . and I did some exercises in the indoor pool.

I fixed Cuban paninis for lunch with some pork tenderloin Roger had barbecued.

The rest of the day, the girls went shopping, Josh and Roger studied
 and Josh practiced his piece over at the church.
That night I fixed taco salad.

On Sunday, Roger and I fixed a big waffle, bacon, hashbrowns and berries breakfast 

because our block doesn't meet until 1 pm. 

Josh and Roger delivered truly beautiful talks on faith in Christ and the truth of the Book of Mormon 

and Josh touched the congregation (as many came up to all of us to say) 

with his expressive performing of a gorgeous arrangement of that beautiful hymn.

Roger barbecued salmon and we had coconut rice, pickled cucumbers and corn and ice cream treats for dessert.

We sent these cute kids off with some zucchini bread, our love and much admiration 

for what outstanding, amazing human beings they each are. 

They have what's important in life all figured out!

Goodbye, sweet Sadie, for 18 months!

Can't wait to read your emails from Cambodia!

So Monday we flew to Boise to spend a week with Missy, Jedd and their fabulous five!

We hadn't been to their home and my old stomping grounds for over a year 

and we were so excited to get to hang out with them!

The first thing we took a pic of is of Claire opening part of her birthday present we got for her in Hong Kong.

They're cute little puffy stickers and hair clips for a very cute young lady who will be turning four.

What a delightful, always cheerful, happy little girl she is!

I had Missy open early birthday presents, too. It's lots more fun to be there when they open their gifts.

This cuddly blanket got used a lot while we were there. 

I know, temperatures soared to close to and over 100 degrees, but I think you use throws as much in the summer with the ac as you do in the chilly winter.

The evening we arrived, their neighborhood had a fun getting-to-know-you pot luck/carnival 

and the littles decorated their bikes for a little parade.

Ellie and her friend raised money for a project to help children in Ghana 

by selling lemonade, candy and snow cones.

Grandma Pam got lots of cuddle/reading stories/singing happy time with Miss Claire.

And Anderson and I took some funny selfies.

The kids are all growing up too fast!

Grandpa Roger had this big grin on his face all week.

He and Missy started the day running together and had some good chats. 

I, hot weather wimp that I am, got on their treadmill each morning.

Claire is playing with a pioneer toy, a whirligig, that the kids each got on Pioneer Day.

We got to meet Joan downtown for lunch at Mai Thai, Missy's favorite sushi restaurant.

Each day we went out to lunch, Missy took one of her kids and it was Jared's turn.

It was so fun catching up with my cute sister, Joan!

We walked over to a custom ice cream shop. 

I had maple, date and pecan ice cream and some had huckleberry and lavender and other yummy combos - delicious!

Boise is having a heat wave and we saw this guy baking cookies in his car!

The Smith kids' solution to the heat was to make homemade ice cream - I think three times!

It was refreshing!

The other big hit food with the kids was the salsa from Albertsons, a new discovery.

When we arrived, they had bought three containers, then Jared made a run for two more, then Roger and I picked up a couple, then the day before we left, 

Missy bought three more! Right after we would finish a meal, the kids would bring out the chips and salsa!

Each time we come to Boise, I try to have lunch with my high school friend and member of our quartet, Dana.

She really is a special friend and we made it work to meet at Olive Garden near Nampa, where she lives.

Her twin grandsons were visiting her from North Carolina, 

so I really appreciated that she was able to arrange for us to meet.

 Roger dropped me off while he, Missy and Ellie had lunch and shopped at Target.

It was such fun catching up with this very special lady!

Of course, we took pics together when Roger came to pick me up. 

I think he enjoys Dana as much as I do!

I adore this beautiful daughter of mine!

We headed to the new indoor Westside Drive-in of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives fame. 

We always try to eat at the old location when we come to Boise, which is only outdoors, 

so I was excited that they now have one indoors. 

We ordered all different things and shared. They have prime rib Friday and Saturday nights, 

so we tried that (very delicious!) and a famous meatloaf sandwich, a Reuben and fish and chips!

 All tasty, and we took left-overs home.

Every Saturday morning, Boise has a street fair, which is such fun with food, music and arts and crafts for sale. 

Jedd, Missy, Ellie, Roger and I went and we shared maple cream mini-doughnuts (a tradition!), 

artisan bread and croissants and homemade orange drink at the root beer stand. 

Missy bought Ellie these sweet silver and turquoise earrings.

That nighty Jedd treated us to ribs at their favorite rib joint.

A guy from Kansas City opened up the restaurant after he moved to Boise from Kansas City 

and couldn't find any good ribs!

They were very moist and flavorful.

Sunday Roger had to take pics of Claire all dressed up for church.

After church we had barbecued salmon, coconut rice, salad, asparagus and rolls 

and homemade ice cream and lemon bars Ellie made for dessert.

We forgot to take a pic until after everything was pretty much devoured!

Ellie, Sam and Jared

Ellie, Claire and Anderson

Sam (Sousa)

We truly spent many laid-back, happy hours with this wonderful crew! We watched home movies, 

shared lots of stories, songs and laughs and kneeled for family prayer each night.

This little family has such a tight bond of love for each other and it was a privilege 

to be with them and share our love for them.

We could not be prouder of this beautiful daughter and mother!

How great is our joy, watching all of our precious grandkids growing up with the parents they have 

who have taught them the paths of righteousness.

Our cup runneth over!