Harvest Celebration: Thanksgiving 2009

A little baby boy, his first Thanksgiving. The whole family invited. Great food. Choice company. That was our Thanksgiving this year at Joe & Jen's this year.

So much fun to be together and celebrate the blessings of this past year!

We got 'em jammed into Joe & Jen's stairs. Made the picture narrower, you see! That's Andy's Mike & Jake at the top; Joe, Jen, Andy; Becky, Sarah; Brittney, Sammy, Cody; Lizzie in front & Grannie Annie with baby Jace.

Photographer is Grandad. We are missing Amy & Hunter. They may have been hunting for Copper the beagle, who escaped when the door was open. We thought we had cornered everyone, finding out later that we had missing persons!!

What a FUN OCCASION!!!!! What a wonderful party you kids put on!!! Thank you, Thank you, Joe & Jen.

Sunny California -- May 27-30, 2009

We had a memorial service for Aunt Laura's husband Don Seavey on Friday, May 29th. About 35 people were there to support Laura and her sons, including her two brothers and sisters, friends and neighbors, and five drivers from the San Diego transit system. The bus drivers knew the Seaveys, liked them and looked forward to seeing them during their runs.

Laura and son Lonnie.

One of the drivers told a fun story about Lonnie at a time when McDonald's had a 12-cent hamburger deal on Tuesdays. Lonnie and the driver went every Tuesday for their hamburger treats, until one day when the bus driver found the whole family waiting, ready to go the McDonald's . . . Don, Laura, Lonnie, Aaron, Wendy & Holly. He knew them all by name.

Picture: Cousin Tom & wife Joann, the McDonald's bus driver, 2 ward members, Bonnie the bus driver.

Family picture: Brothers & Sisters -- Laura, Wayne, Lyne, Jim, Bonnie.

Wish I had more pictures. This last week I've expended more elbow-grease than picture-clicking, but it was necessary. We washed walls, Jim re-did ceilings, then we painted in the kitchen, living room and hallway. Glad we had the opportunity to help out. Good to be with family.

30's a Tall Order!!

April 20, 2009:

Joe is thirty this month, and his sis Sarah planned a surprise party for him.

Surprising Joe is an almost impossible feat, given the fact that he is very observant of everything around him and remembers!!

Jen said, "I couldn't plan anything, because I never do. If I started now, he'd figure out what was going on!"

So Sarie planned, everyone brought food and came to celebrate Joe's big day.

How very precious family is!!

Amy and Aunt Sarie, the party planner . . .

We have a real blast when this crazy crew gets together, and with the grandkiddies, we are even better (or worse, whichever you think)!

So, here are some faces from Joe's party! Happy Day!!

Amy & brother Mike. His eyes aren't really crossed. He did that for Grannie's benefit.

Everyone's favorite Aunt Joanie & great-nephew Jace
. . . gotta love 'em!

Uncle Gordie was there too, but no picture,

The one-and-only Lizzie!!

Our Andy & Becky

Jake & Wayne in the kitchen

Hunter, Sammy & favorite Aunt Cody

What a great son Joe is and always has been!!

What a good wife Jen is for him!

How happy they are with their new healthy little Jace!

Happy Birthday, Daddy Joe!

Easter Weekend - April 10-12 . . .

I didn't used to enjoy Easter much when the kids were growing up: too much lying about an Easter bunny who was a commercial replacement for the Savior. ---

But in this choice season of renewal, the New Life of spring restores my soul, and of late, we have enjoyed vacationing visitors who come for the long weekend. We love to have them fill our empty bedrooms, eat our food, sit by the fireplace with us if it is chilly, and go on those spring hikes that are so wonderful this time of the year.

SO --- This year, Sarie came, all tired out from her job and needing a break, AND Joe & Jen brought Jace for a visit, on their way to an annual family party in Kanosh with Jen's family.

Joe, Jen & Jace's first family portrait -- April 2009

So good to have them home!

It's always fun when Joe & Jen come -- They like to play crazy games, and we have a blast!

Little Jace settled right in. Aunt Sarie , a.k.a. his favorite aunt (according to her) and Jace "hung out" while the rest of us played our game.

Lots of Loving Care in that "hanging out" stuff!! It was fun to watch.

And when Sarie comes, we always go for a hike, this time in on the trail near Big Rock Candy Mountain.

Wayne & Sarah rest on a culvert next to the trail, which has been built atop the old Marysvale Canyon railroad grade. It was a chilly day, and a blustery little rain cloud chased us down the canyon, not moisturizing us until we got to the car, then the storm came.

And last of all, Miss Sarie did her own tour of the yard, looking at our spring flowers that are beginning to brighten the yard a bit.

