Aloha, David Carson!

Our 9th grandson, David Carson, was born in April. I love that we have have so many grandsons! David Carson is the third generation of Davids in our family. David Austen, David Jeffery and now David Carson. Only David Austen goes by David! The rest by their beloved middle name. So, with great pleasure we traveled to Jeff and Sarah's home for David Carson's baby blessing. As we were driving into town, the boys called us and invited us to lunch! Oh, how nice, we thought. The boys want to spend time with us and enjoy a nice visit.

Enjoying a nice visit with our kids at the Burger Barn.... before the word....

Dad.....ahhh
We went to Smith and Edwards without  you and you are paying for lunch! 

Sunday we had a wonderful day visiting with family and enjoying a wonderful meal after the baby blessing at Jeff and Sarah's Church. It was a nice service and reminded me how special it is that we have the sealing power on the earth today so our families can be sealed together forever.
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Laura helping Sarah prepare the pulled pork.. Bryan making his coleslaw.   Did I mention the food was wonderful!  Good job Sarah, pulling all that together. 

Laura's Family Picture

Jeff sneaking dessert first while Ben and Grandpa Ward laugh at the idea of dessert first!  GOOD ONE!  

Coleman,  was so good in his high chair eating food and watching everyone come and go to the food table.  He isn't the baby anymore in our big family!  David Carson is the new baby!  Coleman will be ONE in August.  

Cootsie... what more can I say?  This little guy wins the heart of everyone. 

Jeff, Sarah, Eli and Carson.   Jeff is trying to get Eli to look at the camera.  I actually have a better picture of their family, but for some reason this is one I posted.  Weird.

Carson and his two beautiful Grandmas !!  And of course his VERY beautiful  mother!  

Three Davids...  I think Jeff and David look alike in this picture.  

Do  you want a piece of this?

Bryan and Celeste enjoying the nice day.

Pretty Mama and a cute baby Coleman.

Sweet Kaelynn, having a fun time picking grass and asking people if they want a treat!
 She loves a good joke under there.

 On our way home we decided to do one thing that was on our Summer 2012 list.  We have 45 things on our list!  Number 40 is to visit a museum.  We decided to go to the Bingham Copper Mine so we could check it off!  What a sight!  I can't believe how huge this mine is.

Enjoying the view

This truck is as large as a house!

Fast forward to the next weekend and it was time for our FAMILY LUAU... ALOHA everyone.  We had great food and a fun time playing the Maori Sticks game.  Go here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L65BAGdtuww&feature=related  to see how to play.

Laura and Ben enjoy a good Luau

Sarah and Jeff, Eli and Carson enjoying the Luau.  

Hang Loose... our bar tenders resting after making delicious smoothies for everyone

Our Sweet Hawaiian princess

Visiting and relaxing after our great meal. 

Tyler is checking out the smoothie bar to see if he wants another one!  He had a blast running around with his cousin

David loves baseball.. this isn't a secret.  So, he trains all his grandsons to play baseball.  I think he is hoping for one good player in the mix!   Here is Eli's first lesson:

Hold the bat like this Eli....

Now Swing!    Eli did swing and hit the ball!  Way to go Eli.  

We are having a great Summer and can't wait to go fishing with our grandkids!  What's next on my summer list?  Stayed tuned.
Aloha.

A Visit to Springdale

David grew up in Springdale. He loved growing up in that small town which sits in the shadow of Zion National Park.  He has many stories about his boyhood he loves to tell, when you get him in the right mood.  I also have a soft spot in my heart for Springdale, because it was there I met David and we fell in love! Ah shucks....
On Monday for Memorial Day, we drove to Springdale to visit and drive past some of our favorite spots.

David's parents, Austen and Helen Excell are buried in the Springdale Cemetery. It is such a nice cemetery.   

Their Children... I like this idea for future generations so they can make connections to their ancestors.

A view of the cemetery nestled beneath those beautiful mountains that make Zion so wonderful.  We strolled through the cementary reminiscing about those that have gone before, but were such a big part of David's life growing up. 

Downtown Springdale... this is the heart of the town .  The old Pioneer Lodge to the right and Bumbleberry Inn to the left. 

David's chapel growing up!  It has now been turned into shops and a Pizza and Noodle house.  He can't stand to go into the building, because it just doesn't feel right!  We attended church here together a few times... I think I might have batted my eyelashes at David in this church!  

The Driftwood Lodge... this is where David grew up!  His parents owned this motel and restaurant.  It has changed since they owned it, but most of the charm is still in tact. 

Another view of the Driftwood...  I think David might have batted his eyelashes at me at the Driftwood!  We had some fun times here. 

Austen and Helen's family home.  David lived here when we started dating.  His room was on the far right. They used to have big trees out front, but they have since cut them down.  The big front door is brown, and in this picture it looks like there isn't a door, but there is!  I never can remember a time when there wasn't chairs out front on the porch. 

A closer view of the front door.  I think I only went through this door one or two times!  We mostly used the other  front door!   I love the day lillies out front.   This home is still owned by the family, but they are currently renting it out.  This is the home where our daughter-in-law lived with her children while our son was in Afghanistan.  It  has HISTORY folks.....goood memories.  It truly is a home.
We had a great time visiting Springdale and we ended our visit with a trip to Oscar's for a yummy lunch.  Springdale is a great place.