We spend a lot of time hanging out with Mom and Alyssa. Rachel LOVES her "Mama" and "Saaah" and she's pretty spoiled as I'm sure Jenna will be in no time at all. This week we walked to the park and then to Crossroads Mall where there was a Farmers Market going on.

Here is Rachel and Grandma playing on the playground

and Alyssa and Jenna

There was free cotton candy for the kids and my Mom tried to get Rachel to have her first taste of it. Rachel was not going to be pressured into eating this blue ball of fuzz. She held onto it and waved it around like a torch while Grandma took bites here and there. We got about halfway home and Rachel waved the cotton candy a little too close to her mouth and happened to get a taste----with a huge smile on her face she said "MMMMMMmmm" She still only licked it like an ice cream cone for the rest of the way home. But maybe she'll like it from the beginning next time.

Trip to AZ

Last month we went to Arizona for not one, but two family reunions. First, we went to Mesa for my Grandma Udall's 90th birthday celebration. So far she has 103 great-grandkids (Nina is #76 and Satchel is #92) so the party was more like pandemonium. But it was still really nice.
We then left the 115 degree heat of Mesa and drove east to the White Mountains where we had a Larson reunion (my mom's side of the family). When we arrived, it was 55 degrees. Relief. My grandma rented out an entire lodge, and we more than filled it. She also has 100 great-grandkids, but luckily they weren't all there. :) We took these pictures of the kids outside the lodge. They had so much fun. By the time we got home they had slept in five different places, played with myriad cousins, had no routine or expectations, and loved every minute of it! Plus, Nina discovered that she loves swimming.

M&A and co.

Here's a photo from earlier in the summer. Thought you'd enjoy it, Hermana y Presidente. :)

Other Blogs

While we were in California we also got to meet Jenna Lee Bates - Jennifer's oldest. She is a student at BYUI and delightful! She mentioned that she had her own blog so we (Kristina) has added a link to her blog. I love these links because you can click right on them to see what's going on with Des and Kris and now Jenna. If any one else has their own blog PLEASE let us know so that we can add links to them too. I know Grandma and Grandpa or mom and dad or Uncle D and Aunt Di - however they are known to you would also like to have easy access.
Thanks - I love you all!!

Trip to California

Joel, Alyssa and I were able to take a road trip to Northern California last week. While there we stopped in to visit with Uncle Ross and Aunt Millie as well as Leslie and Jennifer. It was great to see them!

We also went to the Oakland temple and viewed an amazing sculpture exhibit on the life of Christ and now Joel and I finally have a picture of us in front of the Oakland Temple where we were married 30 years ago!!

I had forgotten how amazing the redwoods are! The coast was colder and foggy but it was still fun to be there.

Todd Talks Cheese on National Television

Here's a link to an interview that Todd did. At the end he worked in a "cheese" reference. Nice work. But mentioning cheese in the context of an interview with someone from Wisconsin? Not much challenge there. Next time try to work in "cheese," "Larry" and "corn." You're a professional, Todd. I think you're up to it.

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3530386&categoryId=2564308&n8pe6c=2

Jenna's Blessing Day

Here are some pictures from Jenna's Blessing Day. She was blessed by her father, last Sunday August 3rd. We had a great day and lots of friends and family came to celebrate with us. Thanks to Stuart & Annette and family and Lisa and boys, for driving up to see us, and of course Joel for flying up to be with us. It was great to see you. We love you all.

A Touching Story about the Temple

This is a story from one of our dear temple missionaries that we are going to put in the temple history at the end of the year.

"Lin Briceno and I, Pam Crosby, had the assignment of watching over three children who were waiting to be sealed to their parents. They were all from different families.
Jose was 7, Nicole 8 and Kimberly 11. We enjoyed talking with these children about the special day that this was for them and their family. We sang primary songs with them, yes, in Spanish. [There was a tape playing so it was easy.] We dressed them all in white and could see how beautiful they felt, especially the girls, and they were.
We showed them a very touching video about the temple and what was going to take place for them. Kimberly was so touched and wanted to watch it again and again. This opened up the opportunity for us to tell these children that Heavenly Father loved them so much that He has provided this very special day for them to be a family forever. We talked also about the love that their parents had for them that they wanted for them to be together for all of eternity.
One at a time these children were taken in to be sealed. Jose was the first to go. Lin took the children for the sealings and she expressed how hard little Jose's heart was beating, how wide-eyed he was as he looked into the beautiful sealing room and saw his parents there. How anxious he was to join them. He came back into the nursery as calm and relaxed as could be. Each time when the children returned they had a different look about them, a glow that was unmistakable.
Kimberly was the last to be sealed. When she came back she came to me. I was sitting in a chair and she just wrapped her arms around me. No words were spoken, they were not needed. I knew what she was feeling; she did not need to tell me. She clung on to me for what seemed like a very long time, never speaking a word. All who were in the room could feel and sense what she was feeling; the Spirit was so strong. I shall never forget that moment."

How blessed we are to be even a small part of these special moments.

Birthday Festivities

On Sue's birthday all the Utah Harrises met in Salt Lake for dinner. Sue took photos and here they are for Mom and Dad to enjoy. We ate at a new pizza place and it was tasty.

Matt and I are the only ones with kids because our babysitter cancelled last minute. Yippee.




Joel left a bit early because he had tickets to the Real Salt Lake soccer game. You can tell by his garb that he's a true fan.