The "White" Before Christmas.........

I was going to tell about our harrowing ride home from Rexburg last weekend, but that was so long ago. Let's just say that it was a white knuckle drive with overturned cars and closed passes and blizzard like conditions. We are home safe and sound and we brought the weather home with us.It's basically been snowing since last week here, though Vancouver didn't get much the first time around. We did miss 2 days of school, but only because they didn't want to chance people sliding off the road. Yesterday we couldn't escape it. Yesterday it was fun snow....today it is ICE.. Here, Josh broke off a chunk and is holding it.It snowed all day....mostly a very fine snow, but it was very windy. It caused the snow to come up onto our porch, which looked very pretty.
Here it is on our porch railing...I thought it was so beautiful mixed in with the garland I have wrapped around it.
This morning church was cancelled because it was solid ice outside. Isn't this bush pretty with the ice formed on it's branches???
We have icicle lights on our house....look at the REAL icicles formed on the gutters inbetween them.
This is in our back yard. The snow drifted on the back roof and here it is hanging frozen OVER the gutter. It's in midair....really cool!!
Not much shopping is happening here. Not good for the economy....but we are enjoying the white "before" Christmas.

Jenny The Graduate

It was with much perserverence that Jenny attained her Bachelor of Science in History last Friday night. She worked very hard, went through fun times and trials, her marriage to Logan and now....the payoff.

Richard, Josh and I drove to Rexburg and met up with Jenny, Logan and Jessell last Thursday. We had a fun time visiting, picking up Jon at his dorm and eating Jack in the Box from the drive through. The weather was very windy and cold. Before graduation on Friday we took everyone to Applebees for lunch.

Commencement was Friday night. Jenny was on the very front row and could almost touch the speakers...President Clark of BYUI....and President Uchtdorf of the First Presidency of the Church, who was the keynote speaker. The talks were WONDERFUL!!


There were nearly 1100 graduates. Here she is as they filed out after commencement. Since she was on the first row, she was the last to leave. The graduates then broke into their different colleges...she was in The College of Language and Letters, where she received her diploma cover (the diploma is mailed to them).
Here she is with Jessell....her lifelong friend who had flown to Salt Lake and drove with them to Rexburg. CONGRATULATIONS JENNIFER THE GRADUATE!!!!!!

p.s.......stay tuned for the story of the harrowing drive back home:)

More Excitment Than I Can Take............

Rarely do I get so wound up....but this has been a red letter week:) My heart is racing and I'm very giddy with happiness. With so many things in the world going wrong, it's good to get some good news.

FIRST: Yesterday Joshua participated in a DECA mini conference at school. All of the marketing classes took a written test and did a role play where they were judged. Jon also participated in this last year. Josh was hoping to win an award, but I knew that being a Freshman, the chances were slim. Today were the awards and he didn't go because he didn't want to miss any classes (it was during school). People were coming up to him all day congratulating him, and he wasn't sure why. WELL.....he won 1st place in the role play with a score of 99/100. He placed 2nd overall from all the classes. Now he will go on to the area conference with hopes of going to state from there. He was so excited with his ribbons and awards. It just makes me happy to know he is finding his way in high school and having experiences that will help raise his self esteem.

SECOND: We got word today that the Evergreen Marching Band has been chosen out of 1400 bands to march in the Inagural Parade in Washington DC!!!!!!!!!! We have been planning this since last year. Even though I didn't vote for the President elect, this is a most exciting (and a bit scary) event. I will be chaperoning and we will be seeing ALOT of sights. The media from all over Washington and Oregon have been calling our band director for the past month wanting exclusive rights to our story should we be selected. Papparazi here we come!!!

THIRD: Jenny is graduating from college next week and we will be bring Jon home from Rexburg.

Like I said.....a great week:)

22nd Annual Shopping Day.............

Boo Hoo!! I can't believe another day after Thanksgiving shopping day with Melanie is all done!! I wait all year for it and I get sad before it ever starts, knowing it will end all too soon:(
(See November 2006 post for more details)
Melanie and I had new matching sweaters again this year. The picture we took before we left the house (@3:50am) didn't look too good, so I'm not posting it. She had someone take one of us while we waited in line at GI Joes, but it's on her camera phone and she doesn't know how to send it to my computer.
We couldn't believe how CRAZY we were to get up so early this year. But, we decided to get going while the going was good, and with 2 1/2 hours sleep we rolled out of our beds and headed down the road. 12 hours later, we said our goodbyes. We have been shopping like this for 22 of the 35 years we've been friends.
It's always fun to run into so many people I don't always see throughout the year as they too are crazy like we are.
We were much more conservative this year than in years past, buying more necessities than anything else, but we had a grand time. Donuts and juice at Fred Meyer's, breakfast at Jack in the Box and lunch at Sweet Tomatoes.....the important stuff you know!
May you all have a wonderful beginning to the holidays. Around here, Josh is keeping us on our toes....he begged us to get our outside lights up before Thanksgiving and is now pushing me to get the inside done. My life would be very boring without him:)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!

