Jumpin' Joyful July!

July started off with TONS of JOY as Jon was able to baptize and confirm sweet little Heidi Nunley as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This photo captures many of the missionaries who were all part of preparing her for this great event in her life. She chose to be baptized on July 4th ... a real celebration! Her father died a year before on that day, and she wanted to make a negative day into a positive one. What an example she is to her family, our ward and to us.



July was very full of many wonderful happy events. Jon and I celebrated my birthday by going out to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and to the Mormon Youth Symphony 30th anniversary concert. We also saw a couple fun plays - one at Hale Theater: Wedding Singer, and at Desert Star playhouse: Big Fat Mormon Wedding. We also were able to attend the Pioneer Pops Concert and the uplifting Tabernacle Choir concert at the Conference Center. A very musical month.

As you'll see from all these photos, I love being a grandma and taking pictures of my sweet family...
Photos of sweet little Janie. She has tried for a couple months to learn to jump. She has finally accomplished that feat although I don't have pictures of it.



Funny girl--clamping down on spoon sideways. Always experimenting.



Loves being on Grandma & Grandpa's bed!



Trying to stand on her head.



Loves to play shopping with her animals in the old shopping cart my girls used to play with.



Field trip day with Chris, Kylie and Janie. We first went to the International Peace Gardens and practically had the whole place to ourselves... where I got some great photos of the kids. We then hit the Discovery Museum.






LAGOON!!! A few of us went up early on Monday the 11th to enjoy our Stake Lagoon Day. It was HOT! It was FUN! Later in the day, many of the other family came up for a picnic but forgot to get any pictures then.






One week I had the privilege of tending 7 of my 8 grandchildren. I had loads of fun with all these beautiful children. It was a little chaotic, but good times prevailed.

Janelle was such a great help, but she really enjoyed herself too, surrounded by nieces and nephews. This first picture is of them watching Laura's blog of Ella. They loved the video of her laughing.



Here we are at a free-lunch park enjoying the day, each in their own way.



Kyle, sucking the juice out of his orange instead of peeling it.



After eating lunch in the shade of a tree, they loved chasing seagulls, playing catch with Janie's monkey, and rolling down the hills.





On the night of my birthday with all of these grandkids, we went up to the Spruces to cook dinner - hot dogs and tin foil dinners.



I wanted a picture of all my grandkids and me for my birthday. I had to include all three shots because it shows how different and unique they all are and what a challenge to get all 7 posing for the camera.







This next picture was hilarious to watch. Janie kept going up to Dave's car and talking to her reflection in Dave's shiny bumper.



Brian & Courtney's children were with me several days (and nights). They obeyed me so well all week and were delightful to be around. Janelle & I decided to visit Temple Square with them one hot Friday (since I had a little business to do at the RSB). We really enjoyed our day together visiting many of the buildings and sites as well as eating in the COB cafeteria.

I love this photo of Janelle in front of the RSB... in the shadow of the temple!



Outside on the Plaza by the RSB.



Zac, Savannah & Janie in front of the huge fountain.



Eternally ours....



Love this photo in the RSB... so sparkly and golden looking.



One July evening, our ward RS sisters met downtown at the COB to go on the Temple Square garden tour. I took lots of pictures of the flowers, but I liked these pictures best.







On July 24th, our family didn't do the usual Pioneer parade down with the Johnsons at Liberty Park. We found a picnic spot at Ledgemere up Big Cottonwood Canyon, and cooked breakfast together.





The kids loved throwing rocks into the stream.







Part of the fun for me was seeing my kids relaxed, kicking back and talking together.



Zac walking towards river, enjoying morning at picnic site.



As we waited outside the cave, Janie was scared because her parents went into the dark hole. Here are some fun candid shots with her aunts.





Christopher & Kyle emerging from cave.



Cute grandkids above cave.



Monkey Mark...hanging from a tree... Is this why Janie likes monkies?



Walking back from cave.





It definitely was a full month with event-filled days with grandkids and family. Good memories, fun times. And last but not least, I have to include my favorite picture of Ella (and Mike) from Laura's blog this past month. So cute of them... so animated and happy... it really captures how she loves life!