Saturday, August 8, 2009

Candace and family visiting

Candace and the kids came to visit during the week of July 25th. They came on a Monday and left for home on Wednesday afternoon. We really enjoyed them staying a few days.


Monday we got settled and picked Mike's beans and peas. (Mary Jane was coming home that night after being gone to visit her family for a couple of weeks.) so Mike had to get those beans picked!!!!

Hayley picked the raspberries and we had some raspberry smoothies. We had smoothies everyday. Wow are they good. Then we had some raspberry shortcake the last day.



I told Candace she could have some of our red beets, and she cooked and froze I think 9 big packages. We also picked our beans (just a few and cooked them) Wow I love fresh beans picked straight from the garden.

The kids had fun playing in the water as we flood-irrigated the lawn. Bryce was in his glory hunting birds. Grandpa taught him how to shoot a BB gun. We have been inundated with too many birds eating our fruit----they just fly in flocks from tree to tree pecking at apricots and apples.

The kids picked up pine cones on Grandma Dayley's lawn and visited her for a few minutes.

In the afternoon, Candace, and the girls (and Jaydon) went to the mother-daughter activity. It was a water party, with dinner, a program and crafts. It was supposed to be overnight camping---however----Hayley and I were the only ones who spent the night! It was really nice to have some one on one time with Hayley. I forgot to take some pictures of Hayley and I and our lone tent. :)

Janet and Grandma were at the mother-daughter activity also, and Mary Jane and the kids spent a lot of time with us. All in all it was a fun time. Thank you Candace for taking the effort to come and see us.




Candace, Ashlyn and Jaydon making their pop sickle stick stars.


Hayley also making crafts. She also made a stitchery of a star with a
pink frame. They also made some little flower hair clips.

Austin, Hayley and Bryce playing in the flooded lawn.


Hayley and Ashlyn feeding the sheep some beet leaves. Hayley
was fast enough even to pet the lamb once!



Grandpa sitting on the steps enjoying the little boys




I'm sure Bryce will never forget the fun he had shooting birds.
Nothing took precedence over that shooting activity. Grandpa
even played Axis and Allies with him while we were at the mother
daughter party.
The apricots were nearly ripe. Here is Ashlyn picking one.




Visit to Joel and Cindy

We went to Salem to visit Joel and Cindy and meet Melanie who was on a business trip from Texas to the JC Penneys stores in Salt Lake.

We arrived on a Monday night and saw the new bookshelf that Joel had just finished. Dad helped him nail the back on. Boy is it a beauty. I thought you might like to see the bookshelf empty. Cindy had a picture on her blog with it filled up! It is really a darker color than this picture shows. It is a rich dark walnut color.



We hurried and fixed a yummy taco salad for supper while we were waiting for Cindy to get home from work and Melanie to arrive from the airport. Cindy had made two kinds of homemade salsa. I especially liked the pineapple-kiwi. It was pretty tasty! They were caught in a traffic jam---Joel went to class. Then we ate quickly and went to pick Joel up from school and go to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house. We arrived right on time for our appointment at 8:00 p.m. It was closed!!! We drove around and found a Cold Stone Ice Creamery and enjoyed each other's company.

The next day Melanie went to work and dad and I went to the temple open house. It is a beautiful temple with the theme for the stained glass windows and chandeliers being stars. There were also tall, thin evergreen trees around in the temple.


We met Melanie for lunch then headed home. We stopped in Uintah at Valley Nursery to buy a peach tree. I didn't even buy anything else, though I was tempted! :) Then we went to Brigham City and got our pickup which Joel had left there to be repaired when he borrowed it to take his bookshelf home----and it broke down!

Joel and Cindy have a nice home and Cindy is very talented in decorating and Joel in fixing things up and building great additions like the deck and the bookshelf and refinishing the table. You are both amazing. Keep up the good work.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Visit to James in Colorado Springs




We went to visit James in Colorado Springs on June 29 through July 1st. What a beautiful place!

First we went to the Garden of the Gods which is gorgeous rock formations and isn't very far from town. There is a visitor's center and walking paths to see the formations. I had a great time imagining animals and things in the formations. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed our time there. In the evening we went to the single's family home evening and enjoyed a Mexican buffet. I helped James to make a taco salad. The lesson was nice and the food good. We met some of his friends in the branch, his roommate, and his girlfriend Natasha. She is a very nice girl and we enjoyed being with her.

