God Bless America

We had a fabulous time in America. Thanks to all the family and friends who hosted our family at various times. We were sad that we didn't get to see everyone we wanted but I'm pretty sure even if we lived in America we still wouldn't get to see everyone as much as we would like. The following is a list of places we visited and things we did while there in no particular order. I didn't put EVERYTHING on the list. I only included things that we can't/don't have in the Middle East. Check out the amazing things the USA has to offer:

Walmart (ok--this is in order. I think we spent more time at Walmart than anywhere else.)
Deseret Industries
Crown Burger
Charlie Owen's funeral
Boys camp at Timbercreek
Visits with fantastic friends
Lagoon
Churros
Soft serve ice cream
impact Solutions 5 year birthday party
Tio's Mexican Restaurant
Gloria "Singin' Ladies" Reunion lunch
Village Baker Pizza, sandwiches, and cinnamon rolls
BYU campus & bookstore
BYU-I campus & bookstore
Stan's shakes
Activity Day
Buca de Beppo
Lunchables
Family olympics
Dairy Queen (Girl Scout Thin Mint Shakes)
Gogurts
Pulled pork sandwiches
Scout camp
Big Juds
Albertson's fried chicken
Reid's Dairy Brown Cow
Idaho Falls temple
Brighton Beehive camp
Sleepovers
College roommates (and our families) reunion
Costco chocolate cake
Leatherby's ice cream and caramel sauce
Driving from Boise to Idaho Falls to Salt Lake to Boise to Kooskooskie, Washington to Boise to Idaho Falls to Boise (total=34 hours)
Pizza with real pepperoni, real canadian bacon, and real sausage
Sausage Egg McMuffin with cheese
Costco polish dog
Costco berry smoothie
Office Max
Game Crazy
Wingers
Fresh, pre-made, chocolate milk
Family reunion
Camping
Wendy's frosties
Family portraits
Smitty's breakfast
All-a-dollar
Rose Park 10th ward Family Night
Cummings family open house

Other highlights of the trip were:
*Having 3 pieces of luggage lost. And those were lost on the last leg of our flight from Seattle to Boise. They'd made it all the way from Cairo to Paris to Seattle but then disappeared. They were all found eventually.
*Closing on a house we bought in Salt Lake
*Spending 48 hours on planes and in airports to make this trip
*Visits with friends and family late into the night
*Ooops on the dessert at Buca de Beppo. Do I need to see my bishop?
*The flurry of activity on our credit card when we made it back into the States caused the CC company to shut it down as a safety precaution. Then we couldn't remember the pin # to our debit card because we hadn't used it in a year. We needed a way to pay for things but eventually got it all worked out. (PS--Did I forget to pay anyone back money that we owe? Please let me know!)
*Late night nachos, hugger-mugger, kick the can, and other games
*Petey got her first hair permanent
*Commitments from several people that they're coming to visit us--Grandma & Grandpa Cummings, Eric & HyDee and family, Stacey & Richard Vass, Arie Wiglama, John & Emily Bell (and hopefully the rest of their family). We welcome everyone and would love to see this list grow longer!
*Weight gain of 7 pounds (and that's just me.) Is it any surprise after reading the list above?

Here are some picture highlights:

Petey and Cricket riding horses









T's 2nd birthday



Critter and Batman post-waterfight


Cousins with Grandma & Grandpa Cummings



Nic helping Grandpa Johnson do some irrigating



Red doing the egg toss



Late-night "hugger-mugger"



Catherine with brothers and sisters



We couldn't get a good picture because Nic & Red wouldn't stop "cheesin'" it for the camera. Cricket was mad about the color of the shirts we had to wear. Her facial expression is priceless. And then there's me, yelling at everyone to buck up, settle down, look happy, and hold still!


Family reunion swimming contests





Some teenage cousins thinking they were "all that" building a pyramid



So their parents showed them who is really "all that"