Merry Christmas Blessings

CHRISTMAS BLESSING ABOUND IN OUR HOME. AND WE PRAY THEY ABOUND IN YOURS!

What a different Christmas this has been! We had planned to spend it with Julie and her family - Julie had to work today (Christmas Day) She had planned to have her family Christmas Eve on the 23rd and Christmas on the 24th. All of her children including the married ones were to be there. We were so excited to be able to share this time with them.

The gifts we received this year were not bought or made at any store. The gifts we received were gifts of love, friendship and service!

On Felt's birthday, December 22, we were out doing some church service and delivering small plates of treats to neighbors. At one home I took a real spill (slip) and fell so hard we thought I had broken my hip. After an ambulance ride to the hospital and xrays they found I had cracked or fractured my pelvis! Very, very painful but recovery in 4-6 weeks should be expected! We have found that the Lord has angels all around us - giving service and love. We have never had so many visitors and not only offers of help but actual service. We have had a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner and a delicious Christmas dinner shared - brought in by friends. And phone calls from friends all around the country!

What a joyful Christmas this has been for us.

Christmas is Friday!

It really is hard to beleive that this Friday is Christmas Day.

Christmas has changed for us through the years. I have memories of being a young girl waiting for Santa to come and being thrilled to find a stocking full of surprises and a toy or game under the tree. I loved it when our children were small and we could enjoy their wonder on Christmas morning. (But it sure was alot of work the night before!) We had good times when our family was growing up - teaching service and giving to others.

Now our life has turned to a much more spiritual Christmas experience.
We love the lights - reminding us that He is the light of the world. We enjoy the friends we see and hear from who remind us of love and wonderful experiences through the years. We enjoy our family and being part of their lives in some small way. But the highlight has to be the music of the season. The wonderful Christmas music - on the radio - on our Ipods or at Christmas concerts add so much depth to our feeling of joy at this time of year.

Today we had one of the most spiritual music experiences in our life. We went to a Christmas Concert given by the American Festival Choir and orchestra at Utah State University. The quality of the entire experience was so outstanding - that it brought tears to our eyes and hearts. This has been the highlight of this Christmas. What a blessing it is to live where we can have experiences such as the one today.

Merry Christmas to you - find some good Christmas music to listen to and enjoy!

So Proud of our grand daughters!

We have to brag a little. Last year - our oldest grand daughter, Katie Calder, graduated with honors and a Masters degree from BYU Marriott School. Tomorrow our grand daughter Rachel, Katie's sister, will graduate from BYU with a degree in Math and a teaching certificate. And also tomorrow our grand daughter-in-law, Justin's wife, will graduate with honors from Weber State! What an example they have been to the women in our family and the rest of the family.

This has been a cold week! We arrived home from Houston on Tuesday, to snow and very cold temperatures. This morning it was negative 5. Reminding us of NH.

We finally got our tree up and decorated. It does not look as wonderful as Mary Lou's or Julie's but it will be OK for us. It is amazing how much I remember about some of the ornaments. We found Felt's very old creche and have it on display in one of our dinning room alcoves. He got it when he was very small. And he says he imagines it was old when he got it.

I need to think about Christmas cards and get a move on. Also what to do for the neighbors??? Last year we were new and it was easy. This year will require some creativity and you know that is in short supply. Maybe we will just stick to our Home teaching families and call it good.

I have no idea if anyone reads this. Maybe I should just hang it up. If you do read it - Merry Christmas early.

GOING TO HOUSTON - HOUSTON - HOUSTON

Ok maybe you have to be old enough to remember that song, but that is where we are headed tomorrow. We thought it might be a little warmer - but Mary Lou tells us it is supposed to snow on Friday!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. Family came and we ate - that about sums it up! Still trying to get rid of pie! Asked some folks over to share it but something came up and it did not happen. I think I will serve it to Felt's leadership group that meets tonight. They ought to take care of the extra.

