Christmas

I forgot I had these on my camera so I'm doing a back post of Christmas. Here is the tasty appetizers that we had.



We actually celebrated Christmas on the 23rd because Carl and Francine had to work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The 23rd was just as easily as the 25th you would have never known it wasn't the "actual" day. We even SKYPED with Barton and Thalea's family.



I think the best part of the whole day was the meal. I was showing this to Michael after the fact and he said he would probably push somebody out of the way right now to have that meal again....it was soooo good!!!





After Dinner and time to let all that food digest we opened presents. I missed not having Summer around to open her presents but Bailey and Brandi didn't disappoint. I wish I had gotten a picture of the two of them when they came into the house. They had Mr and Mrs Santa suits on.



And last but not least one of my favorite Christmas Decorations. Mom painted this for her parents probably about 25 years ago. When Grandpa died in 2001 I became the legal owner of this. I just think it puts everything into perspective.

Winter in Utah/Wyoming

Jennifer is busy with finals right now, but I couldn't let her recent trip to visit us go "un-blogged" so I'm blogging for her.

She decided to fly up for my birthday and to spend some time with us while Byron was out of town at a conference. We kept her very busy and entertained (I'm sure).

First stop was the Festival of Trees - so many trees, gingerbread houses, wreaths, and more!Then that night we all went to Heber to ride the North Pole Express. It was very fun!

We crafted, we shopped and the boys had her read stories to them every chance they got.Then we headed to Wyoming for our great aunt Mary Isabell's funeral - she was able to extend her trip and stay for it. This is a picture of us at the summit before going down in to the valley.And us with our Cassity cousins at the funeral. We love them!

December 7th

2 things happened today...well really 1 thing happened today the other happened 70 years ago today. I guess I'm old now, we use to talk about this day in school a lot. It was never a holiday but we always knew about Pearl Harbor Day. I don't think kids today know much about it. I don't think they know much about 9/11 either, but thats just my opinion. But just wanted to remember today, I think being at the Arizona Memorial and seeing the fuel that is still escaping from the ship and knowing its a graveyard for 1100 men who just were waking up for the day and had to clue that this was how it was going to end for them is something I'll always remember. We were the first ship out there that morning. I was amazed the reverence and the vets that still go out there to take care of their brothers.





The other thing that happened today was Aunt Marybell's funeral. It was good to see all the family but not the way everyone wanted to enjoy a family reunion. Here is a copy of the funeral program.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

So I am at Thalea's to help her celebrate her birthday and we went to Festival of trees, where we got bad news that Auntie Marybell died. I'm just glad that I was in Utah and could extend the stay for a day to be able to goto her funeral.



Well the best part seeing how my sister does not like to let people know that its her birthday is that I got her good this year. Later on that night we went on the North Pole express.



Well Mrs Claus came on the train car we riding on and let it be known that it was her birthday. Before my wonderful sister could stop me. I volunteered the information that it was Thalea's birthday as well so the whole train car got to sing Happy Birthday to her...doesn't she look thrilled about it????



So Happy 45th Birthday Big Sister....I'll always be younger!!!



Here she is being a good Mom singing with her boys to make sure that Santa can hear them!!!

Summer

Summer died today...she was my best friend. Its taken me 6 months to post this and I'm still crying. I just wanted to have this in the blog to remember the day and to have some of these pictures included in the blog book whenever I get around to doing that.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Here's a shout out to my brother on his birthday!!!



Happy 46th!!

Aunt Cheryl

Aunt Cheryl died on July 3, 2010. I got the phone call from Dad that they were taking her off life support and about 10 mins later he called back saying she was gone. Carl and I flew up to Utah for the funeral on Friday morning and were able to be at the funeral for about the last 1/2, we enjoyed a family lunch where the 14 great grandkids were together for the first time. Along with that picture here is her obituary and some pics from the burial in Star Valley.









After the burial we went to Thayne and had lunch. The ones that had to head home that day headed home and most of the rest of us headed to Aunt Marybell's. I had rented a huge 4x4 Ford Expedition so I loaded up Mom, Dad, George, Tammy and Josh and we followed Thalea, Byron, Mason and Sam in their car and went for drive up to Cotton Wood Lake. I hadn't been there in a while, would have loved to have gone out in a boat and fished in the middle of the lake.



After we got back to Aunt Marybell's I helped Joslyn get her ready to goto the hospital where she was going to get a blood transfusion. I headed home Sunday morning after seeing Auntie Marybell in the hospital. Too much hospital that weekend for sure. Visited Casey in the hospital in Ogden after his motorcycle accident. Tim sent pictures in a text and I couldn't figure how to get them from there to here but lets just say that boy is amazing.

