June's Best Diversions

 Millie Feet

 TWO BEAUTIFUL Granddaughters

 Bubble Blowing

 Baby Kisses

Baby Naps (oh, how I love my triple chin!)

 Baby Fashion Shows

 Planting a (small) Garden (Kristy and Kimball really did it but I watched)!

 Enjoying the new hammock . . .

And the new deck - see how it is rain soaked?  The cool June temperatures were glorious!

 Miss Beautiful

 A sleep out on the tramp in a tent

 They all look prepared, happy, determined, and brave but Jared was the only one who lasted all night.

 Father's Day

 Fun House Guests

 Mary's Father's Day cupcakes, and yes, those are maple bacon cupcakes

 A well-balanced baby

 A visit from the Tooth Fairy

 A back yard weeding party with hard workers

 See how hard working she is?

 Kimball's best find of the night

 Aunt Abbey admiring the amazing treasure - what aunts do best

 Fun was had by all - the smile is proof!

 Relaxing and watching a lot of gorgeous

 CLOUDS!  Doha deserts are starving for them.

 Lots of walking practice

 Preparing for . . . 

 A certain granddaughter's 1st birthday blast.

 Mom found her way to our home  - first time in years!

 Loving this son of mine

 Enjoying Mary and Ben's hard work

 And watching the most patient one year old actually enjoying the festivities

 Mary did a beautiful job on the cake.

 Tickling babies

 Clapping for all the fun, the presents, the excitement, and the pure joy coming out of this blonde darling

 Her gesture says it all, "Is that it?"

 And applauding a mommy who worked like a professional party planner

These were the best June diversions ever!  I just hope your June was equally spectacular.

The Perfect Hot Spot, for Bread, That Is!

Finally, a positive use for the Middle Eastern sunshine of which we have more than our fair share.  No, I didn't bake it out on the front porch but I almost could have on the 118 degree day.  The bread turned out perfectly.

Doha 1st Ward Relief Society

Last Saturday we had a Relief Society Meeting and it was wonderful.  We had classes, great conversations, a lot of learning, a cooking demonstration, a slide show, and then a delicious luncheon.  We even had a beautiful musical number from one sister's daughter who is visiting.  The oboe is a beautiful instrument.  The theme for the meeting was patterned after the "This Little Piggy" nursery rhyme.  Ours was a little different though:

This Doha Sister went to MARKET,
This Doha Sister stayed HOME,
This Doha Sister had SEAFOOD,
This Doha Sister had NONE,
And this Doha Sister went, "WEE, WEE, WEE!"  all the way home.

Can you guess what the classes were about?

Because our ward is somewhat like a college ward, with people leaving for the summer and then returning in the fall when school starts back up, this meeting was kind of a closing social or sorts.  Many families are leaving our Doha Ward for greener pastures (literally).  Every spring and fall there is a transition our ward goes through as families move on and new families begin their Doha experience, but this year seems to be especially busy.  So we tried to enjoy each other as much as possible because the dynamics of this ward demand us to live in the great moments we have together.

Thanks to all our talented and energetic sisters (and young women) for setting up, advertising, teaching, organizing, cooking, and babysitting.  We all had a great time.  For those of you leaving our desert oasis we wish you well and hope your new adventures are blessed.  We release you from our ward but not from our hearts.  We send our love along with you.

Oh, and thanks to this guy for . . . well . . . being my support system with my Relief Society responsibilities and EVERYTHING else.