Fourth of July Fun!!

We had a very enjoyable Fourth of July.  Of course, it always seems to center around our family but when they are all so GREAT it is hard not to want to be with them.  We totally enjoy them ALL.  However, we did have to celebrate another Fourth without Tiffany.  I think this is probably the third one she has spent away from us.  She definately was missed.  Here are some highlights of our Fourth of July celebrations.

Saturday:  Scott, Amanda and their family invited Mike and I to go hiking with them up the Crimson Trail in Logan canyon.   We hiked approximately 3.5 miles and probably ascended up the mountain about 2,000 feet.  It was a gorgeous hike and the company was priceless.  I was so impressed with my two little granddaughters, Macy and Polly.  The are 7 and 5 years old respectively,  but were amazing little hikers.  They have gained a love for hiking from their Dad.  What a great little family and so fun to be with and enjoy nature.

 After our hike we rewarded ourselves with a delicious treat  from Aggie Ice Cream.

YUMMY!!!

Sunday:  After church, everyone came over for a weiner roast and campout in our backyard.  We had a great time even though the thermometer said we were over 100 degrees that day.  It was nice being able to excape to the air conditioned house for break from the heat. 

 We lit off fireworks that evening.  Uncle Kevin was in charge of the show.  He did a great job!

Monday :  Grandpa cooked us breakfast Monday morning. 

Grandpa cooking our breakfast

Monday evening Mike and I spent a fun time having a cookout at Heidi and Donnie's. Donnie grilled  us burgers, brats, and barbeque chicken. It was delicious and a very relaxing evening.

Easter weekend + FAMILY = Priceless

 

For Easter this year we decided to take our family to Park City to stay at the the Newpark Resort.  It has become one of our families favorite places to stay.  Those of us that could went up Thursday night, while the rest came on Friday.  We did alot of playing in the pool, eating, playing games,  shopping, and having a great time together.  Saturday morning was spent at Hogle Zoo checking out the animals, riding on the Carousel and the train.  There was a cool breeze but for the most part it was a fairly decent day to be at the Zoo.  That afternoon, the grandkids and I colored Easter eggs and decorated cookies.  For dinner that evening, Uncle Kevin took us for a hamburger. We finished the day off making bean bag bunnies and having an easter egg hunt.  Sunday, we woke up to find that the Easter Bunny had been there.  We all cleaned up and everyone headed home to celebrate Easter at home.  It was a wonderful trip and I hope we can continue to make  more great family memories like this one.

Monday while dropping of some items that had been found while we were cleaning up, Polly ran up and gave me a hug and ask,  "Grandma can we go back to Park City tomorrow?"   PRICELESS

Snow White

Waiting anxiously for the play to start

Every year our elementary school puts on a play.  This year the play was Snow White. We had 127 children who participated this year.  Each child wore an adorable costume and had an opportunity to perform on stage.   I have been involved the past 2 years playing the piano for it.  Seeing the amount of time and work that goes into each production, I decided to invite my grandchildren who were 3 years and older to come with me to the play and then spend the night sleeping over with grandma.
We had a fun evening and we look forward to next year's play.

Polly's 5th birthday present

This past week our sweet Polly turned 5 years old.  At the first of the month I asked her what she wanted Grandma and Grandpa to get her for her birthday.  She told me she wanted a teddy bear.  As Grandpa and I thought about what we should get her we decided that it would be the more fun for Polly to make her own teddy bear. 

We then decided to give her a gift card to Build a Bear and then planned a trip to Salt Lake with her to redeem her gift card.

Saturday we picked her up and drove to Ogden where we caught the Front runner train to Salt Lake.

We then took Trax to the Gateway center.  After lunch at McDonald's (her choice)  we went to Build a Bear where she created her new friend "Katelyn".  As you can see it is not a teddy bear but a cute little bunny rabbit. 

Polly and Kately

We then caught the trax back to catch the Front runner train back to Odgen.  It was a fun day for everyone involved.

Happy Birthday Polly!!

An October to Remember

October has had it's wonderful days and it's hard days.  I for one am glad to see that it is over.  It has been so busy that it has been hard to catch my breath.  Here is just a few recaps of this eventful month.  (Please forgive me for the length of this post.)

Oct. 9th-  This was a very busy day as I was preparing for the blessing of the twins.  Heidi and Donnie had decided to have them blessed in our ward and so I was busy getting things ready for this special day and the luncheon.  I had gone to Logan to pick up a few last minute things and then hurried home so that I would be here for Mike's Dad when he came.  He was planning on spending the night with us and was excited to be here for the twins blessing.

