Summer in a nutshell

The day Bryson finished school we put him on a plane to BYU basketball camp. You will have to hit him, Tamsin & Brandon or Stacey up for any pictures of that experience. (Make sure you ask for details about, and photos of Tina).

The Long family reunion came next. Everyone who could, met in Idaho City for Grandma and Grandpa's 50th wedding anniversary.

On Saturday we all went down to a local park for a picnic.

Uncle Jon doubled as the m. c. and brought the family together with kind and complimentary words for their parents.

Sisters.

The next generation.

The previous generation

Despite Grandma and Grandpas' strict instructions of no gifts, the four rebellious children insisted on giving a token of appreciation for all their parents had done for them.

Several months ago, Sue had taken the picture of Jon and Diane in the mountains, to an artist she met. This lady had been trained from early childhood in chinese silk embroidery. She is able to reproduce images (including photographs) with completely freehand silk stitching on a silk canvas. After four months of stitching and a custom frame, the 50th gift was complete and ready for the big reveal.

Insistence or not, Grandma and Grandpa seemed pleased.

After some cooling off, we all went back to watch the Chippies and reminisce about the last few decades.

The next morning we all gathered at the local cracker barrel for a brunch before everyone went their separate ways.

What's left of our immediate family (Bryson, Mom, Alicia (temporarily) and I) drove back to Canada just in time for the new Harry Potter premier. Of course we had to go to the midnight showing. We had a blast even though we were too wore out from driving to get in costume.

The next day, Mom and Bryson jetted off to Hawaii. Over the next week or so, Alicia and I managed not to kill any plants and even avoided major house damage. Then I flew to join up with Mom and Bryson, leaving Alicia to fend for herself. With no witnesses to defend her, we also decided to blame her for killing every plant in the yard (there's no way a hail storm could be that bad. Even if all the neighbors who put vinyl siding on their houses look like their walls have been riddled with machine guns!) Just joking Alicia.... we know you worked really hard.

While on the island, Bryson and I went walkabout a few days and found some cool new spots.

We saw this waterfall and noticed the people next to the cliff. If they can get there, we can too. After buying a loaf of the "Best banana bread in the Universe" we found the trail head.

Now this is lightweight backpacking.

Although it did get a little tricky at times.

The swim in the waterfall pool was worth it.

This is the view from the top of the big waterfall, looking back across the valley to where the first picture was taken. With no locals jumping off this cliff, we weren't sure it was safe, so decided to save that for our next trip.

We found a cool blow hole to cool us off on a hot Hawaii day.

(I didn't realize digital pocket cameras videod things sideways if you turned the camera for portrait height shots, so you'll have to turn your head sideways)

A few days later we found Mom's happy place.

Earlier in the spring the geezer golfers went over to the island of Lanai. Come to find out locals (praise the Hawaii drivers license!!) get extortion rates at the four seasons there. We took the ferry over to Lanai and stayed overnight.

All these photos are the garden area behind and around the hotel.

The white building in the first photo was actually an orchid house. Mom thought she had died and gone to heaven!

We also enjoyed their 18 hole putting course. (that's Mom stylin' with the putter)

Really?! Sand traps on a putting course?

You can take the boy out of the west, but......

We also enjoyed some lawn bowling, the pool tables in the games room and some really great food.

Mom brought Bryson back to Canada for his second basketball camp of the summer. This one was just in Airdrie. He felt like an old pro since many of the drills he had already done down in Provo. The local kids took a little longer to catch on.

I was able to stay on the island a few more days and do a little more exploring.

I found the pipiwai trail above the seven sacred pools in the Hana area on the south side of the island. It was spectacular. You start at the ocean....

Hike along a stream......

see really cool waterfalls....

and amazing trees as you get into the forest.....

You must obey ALL signs.

No really, don't even think about breaking the rules....

....but the pools look soooooo inviting!!

soon, it turns into a hike through a dense bamboo forest.....

And at the end, a spectacular 200 or so foot waterfall that you can take a shower under.

Eventually responsibility creeps back into your life and you must return to work so you will be able to afford the next excursion.

The fun didn't stop though. Who new if you invited sister missionaries over for mexican food, Juanita and Lupe would show up??!

Soon everyone was into the act. They crammed into an imaginary car ( you can't see Bryson's hands holding the steering wheel) and drove to the restaurant.

They played a mean mariachi rock band too.

So there you have it. Our summer in a nut shell. Other than the new Balzac mall opening up just in time for back to school shopping, things are calming down around here. We'll be back to a more regular routine in a few days with Bryson starting HIGH SCHOOL and seminary. We do have the big finale over the labor day week-end. Bryson and I are going to Texas to meet Brandon and see BYU play Oklahoma in the brand new Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

The yard is flourishing

This post is especially for Tamsin, so she can see the fruits of her tortured labors last summer.

(You too Brandon and Stacey, the rocks add the finishing touches.)

So one year later, this is what it all looks like.

Thanks everyone for all your help. We are certainly enjoying how beautiful it al is and all the neighbors that constantly stop and compliment us. Not to mention the five minutes a day it takes to water and pull a few weeds and all the time we have to golf, read, suntan, lounge around, fish, write, fly, and have high tea in the garden.

(OK so Mom really spends an hour or so a day keeping it all spit spot and using her machete to keep the six foot tall tomato plants in the green house at bay, and I do the playing part.)

Bryson finally got one gold this year. His spring league team had a come-from behind victory to win their division. Hopefully it will be a good warm up for his summer camps.

