Photography Keepsakes – Page 18 – Brian, Julie, 4 girls, and one little dude Elcock

The Wardles are coming…..The Wardles are HERE!!

The Wardles have come and gone and it was all too short and sweet. It all started Sunday after church. I called Jami and she informed us they would be driving down within the hour. The girls were running around the house trying to somewhat pick up and I was running around in the kitchen getting some dinner on. I was getting more and more excited to see my long lost Surprise friend, Jami. She’s not just any friend she shares with me many things. She is my… bunco partner in crime, jogging confidant, girls night out planner, gym guru extraordinair, Target aficionado, Marley Park PTA representative, candy aholic, Sweet-soul-Sonic-slush-sister, listener/lamenter of the summer heat, and partner out front watching the kids tear the neighborhood apart. Man I miss her! So when she pulled up, the girls were squealing with excitement and I’ll admit so was I.

We got to eat some dinner together–Brian was so outnumbered (9 girls/1boy)and he kept hoping that Rob was coming. After dinner we got to catch up and talk some and then we went to the Discovery Park here in Pleasant Grove. We pretty much let the kids run–barefoot and all while we sat and talked like we always do. The girls practiced their gymnastics. Ashley has been practicing her back handspring–You Go Girl! There were lots of cartwheels going on. I think the kids really had a good time.

We came back home and the kids played a little bit longer–had to fit it in. While Jami & I talked about what color scooter we’re going to get, the girls played Hide and seek all over the house! We sure miss the Wardle girls at our house! They all looked so cute and have grown a bit too. Jami couldn’t believe how much little Gwen has changed. She says she reminds her of Grace. Kasey is turning into a little girl with beautiful curls. Ashley is getting taller and will be going into 4th grade?!? And Miss Bailey seems happy as ever–confident and full of life! Abigail and Lucy chased their car as they pulled out to leave and Brian sat there on the porch for a while. He soon confided that having the Wardles over made him the most homesick for Arizona he’s been yet. I guess being around all the girls and talking to Jami about Surprise and all the AZ friends will do it. Thanks for making the time to stop by, Jami, it was great. We missed you, Rob! As always more photos here http://www.flickr.com/photos/midder/

I gotta have more cowbell . . .

[googlevideo]71770844627024590[/googlevideo]

That’s all.

Children’s Discovery Gardens

This is Jules Vern–as Natalie Kidd calls me. Thought I would write about the last batch of photos we uploaded. We are so glad the Steele’s were able to make some time to see us over the 4th holiday. We know that they have oodles of family & friends here in Utah. When we met up at the gardens there were squeals and giggles and then it was like we’d never been apart. Sheri suggested the Children’s Discovery Gardens which is owned by Thanksgiving Point. I am embarrassed that I hadn’t ever heard of it but was glad to experience it. It is located just north of the golf course.

It was amazing with a huge ark with animals hanging out and water squirting everywhere. Abigail was my helper with little Gwen in the water. Lucy was Lucky to have Sydney play with her and show her the sights. Grace and Izzy were super-glued together most of the time. We were able to walk around the Garden and enjoy the amazing sights and flowers. I have never seen Lily Pads like that. They had a bear cave that the kids kept running through–Lucy wouldn’t even think of it or get near it! Then there were the mazes made of bushes that the children could literally run through. Sheri and I realized after looking at the map that we had only really seen 1/5 of the total gardens. I think there were a total of 55 acres of gardens–AMAZING! We’ll definitely be going back.

We decided to call it short and sweet and left the gardens after about an hour or so to go eat @ the cafe at Thanksgiving Point. Sheri & the girls gave both Abigail & Grace the cutest silver charm bracelets with princess crowns. They’re so fun and the girls are excited to add charms to them. Sheri also made Abigail a beautiful detailed frame with Abby’s baptism picture and notions (I have no idea how you fit that in Sheri). It matches her room and she loves it.

Over lunch the girls all played Madlibs. I had forgotten how much I used to love to do that! Abigail and Grace played it into the evening and I’ve never seen them laugh so hard! Sheri’s girls also started singing a song I haven’t heard since girls camp. My girls were hesitant at first but have been practicing ever since and love it. We ended with ice cream–it was so picturesque to see all of them lined up on their swivel stools eating ice cream in the old fashioned parlor. Kindof Normal Rockwellish. The Steele’s newest addition, Lily, has beautiful skin and big eyes like the others. She is such a happy and content baby. We are glad we finally got to meet her!

