Utah 1

This trip up to Utah was really a quick one! My Dad bought Gordon and I tickets to fly up because he wanted all of his kids to be there as he was awarded the Alumni in Excellence Award from BYU-I. It was a great event and so glad we were able to attend. They had a wonderful breakfast and ceremony. They did a video presentation on his life and it was just a great day. He was able to see many former colleagues and friends and we kids also enjoyed seeing familier faces that I really had forgotten all about! Many names I had forgotten bit I did recognize many and with the help of my siblings, figured out who they all were! We then went over to the new temple and all did a session together. That was the real highlite for Dad, having all his kids and their spouses in the temple together, it really was great. We got a little tour around the new temple to from and old neighbor who now works there, Steve Meyers. Dad still had people stopping him in the temple saying hello, he just can't go anywhere without being recognized. Rexburg has sure changed and its growing into a really beautiful city with fun memories--well the few that I do remember are good ones.....




AND if just happened to be Jake's wedding the day before the award ceremony! That made the weekend even better, being able to go to the wedding and enjoy that special occasion. It was a fun day, they had a great sealing and beautiful reception that evening.

Utah 2

My friend Julie, called to tell me she was going up through Manti and asked if I wanted to tag along. Of course I started packing before we even hung up the phone! It was a great trip, relaxing and it was the same week Kyle has scout camp so it worked out perfectly. Spent most of the time in Manti but we did take a little road trip for a couple days up to see Dallin and the rest of the fam.

We had a great time, really doing just a bunch of nothing but it was good nothing. We pulled weeds, so that Stacy could sleep at night, and then I started having nightmares about the weeds too! At least we know we can call on Morgan if we need her to come help with any "weed wacking"! We also made pepper jelly--YUM!! I LOVE PEPPER JELLY!
Not sure if anyone loves pepper jelly like I do, but oh well, I learned how to make it and can make it all I want--forever! I guess the main thing we did though was help Erica plan her wedding! We literally sat at Stacy's kitchen table one entire day, planning, calling Sue, making decision, etc. but we got everything planned out and now only the exucution needed to take place!

A storm blew in one night so we went up to the temple to take pictures and Stacy got some great ones! It was beautiful with the clouds rolling over, thunder crashing and the rain wasn't too bad so it was fun walking around the grounds.



Cool pictures, she did a great job, love the clouds

Had a really great trip, sure love going up there...maybe someday I will move....not too likely though!

Utah 3!

For the third time, this summer I was lucky enough to go up to Utah --AGAIN!! Erica got married and I wouldnt have missed it for anything! I spent many hours babysitting for Kat to earn gas money to go! It was worth it! I enjoyed the kids and it paid my way up there! It was quick but so much fun. Kyle and his friend James came with me and we stopped in Manti the first night, the boys were glad to get out of the car and walked over to the temple grounds to check it out....boy did they have a fun adventure there....! When they went it was after house and dark, so we thought it would be funny to scare them on their walk back....Brett got out his shotgun and he jumped out at them from the bushes asking them what they were doing--well they were a little scared but realized to quickly that it was Brett, then the walked back again and got chased off the grounds by security...how did I know they were going to go all the way up to the temple...I thought they were just going to walk on the grass!!
The next day they got to ride Stacy's horse, it was James' first time on a horse so that was fun for them!

That afternoon we headed up to Provo and went to see Blake and Melissa, they took the boys over to Seven Peaks to swim and I picked up a couple things for the wedding at the mall, then we went to the ever so fun and cool trampoline place where they had a blast in the foam pit! We then headed up to Melanie's to stay for the night, the next morning we went up to Logan to see Dallin, and the boys hung out with Aaron at the Logan pool, where the high school cheerleaders noticed them "tricking" and begged them to move to Logan...yes they enjoyed that afternoon! I got to visit with Dallin that afternoon, we went out for ice cream and had a great time! Then back to Mels' that night to get ready for the wedding in the morning--put the finishing touches on all the centerpieces for the next day and fell into bed.

Off to the temple the next morning, luckily the boys went to Lagoon with
Aaron, so they had a great day too. The wedding was wonderful, the sealing perfect, the weather...well...not so perfect, it was seriously pouring when she came out of the temple--wind howling, I think it even hailed for a short time! That made picture taking a bit of a challenge but Erica was a great sport and Brett and I did out best to keep Stacy and her camera out of the rain...Stacy's dress was soaked and it kept blowing up, our hair was drenched, and Brett suit was soaked! It made for many laughs and fun memories for sure! The reception was wonderful, thanks to Blake, Melissa and Brett for helping decorate! They are hired! Stacy did a fabulous job being the photographer and the Maid of Honor! A great program, meal and fun dancing at the reception to make it a wonderful day with great memories! I will pop some pics in when I get some from Stacy!

