The Grand Fins

Mark

2009-10-27T09:08:00.000-07:00

Thirty six years ago today - about 10:00 am, my brother Mark and three of his friends died in an airplane crash in southeastern Idaho, in the hills above his home. It seems so long ago, but I remember it as if it were yesterday.

Our Heavenly Father held my hand that day. At the exact time the telephone rang bringing me the awful news of the crash, Helen and Bonny sent Michael to the door to see if I was home. It was Kevin's birthday, but they were bringing Doug a birthday card, and when they came into the house, there I was lying on the floor crying uncontrollably. They helped me get things together-Helen called Steven, who was at work, I went across the street to tell my brother Ronald, Helen and Bonny took the kids, Doug, Gregg and Tarali, who was just over 1 year old. We left that day for Idaho. I don't know what I would have done without my other family, and their help.

What a hard, sad time in my life, but also a time that I was able to feel comfort and to know the Lord was near.

Forty-five years!

2009-08-28T20:06:00.000-07:00

Forty five years!

How could it go by so fast!

Forty five years of Loving, Caring, Sharing.

Happiness, Sadness

Working, Learning, Playing.

Babies, Children, Teens.

Football, Volleyball, Sculpting,Games

Blessings, Prayers

Families, Siblings, Parents, Friends

In-laws, Ancestors, Outlaws,

Family reunions, Camping, Testimony meetings

Hawaii, Jackson Hole, Tetons

Laguna Beach, Hiking, Cross-country Skiing

Fillmore, Shelley

Morningside Elementary, Wasatch, Skyline

University of Utah

BYU Football games

Harts jugs full of red cream soda

Church,Testimony, Family Home Evening

Missions, letters, home sickness

Love, Weddings, new daughters and a son,

Grandchildren, more love, more blessings.

Young Women, Relief Society, Young Men

Bishop's counselor, High council, High Priest group leader

Bishop

Supporting, loving,

understanding

Mission to the Thai-Laotian Ward, and University Stake

Service, Concern,

Knee-surgeries,

Walking, walking, walking

with my husband at my side

Continued Support and love.

Family illnesses

Blessings, Love, Continued Prayer

Master gardener, Master builder, Master father and husband

Fountains.

2009-06-23T06:17:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted a fountain in our yard. I finally got one - of sorts. A drinking fountain! While Steven was putting in all of the drip systems last year, he started wondering about doing a drinking fountain. We started looking around, seeing what we liked,and I suppose he was figuring it out in his head. He started collecting rocks, and then this spring he made our 'fountain'. He angled the rocks so they made the bowl, put a stone so the children could get up to drink easier, then put a stepping stone path on the side by the garden so it could be accessed on the opposite side too. We planted flowers on the end, and step-pables in the stepping stones. We call the flower area, Ethan's garden, because I patterned it after the area that Ethan planted in their garden last year. We love it! It is a beautiful addition to our yard.(Now I just have to plant a seed in Steven's head about putting in that other kind of fountain. :>)

Happy Birthday Mother!

2008-10-22T14:22:00.000-07:00

My mom, Nina Frances Robinson, was born today-October 22, 1917. She is 91 earth life's old, but was only 62 when she left us. She was a wonderful lady, a wonderful mother. She was fun, spunky, loved to play games-and win,-loved her children and her grandchildren, the gospel, riding her horses and traveling the world. I loved to hear her sing, to watch her as she arranged flowers, and sewed our clothes. She was a hard worker, a good cook, a good wife and mother, and I knew she loved me. She loved it when I became a nurse, something she had wanted to do. She expected me to live up to the good name of Fielding that my father had given me. She expected that I would always keep our family close, and do the things that I had been taught. I regret that my younger children do not remember the times she loved them and held them on her lap. I do want them to know that like me, she loved them.

A summer full of Grow Boxes, Drip Systems and Archways!

