Christmas Cottages

Every year they have the cottages for the children. It is such a great thing to see how creative the gingerbread houses can be. They are made by families, churches, jails and local businesses. Some have lights inside that you can see the detail they have put inside them like christmas trees, fireplaces, animals, real like stuff which is really neat. Our Tyler and Abby each entered one to donate. I think maybe Santa's helpers put a bid in on them(shhh) They did a family home evening project and get to put a manger together with each service act they do. They were so cute when they were showing me their houses and very proud of them. All the proceeds go to help the children's justice center.

November memories

November fishing
Ready to ride the train

We love Poppa John and glad he had a birthday

Our funny Poppa John

This has been an unbelievable fall this year. We have still been fishing and four wheeling Which by now we have lots of snow in the mountains. We celebrated John's birthday, Rode the polar express with Tyler and Abby, Grandma is busy with the Polar express and tons of bell rehersals to get ready for christmas. Had a great Thanksgiving with Connie and Richard, Our son-in-law Gary's parents which feel like our family so does his sisters and brother and their families, Our littlest grandson finally decided to crawl so he could catch up with big bro. and sis. Like to try to keep up with this blog which at times can be hard but it is like a journal of life that we are trying to do even though it passes by so quickly. Bring on Christmas, with all the train rides, bell concerts and fun............

GRATITUDE

I am giving a talk this sunday on Gratitude. I have been thinking of all the things we have to be grateful for. The first thing that came to mind is my Heavenly father and then I thought about my husband that has been my best friend since I was 14. Then I thought about my daughter who I have always come to for advice or problems and could not ask for a more wonderful girl. She has always been a delight even through those teen years when they can be most challenging she has always been an inspiration to me. I don't think I have ever let her know how grateful I am for her. Then I think of my son (he has given me more chanllenges than anyone will ever know and has made me strong through all his learning of lessons)but has a very kind heart and you can't help but love him. The three beautiful nieces of mine that also feel like my kids and how proud I am of them and their little ones and families. Then I think of my son in law and my 3 beautiful grand kids who love me as much as I love them. My parents. I talk to my mom just about every day. Then I think of all the friends I have had in my life that are like angels in disguise not only back in Maryland but here as well. I truly adore my friends and family. The beauty of the sunrise, The night sky lit up with the beautiful stars and moon. The simple things are the ones you remember the most. My grandkids kisses, The ice that crystalizes on the evergreen trees. Seeing a baby smile, A rainbow, a flower bloom or an animal that you didn't expect to see. Heavenly father gave us all kinds of things to admire and for that and for you I am grateful.

Pay it forward

Thanks Jenn. I love the Magnet board you made. Ok so I have always been told by a visit teacher who helped me so much in Maryland to pay it forward when she would either take me to the hospital or make tons of dinners or give presents from the heart and I told her how can I ever repay her for all her service and she said Honey just pay it forward and do something for some one else. I will always treasure her comments and help as well as all my other friends in Maryland to help me learn the true meaning of service when I was getting tons of it from being so sick and embarrassed to recieve all the dinners and rides (boy there was lots of rides to the hospital emergency room) My good friend who has been and still is relief society president for many years said you need to let the sisters do service and swallow your pride and let them help which is hard for anyone to do. So now when I go visit teaching with the relief society president out here in Utah to some single lonely sisters I am able to pay it forward alot. Also a dear friend who lives in Midway who is like a grandmother to me. I am happy to give her rides and help her
with lots of things. Service is a great thing and gives you a warm feeling when you are helping someone who needs a pay it forward. So here is the pay it forward that Jen was doing and now I am doing:

I'm participating in a Pay It Forward Exchange. Want to play? I will send a handmade gift to the first three people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this Pay It Forward Exchange. You will receive your gift within a month(hopefully) from leaving your comment-- Promise! When you receive your gift create a post on your blog and Pay It Forward. Apparently this has been going on for over a year. It sounded like fun so I am helping to keep it going!

