Week of February 17, 2013

Sunday

I love Sunday.  I need that opportunity to worship, be thankful, and feel of the spirit.  After church we had Chris and family come down for his birthday dinner.  Yes, it was enchiladas.  We had an enjoyable afternoon.  I showed Chris Family Trees and he cleared a family for temple work.  Ellen was here also, and we just had a nice afternoon and evening.  Paul called and we Skyped while they were here.  Levi and Zander officially met each other.  I love technology.  

Monday

We had Cierra come down to clear some names because we were interrupted too much on Sunday and didn't get it done.  It was nice to just spend some time with her and Ellen.  

Tuesday

 I went over to the school and read with kids for an hour.  After that we went straight to Logan, picked up Mike and went to the temple to do baptisms.  I felt the spirit there so strong.  I feel like we are picking up the temple work where my great-grandmother left off.  

Wednesday through Friday

We went to the Family History Library in Salt Lake late Wednesday morning and stayed there until about 3:00.  Then we took Rob home to his house and he and Emily left at 5:00 to begin their trip to Washington D.C.  We got to babysit until Friday about 5:00.  I had such a good time spending more time with all of them.  Jenetta finally got to know both of us and would snuggle up to either one of us.  I loved walking the kids to school, visiting with them, going to Marri's registration, playing games, and having a read-a-thon, getting to know their neighbor Samantha, clearing temple names with Marri, Sophie, and Samantha, and just enjoying every moment. Here are pictures: 

Grandpa helping Scott put together his Lego ship

Grandpa making cookies

After school snack of Grandpa's cookies

Game night

This picture is for Emily: "See me floss my own teeth, mama?"

Clearing names for temple work

It snowed 6 inches on Friday morning.

Helping Grandma make bread sticks. Isn't she so cute! 

Walking Scott to school. I walked to school three times on Friday.

Pancakes every morning!

Changing of the guard - We leave and Emily's sister Sara comes.

We came home to spend a nice evening with Marion and the boys.  We had French Toast for dinner and snuggled up with them on the couch to watch a movie.

Marion playing a game with Spencer and John  

Saturday

It was such a good day.  Two years ago I had frozen strawberries in a sauce and still have quite a bit.  So we made crepes and used up the strawberries and cool whip. It felt good to feed a big stack of crepes to a bunch of hungry boys.  

After that, Marion and the boys took off the old, falling down wallpaper trim in the bathrooms and washed the walls.  It was such a tremendous help.  Now we can paint.  I really do miss all the help I had when all our children were at home.  

Good work, Isaac!

Spencer and John doing our bathroom.

I'm glad it's not dad or I who have to stand on the sides of the tub scraping off wallpaper, thanks!

Marion had brought up the game 'Alibi' and we played that after breakfast.  It is like Clue, but so much more fun.  Later that afternoon we played it with Joe & Chris' family.  

The kids played a little longer and then, of course, we had a skit.  Chris left and we had Navajo Tacos and Marion & Joe gathered their families and headed out.  It had been snowing and still continued to snow.

Can you tell who it is?

Marion showed me how to make a bread that was so good.  I love fresh bread right out of the oven, but that only happens the day you bake it.  Now we can have it whenever we want because you put the dough in the fridge and then just take out a hunk of it and bake it whenever you want.  It literally took him under a minute to mix it up.  Here's the recipe: 3 c. lukewarm water, 1 Tablespoon salt, 1 Tablespoon yeast & 6 1/2 c. flour.  Mix with wooden spoon and let rise 2 hours. (It is still sticky & you don't knead it or mix in bread mixer.)  Put in fridge and then take out a hunk when you want it.  Shape it into a round loaf by tucking it under a little as you shape it. Place on floured surface to rise an hour and don't cover it. Cut a cross on top of it.  Bake for 30-35 min. on a cast iron pan in a 450 degree oven. (That's not a mistake, it is 450)  Put a cookie sheet with some water in it on the rack below.  The crust is so crusty and it is so good.

John called on Google Plus along with Pete & Tammy.  He was babysitting little Seth for a few hours to give the grandma and grandpa a break.  It was so good to see him.  He is so cute and looks so much like a part of our family.  Hopefully the paperwork will be done this week so Tammy can go out and then Peter and the girls.  We still need everyone's prayers so things can continue to progress at such a good time.  I can really see the Lord's hand in taking care of him and bringing him to our family.  I'm so thankful to the grandparents and I am glad they will still get to have him be a part of their lives.

