Spence & Gayle's Family Blog: Early Summer - 6 week update

Things went way too fast this past several weeks. I spent business time in Ft. Worth at ConeCraft (a supplier), then the following week in Boston at Acceleron, Merrimack, and Percivia (customers). I taught a Personal Management merit badge to the boy scouts. Gayle and I hosted a small neighborhood couples dinner. Craig and I performed at Art on the Lawn (North Logan). We had our neighborhood 4th of July breakfast in the Park, but on the 5th since the 4th was Sunday. We went with grandma and Leah to see the American Festival Choir and Peter Cetera (of Chicago fame) concert at USU, and the following week to see Paul McCartney in SLC. I performed Here Comes the Sun at a youth fireside on talents at the bishop's house too. And last night we had a second neighborhood couples dinner, this time hosted by Derald and MaryAnn Clark. Today was Brian Parkinson's farewell sacrament talk before he heads off to the Mexico City North mission. And that's just the stuff I remember that is easily jotted down. Here are some of the memories --

Avril scooting around

Drake (Joni's son) and Avril at great grandma's

Sharing a pony ride

Alicia and Jesse at the great grandparents' home during Joni's visit.

Ali and Joni, visiting from Cincinnati

Avril getting deer riding lessons from great grandma, a former rodeo queen.

We gathered for Father's Day. Note the colorful food. Good anti-oxidants.

We also enjoyed a cookout at Ali and Jesse's with Bryan and the Maxims (Richard and Sandy).

Richard, Sandy, Gayle, and Alicia inside with some of the food for the cookout.

Avril watched the bigger kids (Julie and John Crockett's) play more advanced games at great grandma's

She loved the rocking horse, though.

I got to re-unite with my brother Robert when he moved back up to Logan from San Diego.

Craig Mortensen and I typically play at the North Logan "Art on the Lawn" each summer.

Avril, modeling her sun outfit

And playing in Deseret Industries stuff in our garage

Grandma tried curling Avril's hair

On the front porch

Alicia enjoying the rocking chair

Grandpa, Avril, and Alicia

The happy family - Jesse, Avril, Alicia

Cooking up the sausage at the annual Independence Day breakfast in the park (except we held it on the 5th this year).

On Saturday the 10th we went down to Hogle Zoo. Not quite the San Diego or Griffiths Park Zoos, but fun for a 16 month old anyway. Here we're waiting for the elephant show.

The matriarch (in her 50's) and a baby, eating fruit in ice

The giraffes were impressive

Trent and Wendy Tripple came with their clan. Jared and Avril got to hang out with them.

Trent now works in D.C. in a staff position and doesn't fly actively. They live in Virginia. Here he is with Wendy.

Avril's getting used to meeting new (to her) relatives.

Gayle went all out and got me tickets for Paul McCartney's concert for my Father's Day gift.

Paul playing the piano. This might be "My Love Does it Good." He performed about 3 hours non-stop. No opening act, no intermission, about 4 encores. Fantastic concert - outdoors at the Rio Tinto soccer stadium in Sandy (SLC Reals play there).