This is the new dog. We missed Bear so much and we saw this little dog at the pound. She is smaller than Bear in weight and peppy-er. She is 1 year old. She was a stray so we know very little about her. So far it has been a good start. Joys kids were here and she was nice to them so I think it will be ok.
Take care and come see us when you can.
Love Mom.

Just so you know.

Grandparents are parents with less rules, more sleep, and more cookies.
Love Grandma

Happy Fathers Day!

Happy Fathers Day, Dad/Grandpa!  This is you holding new little Sara.  And Happy Fathers day to my brothers, brother-in-laws, husband, friends,....  All these strong men who are great examples to us and our children. It truly is the greatest calling given to man.  Even if you don't have kids of your own, you are an important part in raising and influencing the children around you.   Love You!

Our new House!!

We close on Wednesday, party at our house!

Having a good week. Thought I would look back to a few years ago.
Thanks for posting your pictures and stories. Please keep going because that is the way I and Grandpa see you and the kids most of the time.
This picture was from Colusa, CA. and at a ward adult social of some kind. I am chewing ice.
Love you all.
Grandma

 HI Family,
Today was Stake Conference. It was great and fulfilling.
One of the interesting thoughts in a talk  was this. What shoes would you call special because you had them on when you were standing is sacred places. (Talking about Holy places and trying to seek them out)
One women said it was her hiking boots because it was where it took her. Another said it was it slippers because she had them on when she got an answer to a prayer.
For me it is definitely temple shoes because of working in the Temple. What is it for you?  There is probably more than one pair. Any experiences?
Thanks so much for your input at Christmas. I love the responses.

Love MOm

Happy Graduation Sam!

Sam graduated this week!  Sam has worked hard juggling, life, srtuggles, work, and school. We are all excited for him and know he'll bring an element of compassion and understanding that will make him a great counselor. Here are some shots from the week.

 Sam looks so good in his gown, we convinced him to wear it all day!

 Sam held a party that night for people who couldn't drive up to Flagstaff. Fun to meet his friends and roommates.

 

And for perspective from Sam's day of celebration- we have Mackay at his kindergarten Christmas concert.  He is the black hole in the middle of all that Christmas cheer!  

We loved all our house guests! You were so wonderful and helpful, but Zoë showed up everyone by cleaning up after herself and us. Her attention to detail put me to shame.

A Night Time Wish

Wanting to go down early to my dearest bed
I shook the day's worries out of my head
My cares floating slowly without any sound
Like snow in the mountains came tumbling down

Out fell the recipe that I should surely soon try
Then the list of ingredients  swiftly came by
 Next the decision to fix the draft by the door
The furnace runs daily it seems more and mor

The thank-you note I must write for the kindness of others
What a blessing to have closely sisters and brothers
Next an appointment with my local physician
To see if he can cure my sleepless condition

Out fell the guilt of the  food   I'd   consumed
Tomorrow I'll find discipline and keep it uptuned
Out falls the worry of money, sewing, and cleaning
Out falls the scriptures that for me has much meaning

Out falls the memory  of the words I had said
I regret, negative and unthinking thoughts I had spread
A charge to do better to my friends and dear souls
I must find a way to fill empty bowls

Alas I am done, but what now do I see
Because of the worries, there's no room for me!
The bed's full or sorrows and things I should fix
Alas, I'll go see if there's some hot chocolate mix.

Your mother

Dedicated to Jenny:

A child gives the world to you. If only all children had loving parents and safe homes and caring friends.  Children are a privilege and a sacred duty. 
This was from my book on English Literature.
The poet Keats said about a baby born to an unwed mother," it is a stumbling way to  begin  a soul."

To describe families.
On teachers:
A parent gives a child the opportunity for life, a teacher gives a child the opportunity to live well.(Pres. David O 'McKay.)
This is a conference statement by Pres. McKay. Home is the place where we form attitudes. Home is where hope if formed or destroyed. A happy home is but an earlyier heaven.

