September Activites

September is the month of football and canning and still working on the house as a Labor Day activity. We first started out though with a garage sell that Maddie is famous for. It became an extended family activity including a lemonade stand.


We went to BYU's first home game against Boise State the second week of the season and BYU won that game in a come from behind fashion just like they had done the week before against Nebraska.

 The next week Mark and I took Dad golfing. We had planned to go to Wolf Creek. It had rained hard for a couple of days but was clearing up the day we were scheduled to go. It had even snowed on the mountain peaks the evening before. As we came into Ogden Valley there were some beautiful low clouds hanging over the Valley. We ended up not golfing there since the would not allow carts on the course because of how wet it was and went back over to play at the Barn.

The next day was Friday and uncle Archie was receiving an award from Weber High and being inducted into their hall of fame. Others inducted the same night were Olean Walker (former governor) and Marlin Jensen (former church historian) so he had good company. Jed read an introduction about his dad at the ceremony.

Then it was off to Fremont to watch Nathan play for Fremont and to watch Payton dance at half time.

The final event was going to the David Archuleta concert. He had two concerts which were both sold out. We went to the second one. He had been sick and the show was cut short on Saturday from what we had heard. He mentioned he was still under the weather at our show as was trying to save his voice so he had his younger sister come out during breaks and read things he had written. He did the whole show and an encore. He mentioned about the experience of recording Glorious which is at the end of the Meet the Mormons movie. He talked about being called in by his mission president and told about the request to have him record and that he had to make the decision now as arrangements were being made to record in Chile. We thought about Tom and Renae Warren who are our friends and were his mission president and going to have to ask them about that when they get back.  It was really enjoyable and he was so down to earth and so humble about his talent.   

August Activities

The month of August usually starts off with the Weber County Fair and the Demolition Derby.

Maddie was with her friends from the single adult ward and so she sat across the arena from us but we could still keep our eyes on her, or at least the camera's.

 I finally got to the point that it was time to take down the old window header and have faith that the new beam would carry the bedroom floor above and the wall and span the area where two windows had been previously. I took these pictures of the addition before removing the support just in case I needed to remember what the house use to look like before it collapsed.

Guess what? I removed the support and we are still moving forward with the remodel.








There were many forest fires in California, Nevada and Oregon and the smoke made its way into our area. Much like a couple of years ago there were days when you could not even see Ben Lomand because of the smoke. It did make for some beautiful sunsets however.

Come the middle of the month and it is time for back to school for Cindy.

It was also time for Payton and Connor's soccer games to start up again. This is Conner's first year. Payton's team is the Pink Panthers and Connors is the Red Dragons.

One Thursday pizza night we had a visitor on our window screen. A bat had decided to stay there until the sun set. Next day it was gone.

The month ended with one more concert in Layton. This time it was Suzie Bogus. She was down to earth and was very very enjoyable.

Jackson and Rexburg

The last week in July is our opportunity to do a week adventure of going to Jackson for the first of the week for some hiking and relaxation and then spend the end of the week at BYU-I education week.When we left Monday it was a nice day but once we got to the Idaho border it was a heavy rain storm which continued all the way to Soda Springs. After having lunch in Soda Springs the rain stopped and we headed to Jackson. As we came up over a crest in the road we came across this accident where an older couple and their daughter had gone off the road and rolled down the hill but landed upright. Amazingly they were not hurt. The roads were still slick from the rain and we noticed us skidding when we tried to stop. We got out to see what help we could offer until the sheriff showed up.

We then continued to Jackson and set up camp at the Hoback Campground. Shannon and the kids drove up with us and stayed the first three days with us. As we were getting ready to leave Monday evening to the Bar J we discovered we had a guest in the car; a humming bird. He was trying to get out the front window but finally climbed on Shannon's finger and allowed her to get it out of the car.

We then went to the Bar J and played games and then enjoyed the meal and show. Grandma was even part of the program and we haven't seen that character for years.

Babe Humphreys was there which is the father and was a regular on the show for years. It was fun to see him. I can't believe we have been going there for so long.

The next morning was a little cool. There was ice on the table and even some new snow on the Tetons. We played along the river skipping stones with Connor and Payton which is a new past time.

The fire weed was in bloom which makes this a pretty campground























We drove along the Wilson Road to the park this time hoping to see some animals. We did see a deer but no moose.

Then it was on to Jenny Lake and the boat ride across the lake to go hiking.

This year they were doing repair work on the normal trail we take so we did not see the falls and took a different route to Inspiration Point. There were some wonderful views of the mountains along this trail.

We finally made it to the point and sat down and had some snacks. That of course means the chipmunks come and be your best friends and come right next to you.

It was time to head back down and as we did we came across this buck.

We had a late lunch and then did a bike ride.

We headed back to camp and took the same road back hoping to see moose. We even waited at the perfect spot but nothing. We did see some coyote in a field though.

We had dinner then played a mean game of Scrabble under the camp light.

The next morning we played along the river until it was time to pack up.

We went into Jackson and walked around and then Shannon and the kids took off to Yellowstone as part of their drive home and we went off to Rexburg.

Cindy and I met up with her sisters Tammy and Nancy in Rexburg and went to the temple that evening and then out to eat.

 That evening we thought we would call to make sure Shannon and the kids got home. It was around 10 and Shannon was still in West Yellowstone. We told her not to drive home but stop at Rexburg and we would make a place for them to sleep that evening. They arrived around 11:30 tired from their adventures. We were relieved to see them safe.

The next morning they headed home and Cindy, Nancy, Tammy and I went to the classes and had a wonderful time.The campus is beautiful with the gardens in the center of campus.

That evening was a full moon and it rising above the hills and the temple shining also along that same ridgeline made a wonderful sight.

Next day was more classes then an enjoyable concert that night. It was a great week of activities.