The Maltbys Visit

John, Jan, Zoe, Emma and Sophie came to visit on the return leg of their half-way-around-the world trip.

Among other things, we enjoyed a little hike up the Whiting Ranch trail, newly opened from last year' fires.
Come back soon!

Family Vacation--Part III

Continuing a family tradition---a stop at Zion National Park to explore the Narrows and other sites.

Weeping Rock

His and Hers


Midair showers

The Bandana Brothers
Ryan, Austin & Stephen

Along the Narrows Trail:
"Did you see that French Guy changing out of his speedos?! Yuck!"

Blogger's Break

Caitlin & Marissa

The famous Siren of the Narrows,
rarely photographed in her habitat.

Stephen Davis
There is no shrine.
But if there were, this picture would go in it.

Salim and and Lisa
along the trail

Austin & Rachel
They rock The Narrows.

Ryan Robber-son

Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid


Heart Rock
Discovered by Stephen, claimed by all.

Homeward Bound.
Although not shown on any map, the road from Zion National Park actually leaves the US for a few miles, at least in La Verkin City.

Family Vacation--Part II

We enjoyed our time in Bountiful with cousins and family from Utah and New York.

Stephen, Robyn, Olivia, Marissa, Catilin, Lisa, Audrey, Joyce

Visting the newlyweds outside their first apartment at BYU student housing.

Family Vacation--Part I--Fresno to Carson City--Aug 08

We drove 2200 miles on our "Wild West" Family Vacation, from August 8-16. The first leg of our journey took us to Fresno, Sacramento, Placerville, Lake Tahoe and Carson City, NV. Two state capitals in two days!

First stop: pick up Ryan at the CSU-Fresno, at the end of his EFY stay. Brian went with us; he picked up Nathan and they continued on to Yosemite.



Next stop: Sacramento, where we toured "Sutter's Fort" --a huge commercial establishment built in Mexican Alta-California by Swiss immigrant Sutter about the same time Joseph Smith, Jr. was building up Nauvoo, Illinois.

Panning for gold at the original site of the California gold rush discovery. After several carefully panned scoops from the river bottom, I have a nice vial of black sand to prove that all the gold has previously been discovered.


Sunset on the beach at Lake Tahoe.


Visiting the Great Aunt Elaine Harris--Grandma Marion's sister--in Carson City, NV. She has the same warm smile, twinkly eyes, and generous disposition. She treated us to Sunday lunch. She emails Grandma Marion almost every day; they talk about everything; and Grandma Elaine knows more about our family than we do. She remembers all the cousin's adventures in Carson City--back to the 1970s and beyond.


With cousin Margo Leatham in Carson City.

Meeting the extended family!
Margo and Dan's son Joseph (far left) was newly set apart to serve in Santiago Chile. He gave a great farewell talk in Sacrament meeting. His brother Benjamin newly returned (6 weeks) from Minnesota (Spanish speaking) mission; and Ryan and Stephen.

Fun Visit with Mikel & Phyllis

Mikel and Phyllis's Home Sweet Home
We had a wonderful overnight visit Mikel & Phyllis, just the thing for weary travelers. They fixed a gourmet meal for Robyn, Jeff, Nathan and Ryan. Mikel and Robyn sang duets with Mikel accompanying on the baritone ukelele. Then Nathan and Ryan spent the evening in a Wii-fest, competing in supermariokart, golf, baseball, etc. Pretty great to have an aunt and uncle with the latest and greatest video games!

Robyn got to practice her nursing skills after a slight mishap in the back yard.

Ryan and Nathan: two drivers competing for the #1 spot on the Wii racetrack.

Annie & Mikel; Maggie & Robyn
Lots of love all around.

Phyllis, Mikel and Robyn. Don't they all look cute in their glasses? (I took one with "glasses off," but Robyn was closing her eyes so I couldn't use that shot!--sorry guys).

Ryan and Nathan at EFY--Cal State Fresno

We checked in Nathan and Ryan at Cal State Fresno so they could attend Especially for Youth this week. The sun was baking down in the 90's. It looks like it will be a hot week for a couple of hot guys from OC.

Road Trip--To Turlock and Back

We drove 660 miles up California's Central Valley along I-5 and Highway 99 up to Turlock to visit Michael & Phyllis, then back home with Jan & John's car. Here are some random sights.

Zoom in on the truck and you can see it's full to the brim with ripe tomatoes. What happens when they spill? Road ketchup!

One of the many little towns between here and there on Highway 99.

Two miles of trucks backed up on the road.

I kept this car in my rear-view mirror for 330 miles. It's Robyn driving Jan/John's car. We stayed together the whole way.

Robyn's Tomato Harvest--Summer 2008

Robyn is out in the tomato-porch garden every day, picking ripe tomatoes, staking up plants, watering, and moving pots around for just the right mixture of sun and shade. Every day she has a new tasty variety to try--for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

This one is a "green zebra." It looks kinda like a squash on the outside, and tastes like an exotic tomato on the inside!

This is a "purple prudens." Right now its all plant and no fruit.