I am trying to pack like our kids do when they come. Just two pairs of slacks and 4 shirts - plus church clothes. So far I think it will fit in the suitcase OK. Of course I am sure I will need something that I leave at home but should be able to get by all right.

Will check in and post pictures of our Houston family when we return.

Looking forward to Thanksgiving

I know it is crazy - but I am looking forward to Thanksgiving. It is the family aspect that makes me feel happy. After years of not being around any of our family at the holiday time, now we get to experience how the rest of the world lives.
On Thursday - Thanksgiving day - Julie and Dave are coming here for dinner with Tyler and Sarah. Also coming are Katie and Nate - Julie and Dave's oldest and her new husband. This year we understand the others, Justin and Lindsey and Rachel and Jeff are eating and spending the day with the "other" family/parents. Sharing is hard but good too.
On Friday - the day after Thanksgiving - Scott and his family are coming for the day and to eat baby back ribs.
So I cook turkey and the accompaning dishes on Thursday and Friday cook ribs. Not bad - both of them are fairly easy to do. It is all the extras that make it seem overwhelming and Katie and Julie will help with those. Katie is bringing her yummy orange rolls and brownies for dessert for those who do not want pie. Julie will bring a jello salad and what ever we can think of - maybe some appetizers or sparkling cider. She is working and it will be easier for her this. way. And I do cook really good ribs - it I do say so myself! We can eat leftovers - if there are any and if not the sweet potato fries and beans.
Tomorrow we are putting up the Christmas lights! I know it is early but so much easier to do when it is not so cold or snowy.
Here come the holidays -- Yipee -- more fun this year - I was so tired last year after the move.
I guess we could sing a verse of "Here comes Santa Claus"

Pink Eye Ugh!

Have you ever had "pink eye"? I guess I did as a child but did not remember how much it hurt - stung - itched and just plain uncomfortable. Thank goodness we went to the doctor on the second day and got some anitbiotic eye drops. Now I have never been good at eyedrops but I have learned how and they are working! I am so grateful for modern medicine.

November adventures

Well another surpise - November is one week over already! We are doing well, but time seems to be getting away from us - big time!

At the end of October, I had something - do not know what to call it - a bad cold - or the dreaded H1N1 virus. But after a period of coughing I am feeling much better.

I got some good pictures of the full moon coming up last week and I will post one so you can see it coming up over our mountains.


We drove up to Idaho on Friday and spent the night with our friends John and Lu Bagley and they took us up to a "cabin" which turned out to be more of a luxury home almost to West Yellowstone. Then on Saturday we came back to Rexburg and took 5 of the young people who are from our branch who are attending BYu Idaho, for a nice lunch. We had a good time visiting with them and seeing how they have grown into wonderful young adults.

While we were with the Bagley's they took us to see Mesa Falls and it snowed for awhile - it is pretty coming down. I will also post a picture of us at the falls.

Look for more news later in the month.

Our grandson Elder Tyler Stirling Calder

Sunday was an important day for our family. Our second oldest grandson, Tyler, was ordained an Elder and it is hard to take in that he could be old enough to have that great honor and responsibility. He will be 19 in May and is planning to put in his mission papers before that time. I wanted to post a picture of him and his Dad - Dave, brother - Justin, brother's in-law Jeff and Nate, and of course his Papa. The other men in the picture are his Bishop and a stake high councilman.

This is one of the reasons we moved to the west. And in a few weeks we will go up to Idaho to see our grandchildren up there. In December we are flying down to Houston so that Felt (Papa) can ordain Tony Griffith (Mary Lou's son) to the aaronic Priesthood. Our grand children are growing up! But I feel certain we are not much older! Ha!

A Year Ago

Wow

It has been one year since we finished moving out of our home in Glen New Hamsphire. How could that be? We are happy here in our Cache Valley home but lately I have been missing our New Hampshire "home" and it does not please Felt.

I have missed the leaves most of all. We have some colored leaves and some gorgeous burning bushes that almost glow red. But most of the trees are yellow and brown and not worth taking pictures of at all.

