Leaky Charm: America the Beautiful

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I have experienced very little homesickness since we have been away this past year,...but the moment we landed in SLC and started boarding the plane for Idaho Falls, I was overwhelmed with the feeling, 'I'm home!!" It's amazing to me how just being with family who know you and love you makes all the difference. Sitting in my mom and dad's house and walking over to Nanny's is all I needed this summer.

First thing on the agenda....

Josh turns 7!

Happy Birthday!

He has fallen quite in love with soccer this past year and received England's Chelsea Football Uniform for his birthday. He was so cute and loved showing his cousins his new sport.

Nanny (age 94) loves to go for rides in the golf cart! It's so awesome.

My mom and dad got the golf course to ride around the farm in.

Wow! Were the kids ever in love with this new found freedom.

4 Generations!

We had a fun little party at the splash park with all the cousins.

Mindy's kids, Sophie and Spencer were even able to come

Bentley, Brookie, Aysia and Anne sunning it up!

Ty and Kash eating birthday cake

Carousel Riding

Bentley didn't want the extra to go to waste! She's SO dang cute!

Joshy is SUCH a great boy and we love him dearly. He is our upbeat, happy guy who's never met a stranger and is a friend to everyone. I can't imagine our family without his amazingly sweet spirit and vivacious personality. We love you so much Josh! Keep being great!

Next up..

Ty turns 9!

Happy Birthday Buddy!

One day later, we celebrated Ty's birthday by eating at a yummy burger restaurant, going to the movies with cousins, floating down the river in my parent's backyard and then golfing the next evening with all the guys.
It was such a fun day!

Ty, you have the sweetest smile and gentle heart. We love you so much and are so happy with the

great boy you are being and becoming. Your smile melts my heart and we love your determination to

do your very best all the time. You continue to be a voracious reader and we get such a kick out of

your ever-growing vocabulary and hilarious wit! We love you Ty-guy!
FLOAT TRIP

This is one of the most common and treasured sites of my childhood. Dad, (Papa) always with
his truck loaded, ready to haul anything and everything for anyone and everyone! (I didn't know people
could actually function without a pickup truck!) He always does the leg work to make sure we are all
happily enjoying ourselves. Love you so much Dad.

Yes! Even I will put up with the freezing cold water to float down the river!

Ty, Reggie and Robby

It wouldn't be a proper float without a bridge jump!

What a Dad!

Will, Mitchell, Mason, Reggie, Ike, Robby, Ty and Josh

We finally celebrated

IKE'S EAGLE SCOUT COURT OF HONOR

These are a few pictures we took before the event

Pictures of his Troop 441 in Ripon before we left last fall...

He honored one of his great scout leaders, Bill Hollingsworth, with the mentoring pin.

Troop 440

A picture of Ike's finished Eagle Project

He lead the project of replacing and repainting the Ripon HS baseball backstop.

Lots of amazing help from friends and leaders helped get this big job done.

The Celebration!

Congratulations Ike! Accomplishment is always worth the hard work.
Jim and Julie Gneiting, Jeff, Misti, Mitchell, Reggie, Mason, Papa, Mimi Grandma DaBell,
Nanny, Dyana,Jen, Natalie, Mary Kay, Chris, Gary, Roger,
Jason Rusty, Spencer, Brittany, Robby and Ike

How many children get to have two great-grandmothers (ages 93 and 94)
be at their Eagle Court of Honor!

James Gneiting was our Scout Representative as we were no longer living in California.
I grew up around Brother Gneiting and he is such a great family friend and did a fantastic job.

This is when Ike pinned the mom and dad pins on us,
and we pinned his medallion on him.

The Eagle's Nest
Uncle Jeffrey, Mithell, Jim Gneiting, Ike, Uncle Rusty, Uncle Gary and Uncle Jason!

Ike spoke about his experiences and he did such a nice job.
We love you Ike!

Mom and Dad opened their beautiful home for all our family and friends,
aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents who could make it.
Thank you to everyone for all your love and support.

Dyana, Brittany, Misti, Jen and Natalie

Remi, Dad, Grandma DaBell, me, Spencer, Natalie, Misti and Mitchell

All I can say is...Natalie is VERY funny!

I loved this day!

Dyana drove all the way up from Las Vegas, after visiting her darling sister Alisha is Utah, just to come spend one night at my parent's house to catch up! She came the day of the Court of Honor. What an amazing friend!!

Dyana and Alisha xx

Off to Island Park and Yellowstone National Park

Our family favorite stopping point!

Targee Cocktail Springs

We got to stay at my amazing Aunt Mary Kay and Uncle Roger's stunning cabin for three days. It was so much fun and we had a blast being together. The weather was perfect and the kids were so much fun.

Doing my favorite thing...floating down the river from Aldon's to Mack's Inn

Sending our love to the Tall's for inviting us to stay!

Going into Yellowstone and seeing the paint pots and Old Faithful

Always in competition...Ike and Reg

Favorite comment of the day..

Anne, "This would have been really helpful to see this before studying about

geothermal energy this year in school. Now I get it!"

Visiting the wonderful Playmill Theatre! They sang happy birthday to Josh and Ty.

Celebrating the 4th of July!

This is really why we love coming home during this time of the year...to celebrate the 4th with our family in Menan and Rexburg! Best races for the kids and really spectacular firework show as well as a great fun parade!

We cheered on Remi with her First Runner-up Young Women of the Year!

The family races in Menan

4th of July Basketball Tournament!

Scout Camp for the South boys and

Ike joined them in Island Park

Uncle Jason is the current Scout Master

The boys spent 40 hours one week at Ankle Breakers Basketball camp when we were in Rexburg.

Ike stated, after I asked him is the camp was fun, "No, but I learned A LOT!" They went everyday with a smile and never complained about being there all day. It was just handwork and they all seemed to love it!