Seth and Maren - They look like cousins, but Seth looks like he needs a family to love him like Maren has had.  Keep him in your prayers.

Kirsten holding Seth

So cute!

This is will make up for the lack of top hair on his dad!

I feel so blessed.  What a wonderful week I have had.  I am so thankful to Heavenly Father for all our blessings, and I can feel the love He has for Dad and I and for our family.  I just want all of you to remember and feel our love and the love of Heavenly Father and His Son, whom He gave so freely that we might have joy.  

Week of February 10, 2013

Sunday

Happy Birthday, Tammy!

It was such a good day today.  Marion and his boys were up for the weekend.  They all came to church for the morning and then we came home to a nice pork roast dinner.  I know that is why roast is a Sunday dinner.  You walk in from church and it smells good and dinner is all ready.  It was so good to have a big, full table of family.

Chris's family came down to have some good 'cousin' time.  

Boy, Grandma, this milk is soooo good.  What was my dad talking about?

Monday

I should jot down things to remind me of what I have been doing.  I'm sure this was a good day of extra study, exercise, a little cleaning, and plenty of time to do Family History.  

Tuesday & Wednesday

More regular days.  The high light was when Sheila came down and we spent all afternoon doing Family History.  She is now addicted.  We spent several times with her and even found a neat will on Friday that solidified the family.  Along with delivering Valentine suckers, visiting teaching, and going to the YMYW fund raiser dinner Tuesday night, it's been a good two days.  They went to a lot of work decorating, serving, playing soft background music (Kayla Bailey and Josh).  It was a fun night out.

Thursday

Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Birthday to Sam!

Dad got me roses!  And he knew better than to get me chocolates and so I got a can of honey roasted peanuts.  Ummmmm  Trying to stay away from sweets doesn't work too well on Valentine's Day because I got him his favorite cookie, Raisin-filled cookies.  

Delivering Valentines to Chris's family and singing Happy Birthday to Sam

Can you hear us Sam?

Mallory with her Valentine Box that Noelle helped her to make.

Friday

We go to the Family History library in Garland and we had a very busy morning.  Several people came in and Sheila came down.  Poor Sheila, we left her there because she just hadn't had enough.  Later (when we went to her house to help find the will) she said she finally left the library about 4:00. We spent a lovely afternoon in the temple and then Hailee Martineau's reception.

Saturday

I read in the paper about Jay Richard's new musical of Jane Eyre that was playing that weekend.  I decided I needed to go and see it with Ellen.  She had to work all day on Saturday and Mike was involved much of the day with a production involving Chinese New Year, so for part of the time Dad covered the bookstore so we could go.  He is now employed (or would be if he wanted).  We had such a good time and loved the play.  It made me want to read the book again.  The parts were all very well cast and the music was excellent.  The last one we saw of his, Little Women, opened that same weekend in Europe.

Ellen didn't have a ride home from work, so dad and I ended up staying until 9:00 and took her home for Sunday and Monday.  All her room mates were gone.  It was all good, because dad and I went to the Bluebird and split a dinner and took leftovers to Ellen.  We also got a short visit with Bob and Anne.

I love all of you very much.  Hope you enjoyed the Valentine suckers and the puzzle.

Remember, when life seems to be a 'puzzle', Jesus Christ is the piece you need.

Week of February 3rd, 2013

Sunday in California

I can still feel the warm sun beating down on my back as we stood outside of John's church while we were waiting for choir practice to get over.  The kids had so much fun playing outside in the grass and the warmth.  You just have to be from Utah to enjoy it like it should be enjoyed.

We spent all afternoon there and then left about 6:00 to drive to St. George and stay with Peter.  We just didn't have the heart to make the girls drive it in one day.  

We so enjoyed our stay with John & Stacey & family.  It was hard to say good-bye.

I finsihed reading the book, "Time for Andrew" by Mary Downing Haun.  Mike picked it up at the bookstore because I had read it in the 4th grade as a read aloud.  I had forgotten how good it was.  Mallory and Cecily fell asleep about 10:30, but Bekah knew she would not hear the end of the story if I didn't finish it before we left her in St. George.  She was wide awake and very in to the story.  We finished it just in time to see the St. George temple.  I cried at the ending.  I had forgotten how good it was and it reminds me so much of doing Genealogy.  It is a ghost story and is very good and worth reading for any age.

