Started with Girls Camp. Chuck & I were asked to be camp cooks. A perfect calling for Chuck, but I hate cooking, so I was his assistant. It was pretty fun now looking back! Our most popular dish was Philly Cheesesteaks Sandwiches! YUM! We also took up our solar oven and the certifying girls made peach cobbler in it. It was great to be next to the Brinton's cabin (we got to sleep in it rather than in tents like everyone else - being cooks had it's priviledges!) The camp director (amazing Bethany Wells Rudd) made us these adorable aprons. She made us past camp directors looks bad, with all the cool, cute camp stuff she did. 
Our next quick trip was taken directly from girls camp. The bishopric brought Kyle up for the last night with them, then we took off early for Utah to go to Chance's baby blessing. He is the cutest little boy, and he was so good during his blessing. It's amazing to see your son give that blessing and realize that it wasn't long ago, that he was getting his. WOW! (no more tears!)
Skye and her mom put on this amazing luncheon afterwards. Aunt Lynette & Sara came too. My cousin Amy even came later in the day and brought her kids. The rest of the Tolman's couldn't make it. It's been good to see my relatives more often too.
Skye and her mom put on this amazing luncheon afterwards. Aunt Lynette & Sara came too. My cousin Amy even came later in the day and brought her kids. The rest of the Tolman's couldn't make it. It's been good to see my relatives more often too.
A few weeks later back here in AZ we had a "Skye on Skype" Baby Shower. Modern day tech allowed us to have her and Jana there. She opened a few gifts for us (ones we had taken up to them), then we opened some on this side for her. Her Dewitt cousins came and it was such a blast! We also got to hear her play the harp for us (had some technical difficulties, but still enjoyed it - mostly enjoyed watching Chance enjoy it. He loves his mama's playing) This summer we also had my 30th Mesa High Class Reunion! Still hard to hear myself say that. I sound so old! We decided to keep it simpler this go around. We had only one big activity on June 12. Some people made other activities that had had smaller turnouts to; Cruisi
ng Main the night before (City of Mesa sponsors once a month, and since we did that way back when, why not?) It was hilarious trying to get out of the back of Ralph's truck when we decided to do a Chinese Fire Drill. By the time we got our old bones up, the people from the cab had already gotten all the way around and were ready to take off again! On Sat there was a group of Harley Davidson riders who took a quick trip out of town, and a group of us who went to Peter Piper Pizza for a BYOGB activity (bring your own grandbaby) It was fun to see those cute little ones. Our big event was in the MHS cafeteria, and we only had about 1/3 of the people we've had in the past, but I've realized that only those who really loved high school are going to come now. It was so great to see so many, but sad that when you're in charge you don't get to visit and catch up as much.We found our old Gahtso cup at a city museum and brought that back (our class won it all 3 years!) Our student body pres, John Waldron did a great program, and the decorations were great! Only regrets; we didn't talk about the food fight there in the cafeteria, do our class yell, or even sing Carry On! We are getting senile, you can tell! Seriously someone would point out someone for me and I would think "you mean behind that old guy?" So great to see "old" friends! Class of 80's really great!
ng Main the night before (City of Mesa sponsors once a month, and since we did that way back when, why not?) It was hilarious trying to get out of the back of Ralph's truck when we decided to do a Chinese Fire Drill. By the time we got our old bones up, the people from the cab had already gotten all the way around and were ready to take off again! On Sat there was a group of Harley Davidson riders who took a quick trip out of town, and a group of us who went to Peter Piper Pizza for a BYOGB activity (bring your own grandbaby) It was fun to see those cute little ones. Our big event was in the MHS cafeteria, and we only had about 1/3 of the people we've had in the past, but I've realized that only those who really loved high school are going to come now. It was so great to see so many, but sad that when you're in charge you don't get to visit and catch up as much.We found our old Gahtso cup at a city museum and brought that back (our class won it all 3 years!) Our student body pres, John Waldron did a great program, and the decorations were great! Only regrets; we didn't talk about the food fight there in the cafeteria, do our class yell, or even sing Carry On! We are getting senile, you can tell! Seriously someone would point out someone for me and I would think "you mean behind that old guy?" So great to see "old" friends! Class of 80's really great!Next was a family reunion, on the Brown side. We went up to Cedar City, UT and Paul, Skye and 
Chance came down to meet us there! It was great fun! We not only saw all the Brown cousins, but we stopped to see my cousins the Bates, new place in St. George. The Kleinman Clan was in charge this year and did a great job on food and activities. Of course we had "Mafia" games late into the night. Brandee came up and got some real drama in that game going! It was so fun to have her up there! The last night we had a talent night show where our Brown gang did a skit to "Once there was a Snowman". You can see from this picture all the cousins showing the snowman tall, tall, tall!
