moving day

It's time again for Natalie to move out. She moved up towards school to start working. For all of you who worry about her driving--she arrived safely and is enjoying her new location.

rafting

Check out this link for our river rafting in Moab this week, there are 29 shots. more later. http://moabactionshots.com/find_photo2.php?cat=R&src=&lce=354&month=05&day=28&year=2008&pm=&roll=&start_pic=1

Moab

We camped at a great group spot. The little boys rode bikes, played with trucks in the sand and enjoyed smores by the fire
This is a free standing arch that we hiked to. It was beautiful, the hiking and the arch itself. I believe its called morning glory arch although we got there in the afternoon.
some learned a new art of sand/pebble building. Quite fun.

park with cousins

A day at the park with cousins is great fun.

Family picture day

We were able to go and get family pictures with ALL of my family. We had an amazing location. The photographer was great to work with. I can't wait to see what she did. Here are just a few of the ones we snapped with my little camera.

High school graduation

Family support and celebrating

Emily and Evan

Emily graduated with honors, a member of the National Honor Society and has spent her senior year at college in a computers program. She has done well and loves what she has learned about computer graphics and being creative.

Seminary Graduation

girl friends
Cousins through it all.
seminary teacher this year.

happy mom and dad

Emily graduated from seminary with honors having passed off all 100 scripture mastery scriptures this year. She loved seminary and it has strengthened her and blessed her. She also served this year on seminary council which was also a lot of fun. (Dad is handling all this graduation stuff just fine. His third daughter is on her way, whew!) The leis are from cousins Fred and Angie. They are so thoughtful and a much appreciated surprise.

oops

Debbie got a hold of the marker. I don't know if she was aiming at lipstick or what but at least it matches her jacket.

FHE

We got to help with flowers again this year on temple hill. We were pulling out the tulips to make room for the summer flowers. We love helping and temple soil is just so much fun. We had several families there with us and just had a good time.

Elise and I both brought home a bouquet of tulips

eagle project begins

Drew and Peter are working together on an eagle project. They are installing lights up the back path at the temple to guide pageant cast and help with security.

One puppy left!

We are down to just one boy puppy left. He is a sweetheart but will soon find a new home. I am so grateful that they are all finding homes and we will be a one dog family again. It has been fun. No, I do not keep Debbie in the cage with the puppies normally, but today she just wouldn't get out. She must be saying good bye to them too.

New goal

There are out of the way, private parts of my life that eventually become unbearable and I have to face them. It's like a monster in the closet--a little scary and I would rather avoid it but it has gotten out of hand and I need to face it. That is what my storage room has become. It has ceased to serve me and now just causes guilt and frustration. I will clean it. I will let you know when I get it done. I'll show a before and after and you can all cheer me on and maybe I will be ready to tackle the next big project, the garage? Maybe not. If there is something you see that you want, just let me know!

Sim's preschool

Waiting for the ceremony to start. Preschool was held in our library and was a lot of fun for Simeon.

He is the one with his eyes closed, started out a little onery.





He received his graduation certificate, sang songs, said his part of "It looked like spilled milk", and helped break a pinata. It was a lot of fun for all.

Dane gets braces!

On Monday Dane's look changed. Lucky guy got his start on braces. He is still eating soft foods and hungery most of the time. He has used it as an excuse to eat more ice cream. (Like we needed more excuses)

Grandma and Grandpa come for a visit

We played games, visited, watched movies and loved having Grandma and Grandpa here with us. They are so fun and we have missed them.

This was their attempt to smile for a picture. I finally just put it on movie and enjoyed the effort.

Grandma and Grandpa came to Manti for a visit. We loved having them here (even though they cough a lot). I shared Mother's Day with my mom and that was great. While here they got to hear Emily and Natalie talk in church. We had dinner at the park with the Olsen's.

This is the new car they came to pick up. We sure hope it works well for them for a while. Love you both!

Wow, Emily

Yes, my sweet Emily is done with school, graduates from high school on May 23 and is growing up. Yesterday she received a second scholarship which she is very excited about and will help a lot her desire to live in Ephraim next fall.

Today I am most excited about her cleaning. Yes, my Emily is cleaning. She did a day last week where she cleaned and vacuumed the family room! I thought that was going to be it but today she is cleaning the kitchen! She is even cleaning the fireplace. Wow, maybe I will miss her when she moves out. I do appreciate her. She is doing so many good things and looks for opportunities to help others. She is great.

She has also found time to work on her tan and read a few big books. Treat making continues with cookies and popcorn.

New Homes

The puppies received their immunizations, worm pills, check up and are on solid foods. We are now looking for homes for them. Bridget's family gets one and the rest are available to any of you so come and see. They are sure cute and will be great family pets. The vet did agree that they may be part border collie. I think that the border collie/lab mix will be a great dog.

Sunday

Today was a nice, spring day, considering we had snow on Thursday! For awhile Isaac has talked about inviting our neighbor and his friend, Johannes, to come to church with us, and today he came. (He's also pictured with the puppies) As the great missionary that Isaac is, he even got up and bore his testimony, beginning "I love to bear my testimony...." (instead of the usual "I'd like..." --probably did it without thinking, but we enjoyed the little change!). As we ate dinner outside on the porch we talked about the lessons each had learned, Isaac continually said, "Jo can tell that part" or "you tell them Jo". It was so great. He is such a great influence for good for so many. I think we could all learn from him as we try to be better at sharing our testimonies and encouraging others along their path of discovery.

Puppies are ready for a new home

Our puppies are 6 weeks old today. Tomorrow we will get them their shots and then if the vet says okay, they will be ready to find homes of their own. They have been a lot of fun. All the kids have enjoyed them and the neighbor boys are all begging their mom's for one also.

Isaac, Simeon and Johannes tried to help me get some cute pictures to post around. The puppies didn't cooperate much but the boys sure did a good job.

Baby goats

No we don't have baby goats but we did get to visit some. It was our home school boys club--Knights of Freedom that got to milk a goat and feed the babies with a bottle. Debbie didn't enjoy it too much but Isaac sure had fun with the babies. He likes carrying the baby around. The boys group has had a lot of fun reading Farmer Boy and doing some of those things that Almanzo did. There are up to 15 boys that come together every other Friday and have a great time.