Memory Game

1. Add a comment to our blog. Leave one memory that you have had with either Richard or Rachel. It doesn't matter if you knew us a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about us, we'll assume you're playing the game and we'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Family Home Evening

This week for Family Home Evening, Richard and I talked about the article in the latest Ensign by Elder M. Russell Ballard. It was all about sharing the gospel using the internet, and we decided that a perfect way for us to do that is on our blog! I was also recently inspired by my friend from high school, Sarah Bringhurst, who shared something with me and many others on Facebook. I'm so thankful for her great example, as well as the many others we have in our lives!
Richard and I both love these videos! The first one is a slideshow of photographs depicting scenes from Christ's life and his parables. We were lucky enough to see the originals in a display at the Mesa, AZ temple visitor's center while visiting our good friends the Haws. It was an awesome spiritual experience that neither of us has forgotten, and we talk about it all the time! At the display was a Book of Mormon open to the scripture 2 Nephi 25:26. We hope these pictures touch you like they did us!
The second video is one we found online, and we just thought it was really cool. These missionaries have great voices, and the song is really sweet! Enjoy!

San Jorge

Lori, Peter, Rich & me getting rained
out of the park.

An Angel's view from the top.

Just playin' guitar...upside down, of course.

Such manly men!

Tyson, Austin, me & Rich jumping on the
tramp w/ the sprinkler on.

Dale, Liz & Richard at the movie in the park.

Starting at the bottom, looking up.

Richard and Austin getting cozy in the wall.

Dale conquering the hike.

We were so happy to make it to the top!

Me, Dale & Liz takin' it easy on Angel's Landing.

We did it!

One of my sick stalls on the walls of the wiggles
on our way down the trail.

We checked a few more things off of our list of summer adventures that we want to have last week! We made a trip to visit the Smith side of our fam in blazing hot St. George, and we had an awesome time! We arrived Wednesday evening, just in time for a delicious dinner courtesy of our favorite chef, one Liz Smith. Richard's cousin Adam and his wife Susan, along with their friends (who are now our new friends!) Kristen and Drew were there to stay the night on their way back from a trip to the Grand Canyon. It was fun to spend time and get to know them all a little better.
The boys made the usual trip to Costco to enjoy all the free samples they could get their hands on while I read the book "The Host." I loved it, by the way! And when they got home we put the sprinkler under the tramp to escape the heat...it worked like a charm. We hadn't done that in years, but I think we'll do it every time we visit from now on! We did it a couple of times while we were there, and we even got Liz and Dale to play with us.
Good times.
Friday we met up with our good friends Lori and Peter Burnett that we met in our first married student ward. We hung out for a little while and then we met them at a movie in the park. That didn't last long, though. There was a scene in the movie where it started to rain, and before we knew it it was raining in real life. It started to pour, and the wind was really blowing so they canceled the movie, but we had fun while it lasted! We went home and had a double date with Liz and Dale,we watched a movie on the couch.
Saturday morning we woke up at the butt-crack of dawn to head to Zion's National Park for some hiking. We did the Angel's Landing hike that only Richard's brother Austin had done out of all of us that went. It was amazing! Its about a five mile hike round-trip, and its a steep one! There is a long part towards top of the peak where there are chains to hold onto so that you don't fall off the cliff! It was a little scary, but more exciting than anything. And the view at the top is incredible! We actually jogged down most of it after we cleared the part with chains because it was killing our knees to go slow. It is definitely one of the coolest things we've done together yet!
After Richard's youngest brother Tyson got home from Scout camp we had a bbq, where Richard made his version of completos (one of his favorite foods from his mission in Chile). Yummy! We watched a few movies, played some games, and had a great time!
Thanks Austin, Tyson, Liz and Dale for a great weekend! We love you guys!

Take me out to the ball game...

Richard dominated...the other guy still can't

even get his shirt on!

Jeremy & Amanda during the 7th inning stretch.

Holly didn't want a picture...I did!

SISTERS!

Showin' some love in the bleachers.

Richard racin' to put on his frozen t-shirt.

So hot right now.

Jeremy & Richard spittin' sunflower seeds.

Last night we went to an Ogden Raptors baseball game. It was Westland Ford Promotional night, and they were giving away free tickets, so of course we had to go! We invited some of our friends and family, and we told the Pursers about it so they recruited lots of people to go, too. It was an awesome night! We were thrilled to see our good friend Holly Ras there, who we haven't seen in way too long. She was cracking us up the whole time! The most exciting thing that happened was that Richard was chosen to compete in a promo contest between innings...okay, so I volunteered him. He had to race another guy to put on a frozen t-shirt the fastest. The shirt was all wadded up and frozen, and he said it was pretty tough to get on, but he conquered. I'm so proud. He won a free pest inspection, which is a miraculous turn of events seeing how we killed a huge spider in our bedroom just the night before! I think my favorite part was just heckling the players with Sarah and my mom. We have fun. After the game there was a bin full of ice and sports drinks that they were letting people take for free, so of course Richard jumped on it. He grabbed about five drinks, and gave some to friends. On our way out of the stadium we saw a homeless man, and Richard walked over to him and gave him a drink. It didn't really surprise me, but it still blew me away. I married the best guy in the world.

Take your hat off when the flag goes by!

Here's the fam at our new parade spot.
He was my favorite part of the parade.
Ugly hats keep balding heads from burning.
Cheese!
Some sparklers worked...some didn't.

Happy late 4th of July, everyone! We had such a fun-filled holiday. Last year we were on-call at the mortuary so we didn't get to really celebrate, but we made up for it this year! On the 3rd we started out to the West Point Park for the big dinner feast, but dang Scooty pooped out on us so we missed it! Luckily, Jeremy saved us, so after we took Scooty home and ate cereal for dinner we made it out to the park. It was so fun walking around and finding friends to talk to. We found some of our fave friends, Tasha and Vicki, and we sat with them for the fireworks display. I have to admit that we were both really impressed with the fireworks! Good job West Point!

We spent the night with our Porter fam so we could wake up bright and early for the W.P. parade. My dad (Don) made scrumtralescent french toast for breakfast, and headed up to the big show. Our usual spot was taken, but we found one that my dad liked even better. Richard couldn't remember the last time he'd been to a parade, so I knew this would be perfect because W.P. has the best one. He loved it. We always have fun waving at everyone we know. The highlight was probably when my mom (Janet) screamed at the Blue Angel jets as they flew over our heads. Love you, mom!

That afternoon we went to see the movie WALL-E, and we loved it! After the movie we went back to the W.P. for our family bbq where Sarah showed off her guacamole-making skills. She is the master. My dad made peach cobbler for dessert, and then we came home to the mortch. We decided since we'd already seen some big fireworks that we didn't really feel like fighting any crowds. Plus, Richard was such a good sport to let me drag him around the park the night before! We invited the Pursers, Jeremy and Amanda over and we did our leftover fireworks from last year. Some of the flowers were duds, and not all of the sparklers worked, but we still had a good time.

We can't forget the reason for the holiday, though. We are so grateful for the people who serve our country! Both Richard and I have grandpas who have served, and we love them so much.