We have kept busy this month. Between the Misionary Reunions and going to band competition last weekend we have not had much time to be bored. Felt spends much of him time working on Homeowner Association things or concerned about his High priest duties and the single sisters that they are responsible for. (64 at last count)

Yesterday, Julie and I had an experience - we both had facials and pedicures - it was fun but perhaps we should chose something else next time so we can visit more. Afterwards we met Felt for lunch at Chilli's before she headed for home.

Not much else to post.

October 8 - it cannot be!!

I must be getting really old - time is just buzzing by us.

Last week was our "Holliday Years at Martin's Cove" (2005-2006) reunion. It was very nice - more work than I had anticipated but we enjoyed seeing folks and the food was good. They asked for a vote of how many wanted to have one each year - I voted every two years - but the consensus was that we are not getting any younger and ought to have them every year.

We have had a nice fall - cool nights warm sunny days for the most part. But is is getting colder at night and today I am chilly. My blood must be too thin - good thing I have that checked next week.

Speaking of next week - I am going to have my first ever facial! I am excited and nervous - what if they get my face so clean and fresh that I look really old??? Our daughter, Julie is going with me and I think we will take a picture of each other mid way - that would be fun.

I teach Gospel Doctrine the Sunday after next on the Prophets, "We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet" . We have been studying together and I really have learned a lot. And wasn't conference marvelous!!! Elder Bednar and Elder Holland were wonderful.

McCall Missionary Reunion

Well, last week we traveled to a beautiful part of Idaho! Mountains, trees, rivers and lakes! We felt like we had returned to the east. We were in McCall for a missionary reunion for the missionaries who served with the Longson's as directors, so 2006 and 2007. There were over 60 of us in attendance and it was wonderful to see friends, who in many cases, we thought we might never see again (in this life) A group picture of some of us at the reunion

This is the Longson's home on the lake at McCall

We traveled with Mark and Carolyn Baird and enjoyed their company. On the way back to Utah we took a side trip through the Sawtooth mountains and found some lovely places to picnic and camp, a lake with a lodge and yet it was fairly unpopulated. Of course it helped that school had started. We are glad to have a week at home to regroup. Although with our schedule, not much rest is taking place. Maybe next week! Tee Hee

Note: if you look at our blog would you let me know.

September No Way!

I really have no idea what happened to the summer!!! I imagine you feel that way too! We have a busy month ahead of us. We are working on the Martin's Cove missionary reunion planned for October 2, for those who served with Elder & Sister Holliday in 2005 and 2006. We were 2006 missionaries and were invited to help on the committee this time. There is alot of work to putting one of these activities together. Guess Stake YW and all those RS callings were good training!

We leave next week to attend the reunion for 2007 Martin's Cove Missionaries who served with Elder and Sister Longson. For this one we are traveling up to McCall Idaho nearby where the Longson's live. We will be there for three nights and days and they have many activities planned - we will do what we are able and enjoy visiting.

I will post pictures when we return from McCall. It is supossed to be beautiful up that way. Closer to Oregon and Washington state. We plan a trip through the Bitterroot Mountains in Idaho on our way home - off the beaten path but we expect it to be outstanding.

Last week I made jam. Our son-in-law, Dave Calder gave us a huge bag of peaches. I knew I did not want to get into canning peaches like he did, he put up 24 quart jars of peaches. So I made jam - peach raspberry jam to be exact. It tastes great and since I made freezer jam it was eaiser in fact much easier to do. Felt helped by peeling the peaches and I crushed berries and did the mixing. The proof is in the picture!

August trip to Bear Lake

We took a couple of days this week and went to Bear Lake with some good friends of ours. They have a cabin up there and we drove up and spent the night, coming back the following day. There were four couples and we all live right here in our neighborhood. Soon after we arrived we went to town and had a raspberry milk shake. Something you need to try! Felt of course, being a purist, had chocolate. His loss! While we were there we went to dinner at the Pickleville playhouse and saw "Annie Get Your Gun" It was very good and the young people were fantastic with the singing and dancing.

