Utah- Chillin' with family and friends

We visited John and Mary Johnson at Mary's both at Bountiful's farmers market.  The girls had fun making jewelry with Mary later.

The girls spent the 24th of July with Jessica and Kadie Johnson, we all watched the fireworks together after.

We met our good friend Fran Kennedy for lunch.  We haven't seen each other since we both lived in Hamburg, Germany.

We spent an afternoon with the Grygla's at Bountiful Pond.  The girls loved playing in the water with their cousins  while  Mom and Dad visited and went canoeing.

Emma and Ava (and Tristen) live in Arizona.  It was great to see them for the first time this weekend. 

We visited Sarah-Jane Edwards and her family.

We had a great time playing beach volleyball and Rock Band Wii with the Holman family.

While Aubrie and Kaitlan were spending the weekend riding horses with the  Edelman's, Ted and I enjoyed spending time with Jill and Steve Burton in Logan.  Lexie and Johnnie played very well together, they are just 6 weeks apart in age!

We had a great time with the Garff's at Boondocks, then the girls got to have a sleep over with Kate and Emma.  The next day was more playing (and visiting) followed by a trip to the movie theater together. 

We met my old college friend Monica Hoxsie (now Johnson) at Thanksgiving Point gardens.  We haven't seen each other in 8 years.  Our kids hit it off great and put on a zombie performance for us at the amphitheater.

We met Heather Jones and her kids Ruby, Julia, and Benjamin at a kid's  play  museum in Ogden.

No trip to Utah is complete without a game of spoons with my hilarious, cackling aunts!  Everyone came to say good bye as we enjoyed a good old BBQ together.  

Utah- Aubrie's Baptism

Aubrie was baptised and confirmed by her father in June.  Lots of our family came to support her and her important day.

Us with Grandma and Grandpa Grygla

Us with Grandma and Grandpa Parkin

We had an ice cream party after!

Aunt Debbie, her daughter Allie, and uncle Shaun.

Hiding out in the gym with cousins (Sammi and Kayla)

Brenda, Nick and Kaitlan.

Great Grandma and Grandpa Condie

Abrie and Kayla Edelman.

Great Grandma and Grandpa Grygla.

aunt Cindy Edelman.

uncle Joel.

Grandma and Grandpa Cowling.

Grandma Parkin

Kurtis, Amber, Kayla, and Turner Edelman.  Where did Alley the alligator go?

aunt Johnna and Lexie

Utah-first arrival and visiting with Grandparents

In the middle of June we flew home to see our extended family for the summer.  

We stayed at our old home in Kaysville.  The garden has really grown in!

The jet lag made Aubrie dead tired!

Great Grandpa and Grandma Grygla meeting Lexie for the first time while we got our hair cuts by aunt Johnna.

Visiting with Great Grandpa and Grandma Condie.

Grandma and Grandpa Parkin are always happy to see us!

Lexie's Blessing Day

Lexie was given her priesthood blessing by Ted on June 3, 2011.  She looked like such a princess in her white dress.

The Swiss Alps Glacier Weekend

The last weekend in June we headed to the Valis area to enjoy some fresh Swiss mountain air.  Along the way we saw our first glacier, the Rhone. It was amazing to see how much it has receded.  1300 meters in the last 120 years. We rented a Swiss chalet home in the village of Rosswald, a beautiful skiing village perched precariously on the mountain side and mostly accessed by gondola. The home was solid wood from floor to ceiling and surrounded by the most amazing views of the Alps.  We enjoyed hiking around and watching the girls play on the playground. The sunset was incredible followed by two amazing starry night. On day 2 we spent our time at a great outdoor pool, in Brig.  The following day we explored the mountain village of Bettmeralp and took the gondola up to the Aletsch glacier, the largest glacier in the Alps.  This was a world heritage site and was actually 3 glaciers joining together in this one spot.  It was interesting to learn about the Glacier flees that survive on the coldest surface of the world.  No way am I going to lick that ice!

The Rhone Glacier situated between the Grimsel and Furka Pass.

My 2 sweeties in a field of Lupine

Exploring around.

A playground with a view!

Picture perfect.

Enjoying a great dinner outside.

This wooden statue of an Alp Horn Blower greeted us as we entered Rosswald.

The gondola ride from Bettmeralp to the Aletsch Glacier.

Mighty man on mountain.

The Parkin's a top the Aletch glacier.

The Matterhorn in the far distance.

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.  Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.  The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.  ~John Muir