A New Year 2011 - A view of the past 2010

Since it has been almost a year since I have written on my blog I will do a quick review of the year and am going to try faithfully to keep up this blog monthly.  I love to read others blogs and see what is going on in their lives so even though my life is kind of boring I will try and keep up mine.

Where to start, Where to start!

I guess I will start at the important events in our lives.  We now have 5 grandchildren and they are all the greatest.  The oldest is Eliza, who is 31/2 (Scott and Erin's), Jackson, who is almost 2 this coming month (Riki and Tim), Heber, who just turned 1 in Nov (S&E),  Aliyah, who is six months (Lindsey and Steve), and Rylie, who is 3 months (R&T).  Unfortunately we don't get to see them or their parents as often as we would like.  We are really lucky though, because Lindsey and Steve now live in SeaTac while he is going to Law School in Seattle so we get to see them and Aliyah pretty often.

Michael returned home from his mission in New York in June and we were excited to have him around again even though it was for only a short time before he headed back to school.  He is now attending BYU.

Danny graduated with his AA degree from SPSCC (South Puget Sound Community College) and headed to Utah Valley University in Orem (used to be UVSC).  He spent last semester there and will be home this next semester to work and then will head back next year to finish up his degree in education.

Aaron is living in Chicago and  working for REI.  He is an avid outdoorsman and spends as much time as he can living  dangerously.  (At least in my opinion)  The more thrills the better it is.  I just hope he is careful!

Scott and Erin and their family live in Chicago also and provide a home and family for Aaron.  He is the favorite uncle in that home as he is there to play with the kids.  Scott works in landscape design and Erin stays home and keeps the home running (she is great and we love her so much).

Riki and Tim are still hold outs in FL.  We just can't seem to be able to talk them into coming West.  Oh well.  It is nice to have a warm place to go and visit.   I was able to go and spend a couple of weeks with her when Rylie was born and had a wonderful time playing with Jackson and holding Rylie.  We also went earlier in the year a did a short cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale.

What a full year for Lindsey and Steve.  Steve graduated from BYU in April, a new baby in June and a move to WA and start of Law School at Seattle University in just a few months.   We are glad they choose Seattle so we can see them often.  They even got to spend Christmas break with us part of the time.  It is great!

Our family reunion this year consisted of a trip to Leavenworth for about 4 days.  We rented a cabin big enough for us all (including Grandma  and Deanna)  and had a wonderful time playing games, sitting in the hot tub and various other activities.  We went hiking, horseback riding, river rafting, and a day as  tourists in Leavenworth.  I love these yearly family reunions and will be sorry when the kids decide that they need to do their own vacations.  What will we do next year?????? That is the big question!

Well that is a brief summary of our year 2010. Now for the pictures. There are alot of them here so hopefully you won't get bored!

Digital slideshow personalized with Smilebox

Ward Split - September

In September our ward was finally split.  After many years of being in a huge ward it is really strange to actually not have to fight for a seat in the chapel.  We have had  a ward of between 600-800 people for many years.  There was no way to know everyone in the ward.  It was especially hard for the leadership.  The ward was divided and names changed.  The Yelm 1 ward was changed to Deshutes River Ward.  The Yelm 2nd Ward change to Yelm Ward and those of us put in the new ward which encompasses Bald Hills and Canal Rd area plus McKenna and Roy is called the McKenna Ward.  It was a good change and though we all miss our friends in Yelm Ward we are adjusting and things seem so much easier.  I was called as the YW Secretary and continued to serve for about a month and a half as the Nursery Leader too.  I will definitely miss my little nursery children but am enjoying getting to reknow the  YW whom I have known all through their Primary years.  Lonny was called as the Gospel Doctrine Teacher and was just getting to enjoy teaching adults when he was called as YM 2nd Counselor over the Deacons' Quorum.  What a change for him.  It will be a challenge to work with that age of boys as he has worked so long with the older boys whom he really enjoys but I am sure he will do great.