Then we were off again and early start to head down to Escalante to see Dad for a couple days. Its always fun to go there, and I love the drive its so beautiful. Blake and Melissa drove down as well and spent some time there and was so glad they did. The boys were lucky cause they got the four wheelers all to themselves and were enjoying having so much freedom to explore and just be FREE! It was especially green and pretty there this year due to all the rain they got. It was nice to be there alone as I got lots of attention and just enjoyed some down time. We had a really great visit and I am glad I made the effort to go, was well worth it.




The boys way up on top!

World's largest ant hill, is on top of Grandpa's mountain!! We saw it!!

Mormon Batallion Museum

After we went to the Midway, we went over to the newly remodeled Mormon Batallion Visitors Center. We were so pleasantly surprised and the fantastic job they have done with the renovation. It was really amazing at how much better this museum is now, we really enjoyed our visit there.





Klay and Gordon, hoping to get RICH!

Grandpa's visit!

Scott, Klay and Dad, came down for a visit last week, we had a great time! Scott came down to go to the motorcycle aution, Klay came down to buy a motorcyle and Dad came along for the adventure! They had a great time at the auction, Gordon, Klay, Dad and Scott all set out on Thursday morning for the big preview day, and you would think they were going to an after Christmas sale or something!! Some pretty excited guys..... All came home happy, especially Klay who found his mistress at the auction! She is a beauty and Scott found a couple of bikes to buy as well, so it was a successful day all around. They spent the rest of the day polishing and admiring their posessions! On Satureday we took Dad down to tour the Midway aircraft carrier so that he could relive his old Navy days, and it was a really wonderful day. The weather was picture perfect and the walk down memory lane was especially enjoyable.



Dad was explaining how he was on the "bomb squad". He was an "ordy", sounds like a slightly intimidating job, if you ask me. He served in the Korean War and was on the Valley Forge and the Essex.

Mom's Day Card!!

This free digital scrapbook made with Smilebox

I love this!!

Stacy's baby.....

While we were in Utah for the graduation we were also anxiously awaiting the arrival of a baby! A horse! When we got to Manti we went to visit the Mom to be, gave her a little pep talk about having the horse while we were in Utah so that we could see our "grandchild". This is mommy looking quite depressed and miserable, all she would do was stand in the stall and stare ahead like, "please let this end!!"

Well nothing happened and nothing happened and we were losing hope that we would be in town for the delivery.........We left Kaysville, early in the morning for our long journey home, I quickly fell asleep in the car and missed a phonecall and a text telling us to hurry up...the baby had come! We were on our way to Manti anyway to pick up Stacy to bring her back to California with us, so the timing could not have been any better! I would have felt horrible to take her back with us and have missed the birth, so I guess that little pep talk I had with the mother worked! When we got there the colt was only a few hours old and soooo very cute! Mom was pretty protective but Stacy managed to at least touch the baby and get to spend some time, taking pictures and just watching the most exciting thing nature has to offer. The horse is a Dun which is a rare coloring and it also has a white 7 on his forehead, she has named him Ace!

Blake's graduation!

This is certainly worth blogging! We are so proud of Blake and his recent graduation from BYU!! Way to go Blake you are such a hard worker and we are all so proud of you and your accomplishments!! We had a quick road trip up to the graduation and had such a wonderful time! We first stopped at Stacy's in Manti where we were treated to a little snowstorm in April! We got to visit her house and spend the night with her, Blake and Melissa even came down and we had a wonderful evening.

This is the view out of Stacy's kitchen window....wow.....

We then went up to Provo and spent the day with Blake and Melissa! Melissa's parents were also nice enough to come to town for the graduation, it was so nice of them and great to see them again. Here are some pictures of the proud day





It was sure a proud parent day, and we know that this is only the begninning of many very successful days ahead for Blake and his family!

This is just funny!

Stacy and Brett came to California for a visit just before Halloween and Brett's mom made these awesome peanut butter eyeballs! There were so cute and we got a little carried away with them--

Bryce again....

Well this happened on Dec 6, 2009, Byrce went riding and he promised me he would come to the church and take some really great photos of our bit Enrichment Christmas party. We decorated till we wanted to die- it was worth it, but by about 5:30 I had not heard from Bryce but knew he would be there, as he is a pretty dependable guy...well my cell phone rings and its Bryce..he says "Mom, I can't come take pictures, I am sorry..........I am on my way to the ER I broke something, it really hurts, can't talk gotta go......Gordon was my technical helper at this event but he rushed off to meet him at the hospital...as you can see he came out with a broken scapula...not much they can do about it, its a very rare break so he just had to brace his arm and be really careful--it was a very long 8 week healing process, but he was good to let it heal well before he went riding again. The broken one is the one on the left. Here is another "thankful it wasn't worse" post.....