Happy Birthday

With lots of the kids traveling this year, I opted to give everyone their birthday gift early, on a non birthday.  I had fun thinking about each grandchild as I made them. I hope they will be useful.

 

Christmas Card photos

 

Way past time to get the Christmas cards out, so as we headed over to Filmore for a sibling lunch, we stopped near a field and took selfies.  I had them ordered and on the way before heading home that night.  Merry Christmas.

 The siblings have adjusted to our needs, and we found a spot in Fillmore where we could meet halfway and hopefully it wouldn't be too loud for Dean.  We decided that Delta probably has spots that would be better.  It's so nice to have everyone travel so we can get together every few months.

Christmas Gifts for the kiddos

 Christmas nativities should be made for the children to play with.  These are.  I made them out of purple foam and plaster paris, coated with stain and mod podged for a firm, nice finish.

 

Most of the pillows for Kim's family

St. George Temple Rededication

 

I am starting to understand my new life.  I wanted to go through the temple during the open house and so I made a trip to visit mom and see it.  She had previously gone through with someone else, so I just went through by myself.

This part of my life is pretty tough but I have learned if there is something I want to do I better just do it.  I have never needed someone to hold my hand, but I haven't dared always leave Dean alone either.  He has switched his medicine and  the new stuff seams to be much better for him. None of it works as well as when we first started with it, but they side effects have gotten much better with the switch.

The temple was beautiful. I went through it when I was a young teenager and it was remodeled and rededicated.  I was able to be in the Priesthood room for the dedication.  This time I just took a quick walk through.  I understand you can see the Priesthood room from one of the walk ways but that wasn't on the tour.

Special Day for a Special Girl

 Ellie asked both of her grandmother's to give talks and I was assigned the Holy Ghost talk.  I had the three bears ready to go, so I incorporated them into the talk for just a second, and made a Liahona for my new talk.  Pictured below is the progress right before I sprayed it gold.

When I was in the Spanish Branch I had made another one.  We put a GPS inside of it and took the kids on a walk through the dessert or ball park right next to the church.  The GPS told us which way to go while giving us warnings.  Awesome!

She is such a good girl. 

Labelling the Items Above our Seats

I'm pretty happy with the organizer that goes above our heads in the front of the van.  But it needs to be easier to find things so I labeled each of the pockets with the items that belong in them.

Each van has a similar one but they are slightly different, and I often send the kids out alone to get something for me but its to hard to remember which van has what where. So both vans have basically been set up about the same and all pockets have been labelled.  It's a pretty nice set up.

 

Spending a day up north

With Mike working full time and Zub neck deep in PA school, they could use some help with the kids.  They are pretty great at taking care of themselves but they just need an adult in the home.  

We decorated some oranges and that was a big hit.  Then we had a little tea party.  Bria had her own tea set so she grabbed it and we had a party for three. 

For some reason Ben didn't really come around much during our tea party.

Fun times with fun kiddos.

 

The Tabernacle Experience

 I wanted to see the Tabernacle but waited hoping Dean would be able to go while it was in Nephi and our area members were manning it.  However, after missing that opportunity I headed up to Eagle Mountain and Blaine met me and we went through together.  It was fun to see the live set up, but nothing really new as I had been viewing some of the items online, and Come Follow Me had shared much about it as well.  But it was a fun activity and so very awesome of all the people all over the state that donated their time to make it happen.  Also, it was a great day out with Blaine on his lunch hour.

 

Sod Laying Party

All that cross fit is paying off today

Grandpa got to play on his tractor

I finally found my niche next to the fence fitting in little pieces. Blaine, Mike, Taylor, and Kyle laid the sod and Chandra shuttled it to us.  Pax was a little worker for sure.

Taking a moment to lean on their shovels

 

July 24th Celebration in Enterprise

 

Mom wanted to go up to Enterprise for the celebration so I drove down and picked her up so we could drive up in time for the celebration.  Following the program, we went to the Hunt family reunion, put on by Wes Hunt's family, up in their little park near their home. It was so fun to see so many of the cousins.

Madelyn made it but Kelly and his family didn't as they had plans made previously.  Madelyn left quickly to meet her family in Pine Valley.

 

Garth, Denise, and Erin

Cordon and Peggy

Me, Mom, Renae, and Uncle Pres

Don't know their names but they are my cousin Emma's children

Cordon, Lori and Lisa. Lori was always one of my favorite cousins.

Darrel and his wife, who turns out to be Beth Johnson Terry's sister-in-law

Family Dinner with bonus Sants

 Dinner up north with the family and Jason.  We found a cute little Mexican restaurant that wasn't too busy and had an enjoyable time together as a family. 

Delta 4th of July Parade

 We found a pretty good spot the last few years, where not too many other people gather.  We are right across from Jubilee so we can run over and get drinks and treats as needed.  Even a case of water for the hot day.   Such a fun tradition and a perfect time for kids to come home.

Now this is the Van Life!

July 4th Celebration in the Ponderosas

Mike' family, J's family and the Sants were all here.

These older cousins are a delight

This is the one time I get to use the van for what I bought it for.  Expensive trip LOL

 

Candice showed me her new prouct

 Candice convinced me to let her fix my hair for church one day we were up visiting.  It turned out to be pretty fun, so I ordered some for myself.  Then I attempted to do it myself.  We will try this style for a while.

Colton's Grad from Jr. College

 Colton graduated from Snow, and has moved home to work in the mines to put away money for USU.

Last year he came and lived with us, boring and sickly as we were.  He worked at Quality and they would have loved to have him come back.  But even without expenses he just couldn't make much.  He will go home, and work with his Dad at one of the salt mines.