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Christmas Decorations

Tara has been pestering me to put our Christmas decorations on our blog so these are especially for her to see! Morgan wanted the tree in the front room this year so you could see if from outside - never mind how crowded the room is with the tree ... think how crowded it will be on Christmas morning everyone. Can't wait! I forgot to take a picture of the familyroom so I'll add that later. We are having a winter snowstorm and the kids are out of school today. The streets are like a sheet of ice. Kirby made it in safely, Nathan did too. Keri had to spend the night last night the roads were too bad - she just left - 10am for work and we hope she makes it saftely too...she just came back. Merry Christmas everyone!

Kitchen Remodel

Well, here are the pictures of our completed kitchen counters. It is sooooo nice to have a new stove top after not having one for almost a month. Our island is a little bigger than before and so much easier to clean than those four inch white tiles. The new stools should be here on Friday and they slide right under the counter - no backs. A little at a time and it is manageable. We plan on replacing our appliances - one a year - to stainless steel which should update things nicely. Let me know if you think I should paint the island cabinets to look like a piece of furniture. I'm thinking a dark cherrywood color.

Halloween/Fall Fun

Ashley, Morgan, Jessica Larimer and myself had a great day at a Pumpkin Patch where we went on a train ride and a boat ride where sea creatures squirted water. We decided to go exploring around the beautiful countryside which led us to a place called Hornings Hideout. We saw 50 or more peacocks and lakes with bridges and picnic areas. It was breathtaking. We found a meandering creek with a wedding arbor in an area surrounded by trees. Someday we want to go fishing there and play frisbee golf too. They have camping too if we ever get back to doing that. What a great day!

Morgan finished her piano practice just in time to go trick or treating. She had her eye on this costume and everytime we went to Target she looked to see if it was still there. Finally she convinced me to see what it looked like and noticing that they only had one in her size left - her dreams came true. I love it when little girls just want to be pretty princesses and in this case an 'Ice Princess'. Lauren bought her the tiara and diamond necklace. It was the perfect extra touch.

Lauren Turns 17

Lauren asked for a breakfast cake for her birthday. So I made one with cinnamon swirls and a crumb topping - we had 17 candles in it too. She thought it was quite silly of us to sing Happy Birthday to her at 6am. It was fun. I learned that if you put candles in a cake that is not cooled down the candles will bend and it doesn't look so good! At least Lauren was all smiles when it came to eating the cake. We love you Lauren - Thanks for all you do and how hard you work!

Ashley with new puppy

Well, it happened, we have added on to our family. Ashley brought home a little puppy three weeks ago. He's a Pug and Miniature Doberman Pincher mix - called a Muggin. Cutest little thing ever! She and her roommates were all on board to have a little puppy but when she brought him home - one of the girls decided she didn't want a dog after all. Hence, we took him in (Ashley spends many days off and nights over here now helping to take care of him) and the family has gotten attached. I wasn't really prepared for all the work this puppy is during the day - but he has brought a lot of joy to the family, so I've adjusted. His name is Jake "The Tank" and he is so smart! He has started obedience classes and we are all learning a lot. Ashley is really doing a great job taking care of all Jake's needs. I'm sure she is surprised how much work it is though. Jake loves to have our little neighbor girl, Elise, come over because he can put her entire hand in his mouth - yummy!

Tara's Blackhawk Ride

Tara’s name was randomly drawn out of a hat to be one of the guests to ride on October 7th. She woke up at 4:30 am to be there by 6:00 am sharp only to not ride until 10:00 am! She said “it was very cold but worth the wait!” As the last group to ride the pilots took some extra time and extra fun with them. She said “It was so wicked killer awesome sweet ride".

New Floors

Birthdays and Broken Bones

What a great day. Today (Sept. 3rd) I turned eight years old and my mom took me out of school for lunch at McDonalds. Keri met us there and she always makes everything fun. We both got Big Kid Happy Meals and she gave me her toy. It was fun but I couldn't wait to get back to school. I love my class and my teacher is awesome.
I think Keri is beautiful. She is a great big sister because she takes me out for dates with her and sometimes she takes naps in my room. I'm glad she lives close to us.
This is my new bike. Isn't it amazing! Read more below and you'll see why I'm holding it so gently. Keri helped me open my presents because my wrists hurt too bad. I got a gift card to build a bear, a scripture bag with a coupon to pick out my own scriptures and a new watch.
The Republican Convention was on TV tonight and Mitt Romney was getting everyone fired up. I still think he would of made a great president.

EIGHT IS GREAT!

Everything was going so well on my birthday and then I went with my friend Jessica to the park after school to play with her little sister and I fell off the swing in grand style doing a 360 flip and landed on my wrists and my face. Ouch!