2008-10-09T19:48:00.000-07:00

Dad (Steven) was kept busy this summer helping Doug and Tarali with their grow boxes and drip systems. He loves his family, and he loves to garden, so there was nothing he would rathur have spent his time doing.

This is Dougs back yard. The back yard was totally torn up at the beginning of the summer so he had to start from scratch. It became so beautiful.

Here are part of the grow boxes. A neighbor told him that he was wasting his time putting in grow boxes - that nothing would grow in them. Hmmm-seems like he had quite a bit of growth in them!

He made a bubbler fountain in the center.

Dad and Tarali worked on getting her grow boxes in. She wanted an herb garden, so they built it out of rocks.

It turned out beautiful!

Pretty enough for a wedding!

I had always wanted an archway by the back sidewalk so since all of the grow boxes were finished, Steven decided to do it for me.

It turned out so pretty. I love it. We are starting a rose that we hope will grow up over it.

Thanks Steven! You are so awesome!

Football Fever!

2008-09-13T20:20:00.000-07:00

I love football! I loved learning about football from my husband, I loved going to the BYU games with our family, I loved watching our boys play, and now I get to watch grandsons play!

This Saturday was a perfect day for watching football. A crisp fall day, the trees in the mountains starting to change color. It was the first time that we were able to watch first Jacob, number 50, and then Ethan, number 81, play. Skyline and Brighton. At one time they were rivals, but now they are just two teams that we love. We have given up our Hart's jugs filled with red cream soda, for ice water, but fun still the same. Both teams won, and both boys played well.

Adventures in Utah-The rest of the story

2008-07-23T17:40:00.000-07:00

Wow! How did the time go by so fast! In spite of my good intentions, I didn't get things posted like I was hoping too. So here are some of the pictures from our time with Indigo and Kiara while they were in Utah.

July 4 -
We started out going to the parade at Doug and Elizabeth's. It was so fun! So many floats came by throwing
CANDY, CANDY, CANDY!!
In the afternoon we went to Gregg and Kim's with all our cousins, and aunts and uncles, and grandma and grandpa. We stayed until late, and watched the fireworks!

July 11-12
Father and children camp out with Uncle Robert and Papa, Jacob, Gabrielle, and Noah.

July 13-Celebrating Indigo and Gabrielle's birthday

July 19 - We were so excited that they were able to be in the 24th of July Childrens Parade.

There were so many fun activities following the parade.

>

The pictures that I could not take, are the pictures still in my heart and mind, the girls singing, Indigo playing with her doll and dressing her, Kiara reading her scriptures aloud every night, and their nightly prayers. Both praying separately, yet for the same thing. "Heavenly Father bless mommy and daddy and Samuel, and Angie and Chad and Abby. Bless them that they won't miss me, and that we won't miss them. Help me not to have bad dreams, Amen" Pretty much that version every night, sometimes with other things added, but always sweet. Followed with "I love you grandma miss Elaine and papa."

Indigo and Kiara- Adventures in Utah - Week 1 -6/25-7/3/08

2008-07-03T19:27:00.000-07:00

Hear ye, hear ye! We now begin the mighty adventures in Utah of Miss Kiara Jane and Indigo Soleil Finlinson. The idea began in early June, when Indigo just wanted to go to Utah to see SNOW--and of course to see cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. So came the idea of flying to Utah. Because of the time constraints, holidays, and getting someone to help them to Utah, they will end up being in Utah and away from home for a month. A pretty long time for such young children. We are having so much fun!

So now-enjoy week 1 with us.!

It all began June 21, when their Aunt Tebs flew to Florida to visit for a few days, and then flew home with them.

On Weds., June 25, they got to have a sleep over at Uncle Chad and Aunt Angie's house, so they could get up early in the morning to get to the airport.

June 26-Sleepy girls got their backpacks and drove to the airport. As they arrived in Salt Lake City, Kiara said, "Wow, we were even better than we thought we could be! We have never been this good with our mother!" Tarali said, she only had to shush Kiara once, while singing in her loudest and best voice,and for a long time, a Christian song she had learned at a little camp they attended called, "In God's back yard."