Toward the end of our visit, Grace & Isabelle were trying to revamp the plans to cook up a sleepover but both Sheri and I had separate family parties that evening. They were good sports saying goodbye but we promised we’d be seeing each other not too far down the road. Good times and good memories!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/midder/

Independence Day

The 4th of July is always a big bang-up celebration here in Utah with Julie’s family. And this year was no exception. Luckily Aunt Marilyn was good enough again this year to get us all seats on the bleachers at the big parade in Provo. The difference this year is that the seats were on University Avenue instead of down on Center Street. Traditionally, we have seats anywhere from about 4th West to 7th West on Center Street, which puts us near the end of the parade. Our seats were on about 10th North on University Avenue, which put us right at the beginning.We left the house a little late (as usual) with Grandma and Grandpa Elcock piling in for good measure. We found a parking spot over by the hospital and walked over to our seats, just in time for the first of the festivities. It was quite a struggle trying to push a two kid stroller through all of those people. Then we had to find somewhere to stash it while we were in our seats. The parade was fun, as it always is. There was this awesome lady sitting by us in the bleachers who was a crack-up in all of her red, white, and blue garb.

It turned out to be a good thing that we were at the front. Usually we’re lucky to get back to the BBQ festivities by noon. This year we got back with plenty of time to spare. The traffic as we were leaving gave Julie another opportunity to point out how nice it would be to ride her “scootie” through the cars. That’s Julie talk for “I need a scooter, now!” We’ll see.

Uncle David and Aunt Marilyn volunteered (or were volunteered, I’m not quite sure) their home for lunch and stuff after the parade. They just got done putting in an enormous pool and we were all excited to go cool off a bit. The pool is pretty much a full lap pool that Marilyn swims in everyday. The pools here in Utah are basically concrete with this plastic/vinyl stuff coated on it. It’s pretty neat. And, as my dad and I both found out, very slippery. We both about killed ourselves stepping on the steps. Apparently feet don’t grip that surface as much as it does the Pebble Tec surfaces that we’re used to. Now we know. David and the rest had a great meal that we all dutifully devoured. Speaking of food, here’s the recipe for the marinade that I used on the day of Abby’s baptism. We’ve had a few requests for it. It’s called West Coast Marinade and is compliments of Julie’s sister, Lisa (at least I think it comes with her compliments):

1 cup salad oil
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup prepared mustard
1 tablespoon black pepper
2 cloves minced garlic

Mix all ingredients together. Marinate your meat overnight and enjoy!!

After the swimming and festivities, we scattered for well-needed naps and regrouping. Julie decided that Gwenyth and Lucy were too hammered to go to the Stadium of Fire, so they ended up staying home (at Jenkins’, that is). We were a little disappointed that they didn’t get to come, but it turned out to be a good decision because the night was pretty crazy. Lucy was so tired that she fell asleep on the coffee table at Grandma Jenkins’ house.

We left for the stadium about an hour or so before the program was to start. I got a little worried when I started seeing cars parked on the side of the road a good 2 miles from the stadium. I had never been to a BYU game where I didn’t just walk to the game, or where I didn’t have a parking pass. So I had no idea that it would be such a madhouse. We parked our mile or so away from the stadium and walked in. It was good to see Catherine, Annie, Patti, and Larry. Patti was the one that got us the great tickets. Thank you! Isabelle and Braden were there as well and they just loved it.

The show was better than I thought it would be. I didn’t know much about the music of Brooks and Dunn, but they put on a great show. Abigail, Grace, and Margaret thought they were pretty hot stuff sitting out on the end of the row. The fireworks were really spectacular and seemed to go on forever. It took us a few days to get home with all the traffic, but it was well worth it in the end.

Julie ended up taking the girls for a low-key fireworks show somewhere in Orem. Is there such thing as low-key with Lucy? All in all, it was a good day. If I was philosophic and was reading a book about John Adams like I was when I was a loner, I might have something profound to say. But, unfortunately, I’m not, so I just have this:

Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves. — Abraham Lincoln

Happy Independence Day

http://www.flickr.com/photos/midder/

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
				1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17
18	19	20	21	22	23	24
25	26	27	28	29	30