Mom gave me a bath thinking it would make me feel better but I couldn't even hold the soap so she decided to take me to Urgent Care to get xrayed. They found out they I had buckled my bones in both wrists but one was only sprained and the other had some hairline fractures in it.
It was interesting to watch the doctor put a temporary cast on my arm . They did this so if my fingers swelled my parents could take the cast off. But there is a very hard plaster piece that goes on both sides of my arm that was molded to me. I have to go back to the pediatric surgeon on Friday for another x-ray and we'll see what happens from there. I just want to get better quick so I can ride my new bike I got for my birthday!
I did go to school the next day, but only for one hour, because it was my teachers birthday and I wanted to tell him happy birthday. He sat me in front of the class so I could tell what happened "once" not 24 times. It was nice to have so much help doing things. With both my wrists not working well it was hard to do things like turn knobs and write. Mr. Larson told me to go ahead and stay home on Friday to get some extra rest so I slept in and when I woke up I watched some disney shows.
Then mom suggested me and Tara get a pedicure. I thought that sounded great so we called and got an appointment for the two of us. Mom just watched in a massage chair and had some R & R herself. I got lavender toenail polish and the lady put white pin dot flowers on the toes. On the big toe she put a small crystal in the middle of the flower. Then she put a clear coat over all my toes to protect them and it looked great. Not a bad day for a little girl playing hookie from school!

"My Birthday and Baptism Day" by Morgan Jones

For the last three months I made a paper chain so I could remember everyday how many more days until I got baptized. It was fun to rip them off! I am so happy that today finally came. All my brothers and sisters came home and that made me feel special. Our neighbor fixed my baptism dress so I could get my cast through it. The doctors wouldn't let me take it off so we wrapped it in a white garbage bag and taped it to my skin. My mom had to call to find out if this was ok and the Stake President did some checking and said it was a.o.k. Kristi Rutter, our neighbor, french braided my hair. I felt really pretty! Keri gave a great talk on the Holy Ghost. Everyone had someone in their family participating. Soon it was my turn to go and get ready to be baptised. The time had finally come. My dad baptised me and I went under the water just perfectly. When I came out and walked up the stairs my mom was there with a white towel given to me by the Primary President, Paula Thacker. She embroidered on it my name and the date I got baptized. It is a very special towel to me. It represents being clean and pure (white) and when my mom wrapped it around me to keep me warm that represents the Holy Ghost.

I was thinking.... I didn't really feel any different after I got baptized. I thought I would feel something big but then I realized that before I was baptized I was good and kind and doing what I was supposed to do. When I made a mistake I said I was sorry. So, I didn't really need to feel different because I was already choosing the right. I couldn't wait to put on my beautiful baptismal dress. My mom found it two years ago in an antique shop and it's been hanging up in my closet all this time. I would try it on every now and then to see how it looked - but I knew it was for a special day.

After I got dressed I went into a room where all our friends who came to be with me and my family were seated. I sat in a chair in the front and my dad and my brother Nathan and Bro. Carlson, Bro. Rutter, Bishop Rowley, Bro Thomas, and Bishop Ward (our past bishop-I kinda think of him as my grandpa)stood around me and I was given the Holy Ghost.

It didn't take long for me to make a mistake - I was so sad. But, I remember that I can be clean again by asking my Heavenly Father to forgive me and then not doing it again. I love Jesus and my Heavenly Father and my Heavenly Mother too. I really, really, really want to live with them again. I love my family too and in my prayers I always ask Heavenly Father to help them.

I will never forget my 8th birthday - not everyone breaks their arm on their 8th birthday! But really, I will never forget this day because so many people came to celebrate with me the day I wore my "second white dress".

(Picture taken a few days before my birthday - notice, no broken arm!)

First Day of School

September 02, 2008 Lauren started her Junior year at Westview. It's hard to believe that she only has two more years of high school. Here's to a great year Lauren!

Morgan was excited to be in 2nd grade and get the teacher she wanted, Mr. Larson. She told him her prayers were answered when she found out he was her teacher. She is excited to make new friends and learn.

A New Dress For Morgan

Morgan is modeling the dress I made for her this summer. It is a light pink with polka dots. It twirls when she spins around - that's a must for little girls don't you know! We had a few sewing projects this summer. Morgan learned to sew by making her own quilt. It's pink patchwork on one side and soft flannel on the other. We tied it in bright pink embroidery floss and it came out great. We made a picnic quilt for my neice Shalee and her new husband Travis. It was fun but don't try to sew a quilt with stretch denim it "stretches" - how about that! I have one more project and that is to recover my rocking chair. It won't be hard but it will look tons better - maybe next week! We had some cooking classes too this summer. We made homemade pretzels, cookies and individual lazagna's. Our neighbor Kristi and her boys sewed and cooked too. It was a great summer!

Family Fun in Utah

It was wonderful to help decorate for Shalee's wedding reception in Draper, UT. We had a nice reunion with Sue's family, who we grew up with in NJ. Everything was so organized and the colors just popped. It's always fun to see my little brother Chip's family when we visit Utah. Morgan and Alexis didn't do there traditional sleepover because school had already started. We'll make up for it next year. Morgan did make a new "cousin" friend - Tiffany (Sue's brother Kevin's daughter). They met and two seconds later they were glued as friends forever. Shalee looked beautiful and we are glad they live close to us in Washington.

