Reunited!

We returned from the Dominican Republic on Sunday and Taylor was released as a missionary later Sunday afternoon, so on Monday he was ready to take a dip after two years.
 He is ready for a swim!

We took a pulled pork dinner out to Grandma and Grandpa Charlie on Monday night so Taylor could see Grandma and tell her some Dominican stories.

The rest of the Morris clan arrived on Tuesday afternoon. Devin flew in to Boise and Sara, Jon, Lucy, Zach and Leah arrived from Washington after visiting the Cardon's. We were all reunited after 2 1/2 years. That called for another swim party with some happily reunited cousins.

Taylor and Whitney cooked us dinner that night.

Yum mango batidas.

What could be better than Russian/Dominican food ?

On Wednesday the girls had a "Tea Party". What fun! The little girls loved getting all fixed up and eating off of Great Grandma Gabrielsen's beautiful china and chrystal.

Whitney is a professional cupcake maker.

Here's our beautiful spread.

Even Leah got to come to the tea party!

We spent lots of time in the pool

Leah loved our neighbor Benson Manwaring 

(who is now a member of the BYU football team) Go Cougars!

One of our favorite games - catching the football in as many crazy combinations as possible

We hired a couple of babysitters and all the 

adults enjoyed dinner at the Mai Thai!

We also got to attend a sealing session in the temple.

We had a Fireworks show with all our "illegal" fireworks we bought in Montana.

We ended up moving the show to the Capital High School fields so we didn't blow up the neighborhood.

These cousins LOVE each other!

Sophie hates fireworks and the loud "BANG"

Taylor, Devin, Whitney and Jon got to go rafting on the Payette river. 

They said it was lots of fun.

We walked over to Delsa's and had some delicious ice cream.

On Saturday morning, Devin made us crepes.

They are such a treat!

Aunt Kay and Uncle Ken arrived from Utah on Saturday afternoon.

We had another swim party and hamburger barbecue featuring  

yummy Idaho sweet corn.

It was so nice of Kay and Ken to drive all that way for one day!

Taylor spoke in our ward on Sunday and did a fantastic job! He loved his mission and especially learned to love the Dominican people.

We sure appreciate all the family support.

Here's Jedd, Missy and Jared

The Cardon's

Sarah P, Whitney and Trex

We served crock pot chicken, tostadas, rice and beans, salad, fruit, mangoes and pink lemonade and banana cake.

 

My cousins, Martha and Ron Meyers, and Linda Christensen are so good support our family get togethers.

I love my siblings

and all their spouses.

We are so blessed with such a great supportive family!

 

We finally got a family picture taken thanks to Missy and Sarah P 

(and Whitney's color scheme)

The golfers

Lunch at Smash Burger. I think Taylor missed having hamburgers in the DR

We celebrated Devin's birthday with a homemade rhubarb pie.

Devin, Taylor and Jonathan got to play lots of soccer with guys from our ward and friends of Taylor.

The soccer players had an awesome cheering section

All good things must come to an end and on Tuesday everyone went their separate ways.  Sara, Jon and family flew back to North Carolina and Whitney drove Sarah, Devin and family back to Utah where they flew home to Richmond on Wednesday.  It was so fun having everyone together for a week.

Thanks so much for coming. I know Taylor was so happy to be reunited once again.