Then it was time for Scott's graduation and a farewell visit to San Francisco. Unfortunately you will have to go to Scondy's blog for the grad photos. Landon wasn't feeling well, so grandma stayed behind in the hotel with him ( and our camera). It was an exciting weekend. Congratulations Dr. Scott Gunderson. Parker seemed especially proud of his dad.

Mom and I spent an extra day down on the warf endulging in the seafood, sourdough bread, ghiardelli (sp?) chocolate, street performers, and sights. 

This is our family in four more years!

We have the luxury of Sister Missionaries in our ward right now. They always looked so clean....time to introduce them to that age old family tradition...PIG NIGHT! 

Before

During

(Notice the meatball mid flight!)

We especially enjoyed doctoring each others drinks

mmmm thick and rich and .... and... and....

vomity?!

Mom had a little trouble getting past the crouton plug in the neck of her bottle. (Maybe it was a good filter for the rest of the chunks.)

And of course no pig night is complete without desert, especially the sprinkles.

Alicia, you are looking a little too clean. Overspray is not considered participating in pig night. It doesn't matter if you have a date. If he can't accept you (complete with your wacky family)~punt him.

Bryson's Grade 8 Farewell brought the return of formality and manners. I think he is glad not to have spend any more time at Meadowbrook School. You all know the feeling.

Yeah! Schools out for the summer!!

Alicia and Bryson were kind enough on Father's day to make me breakfast. You'll have to ask her about the spelling of Dad. Something about being out a letter at the culinary store. It all tasted really good regardless.

There, you are all up to date. We'll do this again next year. 

Yes we do have a life!

Mom asked me to make a contribution and update our Blog. ("Time to engage Bob") So, here are some of the highlights of our last year.

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Bryson and his friend Aaron enjoyed the MONSTER TRUCK RALLY!!!

It took the announcer all night to elevate the crowds enthusiasm above the polite canadian applause. I guess we're not ready for the rabid, beer slogging screamfest of monster trucks north of the 49th parallel.

Here are a few photos from the whirlwind family get together for Christmas dinner

In January we had to get out of the cold so it was off to Maui. Stacey joined us for a few days before her school started up again.

We did a little skiing with Stacey and later with Bryson.

Then we were too cold again, so it was off to Maui for teachers convention. (Yes I was taking advantage of having an associate veterinarian to cover the clinic.) Bryson and I took a helicopter tour of the island.

March means March madness. Bryson was in the thick of Basketball playoffs for community and School. The community team missed him while we were in Hawaii, and lost their first round playoff game. They were able to come back strong and convincingly win for the silver medal. 

The school team made it to the finals but "missed by that much". Bryson played really well though. we're proud of him. 

Following in Mom's footsteps, Bryson had a role in the school play. He didn't have to burp and do a spit take like Mom, but played his role very well.

Mixed in with the basketball and plays, we managed to squeeze in a winter camp. One of the last requirements Bryson needs to finish his chief scout award. We made all the scouts drool with dutch oven deep dish pizza and cinnamon buns with cream cheese frosting for desert! Now that's a foil dinner.

Easter came along and Alicia came home to roost for the summer. (aka now we have someone responsible (!?!) to watch Bryson....we can go back to Hawaii) 

So after the easter eggs were gathered, Mom and Dad snuck back to Maui for a getaway. 

Pretty cool how we learned to take pictures of ourselves, eh?

We skipped over to the Big Island to visit Aunt Cheryl and her family. They have a beautiful yard! It was nice to spend the day catching up with them.

We had to go to Mom's favorite restaurant and enjoy the botanical gardens and amazing cuisine.

I stayed an extra week and had some buddies come over for golf and fishing. 

I am also claiming the longest drive in the prince family ever....650yds! (300 horizontal and 350 verticle...if you look way back in the background you can see the tee box. If you look even more carefully, you can see the top of the golf cart and a person standing on the teebox. Yes it really is that far away!!

We had a good day fishing, except for Rick's green face from the monster waves coming back and Gary cracking his ribs on the wheel of the boat and trying to cover his pain with a lap dance! 

Nothing like fresh sashimi.

Although there's no photo, I also claim the soap box derby land speed record for the Prince family. The Subaru timing chain broke half way down the Haleakala volcano. It was the weekend and no mechanic could be found, so I opted to coast down the volcano with Rick and Gary following  (and eventually towing) in the rental car. I was able to navigate through a stop sign onto a 4 lane hi-way at 30 miles/hr. then coast to just over 60 miles per hour and even pass a car that tried to cut me off. 

One of the highlights of the year had to be Mom turning the tables on me for a surprise 50th Birthday Party. Flights for Cindy, Scott and Family - few hundred bucks. Gas money for Brandon, Tamsin and Stacey - a few bucks. A great meal - pocket change. Lies, deception, and misdirection from close friends and family- free. A weekend with the whole family AND ARCHIVING FAMILY PHOTOS -PRICELESS. 

Thanks everyone for making the first foot into the geezer grave an enjoyable and memorable one.

 

We have a few more events to post and will try not to wait months to do it.

Submarine

Check out Bryson's sub project:

Basketball Bubba!

This is Bryson's game in Canmore - he scored 16 points. He's really enjoying basketball this year and hopes to play on the JV team in high school next year

Go Bubba GO!!!

Christmas in January!

We had a really great time with everyone visiting over the holidays. Parker and Landon seemed to really love the stairs:

Everyone is ready for Santa!

We had an extremely snowy Christmas...it's a good thing all the kids were home to do the shoveling!