Monday Snowfall

We actually had one day of no snow - yesterday. Today is another story. It has been snowing heavily all day - big, fluffy flakes. This is our beautiful, snowy Mountain Ash. It has been a good day to stay home and do laundry. That's my exciting life here.

Sunday Morning at the Paulsen

Due to the inclement weather and four feet of snow, the neon sign along the awning of the Paulsen Building disintigrated and fell to the sidewalk. Randy is busy cutting the hanging material so that it wouldn't fall on someone. By noon the job was done. We spent all day Friday in a similar activity on the East side. I knew this had to be cleaned up before Monday morning so I called a crew consisting of Jeff, Tony, Charlie and Randy to help. They all did a great job!! Love, Dad (Before Dad went to do this job, he shoveled a big snow hill in our driveway made by the snowplow that made 8 trips down our road at 2 am this morning). It's been a long day - - - now the temperature is warm enough to let the snow melt a little and we have puddles everywhere.

Carli Marie

This is Carli on Christmas Eve. Erin and Jeremy had invited the grandparents and his brother to come for a Christmas Eve visit with Carli. we were thrilled to be invited for this special time. It was the first time Carli had been able to leave her unit and the first time for Bodee to see his sister. The nurse brought her into the adjoining NIKU room that has a large glass window and she held the baby down low so the boys could see her. They talked to her just as though she could hear what they were saying. She is doing well and weighs 3 lb, 6 oz. now. What a sweet blessing for our families. I love the bow in her hair too.

Just Passing Time

This is the waiting/play room where families can mingle and greet. We usually take turns watching the boys while the others go into the NIKU to see Carli. There is a tv and books and a few game things to play with. This is just the waiting time before they got to see Carli.

MEETING MY BIG BROTHERS

This was a tender moment for the family. Avery had seen Carli awhile ago but Bodee had not had that chance until tonite. They were both so excited for this moment. The nurse had her wrapped in a Christmas receiving blanket and held her right up to the window for the boys. This is the first time she has been able to leave her niku room so it was extra special for all. I told the boys to throw kisses to Carli and say Merry Christmas Carli - which they did. The third little boy in brown in a cousin that is visiting from Denver. What a sweet, sweet time.

Soaking up the love

Erin and Jeremy taking time with Carli in the Niku on Christmas Eve. I am so sorry the one of Erin is blurry. I need to take three or four of each shot to make sure I get a decent one. Sorry Erin - I really tried my best.

Popcicle Anyone?

How do these grow to be so long?

The back fence

Look at the snowline by the fence - yikes. Can't walk here for sure.

Grape Arbor - Anyone want to play Fox and Geese?

This is my proof

I measured this morning and this is what it said - - - - I'm not kidding!!

Where's the truck?

This is the drifted snow on the black truck which was sitting in the front yard. Yikes - Dad is thinking of putting chains on this truck and drive out .

Snow Storm 2008

We just went in the back yard to measure again and it is now 22 inches on the flat. (Way above the boot liine)

Beautiful Snow Day

It has been snowing since yesterday morning - no stopping. I swept the sidewalk three times yesterday and it didn't help a bit. This morning everything is at a stand still with all things closed down. The courthouse, the Fed. bldg. etc. all schools and colleges closed too. We had 20 inches in the back this morning and more coming down. This is a terrific storm we have and Dad just couldnt get into town. You can see this one picture of the back yard where the boat is and its completely covered. The Temperature is 17 so this snow is not going anywhere soon. It came up to Dad's knees when he went out to the shop to find his shovel. It's beyond snow blower action. too bad. Anyway, it's beautiful to look at - everything is clean and white and quiet here on the street where we live.

Snowed In

Still shoveling

Our Exercise program

This is Dad, working hard as usual, but at home. He couldnt make it into work so decided to work at home.

CHRISTMAS AT THE TEMPLE

This is the newest addition to our Temple. The Nativity is to the left of the Temple as you walk into the grounds. It is located on a seating area and of course it lit by spot lights and it is very beautiful. What a nice addition for the Christmas season.

Christmas Gift Toy & MySpace Layouts at pYzam.com

Arboretum

It's just a beautiful place to walk and enjoy the fresh air. This arboretum is pretty in the fall and I love to go at least once a year and see the leaves.

Lots of Leaves

Mindy, Davis and I spent a late afternoon at the Arboretum. There were still leaves on the ground to shuffle through. We also saw three deer wandering in the park. This is Mindy and Davis gathering leaves. It's impossible to just walk through without touching some of them. Davis loved being at the park and just running forever and ever.

