The Great Squirrel Hunt

One night, Jeff came home from work, went into the scrapbook room and saw a squirrel running around the room. He quickly shut the door to trap the varmint. I did not believe him until Mom told me she had seen a squirrel sitting on the front fountain when she went out to get the paper. With the door open, the squirrel decided to go into the air-conditioned house. Jeff got his fishing net and flashlight. Dad got his laundry basket and broomstick. Mom was brave and came into the room and stood up on a chair to take pictures..(like squirrels can't climb) We tried to scare the varmint out but it was in hiding. Jeff decided to bring Maggie the killer dog into the room to flush out the critter. Maggie was so excited to be in the house she did not even notice the squirrel scent. Next we tried to bribe the furry one with grapes and nuts, but no luck. Mom and I began to doubt Jeff's eyesight and decided there was no squirrel. We shut the door and went to bed hoping Jeff was seeing shadows. The next day, Jeff again saw the squirrel running across the desk. Again we tried to flush him out but no luck. Finally Dad had a brainstorm and opened the windows and propped open the screens. The squirrel saw freedom and left the house sometime during the day. Now Mom does not have to sleep standing on a chair in the dining room.

Dad and Jeff ready to catch the squirrel.
Mom showing us what a squirrel looks and sounds like.
Last sighting of the squirrel

Summer's End

The Fourth of July 2008 came and we enjoyed our annual fun-er-rama. We decided to stay at Grandma and Grandpa's house this year to avoid the crowds and high gas prices we encounter when we go to Provo. We had games, swimming, great food, and fireworks. Everyone had a good time and we enjoyed being together as a family. We missed Angie and Mike and their family as they were in Arizona, and Kevin and Karri in Salt Lake. Our thoughts were with you. Fireworks going off sideways......that is a trick
Gage felt much safer sitting on Grandpa's lap
Ali is enjoying the fireworks....I'm not sure about Mike.
Sawyer and Fisher don't really care about the fireworks
Everyone enjoying the fireworks
Brooke and Mike wondering where the birdy went.
The winning team....
Kids waiting for the fireworks to start.
More backyard fun....
Gage and Adi playing in grandma's swimming pool

Waiting for Uncle Mike to send up another parachute
It looks good enough to eat.
Grandma Deb working hard in the kitchen.
Ali waiting for the serve......I should have rotated it.
Playing water baloon volleball is always a hit.

Grey enjoying the water pump.....

Time with the Family

July 2008 Activities

Grandma Great, Scout and Izzy

Grandpa Haney priming his water pump to water his lawn and garden. Notice he is wearing sweat pants.....I was really proud.
Sorry you have to look sideways.....These are the same bleachers where after giving mom her engagement ring, she sat and watched my play a softball game while holding hands with her old boyfriend.
This is the field where I gave Debbie her engagement ring....after which I umpired an American Legion baseball game.....Pretty romantic..
Izzy and Scout taking time to smell the flowers in Grandma's front yard.
Grey sharing his watermellen with Grandpa
Grey eating watermellen the no-hands method
Izzy, Scout and Grey enjoying a watermellen evening
Swimming in Grandma's back yard
Grey with his corn on the cob
Grey after his corn on the cob.....getting a bath in the kitchen sink
Grandpa Haney talking with Gary at the reunion
Debbie and friends
Debbie and younger friends
Dar and his family joined us for breakfast....Dar got a little more than he bargained for
Grandma and Bennie at the reunion

Hi Everyone,

We finally have a day off from activity to sit down and update the blog. We have had a busy last couple of weeks. We packed and got ready to go to beautiful Nat Yo Pa Idaho for the Haney family reunion which Debbie was in charge of. We took Grandma with us and left her beside the freeway and hope her brother would find her and keep her for a few days. She stayed with her brother Floyd in Wendell while we attended the reunion. Debbie was very busy at the reunion as the organizer, the photographer, and the socializer. I visited with those I knew and made one new friend. I helped with setup and dishes and went for a long walk until I met up with four dogs who did not want me walking past their house. I turned around at that point and decided to sit on a small culvert pipe and rest before starting back the three miles or so I had come. As I sat down on the culvert to rest, I must have disturbed a rattle snake who was in the culvert to get out of the sun. He, (or she.....who knows) came slithering out between my legs. It was about three feet long and motivated me to get moving on my return walk. We packed up on Sunday, drove over to look at the new Twin Falls Temple and picked Grandma up at the side of the freeway. We left the camper at Floyds and went on up to Ontario. We left Grandma at her sisters home and got a motel room in Ontario. We spent three good days there visiting and going through family histories, sorting pictures and making copies of pictures and documents. We spent a day with Neva and Bennie, two nights with Dar and Kathy, and a day with Bob. Debbie bought a recorder and got her dad talking about his growing up years. We have never heard him talk as he did. He talked for about four hours. Debbie was able to clear up some stories, heard new stories and it was really interesting and enjoyable to sit there and listen to Grandpa Haney.
I took a few hours to go around Ontario and try to recall memories of my youth. I took a few pictures and recorded some of my thoughts. I am going to try to work on my history this year.
We packed up and grabbed Grandma and came home. We had the opportunity to take care of Mike and Ali's kids for a week and really enjoyed it. It was good to bond with them. Today is the 24th of July and my summer is almost over. Here are some pictures to update our past couple of weeks.

Amazing Likeness

Check out Grandma Deb and Papa Gary

Potato Head Style!

We love you Grandma and Grandpa!
Love Camryn, Dean and Kate

Fourth of July Fun-er-ama

It is Sunday afternoon and we just finished watching possibly the greatest tennis match in history....the Wimbledon Men's Final. Mom is now asleep and Jeff and I are bonding on our laptops.
We had a good 4th of July holiday weekend. Jeff planned out his 3rd annual 4th of July Funerama. He was out in the dark Thursday night mowing the lawn. Friday, Mom, Jeff, Mike, Ali and the kids went boating at deer creek reservoir while I stayed home and prepared things for the funerama. We had the playground, the pool, badminton net, awning, tables and chairs set up. Those attending were the Mitchell family, Mike, Ali and their family, Grandma, Maggie, Mom, Dad, Jeff, and Brooke. Jeff's friend Annette also came. For food, we had Bar-B-Que Ribs, potato salad, corn on the cob, chips, cherry choc. cake, blueberry cheese cake and apple pie. When it got dark, we all went out front and lit off fireworks. Even though we did not go over to Provo this year, I think everyone enjoyed the day and it was less hastle and stress for all.....especially for me.

Nate and Ali waiting for a serve.

Kids waiting for the fireworks to start.

Gage felt more safe watching the fireworks from Grampa's lap.

Grandma, Jeff, and Izzy at the Fun-er-ama

Mike jumping the wake at Deer Creek

Jeff riding the wake at Deer Creek.

Izzy, Gage, Addie, and Scout waiting for the next parachute to go up.

Mom fixing the food......She is a good egg.

Mike and Brooke ready to defend their title.

We had a great time, but were missing Angie, Mike and their family. We got used to having them close. We also missed Kevin and Kerri, but Kerri is not feeling too well.
Hope you are all doing well.......See you next week.

Izzy and Scout waiting to see Uncle Jeff wipe out.

Mike and Grey playing beside the Moomba.