On the way up the Logan Canyon we ran into a cattle drive up the canyon. There must have been over 100 head of cattle and they were being driven by cowboys and girls who were fairly young. I think it must have been a couple of families moving their cattle from one area to another. We thought you might want to see how it looked from the car.


Before we left yesterday we drove around the lake. We had never done that before. The other side of the lake is much less populated (east side) but the water is just as blue. Then we had lunch on the deck of our favorite mexican restrauant, La Sabor. Just a great couple of days.

NEW SONY CYBER SHOT CAMERA

It arrived today (my new camera) and I had to shoot a picture of the camera with my phone and my Ipod so you could see how small it is. Of course I took this picture with my old camera - the Cannon sure shot and so you will have to wait to see pictures from the new one. Still trying to figure out how it works. It has neat features like a smile shot where it takes the picture when people smile. and a stabilization feature but I am still in the learning curve for sure.

Waiting for my camera

Ok - I know you probably don't really care - but I am waiting my my new camera - it was supposed to be delivered today, Felt says he paid extra to have it delivered this week instead of next. Anyway, I am excited, I really wanted a camera that would slide down into my pocket or purse and I could whip out at any given moment to take pictures. My old camera is great and takes wonderful pictures but is heavier and more bulky. And on top of that - this one is RED!

So once my camera comes I will include a picture of it - taken by my old camera and new photos so you can see how well it does its job.

Another Birthday -- Oh No!!!

Yesterday was my birthday. Luckily I am still not considered elderly. Felt heard on the TV that he is elderly - strange!!!

We had a great birthday - church was good. Better because it was not my week to teach Gospel Doctrine. After church we went home teaching to one sister and then left for Katie and Nate's - she cooked us Sunday birthday dinner. (Katie is our oldest grand daughter and the one who recently married) For those who do not know Katie personally, She is a wonderful person and a fantastic cook! The meal was so yummy. Oh yes, we picked up our grandson Tyler along the way - his folks, Julie and Dave are on vacation in California. He really enjoyed the meal. I think he has been eating cereal while they have been away. After dinner we had birthday cake with strawberries in the layered frosting and some on top of the cake too.

Then she gave me a gift. Now Felt and I do not give gifts to each other any longer, (unless you count our new car?) so this was really fun and special. I just had no idea how special. It was a bound book of letters from my grandchildren (most of them) telling me how much they loved me and sharing some memories they have of being with me along the years. My goodness the tears came when I realised what it was. To top it all off, she had typed up some notes some of the school children had written to me when I retired from Pattie Elementary School some 13 years ago. She kept the same spelling and grammar and they are a hoot to read. We had found some of these when Katie was with us last summer trying to help me toss out things and pack up. She said she would keep them and I had forgotten all about it.


Kate and Nate in their apartment

So for the record being another year older is not too bad. As long as your are not considered Elderly!!!

Summer Culture

I usually do not post with no pictures - but today I wanted to share what a great week of culture we have experienced. Our neighbors across the way told us we could go with them to the final dress rehearsal of the opera "Carmen". To tell the truth, Felt was not all that excited about it but went to go along. We both were so thrilled with the experience. The staging, sets, costumes and the singing were of a caliber we had only seen at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. Yes, Felt says he can take going to the Opera now. it really helped that they had an artfully done small projection screen at the very top fo the stage opening where they had in English, what they were singing about.

The next day, yesterday, they took us with them to see the final dress rehearsal of "Camelot". If anything it was more over the top than "Carmen" was, and that is saying alot.

We had been talking about getting tickets to "Camelot: but had not done so yet. Now we may actually pay to see that again.

Now how did they get these tickets??? She has had an 8 week job of sewing costumes for the Opera company. These costumes are fantastic. I definitely would not be in the league to do that. The lead singers were terriffic but so was the supporting cast.

