Family

Getting to know family is a great part of any trip. Tyson even met his Great Great Grandmother. Gertrude is 93 and sharp as ever. They had a good visit. He asked her if she were around when Jesse James was alive - nope, not that old. But she does remember a time before cars when her family traveled by wagon.

Utah Trip Part 1

trip starts with a visit to Texas Tech - gotta get the little guy thinking right while he's young

golf is always a part of any vacation with Papa - here you can see Provo in the background. The golf course was up a mountain . Literally up the side of the mountain.

All About the Hair

KK can't hide too well - his hair gives him away

Crazy hair

Tyson with long hair - ready for a haircut

After the haircut - now he has a fo-hawk.

Just a few parental pictures: Mom on Mother's day - Dad with the group at Jazz Fest - Dad and John - and Danny's Bad Boy mower.

Random Picutures

I love the concentration. This kid is all business.

Do NOT mess with Dani! She's tough!

Speaking of tough - these guys look meaner than they are - well, except maybe for Medina.

She beat everyone that day.

Cousins chatting over the dinner table.

Dani must have told a good joke, judging from KK's expression.

Greg supervising workers putting in the fruit trees.

OK, really Greg worked harder than anyone - just took a sec to rest between jobs.

Anderson is stuck inside - he really really want to get in the water but he has to

wait until someone will go with him.

Every pool needs a cute pool boy - crack and all.

Tyson lives in the pool - loves it. Here he imitates an immersion blender.

OK, I'm ready to swim. Come on! Someone come outside with me so I can swim!!

Chillin'

Boys Being Boys

KK started the summer off afraid of being in the water without one of those floats that he could sit in. He's come a long way. I love how his big brother helps and teaches him. Now it's floaties only and brave jumps off rocks. He tired a back flip - scared us all to death as his face came very close to the rocks. We have restricted his back flip activities until he gets better. Now Tyson is another story. That boy is a daredevil and can pull of pretty much whatever he tries.

The signs of Summer

The pool

is the gathering place during the hot days of summer. Actually it gets used a lot all year. Just like animals in the wild gather around water, my family loves to swim. The Hatnots are the biggest pool users. I can usually count on them to come once a week or so. I LOVE seeing people enjoy the back yard. It makes my heart happy. We've hosted several parties for the ward, the YW, and the neighborhood where the plan was for food and fun. The pool figures into that every time. I'm so lucky to have it.

Dog Days

OK, anyone who knows me understands that I love my animals. Vicki once said she'd like to be reincarnated as one of my pets because they are spoiled to the max. I've gotten a little better of the years - no more trips through the McDonald's drive thru for happy meals - but I still manage to keep them happy. I think a home needs a pet

to be complete, whether it is a hamster, a dog, or even a goat. Animals bring out the love and caring part of people and teach kids responsibility.

We currently house two dogs and a cat - although Zelda refuses to come into the house. Boo was adopted from the Town Lake animal shelter. Beezer choose him and named him. Luke came to visit while his family moves to Ireland and we're hoping he'll get to stay in Texas with us. The two are best buddies and always together.

At first Luke - the weimaraner - was a little scary to the kids. He's a big dog. But no more. In fact KK told me that Boo can be my dog and Luke is his.

They ran away together once - I found them a few miles away, tired and sore. They willingly got into the car (very unusual behavior for Boo since he knows he's in trouble) When we got home Luke headed to the pool to cool down and Boo laid spread eagle on the tiles. Then the slept so peacefully. It was a very quiet afternoon.

Camp Cooky

When I was first asked to be camp cook for girls camp my response was "yes - if I can get my mom to help". Poor mom. The camp renamed her the energy bunny. She never seemed to wear out. I, on the other hand, wore out regularly.

We cooked 3 meals a day for 200 people, and even provided some late night snacking and helped with a couple of required activities - like making trail mix. There were 3 of us to start with, but two of the stake leaders took pity on us and helped out. Our days usually started around 6:30am and ended close to 11pm.

I cut out cute aprons for the job and mom sewed them together when I got frustrated with my sewing machine. Loved those aprons. I still use mine - it's reversible, bright, and has pockets. Everything an apron should have.

At night we were allowed to sleep in the RV. Wonderful! We were the only ones at camp with A/C and protection from bugs. It would have been even nicer if we had time to enjoy it . Before going I pictured being done around 8, sneaking off to watch a little TV, pop some corn, and put my feet up. Nope.

The crew that came to cook after us brought 25 workers. I guess our 3 full time and 2 part time were a little short sighted.

When camp was over I was exhausted. It took days to stop waking in the middle of the night and worrying about getting breakfast done. One day - weeks after camp - I panicked because I couldn't remember making biscuits . I called Mom. She couldn't remember making them either. We both remember serving them with gravy. Maybe the biscuit fairy came along and helped out.

After a month I finally got feeling back in most of my fingers. Next year - if they'll have me - I'll plan better.

Beezer

Jazz Fest - eating is part of the reason to go!!

These are the shoes of a hard working man.

He actually shaved the other day and I didn't even notice. So silly of me.

His boss commented on how good he looked and I had to go home and see for myself.

Had to include info on My Baby Boy - the youngest of the Bills' clan. Beezer is working hard these days - making sport courts and running tracks. He leaves early and often drags in late, but still finds time for fun. I'm pretty proud of him.

Lets ALL go to the Baseball Game

Anderson wondering what the fuss is about

Dani came to cheer to for her cousin

Papa made almost every game - as did KK.

And the All Star of it all - TYSON!!

So far I haven't found a sport he can't excel at.

It was fun supporting the Hatnot guys in baseball this season. I didn't get to see many games but Papa saw almost every one. Tyson is, of course, the best!! John and Tanna and Dani came to a few, and I got to see a few. Tyson made the All Stars and so the season was stretched into the summer. I can see why Baseball became America's pass-time. It was so peaceful sitting there listening to the parents root for the team, and watching the game. It reminded me of the days my own kids played.

Tom and Jim

Jim's daughter contacted me this week. It was great to remember that there is family out there I sometimes overlook. All this got me thinking about Tom and I wanted to post my favorite picture of Tom and his brother Jim. Jim was the quieter of the two - at least that's how I remember it. Tom was always full of jokes. Those stories and jokes will love through the ages as we tell the stories to our children.