I am studying Wordsworth and Austin this week. Interesting poetry and ideas. Have a good week.
MOM

We had a great time last week. We (3 other couples) went to Hole in the Rock in Utah. The opening that the saints in Southern Utah went down as they migrated to pioneer another community. How they got their wagons down that I will never understand. It was so breath-taking in the length and depth they had to travel. Now there is water at the bottom, Lake Powell. But it is still a long way down.We had a great time with all 8 of us seasoned friends.  We came home by way of Fish Lake and that was beautiful too. Just thought you'd like to know.
There was a bus of "old people" who were traveling from North Carolina. They were taking a break by a gas station we had stopped at. Jenny asked if we stood out like a sore thumb? No, we fit right in. I will  get pictures so show you I hope.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Kristyn!

Happy Birthday to our Fav California Girl!    (Some one with a better picture, please replace this one!)  You are wonderful and up-beat. It is always a party when you are around-complete with something really yummy that you just 'whipped up'.  You are a great Mom, Sister, Sister-n-law, and wife to our bro. We love you. Celebrate Big!

It's Not About the Nail

For all those crazy, married fools... Love this.

Snow Cones

Let me make a short story long.

We've started our summer desert contest and for those faithful followers of our zany family, Hailey is the Judge since she won last summers contest. This means all our treats will cater to her likes in hopes of winning her vote. Grant was up first and decided: SNOW CONES!
      As I got to thinking about it (read: how can I make this harder for me) I remembered a little gift certificate to an equipment rental place that just happen to rent snow cone machines. Big ones. Grant was in so we went down and snagged our selves this massive machine with some yummy flavors.  But the predicament- How can you have such a yummy treat, and so much of it with out sharing.
So Family Home Evening ended up:
in our drive way
with us knocking on the door of every neighbor who had kids
making over 50 snow cones
and loving the evening!
As I sat chatting with my neighbors, watching the kids play and enjoying a cool treat in 95 degree weather, I realized just how much I like snow cones in the summer. It didn't feel nearly as hot and it was so relaxing I wondered how a summer day could get any better.
Oh, but it can!
(Are you thinking what I'm thinking?! -Mackay asks me this and I always laugh. How could a grumpy tired mom possibly be thinking what a vivacious 5 yr old is thinking? I always respond "candy"?!)
So, what I'm thinking is how much fun this would be up at the reunion after our Olympics.
Yea?
Think about it. This is crazy but it could be oh so much fun!
Here is the break down:
Snow cone machine rental $55
4 Flavors @ about $6 each/ $24
40lbs of ice $6
cups $3-5
I'm just saying... this could be fun!
(And if we stick to green and blue flavors we will have fun colorful smiles for the family pictures that evening!) Oh so much fun!

Friendship

To those who would be a friend.
Oh, the comfort, the expressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them out, chaff and grain together. Knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping and then, with the breath of kindness,  blow the rest away.  Dina Mulock Craik

Love this. Hope you have a good week.

Mothers Day

I have had a wonderful" Mothers Day" Sunday. Vic and Molly prepared a nice dinner with salmon, salad, and curry rice. I bought cheesecake for dessert and Peg and Thad bought me a serving picture, you know for liquids, that we used. Peter and Zoe June were here of course and they are adorable . Then I received cards and calls from each of you. Basically, I just want to say thanks but more than that, I love you. I love you as you are and as you have become. I love you because you forgive and try to progress, well not try but you are progressing. I love you because you are part of me and the parts I like and the parts I don't understand but still a part of me and this combination of body and spirit. I love you because you  are also the part of the "God " and I see things in you that I have never had but I know you have it from him.
 I can't explain what this time of living or being your Mom and now Grandma is like, but the perspective is like looking a time capsule. I can see this history actually happening! Well, you can see it now too, I can just see more of it.
I have had a very pleasant evening reading a web site from Sam. It is called peerhelpgroups.com. It is full of gospel principles. I recommend it. Bro. Hafen's message is great and it shines understanding on the of the issues of  our day. Some  of the messages are about connecting.
Also, for the big news, The Web site of "Total  Life Counseling" there is an article for Sam's new job coming up. Don't miss out on these.
So, goodnight my loved ones, sleep tight. Tomorrow is another day of decisions.
Love Mom