Catching a Little St George Sunshine 3

"The family is one of nature's masterpieces." George Santayana

 Well, it's about time you got me out of this trunk!  Joshua getting his hiking shoes on

Megan, Ethan and Grant

 St George has so many fun places to explore ~ this is Red Cliffs.  It has some great hikes for families with small children, a campground, picnic tables and a few puddles to splash in!

Joshua~ 

Give a boy a puddle and he'll be happy for hours, but of course this little guy is a pretty happy camper most of the time!

Grace amd Jacob

 There were some fun tree trunks to explore as well as some caves . . .

Papa Ray, Jacob, Cori, Grace, Grant, Jesse

Brett, Grace and Tiffany

 Brett and Tiffany were the safety guides on the rope course ~ that leads to the upper pools

I love the striking contrasts found everywhere down here in the St George area.

 Grammie Sandy did a bit of exploring with Grant, Grace and Jacob

Brett & Tiffany

Tiffany, Grace, Cori & Eden, Brett

 Going back down was a little more tricky than coming up ~ why is that?

Grace

Grant, Papa Ray, Grace, Grammie Sandy, Sydni, & Jacob

The end of a great day found us at Tuacahn to see Aladdin - we are all ready with our 3-D shades on!  It was a great production and they incorporated a bit of new technology, a few new songs and a couple of new characters - we loved it!

Joy in the Journey

"Family is not an important thing, it's everything." Michael J. Fox

Mason

 We were delighted to have Damien, Danielle and their children here for a short stay.  Mason has grown up so much~ he reminds us a lot of Jacob, yet he is his own unique person as well.  He is such a sweet, affectionate child.  He would hold his arms up, to let me know he wanted to be held and he would snuggle right in and give the sweetest hugs.  He chatters and I could understand some of what he was saying, he was telling me something important, then he looked me in the eye and said what sounded like, "Don't you think so?".

Kourtni and Alli, drawing pictures

Kourni and Ally were delightful - they played so well together and on their own.  We made a bead bracelet for Ally and a purple bunny key chain for Kourtni. They helped me cook and we watched movies. They enjoy the Barbies and played for quite a while , but then when I came back upstairs, they had picked everything up and put it away, without even being asked. We so enjoyed having them here!

Sandy, Ashton, Cory, Ethan and Megan

Goooooo, Grizzzzlies! We had a delightful time at the Grizzly Hockey game against Ontario, Monday night!Thanks, John!

I Know the Scriptures Are True

"Empower your child by giving him/her a choice and a chance. Let them learn to make their own decisions, when appropriate, and learn to trust their feelings."

~Doc Childre and Sara Paddison

Ashton and Hunter, after church

 C and B invited us up to Ashton and Hunter's Primary Program October 23rd and it is my favorite Sunday of the year.  One day, afew months ago,  Britt called us on the phone and two year old Hunter sang from memory, "Praise to the Man" Wow! We were so impressed and it still makes my heart glad just to think about him singing that beautiful, but lengthy hymn.  The children sang many beautiful songs during the program, my favorite is, "If I Listen With My Heart," by Sally DeFord. 

"If I had been a little child when Jesus lived on earth,

I would have liked to walk with him and listen to his words.

But as I search the scriptures, I can hear his words of peace,

And if I listen with my heart, I hear the Savior's voice."

MaCaleb is growing fast and starting to get chubby cheeks!

Ashton had a part in the program and he got up and spoke clearly and confidently about the prophet Moses.  Then he sat down.  Hunter, who was also up sitting by his brother and his mom, started to cry.  Well, it turned out that he also had the part memorized and expected that he would also have the opportunity to give his part just like his big brother did.  Hunter is not offically Primary age yet, but goes to the 3-year old class because Britt teaches it.  So both little boys knew all the songs and their part well.  So, after the program, Cory took Hunter up to the podium and let him say his part - and he knew it by heart and did not even hesitate.  It was a beautiful program and we were so pleased to be there.