Greenbluff Saturday and Pumpkin Donuts

Dad and I and Mindy took the kids to Greenbluff on a Saturday afternoon. It was the last weekend of the apple festival so there were just tons of people all over and traffic was awful. Anyway, we had a good time, (I think)The kids each picked out a pumpkin and we did the train ride. We went to Harvest House for donuts and Dad was a real trooper to stand in the long line for us. Mindy was a trooper as well in trying to get some pictures of the kids. That's a feat in itself. By the time we left to go home we (the adults) were all tuckered out and ready for a nap.

Train Ride

What a Day

Nana and the kids having fun at Greenbluff.

The Three Pumpkins

Riding in the wheelbarrow that is suppose to hold all of your pumpkins.

Three Muskateers at Greenbluff

Mindy worked so hard getting this picture. I am sure all of the people around us were entertained for awhile. Anyway, it turned out pretty darn good I think. Thanks Mindy for your patience and expertese.(sp)

Logan's Visit

Kris and Logan have been with us for about a week and what a fun time we are having with them. We are getting acquainted with Logan again and he is a delightful little boy. It took him several days to finally discover that these doors actually open and there are fun and interesting dishes inside. Consequently, we put a lock on them just for safety reasons. I keep the lock handy for that purpose but had not had reason to actually use it until this day. He's such a super kid.

My Three Hats

Logan loves hats and these pictures just prove that. Anything that can fit on the head will do. By the way, the can makes a great drum.

Cartoons and Rockers

Logan loves this little rocking chair. He comes and climbs in and makes himself comfy for a few quick minutes of cartoon time. It's a rocking chair I had when I was about 3 and had been restored by my Dad back in the 80's. Glad we have it for little boys to sit in.

3 Generations

I drove Erin to the hospital this afternoon to visit Carli. She delivers some milk which the NIKU freezes for Carli. All of the cords you see are just monitors of different kinds. The one in her navel is for nourishment or whatever they need to use it for. The top of the incubator was open while we were there for awhile. She also has a smaller oxygen tube now too. They all say how amazing this baby is. Her weight had dropped to 1 lb 7 oz but today it was up to 1 lb. 10 oz. so she is doing okay it seems. She's just a baby doll.

Hang on Carli

Erin's hands look so big next to the baby. She likes to wrap her little hand around your finger already.

Carli on Video

Erin is taking a video of Carli. Hope she posts it soon.

Halloween Guests

We were all ready for Halloween - had our pumpkin lights outside and lots of candy to give away but we only had about 6 kids come to the door. How disappointing! Now the candy goes into the freezer for snacks later on. Avery and Bodee came over though and that was our treat for the night. Don brought them over and Erin and Jeremy tagged along - they were on their way down to the hospital to visit Carlie and stopped here long enough to see the boys. Avery was a Ninja and Bodee was a Speed Racer guy. Cute kids huh?

Carlie Marie

Carlie Marie ( Don't know if it's Carli or with an e on the end) 1 lb - 11 oz 13 1/2 long

My New Socks

Erin is showing off her new socks and footies. And Mindy is just giving her lots of love.

Visiting Erin

Wednesday we visited Erin at the hospital. I actually felt the baby kick one time and it was just a little tap.

Mindy with Erin in Hospital

We visited Erin at the hospital on Wednesday and this is Mindy just talking with her, Davis eating a sucker and Dad resting.

Phantom of the Opera

This last Thursday evening Dad and I attended the live showing of Phantom. I have always wanted to see it in person and being as it is playing all month, we took the time to attend. What an exciting night. It was at the Opera House - kind of an appropriate place wouldn't you say? Our seats were pretty good - about 3/4 the way back in the middle. For anyone that has already seen Phantom you might remember how the chandelier comes forward a little bit and then rises to the ceiling in the first part of the show. Well, the equipment that makes it rise failed somehow and there was a 15 minute waiting period while they fixed something. Then, after it started again everything worked fine. It was a marvelous and very entertaining musical opera that I am glad we decided to go see.

General Conference

Sunday Morning Session - "Finding Joy in the Journey" - President Monson “I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and non-existent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now. "[From The Music Man:] ‘You pile up enough tomorrows, and you’ll find you’ve collected a lot of empty yesterdays.’ “If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly. “Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume…”