When John holds her like this, her little legs kick like she is riding a bike or running--very cute.

After church on Sunday

Feeding the crew

We had to get a picture in front of a palm tree for Mallory to show at school!

 Monday

We woke up and had a very short visit with Tammy before she & Olivia left for school.  We let Bekah sleep and dropped her off about 9:30 as we were leaving to come home.

The trip home did not seem the usual 'long trip home'.  I finished the book for Mallory and Cecily and cried again.  We called Rob about 2:30 to let him know we were passing through Salt Lake and if he wanted a ride home.  He took us up on it, so we picked him up and took him home also.  We stayed and visited awhile there before finishing the trip home & dropping Mallory off.

We got home and unpacked and Ellen called.  Her computer has crashed and she was having a hard time.  We made a quick trip to Logan and her laptop data is now hopefully getting recovered.

Cecily got another sliver, only this piece did not want to come out.  A good thing Uncle John was there to dig it out.  Grandma is just not a nurse, but a hand holder. 

Saying good-bye to family and warm weather!

We are ready for the trip home!

Sleep again in St. George.  It sure makes for a wonderful stopping place!

Back to the snow of Utah.  We stopped at Subway for lunch and had to get a picture.

Tuesday - Thursday

Back to a more regular routine. It was good to read & study longer, did some shopping for fresh produce after being gone so long, went to DUP on Tuesday and read a history of William Capener, exercised, and did some Family History. I hadn't done any for 6 days and they had made changes to Family Trees.  You can now download pictures, so check it out and see the photos we have started to put up.  They are on: Joseph Aaron R. Capener, my dad and mom, dad's brother David, his mother, grandpa Jensen and Windward.

Wednesday we had a free day, so we went to Logan, shopped & went to the temple.

Thursday I quilted, listened to kids read, exercised, and did more Family History.  I have really found a good spot, so if you want names let me know.  

Friday

It was our day at the Family History library.  We've been cleaning again here and there, so be prepared.  The drawer by the computer table is no longer a junk drawer.  From the looks of the garbage can, I believe I've never cleaned it out since the house was built. Joe and Tesha came to spend the night before they went to Grandma Harris' to spend the day with her.

Saturday

We got the house cleaned up a bit before company came. Marion came over with his boys, and it was so good to see them all again.  He also brought Mike over and they all shoveled snow. They went to Chris's house while we hosted Cierra's first girl's choice dance.  They made home-made pizza's and played games until 8:15 and then went to the dance.  They sure seemed to have a good time.  It was so good to have a 'teenage party' here again.  I hope it happens again soon!  It brought back a lot of memories of previous parties.

Mike, Spencer, and John

 First haircut since the mission in October.

 I can look like Tom!

 Snow ice cream.  There was so much fresh snow and Mike wanted snow ice cream.  I had some orange juice in the fridge, but as I poured some on, the yellow did not make the most appetizing color for snow.  But it was white to begin with!

 Mike got the camera.

 Steven eating snow ice cream.

 This was a rabbit, rabbit, bunny game that, from the noise, was the funnest one.  Cierra will teach us all at the next family gathering. She is standing on the right.

 Six couples - They are actually all Laurels from our ward, which I thought that was a fun idea. Cierra and her date are the 3rd and 4th from the left.

It was such a great week, but much colder than California.  Dad & I are ready to go to Arizona.

Week of January 27, 2013

Sunday

What a snowy day!  I can't believe all the snow and blowing that has been and continues to happen.  It's been a while since we have had a winter like this.  We didn't go anywhere in the afternoon because it was too snowy.  Joe and Tesha came because they had a meeting at Grandma Harris' home.  She has been falling and they are trying to decide what to do.  It ended up being cancelled, so they spent the afternoon with us.  They hadn't come prepared for change of clothes, so when Ben needed something new to wear I brought up the bucket of boys clothes from downstairs.  Anyone recognize this outfit?  My mother made it and gave to Chris when Marion was born, and it has gone through all of you boys and some of the grandsons.  I showed Ben the picture of his dad wearing it and also the one of cousin Steven wearing it that hangs in the dining room.

