It's the Holiday Season...2012

 I am a little behind on updating my post...but here goes! What a great Thanksgiving to have such great people together to enjoy feasting and family. Included in our festivities this year was Denice and we so enjoyed having her join us!

                          Haven't we got some crazy and awfully cute boys in this family!?!

 I feel bad that we can't all sit together but the next best thing is a few added tables and little chat groups!

 Decorating our tree...Dad just loves (not) stringing the lights but he does such a good day and adds so much to the beauty of our tree.

 Displaying our new 2012 ornament...a Hallmark Snoopy Jutebox one. Of course, the Mickey's Countdown was added to our tree on the 1st.

 Our finished tree! Isn't it amazing how beautiful a lit tree can make a room! I love it. I love Christmas!!

 Another day I constructed the Christmas Train...a family favorite. I loved how the grandchildren would lay on the floor when they were little and watch the train go around and around!

 Christmas Movie Day at the District. Today our movie selection was "The Rise of the Guardians". It was fun and I think everybody enjoyed themselves!

 Nothing like a movie, popcorn, and drinks. While I was out at Cheryl's I took the girls to see "Wreck It Ralph" as they had already seen "The Guardians".

 My Christmas Village with a new house added. The village has now grown to the upstairs window seats and the downstairs window in the exercise / family room.

 The house lit up. Next year we may add a few more outdoor lights but I like what we have right now. Welcome to our home!

 The back is lit up and decorated also. I added a wreath to the deck but it is hard to see with the other lights glowing.

 We spent the day in Chicago on the 10th and ...Whoops! I forgot to rotate this photo of Abigail and Maddy in front of the American Girl Store. We had a fun visit there and I bought Maddy's late birthday gifts there for her Biddy Baby.

 Yep, Abi and I standing on the glass deck 103 stories up at the Sears Tower! Cheryl and Maddy made it out there, too! What a view of Chicago!

 After we visited the Sears Tower (called the Willis Tower now) we visited the very interesting Chicago "Bean".

 The Chicago skyline and us reflected in the Bean. It was pretty cool. The park was the one I would have finished the Chicago Marathon in if it had not been closed down. We were all going to meet near here.

 The Christkindl Market in Chicago. German craftsmen sell their items here...they are invited by the city of Chicago to come here for this event. I bought another Nutcracker here to add to my collection.

It was so much fun to celebrate Abi's birthday with her. Two days after, Cheryl gave her an awesome Christmas theme party for her and 7 friends. She made these elve hats for all the kids and had so many fun things for the children to do in Santa's Workshop. Doug was Santa Claus and did a great job. Abi is telling Santa what she wants for Christmas! What a fun trip I had!

October 2012

 On October 13th we had a little birthday party for Papa and afterwards I wanted to take pictures of everyone and try out my new camera. Aren't Brent, Karen, and Matthew adorable? (We missed Tyler who was celebrating Homecoming and Alex who was in Peru!))

 Next we have those "cutie-pie sexy-pants" Floyd's...Dan, Stephanie, and Courtney! (McKenna had things going on that day, too.) Greg...I feel really bad because I didn't know it at the time but I forgot to push the shutter all the way down when I took yours, Austin's, and Logan's pictures. I will have to take another one of you guys soon!

 I had this Halloween vinyl lettering sitting around for a couple of years. Last year Steve (Maureen's hubby) cut out the board for me and I finally got it painted and completed on the 18th!!

This past Saturday, the 20th, Maureen and I had our own "Super Saturday" (my ward Relief Society didn't have a craft one this year) and we made these adorable craft items...ideas Maureen had. The Halloween craft is a large block that says "Count Down To Candy" and the top blocks have numbers on them for the dates in October. The second craft is a cute little tree for Christmas. It took us nearly all day but what fun!! We added to the fun Blizzards (a treat from Maureen), Nachos, and two chic flicks..."Meet Me In St. Louis" (with Halloween and Christmas scenes) and "You've Got Mail". She spent the night and headed home Sunday morning. It was a great weekend!

It was fun having Cheryl and the girls out to visit, do fun things together, and be a part of Alex's mission activities. Then I traveled out with them to Kenosha to spend a few days. I will be flying back home the day after she starts school...the 5th. I haven't bought a new camera yet so to see pictures of the trip, etc. check out Cheryl's blog.

Bard country - July 18, 2012

This week Dad (Jim) and I are enjoying some Shakespeare at the Utah Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City with Grandma.

Monday evening I went to the outdoor play "The Merry Wives of Windsor". It was so funny and one actor really stole the show plus a guy who played the part of Falstaff. During intermission a young girl from our ward saw me (I didn't see her) and came over to visit. She is an awesome young lady...reminds me a lot of McKenna...such a darling personality and a strong testimony of the gospel. It was so fun to see her...she is here on a Governor's Award activity and is seriously thinking of going to SUU. After she left to go back to her seat there was a raucous up above me in the balcony and everyone was looking back to see this guy and girl hugging and kissing. Then a guy with them yelled down that the guy had just asked the girl to marry him and she said Yes! Then they got applause from the audience!

Yesterday Dad and I went to the indoor theatre to see "Scapin" (pronounced Scapan)...and we about rolled off our seats the whole time with laughter. It was a play written by a man who lived around the time of Shakespeare.

This afternoon we will go see a play in the indoor..."To Kill A Mockingbird".Tonight I will go to the outdoor theatre to see Shakespeare's "Mary Stuart"(Mary, Queen of Scotts). Thursday we head home.

