Happy Birthday to Brittani

It is Halloween today and we have the best treat ever in our family.  Brittani Lynn Firth Nielsen   The oldest granddaughter and such a sweetheart.  Brittani is now a wonderful wife and mother.  We are so very happy for her and pray that each day will be better than the last.

More Halloween Costumes

Funny, Funny and Cute, Cute ----- received these two pictures via phone.

Not too sure that Skylar makes a cute girl.

But little Garrett is really cute in is Halloween costume.

So Fun to be SOOOO in Love



Jacob ---- so much fun Trick or Treating





Happy Birthday to Jeff

It is a very special day for Jeff.  Today he is celebrating number forty seven.  My how the time has flown by.  Today Jeff is enjoying the fun of being a grandfather and you can certainly see that he is so very pround of Kinley and Kaden.  He and Lisa have done so well.  We are very proud of how Jeff continues to love and care for his family.  May his life be filled with the joy and peace that makes each day special.  We look forward to the time when they can go ahead with their plans to build and be close by.

Halloween Visitors

Friday Evening was such a delight.  We had several cute Halloween Visitors.  The Soria Family or should I say Mary Poppins, Burt, and Mr. and Mrs. Banks came to visit. 

Baby Tyler arrived in some cute Halloween pajamas with his mom, dad and Grandma Wood.

A cute little fairy princess in purple and black came bouncing in with her mom and dad ----- her wings were broken ---- so no flying.  (She actually let mom carry then ---- not interested in wearing them).  Grandma and Grandpa Firth arrived with Carli and Baby Kaden.  It was so fun to visit and laugh with them all.  Thank you for including us in your holiday fun.

Want to Compare Views?

While in Seattle everyone raved about Aunt Betty's view from her back windows.  Well ------ Looking through our front windows we see our beautiful mountains and from the kitchen I can view spectacular sunsets.  The changing seasons always bring some new and wonderful.

Kinley and Kaden ---- so love the visits

Wednesday evening we enjoyed a delightful visit from the Nielsens, Lisa and Carli and Kaden. 

Our Little Secretary

So Many Cute Smiles

Love the photos sent to me on the phone

Just some very cute little ones ----- love to get the pictures and be able to see what is happening with my family.  Thanks

Dr. Jacob D. Despain ---- ready for Career Day at his school today ----- He wants to become a Doctor who helps people who have cancer

Little Miss Mary Poppins (Soria) ready for Halloween dress up day at Pre-School.  Aunt Nichole will take her soon.

Heather at home trying on her fantastic costume

(So proud of her Mom who sewed and designed and made the costume)

A proud Grandma Wood forwarded this to me yesterday ---- Tyler wide awake



Baby Tyler ready to go home ---- cute hat that Amy made

Halloween treat to take to Jacob's Cub Scout Pack Meeting

Happy Birthday to Amanda Jo

Tuesday the 26th was Mandy Jo's Birthday.  We were so glad that she came up for some days on the weekend and we could share time with her.  Amanda is an amazing young women, wife and mother.  She has really taken to married life and the responsibilities it brings.  We are so very proud of her and pray that her dreams will come true and that she will always be blessed in her faithfulness.  Love always

Happy Birthday to Glenda Lee

Glenda celebrated her forty eighth birthday on the October 23.  She and Dan have been celebrating with an awesome trip to Bryce Canyon and other points of interest in the area.  Quiet and industrious are to special words that I would use to tell about this special daughter.  Kind and thoughtful to all around her with no words of guile.  So proud of her and feel truly blessed to be her mother.  Love always

Happy Anniversary to Jeff and Lisa

I am so behind ---- being gone on vacation has got me down.  Jeff and Lisa celebrated wedding anniversary number twenty-seven on the 14th of this month.  I still remember their special wedding day and the beautiful bride and handsome groom that they were.  Today they are still just as wonderful just a bit older.  We wish them many more years and with dreams fulfilled and peace and joy.

Visit from the Great Grandchildren

Wednesday was a special at the Frank Home.  Jeff stopped in with his Granddaughter Kinley (he was tending her), Meagan came over with Baby Kaden (she was tending him) and Amanda and Garrett arrived from American Fork.  So Grandma was able to enjoy all three great grandchildren and Meagan had the fourth one with her.  They are so fun and so busy ----- so many new things to explore.  Love them dearly.  Thanks for coming

Baby Brewer has arrived

Today was Meagan's weekly Doctor visit.  However, she did not return home--- was sent to the hospital for a baby delivery.  (Nope not by stork ---)  when I know the full details will record more.  As for now mother and son are doing fine.  Tyler is the selected name and he weighed in at 8 pounds and 15 ounces and was 19 and 1/2 inches long. Best wishes to the Brewer family.

The Football Game ---- That Was ----- Nate Played

Brad and I traveled to Grantsville on Thursday to watch Nate play football.  We picked up Tonya and MacKenzie and headed out for the hour and a half drive.  We would make a stop at the Despains to make some deliveries and pick up Jacob then off to the game. Amy and Danny would join us later.  Tonya was a bit concerned that he would once again be sidelined.  She knew that he would get to be in on the opening kick-off but not how much more he would play.  It was great ---- he really got to participate a goodly amount.  We could recognize him easily because of the white bands on his pants.  (He told me that was because he had on the smallest pants they had and they were still too big to hold up his pads so they used tape to secure them in place.  He may not be as big as some of the other players in size but his spirit and determination are every bit as big.  His number is 35.  Now Nate said he knew I would probably blog this but ----- yes I WILL.  Nate made a great tackle on Grantsville's number 23.  OOPS!!!! oh my they have a girl on their team.  Poor Nate has been harassed so much.  He did say she was cute though.  If she wants to be in the game ---- open for a great tackle.  Nate also was just inches away from a great interception.  His fellow player right behind him was just those few inches taller needed to capture the ball.  Great game even if the referees really tried to let Grantsville win.  DIDN'T WORK----the Bear River JV Boys pulled off a great win.  Season for them is now over.

