Rope Swing at the River

Saturday morning we headed to the rope swing over the Portneuf River - in Pocatello.  It was about 90 degrees and the cool water felt real good.

 Kate took the first picture and Dad this one...recognize Granny's flannel sheet anyone?  Ben got that for Kate when she asked him to get a beach blanket - it worked fine!

 Beautiful Sydney enjoying the river.

 Joel getting the rope to Anna - so she can jump in.

 Cute kids!

Kate and Anna in the water, Joel on the swing, Sydney watching -- we had the place all to our selves for a few minutes - another family was there when we arrived, they left and we had a great time - Grandma even used the rope swing!  Then about 20 others came and we left!!  Fun event!

Sydney visits - Concert at ISU

 Sydney drove to Pocatello from Rexburg Wednesday after her classes - she is taking two Praxis tests at ISU - one in English Education - Thursday, and the other in Art Education on Friday.  She will stay with us Saturday and Sunday - yay!  Katie told us about a free concert at the quad at ISU - Summer Fest - every Thursday all summer - really fun.

 Kate remember her big umbrella and camp chair for Dad - in her car - she went back and got them for us.

 Neighborhood girls and Anna - Joel being silly!

 Anna and two friend had a slumber party on our deck!  They had a good time sleeping on that hard surface.

 Pretty cute and fun!

Young bones don't mind hard surfaces!  Grandpa made yummy pancakes for everyone.

Father's Day, YSA

 We were happy to have the Mortensen's join us for Father's Day dinner - ham and mashed potatoes...homemade apple pie!

 It was a nice dinner and Dad appreciated all the cards and gifts - we have the best kids and grandkids.

 FHE with our YSA 9th ward - at Alameda Park.

 YSA BBQ - and softball games - good food and lots of softball.

Dad and Bishop Bybee at the BBQ.

Jamaica Kingston Mission Party

 On Saturday, June 20th - we drove to Mapleton - to a Mission reunion party - Elder Michael Nugent - here in the red shirt - had organized a pot luck for all of us to enjoy.  Elder Nugent's grandfather was the first Jamaican baptized in Jamaica... Victor Nugent, you may have read about him in the Ensign.

 We served with Elder Conder in Ochie, Elder Brockbank in Junction and Elder Trumpet in Yallas!

 This is Victor Nugent - wonderful Jamaican saint for a long time - everyone in Jamaica knows him or of him. His wife was busy with grandkids when we took the picture.

 Yummy food table - the older man to the right served in the Jamaican Government for a while - he alerted the mission president to the fact that the government had decided to start arresting the foreign missionaries.  The missionaries were sent to Florida overnight and the next day the mission reported to the government they had no illegal missionaries on the island.  They gradually came back to the gov. approval!

 Pineapple and mango - my meat patties and coleslaw - Jamaican favorites.

 Authentic 'jerk' chicken - totally spicy and yummy - just like on the island.

 Curried goat, I think - didn't ask where they got the goat meat from!!

 Fried plantains - banana - good!

 This may also be curried goat - there were several Jamaican families there - and the all brought Jamaican food.  One sister we talked to works at the University of Utah - she has been in the states for 14 years.

 Stewed peas (beans) with dumplings.

Elder Trumpet, Elder Conder, Elder Brockbank, Elder McCready, Elder Kartchner with wife and son!
It is amazing how much you learn to love the people you serve - and those you serve with!  

Kurt and Emily and kids visit Pocatello

Friday, June 19, Kurt and Emily and kids stopped on their way to Idaho Falls.  They had attended a funeral in Logan and visited with Emily's sister there.  We had a fun lunch, Kate and kids came also - Ben was at work.  We all walked down the park path to Kate's house and Kurt told Dad how to fix the leaking roof - without replacing the whole roof!

Trying to take a picture with all the grand kids - key word - trying!  I guess Joel is making sure his feet are still there!

 Still trying - Kurt coming out of the house and Sav thinking he stepped on her tow!  Clark and Faye being sweet as they are.

 Okay -this is as good as it gets!  Joel and Christian wanting to play catch not take pictures!

 On the way back up the hill to our house, Savanna picked a bouquet of wild flowers - what a pretty girl.

 Fun lunch - Spam sandwiches and corn dogs!

 Grand kids climbing the pine tree next door - it's a great climbing tree!

 In Joel's room - playing video games.

Savanna on the Jamaican swing in the Mortensen's back yard.  

Sydney's Finish!

Hooray!  Here comes Sydney to the finish line ... the announcer said each runner's name as they came down the finish lane.

 Getting hydrated after the race... she wasn't really winded - said she felt she could run more...I told her, next year the whole Marathon!

 Finish after running over thirteen miles - way to go!

 What an awesome accomplishment - so proud of her.

When we took Sydney back to her apartment, in the parking lot there was this motorcycle that had been TP'ed!

Sydney's Half Marathon

 On Saturday, June 13th we drove to Rexburg to see Sydney and cheer her on in her race...a long 13+ miles - a half marathon.

 Here is the happy runner just before the start of the race.

 She is in the middle of the pack - between the two women in blue shirts, black pants on the left.

 This was mile 8 - she was running strong and had enough energy to wave to us as we cheered for her.

Another picture - just about mile 9 - it was really out in the potato fields.

Brigham City Temple

 On Friday, June 12th, we drove to Brigham City and attended the temple there.  We had gone to the open house a couple years ago, but this was our first time to serve there.  It is small - and beautiful!

 A nice sister took our picture - my we are getting old!

The Brigham City Pioneer Tabernacle is right across the street from the Temple - love it!

Temple Square

 On Thursday, June 4th - Lindsey had work meetings in Salt Lake - she drove our car up and we brought the kids up in her car.  We parked on 2nd North - across the street from my Smith Grandparents old house.  It was fun to tell the kids about it - all the times we visited there and when Sue and I stayed for three days, we slept in Aunt Ethel's gable bedroom at the top of the house - and pushed out the screen - Grandpa wasn't too happy with us for that!  Another story - this house is on the north side of 2nd North - one night a drunk driver drove up the front stairs - on his way home to Murray.

 We next visited the Conference Center,  here are the kids and the Joseph Smith statue - their 5th great grandfather's cousin! George A. Smith went on Zion's Camp march as a teenager...actually he didn't have any boots and Joseph gave him some.

 There were kind 'tour' guides that let us just peek in and see the wonderful conference center.  One of the guides came up to me and asked if my name was Dianne - she went to Jordan High School, she was the older sister of Dale and Darrell Smith - twins who were in our grade - Derrell and my age.  Sister Dianne Roden - fun to see her and introduce her to Dad and the grandkids.

 Lindsey finished her meetings and met us for more viewing of Temple Square.  Lindsey took this picture - Olivia wanted to go clear up to the top of the waterfall... we didn't have enough time this trip.

 Love this picture, love the Savior and all the family!

 With Lindsey at the fountain - we had a great time.  We saw the security tents being set up for Elder Perry's funeral on Friday - it is always so nice to be on Temple Square.

The kids with the temple in the background - yes there were many wedding parties taking pictures! The kids all threw a penny in the fountain and wished a wish!  My greatest wish is that they would all marry in the temple when the time comes.