I still have not been able to get my blog to work on my desktop so Cheryl suggested I try my laptop and it works...I just don't have pictures to put with my post. Sorry!

I AM BACK!

Hi everybody!! Cheryl helped me get my blogspot up and running!...So I am back! The problem was that blogspot had a new format and I thought something was wrong with my computer or rather my blog. But she figured it out and set me up a new background. Thanks, Karen, for your help that you sent. I still couldn't figure it out...so I think it helps having "a helper" that can SEE what's going on and figure out the situation.

I am having a great time at Cheryl's! The first several days we did a Harry Potter marathon. We finished the last movie before Abi got home from school on Friday. Cheryl had Hogwarts classes and treats such as Butter Beer, etc. to go with the movies. Yesterday (Saturday) we had a Barnes and Noble day. We went to the store and bought each other a book (Cheryl, Abi, and me), had a pastry at the store (I have always wanted to do that!), and then came home to a little book party here. I brought my camera with me but Cheryl has taken all the pictures so she will post them on her blog when she gets a chance. Suffice it to say...I AM HAVING ALOT OF FUN! In a few days we will be leaving for Mackinaw Island. See you all later when I have more to post.

Hope of America

The Hope of America program was performed on Tuesday evening, the 17th in the Marriott Center at BYU. We were invited by Stephanie and Courtney (and McKenna and Dan) to meet them to see the program and because Courtney wanted to sing a special song to her Grandpa for his military service. That meant so much to him! Stephanie's photos are so much better than mine! I only took a few as I just felt like my camera was doing a not so good job of taking photos. But I thought I would share 2 of them just for fun! Above are the "Green Guys" playing their drums. They were really good ands it was fun watching and listening to them.

Above the flag is made up of students...I don't know how many but alot! Courtney was in the middle section in the top yellow area just off the aisle on the right side as you look at the picture. She had a white flower band in her hair so it made it easy to see her. The program was so good and we were so glad we got to go. I love our country! And I love Courtney! Thanks for inviting us!

The King Easter Party and Egg Hunt...April 7, 2012

Enjoy some pictures from our King Family Easter Party and Egg Hunt! We started out with lunch on the Floyd deck. Then the Easter Bunny hid the eggs and then the hunt began! It was alot of fun and the kids got their fill of eggs with treats and surprises...enough to fill their baskets/bags...whatever they were using to collect the bounty.

Part of the Easter "feel" was having real live bunnies as part of the day! Courtney has some very cute little friends. McKenna is cuddling one of the lucky ones.

Here is a close-up of cute little bunny teeth!

Dan catching som rays! It was such a nice day. cool enough to wear a hoodie but warm enough with the sun out to get a sunburn.

The kids checking out their "loot". Courtney is siting at the table and was color-coordinating her eggs or organizing the candy or something like that. It was adorable!

Easter Party...April 7, 2012

Navy Blue and Gold Over the St. George Skies

This weekend (Saturday, March 17) we decided to go down to St. George with Greg, Angie, and the boys to see "Thunder Over Utah" air show. The featured guest was the Navy Blue Angels presision flying team. This was their first time to perform in Utah! We hadn't seen them in many years and thought a little Navy would be fun! And it was. We had so much fun with Gerger Meister Meister Berger and the family!! Above...a little photo shoot of Logan and Austin in front of Blue Angel #7. Logan was thrilled to see Navy stuff!

Me and my cuties! I had a really good day and felt so full of energy. I was grateful.

The Blue Angels #1-6...the flying team ready and waiting to perform. I was so excited to watch them.

Before the show we walked around to look at a few different planes on display. Here's Austin and Logan standing in front of a Russian Mig.

The first performance was done by an Air Force jet. I can't remember what kind of fighter it was but it is a new one. The pilot did a fantastic show!

This is a Marine Osprey. It is a helicopter and plane in one. Right now it is hovering with the propellars upright like a 'copter. When it is ready to fly faster the wings go down to the sides. Pretty cool!

This was a small plane and the pilot did stunts that were amazing! He has won First Place two years in a row in the U.S. for his show and abilities!

Logan in Navy dress modeling the sweatshirt we gave him for his birthday purchased from the Navy Exchange at Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Chicago (Waukegan). He looks pretty chipper!

The Blue Angels (#'s 1-4) heading for the ceiling! Awesome!

The Navy's Blue Angels! What a fun show and a great time except that the weather turned for the worse midway in to their show. As you can see it is very cloudy and a dirt storm got stirred up with the heavy winds. I am glad they were able to perform safely. I am really glad we went!

A Visit from Chery, Abi, and Maddy...February 2012

It was so fun to have Cheryl , Doug, and the girls come out to visit! Even though we couldn't do alot we still did some fun things and so here are a few pictures of their visit to Santaquin.

A early birthday for Cheryl...just had to celebrate while she was here...even with a burning candle in her Blizzard!

Cheryl and her gifts from Pa and I...a movie we like and a card for more books for the bookworm!

Abi loved playing in the snow! So glad they brought her snow clothes with them....brrrr.

Abi and I at the piano. We made a lot of noise but had so much fun! Another budding pianst?

I think you all agree that Maddy is the little apple of our eyes?! What fun to watch her at work!

Saying goodbye is always hard to do...but it has been so much fun for our family to enjoy time with them. Au revoir....