Grandma picked them up at the airport and took them to their home for lunch and hugs. We talked about going up to see the snow. Indy thought it would be snowing when she got here, and wondered if it would be Christmas, so we had to talk about that a little bit.

That afternoon, we decided to go to Snowbird so we could see the SNOW! We took Tarali, Jacob, Gabrielle, and Noah. And picked up Elizabeth, Bethany, Eli, (Eli's friend Jonathan) and Joel.

There was a little snow at the base of the mountain, that all the kids picked up for a snowball fight against Grandpa.

We were excited to begin our ascent to the top of the mountain. Here comes the tram!

Indigo eating snow! (Just kidding-she's just pretending)

Kiara holding snow.

We could even make a snowman--Look closely!

Then down the mountain we came, and went to Doug and Elizabeths where Doug had prepared dinner for us. We sure had some tired kids when they got back to their new beds at Grandma and Grandpa's.

Friday-June 27, 2008

"It's fun to get together-on this reunion day. To renew our acquaintance, in a very special way. We are the Finlinson family, from the Edward and Afton tree. We're proud of our great heritage! We're glad the gangs all here! Yaah"

We are so excited that Indigo and Kiara were able to be here for the Finlinson reunion, at the Heber Valley girls camp. Kiara slept in the Yert with Doug's family, and Indigo slept in the bunk house with Gabrielle and Natalie. While Indy stayed pretty close to Gabs and Nat, Kiara had fun with Eli, Joel, Jared and Noah, playing Indians, treasure hunts, and night games. They both had fun roasting marshmallows and making s'mores.

Saturday-June 28 , 2008

Saturday morning we were up early for breakfast and then went down to the lake to go on the canoes and paddle boats.

Then it was back to camp for more games, food and fun!

Oh, it was fun to get together!

Sunday, June 29, 2008

The girls went to Primary with grandma, where they met their teachers, and new friends.

Monday-Thursday-June 30-July 3, 2008

They helped grandma with the kids she tends and made some pretty good friends. They all had fun playing DSLite! And of course going over to Teba's and helping her and grandpa.

Stooopid Squirrel!-The Empty Basket

2008-03-23T17:44:00.000-07:00

It's not that I hate wildlife-It's just that the squirrels have made my life miserable with their food storage habits~~storing their five years supply of apricot pits in my flower planter's and ruining my flowers. What really took the cake though, was after hiding the Easter baskets in Tarali's yard, we noticed that the squirrel had acquired a sweet tooth, and had snagged all of the candy from Gregg's basket! (Only the peeps were left.)

Florida in the Fall!!

2007-11-12T09:49:00.000-08:00

Tarali, Steven and I were missing our Florida children, so decided to take some time off and go to see them, and to have some fun with them. We were gone from Nov.1-10. It is so fun to have Tarali taking pictures again, since she decided to get her a new digital camera. You will need to view both of our blogs to get the over all perspective...

The biggest birthday party/beach cleanup ever! 50 children plus parents. Even though the birthday girl wasn't feeling so well, she still made sure that every child got their thank-you gift before leaving.

Other pluses from the birthday party:

The waves that day were more like the Pacific Ocean than the Atlantic Ocean, since it was just the day after the hurricane that ended up being a tropical storm. But the "Utah boys", got some serious boarding in.

Rich saving a little girl from the waves.

Steven was setting up this picture, so we could have this cool picture of sea weed, when he got slammed by a wave, almost ruining our camera.

Chad's school

A field full of Iguana's that all ran en mass to the water when we appeared. (We did find this one inside the botanical gardens.)

Walking the beach with Sharon.
Walking down to the causeway where we found 4 large pieces of coral. Sharon carried or strolled 3 of them back from the causeway, and Steven carrying one of them so we could have a memory of Florida to take home with us and also to share with Angie and Sharon. (Wonder what the baggage inspectors thought about them being in the suitcases!)

