Melissa's Wedding

this past weekend was very eventful. My niece, Melissa got married in the temple in New Mexico and Daryl and I decided to drive down to the wedding. We left on a Friday morning and drove for 12 hours with a couple of short stops to Amy's house, another niece, to stay with them while we attended the festivities in New Mexico. Amy and her family were such gracious host, they gave up their bed for us because the air mattress hurts Daryl's back. they feed us and we all had a great time visiting and playing with their two daughters Abby and Emma. As you can see they are so cute. That alone Almost make the long drive worth it




Saturday afternoon the wedding occured in the Albuquee New Mexico Temple (I know I spelled it wrong) it was a beautiful day for such a perfect event. We didn't have to wait too long for Melissa and Jeff to come out of the Temple for pictures. But here is a picture of Daryl and I in front of the New Mexico Temple while we were waiting for them.




Here is a picture of the newlyweds. The ceremony was very beautiful and well done. the Sealer's name was Bro. Waddoups. Daryl and I talked to him afterwards and it turns out it is a small world because he was a cousin to Senator Waddoups here in Utah who is our Senator for the State Legislature. We know Senator Waddoups very well and have worked with him a lot on his campaigns over the years.




On the way home, to help break up the trip, we stopped for a few minutes just outside of Moab at Wilson's Arch and walked around to stretch our legs and get pictures. Here is one of Daryl in front of the Arch.

Easter 2010

Easter this year was a lot of fun. All the family was able to come over for dinner, except for Sean, Monica, Ayden and Gavin (they were greatly missed) and Chris was with his family and not able to come over. (Chris went home on the 9th of February for a trial period) Anyway we had the usual ham and au gratin pototoes, with a delicious lettuce salad that Candis made with strawberries in them, and aspargus that Becky brought that she spiced up with lemon pepper. they were delicious. After the meal we had Mary Elizabeth's famous eclair pie that is to die for. We ate and then sat around and was entertained by the grand children.




Here is a picture of Becky with a couple of her roommates that she brought with her to enjoy the Easter celebration.




It was so much fun watching the grand children play together. Here are some pictures of them deciding that my snow boots would be a fun toy. They had to each try them on and then they became a place to hide toys. I think I had better check my boots before the next storm to make sure there are no more toys in them.




Here is a picture of Penn, trying to walk with my boots on.





Here is a picture of Logan, trying on my snow boots.



It was a great day, I sure do love all my family. Maybe next year we will be able to get everyone together.

Meet Chris

We finally decided it was time for everyone to meet the new addition to our family. His name is Chris and we are his foster parents. Chris has been living with since October, 2009 and is so fun to have around. Chris used to be one of Daryl's scouts 4 years ago and needed someone to help him out. We were glad he thought of us and we were able to be there for him. What a great young man Chris is, but one thing for sure a teenage boy is different than a teenage girl. Chris is constantly hungry and it is a standing joke that whenever I come home from anyplace, Chris will greet me with Hi Gayelene I'm hungry. Doesn't matter if he just ate or not.
Chris has a great sense of humor and he has certainly brought a lot of laughter into our home. He is doing great in school with his recent report card grade point average of 3.5 - way to go Chris.
We don't know how much longer we will be blessed to have Chris live with us, but he has forever left his mark in our home, family and life. We love ya Chris

District Award of Merit

This past weekend Daryl received a District Award of Merit Scouting Award. Of nine districts involved only nine people received this award. We were invited to go to a scout banquet and Daryl thought it was just a way for the scouting district to say thank you for his 30 years of service. Unknown to him, I had been working behind the scene with the Stake Young Men's President for Daryl to receive the District Award of Merit for his service to the Scout program and community. Anyway on Friday, January 22, 2010 we headed over to the stake house for the banquent. Daryl was quite surprised when Joe, Candis, Alexis, Spencer, Mary Elizabeth, Logan and Penn showed up. I think that got him wondering way. Anyway they served a really nice Prime Rib dinner and then started the Award ceremony.

Here is a picture of Daryl when he actually received the award. When they were giving him the award they read off a long list of things that Daryl has accomplished not only in scouting but also he his personal life. What a great man!




As part of the award ceremony, Dad was asked to sign a song. He broke right into "I used to be a bear" - this is a wood badge song and most of the congregration joined with him in song. It was pretty neat.




I am so proud of Daryl and his accomplishments - way to go and I sure love you

Merry Christmas

For Christmas this year the entire family went up Mary Elizabeth and Spencer's house for Christmas. We all got there on Christmas Eve and had a nice dinner and played games late into the night. The next morning Ayden got us up bright and early, He is 3 years old now and so excited for Christmas. This is one of those Christmases that I will always remember it was a joy being around family and grand kids are the absolute best.

Every time we have a family Christmas - Becky and Monica like to make some kind of a gag gift to for us to open on Christmas year. One year they made matching pj bottoms, another time we got matching pillow caes. this year they made matching tee shirts using a old family picture and photo shopping in pictures of Sean, spencer, Joe and Chris (our foster son) I thought it was pretty ingenius and like the idea.