Nate rode home with us ---- but first we needed to make a stop at MacDonald's for some food.  It was really a fun afternoon.

 

It Was Wonderful --- but --- Glad to be HOME

October 13th Brad and I left our home very early and headed to Idaho Falls to meet up with Dale and Beverly for our trip to Maple Valley, Washington.  I have promised my sister for many years that I would come and visit her.  She has lived in her home at Maple Valley for over ten years and I know I had not been to Renton for at least twenty years.  When Dale call and asked if we would like to go if he did the driving how could we resist.  Having truck drivers for brothers is a very interesting situation.  They love to drive and drive and if it is in the west they have probably been there.

We headed north on I-15 for Missoula, Montana, then across the top of Idaho threw Couer d' lene and into Washington for a nights stay at Ritzville.  It was an amazingly beautiful drive.  The mountains were full of beautiful colors.  One very interesting sight was the Tamarack Tree.  It is like a pine tree but it turns yellow and then drops all of it's needles which grow back in the spring
­­Tamarack tree, or Eastern larch, is among the few conifers that lose their leaves in the Fall. They do so gracefully, taking on a beautiful fall coloration beforehand. The tamarack, native throughout northern North America, is underappreciated as a landscape tree. It is at least as interesting as many of the imported species often used in its place.­ ­

We took several rest stops during the trip ---- old age problems---- and now that Bev and Dale drive for Avis they have been taught that you must stop and walk around about every two hours so you do not get blood clots in your legs.  So we inspected many rest stops along the way as well as service stations.  This stop in Couer d' lene was the most beautiful ---- to bad no camping allowed because it was like being in the mountains.

Just about Ready

Brad's dress shirt is in the wash and that completes the last item on the list to be packed.  It has been such a busy few days for us.  With a lot of patience and work Brad and I have completed the work on the inside of the windows.  We are learning and did not do too bad.  The music/library room really was a pain.  Brad said that he cut the boards 3 times and they were still too short.  (Guess that measuring tape was just tricky) When things got a bit overwhelming we gave Paul a call.  We really wanted to try to be independent the best we could.  BUT ----- sometimes we need assistance. However, we did the majority.  Mary had Monday off work and she came and did some of the painting.  The windows look so very nice and even more important we know that they have improved on the heating and cooling of our home. 

Today ----- busy busy ------ A visit from Jeff, Nichole, Heather and Sam as they worked on getting a replacement vehicle for Skylar.  Grandma Frank's new furnace has not been working properly so that had to be dealt with before we leave.  (Got done)  Lawns to be mowed ------ banking and gas for the trip ---- lots of washing to be sure all was ready and as usual a house to be cleaned.  I always have liked to leave a clean house when going somewhere.  Now for some rest before leaving at 6:30 in the morning. 

Just an added note ------- we had to go to HOME DEPOT AGAIN

Oh How I Hope it is the LAST Time

Home Depot ---- I am so done with you.  We hopefully made the last trip to this store today.  After some careful measuring we headed to Logan to get the wood to frame out the windows on the inside of our home.  128 feet of trim for around the windows, 44 boards for the inside of the windows.  Just imagine how long this project is going to take - let alone the calking and putty work that will be required ---- then the painting.  But they are so nice and I am so happy and grateful.  One day at a time and it will get done.

Salt Lake City Comfort

Brad had meetings in Salt Lake for one of the Boards that he serves on.  We headed out early Sunday Morning to spend time with Jacob while his dad was at work and his mom was sleeping from working the night before and working again Sunday night.  He was so sweet and conference was watched.  Not a lot of time for playing games.  When his dad arrived home it was a quick trip to the Soria home to say high and then to the city.  Two old country folks in the city is a site to behold.  BUT WE MADE IT.  Thank heavens conference was over and the streets were all but empty.  (We timed our arrival for it to be this way)  We stayed at the Marriott on 220 South State and it was very very nice.  Loved the chair ---- would like one similiar for the music/library room at our house.  Just in different colors.  I spent a great deal of time in the chair crocheting while Brad was at his meetings.  It was fun to pull the drapes and watch the rain and the surrounding landscape.  A very nice peaceful time.  We returned home Tuesday afternoon. 

Happy Birthday to Dan (Number Three) Howell

We wish Dan a very Happy Birthday.   We do hope that as the years go by we will become better aquainted.  Many changes have came into Dan's life the last year.  I am sure that each special occasion has been wonderful for him.  Our best to him.

Happy First Birthday for Baby Garrett

Time is lying so fast --- where did the year go.  The Howell's hosted a fun birthday party for their little boy on Sunday.  Grandpa and I are sorry that we were unable to attend.  I understand that they had a wonderful time. Garrett is such a fun little showman.  Will post the pictures when Grandma Wood gets them to me. 

Let it Rain

Nine intense days of work and the windows are in and the outside is finished. (Now just need to frame insides).  Brad and I have worked very hard but without the help of  Paul, Teresa, Todd, Mary, Damon, Glenda and Dan I am afraid maybe the rain would have gotten here first.  We should now be as snug as a bug in a rug when winter arrives.  Now we are packing to head out for Brad's convention.