Home Improvements

First things first...BE SURE TO READ THE POST BELOW THAT KRISTYN JUST POSTED.


I woke up today and decided that my house is kind of "cute". Oh..there is still SO much I want to do with it, but I thought I'd share some photos of how it looks nowadays. Last time most of you were here we had just moved in and things were not in order. It still isn't the exact style that I feel is truly "me" but hey, you work with what you have.

This silhouette was done by Jen Jackson. It is so precious and perfect. One of my favorite gifts.

Vic did a great job on the table! The painting on the left (if you click and enlarge) is an original watercolor done by the talented Margaret Blake (a lady from our ward). It's beautiful.

I made the pillows! I'm proud (So maybe Jenny Towery helped me a little...but still).

Entry way.

Loft.

And for those of you wondering if we will have snow at Thanksgiving....
look no further.

I can't stop laughing over this cartoon

I saw this on my friend's blog, and thought everyone here would get a good kick out of this!!

Address

Sorry to interrupt the party post! Just wanted to quickly give you all the address of the family whose home we were able to use during the week of the funeral. It is the home in Mustang Loop, near ours, where most of you stayed. (Not the one in Salt Lake where we already sent cards). I saw them at Stake Conference this weekend and my heart sunk knowing I hadn't properly thanked them for being so very gracious.

Brandon and Kimberly Watts Family
5882 Trailside Loop
Park City, UT
84098

If you find the time, send them a thank you!

Can't wait to see everyone at Thanksgiving.

You might want to kill me after you scroll down and see the endless run of photos, and I'm sorry. BUT last night was really so fun I wanted you guys all to feel like you were there and didn't miss a thing.

We invited every person we're related to in Mesa, which at the time I didn't think was that many. I underestimated how much family we have here! It wasn't until we were all together in our living room that I realized how grateful I am we have family here. With us not living here for very long, this party could have been extremely quiet with a lot less attendees. I'm so glad EVERYONE came - including Le's dad, whom I didn't even know was in town, it was great! Thanks everyone for making it such a blast!

Also, I don't know if you feel the same, but as I was uploading photos I was so glad we have this family blog. I have so many photos I wanted everyone to see, so this is the perfect spot for that. And I think it is so great to have a place to put additional pictures from vacations to Boston, more pictures of the Lucy tree that weren't included on the blog (which also makes me feel extra special that I'm part of the lucky crew that gets to see more shots that other blog readers don't get to see!), Marlene's poems, posts from Peggy and Sam who don't have blogs, updates from Mirjam, thoughts on general conference, the list could go on. It's a great dumping place(?) for all etcetera-ness in our lives that doesn't fit in anywhere else. Anyway, I'm really loving having this blog, I hope you are too! Enough of that, moving on to the photos I told you you would hate me for. Here ya go:

this was my favorite photo of the night! he is such a cute boy!

More Boston Photos

I really have no idea if anyone is interested in seeing more photos from our trip. Are you? We spent some significant and wonderful time with Joe and Jen and little Ian. They are wonderful! We love them. They were wonderful hosts. They drove all the way to the Providence, Rhode Island airport to pick us up and drop us off. Upon arriving at their home, after a very very long day, I stepped into the guest room where we were staying to find a very thoughtful gift basket. Unfortunately, I didn't take a photo of it. It contained maps of all the nearby states and sights, traditional New England Salt Water Taffy, chocolate truffles, local pineapple/orange candies, and most touching was some stationary she made.







I just sat on the bed and sobbed. It was so thoughtful in such a difficult time. To be attending your brother's wedding without your daughter. To be on a "family" vacation without your whole family. For us to be doing anything (living) without her...Well, it was very touching.

Here are a few more photos of our Jackson Family time in New England:





Here we are in front (behind?) of the Jackson House in Portsmouth, RI. It is the oldest standing/surviving home in all of Maine and New Hampshire. It is closed this time of year but we were lucky enough to get a private tour because the carpenters who work for the New England Historic Society (can I have that job?) were on sight fixing some things up. We told them we were Jacksons and they let us in! It was so cool!




I just can't believe it has been standing since 1670-ish.





We ate (and danced) at the Blue Mermaid Restaurant (Rachel Ray's pick)located in the historic Hill neighborhood. It was delish.



We got lost on our way to the lighthouse and ended up on a private road that led us to some beautiful homes sitting on the Atlantic.


I'm a good photographer.


Ian made us feel so special! He just loved us! Vic trained him to call him "Uncle Cousin Vic." It was hilarious to hear him say it the entire time we were there. I am now "Aunt Cousin Molly". Man, that kid is well behaved! Joe and Jen are amazing parents. Very disciplined and organized. I learned so much from watching them.


Here's where we stayed in the North End for three nights. I loved being in the heart of the city! Especially around all the Italian food, fresh gelato...I had visions of living in this apartment and taking Lucy around on the T (Subway). Playing in the city parks. It is my dream life.


