In September 2015 came the long-awaited day of the arrival of Grandpa and Grandma Wheeler. The whole family gathered at the airport and donned red sailboat shirts. A long time ago, in a valley far, far away, Kathy Wheeler made red sailboat sweatshirts for Christmas one year.
30 something years later, Kathy's daughter-in-law, Joshlyn came across a blue sail boat sweater in a catalog and forwarded the picture to the girls of the family. Whereupon, we decided we would remake the sweat shirts for all of the Wheeler clan to make sure they wouldn't miss seeing us at the airport and to claim us as there own (who else would want to?).
Jesse's girlfriend, Dulce, and Jesse flew from Cabo San Lucas to be with us and they hobnobbed with Loni and Mark while waiting for the flight to arrive.
Matt, the pilot, knew almost everyone at the airport it seemed and talked with many passing by, while Joshlyn, Wendy, Jed and Renn talked to make the time pass.
The restraints that barely retrained the restrainees.
Tallest to smallest.
Wait! Let's take a groupie first!
Who let the unicorn in?
HUGS ALL AROUND!!!
Mark, Grandpa (Paul) and Jesse
The men in the family, minus the unicorn, mask.
Ryan, Mark, Paul, Jesse, Jed, Matt.
A happy reunion with grandkids!!
And two little girls that get to learn about their grandparents all over!
A happy, beautiful couple with memories of Africa that will last forever! We are so happy they were willing and able to help the people in Port Alfred, South Africa and teach us along the way.
Oh, and let's not forget Renn who was born last January had a note on his stroller that said, "I've been waiting to meet you my WHOLE LIFE!"
Ice Cream party when we got to the VRBO because South Africa just doesn't make ice cream like America.
One of Grandpa and Grandma's first requests was to go see Great Grandma Wheeler who is 86 and in a nursing home in Springville. While they had their first visit we played at a park. D.J. decided to try to fit into the toddler swing. He fit, but I didn't take any more pictures because I was laughing too hard while he tried to get himself out.
Pizza for lunch and an over-the-top competitive game of capture the flag.
Then on to Springville to patronize the mother-of-all-yard sales at Great Grandma Wheeler's house. Kudos to all who helped put this together! It was so massive, the sale lasted two weekends! All great-grandkids got to pick some things out for free. They came away with mugs, pink flamingos, cutting boards, bells, sweatshirts, bug nets and more.
We tried to play water kickball, but the wind wouldn't cooperate, nor would our stomachs.
The next day we went on a hike to Bell's Canyon, suggested by Loni, which was a little treacherous at first, but very fun. This is the midway point where some returned to the cars and some went onto a waterfall.
On the island is D.J., James, Mason, Miles, Wade and Devin.
PBJ lunch. Ryan, Morgan, Wendy, Mason, Joshlyn and Elise.
Jed, Renn, Jack, Loni and Mark.
Mark and I took a picture together (What? Together?) of the beautiful Salt Lake Valley.
The hiking group that went the extra mile or four.
Wendy, Sam, D.J., Spencer, Devon, Dulce.
Mark, Paul, Jesse, Loni.
Photographer Lisa. Yes, I was there.
Grandpa and Grandma brought South African candy bars home for the cousins to play
the candy bar game.
Just to get the kids out of the house (that contained many board games, ping pong table and air hockey table) we went to a nearby park where they chased after one another and scared other people away with their boisterousness. They are wearing South African Springbok shirts, the National Rugby team.
It's good to have Grandpa and Grandma home where we don't have to wait for Sundays to communicate with them and we can hug them any time we want. We love that they served a mission and we love that they've come back!
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