So now you know - if you are reading this - that we have found culture and refinment here in Cache Valley. As we were out today we both commented at different times how much we love living here. The weather, the friends, the church, the community, the opportunites, and the cultural events far surpass any place we have ever lived before. This was the move we were suppoed to make at this time and we have been blessed that Feltus knew that and felt promted to take action. It is wonderful to know you are where you are supposed to be and doing what you are supposed to do.

July 4th celebration with our family!

We were invited to be part of the Calder family July 4th celebration on July 3rd! We drove down to Kaysville and joined Julie and Dave, Justin and Lindsey, Tyler, Rachel and Sarah while we played minature golf . In the evening they had a cookout and we had such a great time eating outdoors in the cool shade. Before dinner Jeff joined us after work. the kids had fun tossing water balloons - and catching them in towels. I had never seen it played that way.

This is a picture of the golfers. left to right: Ruth Ann, Rachel, Julie, Sarah Lindsey, back row are Dave, Justin and Tyler
The game was fun and never got too intense

Dave and Felt watching the grill. Dave did the cooking and Felt supervised.

Saturday, July 4th, we had dinner with some friends here in our community. They used to be in our ward before the boundary changes. They had brauts and fresh corn. We had such a good time. We are enjoying summer in Utah.

Ali and her boys visit

We have just had a wonderful 3 weeks with our family. First Katie's wedding with all of our children and many of our grandchildren in attendance. Ali came down to the lower states from Alaska with her boys. While they were here we went kayaking a couple of times. We enjoyed getting to know her boys better and especially having Ali to ourselves for a few days. Brought back memories of the years it was just the three of us at home.

A picture of Ali and her Dad ready to go to church

Ali and the boys in Kayaks on the water at first Dam in Logan

Ali, Bryson, Hunter and Ruth Ann ready to Kayak.

This is a picture of Scott, Avery and Zane before they returned home from the wedding trip. We hope to see them again before long.

Katie and Nate's wedding

On Wednesday, June 10, 2009, our oldest grand daughter Katie Calder married Nate Rohbock. We are so thrilled for them and wanted to share a few pictures of the family after the event. They have gone toward Yellowstone for their honeymoon. They have a cute apartment in Midvale Utah and return to work next week. I am sure some of you can remember that wonderful time of early marriage and happiness with the joy of just being together.

When we first sat down in the waiting room before going into the sealing room for the marriage - we looked around and realised that for the first time since our family was sealed together in the Salt Lake Temple October 9, 1967, all of us were in the temple together at the same time! There was Julie, the mother of the bride, Mary Lou who had flown in from Houston, Scott who had driven down from Idaho, and our youngest, Ali who had traveld from Alaska! What a glorious feeling of joy! After all these years we are still together as a family and are able to enter the House of the Lord. We must have done some little things right and the Lord made up for our failings.

So without further adeiu here are Kate and Nate.

This is a picture of Julie and Dave's family with the bride and groom!

This is a picture of the Calder and Stirling families with the bride and groom

Family Time

We have had a wonderful time with our adult children. Mary Lou and Ali arrived on Tuesday and Scott came Tuesday night. Ali brought her boys, Hunter and Bryson, and Scott brought his two youngest, Zane and Avery. Families are wonderful!

Here are a couple of pictures of our grown children

Baton Rouge Reunion Family and Friends

We drove from Houston to Baton Rouge on Friday, May 22. We stayed at the luxurious Best Western in Baton Rouge. When we checked in and went to our room it was a lovely suite with two four poster beds. I sent Felt back to check and make sure we were in the correct room. We enjoyed the whole thing. Breakfast is wonderful, none of those ready made rolls or bagels, instead it is bisquits, gravy, eggs, bacon and sausage and grits of course! We had stayed there ten years ago when we had our entire family with us. This time was quiet with just the two of us but we used the GPS and found our way around town. Nothing looks the way it used to except for the city lakes near Felt's boy hood home. I said the lakes because the homes around the lake have become more and more incredible - I have no idea how anyone can afford to live there. The picture is of a snowy egret at the edge of the lake.