As you can see the girls were much better sports with the cool family teeshirts

Moving and Birthdays

Well we had a long weekend this last week. Sean and Monica Closed on their new home and we went up to help them make the move. We went up Wednesday. We were planning on going up in the morning but before we could get out of here we lost power in the house. Someone crashed their truck into a power pole, one pole away from the one by our house and broke it in half. The lines were down and a fence caught fire on the other side of the street. We had a hard time getting out of our driveway, but finally did. Monica had most things packed up when we arrived and Sean had things pretty well packed in the garage. We took Loaded and unloaded two big uhaul trucks, my van three times and their pickup truck twice, before the Elders quorum got there that night. I was beat, my only consulation was Sean seemed to be really tired as well. Although he helped the elders load and unload the uhaul truck, while I sat around, for the most part. Truth is my wife said I had to stop, but she didn't have to talk to hard.

I am getting ahead of myself, the first night we just watched the little ones, while Sean and Monica packed a little. Then we went to Seans baseball game and were entertained both by the game and by watching Batman playing in the dirt.



Sean did fantastic at the game, scoring 3 of the 14 runs they had, stopping many balls at third base and busting open his finger. They won I think 14 - 3. Good job Sean.

Monica did get a little carried away on her packing. She was very efficient maybe too much so. Because latter we found Ayden a little surprised in one of the boxes.



Gayelene had brought up a quilt she had made for Gavin. She was very proud of it and Gavin seemed to enjoy it as well. I think Gavin slept through most of the move, which was his job anyway. I can't believe how good my grandchildren are.

We just puttered around the next day, unpacking and putting things together and organizing. I think we only had a couple of small loads the next day, but I enjoyed so much working with Sean putting things together and doing little odd projects. We put together their new Ikea dresser, the crib, their bench, cut down the tv entertainment center and moved boxes around in the house and garage. I must have carried and hiked the stairs a hundred times that day. But it was amazing how much we got done, when the four of us went to work.

I have a story to tell too. During the move when all the elders got to their house we were waiting around to head over to the apartment to get that load. We were standing around in the garage, when Ayden came out of the house to the garage and announced at the top of his lungs, "That is my Grandpa" and points at me. Nobody was listening, so he yelled it again and again, until everyone knew. I was beaming from ear to ear. I love my Grandchildren.

Sean and Monica took such good care of us, we had fun with them, ate like kings, and worked like slaves, and totally loved every minute of it. It was hard to leave, but we left tired and happy. The house is beautiful and they are in. Congradulations.

Next we made it to Spencer and Mary Elizabeths, for the boys birthday. We got there and they fed us dinner and we talked for awhile in the new basement with Aunt Wendy and her husbad. Becky was there and she had made a cake for the boys. It is a transformer cake. We sang the boys happy birthday and Becky puts this big piece of cake in front of both boys. It was more like four pieces of cake and let the boys have at it.



Pen went to it like it was his last piece he would ever have and loved it, kind of made a mess of himself and the whole kitchen. At one time picking up the whole piece and stuffing it in his face.



Logan was different he played with it but kept teasing us looking like he was going to eat a piece and then setting the piece down. Finally he got a bite and then he liked it. But still ate it with one pinky finger in the air. The perfect gentleman.



Of course after cleaning the boys up there was presents to open and play with.



They both had a great time and were a joy to watch.





We loved our time with everyone, but boy were we worn out. What a great thing to visit everyone, and what a great thing to get home and rest.

Vacation

As you may or may not know Dad and I just got back from a wonderful vacation to visit Candis, Joe and Alexis. Alexis is just as cute as ever, smiling all the time and was a joy to be around. Candis and Joe took us all over the place and we got to see so many sites. Here are some pictures that we took but they are not in any order. Check out Candis' blog for additional fun things that we got to do. We basically went to 4 different sites - Philidelphia, Washington D.C., New York and Gettysburg. I have never been to the first three places and Daryl hasn't been to any of the places, so it was all new and a great experiences to see.

We spend a day in New York City and saw many amazing things. Here is a picture of Dad and I at the Empire State building. While in New York we rode the subway, and train. We saw the Empire State Building, Ground Zero, Time Square, Grand Central Station and ate a hot dog from a street vendor in Central Park. It is an amazing place and the people in New York were really willing to help you find the different locations and help get you on the right subway. I was not expecting that, I heard that New York people were not nice and you shouldn't bother them because they would be rude. But thank goodness that wasn't the case.



We spend the fourth of July in Gettysburg, where Daryl and Joe got to visit the museum. We walked through the cemetery and saw the spot were Abraham Lincoln delivered the famous Gettysburg address. Joe took us around the battlefield and explained what happened during the 3 day battle. Joe is amazing in his knowledge of the Civil War. Thanks for making it come alive Joe. After Gettysburg we went to Liberty Park where you could see the Statue of Liberty and the skyline of New York City and watch the fireworks. What an experience and what a great back drop for the 4th of July fireworks. In the distance we could also see the fireworks going off at Central Park. Thank you Joe for driving into that so we could have that experience.



We spent one day in Washington D.C. that was a lot of fun. We did so much. We saw all the war monuments. the Lincoln, Washington and Thomas Jefferson memorials and also the American History Smithsonian. We visited the National Archives were we saw the original Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights and even ate a hot dog from a street vendor. The following picture is of Candis, Alexis and I sitting on the stairs of the Lincoln Memorial. Everyone sits there in the movies so we had to join along as well.



In Philidelphia we visited the Liberty Bell (following picture is of Daryl and I by the Liberty Bell). We saw Independence Hall, and ate at the famous Jim's Steak were we had the original Philly Cheese Steak and it was delicious.



We had a really great vacation and appreciate Joe and Candis for letting us come for a visit and for showing us around. Candis your an excellent tour guide (Joe had to work part of the time we were out there) and so nice of you to go back to different places that you had already been so we could see them as well.