Oh yeah on the way out of the valley coming down the summit, I had a little traffic jam of the sorts. I had to wait for a herd of sheep to cross the highway. I didn't think about grabbing my camera until the last ones started to cross and since I was the first car I had to go because there was a traffic jam behind me.

Day 177 - Project 365

FULL MOON SATURDAY



looks like a black piece of paper with a hole punched into it. It was a lunar eclipse a couple nights ago. I think the Marine layer must have been to thick or my mind was clouded over to remember it and take pictures!!!!

Day 176 - Project 365

Why is it 5 mins on this thing...seems like an eternity???



They've taken me to the next level on the physical therapy for my shoulders. I thought I was going to die the last 2 mins on this thing. Who would have thought that 5 mins using my shoulder would be soooooo long.

Day 175 - Project 365

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MASON!!!!



Wow I can't believe he turned 4 years old today. Man time sure flys by fast. Every time I talk to him now he sounds so grown up...cracked me up today though he told me he was tired of talking to me and had to go. I just chalked it up to the fact he had a cool birthday present from Uncle Carl and Aunt Francine to play with and that was better then talking to me, especially when your 4.

Day 174 - Project 365

Have you ever gotten a phone call from someone standing here????



I DID!!!
Yep Thalea called from the Great Wall of China tonight...pretty cool. I don't know if this is even close to where she was at but it was one of the better pictures that google had of the great wall, although I did like the ones that had it as a water slide...now that would be way cool!!!!

Day 173 - Project 365

Thalea went to China....got a phone call and a text from her from here.



Tiananmen Square....3000 people lost their lives here in 1989. I don't think the Chinese government even acknowledges the fact that it happened yet. I'll have to ask Thalea what she learned about this place other than the fact that they eat this...



and this...



I've always been curious as how people so long ago decided to eat certain animals. Totally ugly on the outside and so delicious on the inside..but come on people really scorpions and sea horses not appealing at all even if they are deep fried in butter still not going in my mouth.

Now I know for sure that if I was on the Amazing Race, racing for a MILLION Bucks..yeah I would probably pinch my nose and eat them...but its only for the MILLION!!!

Day 169 - Project 365

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRAMPS!!!!



He would have been 96 years old today. I can honestly say I miss the 6am phone calls from him, (well somedays maybe not so much!)that is one thing I could never get him on was beating him on waking him up, I guess it was just the farmer in him!!

Day 168 - Project 365

Thank You Lakers for winning...



you just made a crappy day end on a HIGH NOTE for my husband!!!!!

Day 167 - Project 365

Middle of June and look who finally showed up.



JUNE BUGS

Not my favorite or anything..more annoying than anything...seems like they just don't know how to fly right or something..you can swat them away and they still come back for more. The worst part is when you step on them barefooted and don't squish them they start to make a clicking noise and then start to tickle your feet..thats the freakiest thing ever.

Day 166 - Project 365

Nothing better in life than this!!!





Even if it was to go...Thanks Mom and Dad for bringing home some for me and Michael. It's been too long in between family feast over there. Mom said that their prices have gone up because of the oil spill in the Gulf..which totally sucks because it means that prices are going to stay up because the spill isn't going away all too soon!!!

Day 165 - Project 365

Since I forgot to put the flag out today, I'll hang a flag here for flag day.



Too bad it wasn't cloudy and windy like that here today.

Day 162 - Project 365

I saw this in the paper today.


LONG BEACH - A B-17E Flying Fortress bomber that crashed in a New Guinea swamp nearly 70 years ago will be on display in Long Beach Friday in the Reef Restaurant parking lot.



Seemed pretty cool...thought I would surprise Dad after they got home from the Temple today and drive by and see what it looked like. We got there about 3pm and there was nothing there.

This is what the paper showed of pictures of it on display in the empty parking lot we saw.



Oh well I tried....

Day 156 - Project 365

Sitting at my computer, printing out coupons to go grocery shopping and this pops under the screen.



My kitten aka puppy. He's so messed up doesn't know what he is. Growls at the door bell but runs and hides if the other cats try to play with him.

Day 155 - Project 365

I'm all for nature, but I don't think I would really want to be this close to these guys. Dana Point, CA.





Ok, maybe a once in a lifetime shot, but still 8 of these guys killing and eating a Sea Lion right next to this boat, just seems a little too close to nature for me.

Day 154 - Project 365

Not that I really care but



GO LAKERS