July 2023

On Friday, June 30th, Shirleen, Amy, and the five kids drove to the Palmer cabin outside Prescott.

Saturday, July 1st

Paul and Bryce left Mesa, and headed north to Prescott to join Shirleen and Amy & the five G grandchildren at the annual 4th of July Parade (which, this year, was held on the 1st of July).  Paul & Bryce went first to the Palmer cabin to unload some things, then headed back into town to join the others.  Here are some representative photographs:

Karsten Bryce
Melody Maylee Lizzie James Karsten Shirleen
Paul

Following the parade we enjoyed a lunch together (all nine of us)...

Shirleen Melody James Bryce Paul Karsten Maylee Lizzie Amelia

here:

And, after lunch, we walked to a store that sells flavored olive oils and balsamic vinegars.  We had previously received product from them after learning about the place from Dave and Lani, but we had never made an in-person visit.  Well, we went in, tasted samples, and purchased more!  Here's their website:

https://oliveunaturally.com/

If you're in Prescott, this place is worth a few minutes of your time.

We next went to an ice cream shop.  We were not the only visitors that day, as demonstrated:

Then we all headed back to the cabin.

Sunday, July 2nd

Shirleen's birthday!

We went into Prescott, and attended church here:

Shirleen Melody Maylee                               

Then we went back to the Palmer cabin to celebrate Shirleen's birthday, and to enjoy time together.

Monday, July 3rd

We were off to Goldwater Lake for a water adventure, where we rented two canoes, and out on the lake we went!

Shirleen Paul Bryce Amy
Melody Karsten Maylee Lizzie
James

Amy Maylee Melody James Bryce

After being at the lake we headed back to the cabin.  On the way there we stopped at "Elephant Rock" so the Gs could do some climbing & jumping!

Lizzie Karsten           
Bryce James Maylee
                         Shirleen

Karsten

Melody Bryce James Maylee
Lizzie                                    

James and Bryce

Karsten and Maylee

Bryce

      Bryce

      Lizzie

Lizzie James Bryce Maylee

We went back to the cabin for food, fun, and games.

Tuesday, July 4th

We began packing and cleaning up before for the trip home, and went to Groom Creek's 4th of July parade!

We finished packing and cleaning up after the parade, and then headed home to Mesa.  Here's a photo of the G's truck, as taken from the G's van:

We made it home -- another nice family adventure completed!  That evening there was considerable fireworks activity in the area.

Wednesday, July 12th

We drove with Amy and some of her children to Cordes Junction, AZ to meet with Stephen, Ari, and Eli who drove there from the Flagstaff area.  We had lunch here:

Karsten and Maylee

Stephen Eli Ari Shirleen Karsten Amelia Maylee

Eli traveled with us back to Mesa to stay with Amy & Bryce's family; Stephen & Ari returned to their home.

Thursday, July 13th

We went to the Arizona Museum of Natural History in downtown Mesa.

Shirleen Karsten Eli            

         Karsten                                Eli

Melody                 

              Eli                  Karsten

Eli and Maylee       

  

             Eli            Maylee

Karsten Maylee Shirleen Eli Melody Lizzie

              Eli                  Maylee

That evening most of us went to the Hale Theatre in Gilbert for a live-actor presentation of Beauty and the Beast.  Our family "staycation" was well underway!

Michael & LeAnn
(top row:  turquois & red)

And where is the Hale Theatre located?  Right across the street from the water tower:

Friday, July 14th

Paul and Shirleen served on their usual Friday morning shift at the temple.

Saturday, July 15th

Late in the afternoon we were off to Organ Stop Pizza!

LeAnn Michael Shirleen Amelia James Karsten Maylee Eli Melody Paul Bryce

Christmas in July:

                          Shirleen

It's a unique venue, and worth a visit.  They serve pizza, or course, but salads & soft drinks are also available.

Sunday, July 16th

We went to our various church meeting.  Eli went to church with Amy & Bryce & the kids.  That evening we all got together for a group photograph:

LeAnn Michael Shirleen Paul Bryce Amelia Lizzie
Melody Karsten Eli Maylee     
James         

Wednesday, July 19th

Paul went to the temple to serve as a substitute ordinance worker for a friend of ours.  Shirleen & Amy & some of the kids took Eli back to Cordes Junction where he re-joined Stephen for his return trip to the Flagstaff area.  On the return trip to Mesa, in traffic on the I17, Amy's van ran over some debris, and a portion of someone's tire tread got tangled up in the van's undercarriage.  The result was that they couldn't continue.  Amy & Bryce's minister came and got the kids to take them home.  Amy & Shirleen had to wait for a tow.  The tow came; and delivered them to Anthem, where things got untangled, and they finally got home safely.  We're sorry the van was damaged, but we're happy there was no tragic accident out on the highway!

Friday, July 21st

Paul and Shirleen served on their usual Friday morning shift at the temple.  Lizzie joined us at our home in the afternoon, and later, the three of us went to My Thai Bowl.  Lizzie also spent the night!.

Saturday. July 22nd

In the morning, Shirleen cooked up some traditional pumpkin pancakes!  We enjoyed those, and then a quilt frame was put up in the basement.  Lizzie had wanted to help make a quilt, and here she is with Shirleen, tying the quilt:

Paul helped with the turning:

Monday, July 24th

Paul did some yard work; Shirleen did some laundry.  Later, Paul provided Lizzie with transportation to & from her weekly violin lesson.

Tuesday, July 25th

Paul did some more yard work.  Later, we went to Family Services for our weekly assignment as church service missionaries.

Wednesday, July 26th

Paul substituted on the first shift at the Mesa Temple for a friend.

Friday, July 28th

Paul and Shirleen served on their usual Friday morning shift at the temple. 

Saturday, July 29th

David & Lani came to visit us while they were in Arizona!.  Jim & Irene joined us for lunch.  And here are the six of us:

Jim          David           Paul  
               Irene           Lani         Shirleen

Sunday, July 30th

Mike & LeAnn, Amy & Bryce and their 5 children, and Paul & Shirleen enjoyed dinner together this evening, at our home.  Shirleen had prepared the meat; LeAnn and Amy brought most of the side dishes.  Here's some of it:

                                                                         James
                                                                             Karsten

A very nice get-together!

Monday, July 31st

Remember that quilt project from July 22nd?  Shirleen bound it in the following days, and here are Lizzie and Shirleen delivering it (and some other things) to A New Leaf in Mesa:

Later, Paul drove Lizzie to her weekly violin lesson.