Still Raining

Yes it is still raining and I just realized that I forgot to include the picture of Brian preaching to us on Sunday while we were in New Hampshire. I think age is catching up with me or else my brain is water soaked.

Saturday Gwila and I went to Provo and Fountain Green to put flowers on the graves and the wind was blowing and the rain coming down but we managed to get the job done. Driving in it was a little tricky and Gwila decided she had made a terrible mistake letting me drive because I am a danger on the roads in good weather say nothing about a steady downpour. Yesterday Vickie and I went to Wendy's grave and it was actually quite lovely. Mike and Bonnie had been there just before us. Richard and family are going today. They invited us to an early breakfast outside with Richard's family. They are all fun to be around and make us so welcome. With all the rain we decided not to join and I am sure they had a full house since eating outside would have been impossible.

My thought for today:

"If someone says something unkind about you, you must live so that no one will believe it"

author unknown

Raining but still Smiling

Oh my gosh we had so much fun at Yankee Candle but it didn't compare with our joy when Callie and Elizabeth greeted us with their happy faces. Callie immediately bonded with Becky and Ben and was so cute about showing us Scott. He is so adorable and we immediately had our arms outstretched to hold him. Callie and I took her dolly for a walk along a wooded path and I was so glad when Becky came along because Callie can really go fast when she decides to. She just takes off and never looks back. It is so cute to see her pushing her dolly along in a little stroller across rocks and down the lane.

We were so happy that both Brian and Jared took an extra day off so they could join with us in everything. Brian took us around Dartmouth and the Hospital where he is doing rotation.. Since it was Stake Conference we did not go to church but you can see by the picture that we held our own little meeting in the Farm Chapel and Brian read from a very old bible that was sitting on the old pulpit. Lots of fun sampling all the cheese and other goodies as we stopped at places along our way exploring and looking for covered bridges. The glass blowing was so interesting and the goblets they made while we were there were so beautiful...and expensive...

It is easy to see why they love it where they are. Everyting was so lush and we enjoyed hiking around, seeing all the amazing old homes and the beautiful flowering trees. The best of all was when we celebrated Callies 2nd birthday. She was so cute putting the frosting on her own little cake and opening all her presents. Like Garrett we must have taken over 200 pictures of Callie and Scott. We felt so welcome and loved by everyone. Again the red carpet was spread and we felt your love.

On our way to Burlington we stopped at a wooded site near the small village of Sharon, Vermont to see the Joseph Smith Memorial at the birthplace of the Prophet. The tour was so informative and there was such a feeling of peace in that beautiful spot. Soft sweet music could be heard from far off in the trees surrounding the monument.

Our last night was spent in an old mansion that had been converted into a bed and breakfast. A sharp contrast to where we had been a few nights before when we were staying by beautiful Lake Champlain.

Home again and the memories of a wonderful trip will stay with us forever as we compile and re visit in memory the opportunity that was ours to spend time with family. How blessed I am to be part of such an amazing family. Thank you for your love, your tender care and for making this last week one that I will treasure forever.

Being A Grandma Makes Me Smile!

After strolling in Central Park, a drive to see the places Jared works and studies it is time to leave for Elizabeth and Brians. How lovely to have shared the past two days with Jared, Katie and Garrett. We were treated like royalty and loved every minute of our time spent with them. We must have taken at least 200 pictures of Garrett. Each action of his brought out 4 cameras. I must tell you that watching Ben, Vickie and Becky compete at Wii (not sure that is the name of the game they were playing) I wish I could figure out how to include the video of them. You would be amazed to see three contortionists at play.

Never forget anything that makes you smile!!!

Check out the new look on my blog...pretty cool isn't it. Katie is incredible when it comes to making things look easy - like blogging - Of course you already knew I couldn't do this by myself.

What a fantastic week we had visiting with family in New York and New Hampshire. Here we are experiencing the subway for the first time. Without Jared and Katie we would probably still be trying to figure it out.

Our next adventure was to see the Statue of Liberty. A new feeling of gratitude filled my heart for this country that welcomed those who came here for freedom and the blessings of living in this great land. Garrett was the star of the show where ever we went and his smile just continued to radiate all day long. The day was fast drawing to a close as Jared took Vickie and Garrett to the subway so they could begin wending their way back to Irvington and bed. Becky, Ben, Jared, Katie and I checked out Rockefeller Center and then we were on our way attend the broadway play WICKED.

Just Counting Blessings

Yesterday we went to J & J Nursery to check out the plants. Wow that is the greatest gardening shop you could ever imagine. I took KC with and he was so happy to ride in the basket. It was hard doing anyting because the place was extremely crowded and so many people stopped to talk to KC. Of course all the little ones had to pet and play with him. Now he was really along so he could help pick out the plants that he would find the most delightful to dig up or lay on. I must admit he did a good job becasue this morning after I had planted them and was cleaning up he proceeded to eliminate two of them by tugging them out of the ground while I put the tools back. Now I do not remember Tar doing that and we had a good talk about it but I think it was to no avail.

Last night we went to an awesome piano recital. Ben played Sonata in A minor by Mozart and Polichinelle by Rachmaninoff. The finale was when Ben and three other boys played Stars and Stripes Forever on the twin pianos. Wow I wish all of you could have been there. What an impressive bunch of students. Ben is becoming a very accomplished pianist.

Tomorrow morning I get to go with Ben to a Mother's Day Breakfast at his ward. It is an honor to be with him. Bonnie cannot attend becase she is in Hawaii. I hope all of you have a wonderful Mother's Day. It is so fun to have 3 new moms in the family.

Check out the dog training picture. Vickie had been training Seth's dog and the poor thing had to have time out because he was tired of having to submit to another Alpha in the pack. Oakley and KC enjoyed a little free time.

We are so anxious to begin our trip back east but I have to admit it will be hard to leave KC he has become a home body, especially at night time.