Ballard Girls Road Trip

When the girls told me they were coming a few months ago I actually cried some happy tears. I was so excited to see them and new baby Max.

Angela and Max flew down and Emily and Leslie drove down with the 6 girls! They went to Zions on the way down and planned lots of fun for the way back home.

While they were here we tried to soak up all the love we could! They came in time for Pageant.

Leslie and Emily fixed a wonderful Easter dinner and Angela was always cleaning up so I could hold Max. We felt spoiled.

First stop Riverview Park. It was huge with lots of entertaining things for the kids.
Layla, Lucy, Gracie, Gretchen, Rachel, with Mykaeleigh in front, grandma and grandpa in  back.

Angela, Emily, Leslie and Gracie with Max in the stroller

Gracie climbed the rope tower

Gretchen, Lucy and Layla striking a pose

Just hanging out on the round swing

Rachel also climbed the rope tower. 

The girls hanging out at the condo

Easter egg hunt

Lots of Goodies

Max

Swimming at the condo

Max loves grandma!

Went to the pageant and toured the visitors' center. 

 In Easter dresses and walking to the temple

Leslie and Layla

Angela, Max, Gracie and Gretchen

Mykaeleigh, Emily, Lucy and Rachel

Angela and Max

Loaded up the car and headed to Las Vegas for some fun and then home.

So glad they all came for a visit!

Friends Welcome in Arizona - Always!

 Phil and Kathy Koldewyn, Walt and Lynette Jensen came for a visit! What fun we had trying to see a few things in Arizona. We laughed, talked, played games, ate good food and saw the Easter Pageant. It was so good to be with them! They celebrated the halfway mark of our mission with us.

The Rose Garden and the Mesa Community College was impressive

Phill, Kathy, Lynette and Walt, left to right

We had a 90-minute narration cruise on the Desert Belle around Saguaro Lake to view the Superstition Mountain range. We saw lots of birds and some
fish, and ducks. There are mountain goats but they were hiding.

Very relaxing!

They called this rock formation a teddy bear, but I think it looks like an Ewok.

Loved the cactus growing right out of the mountain  side

I love this shot. Trees, cactus, lake and mountains
all in one picture. 

Beautiful gardens at the Gilbert Temple

This is a very large temple and so beautiful inside and out. The open house brought a lot of excitement and missionary opportunities to Arizona. Many come to the Mesa Visitors' Center because they went to the open house and want to know more. I visited with a lady from Minnesota (not a member) just the other day that said her husband commented that the Mormons know how to build buildings!

They came into the Visitors' Center to see us at work, saw the exhibits and the temple grounds, watched some movies, and we all watched the Pageant together!

Organ Stop Pizza - Amazing Organ. A must see in Mesa

We enjoyed Tia Rosas

Brian Johnson one of Richards past scouts was in Mesa. He is a pilot and he and his friend, also a pilot, brought a plane to Mesa. His friend is from Brazil and we played the Christus in portuguese for him. Brian is introducing him to the church. Elder Ballard got to bear his testimony of the Savior. Brian had his daughter and his wife along too. Always fun to see faces from home. I got a nice hug from him.