God Bless America

The 4th was a slow and easy going couple of days this year. We started off with a BBQ at my mom's on Friday, July 3. It was a lot of fun. All my brothers and sister was there with their kids and grandkids. Jacob is home so all my children were there and also my nephew Jared. It was the first time we have all been together at one time in years. We had great food. Aunt Brian, we call him this because he calls my brother "sister," BBQ'd hamburgers and hotdogs. It was delicious with all the salads and pot luck that was brought.

The next day we spent most of the day in the pool. Shauntel learned that her dog loves water as did JR and Carter, because she kept diving in on top of them. Bell a even learned to jump from the diving board. Needless to say, we spent lots of time in the pool with a black lab. David and his family came over to help Scott tear down the chimney so an inpromptu BBQ came about that day as well. Ryan BBQ'd steaks, made potato salad and quacamole with chips. It was such a fun day. We ended it with a movie out on the back lawn, as we have no patio right now.

I say this often and I will say it many more times, I love when I have all my children home together. It was a great day and I have not been so tired in a very long time.

Return With Honor

Jacob was released from the Merida, Mexico Mission on June 23, 2009. He did such a great job and worked so hard while serving the Lord and teaching the Mexican people for two years. Missions are such a great blessing for all, for Jacob, the people of Mexico, and us at home whom get to share his experiences and are blessed by the Lord while he is away. Scott and I felt it such an honor to support him while he served and truly felt the Lord's love while doing it. We are both going to miss this time.

Jacob would have been released on June 16, 2009 but we had the opportunity to go to Mexico and pick him up from the mission. We were able to meet many members and friends who loved and cared for Jacob. We were also able to meet with his President and wife. They are truly two of the nicest people I have met and even though we did not speak the same language it was truly a special time for me. The President and his wife were lovely and you could certainly tell they loved Jacob. The mission home was beautiful and in a great area that reminded me of a Las Vegas suburb.

We also had dinner with Elder Nemelka and his companion. Elder Nemelka (Bo) is a boy from our ward who went to the same mission about 5 weeks after Jacob. I also had another nephew, Kellan Madsen, go to the same mission just over a year before Jacob. It is a small world after all.
We had such a great time with the exception that Jacob couldn't enjoy the ocean of the water and he did not like that much. Also everyone, except me, suffered from the ED (explosive dirareah). This was amazing because of my stomache problems and IBS. Scott and I know it was because of my prayers before we left that I would not have a difficult time while in Mexico so that I would not be a burden to the rest of the traveling party. One of those missionary blessings I was talking about.

First Quilt Done

I finished my first quilt top on June 09, 2009. I learned a lot lessons and techniques. In my quilting group the comment, made by a woman in our Stake, was quoted, "If your top looks goods to people driving past it in their car then it is beautiful." Well my top may only look good from a moving vehicle but I still love it and I love the fabrics. I am still working on my block of the month quilt with my group and I love the time I spend with them, their friendship and talent. It has been a really rewarding experience for me. Now I am starting the ever favorite black, red, and white quilt top that so many before have done. It is called Virtue of Neccessity by Remember When Designs. I am secretly making if for someone, I hope she likes it!

Catch Up Time

Summer has started and I haven't posted for such a long time. I am truly enjoying my summer without worrying about going to class or doing homework. My family didn't believe that I would not take any classes this summer but here I am with no classes or homework. The only problem is that time is going by too quickly.

I was able to spend some time with the grandkids while their parents went to Arizona for a business meeting for a couple of days. That was fun. J.R., Shyann and I went and enjoyed some delicious icecream at Maggie Moo's. J.R. wanted vanilla until I started to tease him by saying "Hi my name is J.R. and I am boring because I only like vanilla." He thought that was so funny that he actually ordered a marshmellow flavor that was bright yellow, not bad. Shyann shared with Grandma so she chose chocolate. Okay, I chose it but she is only two so she didn't seem to mind. We also celebrated J.R.'s birthday at our house with a pool party. We did it last year and he loved it so Shauntel and Ryan thought it would be okay to do it again this year. Fun was had by all. We did the traditional BBQ and the food was great and it was truly enjoyable to spend time with my family all together again. This is such a treat for me. I can't wait until Jacob is home to complete the family. He will be home in two weeks (I wrote this before we went to Mexico so he is home now). I can't wait to see him.

