I'M COMING HOME!!!!!

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME! I'm headed that way in just a few hours and I can't wait. It's not bad here, but there is no place like home. This was the only picture I have of the house, we were still building here and as you can see, no driveway and no landscaping. Lots of mud though. when I put in the picture of our house and looked at all of the mud, it reminded me how rainy it was that winter while we were building. It rained almost everyday and the wash behind our house was running like a river. This is a picture of the wash behind our house.

Aaron taken today North Carolina Missionary

I just figured out how to get more than 5 pictures in one post. Sorry about the one after this, and sorry there are so many new posts to look at all at once. I was sitting at the computer and this e mail came from a lady in North Carolina that feeds Aaron quite often She sent these pictures of him.

Cute hair!

Typical Aaron expression!

She told them to pull a funny face. I guess this is what they came up with!

Kids Part two

This is part two of the post I started under this one. I wish you could move things around a bit. So this is out of order. But this is a picture of VerLynn with Lori on the day she was Blessed.

This is a picture of the boys at a fathers and son's outing. From the back left: Deryk, Spencer, front is Preston and Aaron

They sure are happy! This is Preston and Aaron grinning like they just did something wrong. (probably did) Terrell (their cousin is on the floor to the left) and Nathanael is in the back on the right. Tiffani's pretty legs are on the couch.

Nathanael always did monkey faces for us. He also acted like a dog a lot. I think he was supposed to be an animal!

I walked in the kitchen and Nathanael was sound asleep on the chair like this!

I love Kids too!

After putting the grandkids pictures on, I was looking through my pictures and saw some funny ones of my kids and I decided to put some of them on for all to enjoy!
Above is Aaron when he was about 3 month old Look at that hair

This is Lori, I think she was about 2. Bangs really were in style back then, really.

I couldn't find good pictures of Preston when he was little, I am going to have to figure out where they are! Nicely posed school picture though

And this is another not so nicely posed school picture of Spencer. Who the heck would take a picture of a kid with his hair sticking up? Big glasses were in style then too, really.

And this is the picture that spurred me on to wanting to post pictures of the kids when they were little. I crack up every time I look at Tiffani. This was taken in the kitchen of my mom's house. Not too flattering of her, she really was cute and not so chubby faced! Tiffani, does that hammer in Deryk's hand remind you of your oldest?

I love grandkids!

If anyone gets offended because their children aren't displayed in this post, just send me pictures and I'll take care of that! Or even if you're not offended, send them anyway, I love grandkid pictures!

Ok, I know that Angie has this picture on her web site, but I love it because He got all of those scabs from falling off of the swing, and look what he is on as happy as can be! Way to go Seth you're tuff!

Ok, I know, I have done it again, Tiffani posted this picture of Logan on her blog too, but I have grandma's bragging rights and wanted to add it.

Melanie just e mailed a bunch of pictures to me of Preston (Little guy) They took pictures while she is in Arizona. If she posted these on her blog I don't know it because I don't even know if she has a blog!

Another of Little guy, he's always so happy
Thanks for the pictures guys!

Swimming anyone?!

This morning I woke up and opened the blinds as I do every morning to see if it snowed all night and I need to plow and this is what I saw! It didn't get below freezing last night so the ice and snow kept melting as I slept. So now where I had an ice skating rink, I now have a lake! The wind is blowing really hard so it even creates ripples in the water. It is so awesome. Until I have to get the mail!

Finished Product

Ok, per Tiffani's request. This is the finished product of my lame attempt to fix up the office here. She has a point about the contrast of the white walls. But I'm not getting down on my knees to paint the wall under the desk, if I do I will become a permanent fixture under there. So it will have to stay that way until Preston comes back. I put another coat of paint on so it looks a lot better, not so splotchy. And with all of the stuff that goes on the desk, it doesn't stand out so much.

Gratitude

This picture at the top is supposed to be down lower so you will have to read it out of order. This is another wonder that I find awesome. I don't know if you can really tell in this picture, but his is taken in the back by the last row of ministorages where the snow stays the longest. There was a lot of snow back there and when the sun came out every day for several days in a row, the snow melted away and then there was like an ice skating rink! There is nothing more beautiful that snow it is clean, it sparkles in the sun and I cannot find the words to describe the feeling you get when look out and see nothing but white. And the snow and ice in the tree branches is also awesome. And did you know that they have to haul snow away in dump trucks! Go figure.
Did you know that when you step onto what you think is ice, you can wind up in a deep puddle of water under it? There are so many awesome things about the cold and how your face it bright red when you've been out in it and you hands are red and freezing. But it is so invigorating and I actually really like it.

