Blogging

I know its been a while since I've posted, but sometimes I wonder if its really worth it? It seems like it takes a long time to upload all the pictures you want to use and then you have to write something clever to go with it. I know my granddaughter likes to read it and maybe that's why I do it. Russ promised he'd put it into book form for me & that hasn't happened because its a "private" blog & hard to do. Maybe I'll do it a little longer??

 The first week in February I got to visit Kristy and her family. The last week in February I got to visit my other 3 kids. I spent one night with Jacob and Janette and Janette fixed us a fabulous fish taco dinner and then we went to the Rexburg temple. I love seeing how happy they are!!

Tyrel with his two boys:) He's such a GREAT dad!! I got to spend a couple of nights with them.

Halter loving mom!

 Mr. Climber!! We'll have to take him hiking when he gets a little older.

 I had a fun treat. While I was visiting, Tytyn's class had a "bring a relative day" to read with them. It was so fun to go to his school & he was so cute to me and excited I was there.

Halter & Tytyn
Out on the farm feeding the cows.

 Wonder woman!!

 After Idaho, I went back to Utah for one night and was able to go to the Provo City Center Temple open house with Jared and out to dinner. I love spending time with my kids, but always miss Russ. He's so sweet to always let me get my kid and grandma time in.

 I love this picture I got when I stopped to see grandma Larsen. Its such a natural smile.

 I love this one of my parents too. My mom has been in the hospital 3-4 times in the past couple of weeks and I'm so grateful she's doing better.  I had a really nice visit with them.

This is my mom and her sister Ute. We went to visit her while I was there because I wanted to talk to her about some genealogy. Oh my word, she has done a ton. She knows more about my mom's biologically father than my mom does. She has tons of pictures, dates, letters written in German, etc. I've gotten some of the names she's gotten ready to take to the temple and am really excited to go and do them.

Front row: Miriam, Me, Holly
Back row: Callie, Kaye, Linda & Julianna
 Last week six friends from the ward and I went to see Mary Poppins. Everyone met at my house for dinner and then we went to the play. It was so well done! We had a great time.

So for the past 15-20 years all of you who have been to our house have seen the big pictures of the Tetons we've had hanging in our family room. We decided it was finally time to get rid of them. Russ keeps saying we need to blow up some of the pictures I've taken on our trips, so here they are. It turned out to be a bigger project than we thought. They are each 20 x 30 & we ended up having each of them laminated over the top. Every time I walk in the room now I do a double take because it looks so different.

New Bed

When Jacob got married we decided to make another guest room in our house. I painted his room a darker tan with white trim. After some thought I decided I wanted a white bed in that room. I know people think I'm crazy, but we bought this cherry wood sleigh bed on Craig's list and I went to work. It really was a beautiful bed and I felt bad painting over it....about 4-6 coats to be exact, but I'm happy with how it turned out.

I've always LOVED this picture in our yard with some of our grandkids and decided to enlarge it on canvas.  I'm going to hang it over the new bed. I loved the quote by C.S Lewis to top it off.

Now our new guest room is waiting for some guests!! 

Catch Up

I wanted to record a few events from the past month. In January Russ and I went down to Raymond where Russ set apart Andrew Hamilton for his mission to Africa. Heather is our Stake RS President who I've served with for over 3 years. She has 8 children and then has full custody of her sisters 6!! She is one AMAZING woman who I look up to so much. She is one of the most Christ like people I've ever met.

Russ and I attended a seminar a couple of weeks ago near Seattle that seems hard to believe!! It was on how to successfully sell your practice and having all your ducks in order to do so. Not quite sure how we got to this point in our life! Didn't we just get married and have kids?

 When it was over we decided to spend one more night in Seattle so we could go to Pike's Place Market. This is one of my favorite things to do in Washington. I love all the colors, smells and variety of people and food. It was such a FUN weekend to just "hang out" with my best friend for two days. 

I was lucky enough to get a great deal on an airline ticket so I got to go and see Kristy and her family again. I had a great time & we were able to do some fun activities together.

One day while Kristy was teaching Pre-school, Shelten and I went shopping for a couple of hours. He was a perfect little angel.

I loved hearing the kids play piano and the progress they have made. Kristy has 8 piano students now.

Each of the kids have daily chores and when they put their mind to it, they can be done in no time.

I got to have lunch with Matsen and then with Jazlyn at school.

 Its so nice the school is just up the street so its a quick walk.

I took a trip to the store with the kids to pick out Valentines, 

and then we had fun getting them all addressed.

One night Kristy and I were able to attend the Kansas City Temple while Wes watched the kids. The best part was we were able to do some family names on my moms side. Thanks to my Aunt Ute who has been doing her work. I went through for my great, great, great Aunt from Germany.

When we came out from the temple there were cards on all the cars with chocolate kisses from a group of YW thanking us for our service.

 I always feel so blessed when I can go to the temple with my children and that each of them are living their lives to do so. What more could a parent ask for?

One day the kids missed a half day of school so we could go tour the Harry Truman home in Independence, Missouri. We started out at the Visitor Center and watched a short movie about him. 

He was a very honest hard working man!

Truman Home

Harry and Bess Truman

The morning I flew home we went into Kansas City to the Hallmark Museum. 

There was a special display of different Christmas trees.

There's a machine that makes bows & if you push a button you can watch it make one. 

This was the kids favorite part.

Next to the museum is a place called, Kaleidoscope where you can take your kids for free. Hallmark has donated a lot of unused paper, bows, cutouts, etc. where kids can make their own creations. They love this place! 

That afternoon it was sad to say good-bye to everyone, but so glad I was able to go. They are such a cute family and doing such a great job raising their kids. They're so diligent about prayers and scripture study each day with their kids.

As much fun as I had at Kristy's house, I have to admit I missed Russ. He is so sweet! When I got home he had gotten me a dozen yellow roses. He had also pulled out all the dead flowers in the window boxes on the deck. He then planted some primroses outside my kitchen window so I could look at them while I did the dishes. I think I'll keep him:)