Evan's Blessing Day #2

On Friday morning we headed back to Scott & Jess's. 

Got to watch a little of the morning routine.

Some more auntie marveling.

Shannon is going to have a Relief Society activity about journal and family history so we were    looking at Jess's chat books. She has a fantastic collection. 

Jess does such wonderful types of journaling.

  

We headed over to USAA to see where Scott works. Fred and I have been there before, but he has since moved to a new area with new people and it's such an impressive place. 

Thanks to Jess ~ she was the one to step up and ask someone to take our picture. 

It was very chilly, windy in San Antonio. We were not prepared for the weather. 

It was cold!

Later in the afternoon we drove over to the Temple. 

 This is a rare picture of Fred smiling showing teeth.

Again with the taking a picture of taking pictures.

Evan's Blessing Day #1

Scott made a file of all the pictures that were taken by all of us. 

Hundreds. I've strategically and carefully selected a much smaller handful 

to document our fabulous weekend.

Shannon and Corinne both arranged to take time off work.

They also did this when Scott went through the temple to receive his endowment before his mission.

I think they like their brother. They are very proud of him!!!

Shannon arrived Wednesday night. She had all day Thursday to hold Evan without sharing.

Corinne's flight arrived about 5 minutes after ours. We met at the baggage claim.

Picked up the rental car and drove straight to Scott and Jess's home.

Everyone let me be the first to hold Evan.

 We all fussed over him quite a bit. When Fred took him over, he was so calm.

I really did love the way he just looked up at Fred. It was really sweet.

 See ........

 Right away Scott wanted to get a four generation picture. 

Great Grandpa is 92, Fred (Grandpa) is 62, Scott (Dad) is 28 and Evan is 3 months old.

 Corinne finally got her turn with Great Grandpa looking on having a little talk.

 We took a tour of the house. This is upstairs in the loft.

 Great Grandpa having his turn with Evan. 

 Having a little fun. 

 Okay now.....

 We love taking pictures of taking pictures.

 Wendy Allred from Bremerton has been such a sweet friend. She sewed the blessing outfits for Shannon's two children and had offered to sew one for Evan. I told her I thought that Jess's family probably had that taken care of. She said she wanted to do something so she made this beautiful quilt. She mailed it to me and I brought it with me. It fits perfectly with their jungle theme nursery. 

It's the softest most beautiful quilt ever.

They just love it!!

 Scott is such a wonderful Dad. He does EVERYTHING.

We are so proud of him. 

 These two girls were just baby crazy over Evan the entire weekend.

I expected it from Corinne because she is baby crazy, but Shannon WOW.

 This is what we did.

 It's like we've never seen a baby before.

 Shannon had postpartum depression so badly she just never got to enjoy her own.

 Here is Evan's nursery. It's really so cute!!

 Auntie Shannon. 

 We all met up with Larry and Cheryl Johnson from Bremerton for dinner the first night we arrived. They haven't met Evan yet. 

 It was fun to visit and enjoy some great food at BJ's. 

 We stayed at a World Mark property in New Braunfels. It was 30 miles out of San Antonio, but it was worth the drive. It had three bedrooms, kitchen and two and half baths. 

Very comfortable and fit our needs. 

So that was day one.

A Saturday Outing

For Christmas Shannon sent us a selfie scavenger hunt. Fred and I went out on Saturday and got started. 

Actually, the first one we took a couple weeks ago.

It was our favorite dessert. Arctic Circle Moose Tracts Shake. 

A recent accomplishment.

This where I work. I got a raise a couple weeks ago.

The prettiest place at the temple grounds. Right now it's not very pretty because it's wintertime, but at our temple it is definitely always the front side of the temple. Our big faces kind of cover it though. 

A house that would be in a novel. At first I thought Brigham Young's home would be a good one, 

but no so much. 

 Then right across the street was this really lovely B&B, but the pictures didn't do it justice. 

I read lots of novels with B&Bs.

 Next was a picture with three church steeples. Even though we live in Utah, it's actually hard to get that in a shot because you have to get some height. There are definitely three steeples in this shot, but they are teeny. Honestly!!

 Last is a sign with our city's name on it. 

 We have a few more to do. One is a picture of wild life. There is no wild life around here. Fred wants to take a picture of the birds that sit on the phone lines by a farm near our home. I keep telling him 

NO!!

Spencer's Baptism Weekend

On January 7th I drove up to Pleasant View for Spencer's baptism ALL by myself. This was the same weekend that Brent Wride passed away and Fred wanted to be sure his Mom was going to be okay handling the news so he made the decision to stay home. It was very disappointing that he wasn't able to come, but it was a really good experience for me to learn that I can do that drive all by myself. 

It is always so nice to see Gary and Margot. I just love Margot. I feel like between the two of us the boys get a real nice compliment of wonderful grandma attention. Margot is very loving and affectionate. She raised seven children so has a depth of patience and tolerance for noise. Me - well - I don't know what I give, but I love those boys and just marvel at their personalities and the moments I enjoyed with each one of them this weekend.

Spencer was so cute. He really was so happy. Literally jumping and skipping up to the stand to be introduced before his baptism and then again on Sunday to be recognized in Sacrament meeting. He does have such a sweet tender heart. The water was cold. It came up to his chest because he little. He gasped for breath going in and coming up from the water.

After the baptism, Corinne and Ben fixed us a delicious lasagna dinner. They make a great team. 

I appreciate how hard they work together when we come visit. 

Ben is always very solicitous to me when I visit. It means a lot to me. 

On Sunday night, Corinne arranged for Garrett to perform a violin recital for us at the church. 

That boy played for a solid 20 minutes at least. 

Spencer sat by me and played with my phone. 

Selfies included. 

And a picture of me.

I wish I would have taken more pictures. The weekend went too quickly.

I'm so glad I was able to go and that I took off Monday so I could stay all day Sunday. 

Now we will have a four year break before the next baptism, but only two years before Garrett's Aaronic Priesthood ordination and in one month - A BABY BLESSING.

GOOD TIMES FOR GRANDMA & GRANDPA!!

Christmas 2016

This is the first Christmas I have never decorated.

Fred did put up Christmas lights on the house.

No one came home and we didn't go to visit anyone.

I don't think I want to repeat this. Gonna have to go to one of the kids homes 

or have at least one of them come here,

Here are some of the photos from this year's Christmas collections.

Here is Shannon and Brian's family at Shannon's Company's Christmas Party this year.

Wonder what's up with Santa??

Buddy and Mima got to help with decorating the tree this year.

Christmas Day's nap was interrupted by big brother. She was not too happy.....

New swings were hung up under their deck. I think it was a good day.

Next we move on to Scott and Jess's Christmas.

I think it was their best Christmas yet.

Today was the first day they were able to take Evan to church.

 I understand he was perfect (slept the whole time).

I think motherhood looks so wonderful on Jess. 

Matching ties for the Father and Son.

Cutest present ever!!

 My only decorating this year thanks to Corinne's boys. They sent these ornaments so I hung them on the entertainment center in the living room.

Thank you!!

 On to Corinne and Ben's family.

The annual watching of the video "Santa Clause" with Tim Allen.

And frosting cookies,

I do love Spencer's toothless look. I have a special spot in my heart for Spencer.

Here is their family picture from today. I think it turned out really great. 

I'm going to print it off and put it on the wall in my entry way.

Thank you Corinne and Ben for taking it,

I sure do love and miss my children and grands. It was great to skype with them. I don't know how we would survive living so far away without the miracle of technology. Being able to see and talk with them at the press of a button is so wonderful,