Friday, August 27, 2010

Where Did the Summer Go?

What? It's nearly Labor Day and I had sooo many plans and so much I wanted to do (as always!) The kids are in school, homework is in full force, activities abound and the weather has been JUST PERFECT this week! (One very BIG plus after such a hot and humid summer).

Thinking back over the last four months, I realized that really we had accomplished quite a bit...
APRIL- Went out to Utah for Ryan's Graduation from BYU!

Justin, Me, Joe, Ryan, & Molly

Think he is happy?
So proud of you Ry and the great man you are. Who would have thought that all that time in the Library would have directed you to the world of History? You certainly fit there, and then on for some more hands-on experience in Logan at the American Heritage center for the summer.
Costume for his job...so Ryan!

Some Creations of his own making!
Holly was knee-deep in planning the Prom, as she was the chairman for it. Sadly, she attended the Prom when we were in Utah at the graduation:(.


You look gorgeouss Holly!

We also made a stopped into Peachtree City, GA to see Justin & Erin and see the sights of Georgia!
Justin & Erin's "Deck Garden" it ended up being very bountiful!

MAY - We didn't see much of Joe the month of May, as he was flitting about the country-side installing software and working hard for our family:).
May is always so busy...end of the school-year stuff, Stake Conference, Choir Concerts, testing, etc. We decided we needed a VACATION!!! Grandpa Badger was celebrating his 85th Birthday (and our 29th wedding anniversary) on the 29th of May, so we went out for 2 weeks to celebrate with him and stayed for Memorial Day to see some of my siblings & their kids

Beautiful sceanery along the way!

Molly's AMAZING creations! They melted in your mouth...with every piece:)



Just having fun being together!

So fun, but a bit cold for the end of May. Pictures were taken, bowling @ midnight, lots of yummy Grandma food, visiting, swimming, early-morning golf, and playing games! Everyone but Erin was there (so missed), but it was fun to be together!
Happy Birthday, Grandpa Badger!


Aubrey & Blair - Great at creating fun for the family!

Memorial day..Brit is that you, or Audrey Hepburn???:)


A super yummy lunch at Buddy's with Dad & Glayda.
Can you smell their breath from here?

On our way home we experienced every kind of weather...cold in Idaho, perfect in Utah, Snow and ice in the mountains of Colorado, tumble weeds blowing in New Mexico, 112 degrees in Lubbock, Texas to see Jay, and his cute family!
Josh, Katie, Jaydin, Jaklin, & Jenna in Lubbock
Jake, Jen & Jay - great to be in their home!

Humidity & heat @ the zoo in Oklahoma and GREEN and lovely back home in Missouri!!!

The Monkeys & Lions! - Josh & Katie

We had a great time and SO fun to see everyone and traveling sights!

JUNE- The kids were busy in June with Youth Conference, except for Holly who opted to stay in Idaho and be spoiled by Grandparents for an extra week or so.
Another trip out to Utah for Molly's Baby Shower! This time was a REAL event! I went a day early to stay with Erin and Justin and she and I made fresh strawberry jam!! Yummy! The next day (Friday), we thought was going to be a piece of cake getting on a flight from Atlanta to SLC, but NO... After 7 hours of hopping around the airport trying to get on a flight, we finally landed the LAST two seats on a plane out west! It was touch and go, but we were so grateful to be greeted by sweet daughters who were glad we were just safe, although a few hours later than expected:) We had a yummy dinner and played 15 rounds of Scattagories that night. We (I) was certainly not thinking straight by 1am! SOOOO Funny!

Wonderful food & company - Can't wait 'til September for baby Sam to arrive!

The next day was beautiful, especially in Molly's sister Melese's back yard! She had prepared a Baby Shower Luncheon. All so delicious and no silly games!!! Yea! The best was when we arrived and little Reese came running up to me yelling, "GRAMMY!!!" (The best!)

Thinking all would go smoothly flying home after a delicious ice cream cone at BYU Creamery, we were surprised by airport fun again! Erin went south to see her sister in St. George, and I back to Atlanta. Got on the flight just fine, but the plane had mechanical difficulties. Needless to say, I got the worst seat, arrived in Atlanta around 2am (no trains running), and was back up again at 6am to get on a flight Sunday morning to Springfield. (A little sleepy in class:) A really great adventure, and SO fun to spend some quality time with children and daughter's-in-law!!

SOOO PRECIOUS! Josh, Katie & Holly:)

JULY- We made a fun trip down to Carthage, MO to the Precious Moments Chapel and Museum. Amazing works of art and wonderful so see a life devoted to reminding us of what is truly "precious". BBQ'd with friends on the 4th of July!! Girls off to Girl's Camp for a Week and Josh off for a high adventure scout camp! Joe still traveling like crazy! And another trip to Utah!!! This time for my mephew Tyson's Wedding, and Reese's Birthday.

Reese turned THREE!
Meg's what color did your hair turn???



Tyson and Michelle Davis 7/30/2010

Joy & Jan - Proud Parents:)

Myself, Aunt Dorene, Jay & Jen, Jacob, Dad & Dennis

It was VERY windy up on the top of the mountain @ the Draper temple!

What a wonderful week I spent in Utah with my parents, brother & sister, Joy, and their families, my children and a bunch of wonderful relatives and friends!!
There is nothing better than being surrounded by those you love and love you, especially when you are all in the temple together!! (The Salt Lake & Draper). What a reunion it will be on the other side with ALL those we love...it makes you want to work hard at getting it right while we are here on earth!!

AUGUST- Another TRIP???? Yep, this time with Joe to Lubbock for our newphew, Jacob Kendell's farewell! He is heading out to none other that the "Pocatello Idaho Mission"!!! What a great place to serve! I know it was a great place to grow up:) Another great trip to the Lubbock Temple to do a session with grandparents, aunt and Uncles and parents with this excited young Elder:) Jacob did an awesome job on his talk, (he will make a superb missionary), and Glayda and I had a fun shopping spree with Jennifer and Jaklyn joining in !! And of course we couldn't leave there without some delicious BBQ and Ice Cream!!! These were all definatly memories to treasure! (Thanks to Justin, who works for Delta - and made several of these trips possible:)

The very COOL Elder Jake Kendell!

School began on the 19th and we are off and running! We got to play a lot with our kids and they all worked hard to help, so...I guess the summer was totally successful! Memories made, relationships nurtured, and lots of fun shared!!!!

It doesn't get better than this:)
The family is CENTRAL to the Lord's plan...what a GREAT plan!

3 comments:

Molly said...

LOVED reading your summer-catch-up! So much fun, and my-oh-my you win the traveler award!

Thanks for letting us see you so much this summer- we loved it!

Anonymous said...

I feel like I am all caught up, half a nation away and Blogging keeps us in the loop. You had quite a busy summer, but it seems like a fantastic fun busy!I still feel so bad that we moved before you got to meet Blake, but I hope you get to meet him soon.

Justin D. Badger said...

Well done mom! We were all in need of a good catch-up on your lives. Glad you all had so much fun and adventures, but sad it is on hold for another 9 months. Thank you Delta for bridging the gap between families.