Memorial Day Weekend

Last Saturday our little family drove to Nephi and hooked up with Matt' mom Ellen, his sister Mindy and her girls, and Matt's aunt Laura for a day of Memorial Day grave visiting. My little girls were so excited to see their cousins, they love playing with cousins. We went to the Nephi Cemetery first and then we headed to Sanpete County.

We visited Fountain Green, Moroni, and Spring City cemeteries together. It was a fun morning. I love Sanpete County, I could so live there. I got to see Orson Hyde's grave (he was one of the original 12 apostles in this dispensation with Joseph Smith), it was very cool. We also took a picture of one of Ellen's grandfathers headstones and all of our children. Oh, I forgot, Emiko and her kids met up with us also. Anyway, we got a cool picture of that generation, meaning Kelsey and crew, with the headstone. It is amazing because Kelsey and all the kids are 8 generations down from him, amazing!

The worst part of the trip was when we were leaving the Moroni cemetery. Kelsey and her cousin Judd were stomping on spiders on the cement holding the headstones and I had told them to stop a few times. Kelsey was getting really close to getting a Wayne County Whoopin so I grabbed her arm and told her to stop it and I meant it. She then said VERY loudly "But mom, I am killing the spiders and the bugs so they won't go in the ground and eat the human bodies!" There were ALOT of people at the cemetery paying their respects to loved ones and decorating graves that heard my little muskrat say that. I ducked my head, grabbed her arm, and we walked very quickly to the truck. She got a little talk about being respectful at cemeteries and she said she was being respectful, she really was worried about the people in the ground. Then we had a little talk about how people are buried and what is inappropriate to say. She wasn't trying to be a booger, honestly. I hope we didn't ruin anyone's day at the cemetery!

On Monday we attended the Memorial Day service at the Lyman cemetery. It was nice but the wind was horrible. Every year they choose a grave to perform the gun salute over and honor. This year they honored a kid named Dustin Turner. I say kid because was quite a bit younger than me, but he was still a man when he died. He had served in the Middle East and had served his country. I am such a patriot at heart, so of course I cried.

What is mine is also Kendal's

Wow, a week since my last post! We went away for the long long weekend and yesterday all I did was laundry and tried to get things back in place. Today is a little more relaxed and the weather is crumby. I was supposed to weed wack today, darn it!

It has been 2 weeks today since Kendal got her cast off, and just yesterday she started walking flat footed. She has been walking on her tip toes because her ankle joint is so stiff and her ligaments and tendons tightened up on her. But yesterday was the break through day, she walked on her entire foot not just those sore little toes! She has been doing pretty good today, but when she is in a hurry, she gets back on her toe. You should see that girl run, it is amazing she can move so fast on her toes!





I got this foot massager for Christmas and we broke it out again last week to soak poor little Kendal's foot. I thought it would help loosen it up and make moving it easier. I think it helped, but Kendal sure enjoyed the massager anyway. She liked the jets button, the vibrate button, and the bubble button. Kelsey had to have a turn too, after Kendal went to bed.





We put my ankle socks on Kendal's casted foot because they fit pretty well. My socks worked great until she either went down in the basement and slid across the concrete, or went outside and scooted down the sidewalk. My socks didn't stand a chance against that abuse, so one afternoon Matt wrapped her cast and holey sock with duct tape. Wow, my respect for duct tape has increased immensely. It can withstand my daughter and my driveway for at least 10 minutes!


I had a great excuse to go buy myself new socks last week. Kendal used and killed every pair I had but one nice bamboo fiber pair that I only let her wear to church once because they were nice and really white!

Kendal Kendal

My sweet little Kendal turns 3 years old today. So here is to Kendal Ree.

This is the day Kendal was born, we went to the park on main street for me to walk out my contractions. I hate being in pain at home, the outdoors is much better! Kelsey and Matt played on the swings while I walked and breathed all morning. My parents were at my sister's house in Lehi because we had helped her build a fence the day before, so they came up and took Kelsey for the afternoon while we, no I , had a baby.

