SLC Temple

We were very fortunate to attend our niece Jill's Wedding in the SLC Temple this last weekend. We spent two days in SLC. We swam in the pool at the hotel and spent time on temple square and posed for a couple of family pictures. It was nice to travel as a family together for once.
This is the East side of the Salt Lake City Temple steps. The wedding was excellent and the reception was absolutely beautiful in Christy and Daves backyard, that they have worked on all summer to prepare. They served Coldstone Icecream and everyone thought they were in Heaven. We are so grateful for families!

Other Fun Things

Kelsie found this Tim the skunk outside in the back behind the house. She was so thrilled. I was surprised that it didn't spray her. Only in SV.
This is Kandis with her Beau Chris. They danced together this last spring. They were a great dancing couple. They did ballroom and country! She also took him to Morp and they date at least twice a week.
Kandis and Chris on one of our outings with the 4-Wheelers. Chris is very cool and has hung out with the family on several occasions. He graduated from SVHS this year and is planning on going on a mission around September. Kandis spends all of her extra time with Chris, friends and family.

Kohlton's Swimming Lessons

Kohlton and his Swimming Teacher. He is getting good and realizing that water is not scary!
He is making a splash!
Kohlton and his classmates getting ready to race on the last day. Making cool moves, and having fun.
Kohlton tries to do a handstand but yet just can't quite get it yet.

Campin' and 4-Wheelin'

Campin' with Melissa and Kelsie. They are playin' games. Wow! Look at the fun they are having! Mom and Dad took their camper up to Well's along with Andy and Melissa's Family. We should have taken our family inheiratance up too but. . . .
Kurt and Mom not wanting to pose for a picture! Ha! Gotcha anyway!
Kurt and I together again. This is our campin' attire and even after leaving for four weeks I think he still likes me!
Kohlton loves to explore. This is at the top of . . . the world?? Once he found out there were ants in the log he was hoppin' off of there fast.
At the top. We rode our rangers and four wheeler over 67 miles that day. Mom usually gets tired and so Kurt escorts her around in the Ranger and I ride mom's 4-Wheeler. Kelsie and I love to ride together but for some reason that back end keeps slidin' around. I wonder Why? This is looking out over the mines where Andy works and Sage Valley and then beyond that is Smoot. It was really hazy that day.

Dreams Come True

After coming home for less then 24 hours to SV I picked up Kelsie and we traveled back to California for a week of Conferences and Fun! We are lookin' Good.
Okay, so we took one day and went to Disney Land, just the two of us! We rode Spash Mountain several times but the best one was this time. We got drenched! It was soo Fun! Whoo HOO!
Kelsie after Splash Mountain! You really can't see how wet she is but we were soaked all the way through!
Kelsie and I rented a car and drove it down to Newport Beach! We didn't have time to spend so we just walked! It was divine.
We found this guy at the beach. He had been working on this lizard for over 5 hours and was carving the detail with a seagull feather. We thought it was neat!

Hey Mate, How you goin?

Here I am at the ANZ stadium in Sydney Australia. Mary Ann and Luke (leaders from Iowa) are to my side! We are standing on the actual platform that was used for the Olympics. This place is massive. We also got to tour the whole building and had VIP access to the downstairs that only most people dream of seeing. Very Cool!
Oh, No Matey looks like Kangaroo Jack got me!
This is Luke Wagner. We got to be really good friends during our trip! He is a second grade teacher and we both liked to goof off and have fun! Luke lives in Iowa. He is a blast to be around and always made me smile.
This is a picture inside the Auquatic Center in Sydney. These are all the Leaders that I had the privledge of traveling with. Left to Right: Me, Kathy (CA), Mary Ann (IA), Luke (IA), Cynthia (CA) and Lois (IA). We are the best leaders! We had the best time and made life time memories. Several of these people will be visiting us in the Spring and hopefully we will have a lot of snow to show them. The students were all well behaved which made for fun and many life experiences that shall always be remembered.

New Zealand Rocks!

This is Mt. Maunganui. We hiked to the very top of this in the rain and wind. I learned a new saying, "Rattle your dags". LOL Ask me about this when you see me. The Maori tribes built a village at the very top and ate over 250 clams per day and threw them over the side so the trail is covered with shells. It is absolutely gorgeous here looking out on the Bay of Plenty! This view is from my home stay house!
This is the home of Roel and Yuka. What a house for New Zealand. We were very fortunate to stay here for a couple of days. It is soo humid that Yuka squigies her windows every morning. It was cold here because it is winter. They have a wood fireplace but only in the living room and kitchen and not in the bedrooms. I brought my long johns for this! I was prepared!
Roel is a landscaper and this is their yard. This only shows one portion of it. On their property they grow golden kiwi, limes, lemons, tangerines, alvacados, all spices, and much more. The fruit here is incredible! I will never taste anything like it again (unless I go back).
This is Roel and Yuka outside their home at sunrise. Roel is very tall. They have immigrated from Holland but have lived here for many years and built their own home. They were wonderful hosts!
Here I am in Rotarua. This place reminds me of Yellowstone National Park as there are geysers and hot ponds and pots all over the place. We got to ride the luge on little cars down the mountain several times. This was great as I love speed. I hid my P2P tag and took the advanced road down. What a blast, right up my alley. In New Zealand I also got to participate in a Ropes course called "Full On". I was so proud of myself for climbing the wires and getting across without falling. I feel as if I can do anything I set my mind to at this point. It was a great motivator!

Bula, Bula from Fiji

Here I am in Fiji! I had the opportunity to teach this Class #1 (first grade) for over an hour in a half. I also taught Class #8 for three hours. We didn't know we would be teaching so this was definitly a lifetime experience. My Class #1 was so full of energy, I loved it. This is a picture of the school. They do not have glass for windows and they are all barefoot as shoes are too expensive. This is a third world country. The students are full in heart and soul as well as voice and they can sing and harmonize like none other. I was blown away! They do not have toys in the play-yard and always play games like tag and soccer (football). This is something I will never forget!