The storm at home!

As we drove back from California the closer we got to Tucson the crazier teh weather. I got my camera out as we drove past Phoenix and into a huge dust storm that just enveloped the world inside of its

California, my last summer hurrah!

Rachel bought a car in Show Low and we got in it and headed straight to California. It was late when we got there but we were able to meet Beth and Scott's new baby, Daniel, once there because Beth was up in the middle of the night feeding him. He seems a sweet little baby, always looking around and swinging contentedly.

We spent the week watching cartoons, riding bikes, making cakes, and playing with Daniel. We also took a lot of pictures. Daniel was a great model, he took the changing clothes, moving around and picture snapping well. He took it all while calmly posing!

We also tortured the boys by doing a group photo shoot. It was a pretty bad disaster but I was able to salvage a few good photos from it (with a lot of photshop). William and Sam fought over holding Daniel, Ryan would just get up an walk away. Thomas was really the only cooperating one!

Rachel and I took the boys ice skating and had a grand time. At first I thought we weren't even going to get around the rink once. But in the end the boys got the hang of it a bit.

Swimming, scout camp, making and watching videos of the boys I took on the phone, playing with Sarah's pups, running in the sprinkler... that is what you get in California.

Gates Pass Hike!

Ian and I got up at 4am and went for a hike. The first two places I tried were not open, or I couldn't get to (so many things are closed because of lack of rain). We hiked for a few hours and then went to help the boys (David, Daniel and Tim) load and pack Grandma and Grandpa's things. We had already spent the entire day before packing and moving in order to be ready for the boys to come. Dad and Aunt Louise came with Jaden. With so many people working and so much done yesterday it went quickly even though it was HOT! Now Grandma and Grandpa are settled in their new apartment at the Fountains Retirement home. I will miss the house on Sam Snead, I lived there for two years and although it wasn't alwasy easy, Grandma and Grandpa helped me when I needed it.

The ZOO!!!

Ian came to visit us again, and while he was here to Tucson, Katy came over from Queen Creek with the boys. We all went to the zoo together and enjoyed the heat and animals. The polar bear was putting on a show for us. The keeper smeared lard all over the place when we first came to the cage, after they let the bear in she hunted down all the food and swim around.

Fourth of July

For the fourth of July Rachel, Dana, Michelle, Andrew and I went to Patagonia where Dana's family is. They had vendors and entertainers. Michelle grilled hamburgers and we ate strawberry pie! We went for a drive and took pictures. It was a great day!

Run to the Bridge!

Dana, Rachel and I went up to Pinedale for the weekend. We went so that Dana and I could run in the annual "Run to the Bridge." This is the first year I've ever done it and I talked Dana into joining me. We were able to go to the temple, hang out in Shumway with Jon's family. The run itself was really funny. We didn't do a 5K or a 10K but a 6.25K! I've never even heard of a 6.25K, but there you have one. Also we didn't have a loop or anything like that, in fact to get to the starting point we had to all climb in the back of someone's pick-up truck and were dropped off about 4 miles up toward Pinedale Estates. But it was a good weekend and I enjoyed the time out of the heat.

Crookston Family Reunion!