My trip to Erie

I just got back from spending a week with the Biehn family. I had such a great time and the days went by way to fast! The kids are growing up and they are so sweet. I love being with Carolee. I love being with Jeff but he wasn't there much! We went shopping, got some new fun things, and made some great food. I taught Carolee how to do freezer jam. We did 24 pints of boysenberry and strawberry jam.

While I was there it was Trenton's 4th birthday . He went to his favorite place Chick fil-A, and had a pirate cake ( please note the creative cheap decor!)

Also please not there was NO snow. I had to take a picture in front of Carolee's house for proof, but it was sometimes dang cold. One night the wind blew so hard it kept me up all night! so at least it seemed like it.

The last night we ate a Thanksgiving dinner ( yum) at her friend Emily's house the the kids did Sleeping Beauty . Brooklyn was one of the fairies and Trenton played his part as the prince very well, he kissed the little girl even.

It was sad to say goodbye, but we'll see them in less than 3 weeks.

( by the way, Trenton played the Memory game with me and he WON every time!)

Stake Enrichment

Last night was our stake enrichment on Peace thru Prepardedness. We had great turn out, and the speakers were wonderful.

Had a nice time. Nice to have it over with! Now the question is, what have you done today to make yourself more ready for the future? Try to do something each day!

Happy Days

In my last post I talked about my sister Carolyn who had passsed away. But now I want to share some really happy news. Her daughter Cara just found out today that she is expecting twins. This is truly a miracle! For you see Cara wasn't able to get pregnant so she went to the Czech Republic over the Christmas holiday and had Invito done . It worked and she is having twins! yahooooo.

I know my sister is doing the happy dance right now.

Now, you may ask why would they go to Europe.. it's many thousands of dollars cheaper!

anyway, I look foward to helping her when the twins come.

I'm enjoying the rain, we need it so much, and it's making my garden grow grow grow.

I also got a new car. I'm getting used to it. But the two things I really love about it is the rear view video and the Blue Tooth thing I can use with my phone, and by the way who came up with the name like Blue Tooth anyway? crazy huh?

The other picture I took when I baby sat Nate while mom and dad had a little 2 night work meeting/vacation. We had a good time together. I made some new hairbows for the little sister coming in June, Nate was a good sport to model them for me!

I'm going back to Erie the first of March, I got a terrific price on Hotwire and I can hardly wait to see the kids and Carolee and Jeff! BRRRR, I bet it will still be cold.

My sister Carolyn

This week will be my sister Carolyn's birthday. She would have been 65 years old on Feb. 5th.

We lost her 3 years ago suddenly. Carolyn was my oldest sister and very special. My mom and dad thought thier lives begun when Carolyn was born. She was such a delight to them. She was adored by all of her uncles and aunts and grandparents. Carolyn grew up to be very beautiful and talented young woman. She could play anything on the piano whether or not there was sheet music, and she could transpose the music if it was too high or too low of a key. She was amazing really in this area. When Carolyn was a senior in high school she won Arizona's Jr. Miss. It was quite the pageant back in her day. The year after she won, Diane Sawyer became America's Jr. Miss!

Carolyn was the perfect hostess, she would make everyone feel so important. She had many many friends who loved her.

Carolyn was the BEST cook. Really, a true Paula Deen, but even better. She could make anything, and it would also look so beautiful.

Carolyn loved her children and grandchildren. I know they miss her very much, but I know she is watching over them, and still an influence in thier lives.

I don't know why she was taken so soon. We all miss her so much. She did have poor health her last couple of years but you would never hear her complain.

She adored her husband Jerry Nielsen, and loved doing things for him. I know this separation has been so hard on him.

She was a great sister.

here is a family picture of long ago!

I love you Carolyn

hmmmmm the swearing in

Well, I'm trying NOT to be negative today, but I'm not happy that we have a new Democratic president! I think he has a nice family, and I think his little girls are very pretty, but I surely dislike what the Democrats stand for! He says he's going to reverse what Pres. Bush did for pro choice.. That to me is the worst to NOT protect the unborn. Yes, I have many issues with this new president, and YES , I'm so bugged that the press is so one sighted. But I guess life will go on.
Other than that LIFE is Good! I"m loving this beautiful California weather, and I'm so HAPPY that Carolee and family are coming the first two weeks in April. I miss those kiddies so much!

Hey, I've made the homemade soap that the Duggan family uses! I really like it and it's so cheap to make and to use!

not much else going on.

Fun in the SUN ARIZONA

I just spent 6 days in Arizona visiting with Melissa and Candice. I LOVE going to Arizona, the weather was about 75 degrees, beautiful huh? It's so wonderful to see family and loved ones.

I did get to visit the last remaining sibling of my father's family, Uncle Tom. He is 89 years old and so fun to visit with. He has a great sense of humor and loves to reminince about family history.

All the girl cousins who could got together for lunch. Here are some wonderful pictures from our lunch. The company was good, but the service was the WORST, finally the management came over and comp our lunch, ( that was the right thing to do!)

Unfortunately, since I got back I caught someone's cold. My nose DRIPPED non stop! I was so glad to be home so I could stuff kleenex in it .... sorry if this is too much for you.

more pictures of Christmas

Let me explain these pictures,

Nate, loved getting into my drawer of cups and lids, this seemed to be the best toy!

Joy's kids waiting in the hallway to see what "santa" brought, our tradition is that you have to count to 10 before you come into the room, they had just woken up.

Dad doing what he does best, telling stories to all.

we sure missed the Pimentels and the Biehns. we had fun, but it wasn't the same without you.