A Handsome New Grandson

"Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man." ~Rabindranath Tagore

Doesn't that just make you want to yawn?



Mason Ted L

November 19

7 lbs 5 ounces

20 1/2 inches long

Happy Mom and Dad -  Damien and Danielle

Happy Sisters - Sydni, Kourtni and Allison

Happiest Big Brother - Jacob

Indian Summer

We had a beautiful, long, warm autumn this year and the leaves stayed on the trees for a long time.  This photo was taken November 10, when the leaves were just beginning to fall ~

they were breath-takingly beautiful!

Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest

 

Will spent hours creating his masterpiece ~ and it was the Best of Show!

Saturday, October 23, we had our Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest.  It is really fun to see the creative energy that starts flowing.  Will spent a couple of hours on his pumpkin . . . he cleaned it out and scraped it  until it was just the right thickness . . .  

Here's Will's intricate carving

 Some of the designs are pure inspiration and others are taken from patterns that come with the carving tools or from the internet.

Brittany and Ethan

Sydni and Jacob ~ this year's judges, thoughtfully contemplating the awards

 We give out awards ~ one for every pumpkin . . . most creative, best of show, funniest, etc. Jacob and Sydni judged this year's contest, took their responsiblities very seriously and they did a great job!

Just a few of the 20 pumpkin creations.

 

Charlie and his Alls Hallow Tree

Charlie ~ "Most Frightful Award"

 Charlie and Grandma worked on his pumpkin together.  He chose the design, then we both worked on cleaning, marking and carving the pumpkin. 

Tiffany and Ray ~ the Pumpkin Seed Chefs



Brett likes baked pumpkin seeds, so Tiffany  and Ray decided they would gather the seeds . . . it became a stalwart project . . . with 20 pumpkins, they ended up with tons of seeds, and we were up playing games after 1:00 a.m. just trying to get all those seeds baked . . .Tiffany created different flavors and they were good!



The cutest pumpkins~ Ashton, Hunter, Charlie, Kourtni and Ally

Cory, Ashton, Hunter Brittany

Megan and Ethan

Brett and Tiffany

James, Will, Charlie and Arianne

Sandy and Ray

Scarecrow Festival and Prep for Pumpkin Carving

We liked the Scarecrow Family Reunion best ~ doesn't Ray fit right in?

Ray and I went up to the Homestead in Heber for the 2nd Annual Scarecrow Festival. Anyone can enter a scarecrow in the contest, but it was mostly local businesses and different departments from Homestead Resort - a new  festival, it has room to grow.  But the drive up Provo Canyon was spectacular, the autumn colors are blazing and we enjoyed our Saturday afternoon out last week-end!

Ethan - getting fancy with the dough

 Each year we have our Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest - Sydni and Kourtni, Ethan and Megan, Brittany, Cory, Ashton and Hunter all came on Friday and they were all a great help in getting ready and we played games and had a great time.

Cory - getting a good stretch on that dough

I was making crockpot soups (Taco Soup and Chicken and Noodles) and Cory and Ethan decided they wanted to try making handmade noodles the Asian way . . . so they got on the internet and watched several "how-to" videos - it looked so easy!  Then they took the pasta dough and started kneading, stretching and twisting . . .an hour later they were exhausted and the dough was still not co-operating.  We decided my home-made egg noodle recipe wasn't  right for the job, so we got out the pasta press and Ethan finished the noodles. The soup tasted great - it must be all the love that was kneaded in! 



Kourtni ~ just relaxing!

Sydni - our Wii Golf Pro!

 Sydni and Kourtni came over Friday for a Wii Slumber Party and they were also great little helpers. Sydni is a good little cook and Kourtni is happy to do whatever task is needed. 

Ray ~ just touching up the pizza with a few extra ingredients!



A Week-end in Cedar City

The week-end of October 8-10, we had an HOA meeting in St. George, but because the condo was booked, we decided to stay in Cedar City at the Fairfield where T works.  The Fairfield ending up being over-booked, so we ended up getting a free night at the Holiday Inn next door, then we stayed at the Marriott the next night.  When we head south, we always stay in St. George, so it was fun to stay in Cedar City and explore the area and to see Tiffany and Brett! 

Brett told us about a great place to see about 65 miles south of Cedar, Cathedral Gorge State Park. 

So, while they were working we drove out and it was interesting.  The clay cliffs have been eroded over time and have formed cathedral like spires, with trails, caves and fun places to explore in between.

Later that evening, we went and got pizza and Tiff and Brett came back to the hotel and we watched Auburn play football and visited.  Sunday, we drove over to Kanab and up Highway 89  - that is a beautiful drive.  Unfortunately, I forgot to put the memory card back into the camera, so all of our photos we took over the week-end do not exist! Duh!

Quilts of Summer

"Blankets wrap you in warmth, quilts wrap you in love."

