11 August 2013 - Williamsburg

This week was the much-anticipated Fails Family Reunion in Williamsburg, VA.  All five brothers and sisters plus Dianne and Phil came together for a week of fun together.  Our first day in we went to Busch Gardens and by the end of the week, we'd gone three more times and ridden each of the five big coasters several times.

We had a lot of fun cracking a mysterious revolutionary code and learning about the founding history of our country.

Karl, Jennifer and Amy (+ some kids) touring the old courthouse.

The girls in front of the governor's palace.

Who doesn't like sitting on the fence?

While we were there Jessica had her 14th birthday.  Joanne is always looking for craft ideas, and the recent return of Twinkies meant the possibility of minion treats.

In the end we made a couple dozen of these chocolate dipped marshmallow minions, and Jessica wore her shirt to match.

For her trouble, among other things, she got a minion Dave, who in turn got Aunt Jolene's sombrero from her birthday dinner earlier in the week.

When I was 17 I traveled with a school group to Washington D.C. and Colonial Williamsburg.  23 years later, I was back on the campus of The College of William & Mary, this time with my family.

We had a wonderful time with our family.  In addition to Busch Gardens and Colonial Williamsburg, we also went to a water park a couple of days and found time to fit in a round of golf.  It was a great trip that went by way too fast.  When it was over, it was time to head for Idaho and get ready for the coming school year.

4 August 2013 - A Week in Delaware

We spent the whole week with Karl and Jolene's family.  Despite what you see in this picture, the girls didn't actually go crazy or start growing facial hair.

We went to Valley Forge where we watched a movie, checked out the museum, and took an audio driving tour.

The kids liked exploring and climbing on the historical artifacts.

The National Memorial Arch at Valley Forge.

Jessica, Zachary and Uncle Karl on the path to George Washington's house.

We took a ferry to Fort Delaware to check out the old fort and civil war-era prison.

When you get to Fort Delaware Island, you ride a little tram from the dock to the old fort.

We got there in time to see the cannon firing demonstration.

On Thursday we drove into Philadelphia to see the sights.  This is us with the Liberty Bell.

The girls in Independence Hall.

It was rainy, but we still managed to get a shot with Independence Hall in the background.

On Friday, Karl, Jolene, Joanne and I went to Washington D.C. to attend the temple.

That evening, Karl and I went back to Philadelphia to watch the Phillies game.

The kids had a blast all week just hanging out.

28 July 2013 - Joanne's birthday/Trip to Canada

After we flew back to Pittsburgh from the funeral, Joanne and Jessica picked us up and we drove to Palmyra to begin our planned vacation.  Our first stop was the Palmyra Temple.

The Smith family log home.

Together in the Sacred Grove.

At the top of the Hill Cumorah.

After our time in Palmyra, we drove northwest, crossing into Canada at Niagara Falls.

Here are the girls with American Falls in the background.

We took the "Behind the Falls" tour, where you can walk through tunnels dug behind the horseshoe and look out through observation windows.

We also took a ride on The Maid of the Mist, getting fairly well soaked in the process.

Fortunately it was a warm day and we were able to dry off quickly.

We also rode the Whirlpool Cable Car, which is about four miles downstream from the falls.

I took this panoramic view of the falls from atop the Skylon Tower, where we had dinner for Joanne's birthday.

This of the view of the falls we had from our hotel window.  It was actually better than the photo does justice.

We were in Niagara falls for two day, then headed around Lake Ontario to Toronto.  We decided we wanted to go out to Toronto Island, so we hopped a ferry.  The girls' hair is flying because the breeze was quite brisk.

We got a family photo of us obeying the sign.

We rented bikes and spent most of the day riding all over the island.  This was an awesome activity, but if you ever decide to do it, remember to bring Canadian cash with you -- finding it on the island was a pain.

We rode to this lighthouse, which like all good lighthouses, is haunted.  Fortunately, we visited during the day.

The girls with the city of Toronto in the background.

That night we attended a Blue Jays game at the Rogers Centre.  Once the sun went down it got really cold, but we lasted until the 8th inning before we decided to leave.

The next day we drove to Montreal where we stayed in the Old Town.  Here are the girls on the monument plaza.

The family in front of the cathedral.

The flower gardens throughout the Old Town area were beautiful for the summer.

After a week on the road with lots of miles in the car, we spent one long day driving from Montreal to Karl and Jolene's house in Delaware.  It was an excellent trip, lots of fun, and ending it by getting back together with family was the perfect conclusion.

21 July 2013 - Girls Camp and Funeral

We had promised Jessica that before we moved away from Pennsylvania, she could attend Girls Camp one last time with our ward.  Here she is with several of the girls from the stake at the front door of the Johnson Farm, where the camp was help.  Joanne was a good sport and went as our ward's camp leader.

The girls at the Young Women's values flag ceremony.

Hot, rainy and humid, but always having a good time.

The girls did a service project making and repairing benches for the church campground at the Johnson Farm.

We were heartbroken this week to learn that Uncle Darin had passed away while on High Adventure in Jackson Hole with his son Jake.  While Joanne and Jessica were at girls camp in Ohio, the younger two girls and I flew to Utah for the funeral.

Despite the very unfortunate circumstances, it is always a blessing to be able to be together with your family.

Lily knows how to be fashionable for any occasion.

After the funeral, we found time to cool off and play a little before heading back home.  St. George has a very cool splash park...

...and it's not just for little kids either.

Grandpa took a rather severe beating from the grandkids who thought they were just playing.

We all went out for snow cones when the playing was done.

I've often thought that we are a strange lot as Latter-day Saints.  Every time I've been to a family funeral, whether the passing was expected or unexpected, it seems more like a family reunion than a funeral.  I remember when my Grandpa Lancaster died, we rode horses for three days straight and played with cousins until our legs nearly fell off.  There is no question that Darin's untimely and unexpected passing is tragic, and we continue to pray for Angie's family every single day.  And yet as we came together, we had so much fun as a family, and we spent the time together being happy.  I think this happens because our knowledge of the gospel gives us so much reason to hope, so much faith in a grand and happy reunion in the Spirit World.   The world often sees us as a peculiar people, and indeed, I guess we are.