Vic teaching Jack how to make the "POP" sound with your fingers in your cheeks. Vic is so great with kids. They all love him. He is so respectful and understanding of other people's children and treats them like "adults". Asks them questions, talks to them, is patient with them. Everyone comments on his love for children. I love this quality in him!


Ok...one more thing. We stopped at an arcade after getting off of our sunset sailboat cruise. I haven't laughed this hard in....MONTHS. We went all out. Tokens all around. Play to your hearts content (Only in my childhood DREAMS!) We won enough tickets to buy a genuine whoopi cushion and a few extra tootsie rolls to boot. Nathan and Marie know how to have fun. You should have seen me with my brother rocking the Dance, Dance Revolution. Vic attempted an "arm's only" version of the game---IT. WAS. HILARIOUS.











Sorry for so many photos---but it was amazing and beautiful!!

Party Animal

This was my favorite photo from the party. I'm telling you, we've got to get him an agent and put him into the "Senior Citizen" Modeling circuit. He would be a hit! Thanks for putting on such a great party, Marlene. I felt like a hero for a second when I literally caught Grandpa and kept him from falling over. I had flashbacks of the time I wasn't quite quick enough with my Grandma and she fell on the wooden floor in our home in Rexburg and broke her hip. I felt horrible. She died on my birthday a few years later. (Guilt! I think it was payback). But really, I have loved getting to know the Hopes a little better lately. I married into a great family. I feel a greater sense to learn more family history, get to know extended family, do geneology, and so on since Lucy passed away. It makes me realize how connected we are.

Enjoy the glamor shot! (Is there a Senior Citizen modeling contest anywhere. Who wants to google that? We can submit this and make away with some cash).

We got up to a campground with Grandpa and Grandma two weeks ago.( Its hard to get them to go places.) It was a peaceful and nice time.
At this time, Vanita is here with me and Brent is with Garret helping him with his basement. Vanita and I and Le are helping Dad with his life history. You will all be happy to get this because it is very interesting. I think Kristyn,as you have said, we get to know people better this way. The thing I am learning is that we use our diaries or journals to help us write the book- that is our life history, in otherwords those are the notes to the finished book. He has chapters like Family chuckls, medical spots, farming experiences,places he's visited etc. What we write about tells alot about how we think and feel. Don't you agree?

We had a Birthday Party for Grandpa. He turned 90! He doesn't look it. I wish I had his genetics. Some of you do! Vanita and Brent were there and John and Serene, Roy and Tracey, Vic and Molly, and Peggy too. People from Las Cruces, who had moved up here, came too and that was fun. We hadn't seen some of them for some time. I think Grandpa was pleased with it.

Just another picture of the beautiful mountains. I'm sorry you Arizonians miss this amazing transformation of the season. But you know what you can to to get it. Of course, after it snows and we have months of gray, I'll be wanting to visit you.

The view on the way to Park city. Colors are changeing and so spactacular. I love this drive and want to pull over and go fishing. Wanna come?

This is Lucy's best friend and Vic and Molly of course. . She is so cute and reminds me of Lucy because she is the same age and same little girl style of play and interests. I couldn't help but think that even though we are the family of Lucy,and we will always have her, Lucy spent more time with some of her ward family and people who babysat her while Molly was busy. I take serious the people in our ward and surrounding neighbores. Our friendship matters and our relationships with others is significant.Just like our family .

This was the stone that they had placed by the tree. It will later have a plaque that will be permanent.

This was the Little Lucy tree. Friends with Molly's "Peter Pan" gave this tree as a remebrance to Lucy. We tied ribbons on the branches. and Molly read a poem that she wrote herself. It, the poem was touching.

Conference Week!

Okay, is it too late to introduce a new family tradition? How 'bout conference week? Since most all of us blog, it'd be great to take this week to post most memorable, uplifting, or just favorite talks. And since the odds are that at least one of us slept through some of conference, we might just highlight a point that someone else missed. And its just nice to hear what stuck out to you since I think about you when I hear certain things. Here's my highlights.
Favorite accent: Elder Marco Aidukaitias = Lithuanian/ Brazilian (Saturday Morn)

Favorite audience moment: When we all gasped at the announcement of the Rome,Italy Temple

Favorite quote(one of many): "Jesus will make everything alright" -4yr old Hadley explaining her hearing loss to a boy without legs.

I loved to hear Quentin L. Cook quote President Monson "Find someone who is having a hard time, and then do something for them." I came to conference looking for answers to questions and hoping to have worries set at ease and instead I am reminded to forget my self and help others. That's really what I need to hear. Wonderful Conference! -Jenny (P.S. Tag, your it!)

Political Commedian Nicholas Fehn

Sorry, this wouldn't upload.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KsPKbwNz28


This is why I dont listen to commentators. They all sound this way to me. They just talk in circles!
(Mom, to watch this, copy the address above and put it into the address bar. Then press enter.)