Finding a snake coiled up in Richard and Sharon's garage. ( We wanted to get a picture of him, but he slithered away.)(Look at the big, brave guys with their brooms to catch the snake!)

Going to the Cheesecake Factory, enjoying a wonderful meal, when in comes 3 of the biggest, burliest body guards, and 8 young people, that we later found out were a rock group called "Pretty Ricki" and their dates. We decided that we were glad that we didn't have to have body guards around us all of the time.

Alot of DS Lite, Tetris, Brain Age 2, Rook and Nertz, playing with the babies, and Indigo and Kiara, traveling alot between Ft. Lauderdale, and Miami. Enjoying the beach, and our children.

Each day was beautiful, with no humidity, and just fun being together.

Thanks kids--We miss you already.

The Finnigan Story!!

2007-10-07T20:42:00.000-07:00

Long, long ago, in a land far-away.......

Well, actually it was long ago, but it was here in this land of Salt Lake City. Living in Idaho, before satalite conference sessions, (I think we were only able to get one of the sessions), my parents loved coming to Utah for General Conference. They would stay at the old Temple Square Hotel, right across from temple square. My brothers, and then later on my husband, would accompany my dad across the street to the tabernacle, for general Priesthood Meeting. ( My sisters and I would drool at the window, watching all those men going in to priesthood meeting.) After the men got out of their meeting, we would all go to Snellgroves Ice Cream parlor for ice cream. It was so fun! We all loved it. It still brings back feelings of love and closeness as a family.
After my dad passed away, and with the advent of better TV coverage, the trips at conference time stopped. My brother Ronald lived across the street with his family, and until they moved, our families, and any other family member that was here, would still get together and go to priesthood meeting, ( but this time they would go to the stake center), and then we would gather at our home for banana splits. One of Ronald's girls, started calling it Finnigans, and the name and tradition stuck!!
This year started a new era in our priesthood meeting sessions, with the first Finlinson grandson going to priesthood meeting with his dad, grandpa and uncles.

Afterwards, banana split time!!

President James Esdras Faust

2007-10-04T17:35:00.000-07:00

As General Conference approaches this weekend, we anticipate that there will be a change in the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles, due to the passing of Pres. Faust, August 10, 2007. I remember the day that Pres. Faust, or Jim to the family, was called to the Twelve Apostles, September 30,1978. Steven was working out in the yard, and after hearing the announcement, I ran out to Steven and said, "Guess who was called to the Twelve!" We were so happy for him, but none so proud as Stevens dad. We heard fun stories over the years from dad, about "Es", as he was called in his younger years, his antics, and the love that he had for his grandparents, who were now also my grandparents. I was blessed to be married into this wonderful family, and over the next 30 years was privileged to be in family gatherings where we were able to hear him speak and to feel his spirit.

