Hansel and the gingerbread house

Kace and Tydon came up Friday night to stay the night while Rachel and Nate cleaned their grout and resealed their tile in their kitchen. We had started making a gingerbread house the Saturday before but Kace had to leave before it was finished. So of course the first order of business was to finish the gingerbread house! Kace couldn't wait to get started and because Tydon had just woke up he wasn't up to much but just wanting to eat the candy. Kace decided that I should put on the frosting and he would put on the candy and we couldn't stop until it was all finished. When I had seen him on Wednesday I had asked him if he was ready to finish his house and he said," do you have any fish?" meaning Swedish fish, I answered,"no, but I will get some." Well I had a big bag of fish and we definitely ate more than we put on the house! He then wanted to eat himself (he had made a gingerbread snowman representing him and Tydon and had put it in front of the house.) I told him that he had to wait until his Mom was able to see it and of course the first thing he did when Rachel came was say, "See my house Mom", and then took the snowman and started eating it.

You can see in this picture that Tydon is still half awake but not too tired to eat!

The house was still there the next morning and the Christmas mice had not eaten it during the night.

In the afternoon after playing in the hot tub and eating lunch we realized that Tydon was being very quiet and we went through the house trying to find him. I thought he was probably in the play room but after looking we found that he wasn't there. Caitlin went outside to see if she could see him but I told her that he didn't have any shoes on so he shouldn't be far. She looked for a few minutes and then looked up on the hillside and saw Tydon marching up the mountain after the dogs, bare feet and all. Remember those deer pictures that Ryan always takes, well the little speck on the hillside is Tydon. We got him down and put his shoes on and he spent the rest of the afternoon exploring with Kace.

Kace had to have a picture with Millie and her Santa hat. We had a lot of fun with Tydon and Kace and Tydon was very well behaved. As soon as Rachel and Nate came in the afternoon he saw Rachel and just started to cry. He had not cried the whole time he was with us and I don't know if now that his Mom was here he could just let it all out or what but the rest of the night he kind of had a hard time.

The rest of the pictures are of our Christmas decorations, the tree is up and decorated so it is getting to feel a lot like CHRISTMAS!

Mr. Jones asked if we were having a green Christmas because I had so much green everywhere but I just like the color this year for some reason and it kind of carried it's way through the house.

Okay, here is some red! I love everything about Christmas and especially the reason we celebrate it, for without Him my life would truly be nothing.

Now that Thanksgiving is over...

These pictures are from Saturday when Kace and Tydon came up with Nate to go pheasant hunting up the canyon. Tydon has such a cute pose and knows just what to do when a camera is in front of him. Kace started his gingerbread house but will have to come back up to finish it, he was ready to eat it before it even was put together.

After our Thanksgiving dinner we had to play "Rock band" and it was fun because everyone got involved. I just sang because I am really, really, bad at the drums and the guitar.

Mary and Isaac do quite well and the rest of us just try to keep up.

Mac and Jess and little Millie.

Mac and Isaac posing for the camera, yes Mac is pinching the dogs ears.

Mr. Jones was pretty good at the drums and was getting into quite the rhythm.

This is before all of the food was on my plate. I should have taken an after photo but I was too full to move.

Ready, get set, go, we almost are ready to eat!

Mac had to try the turkey before hand and he had to keep telling us all of the gross parts that the Philippine people eat on a bird. Yes, we are very spoiled and we waste a lot of food.

This was right after we took the turkey out of the roaster it was a little crispy on the top but it was really moist and yummy! WE have so much to be grateful for and it was a great holiday and we are looking forward to the next great holiday, Christmas my favorite.

Happy Thanksgiving

I have a new toy, it's called a cricut machine and it cuts all kinds of shapes like you can't believe. I have had a lot of fun playing with it and decided to make some Thanksgiving place cards so I made one for all who would be at Thanksgiving. After I finished them I wasn't sure how they would stand up by the plate. I found some pumpkin picks,(the ones with the wires in the bottom) I pulled out the wire in the bottom and used some needle nose pliers to make a curly cue to hold the place cards. I think they turned out pretty cute and yes I made skinny turkeys for the girls and fat turkeys for the boys. I hope all of you have a very happy day eating and being with family and loved ones and to all of you that I can't be with on this Thanksgiving day I just want you to know you will be missed and I am very thankful for all of you.