Then on October 30, A & W invited us to join them in Enoch for Charlie and James' Primary Program. It was another delightful Sunday. Charlie got up and delivered his part loud and clear and sang all the songs, it was so fun to watch him. James said his part, "I like to go to Primary," and he knew all the songs, but he said he was "singing them in his head." Anyway it was a lovely Primary program and we so enjoyed it. Afterward, we went over to A & W to visit and have dinner.

Charlie, er, I mean Batman to the rescue

 Gigi had brought Halloween costumes for the boys, so they were excited to try them on.

James as "Thomas" and Arianne

 Will made a scrumptious dinner of meatloaf, scalloped potatoes and vegetables, and followed it up with caramel apples!  We were royally spoiled!

Gr Sandy and Nathanial

 Nathanial has really grown and is crawling everywhere and standing up whenever he can. He likes to go "walk-about" whenever someone is willing to hold on and go with him.  He will be walking soon!

 Anyway, I love watching the children and hearing them sing those beautiful songs.  The spirit is always strong as they sing and share their knowledge of the gospel and their love for the Savior. It was many years ago, when I was eight years old, our Primary was asked to sing in Stake Conference.  We sang, "I Wonder When He Comes Again," and "I Am a Child of God."  It was while we were singing that the spirit first bore witness to me that the Savior lives and loves us.  That was the beginning of my testimony.   I too, " know the Scriptures are true!"

A Stop at Hill Field Air Force Museum

"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." ~Elmer Davis

We thank and honor all those who serve our country now and have served throughout our nation's history~

This is a BIG plane! Hunter, Charlie, Grant, Grace and Ashton

 The Hill Field Air Force Museum is a great place to visit.  It is filled with planes, history, and heroic men and women, who have served our country and fought for our freedom.  We stopped by July 5th on our way up to the cabin.

Hunter and Grace trying out the pilot's chair

 There are some fun, interactive things for the children to do, but Ray and I would also like to go back sometime, when we can stop and watch all the videos, and take time read the history in detail and learn more about the planes.

Grace and Charlie

James, Ashton, Charlie, Grant, Hunter and Cory ~ watching a presentation

Grandma Sandy with Charlie and Nathanial

Presentation of the flag ~ Charlie, Hunter, Grace, Ashton, Grant and Cory

Grant ~ busting out the moves and the museum is a great place to Break Dance!

 

We had a great trip through the museum, but on our way back out to the cars, Charlie accidently ran into the tail of a plane and had a huge gash next to his left eye . . . so we made a dash for the emergency room and four stitches.

 As we were sitting there waiting to be helped, a gentleman sitting next to Charlie in the waiting room told him that he was a mechanic for many years on those airplanes and he had himself bumped into a sharp point and had to have stitches - and he had seen many others do that as well. It made Charlie feel a little better somehow to know even the guys who work on the planes everyday get bumped around a little. 




Oh, Where Did June Go?

"Life is like a coin. 

You can spend it any way you wish, but you only spend it once."

~Lillian Dickson

Joshua and Megan

Megan and Joshua came down as a surprise for my birthday ~ what a wonderful surprise that was~ the best! Danielle, Jacob, Sydni, Kourtni, Ally and Mason also came over to join us for some dessert ~love all those cute kids! Was a great day!

Mindy, Ray, Irene, Hylan and Mark

 We went over to Denver for a few days to see Ray's Mother, Irene.  It was delightful to be with her as always.  She showed us all the changes in Sheridan, the area where Ray grew up.  We drove over to the old Englewood area to get the best "grilled hot dogs in town," we played Zion's check with Mindy and Irene and got to visit with Ray's cousin, Mark and his son, Hylan.

James enjoyed the sunshine

 James came to stay with us for a few days while his Mom was packing and preparing to move  to Cedar City. We had lots of fun making cookies, playing in the pool, helping Grandma weed the garden, jumping on the trampoline, and reading stories.

Hunter and Ashton - bubble time

 Brittany, Cory, Hunter and Ashton came down for a week-end for a friend's wedding reception and to enjoy the Elk Ridge City Celebration.

