Lake Powell! July 6 - 13, 2016

 The Guajardo family's year-long stay ended in June.  They always brought laughter and good fun whenever we got together and it was with tears of laughter and sadness that we wished them well as they returned to their home in Chile.  We will miss them!

 Becca played the part of a wife and dancer in her Singles Stake's production of Joseph.  She did it so well!

 We introduced Daniel to our new favorite restaurant en route to Lake Powell.  Beaver Taco!

 Our campsite was in such a beautiful place in Padre Bay...never the same from year to year.  This spot provided a great fishing hole.

 The three cooks taking a break.  It was fun having the Folsom family with their new granddaughter Molly, as well as the Jackson family who needed a break from the weddings of four daughters in five months that they were in the middle of.

 Lucy, Hope, Faith, Stephanie and Grace

 ...and Becca too.

 Who has the biggest belly, the frog or ?

 To have fun with Paul, I need to go out with him to find the leak on the latest air mattress that went flat.  He's the Mr. Fix it guy and keeps everything running smoothly.  Couldn't do Lake Powell without him!

 Baby Molly added some fun wherever she went.

Meal-times are always anticipated and enjoyed as big appetites come with the sun and fun.

 Daniel's debut back to Lake Powell after a mission started off with a nasty knee scrape, but he didn't let it stop him from hiking one of our favorite trails in West Canyon.

 The boats go up through a narrow canyon as far as they can, then we get out and walk to the trail.  Check out the tan line on Emma's back after switching to a new suit.

 A fun bunch.  Stephanie and Angela stayed on the houseboat with baby Molly.

Much of the trail is in water or soft sand. 

 Enjoying some shade at the end of the trail.

 The scenery at Lake Powell never disappoints.

 Sam Featherstone showing off his boundless energy by running, jumping and catching a frisbee, all at the same time.

 It was great to have Ryan Hill along for part of the trip!

 So....I have a "thing" about taking pictures of people sleeping.  Maybe it's because it makes me feel happy to see others catching up on some sleep while at Powell.

 People are "out" even when a lot is going on around them.

 No one deserves a rest more than Martha, the mother of four brides!

 M & M - Megan & Molly

 I just can't resist!

 Check out Martha, napping again!

 The three sisters.  So happy to have Grace in the family!

 Hiking on slick-rock by Cookie Jar. The boats dropped us off on one side and picked us up on the other.

 Becca gave us a rigorous water ballet class.

 I had never witnessed surfing behind a boat before so Becca demonstrated how to do it the right way.

 Here I'm demonstrating how to do it the wrong way, drinking in lots of water!

 Back to shore at Wahweap.  Another great Lake Powell trip with everyone safe and sound.

A clean houseboat, ready for the next lucky group.

Elder Ehlert Returns!

 Thursday, June 16, 2016, 4:20 pm...Elder Ehlert arrives home!

 The three bro's.

 Our trip to the airport was humorous and a bit stressful because we were running late when we picked up Paul from work and then Delta's website showed that the flight was 20 minutes early.  Ben was driving like a crazy man taking the "shortcut" route that Paul called out.  All of us were in the Yukon and there was a lot of laughter but we were so worried that Daniel would come down the elevator with no one there to greet him.  Luckily his group of Elders took their time making their grand entrance.  We had plenty of time to anticipate the arrival!

 The whole family!!

 So good to have him home!

 When we arrived home, all of the "kids" played Frisbee in the backyard which was fun for Paul and I to watch.  Grace, our new addition to the family and Daniel's new sister-in-law, is fun and easy to get to know. We then enjoyed dinner at "Tres Hombres". After dinner, Daniel met with Bishop Lofgren and then the Stake President, Richard Ence, to officially be released.  President Ence asked Paul to assist him in giving Daniel a Priesthood blessing.  It was an emotional and tender ending to Daniel's full-time mission.

 Family lunch after the homecoming talk at church.  Matt, Trevor Lanham, and Ryan Hill. It must have been "blue tie day".

 Carly, Ollie and Jared Reid

 Alison, Collin and James Allan

 Uncle Jack, Aunt Shellie, Grandma and cousin Jenny Kimball...such a fun gathering of family!

 Cousin Heaven!

 Brett and new baby girl Cheyenne.  Stephanie and Becca were a great help as always.

 Uncle Brent and cute daughter Aly.

 Daniel with Aunt Cindy, Uncle Bob and cousin Brian.

 Cheyenne, Brett and wife Linnae with son, Colt, Aunt JoDel and Uncle Richard.

Joe Stephenson and his little family were all there as well. We have such a supportive family.  Many other members of the family would have been there too if they could have been.  They were there in spirit!

Quebec City - June 4 - 10, 2016

 Paul had CSA (Canadian Standards Association) business meetings the first of June which took us to the beautiful and historic Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.  Here's a picture of the iconic Chateau Frontenac.

 The hotel Chateau Frontenac overlooks the old city of Quebec and the St. Lawrence River.

 Boardwalk along the river.  Quebec City is the oldest city in North America, settled in 1535.  It's charming and with a feel of being in a quaint old city in France.

 Coming down from the upper city, you see the lower city where the original settlement was built.

 This row of houses on the right form part of the old walls of the city.  Quebec City is the only North American fortified city north of Mexico with walls that still exist.

 Paul the tourist in the old city with a view of Chateau Frontenac in the upper city.

 I loved looking at the beautiful window boxes.

 So creative!

 This wall is entirely flat but painted with a trompe-l'oeil or tromploy technique that makes is come alive in 3D!

 This church is sitting on the original landing point of the first explorers, the original church being built in gratitude for a safe arrival.  The little boat hanging from the ceiling is an exact replica of the original ship. If the ship became damaged and needed to be repaired during the voyage, this model of the ship could be taken apart and used as an "Owners Manual".

A fun part of Paul's business meetings is to meet some of the wives.  Here we are enjoying breakfast in a delicious French pastry shop.  Check out the bowls of  hot chocolate.  Magnifique!

 Window shopping took us into this "over the top" shoe store.  Very chic and very expensive.

Playing around in the La Citadelle fortress.  BAAA!  This goat is the official mascot of the legion of soldiers stationed at the fortress.

Here are some pics from my cell phone:

We flew in and out of Burlington, Vermont so that I could get my free companion fare.  We timed it for a fun evening enjoying the Jazz Festival along Church Street and the waterfront of Lake Champlain.

 Lake Champlain, Vermont

 Trying on name brand boats.  My frugality wouldn't let me spend the $200 that Jillian was willing to pay.  Besides, it's hard to justify these rain boots in a desert climate!

Quaint sidewalk cafe in the courtyard of old Quebec City where we stopped for lunch.

 My salad was SO delicious.  Apricots and pecans baked with goat cheese in a filo crust.

 Smoked salmon salad options.  Talk about presentation!

 Our lunch bunch: Wendy Sparks from Cologne, BC, JillianVan Zandt from Edmonton, Alberta and Terry Muirhead from BC.

Another tromploy painting.  Check out the bricks on the corner of the building at the left of the picture.  One side is real brick and the other side is painted.  Thanks Doppelmayr Inc. for yet another great trip!