Taub arrives and a Labor Day Party

Taylor and Aubree arrived last week and we moved them in to the upstairs bedroom. They had a moving van full of their things, including the motorcycle that Taylor loves to ride. After 18 years of being a boys dormitory, it is beginning to look a lot more girly, thanks to Aubree's touch with some lace curtains and a pretty quilt. What a challenge.
Aubree looks excited to be here...in spite of the intense heat and the earthquakes.

The Labor Day party was a traditional hamburger barbecue and swim party. Grandpa and Winifred made it here along with a few of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The cute little Mortensen girls had fun swimming and eating.The Horspool women had a good visit while the kids are swimming and having fun. Mel, April, Tami and Amber are just relaxing while the kids swim and play. Tami, you don't look like you could have a baby any day! Andrew's favorite Uncle Mike is helping him dip his feet into the cool water. Rebecca's husband, Matt and their adorable new little boy, Cameron take a dip in the pool. He is just a little tyke and this was his first swim. Little Cameron relaxing in the arms of his Grandpa David seems to be quite content.
Brothers, Ray and David snuggle up with Cameron. He looks like he fits right in with the rest of the clan.

Happy Birthday Grandpa H

Today is Grandpa Horspool's 88th birthday. I took a delicious dinner of KFC over to him and Winifred and we enjoyed a nice visit. David and Margy brought carrot cake and ice-cream. Grandpa verified his birthday by looking at the date on the newspaper. He told me he was born in 1920. Then we sang "Happy Birthday" and he blew out the candle. The three oldest of his nine children were there to celebrate. It was a small but nice party to celebrate so many years of a great life. We're already talking about another Horspool family reunion with all those new cousins we discovered last year. Fun times!

Whitewater Rafting

Here are a few pictures of Paul's and Natalie's fun vacation in Colorado. Noticeably missing from the pictures are Riley and Madison, who were left behind for safety purposes. It looks like they had a great adventure. Thanks for the pictures, Paul. We miss you guys.

That's What Friends Are For

Christy invited me for a few days of fun and relaxation at Newport Beach. She said it was to thank me for the work I did on Kim's wedding. I told Christy that it will take me a lifetime to pay her back for all the help she has given me through the years on weddings, eagle scout courts of honors, missionary send-offs etc., etc., etc. How could I have done it all without Christy as my right hand man? I only hope I will be asked to help with anything that comes up in her future.
We had such a great time together going to fun restaurants, movies, shopping, and just talking. Everyone deserves a great friend and neighbor like Christy. I am truly blessed.

A Luau in the Mountains?

I had such a great time at YW Camp this week. We were at Camp Morning Star and I was in charge of the "Big Event" which was a luau. Many thanks to Tami and Amber for helping me hem twenty-eight table cloths in Hawaiian prints. We used them everywhere to decorate tables, wall, and windows. It made everything so colorful. The food is not out on this buffet table yet, but imagine the wonderful salads and fruits we were treated to later.
Coconut bowling was a fun game that we did a few days before the luau. The bottles doubled as bowling pins and centerpieces. The girls learned some Polynesian dancing as well as poi twirling and Maori stick games. It made for a fun competition during dinner.
Amber brought up some pretty hibiscus flowers to adorn our stage.
This place was really hopping during dinner. We had a D.J. and non-stop dancing. It was a crazy dance party with lots of delicious food and Hawaii shave ice. Everyone seemed to enjoy the whole night. We had hula dancers and stories outside at the amphitheater with tikki torches and a campfire. Call me crazy but it was so fun, I might even go next year!

From near and far...what cute grandkids they are!

We miss Emilee, Alix, Riley and Madison! They are growing so fast and becoming so beautiful.Here's little Ashlyn all decked out in her lei and huge flip flops.

Aloha. We miss you!
Here's little Andrew so cute and cuddly with Uncle Mike. Here's Spencer watching Ryan opening his birthday shirt I purchased in Hawaii. He was so excited, he started putting it on immediately.



Cool Ryan! A Hawaiian shirt with cars.

Uncle Bryan rigged up a pinata for the kids. Spencer broke it open with his mighty t-ball skills.Caitlyn, Kira and Grace were modeling in front of the pretty flowers.
I got a new hammock chair swing for Mother's Day. Grace and Raegan tried it out and sang "In the Leafy Treetops" while their feet went up into the little tree/plant.
I couldn't resist showing how pretty my flowers are looking this time of year.
Here's Grandpa with Caitlyn, Brinley, Staci, and Ryan and Tami in the background. It was a fun time to get together with the local grandkids and for one of the last parties with Grace and Raegan before they moved. We love all our grandkids. They're the best.

You're in the Army Now!

It took the army to pack up and move Bryan and Jamie - along with a huge moving van.

It was hard to leave the beautiful artwork on the wall in their back yard.
One last ride on the bike before it gets packed up.
It's all packed up and ready to go. Oklahoma or bust!