I will eat my share of turkey on Thursday, but honestly....aren't turkeys beautiful!!
I'm thankful for all my many blessings........for everything I have comes from Heavenly Father. It would take my entire blog to list all the things I am thankful for, but you can relate because I know you are thankful too:)

WHAT???????

I know this is a strange picture to post....... but I'm sure some of you can relate to it!!
I don't know if it's that I turned another year older on Saturday BUT........
I was teaching a primary class of 11-12 year old girls for a friend of mine on Sunday and I noticed they all had black shoes on. I casually mentioned that we all had black shoes on and I lifted up my feet as I said it, only to be MORTIFIED that I DIDN"T have 2 black shoes....I had ONE BLACK rounded toe and ONE BLUE square toed shoe on!!! This picture does not do the situtation justice (click on it to enlarge and get a better view). The girls and I had a good laugh and as we walked to sharing time I walked between the girls so they could hide my feet:)
I am so silly!!!!

The Seasons of Life

The seasons continually pass by. Another fall is here. The air is moist and crisp and has the smell of burning logs on the fire. Time is just speeding by, but I still enjoy the seasons. That is....the seasons of life. The kids are growing and leaving home. Our house is down to 3...but life is still very full. I get tired, but I wouldn't trade my life for anything!! Every day is filled with something new.
The weekend after my trip to see "The College Guy", Jenny surprised her Dad and Josh with a visit. I knew about it, but she came earlier in the morning and surprised me too!
Our time together was short. We had Friday and most of Sunday to catch up on things. Saturday I was heavily involved with the marching band competition our school was hosting, so Jenny spent the day with friends.
On our only free Saturday of the month Josh wanted to go to get a pumpkin. I figured he was in high school now, so we could just go to the store to get it. Instead, he wanted to go to Bizi Farms, where we've gone to get pumpkins a few times before. I told him he could invite a friend, but he said he was fine just going with me.
I thought what a lucky mom I am, that my 14 year old son would want to spend time going to a pumpkin patch with me. It's not just a place to get pumpkins. He spent time climbing and crawling on the huge haystack they have there. We had fun time trying to catapult pumpkins into big barrels. Josh got one in, but it split as it hit the side. There are prizes if it goes in.
We had a great time in the corn maze, which took about 45 minutes to get through. I had never been through one before. There's always a first time for everything.....and right now, we are throughly enjoying this season of our lives.

Visit to see "The College Guy"

Well, I had a great time visiting Jon. Ericka and I were a tamed down version of Thelma and Louise. It seemed like the 12 hour drive just flew by. We had fun chatting all the way. I got to go to 2 classes with him on Friday...we watched an extra credit movie in Psycology titled "Happiness" and I met his professor in Pre-Law. He was a funny old man. He even gave me the quiz the kids were taking. I was huffing a puffing everywhere we went. I feel so out of shape!! I ran into my old friend Stephanie Crain AGAIN....I've seen her every year I've gone to Mothers week. She lives in New Hampshire. I got to check out the dorm room, which was very clean and tour the building to see where laundry and stoves were.
I took Jon alot of groceries and a big pumpkin filled with candy. I asked him to sit here so I could get a picture of him in his room. I took him and Josh (his roomie) to the store. I was able to give him a haircut too!!Saturday we did some shopping and went to the mother/son banquet with Ericka and William. It was delicious.

Here's our group Sat. night after the Natalie McMaster concert we went to after dinner. She is a fiddler and plays Irish type music. It was wonderful!! Ericka's daughter Brooke (where we stayed) came along for the concert. Brooke babysat for Jenny and Jon when they were little. She lives in Parker just outside of Rexburg and we stayed at her house.
These are Brooke's 2 adorable kids Savannah and Hudson. They liked playing a chase game with me. Sunday I went to church with Jon and he got set apart for 2 callings he's recieved. After church we went to Brooke's where I had put Cafe Rio on for dinner. Then we played games until Jon and William went back to campus.
This is Biscuit....Brookes dog. He lives outside on their property and we couldn't even go outside without being jumped on. We were quite a sight to see as we tried to get to the house from the car and visa versa. He is cute...but watch out!! We woke up Monday morning to a little snow. It was actually very cold our entire stay. The wind blew like crazy and it snowed every day. It just never stuck. I was in my thermal's every day. The temperature highs were like 34 and lows into the 20's....but with the wind chill it was very cold!!
On our way home there was more snow near Pocotello. It was beautiful. We passed through the mountains with no snow at all. It was toasty when we got home (like in the 50's) I was so glad I went....I LOVE YOU JON!!!