Humble Pie Night

Okay, so Rachel got a special pie from the Morby's on pie night. It was all wrapped up like a very nice pie and when she opened it there was just a few crumbs and this reminder... We love you Rachel! I just wonder what it will be like next year when the Seniors from Utah have all graduated and moved on and BYU will have there main offense back to play in the game right before Thanksgiving. I wonder what kind of pie Rachel will bring to pie night next year? hmmm
We had a very fun night at pie night and there was definitely enough pies to go around and then some. They were delicious and we all felt like we had our fill. Kace loved all of the pies and went back for 2Nd's and 3Rd's and he ate every bit. Yes, all of the pies were good, I think my favorite was Val's peach pie. It took Tydon awhile to wake up and about the time he was ready to leave he finally got going.

We had fun talking with all of the cousins and telling our stories to each other.

Mark treated us all to some of his guitar songs and I especially liked the first one that he learned. For all of you that missed it maybe he will play it at the Christmas party and you can hear how good he is. I was impressed, way to go Mark you made it a really great evening.

Happy Thanksgiving to all !!

Mary looks like she ate too much pie but she has a better treat coming in January!

We can't wait!

Check out Mel's etsy shop

Mel has a cute shop with cute things to buy and make. Check it out here.

I am thankful for...

Atonement, I am thankful that I had a Savior who knew how imperfect I would be and made it possible to return to Him by atoning for all of my sins. I am also thankful for airplanes, aunts, April (the month I was born in), all of His creations, and apples.
Baptism, because then I can make the steps to make it back to Heaven. I am thankful for babies and their sweet smells, my back so I can walk, beds so I can sleep, Book of Mormon, my body even though I judge it harshly, books, Bryce, breathing, bread, bishops especially the one I have now, and blessings that I receive everyday.
Christ, I am so thankful for Him and all that he has blessed me with, children they are the bright spot in my day and my life and I am so grateful for my own, cars so I can get where I need to be, Christmas so we can celebrate His birth, candy it makes my life sweeter, camping, I know Ryan will wonder about this one but I have lots of fond memories of our camping trips, Carson, Caitlin, cousins, clothes, computers, canyons, cherries, chocolate and the coolness of the summer breeze.
Daylight, I love when the sun first comes up in the morning and the peace and beauty of the day, daisies, day lilies, dianthus (these are all flowers), Dads and especially the one that I have. I don't know a more humble man and he has brought me so much joy. I am grateful that I was named after him so I guess I would add Don and Donene to the list and I am thankful for Doug.
Eternal Life, I am thankful that I have that to look forward to because how sad would it be if this life was all that we had. Everyday life and the surprises it brings each day. Eternal companion, I am so grateful for him and that I have the opportunity to spend the rest of my life with him so far it has been a pretty good trip. I am thankful for Evan, examples that I have had in my life, ears to hear, education, earth, and the excitement of each new day.
Fathers, I have mentioned the one I have and of course I love the father of my children, and I love the Father that I have in heaven. Family, I love my family and I am so grateful for the one that I have been blessed with they are definitely the brightest spot in my day. I am thankful for food, flowers, fruit, fabric, football games, furniture and just having fun.
Grandparents, I am grateful for the heritage that I was born into, what great people they are and what sacrifices they made to become the people that they are. I am thankful for gardens, grandchildren and green grass.
Home, holidays, the joy of hearing, hiking, honesty, my health, and of course hot tubs.
I am thankful for Isaac, ice cream, and having insurance.
I am thankful for Jon, Jaedon and Jessica.
Kace, knowledge, and knitting.
Layne, laughter, and lakes.
My mom who has always been there for me and is one of my best friends, Melanie, MacArthur, Mary, moonlight, memories, mountains, music, money, mothers, movies, milk, and I am so thankful for my mattress.
Nathan, night and the nativity.
Olivia, ordinances, ocean, and listening to organ music.
Priesthood, parents, prophets, parties, people, piano, pioneers, peaches, paint, and I am so thankful for my pillow.
Quiet, quorums, and quilts.
Ryan, Rachel, Rainee, rivers, righteousness, rain, and rocks. When Mac was little he said in a prayer that he was thankful for rocks, he was very sincere about it so I began to look at rocks in a whole new light.
Scriptures, smells, seasons, sleep, shelter, shoes, sunsets, sight, summertime, and the newness of spring.
Tydon, teachers, trees, truth, temples, testimony, trials, telephones, and what would I do without toilet paper?
Understanding and universities.
Virtue, in world where virtue is not cherished I am so thankful for virtuous young women. I am thankful for vacations and vegetables.
Wisdom, warmth, women, waterfalls, and warm showers.
eXcellence.
Young Women, yellow, and yarn.
Zzzz's especially at this time of night.
Yes, I am blessed and I definitely have so many things that I am thankful for at this time of Thanksgiving.

