Summery Summary

Can't put it off another day . . . nope . . . can't do it. Another summer has passed at the speed of light . . . a full, full summer. Autumn is fast approaching and once again I stand in awe as I think about all that's transpired this summer. Without further ado . . .
Laura and Jordan eating the breakfast of champions on an early summer morning. Have I taught you two nothing?
The granddaughters. Four of the Minnesota Five (Erin, Abbie, Landon and Noah) arrived on June 16th for a three week stay in Utah. A slice of heaven for this grandma.
How I miss my little Noah.
Making cupcakes with a patriotic flair.
Happy Grandma with her baby grandchildren. These two are salt and pepper in their coloring.
Beautiful Abbie with her long, long hair. While Abbie was here, she had her hair cut to donate to "Locks of Love".
Papa Hale with Landon and Abbie on the "V" above our house. It was quite the climb to get where they are.
Brent on his 60th birthday, June 19th. This was his favorite gift . . . the Binford 2000 hammer driver.
This is the balloon that the grandkids picked out for Brent's birthday . . . perfect! (refer back to photo of Brent's favorite birthday gift)
Brent's 60th was on the first day of the Hale family reunion and THIS is what happened on the way to the reunion in Paradise, Utah. Funny thing is that Brent just didn't see the humor in this at all. I, on the other hand... I, who had warned him just five minutes before THIS happened that we were driving on fumes and needed to pull off for gas . . . I thought it was hilarious and somehow fitting because Brent used to do this on a weekly basis up until a few years ago! Loved the thrill of coasting into a service station and making it to the pump, having run out of gas a few blocks back. Didn't think it was so cool on this day, however. Nope. Tee Hee.
This is who sang Happy Birthday to Brent when we arrived at the reunion. An adorable assortment of nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews and grandchildren. What could be better than that!
Oreos and milk . . . mmmm. . . need I say more. Check out Abbie's haircut. A boating day at East Canyon. Lucy had a bad cold and was in pain from teething AND THEN was unimpressed with her new life-jacket and hat! Sometimes life just stinks.
Noah, on the other hand, thought the whole experience was just ducky!
Abbie, observing important boating protocols.
Steve? Where did he come from? I'll explain in a minute.
Nothing like a "chooch" (as my brother calls it) to soothe a troubled little soul. Lucy absolutely adores her daddy. Is there any doubt that she looks like him? Abbie, Papa and Landon showing off on the tube.
Papa and Abbie REALLY showing off on the tube. Landon, however, sees the wave coming that caused . . .
THIS to happen! Abbie was absolutely unimpressed with Uncle Steve's driving Okay, back to Steve. And Mike. With their dad the week following his 60th birthday. Surprised him. Completely. FOR his 60th birthday but not ON his 60th birthday. Flew in late the night before from Boston and Minneapolis, respectively, and snuck into the house after Brent went to bed. Came down the stairs the next morning while we were having breakfast, just like they lived here! Shocked . . . Brent was.
Scott enjoying his dad's happy surprise.
Abbie and Noah happy to see their dad . . . even if he could only stay for 24 hours . . . that's all the leave he could get from residency.
Spending the morning at Rachel's family's swimming pool.
Home from the pool and watching the USA play Ghana in the World Cup. Eating steaks and other good stuff. After the game was over Brent and the guys and Abbie and Landon went on a hike up the mountain above our house with a warning to be home by 6:30 PM because we had reservations at the Mandarin Restaurant which was actually a big, fat lie and a smoke screen to cover the fact that we had a surprise party planned for Brent's 60th and had about 90 friends and family coming to the house. The stupid World Cup game went into double overtime (or whatever they call it in soccer) so they didn't get out the door for the hike until after 4:00 PM! Panic! Thank goodness for good friends who arrived to help set up tables, cut up fruit, bring me stuff I needed and a variety of other things. Actually, before Brent left, he and the boys set up a big shade tarp in the backyard to help out our neighbors, the Smoots, with their "family reunion". Another great smoke screen . . . brilliant! Cafe Rio arrived with all the food, the DJ arrived and got set up (thanks Kyle), and by the time the hikers returned all the guests had arrived and all was at the ready. Oh yeah! Brent and the rest of the hikers came off the mountain and straight down to the backyard to see which of the people at the Smoot reunion was having a birthday (since everyone was sining Happy Birthday, you see?) Got a little closer and realized that several members of his extended family were there! Realization dawned. We GOT HIM! Didn't think it could be done. Weeks of planning and lying through our teeth. We really surprised him. Party turned out great. Wish I had thought to take some photos. I think Laura got some. I hope.
Moving on to . . .
The Fourth of July! What's the fourth without the Centerville City parade, eh? Laura, Lucy and Jordan in their red, white and blue.
Papa is a happy guy with all his grandchildren at the parade. Abbie and Lucy are wearing matching skirts that Erin made. So cute.
Abbie and Landon playing on the bungee blow-up toy at the fourth of July fair, after the parade.
Since the 4th was on a Sunday this year, different communities did their celebrating on either the 3rd or the 5th. We celebrated on both days! Why not? On the fifth we headed up to Park City. Here's Scott and Rachel at the Loco Lizard restaurant. Gotta love their salsa and chips.
Papa and Noah at the Loco Lizard.
Erin and me at the Loco.
Had to show you these t-shirts that Erin got for the little ones. Hysterical . . . and often true!
August 17th . . . Brent's and my wedding anniversary. Does that man know what I love, or what?
What? Steve's back and this time Kalli is with him! That's because they joined us at . . . Lake Powell. There just isn't any place like it. This year we stayed in Annie's Canyon. Without Annie, that is. It was pretty weird to be at Powell without Annie there.
Kalli and Steve and Rachel and Scott watching a movie after being out on the speed boat.
Had my sister, Elaine, along on the Powell trip this year. Loved having her!
Our faces say it all.
Brent's nephew, Levi, was with us at Powell this year. He's a seasoned Lake Powell veteran and was an absolute pleasure to have along!
We also were pleased to have my nephew (Elaine's son) along on the trip. Good looking, is he not?
Chow time on the "Black Pearl". In the foreground of this photo is Brent's dad. He's eighty-four but didn't let that stop him from water-skiing a few times on this trip. I wish I had some photos . . . Brent took some with his camera.
Brent and I eating our chow at the little kids table!
Rachel trying to choke down some Kix cereal. She was sick for most of the trip because . . . she's pregnant! She and Scott told us just before we came to Powell because they knew we'd figure it out when we saw her with her head in a barf bucket for a week! We're sooo happy for you Scott and Rach and we're sooo excited for another grandchild. Sorry about the sick stomach, however.
Our Boston kids, Steve and Kalli. Actually, for the next few months, Kalli is in Boston continuing to work on a master's degree in speech therapy but Steve is in Connecticut working in an internship for his master's program (combined engineering and business). He comes home on the week-ends but the rest of the time they have to be apart.
Not ideal but, at least, temporary. We loved having you with us for the week at Powell.
One big thing that I've missed here is a trip that we took to Canada in early August for my niece, Erin's wedding to Scott Terry. We had a great time with my family and the wedding was absolutely beautiful but I didn't get any photos because Brent was always off adventuring with MY camera! Erin and Scott were married in the new Vancouver LDS temple.
Anyone still with me out there? I know . . . ridiculously long post. Crazy, busy summer. As long as my summers are always full of the people that I love the most, they can keep on being crazy. Til next time . . .

