Go D-backs!!

As in years past, we scored some great D-backs tickets from Delta Dental! This year we got to enjoy the event with Noelle and Andrew. You can blame them for the matching t-shirt fiasco!

The game was awesome...and we'll take the credit for it! (okay...maybe it was the t-shirts)
After a somewhat disappointing season thus far, we were excited to have attended a winning game (4-3 final score).

Go D-backs!!

Treasured Moments

We love great friends who treasure our finer moments as much as we do!

You got us on this one! Thanks for the gift Noelle & Andrew!

Fun in Flagstaff

Camping with the family is always entertaining! It is never without good food, lots of laughs, and a little drama. Here is the visual recap of the weekends events:

It all began early one morning on the 3rd day of July at the Cinder hills....ahhhh..I'll just get to the point. Notice the chair Margayle is sitting in (it is still in one piece...that will be relevant in a second).

Mom!! What are you doing down there?

...and yes that would be Margayle's chair that is now in pieces. Notice how quick we were to help. Sorry mom, we couldn't miss this Kodak moment!

I guess it serves us right...our trip to the hills was cut short by a massive thunderstorm, but even that was entertaining.

Where are you going with those things? The truck is the opposite direction!!

Our family spirit squad!! Aren't they cute?

We thought it would be a great idea to watch the Independence Day parade downtown. And it was!! Despite the mile walk to get there, the swealtering heat, and the hoards of people, we had a great time. Just for the record, you can thank my loud mouth for the free popsicles and Margayle's new pajamas!

The adoring fans!

(our umbrellas sure came in handy AGAIN)

The not-so-adoring fan!

Who goes to a parade and doesn't watch it? WHITNEY. I hope you found the article you were reading on stained concrete more entertaining!

Thanks for the great meal Mindee!

I just have one thing to say as your little sis... the rag on the head went out of style years ago!

Some people are cut out for banana bikes and others are not. How do you find out if you are? You gotta try one...so we did! This was definetely the most enjoyable 1/2 hour of the trip! Thank you Mom for letting us discover with you that you may be in the latter category! However, to mom's credit, I don't think any of us made the cut, but we sure had fun trying!

I think he may be on to something here!

Free hayrides and popcorn! We couldn't resist!

Is it obvious that mom teaches nursery? She brought up holiday pinwheels for us to make. Thank you mom for thinking ahead. It was the perfect rainy day activity!

The girls...don't you love the matching shirts? Just in case you are thinking, we are good, but we're not that good...it was planned!

This year is the first year I can remember actually enjoying a fireworks show! It is always so hot in the valley that the show is almost not worth the 3 hours you have to sit in the heat waiting for it. We had a great view of the show in Flagstaff. I have never watched people actually lighting the fireworks....but I must say it was almost as amazing as the fireworks themselves. I think this may become a family tradition. It was sure fun!

The perfect Farewell

Dad's funeral was just the way he would have wanted it. It was the perfect farewell....

Aloha Oe

Love, Uncle Clay, Uncle Mike, Grandma, Aunt Mag and Uncle Rob

We love you Dad!

In life, wherever grandpa went Jayce was not too far behind.

We just can't get enough of little Maile! (We love you too Kendee!)

Thank you Aunt Mag for the walk down memory lane. I still chuckle when I think about all the stories you shared and the time we spent reminiscing. Thank you Uncle Mike for reminding us what it's all about. Everything just makes sense when we look at it from an eternal perspective. I am so thankful for the great plan of happiness, for that is truly what it is. The peace that I now feel comes from my understanding of God's plan. I can't talk about Dad without smiling...oh how I miss him...but I know that he has fulfilled what the Lord has required of him here. I am confident that he is still with us and he will continue to watch over and protect our family. We often tease eachother that his first order of business on the other side of the veil will probably be to help his family grow...by sending more grandkids! Good luck Margayle:)


Thank you also to those of you who have expressed your love and served our family this past week. Your kindness has not gone unnoticed. You are indeed the angels spoken of by Elder Holland in his October 2008 general conference address.

A Letter to my DAD

Dear Dad,
I just want to tell you that I love you. I know we'll meet again someday, but saying goodbye for a time is not easy. It is hard, but I am comforted by the Spirit and rejoice knowing that you are still surrounded by people who love you. As I look back on the 26 years we had together, my heart is full of gratitude. Thank you Dad for being an example. From you I learned what it meant to truly love the Lord. Thank you for teaching me to pray, for explaining the scriptures to me when I didn't understand, and for allowing me to rely on your testimony until I gained my own. Thank you for helping me realize the power of the atonement, encouraging me to serve a mission, and supporting me in my callings. I have come to know the Savior better because I have known you.

