Our Adventures Continue...

Sunday, Father's Day was full of fun adventures.  First Joe and Mason went hiking with Uncle Cory I was home with Carter and Mason had to call me to tell me that a dragonfly was following them! He was so excited that he wanted to be sure to tell me since I wasn't there to see it. lol

Then we rode up to Malad Idaho where we met halfway with their cousin PresLee (Josh's daughter)

 so they could spend some time playing together, and lucky for us a few cousin pics! We also took home Able (Josh's dog) who will now be a part of our family..move over Rawley lol.

Here are some fun pics of the kids...

Poodle's and Grandson's

This past few weekends we have been babysitting...first we watched standard poodles for a week while our friends the Costly's were in Hawaii. One of their standard poodles used to belong to us actually (Phoebe) so it was fun to have her back for a while.  We had 3 big dogs taking up space on our bed at night and keeping us busy cleaning up the lovely prizes in the backyard that they were so graciously giving us. lol. 

 Truly it was fun and they were all very well behaved. A plus is that they don't shed or slobber!

However,  I will say I am glad we DON'T have 3 big dogs full time.  :)

The 3 dogs...Phoebe, Tristan, Rawley

Ready for bed...Yup, it makes for a crowded King size when they are all in there at night. It is like sleeping with 3 deer or lamb or in Rawley's case a horse. :)

NEXT CAME THE BOYS....

A few days after the dogs went home I flew to California and picked up Mason and Carter and flew right back home.  We are having our summer week with our grandson's beginning a tradition that we hope will still be a novelty in a few years as they start to realize we aren't as much fun as they think we are now lol.  AND, while the dogs were much easier to babysit, the boys are a whole lot more fun!

We have been having all kinds of adventures so far... Joe is taking them back next weekend so we should have some more candid shots to share soon.  I wish we had pics of all the fun things we have done like our treasure hunts, playing puzzles, going for a ride in the back of the truck around the neighborhood while Rawley chased us and Mason laughed hysterically at how funny that was. We also went to the D.I. for an assortment of really cool dinosaurs that has kept us busy playing and setting up a village of bad guys and good guys or..making noises as Mason calls it. We have had a picnic, a movie and popcorn night and gone on a long bike ride. We are planning to go see PresLee their cousin on Sunday and let the kids play together. So much fun coming up..... We will post more later... but here a few cute pics we had to pass along.  : )

Mason LOVES our dog Rawley, and has asked several times if we can let him take him home to California for his own dog, because they are best friends now.

It is really sweet  how much Rawley loves Mason though

 so you can't help but think Mason should have a dog.

And then there is Carter... He also loves Rawley. A little more than Rawley likes at times, but Rawley is so great with kids, he has been mauled to death over the years and still comes back to the kids and licks them, follows them and lets them climb all over him.

One of Mason's moments explaining that Rawley  IS his best friend, and showing us that him and Rawley are buddies. Notice his arm is around the dogs neck like they are pals. Rawley is still bigger than Mason and he towers over Carter.

"Look he loves me!" Mason keeps telling us.

Carter enjoying the view from the back of the truck. He enjoyed sitting in the truck with Mason while "Bucca" (Joe) was doing a few odds and ends out side.

We all went on a bike ride on the Legacy trail which was tons of fun, but before we left we stopped by to show Mason where Uncle Joshua's grave is. So of course we got a few darling pic's. (everyone here)

Then just the boys...

While out on our ride we saw a sign that prehistoric dinosaurs used to live in Utah, and it showed a picture of the dinosaur's egg and what a tooth fossil looked like.  So, of course Mason wanted to look for a dinosaur egg that he can take home to hatch and keep the real dinosaur.  lol.  We had fun searching but didn't find one. He did find a "tooth" he said though...he has that saved in his treasure box that we have been collecting items in this week.

Mason and "Munga" (Stephanie) searching for an egg in a rock pile.

(No he isn't wearing a dress...Carter spilled his juice all over Mason and so he wouldn't wear his shorts.  His shirt was long enough to cover his underwear, but he wasn't very happy with his little brother for making him

 wet and almost naked as he put it.

1st "Angel"versary

 June 2nd will always be a hard day for our family. It has now been a year that our oldest son Joshua left this earth. We MISS YOU SO MUCH!!!  So, instead of looking at this day as "D" day (Death Day) we choose to look at June 2nd as Josh's "angel'versary. So, today son you celebrate your 1st "Angel"versary of being in heaven and being our angel. And while we miss you more than you can ever know; we also hold on to the memories you left behind and we cherish the time we did have with you while you were here as our son, our brother, our grandson, our friend and a father to your sweet twins. Josh....You left a legacy behind. One that will always be remembered, and one that we will always smile about when we think of those things that remind us so much of you. 

The guitar, the music and you singing. What wonderful talent you had~

The way you were so protective over your little girl.

We just couldn't resist the "hazmat"  suit joke

 to show that we wouldn't contaminate PresLee

when we came to visit.

