Collin Has Left the Building

He made it and made it quite swimmingly, I might add. On May 25th, Collin graduated.He had so many fun activities this month as he made his grand exit. Here is a wrap up. First, he took his final trip with the band. They went to Disneyland to play inside the park and to participate in a big festival. They took 1st place in their category (doesn't matter that they were the only entry in that category, does it?) While there, the Wolf Pack, as they called themselves, kept themselves busy on rides, riding scooters (hidden in their suitcases), and smuggling gas masks onto the Tower of Terror.

Take notice of the "Wolf Pack" sign. 

After 5 days on a bus and in the park, he returned to ready himself for the "Mr. SF" pageant. Highly competitive and extremely funny, this pageant is a total mockery of  Junior Miss. But, the boys put in many hours of practice to learn the routines and then spend, maybe, 15 minutes on their talent. It was great fun to be there to watch. Collin won the talent portion. Click here to watch.

Contestant #11 Collin Grant "Because two 1s are better than 1'

Some of the "Men of the 80s"

Once all the pageantry was over, it was finals' time and then Seminary Graduation on Sunday. Monday morning began the senior sneak to Downata Hot Springs, shopping at the Layton Mall (blah), and a day in Lagoon. He had a great time. Wednesday was the big day.

The Graduated Man

The Class of 2011 - GO COUGARS!!!

CONGRATULATIONS my boy!!

Life is Good - and full of many opportunities.

Twins become Teens

Honestly, there was a time that I didn't think the twins would make it to 13 years old. Then there was the time that I didn't think I would make it to the twins 13. However, we have all survived and these adorable, wonderful girls have made it to the teen years. So, to honor them, I now present:

THIRTEEN THINGS I LOVE ABOUT ADRI

1.  A feisty personality. That girl will stand her ground.
2.  She covers her mouth when she can't control an enormous smile.
3.  Giggle girl. Once she starts, she keeps going.
4.  Fashionista. She needs rich parents that take her shopping at least weekly.
5.  Long flowing BLONDE hair. Pretty jealous!
6.  Reaching great heights. She is 5' 7" now and growing like a weed. (She has now passed me and she's only 13.)
7.  Doesn't hide her feelings. You know where you stand with her.
8.  Good friend. Her friends trust her like crazy.
9. Is comfortable in a disaster - her messy room doesn't bug her a bit.
10. Loves softball and volleyball - my two favorite sports. I'm a very willing and eager spectator.
11. She has a creative eye for photography.
12. Hilarious!!! She makes for good laughs - whether she's trying or not.
13. The only girly-girl in this house. I love that!

KATY'S GREAT THIRTEEN

Katy - taken by Adri

1.  Funny, funny, funny!
2.  She is her own person. She is going to dress how she wants, look how she wants, and do what she wants. It is a total waste of your time to dry to convince her otherwise.
3.  Very kind to others.
4.  Great babysitter.
5.  Avid reader. She used to hate it because it was difficult. Not anymore!
6. She has beautiful handwriting.
7.  Gives her mom and dad a hug and kiss every night and then says, "Goodnight. I love you!"
8.  Loves to watch infomercials with me.
9.  She is artsy and crafty.
10.  Has a beautiful, heart warming smile.
11.  Willing to play with the little girls that live next door. (They are 6 and 4.)
12.  Always trying to make right choices.
13.  Never takes a bad picture. She always looks great. (I'm jealous.)

Life is Good.

Circle of Life

Sometimes you just have to do what seems ridiculous when you're in the doldrums.And, thank goodness, that is just what I did today. My dear friend, Laura, invited me to do a quick run down the river today to see the nesting birds. There are many geese that have built lovely homes and filled them with eggs, waiting to be hatched. Unfortunately, many of the nests are too low and when the river begins to run high, the eggs will be washed away. All part of the circle of life, I suppose.

We also saw several pelicans floating along, waiting for a fish to swim by. I was getting pictures when I scared the pelicans. They flew into the geese, who weren't happy. The geese flew away and landed near some ducks. They were all squawking. It was quite funny. Sorry, but I'm afraid I've disrupted the whole ecosystem of that stretch on the Henry's Fork. Maybe that's part of the circle of life, too. It was well worth it, though. I LOVE kayaking.


Life is Good especially on the river.

April Fools Day Fun

Never been a big April Fools Day lover. Usually not enough time to put into the "fooling". But, I decided today we could have some fun with it.  Since we had the day off it was perfect.With these cupcakes we could save time by serving dinner and dessert all in one. DELICIOUS!!! But, the cupcakes look so good we can't eat them. We just stare at them. Maybe they look a little too real and we can't possibly eat a meatball off of a cupcake. What do you think?

