New Years Day and After

With New Years Day being on a Sunday.....we didn't really do much of anything exciting.  My darling little Elizabeth decided to do a little cleaning which was so appreciated!  She did a great job!

Daddy spent some time reading to little Robert while Elizabeth looked on.

Before Elizabeth leaves our home on every trip, she has to have s'mores at least once!  It has become quite the tradition.  She helps Grandpa light the fire, gets all the ingredients (graham crackers, chocolate, marshmallows), gets a plate and finds a hanger to roast the marshmallows.  In the summer we are able to do it outside, but during the winter, it is just so much easier and warmer to have our fun indoors.  And I am always amazed that Grandpa is willing to do it every time!

 The next day Grandpa and Elizabeth went for a L O N G hike up the mountain with Bosco.  They were gone for several hours.  They had hiked up a ravine to see where it led. It was new territory for both of them......and they LOVED it!  When we finally called to tell them they needed to head back because it was time to leave for St. George, Elizabeth hugged a pine tree and said she wanted to keep going.  Grandpa finally convinced her to start back.  On the way back she kept scrambling up large rocks.  Grandpa said she was like a goat.....she could climb anything!  He sure loves having a hiking companion!  He is excited for the rest of the grandchildren to get old enough to hike without having to be carried most of the way! 

s-NO-w day

New Year's Eve day was the day Elizabeth decided she wanted to go sledding.  The problem was that there was NO snow!  Grandpa, Bobby, Elizabeth, Dave, Deborah, Colton & I jumped into the Sequoia and headed up the canyon in search of snow.  We found a very little bit near the reservoir and pulled out our sleds.  We made the best out of what there was!

It was a little hard to stay where the snow actually was!

It was so fun to have little Colton with us to play in the "snow".

After playing in the snow....Colton and his daddy took a walk along the road.  He reminded me of Paddington Bear.

So cute!  Such a fun day!

Busy Week....Wonderful Week!

For many, the week between Christmas and New Years is a time to relax and enjoy the quiet after the big celebration while anticipating the noise of another celebration. In our family, during that week, we just continued to enjoy celebrating!

Monday, we had to say goodbye to Bobby as he had to return to St. George for work. Luckily we got to have Holly and the kids stay. He would be back in time for New Years Eve.

Tuesday we all got up early and headed to the Salt Lake Temple to witness the sealing of little Clara to Paul and Amy. It was an emotional time for everyone. What a blessing to have this darling little girl sealed to Paul and Amy for all eternity. And...because of that.....she is a part of our entire family for all eternity. It would not have happened without a remarkable young woman...Kayli...who was willing to so unselfishly put aside her hopes and dreams for a time so that Clara would have all that she now has. We have all come to love Kayli. She will always be a part of our lives. She and her mother, Debra, along with both sets of grandparents, joined us at the temple to witness the sealing. The temple sealer, Brother Adamson, spent some time with her afterwards and promised her wonderful blessings because of what she had done.

After the sealing we went outside to take pictures. We loved seeing how happy Paul & Amy were with little Clara. They had a professional photographer there taking pictures....so I will just show a few of my feeble attempts.

When we were finished at the temple, we were all invited to Amy's parents' home for the baby blessing and a luncheon. Russ & Cheryl Casebolt opened their home to all of us and fed us both spiritually and physically! We had a few minutes to relax while we waited for Paul, Amy & Clara to return from the temple.

Paul gave Clara a beautiful blessing and we were able to take a picture of all those who participated. (It took a few tries, to get one with Clara with her dress covering her!) How wonderful to have 2 grandfathers and 4 great-grandfathers able to join in this sacred event!

After the blessing we all enjoyed wonderful food and company! Amy's family made lasagna, salad, garlic bread and lots of desserts.

Paul spent a little quiet time with Clara during the meal.



What a wonderful day!

But....it wasn't over yet! Paul, Amy & Clara came to our home to spend a few days with us. Clara was ready to relax and just let her hair down while some of the family played games!

Little Robert was fascinated by Clara. He enjoyed spending time with her over the next several days. He helped with her pacifier, gave hugs, and taught how to play the table and eat Pez.

Clara enjoyed a little piano playing, crawling through the tunnels and time at the table.







Doesn't that face say it all?!?
The perfect ending of a perfect week!