Yeah! Here come Grandma and Grandpa!

My mom and dad came to stay with us for a few days this week. We had a lovely visit and the time went much too quickly!

The kids got to spend time with their grandparents and did some fun activities including tennis, swimming, board games, and working on scouting.

My dad worked on our yard digging up lots of weeds (too bad he is not here all of the time) and my mom and I went for a refreshing swim each day in our backyard pool.

Mom and Dad were able to see both Tuacahn shows ("Les Miserables" and "The Sound of Music") while they were here and they enjoyed them very much. I had Cub Scout Pack Meeting Thursday night and Rick and I had a training all day Friday and so they baby-sat the little kids for us during those two events and headed back Saturday morning. We enjoyed having them come. Thanks Mom and Dad -- we love you!

Fun With Flubber!

A few years ago my sister taught us how to make flubber. It is so easy and fun to make! Janika has made it for her brother's and sister's birthday parties, play-dates, and simply for family fun.

Here are some pictures showing the fun things you can do with flubber! For the recipe go to:

http://www.makingfriends.com/r_flubber.htm

Play-Group

A few families in the neighborhood started a summer play-group once a week. We take turns having all of the kids at our various homes so that the moms can get a couple of hours off a week!

We hosted the play-group today and so I enlisted Janika's help in making flubber with all of the kids. It was a big hit! We also had a fun little picnic outside. The kids all had a great time together!

Father's Day Flee -- Day One

Rick is such an awesome Dad! Here he is sharing a scripture with Janelle at our annual "Father's Day Flee." He is wearing his Father's Day T-shirt from Janika that says, "University of DAD where money grows on trees." (We wish!)

"Father's Day Flee" is a tradition that Rick and I started several years ago where we take our family on a fun/spiritual vacation around Father's Day. It is sort of like a "mini-EFY." Usually we go out of town, but this year we opted to try it from home because of other commitments.

We invited our friends, the Bashfords, to join us this year for our theme of "Legacy of Living Waters." All of the activities centered around water and we continually made comparisons between our need for physical water and our need for the "living water" of the gospel. Rick planned the whole thing -- from arranging the agenda, to scheduling meeting places, to buying all of the food.

I know it doesn't seem fair with it being Father's Day and all (he should be kicking back getting a foot rub) but this tradition was his idea after all and he is great at this sort of thing. We started off the evening with some water games and then Rick gave a lesson from the scriptures about the Savior, drawing symbolism from the water activities we had just participated in. We concluded the evening with Rootbeer Floats!

Father's Day Flee -- Day Two

We started off Day Two of "Father's Day Flee" with a HUGE breakfast at the Bashfords. We all helped cook and then stuffed ourselves.

Then Brad Bashford gave an awesome lesson continuing our theme of the living waters. He sent the kids out on a treasure hunt with clues to guide their way. One group got lost in the "mists of darkness," (their clues eventually led them into a dark closet with no lights). The other group was instructed to hold on to the stair rail if they were afraid to go up the stairs. So of course they let go of the "iron rod" and were lost as well. The third group was told to hold on to the stair rail (the iron rod) the whole way up the stairs and they were able to partake of the fruit and the living water. Except for me -- I got lost in the great and spacious building -- the Bashford's beautiful home!

After the lessons and more water games we all met at the city pool to enjoy swimming, the hydrotube, diving boards, and kiddie pool. The kids don't get to go here very often and the Bashfords had never been and so it was a fun event for everyone.

Later on we met back at our home for a barbeque and then we watched an old Seminary movie called "The Pump" and discussed it. Then we all had a treat and watched the videos of "Father's Day Flee" from last night and today. Fun day!

Father's Day Flee -- Day Three (part one)

After a great night's sleep and another yummy breakfast at the Bashfords, we listened to a lesson given by Annette Bashford. Everyone did such a great job on their lessons -- I was really impressed!

We took a walk down to the Santa Clara River to see how powerful water can be. We looked at the erosion left over from the Santa Clara Flood from a few years ago.

Jaiden and Taryn Bashford became really good friends during Father's Day Flee (as you can see with them holding hands on our walk).

Josh and Derek Bashford started off playing well together but then Josh suffered some facial battle wounds from Derek and so their friendship was short lived (maybe in a couple of years they'll be best buddies!)

Back at the Bashfords the kids filled plastic cups with rocks. Then they filled in the cracks with sand and then added water to fill in the void. If we don't accept "the living water" into our lives, we will always be left with a void, but if we partake of the living water then we will receive the peace and comfort that the gospel brings us!

Father's Day Flee -- Day Three (part two)

We concluded our Father's Day Flee today on a spiritual note. We went to the visitor's center where Rick had reserved the Theatre Room for our families. I taught the lesson on "What must I do to continue to drink from the Living Water, creating a legacy for both me and my family."

Then we took a tour of the exhibit of sculptures depicting the ministry and healing miracles of Jesus Christ. They were so realistic and moving -- it amazing. I am glad I got the opportunity to see it since our visitor's center will only have it for a few more days.

Our two families then met back in the theatre room where we had a testimony meeting. We really tried to focus a lot on testimonies throughout the past couple of days -- teaching the kids what is a testimony and how they can gain one for themselves. Most of the kids shared their testimonies and they were so sweet, pure and precious. It was really heart-warming and I had a difficult time not becoming emotional.

All in all I would have to say that this year's Father's Day Flee was a great success!