Mashed Potatoes and Gravy with a pat of Butter

Peas and Carrots

Meatball and Spaghetti

Life is Good - especially with a day off here and there.

We Seek After Good Things

Like a Pilgrimage to Mecca, the twins, friends, and I voyaged to Utah for the annual Young Women's Broadcast. Each year thousands of beautiful girls drag their mothers to the Conference Center, Stake Centers, and Meeting Houses all over the world to  listen to their spiritual leaders guide them on their journey on this earth. (OK, perhaps the mothers do the dragging.) But, there was no dragging in this house. This was an adventure with friends and their moms.We were seeking after good times and good memories - and flowers and green grass.

Adri, Katy, Grandma, and Grandpa. Those girls adore their Grandparents.

Tradition has it, in this house, that the first broadcast, after turning 12 years old, will be viewed live in the Conference Center. We rode with our friends, Taina and Shailee Gardner and Emilee and Peyton Crapo. We started the morning with volleyball games in Snake River and then headed to Red Lobster in Pocatello. (Don't you hate it when the thought of a restaurant is better than the actual food?) Then it was back on the road to Grandma and Grandpa Grant's house.

Waiting to begin. Pretty sweet seats!

I'm always in awe at the sheer size of this building. Yet, it is so easy to enjoy a meeting or production here.

Emilee Crapo, Katy, Adri, Me, Shailee and Taina Gardner. Peyton Crapo in the front.

Adorable girls ready and eager to head to In and Out.

Our seats were so close (compared to all the other times we've been inside the Conference Center) and we could actually see the speakers and all the leaders without having to watch the big screen. COOL!!! The girls loved it. I LOVED being there and experiencing that wonderfully spiritual meeting with them. I think we found some of what we were seeking.

Exhausted and ready for the lights to be turned out.

 Afterwards we sought the delicious flavors of  In and Out Burger in Centerville. Can you say CROWDED? I think nearly all 21,000 people at the broadcast had found their way to that one fast food joint. Are hamburgers sold anywhere else along the Wasatch Front? Being inside that place would lead you to think, "NO!" Good times, though.

Inside the Tabernacle. I think that the Sounds of Sunday is very fun to attend.

Still smiling but getting pretty sick of me taking pictures.

Inside the North Visitor's Center

"I love to see the temple. I'll go inside someday."

Loving our girls. These are four choice daughters of our Heavenly Father.

Next morning we were up bright and early seeking the sweet music at the Sounds of Sunday broadcast and a visit around Temple Square. (There are flowers AND green grass at this place!)  I love that place. I really enjoy the Visitor's Centers and gazing at the temple. I especially enjoyed seeing my girls look upon the temple as a place they will be in not too many years.There aren't so many years left for me to enjoy these wonderful gorgeous girls. I hope I cherish them all.

Life is Good and full of things that are virtuous, lovely and of good report.

If You Give a Moose a Bush

Today as Trent was leaving the house, something in the backyard caught his eye. A dirt pile? No, we still have a foot and a half of snow out there. It was a moose. A very large she-moose bedded down in the garden. 

 Trent sent me a message letting me know that she was there. I warned the girls to keep an eye out as they went home. Really, I thought she would have moved on. But, nope. She was still in the garden, now sitting in the shade of the trees.

"Molly" must have gotten the munchies because eventually, after many visitors came to look, she began to graze upon the smorgasbord of vegetation available to her. She enjoyed the quakies and stretched her neck to reach the tips of the higher branches. Then she moseyed on over to the lilacs where she munched much on the tender low branches. Then she chewed on the fragrant limbs of the pine trees.

 It was back to the quakies before she bedded down again, this time in the middle of the yard,  to clean up after such a big meal. She rested there until time to enjoy some rich apple twigs, just before heading out for the evening.

 Come again Molly Moose. We'd love to have you visit another day. Just don't come angry. No one likes an angry moose.

P.S. We don't allow "Peeping Toms" in this neighborhood. Keep moving!!!





Life is Good.

The Sound of Spring

A couple of my fellow bloggers from Utah just posted pictures of Spring arriving there. I'm not posting any pics. I posted pictures of our Spring last week. It was depressing. But, this evening, there is hope. Guess what I'm hearing on my roof? pitter patter pitter patter pitter patter  Can you hear it? If I didn't still have ice in my driveway I would run outside and dance in the rain. (I can't because the combination of rain and ice could make for possible broken legs or ankles in this 40+ body.) But, I can enjoy the sound. AND I AM!!!!

Trent just came back from the grocery store. He was able to use the brand new windshield wipers to whoosh away RAIN. Not snow people. RAIN. Beautiful, wet, puddle-making RAIN!!!

Life is Good - And Spring is definitely on its way. Only 2 1/2 feet of snow to go.