Bittersweet

I don't know if others feel like I do, but callings in the church are interesting. I have always felt that you can't get too possesive of the calling that you have because it will be changed soon and it will just be someone else's turn to have that calling. Also I find it funny that when you get a new calling you cry and then when you get released from that calling you cry as well. You cry when you're called and cry when you're released. Well today is one of those days when you cry when you get released. Our Stake YW Presidency was released today and it kind of is a sad day because I have had such a wonderful association with these three women. When I was called I hardly knew them and now they are my best friends. We have spent countless hours praying and working together for the YW leaders and the YW of the Franklin Stake. So I guess it is kind of a bittersweet day. I will be happy to be able to spend more time at home on Sunday and not worry about the YW activities but I will miss working with these women and the YW in the Stake. I think of the Trek, girls camp, ward conferences, Stake leadership, Stake youth council, Tri Stake dances, Standards night, Evening of Excellence, New Beginnings, Presidency meeting, trips to Salt Lake, Senior dinner, Super Saturday, speaking in wards and in Stake Conference (this is definitely something I won't miss). and the Priest and Laurel acitivites and wonder what I will do not worrying about what comes next. I will enjoy as I said being home more and getting to know more people in my own ward.
Today was fun because Mac, Jessica, and Isaac showed up in Sacrament meeting and surprised me just because they wanted to come and visit. Jessica had made chicken enchilada's so I didn't even have to worry about making dinner. Thanks Jessica! Because I had been released in Sacrament meeting I didn't have to leave for our YM, YW meeting and was able to stay for the whole meeting, otherwise I would have missed their surprise. So there are good things that happened today too. So thanks to these wonderful women Pam Petterborg, Annette Hansen, and Pam Keller, it has been a fun three years working with you and I have learned a lot from all of you. Because of this release I may not see these women for awhile and our relationships will change but I will always have the happy memories which I will always be grateful for.

Thank You it has been GREAT!

Fall Colors

I thought I would try this scrapbook page because it was one that was pretty quick to do. I don't know if this will show up on the page or not. Ryan will probably want to tell you more about this but I have to add some of the comments that Kace made. When he came back from looking for the deer with Nate and Ryan, I asked him how big the deer was that they found and he said, " Oh, about 2 inches." I then quizzed him again and he said,"Well maybe it was 4." Then while I was gone Grandma Shaw called and he was watching cartoons and so he answered the phone and told her he had found a "forked horn." I love the comments that come from the mouths of babes.

Happy Birthday Jessica!

Today is Jessica's birthday, yes she was born on Halloween and she probably has had many birthdays that were over looked because everyone else was celebrating the day and not her birthday. I just want her to know how happy I am to have her as a daughter (in-law). She has been the best thing that ever happened for Mac. So have a very happy day and we hope that you have a Happy Halloween too!

Isn't she just the cutest baby!

Happy Birthday Jessica!

We Love you!