I'M OFF.............

Between work, marching band, and church, I've had no time to blog.......
BUT NOW.....I'm off to see "The College Guy"

See you soon:)

It's About Time......

I am feeling a little left out since everyone has new blogs....so I decided I better get busy blogging. Sorry I have no insightful words or symbollic messages. Just a few pictures and maybe a word or two about the college guy:)First I wanted you all to see how well my roses and flowers in the front yard are doing since we cut the tree down. This is the first year that my roses have done so well all summer long. When we had the tree they had alot of shade and while they grew, this year they are thriving! I wanted you to see them before the frost starts setting in.
The hanging baskets I got for mothers day are huge!! Usually they are just about dead by now but with the sun....they are keeping me happy:)
These roses had not had very many blossoms in years...aren't they beautiful????
Now onto the high schooler. Josh is the total opposite of the college guy (my new nickname for Jon). Josh has a fearless personality when it comes to being himself....he's very spirited here at the only football game they won't be in uniform....he's sporting a hand me down shirt and hat from the "older" ones.
This was taken last week at the bands first performance of the season at the football game. He is 2nd from the right (very front...mellophones)
Looks like he enjoyed the evening.
Now a few words about the college guy. He seems to be liking school. He's working hard and having some fun too. I will be going to see him for mothers week the 2nd week of October. I can't wait....but until then I will be busy with marching band competitions.

The College GUY

Thought I would give an update of the college guy...Classes started on Monday and he's been keeping his nose to the grindstone with homework. Richard got him all settled into his dorm last Thursday.He's on the 3rd floor so there are alot of stairs to climb.
He seems to have alot of room...he could have had more food if I had sent it.
His clothes fit perfectly in the closet and there are 6 drawers....he's using most of them for food.
He's been getting alot of use out of the microwave. He's been eating soup and those little mac and cheese bowls we got him. He says it's easier to eat in the dorm at night when he's studying.
This is his desk area and the sink. His desk has 2 shelves above it.

This is Jon with Josh (his roomate) and his parents. They've gone to school since grade school together. Jon tells me they've been keeping the room pretty clean.
Richard took Jon out to dinner to a steak house and they ate so much that Jon crashed on the bed too full to do anything. (I'm mainly showing this picture because it shows his bed)
I've talked to Jon almost every day. He seems to like all his classes. He said there is ALOT of reading. He's attended some of the activities and went to his new ward. He met with the Bishop to get to know him. So, I think he'll survive without me....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIDS

Even when they grow up we still call them our kids.......here are some random pictures from the past...LaDena, Jeramy, and Chris all have birthdays this week.
Not long after we were married we wanted to have a party for them and since they lived so far away we had it before they went back to Utah. Jeramy is in the middle (his birthday is today)...but he should have been on the end by the #11. Chris was 10 that year.
Jeramy was such a good big brother. He was always so sweet with Jenny.
He lives in St. George with his wife Cheryl. They travel the world and see the sights.Christopher lives in West Jordan. He has 4 kids and last year joined the army reserves....he doesn't always look this serious:) His birthday is next Tuesday.This is a picture of LaDena (her birthday is tomorrow) and her cousin Rene (back in the 80's sometime) who had her birthday yesterday.....LaDena and Rob have been married almost 17 years (WOW!!) and live in Sandy and have 4 kids. She is a very active mom in her kids lives.

The Two Freshmen

I never thought about the boys both being Freshman at the same time!! Josh starts High School and Jon is off to college in the morning. Jenny and Jon were Freshmen at the same time too!!Jon's day was spent visitng friends and getting ready. We picked up the rental car at 9:00pm and it was loaded in no time. Jon reminded me how when Jenny went the car was weighted down and took hours to load. It took all of about 10 minutes to put Jon's stuff in the car (even with all that food)
Josh got to shave for the first time tonight. He's had a bit of a mustache for some time and we thought going to high school was the perfect time.
We decided that Jon would take the hair clippers and either do it himself or get a girl to do it for him. He thought he would try his hand at it tonight too!! I did his neck but he did the rest. Pretty good for his first time:)
Of course for our hymn tonight we let him pick (we always sing a hymn before our family scripture reading)...He picked a tear jerker...."God Be With You Til We Meet Again"....I couldn't sing it til like the 3rd verse.....he did it on purpose cause he knew I would cry:)
Josh got to get his band uniform tonight....so you see, I'm not really missing anything, I'm gaining another 4 years with another special child....isn't he cute????