Busy But Fun!

Grandkids and family are great! It has been a great few weeks. April came back with us from Missouri and we have been able to spend lots of time with her family and some of the rest of the Hale Clan.

We spent a day at Bear Lake with Niccole, Chris and boys. It was Cayanna's birthday. We all went out to the beach. Niccole had packed some sandwiches and drinks for lunch so we could picnic while the kids spent the day swimming and building sand fortresses.

Crossing a HUGE puddle to get to the beach.

Cayanna made a pretty good "moat"!

Meanwhile, Hiram and Brigham just "chilled" out on their towels!

Enoch, Caleb and Isaac enjoying the water.

Noah says it's warmer in the "big puddle".

It was a bit cool out but the kids made the most of their time at the water's edge. April, the kids and I started back home about mid afternoon after a really great time. Thanks Nicci and Chris!

Kaden, Ivan, Tuck and Coop came to stay the weekend while Marc and Gretchen attended a wedding in Idaho. They returned on Sunday in time for Niccole and Chris to stop by on their way back to Pleasant Grove. We had a barbeque dinner in the backyard and also cake and ice cream to celebrate Cayanna's 7th birthday. Living in Missouri, it was the first birthday with family and cousins all together. With all of the Logan family, we had all 19 (20 with the one on the way) grandchildren and their parents. Everyone was there but Bart who is at military camp with the Air Force. It was nice to have nearly everyone together again!

Gretchen and the boys continued on with their stay with us for a few days while Marc went to scout camp for the week. It gave the Hale and Worthington children time to stay together for a play time. We were able to spend some time with Christina, Carter and Caitlin, too. We spent two afternoons at the park playing. One of those days we bought some lunch and ate it as the kids played on the playground. It is fun to watch the kids interact and play with one another.

We went up to Cub River Tuesday afternoon. Phil and Kristen had taken their family up a few days before to camp a night or two. So we joined them for a hot dog roast and to go on a hike.

Phil & Juliana on the hiking trail.

Five adults and 13 kids made for a great adventure! Kristen had quite the workout trying to keep up with the older group while April, Gretchen and I "brought up the rear" coaxing the smaller ones along. Come to think of it, April and Gretchen had to do a little coaxing and coaching "Grandma" along as well!

"Over the river and through the woods....."

(Tucker, Jenicca, Cayanna, Caitlin and April cross the log bridge)

Once we got to the top of the trail, we paused to drink from the springs. Phil filtered the water and we each had a refreshing drink before starting back down.

Caitlin stopped along the way to pick the beautiful wild flowers.

Phil and Tucker do a little fencing after returning from our hike.

"Tucker, The Victor!!"

Christina was a good sport through the whole day. The heat and activities make it difficult for her but she willingly stayed at camp to care for Eli while we made the hike.

Phil was super entertainment for the kids.

It was a great day and all of us went home tired and ready for a good night's sleep!

Back at home we spent the time resting and enjoying the things that only Grandpa can do with the kids.

Enoch takes his turn riding the scooter with Grandpa.

Grandpa took the kids for scooter and "whoopie" rides as well as for visits with the horses when he went to feed.

Gretchen left on Wednesday to return to Salt Lake but we sure hated to see her leave! April left on Thursday to go to Niccole's for a few days while I stayed in Logan to get some yard work taken care of as well as canning more peas!!

On Saturday I traveled with Kristen, Amanda and Christina down to Salt Lake to join the other girls for a "girl's day". We try to get together at least one day or, if possible, for an overnighter each year. It is a good opportunity for the girls to get away from their kids and just enjoy shopping and being together.

Of course, the first thing we did was find a good place to eat! Seems to be a Hale thing! We love our food!! We went to the Cheescake Factory. That is a favorite place of ours. We went there last year and it was just as good this time. It wouldn't be the same if we didn't order plenty of cheesecake for dessert. Good stuff! We got enough to share and try several kinds of "heaven". We then went up to Park City Outlets to spend the afternoon shopping. We had left Gretchen and April's kids with Jenicca at Marc and Gretchen's home in South Jordan. Marc came home from scout camp fairly early in the afternoon to help her with the babysitting. We arrived home late afternoon and everyone seemed to "fare" pretty well .... even Jenicca. She is such a sweetheart and is so good with the smaller kids. It was nice to be able to spend the afternoon and know that they were well cared for. I'm sure they kept Jenicca busy but she seemed to have at least survived all of those boys!!

