Phillies!!!!

We were lucky enough to be able to attend a playoff game this year. Steve, Nathan and I went. It was my first time at a post season game. The Phillies hosted the St. Louis Cardinals in the first game of the divisional playoffs. The game was amazing and we won. Unfortunately the rest of the series did not go so well. The Cardinals actually went on to win the World Series. But we sure had fun at game one!

We went early for batting practice

Nathan and Steve from where our seats were

This fan was way into the game and way without a Halladay shirt :)

Go Phillies......in 2012!!!

School and Sports

Here are the famous back to school poses. It is amazing to me how fast time goes. Next year at this time, Meg will be starting in college. Thank heaven Evan still has a lot of first day photos to go.

Here is Meg with her friends Laurel and Olivia. They have their game day faces on before a Seneca football game.

Evan with one of the members of his soccer team. He had a great season.

An Earthquake, a hurricane, a tornado watch, and some great new friends!

As we were preparing to leave Atlantic City, a hurricane was approaching. We joked about it initially because while we had been there, the east coast actually experienced an earthquake centered down near Washington DC. We were up on the 32nd floor when it happened. The lights started to sway and we all kind of looked at each other like...."What is happening?" We originally thought that it was because it was windy outside and we were so high in the building, but when we looked outside there was no wind. We kind of joked that it was an earthquake, but then when someone turned on the TV about an hour later there were all kinds of reports on CNN about the quake. It was a very strange sensation.
So as we headed home from the shore, we were laughing about the fact that we were going to go through an earthquake and a hurricane in one week. But it was clear from the forecast, that the storm headed our way was a major one. Our stake mobilized to offer housing to any members down at the shore who might need a place to go. We offered our home and mentioned that we could certainly take Spanish people since Steve speaks Spanish. We actually ended up getting two groups of people. They wanted to stay together so we said as long as some of them didn't mind sleeping on the floor or couches, they could all stay. As it turned out, they all stayed in the basement and most slept on the floor. They were so kind and very grateful for the hospitality. One of the fathers spoke English very well and all of them could understand a little. It was a little tight, and I am sure that there were moments of confusion or frustration, but overall we had a fun time. They were here for two days and we even had a little sacrament meeting with them here after getting permission from our bishop. One night I made a bunch of pizzas and the next day, the two ladies made some great rice and other things. We all huddled together in the basement for several hours the night that the hurricane came through, because the forecast was calling for tornadoes. (yes, the third natural disaster in a week) The storm ended up being much less severe in our area than originally forecast. We never even lost power at our home, although many (including Steve's mom in Medford) lost it for several days. Janelle and her family in Boston lost if for a number of hours, and there were other areas that suffered devastating flooding, but in this area we were very blessed.
Here are some of the photos I snapped of our new friends.

The kids loved Ginny and wanted to take photos with her before they left.

They wanted to have me in one of the pictures, too. You can see that Ginny was way into it. :)

The End of the Summer

Well, unfortunately, I have done it again. I guess it is not unusual to get behind on blogging when times get busy, but I am afraid that in my attempt to play catch up, a lot of great details will be left out. I admit that the task has seemed so staggering that I have put it off for a few weeks. But today I decided that even taking a small step forward would help me to overcome my hesitancy.

During the rest of the month of August we were able to spend a lot of time with Janelle and her family. I took a trip back up to Boston with Evan, Nathan, and Grandma Foulk a few days after Emily's shower. Emily didn't drive up with us but flew up on the weekend and then drove home with us.

Janelle's husband, Scott, took a few days and went to Utah for his brother, Michael's, wedding. He actually took Alan with him and they were able to see family and have family see Alan. We were able to help Janelle a little for the several days he was gone and we got to spend some one on one time with Baby James. Scott and James got home late Friday and we were able to spend the weekend with them as well.

Evan holding baby James for one of the first times

Great-Grandma Foulk gets to snuggle her newest little great-grandson, James

Playing a little Phase 10 with Evan

Evan and Alan sitting on the ducks in Boston Common

Riding the swan boats in the Boston Common.....I think that's a smile?

Those are definitely smiles!!

And Grandma had fun on the boats as well

Evan in the Boston Common Frog Pond

Here's the crew enjoying some ice cream

"Let's go over here, Daddy."

James in his sweet church outfit

And on his mama's lap

We had an amazing time visiting family in Boston. Megan was at girl's camp that week that we were there. We came back home and a week and a half later the Robertson's came down to spend a few days with us here and in Atlantic City. Here are some pool/basement shots at our house and then some fun ones at the shore.

Alan loved the super squirter and eventually liked getting in with his aunts and uncles, too.

He even let Emily pull him around on this "boat".

Evan enjoying a toss from Dad

A nice smile from Meg

AHHH This is the life!!

Uncle Evan giving a lesson on train building to his nephew

Alan on his horse

James getting a bath at grandma's house

Building a boggle cube tower with Uncle Nate at the condo in Atlantic City

Some creative sunscreen application

James doing some visiting.....not sure with whom...

Reading books at the condo with Aunt Meg

Hmmm, Dad, what do you think we should play next?

With Aunt Meggie

Scott, Alan, Evan, and Steve in the waves

Drip Castles

Taking charge of the beach

These funnel cakes are DELICIOUS

We found a special photo op for James

Riding bikes on the boardwalk

Stopping on boardwalk on the boardwalk :)

Evan, Alan, Grandma, and Nate

Alan heading out into the water with Grandpa and Grandma Foulk

What is that? It looks like Uncle Nate buried in the sand!

There he comes.....Hi, Uncle Nate!!

Meg and Em.....the bathing beauties

Now that's a pizza!!!!

Jill and Steve getting ready to go para sailing for the first time ever

There we are over Atlantic City!!

And coming in for the landing

It was a ton of fun being up there. You could see so far away and it was so quiet.

Here are Nathan and Evan getting ready to go up. Meg and Em went up, too, but once I got back on the boat I got sea sick and couldn't take pictures.

It was a short, but wonderful few days with family in a very fun place. We will have to do it again next summer. Thank you Atlantic City!!!