In the newly emerging springtime, having a new little grandbaby boy along with some returning Kids home makes me think of other sweet reunions with loved ones at some future time, all because of our Savior's gift to each and all of us! What a priceless, delightful treasure He gave!

Thanks for coming, dear ones!!

Jace Makes 12!

When you're a Grannie, it doesn't make any difference how many grandbabies you have, each is extra-special and a great miracle and blessing from Heavenly Father when they come. Especially so, this new little Jace Thomas who has finally made his appearance in Joe & Jen's home after waiting for so very long to arrive. This little tyke has been so hoped for for so very long, and for some reason, his Grannie was especially excited as the time for his birth drew closer.

So, this past week, Grandad & Grannie Annie made a visit to meet this new little fellow. Of course, they found he is extra-special, extra sweet and especially smart, although he mostly just wiggles and grunts for visitors at this point in time! It is also a great blessing to see his dear parents begin the caring and nurturing process that brings such great blessings and responsibilities. Joe & Jen do so very well with it!!!

The miracle of new life seemed evident in many of the pastures on the way home, as we saw brand new little calves and lambies. Spring seems to be an delightful time for our little miracle child to begin his life on Earth.

Welcome, Jace!!!

Jace is in Grandad's lap and Jace is holding Daddy's finger in this tiny hand.

Draper Temple Open House

Feb 23 -- Andy & Becky arranged their schedules so we could visit the new Latter-Day Saint temple in Draper, Utah, early Monday morning. Going to the temple is an always a sweet experience, but being able to enjoy it with the children is an unusually choice occasion.

We always made it a point to take our kids to temple open houses because they couldn't go inside until they were in the Young Men or Young Women's program, and then they couldn't see the whole temple. Of course, there weren't as many open houses years ago. We got to attend the Jordan River Temple open house when Joe was about 2, and when Manti Temple was remodeled and rededicated, we enjoyed that privilege as well. And so, this was a choice time with the grandkids.

After we were guided through the temple, we were invited to the adjacent stake center for refreshments after the temple tour, where we enjoyed cookies, beautiful paintings, peaceful piano music and a map of temples that dot the earth.

Draper Temple will be dedicated the last part of March.

Above: Grannie, Andy, Becky & Hunter at the world temple map

Above right: Becky and daughters Amy & Brittney (R-L)

.

Right: Mike, Grannie & Lizzie with a cookie.

Painting at top: Christ, teaches Mary & Martha by Minerva Teichert, LDS artist.

Vernal in the Winter

Last time we went to Vernal was last January, when Dave and Niki moved over there. We haven't had the chance to visit since then, nor have they been able to come here, so we have been missing them. This past week, we took a couple of days to go, ironically, again in January. [Joanie tells me that the words Vernal and January should never occur in the same sentence!] But the weather wasn't as cold this time [about 25 degrees warmer] and we didn't have to wrestle household furnishings out of a truck and into a house or storage unit!!

Instead, we got to visit!! And I must say, computers are wonderful for family sharing pictures in a size that everyone can enjoy -- makes them screen-sized, not 3x5 or 4x6 -- and you can visit and share stories at the same time as you are looking!

But, one of the funniest things happened while we were sitting in the living room Friday afternoon, trying to scare up energy to have a guided tour of Vernal: all four of us dozed off and we enjoyed parallel naps!! Now, I have heard of parallel play with toddlers, but not parallel snoozing!! Made me chuckle. Guess we all needed it! Good visit with the kids! Good rest!! Nice trip!

Right: Lulu & friend Mandi

The view from the top of the world, the pass between Price and Duschesne. A winding road brings you to the top and then the view opens up!

The Castle Gate power plant is in the canyon near Helper, and the road drives right under the coal chute that feeds the plant, one of my favorite parts of the scenery. Makes me feel as though I am right in the middle of things and need to be careful not to get in the way of a man trying to get his job done.

Jeff & Laura

Guests came to visit for a couple of days --- our nephew Jeff & his wife of about two years, Laura. Kjirsten*, Jim's daughter, had supper at Jim's house one night, and we had two evenings of great visiting with the six of us altogether, which is what Jeff particularly wanted to do: renew family relationships. They visited with Grandma as well, and she was a bright as a new penny.

A very nice time, getting to know Jeff & Laura, something that we really haven't had the chance to do before.

I worried that life in rural Utah might be a little tame for entertaining, but they totally enjoyed the museum and we had some great conversations. Jeff is collecting native American traditions about the visit of a great white God and healer to their ancient ancestors, who came, taught and ministered to the people, both physically and spiritually.

A series of very nice occasions!

*Wish I had a picture of Kjirsten. She is such a kind and happy girl!