We went to the hospital around 1:00 in the afternoon and Kendal was born around 7:00 that night. So sweet. My parents brought Kelsey to see her new sister and then they took Kelsey and went home, to Lyman. We didn't find out if Kendal was a boy or a girl, but we were thinking boy. We were surprised when she was delivered and Dr Berg said a pretty little girl had just emerged!

On our way home from the hospital, so cozy in her HUGE car seat!

Matt loves babies asleep on his chest. Kendal is just a day old here, in both of these pictures. So sweet, I love new babies.

Kelsey stayed with my parents for 5 days and then they brought her back up to Heber City. It was so nice to be home with just a new baby. Kelsey was sure our new baby's name was Serena and she was not happy when my mom told her otherwise. My mom decided not to fight her about the name and just let her see her new Kendal sister, not Serena, when she got home to Heber. Matt was so happy to have his little family together so he had a great plan to sleep out on the living room floor. It was a good idea, but Kendal and I slept in my room, but not until we got a few pictures.


Kelsey and Kendal, my two sweet little girls. I was worried when I was pregnant that I couldn't love a second child as much as I loved Kelsey. I thought there was no way, I couldn't have that much love. But motherhood is a funny thing, there is so much love inside of us that we don't even know is there. I love both of my girls so much.

Kendal's First Musical Production

The Kindergarten and the preschool classes at the school Kendal goes to (different than Kelsey's school) had a musical program yesterday. So dang cute! When I walked in, there was my little girl sitting so nicely on the stage steps with all the other kids. I was so proud of her. They all had to have been there for 10 minutes and by the time the program started, she was wiggly. During the second song she really started to bother the little girl sitting right by her and kept touching her. Kendal then ended up on one of the preschool teacher's lap. That is where she stayed for the rest of the 45 minute program.

I couldn't get very good pictures because I didn't want to get close enough for her to see me or that would be the end of the program for her! She did so well, she sang the ZOO ZOO ZOO song pretty well and Wheels on the Bus. Other than that, she sat nicely and listened to the kids. She is growing up and it is great. Her third birthday is tomorrow. WOW. Maybe when she is three she will start talking and going to the bathroom! Maybe.

To the bridge and back

For play group last week we met at the Southfield Park and rode, walked, strollered, bladed, or whatever to the Legacy Bridge and back. It was the perfect day, not too hot and not too cold. I got some great sun and I am sure everyone is a little appreciative of that because my legs sure need some sun.


Kendal loves to ride on my bike with me. She will sometimes give me the tightest bear hug around the waist and sometimes she likes to try to pull off my pants. She thinks that is the funniest because she knows she is being naughty. This is the day after her cast came off, HALLELUJAH!!


All the kids had a super time and were happy to get back to the snacks and water when we were finished. We have such a fun little playgroup and I am so glad that I have such fun 'mom' friends here in Heber City.


On our way back to the park, what a super day it was. Poor Kelsey had ZOO day with all the Kindergarten classes at her school and missed this one. She will not by happy when she sees this post!

Prince Charming

The girls and I went for a walk yesterday and as we were walking we noticed white pellets on the sidewalk. I had just seen the lady fertilizing so I told Kelsey that those white things were poison to people but it helped the grass grow. Kelsey said, "What will happen if I eat that poison?" I said "Well, what happened when Snow White ate the poisoned apple?" She waited a minute and then said "Well, my dad is my prince, he could wake me up."
I love it that Kelsey thinks her dad is her prince, I guess he is for now.

not much

Not much new here - water pipe broke in the basement while I was outside for a 1/2 hour or more, I scratched (badly) the new bed liner in my husband's NEW truck, I found out how very cool the Solid Waste Transfer Station is today, I missed my cute friend Stacie's wedding reception tonight, missed the triathalon I was supposed to help with today and yesterday because of my sick Kendal, got a sweet new sewing station in my computer room, ate coleslaw for dinner tonight - that about does it.

Life is good, the sun is shining

The weather is wonderful in Heber City, Utah! Today was very nice and so was yesterday. We have been outside and it has been great. I really need to mow and weed wack, but I think that will not get done until next week. Oh well.
Here is Kendal on the trampoline yesterday. I had to take a picture of her jumping with her NON WEIGHT BEARING cast on because she got it taken off today. HOORAY! You have NO idea how wonderful this event is. I have been packing her around for 6 weeks, or else she has crawled and drug that poor leg around, or, like the last 2 weeks, she has been walking on it. She has some MAJOR calluses on her little toes from scraping, rubbing, and walking on them. She has been a good sport, but I am ready for this chapter to be over. I also need to go get a massage, I have this horrible 'carry Kendal knot' under my shoulder blade!

