Provo Surprise

This last weekend Fred and I planned a trip to Provo. We mainly wanted to see Scott as we hadn't seen him since Christmas. We wanted to surprise everyone, but I couldn't get a firm answer when I nonchalantly asked what their weekend plans were. I ended up calling Scott and he was happy we were coming. There was someone he wanted us to meet. Say Hi to Jess. We decided to keep it a surprise for Corinne. 

After Scott's birthday lunch at Texas Roadhouse and grilling of Jess (she was very poised!), we made our way to Corinne's. She was surprised! We just hung out at her place with the boys and I held Henry for a long long time. It was Corinne's stake conference, so she and Ben and Henry went to the Adult Session and we stayed home with the big boys. They were easy as pie that night. 

Bedtime snack - fruit salad. Richard contemplating his food.

 Spencer copying Richard.

 Richard's second expression.

 Oh Grandpa Fred always good to do guy things with the boys.

 Checkin out Garrett's plane thingy.

Here's our beautiful daughter with her little baby Henry.

Score

Here in St. George they have an Ulta Store. It is basically a department store of just about every cosmetic, hair care, skin care, beauty tools etc....I bought these Buy one, Get one 50% off. I don't normally get that excited about BOGO deals, but I had to spend $19.50 to get something for free.

I also had a coupon for $3.50 off a purchase and choose one Ulta fingernail polish for free.

This is what I got for free for spending $19.50. I actually paid $20.98 to get this, plus the other stuff above.

 Cute PINK cosmetic bag

three quad eye shadows

sample size of primer

pink nail polish

mascara

cheek color

eye liner

small brush set

lip gloss

lip butter

 When I got home, Fred had finished hanging my quilt in our bedroom.

I made this quilt back in about 1992 or so. I used it for a table cover for the
3 1/2 years that I was Primary president. Since then, it has been tucked away in my hope chest.
Well now it is being displayed finally.

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Teaching my first Laurel Lesson

Yesterday was the first time I have ever taught in Young Women's. I was called as Laurel Advisor a few weeks ago. I have never served in Young Women other than hanging out at girls camp.The last two topics of the month that the YW president and I had to choose from was one about Adversity and the other about our bodies being temples. I got to choose so I went with the body is a temple because I thought I would have great insight to share. You know basically putting all my hangups out there for the Laurels, so they wouldn't follow in my footsteps. As Linda Tilton would say, I had "diarrhea of the mouth". I think I talked about everything in some way that I had thought about over the last three weeks. The girls pretty much just sit there looking back at you with no expression. You have no idea what they are thinking. I had an outline, but I just could not keep it going. At least now I have a first experience to build on. My being so open and willing to talk about anything, may be more than they are ready for. I honestly feel like I have experienced so many things now personally or through the trials of my kids, that I want to save these girls from at least one heartache which awaits them. It is really a challenge to have absolutely no history or relationship with the people in my ward. Starting from ground zero...

Now I will have to memorize and learn to recite the YW theme at lightening speed.

“We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him. We will ‘stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places’ (Mosiah 18:9) as we strive to live the Young Women values, which are:

Faith

Divine Nature

Individual Worth

Knowledge

Choice and Accountability

Good Works

Integrity and

Virtue.

“We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values, we will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.”

Snow Canyon and Henry

Last weekend Fred and I drove out to Snow Canyon. There are lots of hiking trails there of varying difficulty. Well we weren't prepared for all the red sand trails. So we found the one and only paved trail. 

We will go better prepared next time.

 And then there are these wonderful pictures that Corinne posted on her blog.

I had to swipe them for myself. 

 Little Henry is a cuddly bear.

My family

I'll start with my son Scott.

He is just about finished up with his Bachelors in Computer Engineering from BYU. 

He already has a job lined up in San Antonio TX.

 

He is a super student and also loves his job at the MTC working on Language programs

 (if I have that right)

 I could look at his face all day.

We love him and are so grateful we are blessed to be his Mom & Dad. 

Now for our daughter Shannon's family.

Here is her family on the day of Mima's blessing. It was super cold outside in Las Vegas that day. So family pictures were pretty rushed and very cold. But I do think this special day with family warmed us all.

Little baby Mima with her Mommy. Her blessing gown was made by my good friend Wendy Allred. Shannon sent Wendy my Mother's temple envelope and asked if she could incorporate it in the gown. Wendy made the bodice from the eyelet fabric.



Here is Daddy Brian with his little girl.

Here is Grandpa with a wagon full of little boy toys. 

 Remote control cars 

A big styrofoam glider

Here are our oldest grandsons at McDonalds on the way back from Las Vegas after the blessing day festivities. I rode with Corinne and the four boys and poor Little Henry was so unhappy on the ride home. We finally pulled off in Mesquite to give Henry some attention and Mommy time. I took the big boys in for something to eat. They were all so handsome in their Sunday Best.

This is the wall quilt I made for Mima's bedroom. Shannon has her room decorated with Butterflies. My neighbor did the quilting on her machine. It turned out real sweet!

Las Vegas Grandbabies update

Fred and I went to Las Vegas this last weekend to hang out with Shannon and Brian. We offered to watch the babies so they could go out for a few hours and not be in a rush to get back. It was a pretty easy job. Both babies took good naps and we enjoyed our time with everyone. 

We went to Sacrament meeting and then came home for a quick lunch and a little football on TV and then came home. 

Here is Mima in her new toy. She is so very strong. She is not a cuddly baby. She keeps her back rigid and straight when you hold her. I guess she is more interested in what's around her than relaxing against someone.

 Grandpa reading Buddy from his favorite Truck Book. 

 Here is Mima ready for church. I bought her this little headband and Shannon 

found the perfect little outfit to match it.

We took our Duplos for Buddy to play with. Grandpa was showing him some engineering moves.

Christmas 2013 and Spencer's early 5th family birthday party.

We enjoyed having all of our children and grandchildren to our new home for Christmas this year. We did celebrate the weekend following Christmas Day which simply extended our holiday. 

Corinne and Ben's family came first. 

Here is Spencer sleeping next to new baby Henry. Henry looks most like this brother. 

Everyone except me went to the St George Children's Museum. The boys really loved all the activities there.

 Scott arrived next. Most all of our family enjoy playing games.

Here's a game of apples to apples. 

 Next Shannon & Brian and their babies came. Here are cousins Henry and Mima meeting for the first time. They were born two days apart. Mima is two days older than Henry.

 Here is cousin Buddy too.

 Cousins bonding on the playmate.

 We had a kids table + Daddy

 Daddy Brian and Mima chillin

 Close up of Mima

 Spencer got to go first opening a Christmas present

 Buddy climbing on his present

 Garrett and Richard examining gifts

 Scott got cash and a puzzle to put together so he knew what we intended for him to buy with the money.

 Shannon 

 Fred and me with our newest grandbabies

 Birthday time for Spencer. He turns Five on the 1st of January.

 Missing Mima and Buddy because they were napping. Shannon is going to photo shop them in later.

 Buddy has been sick with a high fever for a few days. Today when he woke up from his nap his parents were out on a walk so Grandpa got Blake duty. Blake just snuggled on Grandpa's lap for about 15 minutes. HE NEVER SITS STILL. We think it was his "I'm still not feeling totally like myself" causing this wonderful moment.