General Conference Weekend

Joseph and Heather opened their home to us this past weekend to enjoy their family and also general conference. And a big thank you, Miranda for letting grandpa and I use your room for the four days. It started raining late Friday night and continued through Sunday. The sky was beautiful and they have several beautiful views from their home. These two pictures are from their front porch.

The Wii was a favorite in between sessions....they have it all.
At age four, Benjamin is already putting on the full armour of God. He is such a cutie!

Alyssa is full of fun and laughter. This is a shot of Alyssa and Meg having a "feet" fight which included lots of laughing. Megan is still playing the piano and has such a gift...you can feel the words as she plays.

Miranda and Allyssa both enjoy using the computer for their "Web-kinz", building houses, decorating rooms, planting gardens, etc. Lisa has another one she uses besides the Web-kinz" called "Handy Points" which helps her children with their chores. She will explain in one of these days on her blog. Daniel also enjoys computer games, but even more is his art...he loves to draw and is quite good.. Heather is an amazing cook and Joe is right in their with her. They make a good team and delicious food! Sure we must have gained some weight while we were there....afraid to get on the scales.

And yes, we finally met the famous Jason. A very nice young man as are his parents. Gerri and her family also came over to help celebrate Joe's birthday.

The hole gang was there Sunday to celebrate...Happy Birthday Joe!

Is Miranda trying to light the candle or set her dad's face on fire...you guess?

This is Sunday afternoon after the rain stopped and the sun came out...see the snow on top of the mountain? Beautiful scenery all around their property. The hills were also dressed in red, gold, brown...beautiful!

Primary Sacrament Meeting Program & other stuff

This is the banner that is on the wall where little Ashlyn attends Nursery each Sunday. We attended a Primary Sacrament Meeting Program where three of our grandchildren performed. After the sacrament, Christian, Brooke and Madison sang "I Will Follow God's Plan". Christian wanted to be sure everyone heard the words clearly as he pulled the microphone down lower...it was beautiful! [I sat there visualizing each of our grandchildren in their own primary programs in different parts of the USA]

Brooke talked about how Nephi loved the scriptures and taught them to others; and how we too will learn from them about Heavenly Father and Jesus. Christian said "Jesus Christ loves me". Madison wrote her own talk about temple blessings, how she is preparing now to go to the temple, about how grateful she is for her brother, sisters, dad, mom and grandparents. And how she looks forward to when her grandpa will perform her marriage by sealing her in the temple some day. Brooke also sang a song with her Primary Class in French.The next day was Monday and we spent most of the day cleaning and helping Carnell. In the afternoon and morning of the next day dad performed some little tasks Lisa wanted done around the house and yard. And the grandchildren and I were able to enjoy the SPA! No, he was not putting a hole in the wall...but hang a white board for her monthly calendar and bulletin board for all those papers that come home from school. The girls put on their 'dancing clothes' and music...they sure do love to dance and sing.Later the girls were busy painting their nails and grandpa thought maybe his hands needed some repair after working in the yard. Ooops...'NO grandpa'

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Brooke, Chelsea, Marrianne

Chelsea, Marrianne and Brooke celebrated Sunday with family after church.
John barbequed for this special birthday celebration...mmmmm delicious! I think Brooke had more whip cream than she did ice cream.

Crazy kids!

E-mail and Build-A-Bear Fun

Each time I sit down to the computer I can hear that little voice "e-mail, nanna, e-mail". Ashley would climb up on my lap and then say "JibJab". E-mail means to look at each and every one of your blogs every day. She knows several of her cousins names. She loved the pictures of Becki on the "horse". When we went to Build-A-Bear the computer was very familiar to her.

Her baby doll needing a diaper change.
They do love their "Build A Bears"....Ashley & Annika seems to like MONKEY

Christa, Ben-jamin, Jenna and Christopher like bears best.

Ashlyn and Steven are next....then come the twins & Gavin.

SPECIAL VISITORS for Kate's Special Day

She was so good Sunday as her daddy gave her a name and a very sweet blessing. She wore the same dress as Ashley did and their pictures look so much alike. Kate very seldom cries, but when she does...she really lets it out.


GG, Aunt Ilene, Uncle Duane and Aunt Dale came for the weekend arriving Friday afternoon and staying through Monday morning. We had a great time and appreciate so much there driving up to be with the family on this special weekend.


After church, dinner and naps we headed up a high hill to see all of New Haven. Ashley thought this was the temple because it was so high up, but her daddy taught her a new word "monument". It was a beautiful drive and scene when we got to the top.

ARE WE HAVING FUN YET?

Diaper Changing ...... A family affair!



Kate's first bath...together with her big sister
Tuesday is PLAY-DAY with several in their ward.
Ashley learning to drive
Books are one of her favorites. One night she had her "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" book out we had brought her and she started singing....sang the whole song by herself for the first time. Way cute! I think she has just about every Dora Book...which is her favorite.

Silly Grandpa

One of Ashley's favorite things to do with pop-pop is to play hide and seek. He would hide in the tunnel, behind curtains, around the corner, in closets....."Where is pop-pop???" and she would run around until she would find him. Then she would hide from him.
There he is....
Where is Ashley?
Another day we went to a different beach where there were more shells and very pretty rocks. Pop-pop taught her to throw rocks in the water [remember doing that with Mikal] and to swim around holding his hands.

And he still makes the best salsa!

Second Week of Fun

It didn't take long for Ashley to bond with her Nanna and Pop-pop...it will definitely be hard to leave and have threatened to put Ashley in our carry on suitcase, but her folks say NO-WAY! and sure little Kate would miss her big sister. Ashley loves to hold her new little sister and kiss her including her hands and feet...and sing her songs.

This is one of my favorite beaches with a large park and lighthouse that is even used today.

Grandpa and Ashley enjoy clapping hands, whether at the beach, park, or eating at the table. Reminds me of another little girl...Marylyn...only with a bucket on her head instead of a hat.



Kate's first trip to the ocean
Ashley has no fear and loves playing with daddy in the water. She also liked walking the beach with grandpa and grandma looking for shells and rocks.