Five years ago....

.....I was anticipating the end of my mission at Church Headquarters in the Translation Department in Salt Lake City and today, I'm anticipating Conference week-end and missing being there but remember with fondness the experiences I had in this beautiful place.

Every Conference time I'm wishing I were up there, in the "tunnel" behind the choir seats hanging out with some of the very smartest people in the world, the talented saints that translate conference into almost a hundred languages. I lived on Capitol Hill, walked to work every day, didn't even mind the snow, in fact quite loved it....and just had a great 18-month mission.

Tonight, my little neighbor girl, Anna Ence gets ready to embark on an adventure to Toronto, Canada for 18 months...lucky girl. She'll do great and I'm so very excited for her.

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Ten years ago, Kyle was preparing for his very first marathon and now....he's on his ever-lovin' tenth. Mason will join him (or not, I hope not) for his first...Maybe with a little help from some knee injections, he may make it....(as I do every year, I just pray they don't die). I'll be there though, on Diagonal Street cheering them on then rushing down to the finish line to catch them as they fall.

Looking forward to an AWESOME WEEKEND......Conference and lots of other stuff!!!

These guys know pain....

....but not tonight. It was the first annual Desert Pain Clinic staff party in Pine Valley....food, family and fun for the evening......

...with "supposi-smores" for dessert. Nothing more fitting than "marshmallows on steroids" stuffed with the chocolate, cooked to perfection.

Give it a try some time....but if not, invite some cousins over and have some cake and milk.

That's what Lauri did last Sunday with her Sullivan cousins living in Northern Utah. Jump over HERE to Lauri's blog to read more about it and HERE to her cooking blog to read yet more about it. Way to keep the tradition alive, Lauri. May there always be cousins.

Hooray, hooray....

...McKay is 7 today and cutest kid ever. He is so handsome but even handsomer (I know the right word is "more handsome" but I just like "handsomer" better in this case) in his new glasses....oh yeh.

He thinks he looks like a nerb but he's the cutest little nerd I've ever seen. He's got the dance moves you don't want to miss. I'd put them on YouTube if I could and show the world.

Isn't he just the handsomest kid ever....everyone at school is going to want to wear glasses. Happy Birthday, big guy. Your grandma sure loves you.

Twelve hours later.......

.....and I'm home from a great, action-packed, fun-filled week-end at Traci's......

We got Scott off to school on the bus then joined him later for a "Shape Walk" (you go around and find different shapes and take pictures with the shape, just so you know).

...............enjoyed lunch with the two little ones...Mediterranean dinner with Russ then Traci and I hit Southern Seasons (a favorite)........

....caught a little action at the soccer game........

.....ventured over to Marbles Children's Museum for the afternoon.....

One last picture of the boys before church (Scott's all handsome and ready for the Primary Program).....then got dropped off at the airport for my marathon of a trip home....interesting, when they announce a 4 hour delay, (in Chicago) no one really looked or acted upset....I think the world has learned..."just deal with it". I was quite impressed with the other couple a hundred passengers on that plane. It was a quiet trip, to say the least. Getting on board at 11:30 p.m......that's enough to put everyone to sleep. Good to be home....thanks, Traci for a great week-end. Loved every minute of it, just so ya know!!!!!!

I'm flyin' the coop tomorrow....

.....but before I go, there's just a couple things you need to know. First....I will miss the Dixie/Hurricane football game....Chopper Five is going to be there. Then....I'll miss the Dixie Round-up....not that big a deal but I enjoyed it last year with Joyce and Jay, so go if ya can. It's fun (and very patriotic)....and no telling how many kids' soccer games I'm missing, but most of all...I'm missing Matty's 2nd birthday....and I'm sad...so HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MATTY. You're the cutest little Number 13 grandchild a grandma could have and we'll party when I get back. I know you'll enjoy your cake.....have mom take lots of pictures.

but I get to go see your cousins in North Carolina......and I get to see Scotty's soccer game....and his Primary Program so I'm pretty pumped. I've learned that as a grandma, can't be to everything but I'm glad I have lots of choices.

....and speaking of cousins, I was at the cabin today, saw this picture that Emily did in school a while back and wanted to share it and give a "shout out" to cousins.....aren't we glad we have them.

How would you fill in that blank? I'd like to know.......

Just a little end o' summer fun...

....at Drewby's pool party tonight. Couldn't help posting some mighty cute pics of the fam having a great time.

Fear the life guard, kids..............

A little pool b ball......

....and a crazy hair pose............

..and some chat.

Thanks again Drew for giving us a reason to convene........