 He even looks like Joe

Grandpa made cookies with Ben and Zack

Monday-Tuesday

Our days seem to be filled with a lot, but the same.  I continue cleaning the shelves that have all my stuff from Young Woman's, Family History Consultant, and mother/grandmother/family party/ things.  It made me tired.  Not the cleaning, the remembering of everything I've done.  I just threw a ton away and figured it was oil in my lamp and didn't need to be on my shelf.  The doors close.  Probably the first time in 8 years. 

Snow pictures dad took on Tuesday:

The snow is beautiful as long as you don't have to drive in it.  I didn't go in and exercise today.  I shoveled the driveway instead.  It was actually fun.  But I'm glad I don't do it every day.

Wednesday

Snowy and extra study time.  We've been getting ready to go on our trip to California and finishing up projects for it.  I'm so excited to go and take Mallory, Cecily, & Bekah to see Kirsten get baptized on Saturday.  There will be plenty of pictures for this! 

Thursday - Saturday

We take our trip to California!

I think I will just comment with each picture.

Picking up Mallory from Fielding school.  Ready to go!

Picking up Cecily and a picture in the snow

 Stopping at Krispy Kreme donuts in Orem. After all, Cecily lived here (in Orem) when she was a baby.  We didn't need to see her house, just KK

 I wonder whose idea it was?

 Playing at Becka's house.

 We delivered the Christmas gift from Joe and Tesha to Peter's family.  Tesha made little purses for all the girls.  They are so cute.  They snap shut (old metal measuring tape).  The girls absolutely loved them. They never left their side.

 We are all here and ready to go to California!

 Katrina and Olivia saying good-bye.  The first thing Cecily said when we got out of the car in St. George was, "Look at the grass!"

 We stopped for temple pictures!

Bekah, Mallory, and Cecily

We had to get one with the flowers and palm tree in the background.

Eating Little Ceasar's pizza on the grass for lunch in Barstow

 We are here!  (Just in case any of the dads are looking at this, the children from left to right are:

Cecily, Bekah, Sam under Danny's arm, Kirsten, & Mallory)

 I gave them all their birthday gifts for this year: A book, a copy of 'Dear Journal', and I made them all matching scarves. Little Marren is in the background.

 Immediately everyone went outside to ride scooters, bikes, and play in the warm sunshine.

 I thought skits were something they only did at grandma's but I have very imaginative grandchildren.

 All playing in the school room.  They would not even come for dinner.  We had a Norwegian dinner where the parents ate first.  We had a nice quiet dinner with John and Stacey before the kids decided they would eat.

 More skits.  I just adopted all these orphens.

 All writing in their journals together.

 Bedtime, but not sleep time!

 Timmy eating lunch with us out back.  I decided I had to eat outside; it was just too beautiful.  As I set the chairs outside, they disappeared.  I set the table out and it also disappeared.  The kids were all playing a game just through the side fence.  I found them and decided to eat with them.  Of course, I had to have my eyes scanned and read so they knew I was safe.  We had a very 'imaginative' and entertaining lunch.

 

Scraping the last of the big pot of soup.  

Visiting with Pete and Tammy and Timmy

 This is a 'reenactment' of the picture that was taken at Kirsten's blessing.  They have the same pose as they did then.  John will have to post that picture on the family website or whoever else has one.  The sad thing is that Jared was not with us.  I felt really bad we did not have room in the car for him.  Sometimes I miss my big van. We missed you, Jared!

 Getting ready to go to the baptism.

Pictures from the baptism.

Danny, Sam, Kirsten, Timmy, with John & Stacey in the back and Marren in the front.

 All here with John & Tammy Roring and Stacey's sister Nicole and her 2 kids.  We also have Ben's (Amanda's brother) kids.

 Little baby Marren Marie

Congratulations, Kirsten.  Baptism is such an important step in your life.  You now have the gift of the Holy Ghost to be your guide through the rest of your life.  

Seek for it's companionship all your life.

We had such a wonderful time.  It was so fun to take the girls with us to celebrate Kirsten's baptism with her.  I will finish out the trip on my next blog post.

We loved spending the time with them.  Think of us when you want to take a family vacation/trip.  We would love to come with you and spend individual time with each of you.

Have a wonderful week.