July 2025

 

July 1 - Somewhere in Illinois on our way to Cindy and Ken's. Might take us a while if that's how fast we have to go.

We were able to go faster and made it! We got there in time to eat, go for a walk, sit on the patio for a bit, and see which cats were going to like us. This time it was Noodle.

July 2 - The cats are funny watching Cindy work out.  They really want to work out too!

We went to Dutch Creek Farm in Shipshewana, Indiana.  Cindy and Ken were kind enough to pose for me in front of this silly Kangaroo statue.

Petting all kinds of different animals is always fun.

Still getting to know the animals.

Feeding the animals from the horse drawn wagon. They are not shy!

All kids of animals, even a Zorse, which is a zebra/horse mix.

Not sure this is a Highland cow, but sure does look like one.  

We celebrated Cindy's 43rd birthday! Blake even sang a "special" song.

Some of us watched Wimbledon, the cats are becoming more friendly. I even touched Shady.

July 3 -  We left really early to go fishing on Lake Michigan. We were actually out on the water before 5:30.  We got to go on The Fish Stalker with Kevin Roberts as our captain again.

Blake is holding the pole up by a light, so the sinker will glow under the water.  Ken reeled in the first fish before Kevin was really ready.  His was the big one.  Blake reeled in the little one.  

Ken got another one, then Cindy and I had a turn reeling one in.  We got 6 all together.  It's pretty exciting.

We had a great time!

This was funny, Ken planned to wear the same clothes as he did two years ago.  He was sad because Cindy and I couldn't.

Blake had the same sweatshirt, but a different hat.

I didn't even try to get the same poses.

I love Noodle's heart on his side.  Blake in his usual pose on the patio and Shady visiting again.  

July 4 - Blake took Ruckus for a little walk.  Striking his usual pose "watching the cats play".  Shady visits again.  

Stovers U Pick and Farm Fresh Produce.  The cherries were still on and the blueberries were just starting, so we picked both.

July 5 - Fernwood Gardens - We walked the trails of this pretty botanical garden.  We had a map to follow.  Cindy says I was camouflaged.  

July 6 - On our way home - almost to Cheyenne, we hit a really bad rainstorm, complete with thunder and lightning, we drove into it, then quickly drove out of it.

July 7 - The rock formations in Wyoming are pretty interesting.  This is the Montpelier Temple.  We went a lot of miles! But, we got pretty good mileage.

July 10 - I got to spend some time with Cole and Ryder.  I love watching Ryder interact with his brother.

July 12 - I got to spend some more time with Cole!

He's a real goer! Always on the move!

Blake went for an ATV ride with Randy, Ryder and most of Brian's family.  They said it was fun.

July 15 - I couldn't resist taking a picture of these beautiful roses when I was deadheading.  

A beautiful sunset!

July 17 - I got to go the Idaho Falls Temple with my mom! It was great!

July 18 - A gorgeous sunrise.

July 19 - Blake and I went to the new Syracuse, Utah Temple.  It was beautiful inside and out!

July 20 - We went to my nephew Samuel Leifson's farewell before he leaves for the Copenhagen, Denmark Mission.  He gave a really nice talk.

July 21 - Another wonderful sight to start the day.

I got to spend some time with Scottlynn.  She's a little like her mother and won't look at the camera.  

July 22 - I almost missed this sunrise.

Our neighbor's chickens and ducks like to come visit our yard.

July 24 - I happen to catch a hummingbird in the flowers. It's a little hard to see.

I don't know why the circles ended up on these photos too.  Hallie and Penny really enjoyed their cupcakes at the stake 24th celebration.

July 26 - Blake went huckleberry picking with Brian and Aubrey, this chipmunk is the only picture he took.  I got to hang out with Scottlynn.  She took a nice nap on my lap.  Her hair was wild when she woke up.  

She loves the tramp.  It also makes her hair wild.

July 27 - We celebrated Courtney's birthday.  Her birthday is August 1st.  