I'm sure you have been asked.....

......"What were you doing ten years ago today?" I remember it well. I was outside getting a new ac unit, anxiously awaiting the time I could get on the road to be in Salt Lake for the event of Drew's appearance into the world. His birth had been planned for September 12....and I knew I had to get there....and I did. We were sad for the tragedy of the U.S. of A.....but grateful for the miracle of Andrew Scott Wells. This kid loves it all and wants to try it all....but mostly, plays soccer right now (scored 2 goals on Saturday)....but baseball, basketball, football, Guitar Hero, Super Mario, wake boarding.....anything he does, he does with "flair" and intensity.

I do love this kid....and I'm grateful for the "happy memory" I have of nine twelve. Happy Birthday, Drew....you'll always be Drewby to me.

Took a little jaunt....

.....to the cabin of my friends, Liz and James Rogers up near Duck Creek. Hadn't been to Duck Creek for years, in fact, many, many years when the kids were little and we stopped there on our way from Navajo Lake, the infamous occasion that Mason fell out of the boat and Scott had to dive in after him. Anyway, Liz and James' cabin is just past there at a place called Mammoth Falls not too far from Panguitch Lake so we took a little detour over to the lake because it had been many, many years since I'd been there....the last time being the one in these pictures....where someone actually caught a fish.

These were very good times. I didn't know it then and I feel badly that I just tolerated them most of the time. I didn't appreciate the beauty of nature, the leisure, peaceful time with nothing to do but breathe, and able to do it with loved ones and I'd give anything for some of these moments back. I remember Scott buying the camper so I would go along....still didn't make me like camping any more....it was always just a bother. Not many regrets in life....but this is one of them. I did enjoy the day with Liz.....hope I can enjoy more of those impromptu trips with friends. Thanks Liz and James for inviting me. She's a gourmet cook and had a wonderful lunch waiting for me there. Let's do it again soon....this time at my place.

It's not that we did that much....

.....I just took a lot of pictures of what we did starting early this morning at Mark and Marian's zip-line...even Mason and Mandy took a turn.

Then a little swingin' goin' on..............

Mom and Eldene showed up for a little lunch and some "porch time"................

Pickle Ball was a little wet....but do-able....

Meanwhile, back at the cabin, kick-ball was the game of the day.....

.....then a little berry pickin' at Gary's next door....yum. These were soooo good: from my hand to Miller's mouth......

....and some apple pickin'.

On this day we have celebrated the economic and social contributions of workers by playing hard....real hard (and sittin' around a lot). Whatever the reason for a holiday, we'll take it. What'd you do today?

It's been a "peachy keen" week-end....

.....and I'm throwing out this trivia question: Can you name the 1978 movie that this 1948 term was used in; "peachy keen" meaning; A OK, A-1, awesome. (Extra credit for naming the character that used this term). Attended Peach Days in Hurricane and proud to be a descendant of a very important man (Frank Barber) who was responsible for some of the first peach trees in the valley in 1907 and started this celebration many years ago. Some of his descendents got to participate by riding on a float in his honor.

Here we are putting on our "peachy keen"........hope you got yours on today.

Fitting that a Hurricane dentist would throw out candy, don'tcha think?......

Then off to Staheli Farms for Lux's numero uno birthday party......even though she turned one a week ago, we all celebrated in style. Thanks, Lux for giving us a reason to celebrate and have another "peachy keen" time today....

This place is "simply" amazing....that's right...nothin' fancy just lots of unique fun things to do.

Have a great week-end and eat a peach in honor of my grandpa. It would make him happy. He'd even peel it for ya if he were here. Here's what it says about him in the fair booklet: What began as a Fruit Festival in 1909 would evolve into the Peach Days and eventually the Washington County Fair. When the infamous Hurricane Canal began to flow, the life blood of the valley, water, the farmers were able to begin planting. Water was available as early as 1906, but not until 1908 did it reach the South Fields. Several thousand Elberta peach trees were purchased and planted by the valley's newly formed "commercial club" in 1908. They battled many hungry rabbits as they nurtured these baby trees along. Frank Barber, an experienced nursery man from Centerville, Utah came to the Hurricane Valley in January 1907 and began cracking peach pits which he planted in the spring. He organized the Hurricane Nursery Company (later the Dixie Fruit and Produce Company). Barber became involved in the commercial club and as the vice president organized the first "Fruit Festival". This was held in 1909 in the Social Hall. The townspeople came and displayed the best fruits they had raised; Elberta peaches, grapes, and melons. The produce was judged and then those attending the "Fruit Festival" all helped eat the scrumptious display.