Visit From Our Oregon Family

Well hello!  I'm sure I'm talking to an empty room because this blog has gone the way of the once a year post, and if by chance someone is here, it's your lucky day!  We had our annual visit from our (far-removed in distance but not in thoughts) family in Oregon.  That moisture-drenched, running capital of the U.S. gave up one of its finest families for about 10 days so they could come here and share their wonderful selves with the rest of us!  It really was good to see them.  

Actually one of them is here, after serving a mission in Peru, at BYU.  We see him a little more often!  Berg had just recently purchased a bike and was getting around quite nicely on it, when it was stolen from his apartment complex. He had just come from the store and went inside to put the groceries away and briefly left it unlocked.  When he came outside, the bike was gone.  So his parents came to help with what they could and he decided to purchase another bike.  He did so, the same model with some upgrades!  Yes, even in BYU territory you can't leave things unattended.  I love that kid.  He's so smart, sweet and shy.  Some special girl will be lucky to have him!

  On the 21st we celebrated at my sister Laura's home with a family barbeque.  I love doing those every so often!  It's good to catch up and have some laughs with the family, not to mention the food is delicious every time.  It was there that the boy cousins decided to participate in a race down the street.  It was really fun to see!  
 

   
On the 24th Evan and Ethan, the two youngest sons, ran in the Deseret News 10K and 15K, respectively.  They are both long distance runners at their middle and high school.  I am so impressed with both of these young men.  They had prayer and scripture study every day both individually and with their family.  Ethan is his High School Jr. Class President and Ethan is a scholar and musician.  He is so advanced in math that they literally ran out of math curriculum for him to do at his middle school, so they are looking at having him go to the high school for his math classes next year.  He is also a wonderful pianist! 
My two boys came and spent some time with us on the weekend.  The four of them got involved in an epic game of Risk.  I was so involved in watching them play that I forgot to actually get a picture of them all hunched over a card table, working their various strategies.  So fun to watch their strategical and tactical maneuvers.   

Our dog, Evee, had the time of her life.  They were so good to her, always petting her and taking her on walks, and having her fetch things, which she loves.  She was obviously missing them when they left.  The only thing is, if they stay away for a whole year, she might not remember them like she should.  
   When my two boys come around, occasionally, she starts crying with joy.  She really considers them to be a part of her pack.  They come a little more than twice a year (ahem), so if our Oregonians can just manage to get here at least twice a year, she'll be more than good at recognizing them!
   We sent them on their way, after a week of extreme hot weather.  As they pulled out of the driveway, the thunderclouds started to gather and we had two days straight of rain, thunder and 20-degree cooler temperatures.  Oh well, they got a typical Utah summer while they were here!  Why would they want what they get in a typical Oregon day?  Maybe someday soon we can return the favor and visit them in Oregon and see for ourselves what a typical Oregon day actually is!