Yay for Summertime!!!

We are excited that it is FINALLY summer vacation. We've planned a whole lot of summer activities. The kids open an envelope every morning telling them what we are going to do that day. Here's what we've done so far...

We went to the Springville carnival right after Savannah's graduation:

The Merry GO Round

Abby and Jane enjoyed their first big merry go round ride. I was too chicken to let them go on a horse. We sat in the rocking seat.

Owen had fun on the horse!

Owen and Max a.k.a. gorgeous little boys, waiting to go on the trucks!! Notice.. they are holding hands! I love it, and I know that won't happen for very long.. but, it is documented!

He is SO excited to be on this truck.

We learned about amphibians and reptiles at the library... Savannah and Owen even got to "hold" a real baby alligator!!

This guy is an animal rescuer in Utah. He is the only person in the state licensed todo what he does. He lives with more than 500 animals that he has rescued, and pays $56,000 a year out of his own money to take care of these animals. Pretty amazing.

He rescued this alligator out of the Del Taco garbage can. Good thing we have him in this state. Alligators can eat people... obviously...when they get bigger. He said that people use them to transport drugs. So sad--- for the drug users, and the animals. I'm glad we have a rescuer... a real live Diego.
 

I don't think Savannah ever thought she would touch an alligator. The guy had to keep the alligator's mouth shut, or else!?

Owen is pretty much in love with alligators and crocodiles, in theory. His face kind of says the opposite. He did think it was cool afterwards though.

 We made home made lemonade... and it really was good!


                                                                  Lemons before...

                                                                and after!!!

Savannah was the best helper. She really wants to have a lemonade stand.  Soon, Savannah!

We went to my mission reunion last Saturday...

Jane enjoyed the food, of course! :)

Here is a picture of the sisters... great women.

 I loved being a missionary so much. I dream about it, still, and it has been over ten years since I've been home. I love my mission president, Bob Lund. He is one of my favorite people in the whole world. I worked like crazy as a missionary, I gave it everything I had. President Lund still makes me feel so good about my years as a missionary. I love that because it makes me realize that I can live all of the stages of my life giving all I have to the "mission" at hand. It really brings joy for years to come when I've given something my whole heart.

The Lunds spoiled us x missionaries and our children. They had a candy cannon, and an airplane that dropped candy on the kids. They had lots of games set up, and catered the best food. I want to be like the Lunds some day. They are such wonderful people. The night before I left Lithuania, I bawled and bawled my eyes out. Much of that crying was that I would miss Lithuania, and the people who left such a print on my heart; but I also cried because I didn't want to leave President and Sister Lund, I wanted to be their missionary forever.

CHANGING GEARS... last but not least... ahem, perhaps a bit inappropriate. You may not want to look, but I think it's pretty dang cute:

                                                     A little boy in BIG underwear!

He couldn't find his own, but somehow found these.

He's quite proud of himself :)

We've done a lot of fun things so far, but not LAUNDRY :(  That just may be the FUN summer activity for tomorrow. I had better at least wash the under wear :)