In an effort to keep Grandpa and Grandma Diederich updated with our little Taggart family, I have decided to post pictures here on our blog. This should give them a little snapshot into our daily lives and the big celebrations and happenings going on here in Utah. We will no doubt make many more memories when they return from Nauvoo in the Spring of 2015. Wow, that seems so far away. But we know they are doing the Lord's work and we are all being so blessed for their service. We love them so much and can't wait to visit them this summer 2014.
I decided to pick up after our wonderful European Adventure, I've already created a book about that.
Sister Hailey Sprouse left on her mission for the Philippines in July and Jensen sure did send her off with a big smooch. She is doing so great there despite the horrible storm that hit that country only weeks after she arrived. She was tranferred to another mission in the same country so that Tacloban could rebuild itself and set up base again for the missionaries to return. We met up with Hailey and her family at Kneaders for lunch before she turned herself in to the MTC.
Wow, Dad finally retired after 50 years of hard work and service with CCI or Climate Control, as we all knew it growing up. The company threw him a beautiful retirement dinner for his family and close co-workers. It was held at Log Haven, which is a gorgeous restaurant in the mountains. Wonderful tributers were shared by many of the people he has worked with over the years. We are so proud of him and his ability to finally quit after so long.
Boys will be boys....and these 3 love taking bubble baths together during their sleepovers.
Go figure!!!
Our annual 24th of July celebration held at Mom and Dad's pool of course. Aunt Elfriede, Uncle Jack and Jacqueline's family joined in on the fun. Mom mad her delicious flag cake with the word UTAH written out in raspberries. So fun to have these memories of swimming with our cousins.
The whole family was invited to Dad's retirement party at his work. The kids loved all the yummy food and it was great to see Dad in his element. He is so respected by so many people at CCI. It was such a hot day and the secretary gave the kids some popsicles to cool off.
Kaitlyn finally came home from her mission in Frankfurt, Germany. There were so many people to greet her at the airport. McKenna even dressed up in German clothes, so cute. She was most looking forward to giving her mom a hug and then having a Dr. Pepper on the rocks. She got home just 9 days after Haiely went into the MTC, so they got special permission to see each other for an hour at the MTC.
Fun memories at Bear Lake. The kids were so brave to get in to that icy cold water. Even Addie did it before we got there to see. Luckily someone took an awesome picture of her jumping in with Ellie.
One of our favorite family night activities in the summer is going up to Canyon Glen in Provo Canyon. We roast hot dogs and make smores. Then we all walk up to Bridal Veil Falls where the grandkids get in the frigid water and hike up the falls. The funnest part was watching Jensen bond a bit with uncle Troy and walk Jack the dog.
The weekend before school started back, we decided to take a quick trip up to Boise and visit the cousins. On the way up, we stopped at Boondocks in Ogden for the CCI Summer Party. The kids went swimming in the Boise River, we got to visit with Mark in his care facility, swimming at the hotel pool and at Scot's house. So much fun to see Lori and her family who were in town from Virginia for the week. The highlight was finally spending some time with Mark, who I haven't even seen since his stroke over 3 years ago. He was so happy to see us especially Dad who he yelled out Unlce Rudi in the funniest voice ever. Miss him!!!!
Jeff decided no to go up to Idaho with us so he had his own fun boy weekend. He tubed the Provo River wiht Josh and Dan. Poor Dan's tube went flat and he was riding rocks the whole way down. Jeff also biked over Suncrest and was able to get a beautiful picture of the Draper Temple. No fair, he got a kid free weekend!
A picture with the fam up at Snowbird Resort. We visited with Jeff's parents and Jame's family who were staying up there for the week.
Girls and their shades at Bear Lake!!!
Logan and Jensen's first days of school. Addie started a week later. Logan has a brand new teacher this year fresh out of college. Things are going OK on that front. Jensen was crying and screaming as I dropped him off at Learning Dynamics, but by the time I picked him up he couldn't wait to go back to school. He loves his teacher Mrs. Dollar, who he describes as a grandma with black hair - hahahah!!!!!
Grandma and Addie sharing in the fun German tradition of the "Sugar Tuta" or schultute. Addie loved putting on the dress and getting all the fun things but wouldn't have anything to do with getting her picture taken professionaly. So we will have to be happy with the pics taken at Grandma's house. Such a diva!!!
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