The Centerville 6th Ward Relief Society Summer Potluck

Here is just one of the reasons why I love Relief Society . . . the women's auxiliary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the largest women's organization in the world. The summer potluck!
The Relief Society summer potluck at Ilene King's home. Ilene has a grove of oak trees where they've built a patio . . . perfect for summer evening dining.

Everyone brought something to share . . . salads, casseroles, breadsticks, desserts, whatever and it was all yummy. I tried to take just a bite of everything but I still ran out of room on my plate. That's our Relief Society president, Marsha, in front. A great friend to all. Lined up behind her are Jean, Emily, Michelle and Ilene.

Relief Society is for women from 18 years to 118 years. In this photo there are three generations of women from the same family . . . Tammy (mom), Dianne (grandma) and Camille (daughter and granddaughter). They may be from different generations but they're all my friends. Behind them are two more great friends, Nedra and RoJeanne.

On the left is my friend and neighbor, Joyce. Darla and Tami, on the right spent about five minutes making sure there wasn't any lettuce or spinach stuck in their teeth before they let me take this photo! Good job girls . . . your dazzling smiles are as clean as a whistle! Hiding way in the the back is Rachelle who is no doubt happy to have a couple of hours to just chat with the girls while someone else put the kids to bed.
Speaking of which . . .

Laura and Jordan were out for the evening with friends so I left Lucy with Brent while I went to the R.S. potluck. When I came home this is what I found . . . Brent with a duck on his head watching Monday night football,

and Lucy having a grand time pulling all the DVD's out of the entertainment center!

Hey, you got a problem with the way I babysit? You bond your way, and I'll bond mine!

Our summer has been an absolute whirlwind of events, trips, etc. and when I get another minute I'll post a few of the HUNDREDS of photos that Brent and I have taken between us. Just wanted you to know that I was still around, even though I've been absent from the blogging world for awhile. While I was gone, I notice that my blog background disappeared as well as several photos. Hmmmm . . . anyone know anything about this? I'll have to get Laura or Rachel to show me how to get my background back. Til next time . . .

Happy 60th Birthday Brent!

