Californ I. A.

Right after we got home from North Carolina, we did some laundry, packed a few suitcases, threw them in the Yukon and headed out to my old home to visit my sister Kelly and her cute family.  It was so fun to see them all and to catch up.  Her kids are all so big now!  I can hardly believe it.  They were just little ones when I left on my mission!  Now Mike is going into the army and Dallas is graduating from high school!  It's creeping me out!  We mainly hung out at her house, had a few BBQ's and of course went to In-N-Out.  The kids played at the park next door and Mark and Tom blew some things up in the back yard (don't ask...).  We went swimming and made the trek out to LA so the kids could see the Hollywood sign and experience the Griffith Observatory.  Thanks for letting us drop in you, Kelly!  We had a great time!  Love you guys!

Griffith Observatory

You can barely make it out through the smog, but that's the Hollywood sign over our shoulders to the left. Lol!

Mark and I with our boys, Jackson, Caden and Jace

Me, Dallas, Jackson, K.C. Kristie, Jace and Kelly

I kinda adore this man!

Caden and Kristie.  I LOVE this picture!

All the Cousins!  Jace Gertge, K.C. Norton, Dallas Norton, Jackson Gertge, Mike Norton, Caden Gertge and Kristie Norton

Kelly and her kids...not so little anymore!  Kelly, K.C., Dallas, Mike and Kristie

My nephew Mike introduced my children to the wonderful world of Beyblades.  He earned major cool points from my kids.  They played the whole time we were there, and Kelly and Mike sent my boys home with their very own, plus one to take to Gage (Kim's little boy).

Uh, yeah...this is Tom and "...when you are a man, sometimes you wear stretchy pants in your room. It's for fun."

Now here we see a perfect example of an accident waiting to happen.  Jackson wanted to drive Kristie's chair and Caden and Jace thought it would be fun to strap on to the back and go for a ride!  Notice the knot on Jace's forehead in the next pictures.  I'll let you figure out what happened next....

At the park next to Kelly's house.

Jace's Bobcat

We  went out for ice cream after Jace earned his Bobcat in Cub Scouts.

Topsail Island, North Carolina

In July, Mark and I went to North Carolina with Chris and Joanne Hayball.  We stayed on Topsail Island, just across the street from the beach.  It was so beautiful there and SO RELAXING!  We laid out at the beach every morning and then did a little sight seeing in the afternoons.  It was such a nice break!

In Willmington on the U.S.S. North Carolina

Mark and Chris showing off their guns

Mark and Chris showing off...

Joanne and Chris

I thought this lake was so pretty with all the lilly pads and the greenery so I wanted to stop and take a picture.

Little did we know what was lurking in the waters there.....

Uh, yikes!  The thing was HUGE!  It was like 8 or 9 feet!

Joanne freaked and jumped up on the car!  It was a little intense, but way cool to see a croc so close!

Near Orton Plantation, at the visitors center at St. Phillips Church.

St. Phillips Church

What a hottie!

We did part of the walking tour in Willmington.  The houses there were amazing!!

Fishing off the peir at the back of the house we stayed in.

Just sit right back And you'll hear a tale A tale of a fateful trip,

That started from this tropic port, Aboard this tiny ship.

The mate was a mighty sailin' man, The Skipper brave and sure,

Five passengers set sail that day, For a three hour tour, A three hour tour.

Thats right, friends, it's the SS Minow!

 

Poplar Grove Plantation.  It was so pretty!

At the Turtle Conservation Hospital

I know, I know, mock me all you want.  I should be mocked after going....

Mark, Chris and Joanne talking to our neighbor in front of the beach house.

View from the back of the house.

View from the front.  The walkway to the beach is in the middle.

Topsail Island Beach, North Carolina

Hanging Out With The Steeles

Our dear friend, Petrina came out to Utah from Texas for her yearly visit.  We met up at the Gateway and took the kids to see Dispicable Me.  After lunch we went swimming at Fort Williams in Lehi.  It was fun to catch up and watch the kids have such a good time together!

Austin, Caden and Kyle

Jace and Jackson

Kyle and Jackson

Jace and Collin

Mark torturing Austin 

Jackson and Kyle

4th of July Weekend

Jace got baptized the weekend of the 4th.  Gavin and Dylan Taylor drove up from Highland with their sweet mom, Jenn.  The kids stayed and we had a free-for-all for the weekend!  Included in our fun-filled weekend was bowling and the Clearfield fireworks. 

Gavin, Jace, Dylan, Caden, Jackson and Jadon!

The Gertges, The Taylors and they Sayres.

David, Jackson, AJ, Caden, Dylan, Gavin and Jace

Caden, Dylan, Gavin and Jace...

...this is how the entire weekend was! Lots of laughing!

The future Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Gertge?  Pieper and Jackson. Should I be worried that they picked a table away from everyone else so they could sit alone?! Hmmm....

Did you think I was joking about the future part?  Uh, no...they already have the temple picked out that they want to get married in.  Yikes....??!!!!  Check it out....

Cub Country Scout Camp 2010

Jace got to go to Scout Camp this year!  He had SO MUCH FUN!  His favorite things were (obviously) the Archery range and BB-gun shooting!  I am so lucky!  I've got a great bunch of boys!