"Fun In The Super HOT Summer Sun"

*UPDATE*
Andrea wanted me to add the picture of her going down the slide too!

Dayson and I had a couple of good reasons to leave the nice, cool country and go to the
117 degree heat.
1st Dayson had a couple of windshields to replace, 2nd I had a doctor appointment and 3rd Rachelle, Dayson's little sis, went thru the temple for the first time.

This is all of Dayson's family who attended the endowment session minus Satya.I always knew that I was taller than Dayson!

The only way we survived the heat was swimming.

My mom's bestfriend Jan lives down the street and that's where we spent a lot of our time.

The boys decided to push me in the pool.

I knew exactly what they were planning when Clayton asked for my camera and Carson was walking behind the palm tree. I wasn't going in without a fight or Carson.

Dayson making his way down the slide

MacKenzie loving everybit of the pool as long as she had floaties and the side to hold on to.



Daycee having a great time

Aarron jumped right in without blinking. This was his first time to swim all by himself. He loved every minute of it and actually jumped in without his floaties and surpised us by dog paddling to the side. That was a scary moment for Dayson and I.


Everyone had a turn on the water slide, even if they didn't want one.
Adam was scared to death, but being the mean parents that we are made him go down the slide.



Aarron never hesitated

Dayson forced MacKenzie down the slide, she too wanted nothing to do with it.

Daycee loved every second of it

Courtney having a blast with her cousins

Jenna looks a little scared but she really loved it!

Hold your breath Harly

Carson going face first

Clayton going face first too

What do you do when your hot and melting?

Eat ice cream cones from McDonald's!

Clayton
Carson

Harly

Daycee

MacKenzie

Aarron

Adam

Even though we almost died from the heat we had a great time with family.

Clayton and Carson spent time with Dallin & Wyatt

Harly, Daycee and Kenzie spent time with Aunt Rachelle, Aunt Angelene, and their girl cousins including Delona's girls from Oregon.

Adam & Aarron got to spend the night with Grandma & Grandpa Merrill

Thank you to everyone who helped us out with our kids.

ROAD TRIP!

The day before we left for Idaho we had visitors from Waddell.

The Kelly family came over after the parade and this is a picture of the old Waddell Ward primary.

Inman kids, Archdeacon kids, Kelly kids and the Merrill kids with a few missing.

Sunday morning we left Springerville at 7:00 am and headed north to Idaho.

Everyone included were Kelly, Tatum, Rylee, Deanna, Gunner, Me, Harly, Daycee and MacKenzie

Our first stop, Shiprock, New Mexico to eat lunch at Taco Bell





We didn't get to Idaho until 1:30 am (Idaho time) the next morning.

Towards the last 3 hours everyone was a little dillusional and wanted to escape the suburban.

Our first tour of Emmett, Idaho.

Kelly drove us to her property were she has an awesome garden.

We took the back way out of Emmett and up this mountain and this is the view from on top.

Such a cute town, like the one you see in a movie.

Our second day there we took the kids swimming at the local pool and they had a great time.

Wednesday afternoon we drove to Middleton where my sister Becky lives and uncle Jeremy watched all the kids while us sisters went out to eat.

Saying goodbye. We left to go home on Thursday morning.

Harly & Rylee

Tatum, Rylee & Harly

Deanna & Daycee

Gunner & Kenzie wouldn't take a picture together.

This is me trying to take a picture with Kelly but she didn't want anything to do with it because she hadn't been feeling good.

After leaving Idaho we made our first stop in Trementon, Utah for happy meals.

After being in the car for so long it was nice to get out and play.

Next stop, Temple Square.

We made it to the top of the church office building just before it closed.

We made our way to the North Visitor Center and this is the girls watching a short video.

We stopped in at the Tabernacle just in time to hear the pin drop.

It was decorated for the 4th of July and looked gorgeous inside.

And finally we went to the South Visitor Center and took our picture with Jesus. This is what MacKenzie was looking forward to the whole drive. She thought it was going to be the real Jesus and wanted to give him a hug.

After our Temple Square adventure was over we drove to Provo to meet Jamie, Jared and Nash at Applebee's.

This is Nash with a lemon. He is so cute.

Me & Nash

All the girls in their pajamas with Nash at Jamie's apartment.

We left Utah at 6:00 am (Az time) and headed home.

Our first stop was Moab.

We went to this tourist spot and got out to look around.

Harly loves elephants and was excited to take a picture with this giant one.

Daycee took a picture with grandpa Wellman. Just kidding, this is a golfer made out of golf clubs.

MacKenzie with the little elephant.

As we drove into Monticello, Utah we saw this temple my dad told us about and we stopped to take pictures. This was one of the first mini temples pres. Hinckley announced would be built.

This was such a cute town and real close to Blanding.

We finally made it home Friday evening around 5:30 pm

While in Idaho, we got word that my mom's uncle Darwin had passed away and that his funeral would be on Saturday. That is why I hurried home, to be there for the funeral.

My mom's brothers and sisters all came up for the funeral and this is my Uncle Melvin and Aunt Cindy who drove from El Paso, Texas. I haven't seen them in such a long time it was so much fun to visit with them.

My Grandma Slade is first cousins with uncle Darwin's wife, Aunt Ethel. That is how they met. It was good to have grandma and my mom back in Eagar again.

Slade Family Reunion 2009

Richard & Pauline Slade

Every other Fourth Of July my Grandpa Slade's (above) family celebrates our heritage from Eagar, Arizona. My grandpa is the oldest of seven children. There are three siblings still alive; Darwin, Elwin and Doreen. Just days before the reunion my uncle Darwin had a stroke. He has stayed around long enough to say goodbye to his family and is waiting patiently to join his mom, dad and brothers on the other side. He will be greatly missed.

My mom, dad and all of my sisters reunited for this special occasion. Kelly and Becky drove from Idaho, Jamie flew from Utah and Andrea drove from Buckeye, Az. Kelly and her kids stayed with me and everyone else stayed with Rita. We spent every meal together and enjoyed the few short days we had together.

On Friday, July 3rd was our Family Meeting. We all met at Ramsey Park in Eagar for family updates, trivia, socializing and lunch. Friday evening we had a bonfire at Rita and John's. Saturday the 4th we all attended the parade. That was the last parade I remember us all being together since Deanna died. Saturday evening we watched fireworks on Rita & Johns back porch. Here are some random pictures I took of our weekend.

Mom, Rulon and Dad waiting for the meeting to start.

Uncle Kenny and Aunt Vickie surprised everyone with Dilly Bars from Dairy Queen.

My grandpa would always bring us grandkids dilly bars when we would visit. Usually on Sunday afternoons. It is a tradition and memory we will always remember.


Harly, Courtney, Kendall, Aarron, Kylie, Daycee and Deanna


Kristie and Paul giving horse rides to Gunner and MacKenzie

Aarron had to have a ride too.



Clayton won a prize from the raffle at the family reunion meeting.



Adam loved sitting in his chair since he doesn't like the ground and can't walk yet!

Nash having fun, but only if his mom is in sight.

Jagger and Aarron going down the "big" slide.


Clayton, Ryan and Carson waiting for the raffle to start.
Ryan won 4 items and Carson nothing. Better luck next time.




My mom and my sisters

Kelly, Rita, Kim, Mom, Jamie, Becky, Andrea

Deanna, Daycee, Kate, Kenzie


Jamie, Cammie, Macy (aka Megan Fox)
Doesn't Macy look like Megan Fox from Transformers?

My first cousin Stacey who I haven't seen for more than six years.

My mom and dad with all of their daughters and grandkids.

15 granddaughters and 10 grandsons