Beating the Heat

While waiting for the BBQ Jeremy & I set up Madelynn's new pool in his sister's back yard to allow the three kids to cool down during the 104 degree day.

Freedom Festival Parade

On the morning of the fourth we met up with family, and went to the Freedom Festival Parade in  Provo.  Madelynn has never been to a parade, but we were happily surprised at how well she behaved.  The floats, the bands, the Miss Cities all entranced her.

The nuggets MaKayla, Evan, and Madelynn patiently waiting for the parade to start.

 The random floats, and emergency personnel of the parade.            

Madelynn was so polite and waved at everyone save for Chatfez, Lee & Herbert.

Dear Ol' AF High...

The Firm

As I wait for my photos to load from the weekend I am writing a blog about my job.  It has been 10 weeks working as a paralegal to Jason Schatz.  I have never loved my job as much as I love this one.  I feel like I am finally in the field of work I've always wanted to be in.  It motivates me to finish college, and toy with the idea of going further than a bachelor's degree.

I received big news this week.  The firm ended my probation early.  I had four weeks left, and they decided they didn't need them to decided whether or not I am a keeper. Since I did pass probation, I received a mystery raise.  The partners are giving the paralegals a raise because of some extra duties we are to take on. Jason, on a rare moment of coyness, asked if he should tell us what it is, but the office manager smiled and said to left us see on the 15th.

Every day I am amazed at the response I got from the legal community when  the news came out I was coming back.  It doesn't take away from me not wanting to be in Utah, but the firm gives me a respite from being here for nine hours a day,

Sunday at Deer Creek

I wish I had thought to get more pictures than I did, but I only have four (and those were thanks to my sister-in-law) to share.

Instead of the usual popcorn and pizza at one of our homes, Angela suggested hot dogs at the lake.  The lake being Deer Creek Reservoir, which is just south west of Heber. Poor Darren's family had been suffering from an unidentified bug, but were able to make it.

Jeremy and I floated on giant yellow inner tubes.

Angela, Dad, Matthew and Madelynn went on a boat.  We didn't get a picture of that.

Bella is too small for any water fun, and she hadn't been feeling well, so she sat on the beach side.

Later we barbecued hot dogs, and had a family picnic in a pavilion on the shore.  All in all I think it was a pleasant day.

Madelynn is a Put On

I've never met a bigger ham than Madelynn.  I don't know where she gets it from.

Sunday Dinners

The paternal side of our family growing up always got together nearly every Sunday to have Popcorn and Pizza.  Even with families moving away, and the cousins becoming married and starting families it is amazing to see how many of us carry on the tradition.

Geocaching with the Joneses

I wish I had been smarter about planning our Geocaching adventure with Mom and John.  I forgot to download the caches locations.  I knew my GPS would work in the mountains, but forgot to find if caches exist I would need the internet.  So instead of finding the ten or twelve hidden along our route we found one at the beginning and one at the end.

The first required some billy goating so Mom was a trouper and stayed at the bottom with Madelynn so John, Jeremy and I could go and find it.

Penguin's Point

The end cache we all looked for.  This was Mom's first cache and she should be proud of herself.

Alpine Scenic Highway

[Some] Flower Girl Pictures

Ms. Madelynn was asked by her aunt Amanda to be one of the flower girls in the wedding.   These are a few of the photos Grandma Myker was able to capture.

Play Ball!

I thought as much as my OCD wants me to put all the events in chronological order, it will take me forever and I will forget about the things happening in the now.

It has been hot in Utah.  Miserably hot during the days, but during twilight the air starts to cool and lends itself to BBQs and family games.

Dad and Angie have a hammock swing in the back yard.  It is one of Madelynn's favorite things about Poppa's house.  She wanted Jeremy to sit with her this time.

Madelynn is quite the little softball player...well T-Ball player...well I'm not sure.  She can throw a ball and [sometimes] hit the ball pretty far.  All I know is she loves it, and is athletic for a preschooler.  Poppa, Jeremy and I all got into the action at some point during the night.

Madelynn playing with Daddy and Poppa.

Easter Weekend

We spent Easter weekend on the Whidbey.  We went up on Friday night, and stayed with the Reeds through Sunday.

Saturday was such a beautiful day we decided to take the kids to the park.  While at the park I decided to  go geocaching.  I found the first one by the swing set, but the second required a little hike.  The whole family went on the back trials behind Fort Nugent park to find a clever cache by following the reflective dots on trees.

On Sunday morning the nuggets did the whole Easter basket thing, which in years past we had not done, but this year Madelynn had one because we were at the Reeds.

Finally the little ones found eggs out in the yard.