Riding at Snake Creek

Big Bull Moose near Deer Creek Camp ground

Some trails were pretty hard and rocky

Some were beautiful like cascade springs




We went four wheeling up at snake creek today and enjoyed the beautiful fall leaves and snow, yes there was snow up top. We first went to cascade springs, then back on the trail to silver lake resevoir for a late lunch then up to a bunch of different places. We ran into the biggest moose we have seen yet. He was very hugh which I thought was very cool until I realized the sun was starting to go down off the mountain and I didn't want to be stuck up there with those big guys in the woods. So I started going really fast back to our truck and trailer. It gets very cold when the sun goes down up high as well. We love to go in the fall. It is beautiful up in the mountains. We also saw a lot of deer.

Lake Powell

Really big largemouth bass that John caught at Lake Powell
Swimming was great, water was nice and warm

John and I went on our four day trip to Lake Powell last week and had a lot of fun but were sad the stripers from last year were not biting. We had enough fish last year to fill the freezer with salmon and stripers all winter and spring. We have caught some fish but it has been a lot slower this year than last at Lake Powell and Flaming Gorge. I don't know if it is because the water levels are up so high or just need to study more on where the fish move each year. Which sounds funny. We did swim and enjoy the beauty of Lake Powell and John had caught the biggest large mouth bass he ever dreamed of. I caught a tiny little bluegill that was as big as a minnow. Deer Creek was way more awesome in fishing this year. Especially with the trout. Lake Powell is a fun place to go for the beauty of the red rock, The southwestern look and warm water. 2 nights we slept out on the boat and the sky and moon were awesome. I didn't like hearing the fish jumping the first night but the beauty of the night sky and no noise from the campground made you want to do it again. I can't believe I slept in the outside without a tent or shelter just lots of blankets and pillows and I didn't get sick with my lungs. I love Utah being able to breathe and do fun things I was never able to do in Maryland. The state is so unbelievably beautiful north to the south. Lots of fun outdoor stuff to do.

Piute Trail and Casto Canyon 4 Wheeling trip

On top of mountain near Bryce Canyon called Casto Canyon
Beautiful Red Rock formations
View from top looking out

John and I went on this 4 wheeling trip last weekend to the piute trail and Casto Canyon near Bryce Canyon and the Canyon lands last weekend with our son in-law Gary's parents Connie and Richard. We rented a motel where you could park your 4 wheelers right in front of your room and ride through the town on them. We enjoyed seeing the canyons and then the mines on the piute trails. At the top of the piute trail you could also see mountain goats at different spots on the mountains.

Zip It

Spanish Fork Resevoir Fishing Side
Spanish Fork Beach Side


Here I come zipping down the mountain

Being pulled to finish at bottom

Next time I won't brake so soon....

Andrea zipping down the mountain

Andrea close to the finish line....

Andrea and I did the zip line saturday at Spanish Fork Resevoir, which by the way is a beautiful place to go with your family for a day,beach on one side, fishing on the other, what could be better? Yep you guessed it. They had a zip line at the top which we watched a couple people go down and we were very curious and asked the cost thinking no way , it would cost too much, then it happened. The lady told us that they were having a special for the day for 5 dollars.

I have always wanted to do it and Andrea said she did too. So off we go to get our tickets and sign the waiver that they will not be reliabe if we basically crash,die, etc. The legal stuff. So after signing we were off to hike the trail. I felt like we were climbing Mt. Everest....Andrea said we can stop whenever you want, so (wheeze, wheeze, I kept getting closer to top) Andrea was doing great(maybe a little winded)but when we saw this big kid come up beside us half bent over from climbing and panting worse than me,We decided it was hard. There was no way I was going to walk back down now after getting to the top finally, The four young guys working the line got a good laugh on my part or should I say parts trying to put that harness on me, He said he would have to pull it up in certain parts that he didn't know if I would like and wanting the thing on good and tight and right I said honey you can touch whatever you want, He couldn't stop laughing at me, I didn't care at that point there was no way I was going to walk down that Mountain, then they asked Andrea who was busy putting on her harness if she was pregnant