Kelsey and Jacob were playing in our neighbors yard yesterday. They were catching butterflies. When they saw me taking their picture, they posed and hid their 'farmer rigged' bug catching net. Kelsey has a net, but of course it was not long enough, so they got a few sticks and taped the sticks onto the bug net to make it longer. It was so funny to see this flying pink net over the top of the fence trying to find a butterfly.

Derek and crew were also out yesterday in nice weather. They have been shooting their bows every chance they get. It has been fun to see them not know anything about bows, buy them, shoot them, and then 'Robin Hood' their arrows because they are getting so good.

She is so dang cute, and she loves being outside. Now that her cast came off today, we are going to play in the sand box tomorrow. She loves to play in the dirt. She was outside helping me weed a few weeks ago until I saw her getting a handful of dirt and watching it fall into her cast!! Life is good now, I guess it always has been.

ABC 123 da da da

My friend Jenn ABC tagged me, so here it goes. Sorry it took so long Jenn!

ABC Tag
A - Attached or Single: Attached
B - Best Friend(s): Kelsey and Matt
C - Cake or Pie: Apple pie or any fruit pie actually
D - Day of Choice: Tuesday? My birthday? Easter?
E - Essential Item: water
F - Favorite Color(s): purple and green
G - Gummy Bears or Worms: bears
H - Hometown: Lyman
I - Indulgence(s): anything with chocolate and peanut butter
J - January or July:- that is a hard one, I hate the heat, but I love being outside with flowers and kids, but I do like the winter, July I guess, I said that for my mom - she would be so disappointed if I said January
K - Kids: 2 princesses
L - Life is incomplete without: my family
M - Marriage Date: Dec 1995
N - Number of Siblings: 1 big brother and 1 little sister
O - Oranges or Apples: apples, I HATE peeling oranges
P- Phobias or Fears: not a fan of snakes, I am claustrophobic in a bad way
Q - Quote: "Yeah Yeah Yeah BOB"
R- Ring size: 8ish
S - Season: SPRING or FALL or maybe SUMMER and WINTER
T- Tag 3 Friends: mom, Tori, Crusan
U - Unknown fact about me: I secretly wish to be a size 7, HAA HAA HAA, laugh with me everyone!
V - Very favorite stores: not much of a shopper, how about ToysRus, I could go crazy in there
W - Worst Habit: staying up too late
X-ray or Ultrasound: neither
Y - Your Favorite Food(s): anything I don't have to make, and anything that comes out of my garden
Z- Zodiac: Capricorn

Rock Creatures

Every now and then Kelsey gets to play games on nickjr.com. She was playing last week and got this great idea. She came to me and said "I can either make a birdhouse or rock creatures, what should I make?"
I told her rock creatures sounded a whole lot better than a birdhouse. She went outside in the rain, gathered up a bucket of rocks, washed them OUTSIDE, and brought them in and dried them off with my dish towel.

She got her little notebook out, went back in the computer room, and came back 20 minutes later with a checklist of what she needed to make rock creatures. Her checklist was pictures of the items needed with a little square by them, so dang cute. She would say, "Do we have glue?" and when I would say "yes" she would put a check in the box next to the picture of the glue bottle she drew. We went through the entire checklist and luckily we had it all.

She got busy and had a great time for about an hour making our little family or rock creatures. So I guess she didn't actually make creatures like nickjr showed. They had snails and monsters and ladybug rock creatures. She made The Cranes, even better!

I should have taken a picture when she was all done, because the hair do she gave Matt was super. This picture is before hair and googly eyes. She is a sweet little girl. We love her very much. With school being out in 2 weeks, I think we will have to do many 'rock creature type' projects to keep her busy.

Happy Mother's Day Buttons!

I started this post Sunday morning and then my Internet died for the day so I couldn't finish this Mother's Day post for my mom. So here is to you mom, Happy Mother's Day!!


