The trip to Gilbert

This past weekend Josh & I took the family up to Gilbert. We made a temple session on Friday night. It was great to be together and serving our Heavenly Father.

Saturday was a lazy morning. We took our time getting ready and eventually made it off for a picnic at Freestone Park. My parents went with us. We were meeting my sister and her family. Josh's brother & his wife were coming and possibly some long lost friends I had reconnected with on Facebook.

Now, for those who don't know this park let me explain a little. First of all - it is HUGE in size - I mean HUGE!!!!! On one end is a humongous retention basin that wraps around the entire south end of the park. The main area of the basin is used for soccer games. Two games go on at one time and there is still a very large amount of room around them. In the soccer area there are also picnic areas and a playground. Then up the "wall" of the basin is another large playground area, the restrooms, hills & lakes everywhere. Around this main area of the park is the train tracks. Into the middle of the park is an amphitheatre and bridge (more lakes) and then an amusement part. Here is where you get on the train, ride the carousel and the merri-go-round. Then there is more hills, several other smaller playgrounds that lead to a huge parking lot that divide the "park" from the softball fields. On a Saturday with the weather as perfect as it was the park was packed! I mean packed. Birthday parties everywhere, multiple soccer games going on, softball games, more parties on top of parties, just people everywhere you turn.

So after explaining this, it is safe to understand my absolute panic when we realize Bailey is missing. We had only been there for about 15 minutes when Mom asks me where Bailey is. I respond with "On the playground." Mom quickly answers back that Bailey is not there. I look up and just start running. Dad went one way, me another, and my Mom yet another. Josh got left with the kids. After what seemed like forever, I ran back to our little area to grab my phone. Josh has me stay and he takes off. I called my sister to see if they were there yet to have more man power. After about 10 more minutes from a far distance I could see Josh walking up slowly with a hysterical Bailey in his arms. He was calming her down and Mom was walking along side them. She was actually the one to find her (with the help of some kind and perceptive individuals who happened to be in the park that day). Disaster #1

The day went on. We used Grandpa's garden cart (refer back to the Thanksgiving post for pictures of what this looks like since I forgot my camera - AGAIN!) At one point I hopped on and took it down. I hit a bump and my legs hit the bar that surrounds it and ended up with matching bruises on my calves. I wish I would have taken pictures when I got home. Me saying I had bruises does not really describe them at all - my calves were covered completely with them. They were so bad people at PT this week where asking me who abused me. Disaster #2

We enjoyed a fine picnic. More cart riding and visiting. Ben & Beth (Josh's bro & his wife) joined us. We sat under the tree at the top of the hill just enjoying the weather and surrounding. The kids were at the bottom of the hill feeding the ducks. I asked MacKenzie at least 5 times to sit down while she fed them (came you sense the disaster coming?). Mom asked her multiple times. I finally told her, "MacKenzie, if you don't stay sitting down you will come up here and won't get to feed the ducks any more!" Ok, so it was more like yelling it at her. I looked away to Beth and looked back just in time to see my daughter fall into the lake. Disaster #3. I was on my feet in less than a second, but Ben was between me and the lake. He somehow gracefully sets down the drink he had in his hand and jumped into the lake and tossed her out to me. Unfortunately his cell phone was in the pocket of his shorts and it got ruined! I am so sorry Ben - but if it is any consolation - YOU ARE MY HERO!!!! Thank you for jumping in to save my daughter (and so I didn't have to!!!!). Can you tell he is wet up to his arm pits?!?

After all the fun at the park I dropped off my family to my parents house and headed to my grandparents. I have had a strong feeling that I needed to find out where they were on the family history/genealogy work that they have completed over the years. I sat and learned for a little while and left with a flash drive full of information. We (as though I did any of the work) have three lines traced back to Adam and Eve! What a feat that is!

All in all it was a very eventful day, but I was more than excited to return home to Tucson and relax just a little on Sunday!!!!!