We enjoyed having a few days to do things together and started up at BYU where we met at the new BYU scupture for a photo of the family.
We walked to the library to meet up with Laura's sister Emily who works in the BYU library. We really enjoyed the cool display there of church buildings all created with LEGOS!
Each building was created using the best bricks they could find and having to cut some as needed to make things work. It was really amazing!
We went up to SLC to see some of the sights up there including the old Taberacle and the Conference Center and the Church History Museum and Family History Library.
On July 4 we of course celebrated Jennifer's birthday! We hosted a large family get together and it was really a lot of fun!
We figured we had about 25 people over and it really worked out well. Scott was grill-master and did the burgers and Polish dogs perfectly! Lots of cute July 4 clothes!
We made a visit to see Dad at his apartment in Ashford and Austin brought a guitar so we could sing old songs with him...this was of course, magic. Dad sang along to many of them.
Got ao pic of him with the family afterwards!
It was hard for them to see how downhill Grandpa is since they saw him last.
Scott surprised me big time at his Gospel Doctrine lesson about the sons of Mosiah meeting up after their missions. He had me tell about an experience we had in the temple with a YSA ward member who had returned to activity and decided to go on a mission...well, as I am talking, in walk about 30 of our RM families...the walls of the cultural hall were lined with them and it was a tearful reunion, much like the sons of Mosiah! There is nothing sweeter than seeing the ones that you served with still faithful in the covenants they have made and teaching their children the same!
He excused me to go visit with them in the RS room and had tons of snacks waiting that he had purchased sneakily while Austin's family was here.
We had the best time! I visited until his class was over and then he came in and joined me and got to greet everyone as well. It was just magical!
Speaking of magical...a miracle occurred the following week!
McKenna's anmiotc fluids had not increased so they decided to induce her early. They opted to wait until the next night to start the process, but this was a real blessing for us because we were actually in town and could be helpful.
on Wednesday July 10 at about 8:45 PM, baby Sydney was born and her name was a complete surprise to me...an emotional one! McKenna was a total trooper for her long process of labor and delivery and it was love at first sight for her and Braden! 6 lb 8 oz 19 inches long
We got to bring them a late dinner and visit with them and hold this new baby...our first experience of being nearby when a grandchild was born! And we loved it so much!
We visited the next day as well and brought lunch for them and Scott met us after work.
Susan came to visit the next weekend and that was a lot of fun having her here as well. We spent a lot of time with Dad and he may not know we were there, but it meant a lot to us.
We did have a sister night to eat dinner together but forgot to take a photo of that...but got one with 3 of us before LeAnn took Susan to the airport for her ordeal of flying home...the big computer issues with microsoft happened while she was there and it took her 2 days to get out.
Scott and I did some hiking birding up Payson Canyon the following weekend and saw this toddling baby deer with his mom hiding on the side until we waited for her to get up the nerve to cross in front of us as well.
Another day we walked in Provo Canyon and saw a guy taking a photo of a snake crossing the path so we took some photos too, with Scott getting up closer to the front of the snake to get a better view...and me telling him that the tail looked a bit bumpy and "maybe it was a rattlesnake?"
Well, he photo IDed it later and IT WAS!!! scary! Not sure if it was a good thing I did not know it was a rattlesnake or not.
We were inspired by the cute bookshelf that Braden and Mckenna put in baby Sydney's room and Scott helped me put up these cute disply case bookshelves for preschool. I love them!
We spent as much time taking meals over and helping out with baby Sydney as we could before our trip to Scandinavia. Got a few almost smiles and some sleep smiles. She is sweet and wiggly and strong!
July 28 we picked up Lori early and started our Scandinavia adventure together! Took Trax from Scott's work after leaving a car there.
We all met in JFK and flew to Stockholm Sweden together!
Here we are by waterfront there in Stockholm!
We were exploring the town and went through this cool archway and then discovered that there was going to be a "Changing of the Guard"
So, we waited around for that and it was really neat with a brass band and all!
We found another area with the pretty bright painted houses.
And an overview of the waterfront from one of the many water views you get in any city near the canals or inlets from the sea.
We got a kick out of some of the names of the stores there...
Went out birding early with the boys and this was one view when no one else was hardly awake in the city.
Our birding boys.
Our guide Sophie taking us on tour of the city.
Inside the big City Hall.
They hold Nobel Prize dinners here in this big room there.
And another great room in this building with a mosaic that even had the Eiffel tower and US flag and statue of liberty, welcoming all cultures to their city.
At Skansen, the equivelent of our "This is The Place" monument and city in SLC...it was all about Sweden and houses and culture and farms and animals etc. Really a great place to visit!
A neck loop to punish you if you were bad!
At the very interesting VASA museum where they brought up an old viking ship that was sunk on it's first voyage...too heavy.
It was an amazing and artistic ship and they rebuilt it and made a very cool museum all about it and the shipping industry that inspired it.
Not sure where we were here, but we had to use the selfie stick!
Headed to BERGEN for 4 days on the 31st of the month!
Bergen, Norway!
Me with antlers.
Our game spot in our hotel.
Us in downtown Bergen.
At THE BLUE ROCK
Cutest picturesque streets!!
And houses!
WE loved Bergen!
More to come in August!