We (April, kids and me) are currently staying with Niccole for a few days to get some of the final preparations done for the Fackrell Family Reunion. It is our turn to host the reunion this year and it takes a lot of effort to get it all pulled together. Once again, I am thankful for such a supportive family and especially the efforts of ALL of my daughters. Thanks so much girls!!

A Two Week Vacation to Nauvoo - Great Times!!

We left home on June 24th bound for Missouri and on to Nauvoo. It became so warm that we looked forward to the ride in an air-conditioned truck and sleep in an air-conditioned fifth-wheel. We are so blessed to have dry heat in Utah. When we got to Missouri it was 98* with 90% humidity. Good thing we took extra clothing!!

Grandpa & Grandma posing for a picture along the way. (Looks like the old tractor at home)

It is hard to choose just a few pictures to add from the hundreds that were taken along the way but to blog just a few .....

The group at Far West, Missouri

Far West was a fun place to visit. It is such a humbling experience to walk the paths of the pioneer saints and to see some of the sites of their hard labors.

We were excited to get to Kirksville and to visit with Bart, April and kids. One of the highlights of our visit was the meeting and blessing of our newest grandson, Elias.

April served a great breakfast for all and they came out to the camp with us for dinner later that evening.

Before leaving Kirksville, the Worthington's took us to an Amish and a Menonite store. Then we went on a tour of the tornado impacted community. The tornado took place just weeks prior to our visit. It was sad to see such destruction that can happen in just a matter of minutes.

Just one of the homes badly damaged by the tornado. Some were worse and some were just mildly hit. It was amazing to see how selective a tornado can be. One home could be nearly gone; whereas, the next one to it would have no damage at all. Amazing!!

Next, on to Carthage and Carthage Jail ....

The upper window where the Prophet was mortally wounded and fell to the ground.

Outside Carthage Jail

On to Nauvoo ........

Nauvoo Temple

On the wagon ride with our good friend, Elder (Dallas) Leishman, as our tour guide.

Setting up camp at Circle G campground in Carthage. We traveled back and forth to Nauvoo from Carthage each of the three days that we toured Nauvoo.

Caleb as wagon master.

It's on to the oxen and wagon ride!

Grandad taking a rest at the feet of Joseph and Brigham along the Trail of Hope.

The drug store at Old Nauvoo. Not exactly what Mike Sr. and Grandad are used to working in.

Grandpa and Grandma pause at the statue of Joseph Smith just outside one of the Nauvoo stores.

The Old School House was one of my favorite places in Nauvoo. The tour guides were great! We had a lesson in math, phonics and history.

Elder Leishman teaches Grandad how to make rope.

Elder & Sister Leishman

Lunch in Old Nauvoo

Gravesite of the Prophet Joseph Smith & family members. This site is owned by the Community of Christ church.

We had such a good time in Nauvoo but as in most vacations, we had some "down" times along the way. It seems like we spent more than our share of time like this ......

"We are running out of tires!" Note: Every job needs a supervisor ... In this case we have two.

Mike & Richard under the trailer again trying to fix electrical wiring. The blowout actually severed several wires. They taped them up and we were on our way again. We will have to have them fixed when we get back to Utah.

This one damaged the rim, hub and bearings.

April and kids returned to Utah with us! Three days on the road home was a little hard on the young and old.

The vacation experience was great! Although we had a few set backs, we could feel of the blessings, protection and love of our Father in Heaven. We realized that the things that happened could have been so much worse had it not been so. It seemed that each flat tire could have been so much worse had we not received a blessing with it. Our time at Nauvoo was a spiritual experience in itself as we walked the paths of the early saints and felt of the spirit there. We left there wishing we had more time to spend! Everyone needs to visit Nauvoo at least once in their lifetime. We feel happy and blessed to have had these experiences with the Fawcett's and especially with Grandma & Grandpa Fackrell and Grandad.