Peach Days Ice Cream Eating Contest

In the past it has been tradition that the Royalty participate in the Ice Cream eating contest.  This year the rules had changed to families, but they still let the girls participate. 

We were missing one girl so Julie, one of our Special Needs Participants, filled in.  In the beginning, the girls were eating so nicely with their spoons...but it didn't take long for them to dig in with their hands.

Unfortunately they came in 2nd place...and also unfortunately, they were all sick!  It was fun to watch the princesses get a little messy.

Peach Days Practice

The Royalty needed to get together to practice before their Peach Days Performance.  We were adding a new song with sign language that involved audience participation....and also we needed to teach Mandie the city jingle.  The girls had fun practicing together. 

Right after the practice we went to the Hurricane City Meeting regarding our assignment for Peach Days.  The Committee Chairman asked us to perform our city jingle.  McKayla was working and couldn't make it and Mandie had only practiced it a few times so we were already at a disadvantage.   It also didn't help that each girl has solo lines! The girls did it as best they could...but it was definitely not their best performance.

An Unexpected Change in the Royalty

The week before Peach Days, Hunter told us she would be moving to Salt Lake.  This would leave an opening in our Royalty.  We contacted the city and they told us that the next in line was Mandie Leavitt.  Brooklyn and I went over to Mandie's house and Brooklyn asked her if she would join the Royalty.  Mandie was so excited.  She now has only one week to learn the city jingle as well as the other songs the Royalty will be performing at Peach Days.

Elder Moore's Sandy 2nd Ward Homecoming

On August 19th, we were back in Sandy for Justin's homecoming there.  We stayed at the Farr's house.  The Morgan's were kind enough to let us use their home for the luncheon after church.  It was nice to hear Justin speak in the ward he had grown up in.  One of the elders from his mission sang a hymn in Spanish and it also brought the spirit in. 

The celebrations were fun, but the best part of the homecoming is seeing how much the missionary has grown. Elder Moore's testimony increased, he had a quiet confidence, he had changed. His love for the people of Nicaragua was evident in the way he spoke of them and the stories and memories he shared.

I am so grateful for the mission Justin served. He worked three jobs in the months prior to serving his mission so that he could earn the $10,000 required. This was a blessing to him and to me as his mother. I am so proud of him.

Elder Moore, the last two years were invaluable to you, to me, and to the people you were able to teach. May your testimony always burn bright. And may your time in Nicaragua serving the Savior stand as a foundation and a testament that will guide you throughout your life. I love you son!

The Kings

When I bought my house at 1243 E. Forest Ridge Road in Sandy, Utah in 1994, I believed that I would live there for the rest of my days.  It was a great home in a great neighborhood.  I had looked for six months for that house...and then I realized it wasn't the house I was looking for, but the people...the friends my children and I made while we lived there. 

With my divorce, it was evident I wouldn't be able to stay in that home.  My parents made a decision to buy my home and we would all live there together until the boys got on their missions.  My parents added 1400 square feet onto the already 3300 square foot home.  It was a big house!

When we all moved to Southern Utah, the market had crashed and my parents decided to rent out the house.  We were blessed when my friends and neighbors, the Kings, decided they wanted to be the renters.  I had taken care of their little girl Whitney when she was off-track from school and had taught her piano lessons in my home.  It only seemed natural that they live there. 

Thankfully for us, Marcie has a green thumb and a golden touch.  She has loved and cared for that house in a way I never could.  When I was there last, I had to take photos of the beautiful yard and gardens.  To me, it is heaven.  Having my dear, sweet friends living in my old house means I am able to go back there and visit whenever I feel the need.  Thank goodness, when I return now, I do not have the bad memories that occurred there, but only beautiful ones.  Thank you Bill and Marcie for giving me that gift.

Brooklyn's First Day of School

On August 15 Brooklyn began her first day of her senior year in Hurricane High School.  It is fun to look back over the years and see how much she has grown and matured. 

A cool thing about being the Class of 2013 is they will be the first students to graduate from the new high school.  Almost all of the old high school was demolished except for the auditorium.  They have a new football field, tennis courts and baseball field as well.  It is really a beautiful school.

St. George Temple Trip

 We were excited to go as a family to the temple.  It feels good to be there all together.  Also it was a welcome bit of respite from the busyness of the week.  The St. George Temple is extra-special to our family since my 2nd great grandfather, David H. Cannon, was the temple president there for 31 years.  His picture hangs in the foyer of the sealing rooms on the third floor.

One of the elders from Justin's mission, Taylor Webster joined us at the temple too.  He only lives a couple of blocks from the temple...lucky guy!  It is fun when Justin comes down to visit me that he gets to see his old mission friends.

 

Lacey brought Charlie, Hallie and Brooklyn down with her about the time our temple session was getting over.  Although we thought Charlie would be starving, he was in good spirits!

We then went and enjoyed a meal together at Iggy's. This picture is funny because the two returned missionaries are trying to figure out how to use their smartphones.  Technology changed a lot in the two years they were gone!

                                                             It really was a perfect day!