Liam Henry Willinger

I watched Liam for 5 days while all the Prince family went to Lake Powell.  I guess they had a great time but so did we!

Hot Saint George Summers

It's way too hot to enjoy the park during the day so night time it is!!!  Ryan and Amanda wanted to go to a movie so I took Halle and Melanie to another movie.  Our movie was out before their's so we went to the park to wait for them.  It was so hot that we walked through the sprinklers when they came.

Hollie Reichert and Kade Cook

Paul and Linda's second daughter, Hollie, was married in June to Kade Cook, from Idaho. They met on their mission to Peru.  They were married in the Bountiful temple. I drove up to Pam's house that morning by myself and then rode up with her and mom. They had a really nice luncheon and reception.  Paul and Linda have great kids.

Pam, Grandma Leslie, Paul and Christine

Linda Reichert

Pam Reichert Taylor

Summer 2016

The new Provo Temple was dedicated this past spring. It is the old Provo Tabernacle.  Kelly and I went there for stake conference when we were newly married and for firesides when we were dating at BYU.  After it burned the church decided to turn it into a temple and I think it is my new favorite.  I love the architecture and old time feeling you get there. The grounds and stained glass windows are beautiful.  Melanie and I had to go to Orem the day after school was out for some appointments so we stayed an extra day and hiked around the mountains and went to a BYU play. On our way home we stopped at the temple. I hope to go through it someday soon.

             2000 Piece Puzzle

A family tradition we have at Christmas time is to put a puzzle together. We got this puzzle for Christmas 2015 but we didn't have time to put it together so we started it in the spring. It was a major challenge but a lot of fun.  Here is the finished product. The puzzle is called "Grandpa's Giant Pumpkins" (or something very similar) and so we got it because Grandpa Ross grows giant pumpkins. 

SUPAF

This week we received word that Melanie had placed in the Southern Utah Performing Arts Festival in the Intermediate Beginning Violin section.  She had been learning a specific song for awhile and then she was able to play it for a judge back in February.  She had an excellent pianist accompany her. Grandma Margaret and Ross were able to come and watch her.  They were able to watch the other violinists and they said she played better than the ones they heard.  When she received her score sheet she had all superior markings, or 1s.  We had to wait until the entire competition was over, which takes about two months, to hear if she placed.  The awards ceremony was held at Tuacahn Amphitheater on Tuesday night.  When she was about 9 or 10 she also placed in the piano division.  She got 3rd place in her section.

Last Saturday was our stake baptism day and our ward was in charge of the talks, prayers, music, etc. I had to lead the music and so I had Melanie play a special musical number.  She played "Heavenly Father Loves Me."  She seemed so calm but I was so nervous my hand were soaking wet.  She pulled it off without mistakes at all and I was so proud of her.  It was a beautiful piece.

Last week I took a morning off to go with Melanie and her school orchestra to their SUPAF competition and they placed first among all the middle school orchestra in our district.  I was so excited to go on a field trip with her because I don't think I have gone with her since she was in kindergarten.  She was having a hard time that day for some reason and was feeling really emotional.  I had to go back to work in the afternoon so Kelly took the day off and took her bowling and out to eat.  I'm so grateful he is working in town now.

Her school orchestra at SUPAF

I have to sneak up on her to record her.  This wasn't her performance, she was just warming up.

Melanie after the awards program.  She didn't want her picture taken