Father's Day Flee 2026: "Discover Your Destiny"

Father's Day Flee this year was headed up by Brandon with all of the guys helping. Since Rick and I had spent a lot of money getting the yard done this year we decided to keep Father's Day Flee really cheap with a "Stay-cation" in St. George. Brandon also planned around nap time for the kids, which was great for Rick and I since we are "nappers," too! The theme this year was "Discover Your Destiny!" Here is the video invitation Rick put together: 

Wednesday, June 17: Our opening ceremonies starated with the famous "Father's Day Flee" dance outside by the tramp!  

Jason is the newest member of the family and was probably wondering what kind of crazy family he has married into! Rick got this Indiana Jones style hat on his latest cruise for Father's Day Flee. He thought about getting one for all of the guys, but I told him they would probably never wear it again and so he just got one for him. Whoever was giving the lesson had the privilege of wearing the hat, haha, and the kids got to wear it when they participated. 

The first lesson was taught by Jase. He divided the family into teams, each one with one of the grandkids, and each team had ten minutes to quickly find something around the house to wear that would represent their future destiny. This is what each team came up with! (Click HERE for the album with all of the pictures and videos!) 

Check out those lips! We have some pictures of Jenna at that age and she did the same thing! That sparkly little red dress was my baton outfit when I was young -- not THAT young though. I was ten!! It makes an appearance through the years, such as in this Mother's Day Tea Post in 2012 and this post my sister put together from when she and I were in baton lessons years ago back in 1978 and 1979.  

After Jase's lesson and activity we had a yummy taco bar! Rick made his yummy refried beans and Janika made Cilantro dressing. After we got the kids to bed we played games! 

Thursday, June 18: Today started with a big breakfast of pancakes, yogurt, and fruit. Then we all packed up and headed to Fire Lake. Fire lake (Ivin's Reservoir) is only 11 minutes away. We used to go all of the time, but haven't been in quite a while (at least Rick and I haven't. The kids still go a fair amount.) Bryton was able to bring a paddle board and the kids had fun playing in the water and building sand castles. We ran into Mari Purdy there, which was fun, especially since we have fun memories of going to Fire Lake with her and her kids through the years! 

After Fire Lake we went home for lunch (sandwiches, fruit, chips) and naps/quiet time (at least for some of the kids). Jase and Jared brought Evan and Eli swimming. 

Love Jase and Jared's cheesy grins. You can tell that Jase and Jared grew up with many of these kinds of pool pictures through the years! Evan and Eli need a lesson on how to get their heads over the top of the pool! 

Then everyone played video games. (At least the grandkids thought they were playing. Notice how they are actually holding remotes, or controllers that aren't actually hooked to the tv, haha!)   

Brandon did his lesson on Premortal Preparation and then we had hamburgers and hotdogs and corn on the cob for dinner! Later that night we went to Tuacahn to see "Finding Nemo!" The only way we could afford that many tickets is because Rick and I are interpreting the show for Tuacahn and were able to do a trade. This was the first time the any of the grandkids had been to a show a Tuacahn. I was worried whether or not it would hold their interest the whole time, but it did! They were mesmerized! Finding Nemo was a good one for them since it was only 70 minutes long with an intermission. Only three and older are allowed to go and so we left Callan and Elsie home with a baby sitter (Audrey Williams). The temperature was over 100 degrees and I had purchased cooling cloths for everyone that you get wet and wrap around your neck. Rick thought that was silly and was teasing me about it, but it really did help! I was surprised! Most of the family gladly accepted one (or two!) 

Friday, June 19: We had bagels, cream cheese, fruit, and yogurt for breakfast and then went to the all-abilities park. It was HOT!! And crowded! The turf on the playground has different colors and shapes of dinosaurs and so forth, which looked cool, but was hot! The kids enjoyed the splash pad and played on the playground for a bit and then we road the train. Then we headed home for lunch! 

The house behind us was purchased by a business who runs homes for special needs adults. One of these is Hank, the train engineer at the All-Abilities Park. So we asked him if we could get a picture with him!  All of the special needs adults faithfully attend our ward (the hearing ward) each week. They also love to bear their testimony on Fast Sundays, which sometimes makes for a very unique testimony meeting! 

After the park was lunch and naps. Jared taught the next lesson at the Seminary building on mortality, "Facing Goliath." He divided the family into two teams and gave each team some cardboard. They were to each draw a picture of a monster. Then he preceded to share the story of David and Goliath along with gospel principles. Then the grandkids were all allowed to try and knock down the "giants" with rubber balls! (The videos are in the google album!) 

After the lesson we had a great dinner of marinated chicken, corn on the cob, rice, and veggies and then Jenna taught a devotional which involved an object lesson that included making oobleck slime with the grandkids! They loved it! 

Jase and Ellen and kids slept over at their own house, but they put the kids to bed at our house so that they could stay longer and play games with the family. Janelle and Bryton slept over at Bryton's parent's house because we didn't have room for everyone at our house. But they stayed late and played games too. 

Tonight Rick taught his lesson. Now that we have grandkids, it seems like all of the lessons are geared to their level. Jenna missed the more in depth lessons we used to have and so Rick planned a really good "adult" lesson tonight after the grandkids were in bed. Rick is such a great teacher, I always love his lessons! 

Saturday, June 20: We had breakfast and then went to the splash pad in St. George. This was better than splash pad at the all-abilities park yesterday. It is a lot bigger and there is also a big grassy area where the adult kids could play spike ball and the grandkids were able to go on the carousel! 

After the splash pad we went home for lunch and naps again. Jared arranged for everyone to go to a church to play basketball and Jase and Ellen set up their bounce house in the gym. The kids had fun playing on the bounce house and running around and dancing. The adults had fun playing basketball! 

Then we came home for Bryton's lesson on kings where he had the kids make crowns. They wore those crowns the rest of the night! Then we ate a yummy dinner of pulled pork, fries, fruit, and vegies! 

We finished up our Father's Day Flee Sunday morning with Jason's lesson and wrap-up. All in all it was a successful Father's Day Flee!! I love the fact that our children love to be together -- even if it is doing simple things like going to the splash pad, playing spike ball outside, or basketball at the church, or just playing games as a family! 

Everyone came to church with us at the hearing ward. Eli even went up to sing "Daddy's Homecoming" with our primary! Everett went up last time (Mother's Day) but he was learning different Father's Day songs in his ward and didn't know this one. After church we all ate lunch and then the family went their separate ways. Rick and Jenna and I then headed to Pleasant Grove for the Westra Father's Day party!