Las Vegas Baby

I just got back from spending almost a week in the Las Vegas for a Mom and Daughters Get Together.

Here is Corinne and I at Babys R Us checking out the Mommy Chairs. I want the one I'm sitting in.

 Saturday was the baby shower for Shannon. Her friends from church planned it. I didn't take many pictures, but this was the most important. I hate the way I look, but it is what it is.

 This is future Baby Boy Drees' room. I washed all the clothes, blankets etc...now Shannon just has to put it all away and make sense of it. They need a dresser and changing table. I was going to buy that for them, but decided that there was other things more fun to buy for her. The previous owners painted this room so it is ready for a new baby boy to move in.

 This is my guest suite. The adjoining bathroom has a HUGE bathtub. It was nice. I told Brian he needs to buy me a TV so I can go downstairs when I visit. I think my presence cuts down on his video game usage.

He is a wonderful host and never makes me feel like I'm in the way.

I did survive the 110 plus digits in the temperatures while there. Coping with the extreme heat is exactly what I expected. Stay in the AC house, AC car, AC shopping, AC restaurants and make as few as possible in and outs of cars & stores.

I love Primary

I don't have a picture to go with this post, but I have to publicize how I feel today about Primary. There was magic in the air for me today. First was the amazing intelligence of a six year old...the question was "how long is three minutes?" He raised his hand and said 180 seconds. Really - I didn't even know how to answer the question in the first place....this child is from a family that nurtures and stretches their children in healthy ways. I asked for a volunteer to recite an article of faith....no prompting, nor preparation...she recites an article of faith without hesitation....and it wasn't one of the standard ones....I wish I could remember which one now...We also ask the children to come forward and share experiences from their week how they choose the right. The kids come up in masses. They are beginning to stretch more in their experiences... not just cleaning their rooms. We talked about fasting & prayer today. These Primary children know about this. They are being taught in their homes. There is no pretense in Primary. No one trying to prove ourselves to anyone else. Life is what it is. We teach the basic principles and bear testimony of them each week....then all we can do is pray that the children are internalizing the Spirit that they felt and hopefully the principle we teach. I find myself sitting in the back of the room with a smile and a feeling of such gratitude and joy that I'm in Primary.

Memorial Day Weekend in St. George

We spent the weekend with Fred's family and Corinne and the little boys came too.

This is Fred's parents & sister.

Here we are with Corinne and the boys. They are dressed for church. We left right after this to head back to Shannon's before going to the airport.

 I always take the boys to McDonalds. They like the food and they enjoy the playland.

Garrett with a hamburger meal.

 Richard with his Happy meal Toy.

 Spencer "sanitizing" his hands before his Nugget meal.

 Next we went to a park where there was something for all the boys.

 Garrett & Spencer did the most climbing.

 Later that afternoon Aunt Sharlotte took us to a local park. In St. George there are a lot of splash pads. At this park along with a splash pad is this very cool water fall/stream for kids to walk through or get down and wet in like Richard is doing here. It was a beautiful location even though the wind was BLOWING!!

 Here's Garrett.

 Here is Spencer & Garrett.

 Richard in his Sunday best.

Spencer in his Sunday best.

Here is a clip of the stream/fall.

Here is Shannon and Baby Boy Drees. She is filling out very nicely!

Today is my Dad's 88th birthday. I honor him for his hard work and unwavering discipleship to his testimony and love of God & Jesus Christ. His life gives me hope.

My Dad is not without imperfections.

As each year passes, he becomes more polished and perfected.

His influence reaches people from all walks of life.

Always a missionary of the gospel.

Always reaching down to offer his hand to help others up.

 He loved and honored my Mother. He took care of her as she got weaker and unable to perform daily functions. Through their faith and righteousness, I believe Heavenly Father blessed my Mom with a quick decline and peaceful passing. Caring for my Mom was a blessing for my Dad. Watching him be gentle and nurturing was a wonderful experience. He had not always been that way.

I am so thankful that my life and choices have been a source of joy for my parents.

Fred and I have been blessed with a posterity that has brought joy to my parents, although

there has been some sorrow. But their example gives us the strength to know

that there is more joy ahead. That each day is another step

toward eternal life and joy.

I love You Dad. Thank you for cherishing me.

just stuff

My favorite spot in this house is leaning over the couch and looking out the front windows of the living room. It's my perch to look out over our neighborhood world. This time of year my "flower garden planter" is in full bloom. I don't have a fancy camera so my pictures are very humble.....yet I still want to capture all the blooms for my memory. I will miss my perch when we move.

Another thing....it seems more people are going private with their blogs. I may go there someday, but not yet. I have decided that one of the main purposes of my blog is simply to record what's happening in my life. My life history! Much more fun than writing it down. Yuck! So for my memories sake....here are a few pictures of the flowers Fred gave me for Mother's Day. He is very good to get me flowers often. Again, my camera is nothing super so my attempts to capture the wonder of blossoms is weak. I wish I had the talent of Doranda and Cindy or at least their cameras! 

Just one photo

The finished product. Only two more weeks until we see our new home in person.

Brian's baby blankie

Brian's Mom Shari was able to stop by on Sunday. She brought Brian's baby blanket. It was made for Brian by one of Shari's very good friends. Shannon said this morning that Brian got a little twinkle in his eye when she brought it out of her suitcase last night when she got home. 

 Here is Shannon & Shari.

 Brian's blanket definitely was well used.....what a sweet surprise and gift from Shari.