Big Changes

It's been a crazy few months for my extended family. In November my Grandpa Jessie, my mother's dad, died. I wish I had some digital pictures of him, especially in his Military Police uniform. They're great and when I get some I'll share a few. Then early this month my Dad's father passed away. They both lived full happy lives and my memories of them are treasures to me. The photo on the left was taken when Grandpa Earl was a young man fishing on the Snake River in Idaho. I've been reading his personal history and here's a small chunk that I loved.

"My earliest memory of Papa is of hearing the front door slam at our home in Lehi, Utah, and of seeing a huge man wearing high-top boots, riding breeches, a leather jacket, and an old felt hat, striding into the living room and calling, "Ruby, I'm home!" I jumped up from where I'd been stacking blocks on the floor, and running to him, I threw my arms around one of those boots. I can still remember the leather laces and the metal lace clips pressing into my cheeks, and the joy of flight as I was carried on the boot foot into the kitchen. There things became a little more crowded as Papa's leg pressed me from the front and Mama's leg pressed from behind. The boots smelled of beet pulp, an odor I love to this day. From the time I was born in 1922 until I watched his casket lowered into the grave at the base of the Wasatch Mountains on May 8, 1942, I was bathed in love by this man."



There's more news about some of the men in my family. We have two new babies since the beginning of the year. My little brother, Brad and his wife had their first little one...a girl. The look on his face says it all.











And my other brother, Greg and his beautiful wife had their fourth child. From what I hear she loves to be sung to and smiles at the sounds and attention.


Daily life in my own house is fun and all, but it's hard to think about those things when loved ones are coming and going with such regularity.

No Title

I had my sewing machine serviced by a nice young man the other day.

The Impossible

We tried to get a group photo of the kids where they're sitting nicely and smiling, but it seems to be an impossible task. Oh well, it would have bothered me if I got a good shot and they weren't wearing something nice and coordinating. I just love Alice's face in these pictures though. She's such a pretty girl...but don't ask me, I'm just her mother.

Connection

Laura hasn't seen many of her cousins in years, but the connection was almost instantaneous.

Eight is Great

Well, my little baby Alice is growing way too fast. Someone gave her permission to turn eight last December and it wasn't me. She was lucky enough to have a handful of grandparents, friends and Primary teachers come to support her at her baptism. She seemed to really understand what she was doing and why. Justin and I are very proud of her and the choices she makes.

Alice with her Grandpa Keith and Grandma Marti...my parents.

The rest of us.

Alice with her Grandma Jeanne (Papa John couldn't make it all the way from Alaska, but she was excited to call him as soon as she got home from the church). In the picture, she holding her new scriptures and wearing her new pearls.

Nothing Really

I have a few things to catch up on blog wise, but for tonight this will be all. Me and Mark hanging out on Christmas Eve.

The Farm 2010, Part One

The trees along the driveway are huge, but they're looking more old and mangy than they used to. Still, it's where many of us first learned to drive. Dad was always happy to stop and let his 10 year old drive up to the house. (My apologies for the picture quality on many of these photos.)
They owners planted spruce trees along the front pasture and now they're huge. This is me peeking through them to catch a glimpse of the house. The front pasture is neglected and forgotten about.

I decided to walk to Ice Age trail to see if I could get a better look at the house in a less creepy manner. This is actually where I ran into the owner while she was walking her dogs. (She didn't see me taking pictures, thankfully.) I struck up conversation and she was delighted to invite me over. She took me into the house and walked me all through the property. It was a dream.

The kennel is now her "animal barn". She has chickens, geese and rosters in there. She sells the eggs and has the front room of the kennel set up like a little shop for the eggs. The inside looks almost exactly the same.

The milk house. I was disappointed to see this little house in disrepair. I didn't have the heart to ask her what she planned to do with it because they took out the studio years ago.

The Rose bathroom. It's still the same, as is much of the house. She kept all of Mom's wallpaper up. All the floors are the same, except the yellow bathroom. She took out that pretty tile that was in there and replaced it with vinyl. I don't get that.

It still comes out.

All of the rock planters and the fire pit are gone. The screen house is gone too and she put a lodge pole swing on the cement slab.

This is coming from the door on the lower part of the barn. Notice the aluminium siding on the barn. The inside looks the same except for the lower garage part. They made a two story, heated, insulated "man cave" in there. They took out the floor of the hay loft and put in a two story garage door. But the barn smelled exactly the same. It was a good smell. The pigeon coop is still there too.

I'm sure most of you remember sitting in the living room looking out the bay window during the snowy winter at the fireworks across the street. I was told that Bartolotta's is no longer allowed to test there fireworks there. The neighbors complained.

Also, Fran was in the guest house until three years ago. They took care of her and never raised her rent. The encouraged her to go live with her son because her health was so bad. The guest house is being redone by their son, who will then live in it. Sorry no picture of that.

I'll post the rest as soon as I can.