I Love Halloween

This year Isaac was the Astronaut, Mel was the dead cheerleader and Mac was the Ninja turtle.I have always loved Halloween, I liked the dress up part but more I think I loved the candy. We would try and see who could save their candy the longest and Carolyn was always the winner. I think one year she saved it until Easter!(she always had so much will power.) I loved the costumes, I remember trying to think of something original to be. One year my friend Angela and I decided we would be a purple cow and we worked for days to make the costume. We dyed a sheet purple and with the help of her Mom we made a head and then the body. She was the head and I was the body. We won the costume contest,(that was our goal), I can't remember what the prize was but I have always been so competitive and just winning was great. I remember when I was little that at Zella Chard's (she was a teacher at Valley elementary and she never had any children, so her students were her kids) Witch Maggie always came at Halloween. Witch Maggie was a legend in the Valley and she always came to the Chard's. Well when you would go trick or treating at their house you had to watch out because Witch Maggie would be hiding behind something and would chase you after you had your candy. One year we had our candy and was coming back to the car and she came from out from behind the bushes and started chasing us, we were petrified and started running and screaming. Carolyn, my little sister fell down as she started running and she started crying, I remember running back to help her and thinking," Oh, Witch Maggie is going to get us and that will be the end of us." I was terrified and I think Carolyn was more terrified than I was, we made it back to the car but I was always a little leery of going to that place. Witch Maggie was a very authentic looking witch and we never found out who she was, it wasn't Zella or her husband Lyle, and even when they became old they never would tell anyone who she was. They are both dead now and their secret went with them to their grave, if you see any authentic looking witches out their tonight, beware Witch Maggie may be back! I still loved Halloween when my kids were growing up and I lived my fantasies through them, I really did love making their costumes and Caitlin actually loved being the princess and so I was usually making her a beautiful princess dress. This year she wanted to be Scarlett, from Gone with the Wind. I found a dress at the DI and cut it up and made this dress for her.

This is Mel and she usually liked her face painted and wanted to be something scary. Our tradition on Halloween night was to go trick or treating around our house and of course our last stop would be at Grandma and Grandpa Shaw's so we could show them our costumes and show them all the loot that we had received that night.

This was the year that Caitlin was Belle and of course here she is showing Grandpa all of the candy she got. Grandpa would try and distract her and then tease her by taking some of her candy. If it was something she liked she would make him give it back and if it was something she didn't like she would let him have it.

This was a Halloween when Grandpa, Grandma, and Grandma Marriott dressed up, they were going to a party so we came over to see them, Mel and Isaac thought they looked great.

Here is Caitlin on her first Halloween isn't she a cute butterfly!

Here we are at Grandpa and Grandma Shaw's again and Grandpa thought he should be the witch. Nate is the ghost, Rainee is the princess and Mel is the scary witch. Oh, Grandpa you make such a cute witch.

This actually was a project that Rainee and Sharlene made for their humanities class in high school. The waist on this was about 10 inches and it really was made to fit a doll but when they got through they decided Caitlin should wear it. She loved going to the high school to model it and it was so funny to see this 2 1/2 foot tall little girl sauntering down the halls of Weber High showing off her dress.

Isaac is the Ninja, Caitlin is Belle and Mac was? I can't remember but I think it was? Okay I am drawing a blank, if anyone remembers tell me. Anyway he wanted to be this guy and we had to get a picture so we could copy the outfit, anyway he looked pretty good.

This was the year that Caitlin was a ladybug, she always made the cutest bugs.
So have some great memories with your kids because Halloween is fun and I miss those days when I was trying to get 6 costumes ready, well I guess I didn't really have to get 6 all at once because by the time Nathan was older he and his friends loved to go to the DI and make up their own costume. Any way have a great Halloween and don't get too sick eating all of the candy.

4th of 4th

Okay I was tagged by Mel to choose the 4th folder of my pictures and then choose the 4th picture in that folder and here is the 4th of the 4th. This is a picture that I scanned of my family so I could fix the picture in the bottom left hand corner. I love my family and it is pretty cool that the picture that would be in the 4th of the 4th would be this one. This is a picture of my sisters and brother and their spouses and of course my Mom and Dad. I tag Jessica, Kristi, Sammy and Crystal. They can tag 4 people of they would like to.