Today in relief society the lesson was on Pres. Monson's talk "Finding joy in the journey" There was a sister that shared how she has a hard time finding joy in March because it is still to cold to do some of the activities she likes to do when it is warm and too warm to do the other activites she likes to do when it is real cold(such as skiing) Then another sister shared how she made a promise a couple of years ago to find joy in each of the months of the year and how January was the hardest, another said she grows grass in a cup in her house so that she can see green. As I listened to them, I found myself wishing I was brave enough to share with them the awesome wonders of winter from the perspective of an Arizona native that has never lived in a true winter climate. First I was shocked that March would be a hard month because in Arizona, we all know how perfect March is. But, at the risk of sounding weird or goofy, I am going to share some of my awes of winter. Here goes:

This is one that I marvel over. You can have several feet of snow on a roof and it will start to melt and drip off the edge of the roof, but then, before it hits the ground it freezes again because the temperature is still way too cold. How awesome that something can melt and freeze all in the same few minutes! And then what a beautiful sight it makes

This whole driveway was solid snow a few days ago and when the sun comes out, no matter what the temperature is, the snow melts and there is a river in the driveway for the day, then when the sun goes down, the river freezes solid again. The next day the cycle continues. I find it awesome that ice can melt when it is still below freezing

More examples of the melt/freeze cycle. Under the truck is solid ice

This is another picture of how something can melt and freeze at the same time. You can't see it in this picture, but you can see that the ground is wet, this is a drain and as it melts from the roof, it going down the rain gutter and then freezes as it comes out of the rain gutter.

Oh My, What did I do?!

This is the "After" picture. I got a great idea because I am such a decorator and thought I would improve the look in the office up here. I did it kind of later in the day yesterday (Saturday) and I went in today to see how it dried and this is the sight I saw! Should have left it white with concrete spills! I guess I will put another coat or two on it tomorrow and hopefully that will help the ugly color too!

Ok, this is the before picture. Preston built this desk for the ministorage office. As you can see, we never finished the back wall, it still had some concrete stain on it and I decided that I am a really good decorator so I was going to paint that wall and make it beautiful. I went to Walmart and bought some oops paint. Note to self (as
Angie says) there is a reason they call it oops and noone bought it.

Broken?

Nathanael was playing basketball on Thursday night and he decided to ruin his basketball career for the year. My dad took him to urgent care today to get it xrayed. The x ray didn't show anything but the Dr. said it was too swollen and he thought it looked suspicous, so he wants to x ray it again when the swelling goes down. He can't walk on it. VerLynn got home tonight, so he will have someone to take care of him.

Aaron

I just discovered that I left this picture out of the ones below of Aaron. This is Sister Page that feeds Aaron quite often and then she is so considerate to take pictures and send them to me. Thank you Sister Page for taking care of my Little? boy!

Aaron

This picture wouldn't up load with the other ones, so it is alone. I guess they were either getting ready to leave or just getting there. It looks like there is food on the table so maybe they just got there.

Aaron

Aaron was eating at a member's house today and she was kind enough to send me the pictures. I am going to post them all. This is Aaron with the children of the family

Aaron and his companion and the member's son. Not sure if they are clapping or getting ready to pray! That's a typical Aaron look don't you think?

Not real sure about this one, between Aaron's expression and his companion's pose! Maybe Aaron is trying to show us how his tummy has grown. Not sure we can call him "slim" anymore!

He must be putting his pants back where they belong. Thanks for the pictures!

Kelsie's First Birthday

Sally holding David, Lori holding Kelsie and Melanie holding Preston and Ashly in front.  How fun that Melanie was able to be there.  Even if that means I am here because she is there.  I hope you are enjoying all that warm weather.  Missing Angie and Tiffani though, would have been a cool picture with all of the mom's and babies.  Maybe when Aaron comes home we can get a picture like that.  Warm up your camera Angie!

This is the Happy Birthday Girl!  I know that Lori already posted these pictures on her blog, but since I couldn't come to the party, I am taking the liberty of bringing the party to me!  (kind of)  

It's Oh sooooo Cold! And White

This is the view I saw when I woke up Monday morning after I arrived in Rexburg and the Ministorage.  I got out the truck with the plow on it and I plowed everything.  Then On Tuesday I got to do it all over again.  It is now Wednesday and I have plowed again.  I even drove the plow truck to the gas station to fill it up!  I felt so masculine.  It is still snowing so I will get to plow again before dark.  Oh, I forgot to mention, I also shovel the snow where the plow won't reach.  Quite a feat for an overweight grandma that has never lived in the snow!  

Aaron Serving in North Carolina

The picture above is of Aaronand his new companion, Elder Slawson.  The picture below is Aaron at Christmas.  He comes home in August.  Getting close!

FAMILY

Angie came over around Christmas time when MOST of the family was still here and took pictures of us.  These are the ones she e mailed to me so far.  There are more to come, so if you have been left out, I don't want anyone to decide who my favorites are!  (ha ha)  I will post you when Angie gets it to me.  Preston and Melanie had already left to go back to Idaho so they aren't in any of these and of course Aaron is not in them either.  I love the picture above with all the the grandchildren that were there.  Deryk was not there yet, so his kids are missing.  I love my grandkids they are so much fun.  

I don't know what happened to this picture.  Angie must have used a wide angle lens!  

Deryk and Sally, holding David, Brandon and Ashly are in the front

The whole gang.  Thank you Angie for taking such good pictures

This is taken the night the ward had an eagle recognition night for the boys who earned their eagles in 2008.  Sorry we didn't invite anyone.  We didn't realize what it was.  They gave the tree boys that got recognized a flag in a box.  This is a pretty lame picture of me and Verlynn but it is good of Nathanael.