 Bill had come to Utah on Friday and had gone done to Roy to stay with David and his family and then came to our home Saturday.  When he got here we decided that we would go have dinner with him at the El Parrel, a favorite mexican restaurant here in Tremonton.  After a nice dinner, with Bill we came back home where Mike and his Dad were enjoying watching some football games.  I was busy getting things done for the luncheon on Sunday and headed to the grocery store to pick up some groceries.

 When I got home I started looking for our 5 gallon water jug for the luncheon.  I couldn't find it and so I had come in to see if Mike knew where it was.  He came out to help me look for it in the shed.  When we came back into the house from the shed, Mike saw that the front door was open and proceeded to close it before going into the tv room to check on his Dad.  When he looked in the tv room, he couldn't  see his Dad so he looked out the window and saw that he was outside getting his things out of the trunk of his car.  Mike said that he turned and watched a play in the football game and then headed out to help his Dad.  When he opened the door he found his Dad crumpled on our front step not responding or breathing.   He yelled for me to call 911 and we proceeded to get him laying flat on the ground and Mike started CPR. 

I was very grateful for the fast response of the emergency crews.  Mike Tueller, our neighbor and a highway patrolman was the first person to arrive and he took over the CPR.  They worked tirelessly trying to revive Bill, but they never were able to.  Bill passed away that evening at our home, even though he was transported to the Bear River Valley Hospital where they tried everything they could to get his heart started again. 

I will forever be grateful for being able to spend that evening surrounded by my children at the hospital, and being able to reminisce about Grandpa Bill by his bedside.  I am so grateful for my children.  They are a blessing in my life.

Bill's passing has left a huge void in our lives at this time but we can not be sad.  He was able to live an active life right up to the end, he didn't suffer, he was with family(which was the most important part of his life), and he was able to join his sweetheart who had passed 19 1/2 years earlier.    Bill left this life at the age of 87.  He had been able to enjoy time with each of his sons the week of his passing.  We feel very blessed to call him Dad, grandfather, and friend.  We love you Bill and you will definately be missed.

Oct. 10th 

Adryana Jo and Abygail Grace's Blessing Day

Today we blessed the twins,  Adryana Jo Morton and Abygale Grace Morton.  It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon.  The sun was shining and we were surrounding with wonderful family members and dear friends.  As hard as the circumstances were,  I know that our Heavenly Father was there with our family.   Mike did a beautiful job blessing the girls, and they looked absolutely adorable and sweet.  They are definately sweet spirits from our Heavenly Father.

I will be forever grateful for a dear friend that took over Saturday evening and finished setting up and preparing our luncheon.    I had called to ask her a question just minutes before Mike discovered his Dad.  Not knowing what had happened she showed up at my door and lifted the responsibility of the luncheon from my shoulders that evening.  Karen, her husband, and mother had everything perfectly set up and ready for us when we got to the school for the luncheon after the blessing. I will never fully be able to express my gratitude to her and her selfless service.

Oct 11 -  Mike and I headed to Idaho Falls to begin preparations for his Dad's funeral.  I am so grateful for the gospel in my life at times like this.  I am grateful for the knowledge that we will be able to be with him again and that our Family can be together Forever. 

Oct. 18-  The Sun was shining and created a beautiful fall day.  It was perfect for Bill's funeral.  It reminded me of the wonderful trip to Salmon that we took with him a year earlier.  In fact, we had talked of another fishing trip for the end of October with him the night he passed away.  I am so grateful for the memories that we have had the last few years camping with Bill.

Bill had served in the Army Air Corp and so they presented military rights at the cemetary.  It was absolutely beautiful and I was so moved by the respect given for his military service.  The flag that draped his casket was presented to his grandson Bobby, who lives with mental disablities and who spent a lot of time with grandpa Bill.  

Here are a few of the pictures taken that day.



Mike and his brothers



Our Family





 

Oct. 29-  Tiffany had foot surgery.  We have been trying for several years to find a time that we could slow Tiffany down long enough to get her foot taken care.   We finally were able to do just that.  We found a good doctor that we felt was the right fit and she is now recovering.  She will be totally off of her foot for 6 to 8 weeks but hopefully by Christmas she will be gettting around again. 

Oct 30 -  Grandma's Halloween Party

Every year I love to host a Halloween party for my Grandchildren. I love to play see them in their Halloween costumes, play with them, and even dress up with them. This year we decorated oranges to look like Jack-o-lanterns, played games, broke a pinata, and ate Pumpkin guts ( Macaroni & Cheese), Witches fingers (breadsticks) and had Spooky Milk (Chocolate milk) for lunch. We also, decorated cookies and did a little Trick or Treating.