Family Vacation

Last week our little family took a little vacation. Camelot closed on July 2, which means we get to have Bruce full-time again; we packed up  after church on July 3 and left for Salt Lake at about 6:30 p.m.

the traditional "car selfie as Jason calls it
It's a little weird to only have six kids with us, but Michael was already in Salt Lake, and Lindsey is working at Camp Steiner.

We got to Dad's (Grandpa North's) house around 9:30 p.m. Michael has been staying there for the last three months while Dad is in Chile so we were happy to see him (and I think he was happy to see us too). We usually stay at Dad's house when we go to Salt Lake because he has plenty of room for all of us.

On Monday morning (July 4) we went to the Copperhill 7th Ward's annual Independence Day breakfast picnic at the park. We had the camera with us, but we were too busy catching up with old friends to take pictures.  :-/  After the picnic we went to Melanie's house. My kids dug the camera out of my purse and took pictures of each other, but none of Melanie's family. (We really need to get better at this whole camera thing.)

If you look really, really closely (and you know what to look for)
you can tell that the kids are at Melanie's house.

Then on Monday afternoon we went to Aunt Marian's annual 4th of July pool party. This time Becky took the pictures—that's probably why we actually have some.

Bruce and me, trying out our new shades

fun in the water

Scott went home with us, and Jessica went home with Brad and Becky that evening. Here are all the kids doing the most fun thing they could ever do when they all get together...

I have no idea what fantastic game this is.

On Tuesday, the 5th, we went to our house in West Valley and chopped down and dug out the weeds in the front yard. I spent the entire time we were there dusting, sweeping, and vacuuming the house (2 1/2 hours!) Naturally, we didn't take any before & after pics—or any pics at all. That night we went to see my mom, and Mark and Robin (my brother and his wife) were there! They had just come up to visit from Arizona. We only stayed for a few minutes, but we would be going back for a real visit later.

On Wednesday, the 6th I cut Bruce's hair. Later that afternoon we went to Temple Square and looked around a little while Michael had a job interview.

Just take the picture, Mom!
(Hey! I just realized that there are eight kids here—it's even the right number of boys and the right number of girls. But still no Michael or Lindsey in this photo. How funny!)

This is a more cheerful picture.
But what is Brandon up to?

Do you see it?

After Temple Square, we had a quick dinner at home and then went to visit Mom, Mark, and Robin. When we got there my brother Gregory was there, too! And before Greg left, Melanie and Emalee showed up. Yay! (Naturally, we forgot to take pictures. But we were busy visiting, so there.)

On Thursday we just relaxed at home. We got Sherlock, Season 3 from the library and watched the first episode. (By the way, I have just recently become totally hooked on Sherlock.)

Friday, July 8 was my parents' 63rd wedding anniversary. We went to see my dad in his care center and had a picnic with him, my mom, Melanie, and Emalee. A nice lunch, visiting, singing, and... (this time we remembered) ... picture-taking.

Dad, talking to Melanie

Some time during our visit Bruce decided he had to take a picture of this dandelion. He was taking a long time (the camera wanted to focus on the grass and not on the dandelion), so I went to join him for a minute—and get him to rejoin the rest of us.

Now, I know we took a picture of our whole family with my mom and dad, but I don't seem to have it on my camera. I wonder where that photo is?

Dad and Mom
July 8, 2016

Emalee and Melanie with Dad and Mom

While we were picnicking with my parents, Becky (our sister-in-law) had her new baby, Ellie! Now that  was good timing—you would almost think they had planned to have that baby just in time for me to see her. We got to go visit Ellie Saturday evening.

Elinor (Eleanor?) Rebecca North
Isn't she sweet?

Ellie with me, with Becky, and with Lindsey

On Sunday, the 10th, we just wrapped things up. Went to church in the 7th ward, visited with Melanie, and Brad & Becky one last time, took Lindsey to catch the bus back to Steiner (we had picked her up on Saturday afternoon), straightened up Dad's house a little, packed up, and headed back home to Vernal.

And that was our fun-filled, action-packed, week-long vacation. We had fun!