What I Did Last Summer- Part 1

School has started again and this time of year makes me remember many essays I had to write or pictures I had to draw about “What I Did Last Summer.” So, in keeping with this tradition and with empathy for any of my grandchildren who might have had a similar assignment, here's a (mostly) photo essay of what I did this summer or, rather, what WE did this summer, for David was involved in almost every activity of the summer.

We started the summer doing an Irish jig across the "Emerald Isle" with four fun traveling companions (still need to figure out how to do a slide show with music!)

and ended (a bit into September) with a Seattle shuffle. (We're tending grandkids in Sammamish and

then we'll move over to tend Jessie, my sister’s dog, on Seattle’s Queen Anne Hill.) Sandwiched in the middle, we spent some time on the New England coast-

in Maine

New Hampshire and Massachusetts (loved Rockport!)

ending with several days in Boston, for a business conference.

When conference sessions were done for the day, we rode the subway all over Boston seeing fun places, including a visit to John Harvard at, of all places(!), Harvard University

and taking an historic walking tour with "Capitol Cal."

What better way to end our trip than with a rousing cheer for good ole Paul Revere, by the Old North Church!

Visits from our daughters Emily and Amy and their families were big highlights of the summer. Here are a few photos that you might not have seen on their blogs. Emily's family arrived first and we had fun times in Salt Lake

and lots of fun times at our house. Who knew that we would have some
serious bird watchers, especially Braden!

Amy's family arrived and it was one big sleepover!
There was time for sister chatting and playing together at the park

and a fun day at This is the Place Heritage Park.

Braden had a rendezvous with Brigham Young

and the kids got to try Pioneer crafts, including dipping candles.

After our previously documented visit to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple (worthy of another look!)

it was time for some backyard slippping and sliding, a B-B-Q, and, of course, s'mores.

The next morning, the cousins said "Good-bye" as Brad and Emily left for their new home.

Tom and Amy and their family were around for a couple of days and we enjoyed some time at the Rec Center

and celebrated the 4th of July by cheering

for our favorite runners

before checking out the local parade.We loved having our family here! It was a fun, crazy, wonderful time! What is left is lots of memories and some priceless pictures, including this wonderful image...

As they say, one picture is worth a thousand words!