The Best July ever!

Hi family,
This is a few days late because Doug and I have been "away"---not out of the country or anything but you'd think so because we didn't have access to internet or e-mail. But that's all a story August's entry. Let me tell you about our fabulous July!

Geri was able to fulfill two lifelong dreams this month. The first one came very early in the month. Geri has longed to have a "family reunion" on her favorite holiday---The Fourth of July. We didn't have everyone together, but a big enough group it just felt like everyone. James and Mandy and twins were still in town and we had Terri and kids as well as Jon and family. I loved getting up early to watch the hotair balloon races, then coming home for some of Grandpa's pancakes before going to the parade. Hooray! Geri didn't have to go to the parade alone! That is a sad sight. Anyway, the steps of Drew and Doug's condo on Center Street have proven to be the perfect site for parade watching. We have gradually elevated seats and a key to the condo with bathroom and water so the kids were happy. Then it was an afternoon of swimming at Veterans Park for those not taking a nap, and a bar-b-que, and the greatest fireworks Uncle James and "Uncle Don" could get. What a show. The police kicked us off of our street because fireworks were prohibited above 9th East so we went back to Drew/Doug condo and find a great place in the park across the street. Then back up to our old neighbor hood for the heighth so we could watch the Stadium of Fire show. Geri had a great day! Thanks all of you.
Of course the next day we were packing up for the second of Geri's dreams---The Calgary Stampede. Geri has always loved rodeos and fairs and this is the grandaddy of them all. The twenty hour trip up there in the motor home got a bit long but we made it fun with forced frequent stops (can't go very far on a tank of gas in a motorhome!) and movies and games. Jon's suburban offered the movies, and the motor home had a game table so we rotated kids about every two hours.
We were ready for something new by the time we reached Dave and Sandy's. (Notice I'm jumping right past the hour long border crossing incident and moving on to the good stuff. Canada is beautiful and Dave and Sandy have a lovely home with so many levels there was floor space for everyone who couldn't fit in a camper bed. Some even slept on the trapoline. They were great hosts and Geri for one loved the beautiful nature walk we went on the first morning and then the afternoon at The Lake. I'm going to try to post a couple of pictures the rest of you don't have. Anyway, the trip up to Banff on Monday was beautiful, shopping, camping, hiking (we found some great hikes!) there was all great, and Lake Louise is a jewel.
Back in Calgary on Wednesday rushing to get everyone into the fair grounds before 9 am was a challenge, but well worth the effort because entry was free until 9, then big bucks. Lots of fun free shows and things to do and see there, and some of us got to go back that night for the royal treatment---inclosed box seats for the chuck wagon races. Thanks Shell.
Coming home over the Glacier Park Pass on Highway to the Sun was an experience. It turned out to be a big pricey but a memory was created. More beautiful hiking there, too.
One more night camping at a KOA and we were home. What a memorable trip! Probably the best part was having so many of our grandchildren together enjoying one another. We hope this whole effort created some lasting memories in their minds, too.
We had a chance of pace when we went up to Idaho with Dawna for three days to speak at BYU-Idaho Education Week. They put us up in a Motel Eight and we brought Dawna along thinking there would be the usual two double beds but we got fooled. They were all filled up so we had no choice but to sleep "three pigs" in a blanket. Luckily it was a king size bed and we hardly even felt each other. Another memory maker. Classes went well. Doug had three each day to do, Geri just one and that was at 8:30 so she had the rest of the day to just go to hear others. It's really nice up there on the Rexburg campus. Laid back---not the big crowds Provo campus gets. We had a good time.
We got Dave and Sancy for one night while they were in town to take Darin to EFY and really enjoyed looking at some of there old family movies with them. We hadn't planned that but it turned out to be a really fun evening. Dave had some good ones and we had a good laugh at those boys when they were little. We need to do more of that.

From the Living to the Dead.
The last few days of July and first few of August took us to a different realm. We had a time-share condo arranged in Salt Lake right across the street from the Conference Center. Geri spent every day in the FH Library searching out her dead ancestors while Doug worked away on his lap top getting his Education Week lectures organized. I guess you might say Geri got to see another wish come true. She always wanted to know what it would be like to live in downtown Salt Lake, have walking access to all the wonderful things going on at temple square in the evenings and area, as well as the FHL. We took some great walks both morning and night and did a big of exploring. I suppose it would get old if you lived there all the time but it was sure fun for a week.
Love Mom and Dad