Whitney and I also were able to attend one of J.R.'s T-Ball games. It was hilarious. Let's just say there is not a lot of focus yet with my grandson. He almost didn't even play but his mom threatened him with no rootbeer from the vending machine if he didn't so he reconsidered and played. By playing I mean he hit the ball, ran the bases by himself, and then stood at the pitchers mound with the rest of team while the other team took their turn batting. It was cold so Whit and I decided to leave because Shauntel told us he wouldn't bat again. Well he did! He even hit the ball from coach pitch. We saw him hit it from the tee. He is a little stink.

Construction started at our home, which ends our summer parties. We are adding an addition to our home. We want our kitchen to be bigger and also on the same level as the garage and swimming pool so we are expanding. To do this we had to remove the patio cover and two big trees. I was not sad about the patio cover but I was sad about the trees and about the Rose of Sharons that will be coming out when the excavator comes. We will have a nicer patio when the project is finished so I have to buck up and enjoy the experience. The project is off to a slow start. We wanted to be much further along in the process by now but permits and construction workers slow you down. Scott and I are general contracting so it will be interesting. Let me just say I understand why my friend Becky had such a difficult time deciding things. It took Scott and I a few weeks to decide on the new floor plan and kitchen design. I will keep the progress posted.

I am looking forward to the rest of the summer and spending time with my kids and grandkids. Whitney leaves in July for California and med school so time is precious. Also my grankids better spend a lot of time with me this summer!

Another Graduation

Today was J.R.'s preschool graduation. Whitney and I drove all the way to Price to watch the ceremony. When we got there J.R. was not sitting with his class. He was being shy and sitting with his mother in the audience. He finally went up front when the time came for him to tell his favorite nursery rhyme, Humpty Dumpty, but he would not say a word. So basically we drove the two hours watch other children graduate from preschool. It was worth it because we did go and have lunch at Cowboy Kitchen in Wellington, UT. They make homemade chicken noodle soup and rolls every Thursday so the graduation fell on the right day. It was delicious and I had a great time. We even got Jar Jar to put his cap on in the parking lot after the ceremony. I was a great time and he will do this again next year and maybe he will actually participate in the program. If not, there is always Cowboy Kitchen.

Mother's Day!

I had one of the best Mother's Day ever! Ryan and Shauntel came on Friday, Shyann came on Thursday when Whitney returned from their home. I was able to spend Saturday with Shauntel and J.R. to shop for material for an I Spy quilt Shauntel is making for him. He picked many fantastic fabrics with each meaning something to him. It will not be the best matched quilt in the world but it will be the best, at least to him. Later the girls and I went dress and shoe shopping. I found the cutest pair of orange shoes, ever. I know they sound terrible but they are sooo cute. It was a fun. Sunday was great. I didn't have to do a thing for dinner. Ryan made the whole dinner with Shauntel helping with a fruit salad. Everyone was home and my Mom and brother came and dined with us. It was a great dinner with steak so tender you could cut it with a fork. Whitney even like the steak and she does not eat much meat, especially steak. After dinner, Whitney cleaned the dishes and we were able to sit and talk until we felt hungry enough for a fabulous desert of hot fudge brownies ala mode. It was so nice to visit with my Mom and brother and sit and relax and enjoy everyone's company. We did try an outing before dinner up to Donut Falls. It was a great idea but the girls didn't come well prepared for a hike on the snow covered trail and so we decided to scrap the plan, but it was a great drive and nice to be up in mountains for awhile. I love my husband and children and they make me feel very special on Mother's Day and take such good care of me. This year was really one for the record books.

Parent's Payday!

It has come again, another payday for being a parent. Whitney graduated from Brigham Young University on April 24, 2009. Her dad and I were so excited to see her receive her diploma and know how hard she studied and worked to achieve this goal. She will make an awesome doctor! She is such a great daughter and has brought both her dad and I great joy and laughter. We will miss her when she goes to California but are saving the sky miles to fly her home every now and again. In honor of her great accomplishment I wanted to do my 10 Things for her...

10 Things I Love About Whitney

1. I love your funny sense of humor.
2. I love the sentences you make your own - I Am Outraged!
3. I love how you are concerned about your friends.
4. I love that you shared your best friend with us (Janna).
5. I love that you create fun experience with your sisters like spur of the moment going to Price for dinner or St. George trips with Jo Jo.
6. I love that you make me feel like I am your friend and go skiing with me.
7. I love that you will watch Pride and Prejudice with me.
8. I love the time that we have one on one talks with each other.
9. I love that you set goals and accomplish them.
10. I love that you let me help you pick out shoes and other clothing items.