7/22 to 7/28

We have had a wonderful week full of family, fun and adventure.

On Tuesday we went to Rexburg to see my oldest granddaughter Taylor and her husband Denton Consoliver graduate.  We first went to Touphous park and had a picnic to celebrate Taylors birthday and their graduation. Andy's parents Becky and Andy sr, with Cory his sister were there. Plus Denton's mom and brother Ben.  We had a good time there.

The group at the park.

We went to our motel room to rest a bit and then meet every one at the John Hart Building for the graduation. It only lasted an hour.  It was unique  because the graduates could sit any where they wanted and just filed up and gave them a card with their name to announce. So Taylor and Denton were right together.

Taylor and Denton is right behind her.

The happy graduates with their supportive family

It was so great to see them accomplish their goal.  Denton has a good job in Idaho Falls, and Taylor is finishing her student teaching.  We are so proud of her.

The next morning I was excited that I finally was able to get a hold of my brothers cousin Kay Larson Reading.  Her mom was my brothers Aunt Jean and I loved her dearly and her daughter is just as sweet. She lost her husband last year suddenly from a heart attack.  She lives in Blackfoot so we stopped in and saw her on the way down to Kaysville. It was so good to visit with her. (I was so grateful for our new little GPS device.  We drove right to her house)

Kay and me.

 Then on the 24th we went to Ben's and spent the rest of the day with the family.  I had bought them a pink and a purple mermaid doll with shell purses to match from Laura's gift shop because Audrey and Amelie are so into mermaids.  They were thrilled with them and wouldn't stop playing with them.  They really did appreciate them.

The girls playing with their mermaid dolls.

This picture I just had to post because her poise was so cute.

Jacob got some fireworks and we all enjoyed the grand display.  We were happy for him that he finally got a new car.  A 2010 Honda Accord.  Funny thing happened to him, was the car dealership told him to get his car washed on them and the car wash broke one of his mirrors and he has to get it fixed.

The next morning we meet Joe and family at Carlo's produce in Odgen and we followed Joe to his home in Colorado Springs.  I wish I could say it a quick drive, but it wasn't.  We left Ogden about 9.30 am and arrived in Colorado Springs a little after 8pm.  There was road construction, then it took about an hour and a half to get through Denver.  Since it took us so long to go through Denver, we all needed to use the restroom in our car.  Saroga was riding with us.  I look up on the GPS and it indicated that there was a gas station about 4 miles off the road so we went off the beaten path.  I am not sure of what little town we ended up in but the gas station was closed but luckily there was an Ice Cream parlor right next door that had a restroom.  Of course, we took advantage of the ice cream too.

The next day we went out looking for music and a keyboard for Saroga.  We were able to find a music shop that had the 2 books that I wanted for her.  One the Adult Fabor piano book and a big note piano book for Phantom of the Opera.  Saroga loves the music.  When she got home from registering for school we set up the keyboard and I got her started and she played on it all most the rest of the night.  She really loves playing it.

On Saturday we set off for a grand adventure to see Cripple Creek up in the Colorado Mountains.  It was absolutely gorgeous.  On the way down to the down we stopped at the Molly ? Mine.  We went down 1000 ft in a 4x4x7 steel cage.  All 8 plus the guide were crammed into the cage and down we went into the mine.  Our guide was the grandson of one of the miners that had worked the mine.  Interesting that he told us that this grandfather brought home samples from the mine.

Our guide demonstrating the equipment

He took us through the mine shafts and showed up all the different types of equipment that was used to get the gold out.

This is looking up the shaft. Can you spot the miner?

It was very interesting.  As we left we even got a sample of some rock that had gold in it.

We are about to go back up in the 4x4 cage. 

After the mine we went into Cripple Creek  to go to the museum there. I had written the address down from the internet ass 500 Bennett. So Joe was following us because I had it on my GPS.  So we drove right through town and 10 miles more and was driving on a dirt road.  Yes, something was wrong because 500 Bennett was an old home: not the place we were looking for.  So we went back down the hill and stopped at the Jackass Cafe so the little ones could get something to eat.  The service was less then suitable but we did find out the Museum was on 5th and Bennett which was just down the road.

The Cripple Creek District Museum was interesting.and fun to see all the old things of mining and memorabilia of the turn of the century.

The red sign says "Willards Battery's"

Of course the old buildings were fun to

Saroga enjoying a little rest

Lilith was so cute here I had to include her picture

After we got through with the museum we took the opportunity to take a train around the valley and saw many of the old mines.

We are on the train.

One of the mines that produced about 3 million dollars of gold

Cripple Creek District

We all really enjoyed our adventures there in Cripple Creek.  We were just very surprise at how many gambling casino's there were in this old mining town.

Today we all got ready to Church and of course I wanted to get a family photo but that is like taking pictures of a moving target. 

An action packed picture of Joe's family.

I was so proud of Athena because she actually sat still so I could do her hair.  The twins actually did very well in nursery and Aris let me go to class.  She met a friend who had her house burn down in the recent fire.  It was amazing that the fire got right up to the church but it didn't touch it. You could see the pine trees next to the church had been scorched but hadn't reached the burning point yet. The Lord does protect His own.

Facebook news.

Whitney taking it easy

I am very proud that Whitney has bee accepted into the Americorp program in St Louis.  She will be spending the nest year doing disaster relief wherever a disaster strikes.

Hunter and Garren enjoying the Hula Hoops at the Family Dollar.

The boys back together again. 

Zane and Valin had an exciting time on the Jamboree trip.  Valin is excited about apply to help out with the technical part of the Palmyra Pageant next year. 

I always knew he had a desire to play a musical instrument.

Tobin would be a great addition to this band,  The Hill Jammers

Reynolds and Jane rocking out with Uncle Ben

Then there is Cottle who are the runners. Sarah writes that Jane got second place in her age division in a one mile race. Reynolds beat her but was sixth in his division. I can't believe Sarah had a baby 6 weeks ago and is running.

My cousin posted this picture of her dad who is my Uncle John.  He is 92 and is my only living uncle. He is such a sweet man.  Needless to say he is my favorite uncle.