Chance came down to meet us there! It was great fun! We not only saw all the Brown cousins, but we stopped to see my cousins the Bates, new place in St. George. The Kleinman Clan was in charge this year and did a great job on food and activities. Of course we had "Mafia" games late into the night. Brandee came up and got some real drama in that game going! It was so fun to have her up there! The last night we had a talent night show where our Brown gang did a skit to "Once there was a Snowman". You can see from this picture all the cousins showing the snowman tall, tall, tall!I went straight from there back up the Salt Lake Valley with Paul & Skye because we got word that my sweet Aunt Gayle had passed away. It was fun to travel back sitting in the back seat with little Chance. I stayed with Aunt Lynette and had some sweet times remincing my aunt's life as well as talking about my dad in heaven finally getting a sibling up there with him. The funeral was beautiful and I had another "awakening" watching her children and their love for her and for God, and for the church, even though they are not all active. It was precious time spent with my Aunts Carol, Norma & Lynette, and many cousins. We all went to Gardiner's Village and walked around and had lunch. They are some good people & I love them all. (no pix, left my camera with Jenni)
We had a few other get aways this summer to the cabins of some friends. Missy Gardiner had us up near the beginning and Ralph Deifenderfer in July. It was so nice to get out of the heat here! At Missy's we felt young again, watching dare devil friends cliff dive (Lane in pix), reading our journals from high school, and playing games, but felt old again at Ralph's laying around in hammocks, sitting on the front porch watching the weather & sitting snowbird style all the way home (among other things).
This was also the summer of meeting foreign friends! We finally got to meet our sweet Jessica's parents who came from Switzerland. They are amazing people, who have their own Christian church there. We had a barbeque and sat and talked about their travels all over the world. One of the most amazing things however is the great daugther they raised, and we just love her. She's a great blessing to Jerry. (We have found since then that they are going to be a mommy & daddy, so stay tuned for further announcements & celebrations!)
We also had Michelle Moka from Germany come and stay for a month. We took her to Botanical Gardens & Hole in the Rock, but it was too hot to get out for long. So we decided to take her to CA and see Hollywood, since we had to get Chuck's truck back from there anyway. Brandee stayed and took her to the beach in San Diego too. She is a very sweet girl, who we met through brother in law John, along with her sister Marie.
Another amazing foreign friend story, is that my old 3rd grade pen pal, Marcus Buisman from Austria found me on Facebook! Is that remarkable or what? We've had some good discussions, and he has an amazing memory of 3rd grade and our friends there. It's been fun getting reaquainted!
One more semi-foreign friend tidbit. Stephanie from work got married to her sweetheart in that foreign land of Oklahoma. She will be leaving us soon to go back, and we are heartbroken about that, but are happy for her & Emily! (pictured here with Josie)
One more semi-foreign friend tidbit. Stephanie from work got married to her sweetheart in that foreign land of Oklahoma. She will be leaving us soon to go back, and we are heartbroken about that, but are happy for her & Emily! (pictured here with Josie)So that was pretty much our summer. Sounds crazy now that I look back at it; a lot of fun stuff crammed into 3 short months!
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