Shauna and Troy came for dinner and we played a long, fun game of Phase 10 Flip.  Scottlynn and Penny played and played with the toys.  Molly, Hallie and Penny did some painting.  Penny was very jealous when Jared was holding Scottlynn, she had to be held too.

Now, cats came to visit.  Scottlynn and Declan loved petting them.

July 29 - More beautiful roses, adorned with a praying mantis.  

Penny came to hang out with me for a bit.  This is how she napped.  She got to choose a big treat because she went potty!

July 30 - I love these beautiful scenes Heavenly Father created for me!

June 2025

June 1 - Cole seems to find himself in a corner or under something all the time.

June 2 - The flowers are starting to be beautiful!

Devri Williams is showing off one of her ducks. The girls are trying to pet a kitty.

June 5 - This cat helped me pull some weeds, then it wanted to stay in the garage, I finally got it to leave.

June 7 - Aubrey and Scottlynn and Tillie on a four wheeler waiting to load in the trailer.  Randy and Cole doing the same thing.

June 8 - It's measuring day!

Maden is still the tallest at 5'5 3/4", Annie is 5'4 1/2", Ryder is 4'10", 

Molly is 4'5 1/2", Clark is 4'3", Hallie is 3'11", Declan is 3'10", Penny is 2'11", Scottlynn is 2' 6 1/2" and Cole is 2'4".

After the measuring, there was a lot of fun for the kids to see what their dads looked like at their age.

June 12 - I got to spend some more time with this Cole boy!

JUne 14 - I love these beautiful coral roses.

June 15 - I looked out the window and what did I see? Ryder walking Happy!

Look at all this food we had! Lots of yummy stuff!

The flowers are at their best right now.

June 16 - Beautiful sunrise!

Blake got to go with me to take Clark to eat and go shopping! He chose to go to Pizza Pie Cafe to eat.  Then, we went shopping at Game Stop.  He chose this cute squishy and one game for the switch.  Clark smiled the entire time, he's such a fun, happy boy. He turns 10 on the 18th!

June 17 - Paul's 5th birthday water party in their back yard.  The kids had fun on the slip and slide, and on on the tramp.  Penny and Danielle had a great time with the water table. There was a great line up of adult watchers. Nikelle found a frog in the grass.  Blake stopped in to Brian's and found Declan and Scottlynn riding on the crazy car.

June 18 - We took a road trip to Boise with Shauna and Troy.  They even got to ride while Blake drove hands free, I think they're brave!

We stopped at Shoshone Falls. They are roaring pretty good. Such a magnificent sight.

We went to Top Golf.  Blake and I had never been before, so we had kind of a slow start. By the last game we did better.  I was playing under Scott T.'s account and I won the last round! It was pure luck!

June 19 - We took Shauna and Troy to the Sturgeon fishing pond. Blake loves fishing there and is in the zone.  Troy caught some, he even caught the biggest one.

We think they might have just caught the same one over and over.  It was a fun hot day.

June 21 - Celebrating Clark! Brian reserved a theater for all of us to watch "How to Train Your Dragon." We all got popcorn and a drink.  It was great fun.

June 23 - We went to help Brian pound poles around some trees to help them grow straight.  The hammer was really heavy, but Brian got the job done.

June 25 - Another beautiful sunrise!

Cole will drive the side by side!

June 26 - Penny got to come hang out with me for a bit.  She's still a funny, cute girl.

June 27 - Gorgeous!

June 28 - Mom got to go to the temple again! Lynne arranged for transportation for her.  We did sealings and it was so nice.  Dallin, Kayleen, Samuel, Lynne, Rob, Blake, Mom and I were all able to be there.  It was a great day.

A bunch of us including Brian, Aubrey and Scottlynn, Jared's family, Courtney, Ryder and Mikala, Lynne, Rob and Samuel, Michelle's family and Blake and I went down near Jensen's Grove for the fireworks.  We were there about two hours early and thought we had a great spot.

Then, the sprinklers came on just as the fireworks were starting! We moved over to a gravel area instead.

The fireworks were really good!

June 29 - Aubrey blew some bubbles for Penny and Scottlynn.  Then, they played some Connect 4.