The Dog Days of Fall

This is Caitlin's new addition. Yes I know she already has lots of dogs but after this last batch of Dachshund puppies we realized that it would be Lil'y's last so Caitlin thought she would like to try with a new breed. she decided Yorkies would be fun and she has had a little bad luck with finding some with papers. She finally found this cute little girl and her name is Millie. She is very quiet and tiny and Caitlin feels like she is a new Mommy. She brought her up today and we all had fun playing with her.

Jess and Kace are posing or I should say Kace is posing, every time I went to take a picture he had to make some "Mac" pose.

Caitlin with her baby.

Kace came up to go hunting with Mac, Nate and Ryan and when he came back he came to me and said, "Grandma, you remember that every time I come up I forget my swimsuit?" and then continued saying,"Can you find those shorts for me so I can get in the hot tub?" Well that would be fine but I had it on vacation mode so it was only at 67 degrees, not a very "Hot Tub." I told him that it would take a while to warm it up and he said, "That's okay I can wait." Well that lasted about 5 minutes and he was ready to get in. We dared him to get in and get his head wet.

Here he is getting ready to take the plunge, yes it is pretty cold.

I thought this picture turned out pretty good because you can see the water as he burst up after taking the dive into the cold water. Oh, Kace you are a funny boy.

I have to tell another funny story that happened this week and I am sorry that I didn't get any pictures. On Wednesday I didn't have to work so Mr. Jones decided he didn't have to work either. I was just sitting at the counter ready to eat my cereal when he asked me if there were any bucks out there that he could shoot. I was sitting by the sliding doors so I looked out at the mountain and sure enough up on the skyline I could see 2 deer that looked pretty big. So I told him, " Well for a matter of fact there is." He hurried to get his binoculars and got real excited and ran for his gun. The next thing I knew he was standing out on the deck in his garments shooting at the deer. If you know how far the skyline is on top of the mountain it is a pretty far shot. I watched as the deer kind of looked at this funny man down the mountain wearing bright white clothes and eventually after emptying his gun and reloading and emptying his gun again, they ran over the top. After all of the excitement wore down, Mr. Jones said, "What are the chances that I would ask you that question and you would look out and see those big bucks." I said, "I don't know but I bet you looked pretty funny to them and I bet they died laughing as they ran over the hill." With that he hurried and got dressed to see if he did any damage. He came home later and said, "I guess I needed a gun that would shoot farther." Oh, Mr. Jones!

Real Hunting Pictures

Mrs. Jones wrote the last blog and "dissed" my pictures for being so "small", so I decided to get up close and personal with these. As you can see, I have taken my life into my hands and crept up very close to get these.

In this picture, you may not notice the tree on the right, but it is purposely there in case big Brutus decides he wants a piece of me.

I saw this fine speciman coming up through some quackies and the sun was in my eyes just coming up in the East. I saw some flash of horn and then the top of his back. the sun made his hair look grey in the bright light and I thought I was going to get the biggest deer of my life. Of course when he came out into full view I saw that it was not a deer at all. So I decided to take some photos instead.


This picture is that of a six point bull elk. yes, it is dead. No, they don't sleep this way. The tracks in the dirt said that someone had shot this guy and he was walking up towards where I'm standing and then fell dead and rolled down into this position. The far horn was under him and I have pulled his head out...well around anyway, so that you could see the horns better. He has been dead about 7 to 10 days as I can figure. If you dare, you can enlarge the picture and see the maggots. there's lots of them, but I must warn you its disgusting. I tried to cut its head off and haul it out, but the smell was more than even I could stand. Nathan said he could still smell it on my clothes in the truck even though I only touched his horns with my glove. It was pretty potent stuff.

I took a frontal shot to help you see that this was a good sized elk, but still his horns suggest that he was only in his third or fourth year. alot of meat went to waste, becuse some hunter isn't smart enough to go check to see if they hit it after shooting at it. they run off and don't even flinch or give you a clue that they are hit and you'll think you've missed them, but then they just keel over all of a sudden. Nate and I are planning on going back, sometime, and collect the horns for our "pile".