iFLY

iFLY
Summer 2017

Gracie and Andrew recently went to Oregon to visit grandma and grandpa, all on their own.

Grandma and grandpa took Gracie and Andrew to iFLY.

(Basically a vertical wind tunnel that pushes you up and around into the air.)

Andrew -- ready for flight!

Gracie -- ready for flight!

They had a blast, at one point getting as high as 30 feet in the air (pictures did not turn out)!

March Madness

March Madness
Spring 2017

Gracie's basketball team played really well together and took 1st place.

(Love her style -- white polka-dots under her jersey.)

Andrew's team worked really hard and took 3rd place.

(He was a rebounding machine.)

CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT YEAR -- MORE "MARCH MADNESS"!

Family Picture

Family Picture
Summer 2017

- The Sands Family -

Jellystone Park

Jellystone Park
Summer 2017

We stayed a few days at Jellystone Park in Hagerstown, MD.

It is a Yogi Bear themed resort.

The resort is about 1.5 hours from McLean, VA.

Furnished cabins, RV pads, and tent campsites are available.

We stayed in a cabin.

Pool, water slides, and splash area.

We had fun racing down the slides.

Ninja obstacle course -- one for big kids and one for little kids.

Outdoor theater for family movies at night. 

Cart track for the kids.

Fire pit we cooked S'mores in.  

Golf cart we drove around while we were there.

 

Zip-line above the resort. 

Grant & Katie stepped right off, screaming and laughing the whole way.

Picture with Yogi Bear near the mini-golf and laser tag areas.

Kirtland, Nauvoo, & Carthage

Kirtland, Nauvoo, & Carthage
Spring 2017

Visited both the LDS and Church of Christ visitors' centers in Kirtland, OH.

Kirtland, OH temple owned by the Church of Christ. 

N.K. Whitney store in Kirtland, OH.

Old brick store in Nauvoo, IL.

Walking along the Nauvoo, IL temple sidewalk toward the overlook.

Sarah at the overlook near the Mississippi river in Nauvoo, IL.

Nauvoo, IL temple. 

Carter & Gracie did baptisms here.

Browning gunsmith shop in downtown Nauvoo, IL. 

Statue of Joseph & Hyrum at Carthage, MO jail.

Carthage, MO jail cell.

Room that Joseph was in when the mob attacked. 

You can still see one of the bullet holes in the door.

Annual Falls Church Fun Run

Annual Falls Church Fun Run
Spring 2017

Memorial Day Fun Run - 3K

Falls Church, VA

Extended Family & Friends

Extended Family & Friends
Spring 2017

Eric Booth family came to DC. 

So glad we were able to meet up with them.

Gracie is a Bee-Hive!

This is her class.

Grandpa & Munga came to visit.

Tanner & Sands crew.

Grant's "girlfriend."

Not sure how he feels about this surprise hug : )

Downs & Sands crew.

Philadelphia Temple Visit

Philadelphia Temple Visit
Spring 2017

Went to the Philadelphia Temple open house.

Glad we could go together!

More Weekend Projects With Dad

More Weekend Projects With Dad
Spring 2017

Colored glass mosaic.

Wooden hammer.

PVC blow gun with nail darts.

LEGO fidget spinners.

Metal fidget spinners.

Nail and yarn heart project.

Battery powered fan-boat made out of plastic pop bottles.

Bottle holder.

Candle holder.

Gracie's First Quilting Project

Gracie's First Quilting Project
Spring 2017

Gracie did a quilting project with mom. She worked hard. It took longer than expected, but she finished, and it turned out great. This is a picture of her layout of the individual pieces.

Firearm Safety Class at the Shooting Range

Firearm Safety Class at the Shooting Range
Spring 2017

Mom and dad took Gracie and Andrew to Silver Eagle Group where they took a half-day firearm safety class that consisted of in-class and on-range instruction. The woman who taught it was great. Everyone there was so nice and loved having them on-site. They shot different kinds of handguns and a rifle. They learned lots, had fun, and did well. 

Gracie shooting a .22 rifle

Andrew shooting a .22 rifle next to dad.

Not Grant's best idea......

Not Grant's best idea......
Spring 2017

Watch this, guys...!

Here I go...!

I'm half-way there...!

Maybe this wasn't a good idea...!

This is going to hurt...!

Ouch!