Not everyone who was a teen-ager in the 60's was a hippy . . . just look at this clean cut (pretty much) All American boy!

Okay . . . it really doesn't get much cuter than this!

Today, if you'll bear with me I'm doing kind of a "rerun" post with a few modifications . . . one that I did last year for our 33rd wedding anniversary only this isn't for our anniversary . . . Today, June 19th is BRENT'S 60th BIRTHDAY! That's right . . . the big six - oh. I tried to come up with something new and original because, after all, a guy doesn't turn sixty every day. But the truth is, I think the old post pretty much captures it so here it is . . . deja vu!

I've been married to Brent for almost 34 of those years. Like any married couple, Brent and I have definitely had our ups and downs but I can say that life with Brent has NEVER been ordinary! I've traveled places that I never thought I'd see (I was in Rome on my 40th birthday and Tahiti on my 50th), been trapped in a southern Utah slot canyon overnight and had to rappel 80 feet of canyon wall (frayed nylon rope wrapped around a sapling tree rooted in sandstone) to get OUT of that canyon, gone swimming with stingrays, hiked miles and miles of desert (often in the dark and with no idea where I was), spent time under a flipped raft in a class V rapid on the Lochsa River wondering if I'd ever break the surface and get another breath, been on an old tub of a houseboat that was sinking in the middle of Bullfrog Bay (mechanic forgot to put plug in pontoon) and had to jump from said houseboat into a rescue boat, traveled Ireland (where Brent went on his mission) and experienced the absolute magic of the place, walked where Jesus walked in Jerusalem and the list goes on. We've been through years of our marriage where we didn't know how we'd pay rent, month to month and years of abundance, we've built a house together and built a home together. Every time I've heard the words "Sandra, I've been thinking . . ." I've had to gather courage for whatever adventure is coming next! Brent was simply born in the wrong century . . . he really fits in best with the explorers like Christopher Columbus, John Wesley Powell, Lewis and Clark . . . you get the picture. I'm using the computer in his office to compose this blog and looking at the pictures on his wall of his treks up Kilamanjaro (Africa) and the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu (Peru) and realizing all over again how much his spirit longs to take flight to faraway places. Something new . . . something he hasn't seen before . . . something that challenges him and tests his grit. He has plans to climb Mt. Whitney and trek Milford Sound in New Zealand. I will never climb or trek any of these places because I don't vacation in places where I have to carry my own air or where, at the very least, I feel like I can't get enough air! I've often teased Brent that he's an eagle married to a chicken . . . he longs to soar on high currents while I'm content to scratch around on the ground and feather my nest. Brent is a "can do it" kind of guy while I'm a "are you sure you SHOULD DO IT kind of girl". Brent makes up his mind what he wants to do and then overcomes ALL obstacles to do that thing whereas I think about what I want to do and generally talk myself out of it as I CONSIDER the obstacles. We're so very different but somehow we've made it work for almost 34 years. I believe that I'm able to do what I do because of what he does and he's able to do what he does because of what I do. Perhaps I don't feel the need to go looking for adventure because living with Brent is a grand adventure in itself! We're not completely un-alike. We both love a good book, beautiful music, crazy cloud patterns in restless skies, being with family, road-tripping, sunsets, starry nights, quoting movie lines, good seafood, hanging out with good friends, walking in beautiful places, playing cards, camping (yes, I like to camp!), driving off road, wearing comfortable clothing and celebrating holidays of all kinds. Whatever our differences or similarities may be, I'm married to a world class husband, father and human being. Brent can think his way through any problem, fix ANYTHING that needs fixing, build anything that he wants to, admit mistakes when needed, offer a kind and listening ear, help with housework and homework, size up needs and offer assistance to family, friends and neighbors, plan GREAT trips, and the list goes on and on, of course. The truth is, I'm a much better person for being married to Brent. He's helped me to stretch and see the possibilities that lie within myself. He's helped me to face some of my fears and experience things I never dreamed of as a single person. He's provided for me, protected me and loved me all these years . . . loved me when I wasn't being particularly lovable. Brent Hale is among the best of men in this world. Happy 60th Birthday Brent. I love you. Oh . . . and while I'm thinking about it, I want to reassure you that turning 60 really isn't so bad . . . but then again, how in the world would I know??!!!

So, what's the big news tonight . . . .

Chicago wins Stanley Cup, ends 49-year drought!
The Chicago Blackhawks may be a bunch of bullies, but they took it to Philadelphia to take the Stanley Cup tonight. Final shot on goal was kind of anti-climatic because you couldn't really see where the puck was going. Whatever . . . instant replay shows it going in, Blackhawks take the cup. Gotta love hockey.
There's been lots going on around here and I WILL get around to blogging some of it in the next few days. But right now, I'm going to bed. See you again soon.