August Activities

Just before Dick and I were to leave for separate vacations, Chris and Robert Packard came into town.  We had a nice meal with them and Mel and Lynda Smith and a great visit.  Then, off we went--I flew to Kansas and met Amy, Ashlynn and Elle.  We then drove up to Canton, Michigan to see our cute little Dalebout family there.  Dick, Scott Kimball and Sam Kimball went fishing in Canada.

When we arrived, Jacob and Owen were outside playing cowboy golf.  Matt had made the frames from sprinkler pipes and put two golf balls on the end of a 12 inch rope.  The boys then threw the rope and would try to wrap it around the pipe.  It was a fun game.

Elle and Ashlynn readily took to Anna and enjoyed playing with her.

We opened some presents.

The next day was Saturday, and we all went to Greenfield Village, Henry Ford's neat village, which housed the Wright Brothers home and bicycle shop, Thomas Edison's laboratory, and many more historic houses.  It was a picture-perfect day, about 75 degrees with a slight breeze.  It couldn't have been a better day, and we all had a great time.

Stacie, Amy and I

Elle, Stacie, Anna, Amy

We took a ride in an old Model T Ford.  We rode around the village. That's a fun thing to do.

The original Ford Motor Company

Jacob and Elle

A man in the Thomas Edison laboratory explains how Thomas Edison made sound.  He called it the first ipad.  Jacob and Owen were very interested.

Then, we went to a old-fashioned baseball game at Greenfield Village.  It was really a fun game.  The players dressed like they would in the 1800's and didn't play with gloves.  I bet that hurt.

After the game, we went over to the Cotswold house and took a picture with Matt, Amy and I.

We enjoyed a nice Sunday, just going to church and relaxing.

On Monday, we went to a mall and went shopping and then let the kids play on the mall toys.  They had a fun time.

Monday night, we had a nice family home evening and then went to the park for a competitive game of soccer.  All the kids and Matt really got into it.

Tuesday night, we had an early birthday party for Jacob,  great meal and cupcakes for all.

On Wednesday, it was time to go.  We tried a grandma picture with the grandkids, but Anna wasn't a happy camper.  She really wanted to sit on the bench, not on my lap.

Anna was a little happier when she could sit by herself.

We returned to Olathe--we took two days to drive back.  Then, it was time for school shopping, decorating lockers, seeing Sam's new school and enjoying time at Lake Quivira. 

Elle decorated her locker.

This is Sam's new school, St. Thomas Aquinas.

This is the common area on the inside of the school.

Lake Quivira with the stake youth of Amy's stake.  The kids enjoyed playing volleyball, and we enjoyed a ride on a pontoon boat with the stake Young Women's President, who lives in Lake Quivira and owns the boat.

Beautiful sunset at Lake Quivira

We also enjoyed a nice lunch with Bob Kimball at the Clubhouse at Lake Quivira.  I didn't get a picture this time.

Ashlynn, in her new skirt.  She looked so cute.  She is a gem. We had a great time.  It was so fun to be with Amy, Ashlynn and Elle for a couple of weeks.  Thanks to Amy for doing all of the driving to Michigan and back.  She was a rock.

When we returned, it was time to celebrate Ali's 14th birthday.  We went shopping for school clothes and then went to a fun little café in American Fork for lunch.  Love that Ali.

 

Then, we got to tend Lyla for a day.  We took her to feed the ducks.  She loved that.  She chased them all over.

We were also able to watch Matthew play a baseball game.  He did great, and he made some awesome hits.  Way to go Matthew.  It's nice to have their family back in Utah.  We sure have had fun with the grandkids this summer.