Tuesday, September 28, 2010

John & Keaton!

John & Keaton won their third doubles tournament in a row last week in Las Vegas! They won a national tournament in Carmel, California a few weeks ago. Then they won the BYU invitational, at that tournament they beat a BYU team as well as 2 University of Utah teams. And then last weekend they won the Agassi tournament in Vegas! It has been fun to see them doing so well!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Homecoming!

Last weekend was Homecoming @ Timpview! This was John's first school date dance. They started the day by going up the canyon to a cabin @ Sundance and having lunch and a bon-fire.

John went with Madeleine Pinegar.

After lunch they hiked to Stewart Falls!
Madeleine, John, Kelsey Matthews & Keaton Cullimore.




Here is John getting ready for the dance.

John's good friend and doubles partner, Keaton, came down to go to Homecoming with John and his friends. Here is Matthew helping Keaton tie his tie for the date! When I walked in the room and saw Matthew up on the couch behind Keaton (because he can only tie a tie from that direction) I laughed and laughed and then had to run get my camera.




Dallas Warner, John, Keaton & Jacob Jensen all decked out ready to go!


Here they are with their dates!



Madeleine & John


At dinner!



After dinner they went to the Jensen's and ate crepes and played games!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

New York!

Brad and I had to go to NYC for USTA meetings. We took Josh & Halle with us and had a great time.

This is right outside of our hotel (the Grand Hyatt). You can see the Chrysler building in the back.



Josh & Halle in Times Square!


Inside Toy's-R-Us @ Times Square. This is in the lego section (that entire empire state building behind them is made out of legos).



Here they are in Grand Central Station, we had to go see the clock where Melman got his head stuck in the movie Madagascar!



We ran into Sponge Bob on the street!


Brad, Josh & Halle looking out from the top of the Empire State Building!



Another view from the top!



The total tourists!


We rented bikes and took a 6 mile bike ride around central park. This was definitely one of the highlights of our trip!



And then rented remote control boats to drive around one of the ponds in the park.



Another highlight was meeting our niece Kimber for the afternoon. She took us to lunch at Max Brenner - Chocolate by the Bald Man. It was so tasty and a super cute restaurant.



Halle in front of the chocolate shop/restaurant!



We then walked with Kimber down to South Seaport and looked at the boats and ferries! This was a really fun area! It was so fun to see Kimber and also to get an "insiders" view of NYC!



Josh & Halle wanted to go on the "Beast." It is a speedboat that takes you on a 30 minute boat tour down the Hudson to the Statue of Liberty!





In front of the Statue of Liberty!


Brad, Josh & Halle at the US Open!


And for sure one of Halle's highlights (and mine too) was the American Girl Doll Store. We walked every inch of the 4 floors looking at the displays. Halle wanted to make sure she got the perfect outfit for her doll.



Inside the store, you can tell this is one happy girl!



Here they are about to get on a train. We spent plenty of time on planes, trains and automobiles. By the end of the week, I would start walking to the subway station and Josh would be hailing a cab for us because they had walked miles and miles!



One night Brad took Josh to a Yankee's game. Here they are on the subway riding out to the field.




Josh in front of the New Stadium!


They had great seats, look how close they were to Derek Jeter!


While the boys went to watch the Yankee's, Halle & I went and saw Wicked! She loved the play even though she isn't totally convinced that the wicked witch was just "misunderstood!"



With her program after the play!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Jamaica!

Brad and I were able to spend an amazing week in Jamaica! It has been so long since we were able to get away for a "real" vacation. This is our beach, it was so great to grab a mat and float around the ocean watching the beautiful sunsets.



We stayed at a resort (and literally NEVER left) that had everything we needed. You would just grab a ski off the rack and jump out in the water and the guys would throw you a rope and pull you around the bay. We also were able to go scuba diving every afternoon!


Brad loved skiing!





We were too busy relaxing to remember to take pictures, but I did grab one of this huge sand crab trying to sneak up on us!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Lake Powell!

We had a great Abbott family trip to Lake Powell this year. Everyone except for Jordan was able to go down and stay for the entire week. That is getting harder and harder to make happen. We had so much fun!

Here are Matthew Conger & Halle trying to row their raft across the lake. We didn't worry to much that they would get too far out, because Halle took a super soaker instead of an oar to do her part, so Matthew just kind of rowed them in circles!


Matthew Pearce

John after a ski run!



David, Katie & Josh



Josh & David taking the Bayliner for a spin!




Here are Halle & Katie during one of our nightly "dance parties." We told everyone to only pack the "necessities" for the trip, so we were fortunate that the Disco Ball made the list!



Halle & Steph!



John playing the "catch the ball while jumping off the top of the houseboat" game that keeps the boys entertained for hours and hours!



Josh playing!



Here is John trying to get the ball going down the slide



Success!


Halle

Michael, John & G-pa keeping up with their images!


Josh & Halle



Brad going out for an early morning ski-run!