Being at Grandma and Grandpa's house in Provo is great when you can share the house with cousins. Morgan (in the middle) with her favorite Oregon cousins, Jessica (blonde), Brooke (Brunette) and Logan (laying down). We have been lucky to live by Jim's youngest daughter Julie and her husband Bob for the past nine years. It's been fun to have "family" by us. We are sad that they have now moved to Utah but we are happy that we will continue to see them in the summers when we visit. Highland is lucky to get this great family - they laugh a lot and enjoy being with each other. We will miss the impromptu talent shows, sleep overs and Thanksgiving dinners together. Our best wishes to them in their new home and in making new friends.

This is the Place Heritage Village in Salt Lake City was really fun. Here Morgan (front white shirt) and Lauren (back tall one) had to recite their times tables in a school house being sure to do it properly - notice the hand positions and standing when speaking. It was great because the teacher stayed in character the entire time. Next to Morgan is her new friend Alli from Florida. As a matter of fact we all fell in love with this young lady and offered to adopt her but she she said she wasn't up for adoption.

Morgan was thrilled when she found out she could go horse back riding at the Heritage Village. She rode Banjo and even though they only went in cirlces she was happy to have her cousin Josh and Alli ride with her . Lauren was a good sport since you could only ride if you were under 12. There were over 50 homes/buildings and activites to do. One of the favorite was getting ice cream at the Hotel Utah. What a great way to show how Salt Lake looked when the pioneers came and settle it. Great day with my brother Mike and Sue and Josh and their Florida Friends Kerry and Alli. It's always great when our kids can make memories with family.

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Later that evening Tara came up from Provo to have dinner with all of us at the Mayan. It is an amazing place. It has been renivated inside and the diving show is breathtaking. It's like a dinner and a show at family prices. Best deal in town and the food is yummy! We sat right by the railings and the divers looked like they were coming right at us - we were all holding our breaths until they hit the water which was only seconds but it felt longer! It was great to have Tara for another night. We had been in Provo for four days and went to Seven Peaks, did some shopping, had lunches together and she showed us her office and we met her boss Janet and some of her co-workers. They love her at Vitalsmarts and she enjoys her job. If they would just relocated to Oregon it would be perfect - well for me anyway.

East Brunswick, New Jersey Reunion

To me this picture is priceless. These are many of the youth that my brother and I grew up with in the East Brunswick Ward. We saw each other twice on Sundays, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Nights. Mutual, Seminary and Primary if we had a calling. We girls had sleep overs, some dated in our group and Mike (aka Eugene) and Sue and Jessie and Melanie even got married! We went to the beach together, we had parties and dances at each others homes. We went to different school but it didn't matter - we had the activities of the week to look forward to. Along with my family these were the people who helped me through all the bumps in life. I hope I was there for them as they were for me. Seeing them again made my heart sing. I felt like I had come home. So many memories - we were very blessed to have each other. In the picture is from left to right: Doug Farrer, Shalynn Murphy, Ken Yourstone, Mike McNall, Debbi McNall, Naomi Hosfield, Sue Yourstone, Liz Farrer, Sue Casey and Brian Murphy. Missing is Nathan Hosfield, Melanie Hosfield, Clarke Farrer, Ron Casey, Rick and Lynette Turley, Donna Brazier, Jessie Anderson, Bob Peterson, Wayne Park, Sandy and Debbie Johnstone, Brian Petrone and Ken Fickling. Just thinking about all these people makes me smile.

Lauren - Amazing Grace

Lauren found out that she made the Concert Choir. This is a huge achievement in her life. She has been taking voice lessons for two years now and is excited about this new opportunity. She performed Amazing Grace at a recent performance and we wanted to share it with you (as soon as I figure out how to add the music I'll add it). There is a magic that happens when Lauren sings, the smile on her face and the sparkle in her eyes touch us and the words and the music penetrate our hearts. Lauren's Grandmother Jones and Grandmother McNall-Campbell are beautiful singers - so the tradition continues!

Kirby's mutant potatoes

This spring Kirby planted two varieties of potatoes next to each other in our garden and probably due to the strange warm then cold then warm again weather that we had this year, the plants flowered twice and we were surprised with a bunch of lovely red russet potatoes. The skin is red and thin like a red potato but had the large shape of the russet. We bake some and made others into french fries. Our favorite was the one we baked. The flavor was that of the russet but the texture was more like a red. We've saved some of the less mature ones to replant to see what we get next year.

Tara's Visit Home

Tara came home in July to visit and we were able to take all the girls to the beach. The Oregon coast is beautiful but it can be windy and the water is freezing. We were lucky to catch a

sunny day at Seaside- around 70 degrees. Kirby, Lauren and Morgan had fun flying a kite - Tara, Keri, Ashley and I relaxed and soaked in the sun. We had fun in the arcade and the rides. We always go to the Carousel Mall and ride the Merry Go Round. They have a hat shop that we love. You can find birthday hats, pizza hats....crazy hats - along with cowboy hats, straw hats and visers etc. It's always fun!