And your reply was, "Uh, EXCUSE me but I believe you are mocking me?" ha ha...

You loved being a daddy.  You cherished every moment...

You loved being silly...even if it meant dressing up our dog!

And you were so excited to have the built in aquarium.

You loved the salt water tank you and Dad built it was beautiful!

AND-------

 Don't you always think of Josh
whenever you see a Jim Carrey Movie???

(click on the link below, it is so Josh!)
OH..but there is a brief advertisement first fyi

CLICK HERE  

We love you son, we miss you
and we know that you watch over us.

In Time for Memorial Day...

The headstones are here and have been placed for both Luana (Joe's mother) and our son Joshua.  We recently buried them both on the same day (April 2nd) at the Bountiful Cemetery with back to back services. Though it was a long day, we are rewarded with the fact that we have been able to visit them along with Joe's father (who passed away last March) daily or almost daily.  It has been so wonderful to have our loved ones in the same cemetery and so close to us! The opportunity to spend some quiet time at the graves and honor their memories has been priceless for Joe and I, since we have lost so many loved ones during the last year.

  Here are some pictures of the headstones that were just placed...and luckily just in time for Memorial Day

 Luana's headstone

And... our son Joshua's

the front side

 The dragonfly is a special symbol that has become an icon

especially to me  since he died. The guitar is to symbolize

 his musical talent and love of playing and singing.

And the quote, "Alrighty Then" is because he could

 imitate Jim Carey better than anyone;

and that is something Josh always used to say.  :-)

the backside

  (the fish is for his love of reef aquariums)

WOW.....

We finally went on a cruise!  It has been a while since there has been a post from us. Yes, we are a bit behind...maybe it is because we haven't felt like posting, maybe it is because we are lazy, or maybe it is because we have been too busy preparing for our cruise! YES....Joe and I just returned from our first ever real cruise.  We flew to San Juan Puerto Rico, stayed a night then boarded the VICTORY and sailed from San Juan to St. Thomas, Dominica, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and St. Maarten.  WOW...is about the best word to describe the experience. 

Wow...there were a lot of people that should not be wearing a speedo on the cruise ship!

Wow...there is way too much food tempting you to pig out (thus ya shouldn't wear a speedo people)
Wow...there is so much poverty on these breathtaking islands
Wow...there is life beyond cell phones, email and TV

Wow...the water is so clear that you can literally almost see the bottom

Wow...can't believe we went Zip Lining, Jet skiing on the Caribbean Sea or sailing St. Lucia on a  Catamaran

Wow...did you know Dolphin's like to play in the wake of the ship?

Wow...we discovered hidden personality traits that came out (Joe Karaokes...American Idol Wannabe)

We truly had a marvelous time and enjoyed a much needed retreat from all we have been through this past year. We are blessed to have had the chance to go, and to enjoy some of God's treasures that are out there.

Here are some pics of our trip....(yeah we know...there are lot's to view. So, if you are bored just get over it and enjoy the scenery OK?!)

View from our San Juan hotel of a famous Fort

Bon Voyage! Just setting sail...Whew and windy

Joe trying to get some fame lol...Karaoke style

Oh yeah..he was getting into it!

a view of St. Thomas

The Anniversary Dinner for Bill and Judeen

 (Stephanie's parents)

The cute cake my Dad got as a surprise

All dressed up and no where to go but the dining room...

Practicing our Gene Simon's impression...actually we just wanted some TONGUE..ha

On the bus in Barbados to ride the Zip Line

Our instructor telling us how to hang on tight and enjoy the ride

All geared up and ready for action

A perspective on just how big those ships really are

Posing in front of the ship with our friends Greg and Valerie

Kodak moment for sure in front of the St Lucia backdrop

More of this gorgeous island

A breather after checking out the volcano

Stopping by the waterfall on our tour

Some of the cool trees in the botanical garden area

Sailing on a Catamaran complete with lunch and views to die for

See what I mean?

Joe enjoying the starboard tip of the Catamaran

What a day! Joe, Steph, Val and Greg our friends from Georgia

Cool view of the ship

 

These birds stay in this prickly tree to avoid the mongooses that are all over St. Kitts

 needless to say...there are NO snakes on that island!

Nope...instead they have ton's of Green Monkeys

Decided to get a little bit of local flavor and had my hair braided while in Port

Part of a fort that was built after Columbus came

 

The picturesque beaches of St. Maarten

(one side is Dutch, the other side French...where clothing is optional)

The water is so blue, and so clear

Stephanie and Joe enjoying the sunshine after our ride on

a jet ski (wave runner) around the Caribbean Sea. We saw

a HUGE sea turtle out in the ocean and can practically see to the bottom

the water is so clear

Yes.. That is Stephanie riding behind Joe holding on for dear life

Our Balcony room on the rear of the ship.

 It was such a great spot to be,we enjoyed a week

 of watching the horizon, sunsets, and dolphins play