The next day we visited the zoo. It was an amazing zoo----we went early in the morning and saw a lot of animals out and about. Their giraffe area was just great. I have always had a "thing" for giraffes and they are always my favorite animal in zoos. There were about 15 giraffes, babies, moms, a dad, and you could feed and pet them. We saw a little baby kangaroo and it was an albino and we were able to watch them feed it and we could pet it.

In the afternoon we went on a cog train to the top of Pike's Peak. The narrator told us a little history about the train, the mountain, and the area around Colorado Springs. The scenery was exquisite. Dad especially liked this ride and still talks about it. That evening James and Natasha went to Institute and Dad and I stayed home an watched a movie-----we rarely do that. It was a good movie and a treat. James was nice enough to let us sleep in his wonderful bed---thanks James.

The next day we went to the air museum at Peterson Air Force Base. We went through some of the airplanes and the museum and learned a lot about the defense systems that were used a few years ago. Then we went to the Chapel at the Air Force Academy. It was a very unique and interesting building. We were busy every minute.


Dad and James in the Garden of the Gods. The man who owned the property donated it to the City of Colorado Springs as long as they never charged for entrance, so it is free to the public.

Dad and I with the Garden in the background. This was at an overlook.


The rocks were huge and we really were awed at their size and their beauty. There were red rocks and white rocks standing right together, which surprised us.



This was right before I petted the giraffe. They were so healthy and beautiful.

James and Natasha at the zoo overlooking Colorado Springs in the distance.

This is the cog train just as we were embarking. We all got just a little motion sick----but loved every minute of the ride.


This picture was taken at the summit. Just about the time we got there, it started to snow and was really cold. We had to all go inside the building because there was lightening and thunder. We had some hot chocolate and donuts.
Thanks James for taking time off work---and showing us such a great time! and taking us to Denver when our flight was cancelled!!!

Sunday, July 5, 2009

OUR TRIP TO TENNESSEE


We decided a few months ago to go to Tennessee to Tessa's birthday and baptism. So we arranged for airline tickets-----and the time has come. What a great experience!
Since we serve as ordinance workers in the Twin Falls Temple, we needed to take the time of the temple maintenance for the trip. It worked out perfectly for us.
We really want to thank Candace for being willing to take us to the airport and babysit our car during our trip.
We left Burley on June 23rd and flew to Nashville via Denver. We arrived in Nashville and immediately found Rozy and Jesikah. It was late and we drove straight to Clarksville to Rozanne and Eric's beautiful new home.





We took a little tour and saw the beauty of this new home. The beauty wasn't only in the home, but in the family who lives there. We experienced family prayer and scripture study every night. They have a great spirit about their home. Rozy is especially talented in decorating and has done a great job in decorating and picking furniture for their home. Eric, as always, is always there to "get the job done". We had our own beautiful bedroom and bathroom in the downstairs and everything was in readiness for us to come.




The next day, June 24th, we took the grand tour of the house and saw all of the great things and the nice rooms the kids have. Then in the afternoon we went on a tour of Clarksville. The people in Tennessee seem to be very religious and there is a church about on every corner.




We toured a visitors center down near the Cumberland River. It is a big, lazy river. We found out that a big part of the early settlements in Clarksville were tobacco farmers. They have a special kind of tobacco that has a higher nicotine content than others. :) The river was a big part of their transport and industry.




On Thursday we got up early and took in a free movie. Dad and I haven't been to a movie in a long time----so that was fun. Then we topped it off by going to the Cold Stone Ice Cream Shop. I really love that place! Later on, we went shopping at a bookstore and toured the houses that are in Rozanne's subdivision. There are some wonderful houses there. Mike wanted us to find some ideas for his new home. It was fun going around and seeing all the beautiful homes in the area.

We went to Cracker Barrel for supper and ate some southern catfish and all the southern trimmings including corn muffins, biscuits, sweet potatoes, baked apples, etc. We enjoyed it very much.




Friday, Eric did not have to work, so we decided to go to Fort Donalson. It is a Civil War Fort which was very important in the war. The surrender of this Fort was a big part of conquering the rivers and cutting off supplies and troops for the Confederate Army.



This picture was taken at the Visitor's Center where we watched a video and learned about the Fort and the events that happened there.





This cabin is a replica of the cabins the soldiers lived in as they were building the earthen fort or barricade which was originally 10 feet high.