The Stirling Family reunion was on Saturday with predictions of heavy downpours of rain. We all prayed for resonable weather and made it through the signing in, bagpipe playing, welcome program, group picture and lunch before we had a brief shower. We waited in line to tour the old home - it is no longer in the family but the foks who own it let the family use the grounds for the reunion. What wonderful gracious people. The house was much better than I remember last time. It was a guided tour with information about the paintings and furniture. Much of the furniture was original to the house - it was built and furnished in the 1800's! We had a good time inspite of the weather and left before the downpours began. By the way there were over 600 in attendance. More probably would have been there if the weather forecast had been better.

After the reunion we visited with family and on Sunday following church services, we were invited to a counsins home for dinner with their family. We had such a good time. Now that the younger ones are grownup it is hard to keep track of their children and grand children. We had been invited to another cousins for crawfish - but our hosts for the next three nights were expecting us and we had to decline. I was not sorry about missing the crawfish but would have enjoyed seeing another part of the family.

We stayed with Jack and Linda Green for the remainder of our time in Baton Rouge. Jack and Feltus went to elementary school and high school together. Sometimes the stories get a bit out of reason but they have a good time together and we enjoy both of them. We did some touring with them and on Monday met Sonny Haynes and his wife, Kathy for dinner. Sonny, Jack and Felt spent many many hours together getting into and staying out of mischief. Jack owns and leads a model railroad club. Our last night the two of them went "training" with the club and Felt had a grand time! I guess if you no longer have a real train to work on, a huge model layout is really cool. Linda and I went shopping! We had such a good time and I bought 2 pair of sandals - a real extravance for me. One pair is red and I just love them! What fun!

Houston Visit

We spent several days with our daughter Mary Lou and her family. The last evening we were there we attended the end of year band concert where we got to watch and listen to our grand daughters play in their respective bands.

Our visit was good - we spent one day driving up to Navasota where my mother grew up and visited the home where she lived. We also were able to go to the cemetery where my grand parents Benjamin Binford and Mary Ann Curtis Binford are buried.

Missionary Trip to Zion

Wow - what a week! We had a great time meeting up with several other couples who served with us as missionaries in 2006 and 2007. We traveled down to Zion River Resort, a five star RV resort and began our adventure.

We hiked, ate, went sightseeing, ate and got together with even more missionaries one evening in camp. They traveled to see us and brought more food than we could begin to eat. We grilled steaks and had a late night visiting and remembering.

The day before we split up we spent the day in Saint George and the area. We went to the Mountain Meadow historical site, and the Jacob Hamblin home. Completed by having a wonderful mexican dinner in town.

End of April and we have Spring!

Okay, finally it is spring! The plants in the development are coming up and it fun to try to identify them as I walk around. Today I am going to plant some pansies that I have been hardening off and see how they survive while we are away for a week. I would like to plant all my pots and may try some geraniums before we go away again. I do not want to miss out on all the good annuals because we are away.

We leave tomorrow to go down to the Kaysville area to be there on Friday morning early and attend Julie's graduation! We are so proud of her and her accomplishments. I will post pictures as soon as I can.

We will spend the weekend and then we leave Monday morning on a Missionary Friends adventure down to Zion National Park. We will be away most of the week and come home for Mother's Day.

The following weekend we leave for Lousiana and the Stirling Family reunion. We will have a very busy month of May. Understatement of the month, I am sure!

Above is a picture taken while the Parkerson's were visiting last week. Now all the patio needs are some flowers in the pots!

Parkerson's arrive to visit

Geoff and Linda Parkerson -- oops Elder and Sister Parkerson have arrived to visit a couple of day before they go to the MTC. We take them down to Salt Lake on Friday to their daughter's home and they report to the MTC on Monday. What a great adventure they are going to have. 23 months in Palmyra at the Histpric site. They even get to live in an apartment in the Martin Harris home.

