Christmas - (Part Two)

Finally, getting around to post our second half of the Christmas season. After a wonderful visit with Eric, we headed to Stephanie and Brett's to spend Christmas with them. We were able to spend five days and then tried to beat the storm....(not sure that was too smart!!!!...that's another story). We also wanted to spend some time with Rick's family...and there was an added bonus...seeing #10 grandchild, adorable little Kael, blessed by his father! It was a wonderful Christmas: had fun making cookies with Noah and Cooper, time spent with my nephew, Travis, who we hadn't seen in four years, Christmas morning fun, going to temple square to see the lights, and a day visiting Rick's wonderful family! It was fun to see them again!

Cookie making with Noah and Cooper and Christmas morning!
















Visiting Temple Square to see the lights!

Baby Kael's Blessing!


Visiting Rick's brother and sisters!

Christmas - Part One

Christmas came way too fast this year....and left way too fast! My favorite part of the year is Christmas but I seemed to have taken on way too many projects and was actually doing them up until I gave them away! This coming year...new plan....Christmas done by August! :) Eric and Joy came home the Saturday before Christmas and spent the first three days with us! It really didn't seem like long enough because Dad and I had to work Monday and Tuesday so we only really got to be with them for Sunday, Monday night and Tuesday night. It was fun though. Sunday we went to church and then Jason and Lacey and family came over for a early Christmas dinner and gift exchange. It was great being able to open gifts with each other and see the kid's faces as they opened their gifts from us. Then on Wednesday, Eric and Joy headed to her parents and after work, Rick and I, headed to Utah where we spent Christmas with Stephanie, Brett and family. (More posting later on our trip to Utah).


Kaitlyn opening her birthday gifts from us! I think she was excited about her gift!

Opening Christmas Gifts!

Joy and I had fun taking pictures of Olivia after church...She was posing bigtime for us! She is so adorable and cute!

A Great Thanksgiving Weekend!

As the days and years slip by it is wonderful to be able to look back with fond memories on many cherished days. I look forward so much to the time we are able to spend with our children and their little families. This time is so dear to us. Nothing in life is more precious than those minutes and hours.

Thanksgiving gave us some of those precious moments...Matthew and Katie came to visit and we were able to spend time with them and their little guys, Carter and Keegan and also being able to enjoy Jason and Lacey and their family here too made some great family memories! Our Thanksgiving dinner was a yummy one. Katie made some delicious new dishes...sweet potato gnocchi, apple turnovers with caramel, potato casserole made with cream and cheese, and a tasty dressing. It was fun to cook with her in the kitchen and learn some new, fun ideas for cooking!
We went to the Western Heritage Museum so the boys could see the trains. They were fascinated with the large scale electric train sets. The old fashion soda fountain was a great end to the visit. That night we had a pizza night with Jason and Lacey and their children coming over. We also ventured up to the Gingerbread display at the Mormon trail center on Sunday afternoon. All in all it was a wonderful weekend!

I now have proof!

I now have proof that Rick loved our kitty besides what he said or says....Here's the proof! (I found this picture this past week! It's cute...isn't it!)

October Fun!

Stephanie and her boys, Noah and Cooper, were able to come visit the middle of October. We had so much fun with them! We made sure to go see the zoo, Vala's, and Nebraska City

Arbor Day Treehouse Trail.

I never get tired of having my children come with their children to visit. Sometimes (alot of days) it gets very lonely.

Although Rick and I have work to keep us busy...it's family that makes life worth living. We have joined and adjusted to the empty nesters but I remember the joy that my mom had each time her children and grandchildren came to visit whether it be from out of town or those living nearby...it was always such a welcome happiness. I now know how she felt and why!

Family is what life is all about nothing else matters....no blessing in our life is greater and it doesn't change when you are an empty nester....you will always love having your children around you. We want all our children and grandchildren to know how important you are in our lives. We love you all very much!

Nebraska City Arbor Day Treehouse Trail!!!

Playing the wooden xylophones!
There was so much for kids to do from swinging bridges, treehouses, guessing game of animal footprints, logs to climb through, building games, etc. Stephanie's boys had a great time discovering everything!

Our trip to the Zoo

Jason, Lacey and their family (even little Kael) joined Stephanie and her boys and us for a afternoon at the Zoo. We all had a fun time and wish it could have been longer.

Running through the tree roots in the Rain Forest!!! I loved watching my grandkids chase through here. They don't get to spend much time with each other and to see them interact was really fun!

The Gorillas were the hit of the day....but my were they rather scary. One had a staredown with Cooper!








Kaiden's Soccer Game

Jason and Lacey invited us to watch Kaiden's last soccer game of the season. It was fun to see him in his uniform and to see him be such a great little player!






Vala's Pumpkin Patch

I have always loved going to Vala's Pumpkin Patch but haven't been for quite a while....It has changed alot and many, many more people! I think we just picked the busiest day but we did have fun and were able to do alot of fun things.





The Boys loved climbing on the tractors (above), dressing the scarecrows (below) and going down the huge slide that goes down the side of a barn. We fed goats, rode a train, saw a puppet show and had hot funnel cakes (yummmm!) Not too good for the diet but ahh who cares when you are having fun!










Rick, Stephanie and the boys riding the little train. I opted only for the big one!



Riding the big TraiWe love you, Stephanie, Noah and Cooper and are so glad you came...we missed you, Brett! Hopefully, you will be able to come next year! Not the same without you!