During the summers, I like to spend the mornings outside gardening and afternoons down in the cool basement, quilting.  Here are two quilts I made this summer.

 Jacob has loved trains since he was a baby and he just moved downstairs to his "own room," so I made him a train quilt for his new room.

This quilt is called, "Sleepy Baby Buggy," and I made it for little Eden.

A New Grand Baby and Arizona Sunshine

 Eden Yvette L was given a name and a blessing by her Daddy, and these other good

 priesthood holders: Bishop F., Papa Ray, Daddy Cori, Papa Jeff, Uncle Brett and Uncle Cory and a couple of future priesthood holders got into the photo as well, Grant and Ashton. 

 Proud parents and beautiful little Eden ~ isn't that a lovely name? 

Little joys of the morning, coming in to wake us up:Ashton, Grace, Grant and Hunter

 I'm going to get you wet! Hunter and Ashton

 The new pool ~ so refreshing! Jesse, Jeff, Ashton, Grant, Ray, Thea and Cory

 Cannonball special ~ Cori, Brittany and Cory

 A little more sunshine ~ Tiffany, Ashton, Grant, Grace and Hunter

 Conference Bingo

It was a great trip - great to see family and beautiful little Eden for the first time.  It was also really a joy to see extended family that we haven't seen for many years - Thank you Heather, Jamie, Andy and Jesse for coming by! It was wonderful to listen to counsel and testimony from our prophet and apostles - I so look forward to General conference twice a year! One last note, the Arizona heat exhausts me in no time, but it is a great place to visit!

4th of July - Days of Fun

July 5th we hiked up to Angora Lake.  We understood that the lake was right next to the parking lot . . . so we loaded up all the kids and their gear, coolers, picnic baskets, 5-gallon water jugs, kayaks, a  canoe and all of our swimming gear . . . and we hiked and hiked and hiked.  In reality it is a mere one mile (is that all???) hike up hill all the way, but beautiful, I might add.  It I must confess the guys took the heavy loads . . .  It is a beautiful lake and we so enjoyed the day.

Cori, Brittany and Ethan ~ contemplating the jump

Cliff jumping ~ it was about 70 feet high. As we all watched from shore, with our breath held and hearts thumping, I was asked where my children got their bravado . . . definitely from their father, I am pure chicken at heart!

Brittany leads the way and takes the first leap with Ethan and  Cory watching

Ethan goes next ~ yes, those are boats down in the water . . .

And Cori take a running leap

Ethan and Cory playing the farm game

We so enjoyed our week at Lake Tahoe ~ the rest of the week we played lots of games, hiked, swam in the pools, sun-tanned, and the guys treated all of us ladies to a massage ~ pure Heaven!

We decided to try out some of the resort activities ~ Brittany, Megan, Ethan, Sandy and Ashton playing Bingo

Lunch at Fire and Ice ~ delicious!

Ethan and Brittany visiting at Fire and Ice

Hunter, Grant, Cori, Jesse, Sydni, Grace, Jacob, Cory,Brittany, Sandy at  Rainbow Trail

Ray and Sydni at Rainbow Trail

Just waiting . . . Grace, Sandy, Ethan, Megan, Cory and Brittany

4th of July in Tahoe - celebrating Independence

"The best things in life are not free but priceless." ~ Benjamin Lichtenberg



Jacob, Sandy and Grace playing 'Red Light, Green Light'

July 3rd we went to an Independence Day breakfast celebration in Gardnerville.  Jesse's father was the guest speaker and I was impressed with his positive outlook towards our nation and the gratitude expressed for the great freedoms we enjoy.  He reminded us that Heavenly Father blessed us with these priceless freedoms that we have and that He is ultimately in charge.   

Jacob at the top of Burnside Falls

 After the breakfast, we hiked up to Burnside Falls with Jesse's family.

Brittany, Hunter and Ashton ~ playing Pooh Sticks at Burnside Creek

Grant, Cori, Gracie and Jesse

Ethan ~ cooling off

Cory, Hunter, Brittany, Ray, Sandy, Ashton, Megan, Ethan, Cori, Jacob, Grant, Grace, Jesse, Sydni

Hunter, Cory, Ashton and Brittany

 

Picnic at Hertiage Park

 Sunday, July 4th we attended church and the choir sang a lovely Patriotic medley. After church we went to Hertiage Park to hear Sarah play in the Carson Valley Pops Orchestra.  They played beloved Patriiotic favorites as well as some fun music from the American West.

Grace, Thea, Sydni and Grant enjoying their Patriotic Popsicles

Jesse, Marla and Jeff

 Later that evening, we went down to Lake Tahoe and procured at spot on the beach in prepration for the fireworks, which were spectacular!

Gracie, Ethan, Megan, Brittany, Hunter, Cory picnic on the beach