August

August has been a busy month....

Matthew started the month in China for work. He was in Beijing right before the Olympics started and then made his way down to Shanghai. He hasn't been back to Beijing since we moved from there 12 years ago. It is definitely different -- especially with all the improvements done for the Olympics.

Michael, Taylor and Ryan started the month off right by taking a week-long golf clinic at Whitetail Ridge, a golf course fairly close to our house. Taylor has taken golf lessons there previously and really enjoyed it, so all the boys wanted to try it. It is in an absolutely beautiful setting.

This is the view right across the street from the golf course.....

Matthew returned from China on Saturday, August 9th at about 6:00 p.m. and we all jumped in the car and headed to Utah at 7:30 p.m. that same night. Matthew was on China time, so he drove all the way through the night until about 9:30 a.m, and then I took over. We continued that glorious drive and arrived in Springville in time for Sunday dinner at about 5:30 p.m. One of the good thing about it all was that we all arrived in one piece and still basically liked each other....

We were tired by the time we got to Springville, but joined a wonderful family dinner, already in progress. Elizabeth was there!! Heidi and her family were there, as was Linde, Jason and Jacob, and my aunt and uncle, Steve and Debra and several of their daughters (some of my very favorite cousins!!) and their families. My cousin, Camille, got married the following Saturday, so many of them were already in town to partake in the pre-wedding festivities and preparations.

It was SOOOO fun to see everyone. It would be so fun if we all lived closer----maybe we can build a family compound like the FLDS....we'd need about that much space for everyone!

The rest of the week was busy, busy, busy. It was great to see Elizabeth and hear how her first college classes went and to see that she made it through finals. I love her new friends. Kristen and I went to dinner on Wednesday night with Elizabeth and some of her "peeps." They are great girls and I am so glad she has made such nice friends.

The only drawback to the evening, was our waiter. He was about 25 or 26 years old and very enthusiatic at the beginning of the meal. (That's good.) He kept calling all of us "Sweetheart." "Sweetheat, what would you like to drink?" "Sweetheart, what can I get for you?" etc. etc. (That was not good.) Finally after hearing him call me Sweetheart for the THIRD time, I could take no more. I kindly asked him to not refer to me that way, that it made me uncomfortable because only my husband calls me that. He was NOT happy.....He gave us the cold shoulder the rest of the evening....Oh, well!

To be continued tomorrow......Stayed tuned to.....

find out how Heidi turned from this

To this......in less than 24 hours.....

Taylor's MOST Creative Birthday Gift -- Ever!!

And the award for most creative birthday gift goes to....... Taylor's friend Jake.

Jake knows Taylor is a die-hard BYU fan.

Jake would never root for anyone but the U of U.

Jake knows Taylor LOVES LOVES LOVES golf.

Jake got Taylor 36 golf balls for his birthday........

Jake personalized each of the 36 golf balls.....



We all rolled on the floor with laughter! Jake is a keeper of a friend!!