August 3rd through August 9th

 August 3rd through August 9th:  Monday, I worked all day
at John’s house. In the evening we went to Lee and Connie Crayk’s home for a reunion of temple missionaries from the Cochabamba mission.  It was so fun to see each other and laugh and remember all the great times we had serving together in Cochabamba.  We of course were recruiting all of them to sign up for another mission, only this time to Guatemala.  Most are going to think about it.  

Just sitting around reminiscing.

And of course eating.

This is the group: L to R me, mom, Ted and Sharon Jackman, they just returned from being counselors in the temple presidency in Costa Rica, Ken and Eve Winkfield, Lee and Connie Crayk, Diana and Lynn Crayk, Bob and Tammy Cardon, and Linda and Dale Dibb.

Tuesday, we got up early and went to a session at the temple.  The Bountiful temple just opened up Tuesday after being closed for 2 weeks.  I had another fun day working at John’s house.  I bought a tile saw.  What with the bathroom and the fireplace and possibly another bathroom for Charlotte, it just made sense to buy one instead of renting every time I would need to cut tile.  

Trying to get the brick prepped for marble.

Wednesday, I woke up early and got picked up at 5:10am and went to Ogden to the church cannery to can green beans.  The crew we worked with canned about 100 cans every minute.  We got done about 11:00am and I spent the rest of the day at John’s.  Mom got to John’s at 7:00am she is tending their kids for 2 days while Jill attends a class to keep her certification in special ed. current.  Thursday, Mom tended again, which really involves being a chauffeur, driving their kids from swimming lessons to dance, soccer, and football practice.  I worked on the bathroom.  

The tile is installed in the bathroom.

As soon as Jill got home, we hurried home and got showered and then went to dinner with the Rigbys and the Christensens from are old ward in Salt Lake.  The Christensens have just returned from South Korea where they served as mission president.  It was fun to catch up on their lives and the lives of their kids.  Blake Rigby is serving in a young single adult ward bishopric and asked us to speak in his ward next Sunday.  We are happy to have the opportunity to talk and share some of our experiences.  

Brent and Sharron Christensen.  Sorry, Rigbys.  You left before we remembered to take a picture for my blog.

When that coat of thin-set drys I will be able to set the marble.

Friday, I went in early to the temple department and dropped off forms and information that they needed.  Then it was back to John’s house.  I got the last of the tile set in the bathroom and the marble on the hearth set. In the afternoon, Mom and I went through boxes we have left at Charlotte’s to either have shipped to Guatemala or to be sent to DI or to be somehow crammed into the storage unit.  We are also tending Charlotte and Alex’s kids for 2 days.  They have taken off for a little anniversary celebration.  Tilda will just have to learn to like us now.  

Saturday, Mom took Luke and Jake to Stanford’s birthday party.  He turned 5 years old.  

Mom at Stanford's birthday party.

Games, Games and more Games.

She left me at John’s home with a few of the kids.  They were good and I was able to get a lot done.  I finished the grouting of the bathroom floor and I set the marble on the front of the hearth and got the plywood substrate attached to the brick.  Now I can start to build the mantle.  

Tile grouted check.

The marble is set on the hearth and the plywood substrate is attached to the brick.  Now the real work begins. 

Sunday after church, we went to John’s home for a Family Home Evening and we gave a lesson on the priesthood.   Next Sunday, our oldest grandson, Badger, will receive the Aaronic Priesthood.  Then we helped get dinner ready.  It was the Sunday family dinner.  James and Kirstin had an obligation and, of course, Ginny’s family lives in California, but we had 19 people for dinner and it was delicious.  I got to make the gravy.  We also celebrated Moose’s birthday.  He turned 10 on Saturday.  

Kate made rolls for Sunday dinner.  Yum,  I had 4.

John cooked 2 roasts.

Some of the gang for Sunday dinner. In this picture, we are only missing kids.  We can't get them all to be still at the same time.

Princess Anna visited us.  AKA Ellie.

Moose blowing out his candles.  Jill made the best lemon cake with cream cheese frosting.  It was to die for.

We stayed really busy all week and got a lot accomplished.  There are nine more weeks until our training seminar.  I hope I can get everything done.  Last night, I fell into bed at 8:30pm and slept until 5:00am.  You would think that would be enough rest, but we feel tired all the time.  We must be getting old.