MEMORABLE REUNION

It's been such a blessing to have my parents on a mission for the last eighteen months.  I feel my family has been blessed and grown over the time as we watch my parents serve valiantly for the Lord.  And the last few days we have been blessed once more to have them in our home, sharing their mission experiences with us and re-aquainting themselves with their grandchildren. They drove 1800 miles out of their way to come visit our new home.  And every mile was worth the memorable reunion we had.

The kids were so excited. Madelyn wanted to give grandma a "Madelyn Hug", Marcus wanted to show off his light saber skills, and Brian just wanted to share grandpa's green pop.

They've waited 18 months to enjoy Grandpa's green pop...Mountain Dew. And over the three days they were here they, as well as me, helped grandpa drink a twelve pack. mmmmm....good stuff.

But it wasn't all about the pop.... the kids and grandma and grandpa had tons of fun together. They read books, the played lots of games including the WII(grandpa had never played), and they crafted until their fingers turned blue.

reading...

Golf...grandpa had to play until he got it just perfect...

Madelyn continued to perfect her crafting skills by following grandma's example. Grandma Rigby is the craft QUEEEN!!

And then it was time for Marcus' first soccer game of the season. His team name is the Titans.  As luck would have it, that's what he was in Boise too.  Makes it easy for mommy to remember the team name.

here he helped get a goal in...

here he was taking off for one of his FOUR break aways....

This was exciting.  He broke away and dribbled all the way down the field. As he got right up to the net...he tripped over the ball and Marcus and the kid behind him rolled over each other. Priceless....Needless to say, his team won(even though they don't keep score) 5 to 1.

On the way home dad had to check out the "beautiful crops".  He was very impressed with the fields; how green and lush.  He really appreciates farming and gardening and has a deep passion for it.

Sunday we enjoyed church. Some great lessons were offered. And before dinner we took my parents to see the "Castle Park".  We showed them part of the Hummingbird walk, the Mormon Battalion, and of course played at the park.

We came to a swampy swampy YUK that from the side of the road looked like you were going to get something amazing when you looked down.  Not so amazing.

The boys loved being with grandpa and daddy this weekend.

The Battalion Foundation really put together a nice monument in honor of the Momon Battalion.  Two years away from their families, the battalion was, and their honor and dedication has stayed with them for over a hundred years.

can missionaries do that??? Get a room!

Who let the animals out...

Never dare your son to jump....cuz he will.

Later, after dinner, we enjoyed some nice homemade pie.  My dad has always talked about his mom's pies.  And so I've been trying to learn(okay, not trying very hard) to make a good pie.  I made Lemon Meringue and have to say it turned out the BEST SO FAR.

Monday the kids started school again. So after I took Madelyn to school and Marcus to preschool, I took mom and dad up to see the Yuma Territorial Prison Museum.  There's so much history there. It's actually quite impressive and entertaining. 

After the fun it was time for work...and lots of it!

We took out two vines, two ugly bush things crawling up my rock wall, and 3 hibiscus that had WAY over grown.

The root of one of the hibiscus

Dinner at La Fonda(or something like that) was the nights ending activity.  And it almost ended the life of my sons too.  They were completely out of control.  Gotta love it!

Tuesday morning ushered in sad goodbyes....

One last drink....

One last hug....

Marcus ran until the taillights were out of sight....

Good bye for now, grandma and grandpa! But, and as they sang to you before you left Houston, God be with you till we meet again. We love you soooo much!