The picture is one taken when we met them at the airport.

We have wonderful weather and are enjoying the sunshine and being outside more.

Update for Thursday - this morning we went to Paradise for breakfast - then we drove up into a canyon nearby and found a wonderful dam with gravel roads surounding the lake. It was so beautiful it reminded us of Alaska.

Easter Sunday

We had a simply wonderful Easter weekend! We took Sarah to meet her Mom on Friday and came home to get the place ready for our son, Scott and his family, to arrive. They came in around 9 pm after driving 3 hours from Twin Falls area of Idaho. We had fun visiting and oooing and awwing over how much everyone (the kids) had grown! Kade is now about 6 feet 5 inches. Taller than his Dad and Papa.

Saturday we had a good day shopping and playing games. The boys went to shoot at the range for a couple of hours and then the kids swam. Konnie and I made salads for Easter dinner and enjoyed a good visit. That night we watched some of Planet Earth. That has been so interesting that most folks who come have not seen it and we can share it with them. For dinner Saturday night I had made pulled pork and we will be eating that most of the week. But it was good!

Easter Sunday we went to church and sang in the choir and just enjoyed our meetings. It was nice for folks to meet some of our family. We came home - has a snack and then drove down to Julie and Dave's for Easter dinner. Julie is a real trooper to have 17 or us. I realised that most of us were married couples, or soon to be married couples. We only had Tyler, Kade, Zane, Avery and Sarah for children. Strange how the family dynamics change over the years. We enjoyed being with all of them and were tickled to have Kate and Nate sit at our table and be able to visit. They have less than 2 months until their wedding.

Sarah comes to visit during spring break

This morning we went down to pick her (Sarah) up and stopped for lunch at Taco Bell on the way back. After we got her settled and her bed made we took off to our appointment to have a pedicure! Now I hate to admit it but I have never had a pedicure in my 67 years. Sarah likewise had never had the experience -- but we both loved the pampering and our feet look great. Check out the pictures! I even handled the massaging my feet with only a few giggles!! Sarah chose purple nail polish and they painted a flower on each of her big toes.

Tonight we plan to go out for dinner and continue the spoiling process.

Tomorrow will be a busy day, we will meet Julie to let Sarah go home and have lunch. then I have a hair appointment. Later in the evening Scott, Konnie and their family arrive for the weekend.

April has arrived! So where is spring???

We are two days into April and are still looking for those warm spring days! I checked the weather it it tells us that Monday will be partly couldy and in the 50's So I guess we will have one day with the Hall's that is spring like.
We have had a really good couple of days. Yesterday we drove down to Salt Lake again and met some friends of the Hall's and Angela Brown, their daughter. We had lunch at the Lion House - where Brigham Young lived with his family. The lunch was wonderful This is also where our grand daughter Katie is having her wedding dinner instead of a reception at church. It will be grand!
Then we drove up to the Salt Lake Cemetary and found a grounds keeper who gave us a copy of a map showing where the prophets and other church leaders are buried. We drove around to see several but the wind was cold and we did not see as many as we had hoped to. But we can return another day.
Today we drove over the "The Golden Spike" historic site. That was fun - we enjoyed the presentation at the site and then were able to go over and see the locomotives in the engine house. Of course Felt talked to the workmen and we had a nice time.
Tomorrow we plan to go to the Logan temple in the morning and then drive down to Ogden and eat at the Timbermine! Yummy. Our favorite new place to eat.

Hall's arrive and we begin our week full of adventures!

Our good friends from NH, Pam and Corky Hall, arrived on Saturday and we are having such a good time. Sunday we took them to church with us to experience a Utah Ward! I think they were impressed! Even tho it snowed over 6 inches! Yikes - what happened to our spring???