Pres. Faust was able to go to Oak City, 9 December 2006, to speak at Aunt Elva's funeral. As he talked to Pres. Hinckley about going down to the funeral, he described her as the "last leaf" on the Finlinson tree--the last of his aunts and uncles to leave this world. He asked the Prophet if he could go, that he would really like to be with his family. He spoke about Aunt Elva's Great grandmother, Eliza Hartley, who came across the plains in the Martin handcart company, and who is buried in Oak City. Her grandfather was Farewell Hartley, the youngest of Eliza's children. He went on to tell about how Eliza had a 10 yr. old handicapped daughter that she literally pulled in the handcart across the plains. He reminisced about his childhood. "We were poor--everyone was poor. But my favorite Christmas was the Christmas without presents." He said, "We had ground cherry jam. We didn't have any cranberries--not many cranberries grow in Oak City. But what made it wonderful, was the love in the family."
Pres. Faust then told us that he was now the patriarch of the Finlinson family--the oldest living grandson, and as such he wanted to talk to us. He said that we have an obligation because of the "believing blood" that courses through our veins. He said, "I am charging each of you in this room to live your lives worthily, and I want you to concentrate mostly on raising a righteous posterity!" He then said, "I was with the Prophet, just yesterday. I see the whisperings of the holy spirit in his life for the church. I see him laying down track for the Church for the next 10 years. We are not leading this Church, the Savior is.
He then gave us an apostolic blessing--the last of many he has given to us over the years. This was the last time that he was with us as a family. Even though he had to use a wheelchair, that day he stood, and walked. He spent time with us at the funeral dinner, and we all partook of his wonderful humble spirit. Most if not all of our children and grandchildren have had the opportunity to "hug a prophet." I hope that they all remember him and the feelings they felt while in his presence.
We will miss this wonderful servant of the Lord. I wanted to write the words that he spoke that day, so they would not be lost to our children and grandchildren. We have a wonderful heritage, on both sides of our family, and we want each of you to remember the "believing blood" that courses through your veins.

The picture below is Helen, and Steven. The center lady is Clarice Nielson, a cousin.

Saying Goodby is so very hard to do....

2007-08-10T13:07:00.000-07:00

We knew this time was coming...First we had to say goodbye again to Richard, Sharon, Kiara, Indigo and Samuel--again. And now Angie, Chad and Abby.
We had our last Sunday dinner together, our last game of colored eggs, and our last pictures together. When Abby comes back again she will be so grown up.
We will miss you guys! We are just happy that Richard and Sharon get you for awhile.

FAMILY FUN!!!

2007-07-30T16:15:00.000-07:00

It's July 20, and the 10 days that we have all been looking forward to is finally here!! Richard, Sharon, Kiara, Indigo, and baby Samuel are coming, and we are going to Party, Party, Party. Since they got here in the morning, we had pretty much the whole day to have fun.
We started with the whole family gathering up Millcreek Canyon for a barbeque.
(I know there are alot of pictures, but after all they are the cutest people in all of the world--and besides I am just figuring this whole thing out!!)

It's been a LONG day!!

CONDO POOL FUN

This doesn't include the whirlpool, hot tub, 1-2-3's, and A_B_C's!!

RIVER FUN!!!

Lets hit the river!!

BEACH FUN!

Ready set go!!!

Jared is that a chocolate grasshopper you have there?

We also had fun with Sharons sisters, and a barbeque and game night with their friends. Tarali and Sharon stayed up every night playing Tetris.
So long-you weren't here long enough, but we had fun while it lasted. We miss you already.

Grandchildren-last year and now.

2007-07-29T21:00:00.000-07:00

Grandchildren in 2008

Two new grandchildren-Samuel and Abby
Standing: Ethan, Gabrielle, Kirsten, Eli, Makel, Bethany, Natalie, Jared.
Bottom left: Kiara, holding Samuel: Noah, Jared, holding Abby; Indigo, Joel.

Grandchildren in 2007

Top: Natalie, Jacob
3rd row: Ethan, Eli
2nd row: Jared, Makel, Bethany, Kirsten
Bottom l-rt: Gabrielle, Noah, Indigo, Joel, Kiara

Happy Birthday Daddy!

2007-05-06T15:59:00.000-07:00

Today my father is 104 years old! He died in August 1973 when I was nearly 31 years old. In spite of him being gone more years than he was here, the memory of him is still so very sweet, and my love for him is very strong. I feel sad that half of my children can not even remember him. I want to share with them some of the memories that I have of him.
He was such an influence for good in my life and in the lives of so many who lived in the Jameston Ward, outside of Shelley Idaho, where I grew up. He was a Bishop when I was born, and was a Bishop for 13 years, until I was about 9 years old.
I remember-

He always wore bib overalls outside to work in. He was a farmer, and then as I was in my teen years, he started raising beef. I would much rather work outside with him than working in the house.

