Happy Birthday Dear Addison!

Today is our dear little Addie's 4th birthday. I believe Kim was due with her somewhere around the 27th or 28th of October. One of the first things I remember Tim saying after he found out that Kim was pregnant was, "I just don't want the baby to be born on Halloween". I told Tim that he should never say something like that cause you just never know! Well, 4 years ago today, on Halloween our sweet Addison was born. I'm not really fond of Halloween myself, but it's become a special day all because of our beautiful granddaughter.

Addie is so photogenic and is usually willing to pose for pictures.

~Happy Birthday Addie, we love you so much~

HaPPy HaLLoWeeN!

Halloween isn't my favorite holiday but the grandkids make it fun. These are Mary's 2 darlings, Hudson and Kennady.

In many communities in Utah instead of going door to door "Trick or Treating" they have "Trunk or Treat". Our little community does this down in the church parking lot. Those that want to participate, park their cars and the kids go around from car to car collecting their candy. In addition, chili and breadsticks are provided by the members of the community. Since Halloween is on Sunday this year, everyone in Utah celebrated tonight on Saturday. The rain necessitated everyone moving inside. It was pretty crazy as there were so many people.

Below are Keri Beth and Davids kids. Incase you don't recognize them, from L to R is Madison, Marlie, McKayla and Mason. I think they are so cute, even when they dress up in scary costumes!

The First Snow Fall

Just had to post this! When the roses are still blooming you know that it is too early in the year for snow. However, it sure makes for a pretty picture.

The Tremonton West Stake Hoe Down!

When our Stake split a couple of month's ago and the Tremonton West Stake was formed, I was called once again to be the Director of the Stake Cultural Art's Committe. The Stake President told me that he was counting on our committee (Rosa Thornley, Lisa Skinner, Nan Crowney, and myself) to plan an activity that would unite our Stake. Without much time, we asked all of the Stake Auxillaries and High Councilor's to assist us in planning a Hoe Down! Brother Randy Marble was so gracious in giving us permission to use the big storage barn at the sod farm, and was amazing in helping us with so many things. It was the opening day of the deer hunt and with the rain we were concerned that many would not come. However, we ended up feeding approximately 900 people and provided live entertainment and dancing.

So many spent hours in preparation. My heart was deeply touched by the willingness of everyone to help. In addition, I am in awe of the talent and resources that our Stake has.

I wish we could have taken more pictures, but it started raining an hour before the event and Kerry and I were so busy trying to take care of things that we never had time for picture taking.

The Beautiful Temple Grounds!

I had been telling Mary how beautiful the flowers were at the Logan Temple. Finally today she decided to take the kids and snap some photos. She couldn't believe it when she arrived and they had just pulled out all of the followers and dumped them into a truck to haul them all away. She noticed an area that was still intact and hurried down to get some pictures. I love seeing the Temple in the background. This is where Mary and Cam were married almost 6 years ago this January.

A beautiful baby (Miss Kennady) and beautiful flowers make for a beautiful picture!
Miss Kennady and her handsome big brother Hudson.

Enjoying A Beautiful Fall Day!

Dr. Rod went on a short vacation so I was able to have the day off without using any vacation time. I love it!!! Kerry and I decided to run up to the cabin for a few hours to enjoy the time together and to take care of a few things before the snow flies! What a beautiful day. I just wanted it to last forever. I felt the need to enjoy and store up my share of sunshine and fresh air before the COLD settles in. The weather was gorgeous, the scenery was amazing, and the company was perfect! To top it off we did a little shopping and enjoyed some great food at Costa Veda. The day together ended by attending our Institute class taught by Brother Rees. He is amazing and I always come home wanting to be a better person.

There is a saying that says, "God gave us our memories so that we can have roses in December." I am going to hang on to these memories so that I can have the warmth and beauty of a fall day when I am freezing this winter! Somehow I think I'm still going to need the fireplace and my little space heater to get me through!

A view of the lake from the back side of the cabin. I wanted to get in some of the colors that are around the yard. I don't think views get much better than what we have! I must say, that it is the best part of the cabin.

Another view of the lake from the side yard of the cabin.

The leaves were kind of on their way out, but there was still enough to enjoy. You can barely see a tinge of blue from the lake through all of the leaves.

The turkey's were out in numbers yesterday. They must not know that Thanksgiving is right around the corner.

Where the Logan River starts I'm not sure, but at first you see a small creek that becomes increasing larger and larger until it has become a fast flowing river.

The variations in the colors were amazing. The hard part was that we were shooting into the sun and it really diminished the color in the pictures. Our natural eyes were much better at filtering out the sunlight.

It is such a beautiful drive to follow the Logan River though the canyon. It was especially beautiful yesterday with the fall colors.

It is so nice to live in an area that is surrounded by such amazing scenery just a few minutes from home. The cabin is far away enough that I feel like I'm on vacation, but close enough to run up there even to spend just a few hours.

I FEEL BLESSED!!!

HaPPy BiRtHdAy To Our Baby Mary!

Twenty-seven years ago today on, October 1, 1983, our baby Mary Janae was born. After 6 miscarriages and a very difficult pregnancy we were blessed with a beautiful baby girl! She has filled our lives with so much joy and happiness. I will never forget the feelings of gratitude to our Heavenly Father when they handed me our precious baby. Eight hours later she was taken by ambulance to the NICU at McKay Dee Hospital for pneumonia which they figure she got from aspirating amniotic fluid. Fouteen days later, what seemed like eternity, she finally came home. It just seems virtually impossible that the years have past so quickly.

Mary was named after her grandmother, my mother, Mary Ellen. She was allowed to be in the delivery room with us when Mary was born. Everyone cried, even Dr. Jim, when Kerry announced that her name was going to be Mary! I know that her grandmother is watching from above and is so proud of her.

These pictures aren't the ones that I had wanted to post. I have so many cute ones of Mary when she was little, but I just couldn't figure out how to get the ones I scanned into the computer to show up where I needed them. I will have to edit my post when I have someone to help me. (Sorry Mary!) But these are some memorable moments that I wanted to share. This first one will probably give everyone a good laugh!

Kerry and myself, along with Keri Beth, Tim, and Mary (1 year old).

I think Mary was about 7 years old here. She always has had such a cute smile.

Mary has always enjoyed spending time with her nieces and nephews. She still has the cute smile!

Sorry Mary, couldn't leave out this one. Mary decided to get a spray tan for her cousin Laura's wedding. You can't probably tell from this picture, but she was so dark that we couldn't stop laughing when she braided her hair. She looked exactly like Pocahontas!

Our trip to Athens!!! Oh what fun we had and what memories we made.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Cam and Mary which was taken shortly after they met. Don't you think they look like they could be siblings?

Mary and McKayla....

Mary and Maddi enjoying their time together on the Front Runner train the day we all road to Salt Lake together to meet up with Tim and Kim. You can see why the kids enjoy spending time with her. (I think I'm going to be in trouble for posting these!)

Graduation day from USU. Mary was 8 1/2 month's pregnant. What a trooper she was!

Mary all grown up with a family of her own. I like her family picture a lot more than I liked ours!!!

Mary, we are so grateful to be able to call you our daughter. Wishing you a very

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Love, Dad and Mom