Monday we went to Deseret Book and the Distribution Center here in Logan and then after lunch drove down to Salt Lake to be tourists. First we went to the Joseph Smith Memorial building to see the movie in the Legacy Theater. It is still the "Joseph Smith - Prophet of the Restoration" but they had never seen it and believe me it is a very powerful film. Then we walked through the Joseph Smith Memorial building and saw the chapel where, their daughter, Angela had attened church when they lived in Salt lake. It is very impressive. We then walked to the Conference Center to take a tour. A day of firsts for the Hall's and it is truly an impressive sight! And nice to see it before they go in on Saturday to Conference. After the tour we walked to the Church History building and started just looking at the historical displays when I relaized that I was very very hungry and running out of steam! It was 7 pm !!! We left fairly soon and drove to Layton and ate dinner at a Red Robbin and then came home. Four tired folks tried to stay awake for awhile and fell into our beds.

This morning we decided to go to the Logan Temple to do some initatory work. That was a wonderful experience. They had six cubicles going full steam all at the same time. I had to think of Boston Temple and how much the workers there would like to have that experience.

We are now home and taking naps - except for me - this afternoon Felt has cubs and Corky is going with him. Tomorrows adventures take us back to Salt Lake to see some friends of the Hall's and we are hoping for no snow at all!

Update between two good weekends

Last weekend we had one of our grand daughters (Rachel) and her husband (Jeff) come for visit. We so enjoyed being with them and going out for dinner and ice cream. It was warm enough to sit out on our patio and enjoy the sunshine! We went shopping for some new clothes (for Rachel) and in general had a wonderful time.

This weekend, we are going down to the airport to pick up our dear friends (from New Hampshire), Pam and Corky Hall for a visit! Yea! We can talk and play and eat together until we fall into our respective beds! We have several things planned to do and see. Inlcuding a trip to Salt Lake to see friends and play tourists. I found out where the cemetary is where most of the Prophets are buried. I know that may sound strange but we have always enjoyed cemetaries.

Then On Saturday Conference, April 4, the Halls got us all tickets to attend the afternoon session and it appears that we are at the plaza level which means on the ground floor. We will report on where we actually get to sit. We will be sure to take them to "our Temple" in Logan. And to several places we have found to eat! Oh yes and Bear Lake!

Felt and I have spent some time cleaning up and taking more things to DI. We brought so much we didn't need to bring! I am glad we have a place to take things where we know they will go to good use. We optimistically packed away most of the winter coats! You note I say most, since it has been snowing off and on for a couple of days. Right now we have bright sunshine and it is true - "sunshine on your shoulders makes you happy".

Saturday -- March 14

Today we went down to see the progress of Julie and Dave's kitchen! WOW we were impressed. If you want to see more check our family blog at www.gangforward.blogspot.com/

We did get to see Katie, Justin and Lindsey. So we are posting a picture of the three of them.

The cabinets came in large boxes. Sarah and her friends have enjoyed making forts. Isn't it true, that boxes are the best toys of all.

Spring Flowers

Our oldest daughter, Mary Lou, sent us some spring flowers to help us believe that spring is on the way. Thank you

Julie's kitchen gets new flooring and some new cabinets

We took this picture of the new wood floor in Julie's kitchen last Saturday. Isn't the floor great? Dave is painting the walls in the family room too - it will look so wonderful!

Julie sent me this picture of one short wall of new kitchen cabinets. They look lovely to me. The waiting for completion is difficult but it will be wonderful when it is all over.

On top of all this excitement - Katie, our oldest grand daughter became engaged March 2. She and Nate Robach will marry in the Bountiful Temple on June 10. What a wonderful celebration that will be for all of us.

Helping the Calders

We have spent a few days down at Fruit Heights trying to assist our daughter, Julie and her husband, Dave as they demolish their kitchen in preparation for a new kitchen! What an undertaking that has been. Especially for them!

They now have no kitchen at all. Just bare walls. No tile on the floor - no kitchen sink - no stove - and the refrigerator is in the dining room! Convenient but weird! The electricians come tomorrow to re wire the kitchen and then put up new dry wall. We will go down next Saturday to paint the walls before they put the floor down. I will try to continue to post pictures as they move ahead.