cause you couldn't go down if you were, she said I should have seen my face waiting for her answer.lol, No she said and did a good job getting her own parts in that harness, then we were off. Andrea told me I had to go first so I wouldn't chicken out so I did,barely, by the way they said I was the oldest lady so far to ride that one and the oldest man was 65 I looked at them and asked how old do you think I am.....thinking I must look pretty bad after that climb, He said 55, I said no 51 he said your still the oldest woman. Gee thanks alot...Then up the platform and when your ready they said, they also reminded me where the brake was, I was thinking I didn't know you needed a brake, They said sit in a chair position and whenever your ready. Took me a couple minutes then screaming like a mad woman went zipping down the line with Andrea soon to follow. After the initial shock of doing it, I want to go again. It was very very fun.

Birthday fun

John and I went 4 wheeling in Provo canyon to Springville Canyon

saw a lot of beautiful views and wild flowers, It was a great birthday.

Had fun with Grandkids and Wendy. Tyler's friends were

happy to join in on the fun as well. They loved the chocolate

cake till they found out it was a zuchini chocolate cake when they

were on their second piece we told them then they decided since

it had a veg. in it they didn't like it as much. They had funny faces

after finding out but the cake was very yummy. Thanks Wendy..

Thanks to Andrea and Taya also for coming up and going swimming. We had a lot of fun at Kamas indoor pool especially when it is cool outside. It was warm inside and the water was warm as well. but We don't take pictures of us in bathing suits...That is a big No-No but wish we would of had one of Taya. She loved the pool and had lots of fun as well. Thanks Sean for the yummy

sugar cookies and icing........

Deer Creek is one of our favorites

We love to go to Deer Creek at least 2-3 times a week. Like to watch the skiers, tubes and later when it is more quiet the trout love to bite. It is such a beautiful relaxing lake with the beautiful views of Mt. Timpanogas. The water gets just right around late July for a swim. It is warm then and feels great on a hot day....

Great Bell Tour

I love the Nauvoo temple, We all did a session together with our bell group

Our Swiss Belle group in front of Nauvoo Temple with our new bell outfits,

Wagon rides in Nauvoo to show you the buildings of Church history, The missionaries were so great in all the preformances we did as well as the shows they do. We would have devotionals and pie in the evening with some missionary couples from Midway,

Church of Christ we played at in Wisconsin

We played in the middle of the streets in Wisconsin during there Swiss festival





We traveled with our Handbells by train from Salt Lake City, Utah to Chicago, Ill. with a stop in
Nauvoo, This was a double decker train w/sleeping cars/dining cars/site seeing cars and passenger cars that had reclining chairs. It traveled up through the Colorado Mountains with lots of tunnels and the Colorado River.

Off to be a ding-a-ling

Click on picture to enlarge and read....

We are off on a 9 day tour to Nauvoo and New Glarius, Wisconsin for a great bell tour. By the time I get back and off that dang train that takes forever I will have to let you know how it went. Then after 3 days rest it is time to ring in the 4th of
July in Midway. See Ya Later.............

Trip to Maryland

My son Jason who I really miss alot

Tyler holding baby chick

Abby with baby chick ( she loves any animal)

Tyler riding the countryside.

Abby having fun with Patrick her cousin

Three crazy kids having fun on the farm

James and Julia

James says you want a turn

Fishing is great on Deer Creek

Fishing has been great this year we caught

four of these in less than an hour before thunderstorms

came. As soon as we let lines out. We are giving them to

a guy at the temple that John works with. He likes them

whole with out any thing cut. Yuk....I just like to catch and

release.

Thomas the train came to town

Thomas came chugging in
They had a petting zoo and I fell in love
with this camel


I took this picture for Tyler and Abby so

they could see their last name on a train

Thomas came to town memorial day weekend and I was able to work helping with story time and putting tattoos on kids, working imaginary station where the kids got to play. It was a

really neat thing to do helping with the families that came to bring their kids to Thomas.

Tulips with the redhatters

Some of the Red hat club from Heber

Vicky,Lola,Janice,Carol, Penelope (Our queen)
The flowers were really pretty this year

lots of tulips in many colors