The Old Sycamore Tree

I have to tell about our European Sycamore Tree. 25 years ago when we moved into our home I wanted a fast growing shade tree so I went to the wise one, my grandpa Wright and asked for his advise. He told me the European sycamore tree is the best. I asked " isn't that the type that has the fuzzy balls on it?" "Oh no it doesn't have those." So I search high and low and found one. We planted it and it took of just as he said. It gave us shade the second year. A few years later my grandpa passed away and I was grateful for the tree to remind me of him. A year or so later we had a bad bad wind storm that blew the tree in half, we were sure it was dead and so Kris cut it down to almost nothing. Low and behold in the spring we saw life in the tree. It flourished beautifully but with one flaw, it started growing those fuzzy balls........I sure do have some things to tell grandpa when I see him again!!! We never let our kids climb it much cuz it was so fragile when they were growing up. But when the grand kids came along.....well it became the climbing tree, and we even kept a small pool ladder to help them get in the tree. Since we won't be around the tree for much longer I had to get a picture of the grand kids in the "tree". I will miss this old tree, and I hope and pray that there will be other children climbing this tree again one day, it really likes to be climbed in, I can feel it does. I know that sounds a little crazy but it is true. I love the old sycamore tree fuzzy balls and all.

Finally Finished (for now anyway)

We started this painting project about two months ago. Starting in the bathroom.....we painted tore out the old tile and layed new tile and then decided we wanted to hang bead board, I painted the cabinets and our wood medicine cabinet...because we ended up doing more than we planned it took a while. We then went on to the living room, I love my vaulted ceilings, except when it comes to painting them. We two toned paint and with a very high vaulted ceiling thats not fun. When we got into the kitchen we decided to hang bead board there as well and I LOVE it! We got the kitchen 3/4 done and it seemed like something always came up and I could never get it finished. But this last Thursday we were able to get going on it. It seems like when you start a small project it turns into something major. Carrie brought over a folding door she had in her garage she wanted to cut up for a project she was doing, well Kris wanted to paint it and put it on our pantry, but it was to small It had two beautiful etched glass pieces on it, so we figured out how to fit it on our pantry door and the results were beautiful, but it took us two days to fit, cut, glue and paint it. Then we worked on the last of the painting, and I am happy to report it is done! I want to paint my bedroom and the office but that will wait a while. Here are some pic's. I also made a tie rack and necklace holder from the slats off my old pantry door.

The Tender Mercies of the Lord

The Tender Mercies of the Lord

December

There are so many things to be grateful for all year but in December we reflect a little stronger and harder than normal. First I am thankful for my wonderful husband and the fact he took me and our four children to the Ogden Temple December 5, 1992 and we were sealed for all eternity. I love him with every fiber of my being. Second I am grateful for ALL my children, that includes my three daughters and thier wonderful husbands (Jen and Jim--Liz and Lon---Carrie and Brock) who are my "sons" and also my son who lives in Chicago, I miss the old Jeff very much. Then what can I say about my grandkids, just that they are perfect and it is amazing how I love them all, and can't wait for Carrie and Brock to give me more. Kris and I will be married 39 years on December 23. It has been an amazing adventure right from the begining. I love my life.

Grey's River Vacation

Just a few pic's and journal from our Grey's River Wyoming Vacation. We left home on Friday , August 7th, a day before the others and traveled to Soda Springs Idaho where we stopped to get gas at a maverick. Kris got back in the suburban and it wouldn't turn over....so...he worked on it until it started.....luckily he is a really good mechanic and can fix almost anything. We drove to Alpine Wyoming and spent the night at a RV park...our last night of civilization for a week. By the way the suburban wouldn't start again when we stopped at the RV park. . but Kris got it going...again.

Yes it was cold!

We headed out for Grey's River Saturday morning and it started to rain, and that was okay because it meant less dusty roads. Our GPS (Birdie as we call her) said we had 42 miles (of dirt roads) til the ranger cabin. My daughter and son-in-law rented the ranger cabin for the week. We usually take 110 gallons of water up with us because I HAVE to shower and shave my legs everyday! (I know TMI). There was running water at the ranger cabin this year, so our load was much lighter. The drive in was so beautiful. Kris decided to stop and check things out and turned off the engine and well guess what...yup..it wouldn't start. It was pouring rain and he had to get out and get it going... again. We got to the ranger cabin, and the rest of the group who left home Saturday morning came in a different direction got there about 10 minutes after we did. We had a great week of eating and fishing and reading (thanks Lois Lovell for the great book you loaned me) and hiking up to a beautiful lake, I might add STRAIGHT UP a mile and a half to the lake! The deer were at camp every night and most mornings. The cabin had a shower but the toilet was broke so everyone else had to use the outhouse. I was thankful for my trailer.

The deer wanted to join us for breakfast!

On our way out we got a flat tire....and the jack broke, but knowing Kris he brought another jack with us, he can fix or "McGuiver" anything!!! We lost one of the stabilizer jacks to the trailer, but our daughter was behind us and found it and picked it up for us, rough road out!! We came home and cleaned the trailer and washed clothes and then Kris and I went to Crystal Hot Springs and camped there for another four days. All the kids and grand kids came up on Sunday afternoon for dinner and I made tacos, it was fun. We finally got home Monday August 17th. Ten nights in the trailer was fun but I am so glad to be home, even though I had a trillion voice mails and e-mails to come home to!! Kris and I really had a great time!

July 4th Fun......

This is just a bit of the fun we had on the 4th... We had a great BBQ in the afternoon on our new deck. We went to Clearfield for the fireworks and the band "Imagine" (Beatles impersonators) performed and it was so much fun. My grand kids took turns spending the night this week and we made red and blue pancakes for breakfast. The video was of a dare put on my granddaughter to run across the tarp on the pool, of course she sunk, it is shaky because I was laughing so hard. The other pic's are of Carrie, Liz (my other daughter) and Lon (her husband) right after they ran a 5k in West Point on the 4th. This was Carrie's first race, good job!! The other pic's are at the West Point parade another granddaughter was in..great day, I LOVE LOVE my family!

Our New Deck!!!

Here are the pic's of our new deck...and I love it sooo much!

There is so much room, two eating areas and a sitting area. We also have an above the ground pool that the picture was too dark ( I guess I was facing the sun when I took it)

We have already had a few BBQ's and will be having lots more!