A Young Mens Weekend

So, at church I work with the young men, and it was a young men's weekend. I was set to go camping with the priests on Friday, bu on Thursday it rained harder than it has in a year, so we cancelled the camp out portion and just got up early and met at 5:30 on Saturday. We ate eggs and bacon for breakfast (together) and then drove out to Needle Rock Park for a few hours of paintball. The rangers eventually kicked us out, but not before I got to terrorize my boys. Apparently, there is some rule against shooting firearms while defenseless folks ride through the park. Who would'a thought?
Below you see Charlie, after I shot him.

After paintball with the priests, Jen and Abby and I attended a baptism for Vincent, a 14 year old convert. It was nice to go to church in something other than a white shirt, for once. I always feel like I should wear white on Sundays. How can I ask the youth to do something I wont? But for the baptism, I broke out the blue shirt. I cant wait for school to start so I can have to wear more nice clothes. During the summer I just sit around in shorts and a T-shirt, but that wont fly when I'm teaching class.

Jen posed with Abby too. Aren't they cute?

Then Abby tried on a bonnet for church on Sunday. She is adorable (and if you don't think so she'll step on you with that giant left foot)!

We also had some friends over for dinner last week. Sarah and DJ are on the left, and Niki and Trent are on the right. They work with the young men.

4th of July Fireworks

My parents drove out this weekend to say hello and get their Abby fix. They rented a hotel room and we watched the city fireworks from their balcony.

Abby is excellent in standing. She just needs a little balance support but she generally prefers to stand all day.

(though sometimes she prefers to sit)

Fourth of July Breakfast

Today we got up early and attended a Fourth of July breakfast at our church.

The bacon was raw. It looks much more brown in this photo, but it was soggy, wet rubbery and certainly raw. Greasy fat and uncooked tapeworm infested pork, anybody? It squishes in your mouth.

I'm curious to see who is missing on Sunday morning.

Visiting Utah

We spent the past couple weeks in Utah. I received a small grant to fund a research trip, and Jen would not be left at home so she and Abby joined me. We stayed with family and bought groceries so we ended up staying under budget.

We spent our first night in Las Vegas with old friends, Natalie and Brett Burbidge, and thier three children.
We passed through Hoover Dam. Its big.
We spent our next night in Orem with Jen's brother Brent and his wife Nicole. I gave him a special hug.
We saw another longtime friend, Jerilyn Metler Anderson.
My sister (Heather) stopped by briefly and we went out to dinner.
We visited Amanda (Abby's birth Mother) and her family (Teresa and Mike)
Isnt Amanda skinny? We like those genes.

Abby poses at Brent and Nicole's house.

Brent and Nicole
We swam at the pool in our old Provo apartments, still owned by the Metler family.

Abby made a new friend at Brent and Nicole's house.
Abby was overwhelmed.

We had a Sunday dinner at Jen's Aunt Cindy's home in Provo.Cousin Nick, his wife Julie, and thier son Trevor visited.
My sister dropped in again!
Cindy's fiance, Brad, knows how to BBQ.
I am the BOMBER MAN!

Jen visited Rosalind Hall, BYU professor of Music

We saw Jen's cousin Mandy and her hubby, Russell.

No trip to Provo is complete without a stop at the BYU Creamery.
We visited the BYU pond ducks, and Abby was in persuit.
Jen visited Vicci Gappmeyer, former principal at Wasatch High where Jen taught.
Brent helps with Abby

Chill'n with Daddy

Is she not the cutest baby on earth?

Oh the Sounds She Makes...

Let the Good Times Roll

The Heard Museum

Now Abby can travel in style. Tiff (Jen's sister) bought us a BabyBjorn so now when we go out Abby can see the world. We took it out to the mall and that was a hit, so on Saturday we used it to visit the Heard Museum in Phoenix. The Heard Museum specializes in Indian art and history, and the best exhibit is on about the Indian boarding school era. This is complimentary to my own research on the Mormon Indian Placement Program. Abby loved the museum.
Here is a Navajo sand drawing of the creations. Traditional Navajo beliefs teach that we are living in the fifth world, and that there were four before this one. Each imploded on itself as the succeeding world rose up from below. Similar patterns of self-destruction occurred in all worlds so the Navajos place a high priority on one principle above all others: balance (dont screw up this physical-spirutal-social world!). This remains the guiding rule among many Navajos--balance in your interpersonal relations, balance with nature, balance with God, etc. Find balance.
We took a few pictures outside the Heard: