Snowbird

Can't tell you how strange it felt to by in coats already! We get so little really cold weather in the south that we forget fast! It was cold in Lehi, but it was WINTER on Snowbird, if fact, we could not ride the tram due to the high wind conditions.

In spite of the wind and cold, the beauty was overwhelming!

See what I mean?

Snowbunnies in action!

Ri~Co~Laaaa

Ranes, Heather and Kayleigh~ headed back down~

And back down the mountain, breathtaking view in itself!

Tyson's Party in the Park

After Church, family and friends gathered at the park!

Tyson's special day made MORE special!

Pulled BBQ Pork was served along with the delicious cookies you see here. I add a note, these very same special cookies... were the beginning of the end of the diet as I knew it at that point!

Someone baked PUMPKIN COOKIES... How could I resist. (I was able to ignore the chips, there is something special about home-made)

Such fun to gather on a sunny but cool Utah afternoon!

Look at the snow-topped mountains in the background,

they always amaze me!

Sky and Addison having fun!

This the SECOND deadly diet breaker, the kids are interested for sure!

What they are waiting for is shown below~

~and the THIRD deadly diet breaker~

Again, more below!

Kayleigh and her friends!

TOO CUTE!

Sky meeting Braydon and Tyson's friends!

Carter is demonstrating my exact same sentiments over this cooler of

home-made rootbeer in the process!

We had never heard of this and ended up drinking what felt like gallons it was SO good. Later that evening, we had the remnants by the spoonful, Rootbeer Slush!!

TYSON

Guest of Honor and reason for the visit and gathering!

We sure are proud of this young man!

Braydon and his friend Jacob ride the swings like horses.

Marty has Braydon under control with Tyson joining in the fun!

Again, the little children will lead the way!

This time it is Sky teaching Carter to eat this southern delicacy...see next shot!

Here you have it, the second deadly diet breaker...

boiled peanuts!

Ranes did a great job with his Dutch Oven set-up and many there were having boiled peanuts for the first time!! (not to be shocked, recall I had never heard of homemade rootbeer either)

The afternoon couldn't have been any finer to me. I had a great time watching all of the children play! At one point a stranger was sitting beside me on a bench, saw me taking pictures

and asked *which one is yours?* I replied,

*ALL OF EM!*

Kayleigh, shown above, is the youngest granddaughter!

Carter, above, youngest Grandson!

TOO MUCH FUN, ADORABLE CHILDREN!

MANY THANKS,

to all of the awesome friends and family

that made this great day possible!

Sky~Carter~Addison

See what I mean about pre-teens and the DSI?

Sky is having a great time taking pictures!

Carter doesn't try to be so cute, it comes natural!

They are having so much fun doing their own thing!

Carter with the sand and Sky with the camera!

Sky thought she could out run Carter, not going to happen, that boy is FAST!

She enjoyed pushing him (he is still for that) but he has his own way of swinging, puts his knees up against the front to keep from sliding through!

Carter, Jen and Sky, love those smiles!

Sky and Addison working on a colorful purse!

The three of them had a great morning and afternoon getting to know each other with the occasion being Tyson's Baptism and Confirmation that morning, followed with an *eat and greet* in the park for family and friends!

The DS Progression

Tyson with his new DS!

Lively Granddaughter's in action.

Sky and Kayleigh!

Mexican lunch for sure, but no recollection of the name. Kayleigh was too cute so while the others were selecting something wonderful, I was busy snapping pictures of this adorable Bambito!

Back to the DS progression story, Braydon actually asked for his for his 10th Birthday gift. (in June, the gift, not the birthday) In July, Sky turned 12 and the logical gift for her was a DSI since she, being a female pre-teen, would really enjoy the camera portion.

Amazingly, she has taken more pictures than the camera will hold and we had to get a memory card to save them all for her! Kayleigh likes to use her own *peuter*!

Braydon, the beginning of the DS Progression!

Look at that concentration! I'm not sure they are not in coma's while using these things, but that's because I haven't tried them yet, too busy buying and taking pictures!!

Isn't that what G'Ma's are for?

Sushi and Steaktable

We can't get together without eating at great places, is part of the game plan!
Sky's favorite Utah restaurant is a Japanese Steak House so we ate there on night one!!
( she may have changed her mind after the Brazilian Restaurant)
Braydon and Tyson are watching our chef create FIRE!!


Ranes favorite food, SUSHI!
He got enough to share, it was the best part of the meal!
Heather is her usual calm at a table full of clowns!

Papa John and Kayleigh got to share my end of the table.
We had a great time pretending we really could use chopsticks with enough proficiency to get our food down!

After a few intended fires, knife tricks and noodle scrambles, the chef tossed all a shrimp!
Sky is about to catch hers!!
(look at everyone else trying to help her)
What a great night!

Tyson's Baptism!

Papa John , Sky and myself flew to Utah to attend Tyson's Baptism!

We arrived on Thursday morning and immediately had hair and nail appointments

with our favorite beautician, Terri!!

(John abstained, Sky and I had the full treatment)

As we LOVE to do, we headed out to Meadow Elementary to wait for Braydon and Tyson to get out of school, see them run (in wide open gear) across the big field to meet us. I never would have thought that the very act of walking the route to or from school would be so fulfilling, but it sure is. Better yet, Kayleigh went with us and it was especially wonderful to have Sky there too!

You can see everybody's excitement in the picture, including Kayleigh and her new *Peuter*,

More activity at the school that evening, including a book fair, parent teacher chats, and a view of all of the great seasonal decorations at each classroom entrance.

The picture above was the school entrance with an entire wall of *friendship*!

Grandparenting is SO cool!!

The morning of Tyson's Baptism had Papa John looking for someone to tie his tie for him!

THANKS TYSON!

Braydon, Sky and Kayleigh are ready to go to church, Tyson has already gone with his Uncle Doug who, along with his Uncle Larry, will be doing the Baptism and Confirmation.

It was a most beautiful service that we will not forget, attended by many friends and family members. Papa John and I enjoy it as we feel so close to all of the Utah folks, is hard to be there very long without feeling the love! Even the church members have become familiar!

When we got to Church, Sky was especially happy to see Carter again, to meet Jen, Marty and Addison, who brought her a beautiful necklace that she will treasure forever!

What a day...full of peace, joy and love!!

I'm not sure it gets any better!

Nephew Jonathan

Jonathan ALWAYS shines to us!


GOOD JOB JONATHAN!!