When Guptills Attack!

We love it when our families visit! The Guptills came to visit the area a few weeks ago and we were happy to be able to see them a few times while they were here.

We were able to go down to Gladstone for one of the Kenner cousin's baptism and John’s baby blessing. Afterwards we came back to the Guptill house and made a ruckus for a few hours. Thanks, Mom and Pop Guptill for letting us all invade!

Then a few days later the Guptills came up to Vancouver and played with some of our toys and had some dinner with us. Matthew was not afraid to hold the snake. Magnus was interested in John and we had to make sure no one’s eyes got poked as they regarded each other. Magnus likes to meet babies by putting his face as close as humanly possible to theirs. Here he is giving John a hug.

After dinner we made a trip to a little playground by our house. Everyone had a fun time exploring a little bit. Eventually the bigger kids all made it to the swings. Some people wanted underdogs, which Emily is experienced at providing.

We came back to the apartment and said our good-byes. We’re sorry to see you moving so far away, but we’re glad you’re still in the same country! Have fun in Illinois!

Triple Falls with the youth

I volunteered to go with the Teacher’s Quorum on one of their practice hikes for their big hike this summer. They let me pick the hike and I figured Triple Falls fit the parameters pretty well, especially since none of them had been there before.

 

 

 

We started at Horsetail Falls headed up to Ponytail Falls.

The trail is a very pretty one, with some nice views and lots of waterfalls.

We had a short stop at Upper Oneonta Falls and continued up to Triple Falls. The boys had a very fast pace and we made it up the 2.5 miles in about an hour.

We explored around Triple Falls for a while.

 

The weather was great. It took another hour to get back to the car The whole hike was a little over 5 miles.

On the way home we did a quick stop at Crown Point.

Dana Turns 30!

It was a very busy weekend for Dana’s Birthday and Father’s Day.

Saturday (6/15/13) afternoon we went to Gene Marsh’s birthday party. He shares my birthday of June 17, and I have known him since I was a kid. He was my Primary teacher when I turned 8, and he was the one who baptized me. This year he celebrates his 70th birthday and I my 30th. I was glad we could go to his party.

 

 

Saturday is also when one of my best friends, Ryan, and his wife, Kathrin, arrived from Arizona. So, we had a get-together at a park for a lot of the people we hung out with in high school. It was a nice little reunion and we were happy to see so many.

 

 

 

Sunday was Father’s Day, and we spent that down in Salem with my dad and Terry.

Monday, June 17, was my birthday. My best friend, Brian, had his birthday the day before, so we made a cake for him too. Ryan and Kathrin, the Guptills, Terry’s son Ryan, plus my family were all able to come. Before dinner we had some time to pick berries in the yard.

Dinner was rice with chicken and sauce, a favorite of mine. Look at all the happy people:

Ruth made me a vanilla cake with root beer frosting; and for Brian, a Boston Cream Pie. Magnus put three candles in each cake for 30. Happy Birthday!

Ivan and Terry got me this really cool mounted beetle display.

Thanks for the fun and exciting weekend, everybody.