During the spring he would pick a sprig of lilac, and put it in the button-hole of his suspenders. He loved the smell of them, and I guess I picked up that love also.

I remember his smile.

Telling us children that he wanted us to stay close.

Telling us that we have a good name (Fielding),and to always honor it and never do anything that would disgrace it.

Reunions were important to him...It didn't seem that we could come up with an excuse to miss one. Even when they planned the reunion for the day that Steven and I got married, he thought that we would come home for the reunion before leaving for our honeymoon.

I remember how excited daddy was when he planned on taking all of his children and their spouses to Hawaii. We had such a fun time together!

Santa visited every home on Christmas Eve leaving a bag of peanuts, ribbon candy and an orange. After one such visit, Santa couldn't get the front door shut. Daddy called out to him, "Just slam it Art!" (Try explaining that!)

I remember the fun 24 of July Celebrations at the school, with big round watering troughs full of ice water and bottles of "pop". I can still see him guzzling a bottle of root beer down and winning the contest!

I remember him telling us about how the dummy doll came on the big ship with our ancestors from England, and wondering (till I was at least 20) where he hid it!

One of daddy's assignments on the high council was to oversee the building of Darby Girls camp. I loved going up their with my parents and Mark to work on the buildings and the big slide that went down the mountain.

When daddy was put on the high council, he had to speak a lot. I remember typing his notes for him. He had such a testimony. I remember asking him once if he thought he would ever be the president of our church. He just smiled and said, "I'm sure I won't be." I thought he could be though, he gave such good talks.

I remember his story of the protection of garments, when he got his pant leg caught in the power take-off of the tractor, literally stripping his pants off, but not touching his garments or his leg.

How scared I was, and yet how privileged I felt when he asked me to be with him in surgery when he had to undergo his stomach surgery, as if my being there with him would somehow make things turn out alright.

I remember that I felt loved.

I love you daddy.

Tender Mercies

2007-05-06T15:53:00.001-07:00

As I have just completed probably the hardest 6 weeks of my personal life, I look back nearly two years to my last entry, and realize the blessings and the 'tender mercies' that I have received over the past two years. Because I have been so slack in writing, I don't have pictures for everything, but I would like to list some things that have been a blessing to our family.
I am grateful every day for our children, their wonderful spouses, and grandchildren. At the end of last year I wrote myself a note saying,
" At the end of this year,I am thankful for
Who we are and
What we have."
We truly have been blessed. I love each member of our family. I am so grateful for their lives, and for their blessing in mine.
I am grateful for our two new little grand babies-Samuel, born in December, and little Abby born in March.
I look at each of our grandchildren and are so grateful for their health, their strength in the gospel, and their love of the Lord and of their families. They are each a wonderful tender mercy in my life.
I am grateful that Roberts CT scan in April came back clean. His life is a blessing that we count as a tender mercy.
What a blessing I have had so many times in my life, to have a husband who has been such a support to me, who has stayed near me to help me, to give me strength,and who has blessed me and our family.
Most of all during these last hard weeks, I am grateful that at some of my darkest hours, when I was afraid, and when the pain was so bad in my leg, that when I called out to the Lord, I was able to feel Him there.
Thanks so much to each of you that I love for blessing my life.

A Haircut Like My Dad's

2006-02-21T06:24:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago Noah was talking to his dad, and said,"Dad, I want you to grow your two beards back." After quizzing him as to where his 'two beards' were, he pointed to his dad's chin and said, "here", and then pointing to the top of his head said, "and here".

A couple of days later his mom was triming his hair, and Noah said, "Mom, I want a haircut like my dad's". She said, "Are you sure Noah? Your head will be cold, and your hair will take a while before it grows back" He was insistant though, and said he wanted it off, he wanted a haircut like his dads. He has been so cute. He loves looking like his dad.

