Mike and Linda

October Conference Weekend with the kids

We were thrilled to have some of the kids come for Conference weekend...

...as well as someof the grandkids!

After the Saturday morning session, we made a quick trip to Family Fun Fiesta for some serious race track driving...

I want to record something sweet that happened while we were on the race track. I know that some of you believe that Vince is extremely competitive by nature,and you are right. He gets it from his dad, as do most of his sisters. But what many of you do not know is that he is also sensitive and charming at times. He gets that from me! Although I was having a pretty good time out there on the track, my driving skills were not up to the rest of the family's which meant that I was often driving by myself after everyone had passed me by. Did any of you notice that Vince deliberately held back on one occasion, so that I would have someone to race with?! What a wonderful son!

After the race cars, the kids got on the water boats and did a great job of soaking one another. (The picture at the top of this post was taken right after they got off the boats!)

Is that Mickala ducking out of the way?!

Here's Sasha working on her batting skills!

Later on that night, we got the hot tub going.

Taylor loved it!

Annie's already recorded this on her blog!

We had lots of time to visit...

I almost forgot to add this picture! We took it at Tuocahn when we went to the Farmers' Market early that morning. We thought it fitting to have Annie in the Annie spot!

I'm glad the kids got to come. We had a wonderful time.

My Birthday and a Prima Ballerina!

This year, my birthday was observed with very little fan-fare. Mike got me a delicious cake with the frosting I love and "just the two of us" enjoyed it very much!

I received lots of cards, gifts and phone calls.

And, with some of my birthday money from Mom and Dad, I bought this purse! I have enjoyed it for the last five months and frequently think of them when I am using it!

Shortly after my birthday, we made a trip to Salt Lake and got to spend some time with Vince and Meagan and Brooke. They took us to dinner at our new favorite resturant, The Cheesecake Factory. All this time we thought they only served assorted cheesecakes!

Brooke is adorable!

I got this amazing picture of Vince holding Brooke's feet as she stands...she is only 4

months old in this picture! I think she looks like a prima balerina!

Souths came over to Vince and Meagan's for Sunday dinner and I got some more cute pictures. That's Kylie up in a tree ...what a little monkey!

Sadie really wants to climb that tree, too!

Brynlie is happiest with a full tummy...I love the color of her eyes!

And here's Aspen...looking great at 30!

Brooke is laughing at Grandpa Merrell.

From there, we went to a Greek wedding... Mike's good friend from Crown Pawn was getting married. I wish I had some pictures to show, but we didn't get any taken.

We did, however, get a picture of this...my niece's first born baby Lyla ,who, in the nearly six months since this picture was taken, has got to be the most photographed and blogged-about baby in the history of the Park family! If I knew how to do the link thing, I'd link you to their blog, but you'll just have to take my word for it.

September was a pretty great month!

Moving Reems, August, 2009

In August, Chuck and Kristi closed on their new home in Logan and we went up to Hyrum to help them move. As a surprise, Sasha came down fromVernal and brought Taylor with her. I was thrilled when Taylor remembered me! She didn't want me out of her sight. I am a little embarrassed to admit this, but the only pictures I got were of Taylor and me!

No pictures of the cute front steps, or of the huge back yard, or of the scary basement...just me and Taylor...

Well, you can see boxes in the background and a tiny bit of the carpet...

And there's the Smurf doll that was a gift from Grandma and Grandpa Park years ago...

But, sadly, no pictures of the new Reems home.

So sorry...

so sorry...

but you have to admit...

I DO have my priorities straight!

Happy Birthday, Kristi! July 30, 2009

I know I am more than a few months late, but I could not let this special event pass by unmentioned. Here's wishing you a belated but very Happy 24th Birthday, Kristi!

This is probably my favorite picture of you, as a child. I remember when it was taken. I had recently had all you kids' pictures taken and yours had turned out awful. So I went somewhere else for retakes. I remember the photographer was amazed that the first pictures had been so bad. He kept saying, "I don't know how anyone could have done a poor job taking pictures of this child...she is beautiful" Of course, he was right!

This is one of the few family pictures I have of us when you were the baby. Fun times!

I am glad that you and Chuck went to the playground on the same day and time, so that you could meet. Yours is a fairy-tale romance and I cannot imagine the two of you with anyone else. How we love Chuck!

Do you remember when these pictures were taken? Just before we went to the temple open house in Pocatello.

That was a fun trip for us. Dad and I were glad you asked us to take you.

This was one of my favorite Christmas programs of all times! It was beautiful, one of the best Christmas pageants ever!

24 things I love about you...

Your hair
Your patriotism
Your family values
Your husband
Your willingness to tend Aspen's kids...for extended periods of time
Your wilingness to share your plenty with those in need...again and again and again...
Your eyes
The way you always return my calls quickly
That I can always count on you to help me with computer projects...including...
Mom's book
The Park book
That you love to dance in the rain
Your beautiful singing voice...wish I heard it more often
Your organizational skills
Your love of pigs
How much you came to care about "your girls" at Diamond Ranch Academy
Your willingness to research things you are passionate about
Your home decorating skills
Your desire, ability and willingness to keep a balanced budget
The way you support Chuck...did I mention that we love him?
Your love of nature
Your ability to keep a conversation going...with anyone
Your laugh and ...
I love that you are a photographer!

The move to St. George and July 24th Weekend in our new home!

Jason and Sasha helped us move to St. George on Mike's birthday, July 17th. Taylor came, too, and afterwards, Sasha and Taylor stayed for a week to help us get settled. (Sasha did the kitchen and all five bathrooms in the time it took me to do the food storage. I will forever be greatful for her help during those first few days in our new home.

The following week, Mike returned to Vernal and he and Jason brought back another trailer load of stuff. Jason is another one we owe a huge thank-you to, for using his days off to help us move. We sure have great kids!

That same weekend, Aspen and the girls came for a visit. We missed the parade that morning because none of the adults had the energy to get out of bed in time to attend it. Moving three times, a wedding and a family reunion had taken their toll! But we did make it over to Washington for the tail-end of the celebration at the park.

The girls got their faces painted.

And Aspen worked REALLY hard, to help us get...

...this cool picture!

I almst forgot the yummy shaved ices we got!

All in all, it was a fun, lazy sort of day...and afterwards, we found out that Jamie had been there, earlier! Too bad we missed her!

Park Family reunion, July 2009

And this brings me to the last "catch-up" post. The Park family reunion last July, 2009! I did not get very many pictures taken because we were a little preoccupied with keeping things running smoothly. But I have such wonderful memories of this reunion! So many people came that I had not seen in many years. It was great to see some of Wanita's family there, and Uncle Marvin's family. (I don't remember seeing Kim since before she was married!) I have great memories of delicious food that Mike was largely responsible for making happen. I am so greatful for a good husband who has always supported me at family events. His family does not get together like the Parks do, but he always jumps in with both feet to make sure things get done and we all have fun.

The reunion was held in Lava Hot Springs, down in southeastern Idaho. Our main camp was at the Ranch Inn, with others staying at nearby motels.

One night, we rented the Community Center and had a great dinner of Ribs, corn-on-the-cob, coleslaw and anniversary cake. The evening was a great success.

This was the Bus Park family picture. Mickala and Will had to leave before we got the picture taken, but I think that everyone else that was able to come for it is in this picture. I left the reunion exhausted, but happy.