From you I learned the importance of family. I know that you worked so hard to keep your family close...and for that I am grateful. Thank you for teaching me at a young age that when you say "YES" we all say "YES"! I still at times wonder if you ever knew how to say no!?! Thank you for always involving us kids in everything you did. I will cherish memories of service projects we attended as a family, ward and stake activity assignments (that you were in charge of the meals), Aloha Festival committees, and the list goes on.... You are the reason we know what it means to work. Thank you for also encouraging us to play as a family. I smile through the tears as I think about the "campouts" on the trampoline in the backyard, the neighborhood barbeques in the front yard, the horse rides in the mountains and the golfcart rides in the desert. I remember all the vacations we took, holidays we enjoyed and the Sunday meals we ate together. I will miss that Dad.

From you, Dad, I learned what it takes to make someone feel special...I know what you are thinking...not that! I have never been an only child, but at times you made me feel like the world revolved around me. I will miss laying beside you in bed with you scratching my back and singing "go to sleep smolly molly". I will miss calling you when I help in the kitchen. I will miss walking with you and sitting beside you in church. I will miss you dad.

Lastly, I want you to know how you inspire me. I want to live my life so that I can come where you are. I miss you Dad. Until we meet again,

Love
Maili

Are you ready for battle?

I love waking up at 4:30 am for days like this....

With helmet in place with sword in hand

With the shield of faith we are worthy to stand

With the gospel of peace our feet are shod

WE have on the armour of God...

DO YOU?

Camping...for "real"

When Whitney asked what I wanted for my birthday I said I wanted to go camping...for "real". (Up to this point in our marriage our idea of camping has been defined by running water, showers, and a semi comfortable bed...)Why I would would want to subject ourselves to pesky mosquitos, smelling like a camp fire, and sleeping on the ground...I don't know. Something about a weekend in the woods sounded appealing at the time.

We left most modern conveniences behind and headed for the hills on Friday afternoon. Just Whitney and I... on the road again! We arrived at Canyon Point (east of Payson) a little before dark. I knew it would be cold, but I wasn't quite prepared for how cold it was! Our first order of business was to put together the tent we borrowed. This, for me, was going to be the "real" test of the entire weekend... and our marriage (from what I hear:)) All things considered, it went surprisingly well. Whitney later admitted that he had practiced putting it up before we left to avoid any marital conflict. What a smart guy!

The weekend was full of fun...good food, hikes, games, gifts, naps and lots of laughs. From our experience Whitney and I have compiled a list of things we learned (often the hard way)

1. ALWAYS BRING AN EXTRA CAMPING CHAIR...just in case one blows into hot ashes and burns while you are taking a nap!

2. THE EASIEST WAY TO START A FIRE IS WITH FIRE STARTER BLOCKS...just ask Whitney. Although the boy scout thing works...the fire starter block works faster! In 20 degree weather time is of the essence.

3. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE UP THE SEMI COMFORTABLE BED TO CAMP FOR "REAL"... Anyone who disagrees must be oblivous to the fact that the ground is hard! No matter what anyone else says...its still camping if you are sleeping on an air mattress.

On a side note...

4. WHO EVER SAID THAT 'TO GIVE IS TO RECEIVE' MUST HAVE UNDERSTOOD THE WAY WHITNEY THINKS... He is a great gift giver and this year was no exception. In addition to a video camera, he gave me a hydration pack (for hiking)...not 1...but 2!! AWESOME!...one for the front and the back!?! Not so! Whitney quickly informed me that he gave an extra one so that I could give one to a friend...wink wink. Well I bet you can guess how that went! I don't think he's realized what he's started...can't wait until his birthday...

Snow Day!!!

We tried all winter to get the snow to come to us, but in January we finally conceded that if we wanted a snow day, we would have to leave the valley to go up north. Thanks to Margayle, we were able to spend the weekend in her family's cabin in Strawberry. Much to our dismay, when we arrived at the cabin there was no snow there either! Determined to use our sleds, we drove up to the rim country and this is what we found....

It wouldn't be a fun snow day if it didn't end in casualty...and Kamee happened to be the lucky one! After the initial shock of having your face used as a sled, we finally convinced her how cool it was and that she would be able to show grandpa how much fun she had... She bought it till we got back to the house and had to clean it....That part was not so fun but she was a trooper!