Ashton,Hunter, Brittany, Cory, James and Ray at the Fireman's Breakfast

Ashton, James and Hunter on the pumper truck

Ashton, on the slide

Hunter, getting creative on the slide

James loved the bounce house and the slides ~ he spent the whole morning going between the two.



The Little Joys of Life

"Grandchildren are loving reminders of what we're really here for." ~ Anonymous

Charlie at his last soccer game this season

We so enjoy going to watch the grandchildren when they play sports, or perform in school plays and have special programs, just as we did when our children were growing up.  Our closest grandchildren will be moving away shortly to North Dakota, so we will really miss them and going to all of their special events! The last couple of weeks have brought lots of events as schools are winding down and preparing for summer break, so we have savored the moments while we still can. 

Sydni - running in the 100m dash at the Hershey's

 Sydni took a close second place in her heat, but if the race would have been timed, she would have gone on to the finals, as it was a really fast heat.  She did a great job!

Kourtni's Kindergarten Graduation

 The Kindergartners entertained us with some delightful music and what they loved best about school.  They sang several songs, but my favorite was a song about the ABC's and they signed ASL during the whole song.   We loved it when they all threw their caps into the air ~ delightful!

Jacob ~ teaching us about Utah History

Jacob's 4th Grade class performed three different plays in the morning, plays that they had adapted from children's books:  "Strudwick, A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing," and "The Perfect Nest," are the two that I remember.  Then, after lunch, they presented a Utah History Program that was terrific!  They had learned at least ten songs and new them well, as they sang with gusto!  In between, they each had several speaking parts teaching us about Utah's History.  It was a great program!  Kudos to Mrs. I and all her fourth graders for a job well done! 

Giving it Your Best Shot

I love going to the Hershey Track Meets, it not only brings back great memories of my own children running, smiling and giving it their best shot, but it is delightful to watch all the children out there, doing their best, big grins as they come down the track.

Jacob and his buddies, waiting, bored and ready to get on with the fun part of this day - racing!

 Now, I have the great blessing of watching my grandchildren run and give it their all~ 

Jacob, racing in the 100 m dash

Jacob, going all out in the 200 m

 Damien drove 18 hours to watch his son race and to take Sydni to her Daddy-Daughter date . . . what a good man, what a GREAT Dad!

Sydni, Damien and Mason

I learned a good lesson from my daughter Tiffany, a track star in high school and college.  After one of her races, when she came in second place, I was afraid she would be terribly dissapointed, but I watched her go up and hug and congratulate the girl who won and she was sincerely happy for her.  Talking to her about it afterward, she told me she only competes against herself, and as long as she improves her performance each time and runs a little better, a little faster, then she is happy with her performance. She always liked running with girls who were fast and the top athletes, because it helped her improve her own time. Isn't that a great lesson for life?  To push ourselves to be a little better each day, to cheer on everyone else around us at the same time and to learn from the best!  I like this quote from Barbara Sher:

"You never feel really bad when you've given something your best shot . You may be disappointed, but you don't blame yourself. But if you haven't given it your best shot, you feel terrible. Because you never really know whether you could have done better... but you do know you could have done more. Win or lose, all-out efforts leave you feeling clean and good about yourself."~Barbara Sher

A New Grand Baby - Numero Catorce

"God always gives His best

to those who leave the choice with Him." ~ Jim Eliot

Megan and Ethan had a beautiful little boy Friday, April 22.  He weighs 7 lbs and is 19" long.  We are thrilled and I will always think of him as our miracle grandchild!  My heart is filled with gratitude for his safe arrival and the blessing of having another grand son.  I can hardly wait to get up there to see him!

Joshua Ethan L

Joshua and Megan - Megan, you look fabulous after hours and hours of labor!

Ethan - joy-filled daddy!

Joshua Ethan ~ a little bit of heaven on earth!

Hugs and Kisses~ Grammie Sandy and Papa Ray