This cannon battery protected the river. The Union Army had gun boats which came down the river---both metal boats and wooden boats which were armed and took out a lot of troops and weapons. These cannons were made to stop the gun boats.




After we finished touring the Fort, we went for some authentic southern barbecue. We ate at a place called "Ricks" hmmmm They had barbecued chicken and pork, baked beans, coleslaw, and other southern foods. They had a pie called a chocolate chess pie----boy was it good. Never heard of that kind of pie before.








v>Tessa had a wonderful birthday with lots of fun. Jesikah even made the pin the tail on the donkey game and drew the pictures herself. Tessa is such a nice girl. They had hot dogs and the trimmings, and even broke a pinata. Eight years old is an amazing age----and Tessa is really growing up to be a good, kind and caring young girl. Congratulations Tessa. We love you.




Then on Sunday the event we went to Tennessee for took place----Tessa's baptism. It was a beautiful day and Tessa looked so pretty in her new white baptism dress. She was striking with her long dark hair, beautiful blue eyes and looked so clean and perfect for her baptism.

During church the power went off and Tessa (and the rest of us) were a little nervous that her baptism would be postponed. We were leaving early the next morning. She said a little prayer and her prayer was answered. The baptism was held and was a very spiritual feast. During Tessa and Jesikah's song about Baptism, the spirit was sweet and tender and then they hugged at the end. Tessa was very touched during her baptism and really felt the spirit of the Lord.

Grandpa and I felt like we were in the presence of angels. We were so honored to be there. Thank you Rozanne, Eric, Alex, Jesikah, Tessa, and Jarem for making us so comfortable. We enjoyed our stay with you.










Saturday, April 18, 2009

Dallas is beautiful in the Spring

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Dad and I posing in front of the little sod cabin at the Dallas Arboretum
Melanie called and wanted us to come during the weekdays in between our temple calling.

So we left from Twin Falls on Saturday night (April 11th) and spent the night with Candace and family. On Sunday we flew to Dallas. Melanie met us at the airport with fruit and water-----we were hungry and it tasted really good. It was Easter Sunday. We went to Melanie's home and ate easter dinner of Ham and all the trimmings. Melanie has a beautiful house in a very nice neighborhood.

The next day was my birthday-----we went to the farmer's market and had a great time looking at all the beautiful flowers, and then picking out wonderful fruit and vegetables to eat during the time we were there.
We made potato salad, omelets, and some whole wheat-rye bread which turned out really good. It was fun shopping and cooking with Melanie.
We had fun going to the Penney's corporate office building on a very big acreage. It is huge (fitting for Texas). We got to see where Melanie works and meet her team, her boss, and her bosse's bosse's boss. What nice, cordial guys, and they really sing Melanie's praises. We were proud of her. The whole inside of the building had a skylight and plants and trees growing up the three levels. What a great place to work. They had everything in that building that any employee could ever need or want.

It was our privilege to go to Melanie's violin lesson with her and then to a rehearsal for the upcoming recital. Her teacher reminds me of Mr. Royster who taught Rozanne and Candace piano lessons. He is pretty intense and funny! Melanie can still remember a lot and she sounded great.

Melanie gave me a book and some cd's for my birthday which I have enjoyed immensely. The book is slow reading----I have had to read, re-read and digest and think about everything written. The author has spent his entire life researching and living in South and Central
America to study the history of the art, archeology, histories of the conquistadors and comparing them all to the history in the Book of Mormon. I have really learned a lot!

We went to get icecream at the cold slab icecream place-----mmmmmmm----chocolate cherry almond!!!


We went to the Arboretum in Dallas and walked through all the gardens (Wow)! All of the pictures in this post are taken there. We seemed to forget our camera all of the other places.


We went to see the new stadium being built there----Wow again!


We went to the Dallas temple and did some initiatory work there. It is the same floor plan as the Boise Temple. Its in an older neighborhood----but in a very quiet and tasteful place. Then we visited the only LDS bookstore in Dallas and purchased a few things including the JOSEPH SMITH PAPERS.


What a busy, full, and great week. Thank you Melanie for showing us such a wonderful time.

Dad was trying to get a good picture of the "red bird" He got this one and one of the bird flying.

I wanted to get my picture taken in the middle of the "Viola" display. These are all different varieties of Violas.


Dad and I in front of Hanzel and Gretel's gingerbread house.


We saw this frog fountain (very fitting because Melanie likes frogs). Dad dared me to go and play in the water. The ladies in the background thought I was a little foolish.