Lil' Reindeer-Christmas 2005

2005-12-26T06:21:00.000-08:00

This holiday season Noah was playing with this little reindeer toy (potato head type) that I have had forever in my Christmas decorations. He took off the antlers and said, "Hey, he looks like my dad!"

I guess after Robert lost all his hair after his chemo/radiation treatments he is pretty slick on top.

Thanksgiving at the Condo-2005

2005-11-28T06:17:00.000-08:00

We were able to have our condo in Midway over the Thanksgiving holiday this year. We reserved the clubhouse Thanksgiving afternoon, but we were able to have a little touch football in the morning, and were able to swim and play games in the afternoon. All of our Utah family was able to be there this year except Angie and Chad. We also missed our Florida family. Here are some of the pictures from Thanksgiving Day.

Natalie's Baptism Day!!

2005-11-05T21:27:00.000-08:00

Natalie got baptized today into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The baptism program was so beautiful. Her mom Kim was one of the speakers, but the sweetest time came when the four little girls who were being baptized, all dressed in white, sang together, "When I am baptized." She was baptized by her dad Gregg. Her grandfathers, Phil Barney and Steven Finlinson were the witnesses to the baptism. Her dad made sure she was totally immersed in the water...he nearly laid her clear down on the bottom!!

Natalie's confirmation was beautiful. Her dad, her two grandpa's, Uncles Ted, Doug, Robert and her Bishop laid their hands on her head, and her father gave her the Holy Ghost and then a blessing from our Heavenly Father. Her dad told her that her Heavenly Father loved her. He blessed her heart that it would be sensative to the spirit, her mind that she would have an understanding of the scriptures and of her Heavenly Father. He blessed her hands that they would be busy in helping others, and her legs and feet that they would be strong in endurance. He told her of her families love for her, and blessed her with all other blessings the Lord saw a need for her to have. What a sweet little girl.

Natalie following the baptism with her parents.

Wow! There are still roses and beautiful weather the 5 November! Following the baptisimal services, everyone went back to Gregg and Kims for lunch. Angie and Chad joined us there. (Angie had a masters presentation earlier that day.)

The Skeletons in our closet!!

2005-10-30T21:20:00.000-08:00

This year Eli decided that he wanted to be a skeleton for Halloween....So with Tarali drawing the bones, and grandma painting them, he soon had a beautiful set of new bones!! This year though we did something different and added 'glow in the dark' paint to his. It was so fun to see those dancing bones glowing in the dark!!

Here are the original set of bones---Tarali's got altered this year...She got a glow in the dark transplant.

Jared wanted his turn to wear the 'bones' costume. Next year he might just have to get his own set!!

Our Amazing Autumn!!

2005-10-30T21:15:00.000-08:00

This has been such an amazing autumn! With the recent snow, the contrast is beautiful. I have pictures in my mind, but they don't transfer to the blog very well, so I had to borrow some of them from KSL's website. Here are a few of my favorites!!

More Florida girls pictures!

2005-09-12T21:06:00.000-07:00

We need more pictures of the Florida girls, and Utah fun!!

Our Florida girls

2005-09-12T20:35:00.000-07:00

We have been so excited to have our Florida girls here with us for FOUR weeks. Tonight Kiara said to me, "Grandma Miss Elaine, will you cry when we have to go home?" I said, "Yes, I will really miss you when you have to leave-you live so far away!" She said, "That's okay, 'cause we will come to see you again really soon." So, I'm going to have to make sure that her parents know that.
It has been so fun having them here. They have been so good. But I think that their dad is missing them to much, so I have to get some pictures on the blog to send to him.

A week with 3 boys!!!

2005-08-14T20:29:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a week! While mom was at girls camp, dad at work, the boys got to come to g-mas to play. As Eli said, "Electronics, electronics, electronics!!"

Our Germany trip starts!!!

2004-09-17T19:23:00.000-07:00

This is the famous Lorilee rock. We have our car, and we are touring the Rhine!! August 2004