My mom is the little girl in the blue dress. She is showing that dress off that her mom had made her, so cute! My grandma died when my mom was seven, so there are not alot of pictures of my mom and my grandmother together.




This one is at my mom's birthday party. She has one friend giving the bird and two brothers at the front acting a little crazy. Who is the kid in the corner looking like his punch just got spilled? Poor kid. Mom? How many candles are on that cake?


My mom and her little sister Noreen.


This one says 1967, so my mom was a teenager and her two older sisters were long gone and married by then. This left her with Tuv, Mack, and Noreen and baby Scott is somewhere I think.


Look at this screaming red/orange hair! I love it! It matches the red rocks of Torrey!

My mom was a cheerleader in high school, go team go.

My mom is the second from the left. She has always had great legs!

My mom is going to kill me, but this is her in a bikini! This is Duella Brown with her for the rest of you folks that are Wayne Countians.

More crazy red hair. I thought of Derek when I saw that ancient snow mobile!

Thanks mom, for being such a good mom when I was little, even as I was a horrible teenager, and now you are a wonderful mom to me and a super fun grandma to my kids.

Home Machine Quilting Show

Thursday I went to SLC to the Home Machine Quilting Show. WOW! What a super time! I took a ton of pictures, but here are just a few of my favorites. Bear with me.

Mom, I took this wild colored one for you.

This is me and John Flynn, a BIG DAWG in the quilting world. I was trying to give you all a good metaphor of who he is, but I can not think of anything. I want to say he is the Micheal Jordan of quilting, but that sure dates me and shows how much I have watched basketball in the past 15 years. I would like to say he is the A-Rod of baseball, but he isn't. Lets see, how about John Flynn is to quilting as wheat is to 7 grain bread. No, how about John Flynn is the ray of sunshine on a cold rainy day.... just kidding! But he is the cat's meow and he was super nice when I asked him for a picture. He makes and sells his own named quilting frames and has his own line of threads marketed by Superior Threads, and he just has an amazing quilting style. He is cool, that is all there is to it and I have a picture with him! Andy Haskell, this is like you standing by John Stockton, seriously. Okay, that dates me again, this is like you standing by some basketball or baseball player that you completely adore and would say dumb stuff to because you are so excited to be by him. Does everyone get the picture so I can stop rambling?

Kendal was a handful, but she did great. I thought it was great, she was reading this quilting show book. I am starting her early!

I had a quilt in the quilt show, can you believe that? There is a quilt challenge called QUILT CHALLENGE AND AUCTION that we entered in this year. We did it last year and won 1st place, so why not try again? They give you, and everyone else entering, the same group of fabrics, a list of rules and then you get to make a wall hanging quilt and it gets auctioned off for charity. This year everyone got fabrics from the same line, a Marie Osmond collection that I think is very pretty. When we started this project, there were about 7 ladies doing it, but as time went on and the deadline got closer, we still hadn't done too much as a group. When the deadline came and went and we still didn't have a quilt, my neighbor Debbie decided to wake up and smell the roses! The show was counting on a quilt from us and we needed to make one. So, three of us, Debbie, Deonn, and I made this gorgeous quilt in about 72 hours. I say that because I can't count days. There were too many late nights for us and no nights for Deonn so we could finish this little honey and turn it in before the judges showed up. I think it turned out amazing and I am glad I have good friends that let me in on a good thing every now and then. They make me look good. We ended up in second place this year. Darn it, but it was still so nice to complete such a gorgeous piece of work.

We went to the awards ceremony which included a dessert buffet. Kelsey thought the chocolate covered strawberries were wonderful. So did I!

This is one of the quilts that was also entered in the quilt challenge and auction. I loved it. It spoke to me. I forgot to mention we had a theme to work around, Heirlooms - Wrapped up in our Quilted Past. I sure loved this one, and it was made by a great quilter, Kaye Evans. How very inspiring to be able to see such great quilters at work!

This one here is the quilt that won first place this year. It sure is pretty, but I love our use of the fabrics given to us a whole lot better! It was such a fun evening to go and see the quilts, I wish I could have spent more time there just cruising up and down the aisles and aisles of pretty quilts.