January 18, 1980 - January 18, 2010 - Happy Birthday Aaron!!

Where did all those years go. I can't believe that my little baby boy is now 30 years old. It doesn't seem possible. That doesn't mean I'm getting old does it? Here are a couple of pictures of Aaron then and now.

Aaron's Blessing Day.  2/3/80

Aaron about a week old.  Look at all that hair.  What a sweet boy!!

 January 2010.  Almost 30 years old.  Look at all that hair.  It's a little curlier now.

Aaron and Akela.  They look like a wild bunch don't they!




















I love my little boy and am proud of him.  Happy Birthday Aaron!!!

A new puppy - Teddy

After coming back from our trip to IL, we picked up the newest member (at that time) to our family, Teddy, a three month Labradoodle pup.  He is so cute and has been fun to have in our home.  It is so different from the big hybrid wolves.  He is definitely a house dog and thinks he is a lap dog.  He is not very small anymore but loves to jump on my lap to sit for awhile.  His favorite thing to do around the house is to terrorize Emma.  I feel sorry for that poor cat.  We did take him camping a couple of times and he seemed to like that okay.  He just finished his first obedience class and can now walk at a heel.  He doesn't always listen to the command of "come" though.  He loves to play with other dogs and people. He had his first experience at a dog park this week and just loved it.  I think we will try some agility classes in the spring as he loves to jump and catch things.  I would also like to train him as a service/therapy dog.

Teddy at 3 mos. old

You mean I can't lay here?

I can fit here.  Just watch me!

Playing on the beach at Tolmie State Park in Lacey.









Camping at Rainbow State Park

I don't like to sit on the ground

Fishing for a twig.

Buddies!   Do they look the same?

Playing in the creek.

Teaching Teddy to swim!

What are we reading!

What are these?  Can I play with them?

Come on Emma!  I just want to play!

Pleeeeese!   Come out to play!

Playing with giggle bug.  Can't quite fit in the cat's bed though.

First Haircut.  Dad didn't like my nose so I had to go back.

Is this better.  Bright eyed and Bushy Tailed.

What do you mean...toilet paper isn't to play with.

Graduation from Puppy Class

Do I look smart!

 Christmas was fun.  Lonny got a nerf ball gun.  He was shooting balls at Teddy and Teddy ran to Danny for protection.

Golden, CO

On the way home from our family reunion in IL, Grandma and I took a side trip to Golden, CO to visit with Deanna and Abbey.  Grandma had fallen and badly sprained her ankle in IL so Deanna had ordered a wheelchair to get her around in while we visited. We were warmly welcomed by Thelma Tubbs and Nancy, Rob’s mom and sister.  We had a wonderful time while we were there.  We did some sight seeing.  Visited Buffalo Bill's gravesite, Idaho Springs where we found the castle that Rob's family used to own and drove through old mining towns and even visited an abandoned graveyard.  We also had a wonderful trip to the temple with Abbey.  Abbey had recently gone through the temple for the first time and we had a nice day going through with her for the first time.  I think this was probably the first grandchild that grandma was not able to attend the original special day but Deanna was able to be with her and so was Nathan and Cami. 

Deanna flirting with an old miner

Is anyone in there?  I need to go bad!!!











Wild Bill Hickhock and Annie Oakley











Deanna driving like a crazy women down the mountain.
















"The Castle" in Idaho Springs, CO















Deanna, Thelma, and Nancy Tubbs in front of "The Castle" in Idaho Springs, CO

This one's for you Riki.  This is a fire station in Idaho Springs, CO

Old Gold Mine

Really neat old cemetary.  I could have spent a day looking and reading gravestones.

 




Our trip ended with a wonderful trip to the Denver, CO Temple with Abbey.

Family Reunion - July

Boy has the time flown by. So much has happened so this is all about catch up time. I'll start with

Natter Family Reunion - July

We all gathered at Scott and Erin's home in Illinois to start our week long family reunion. Grandma and I drove to Chicago from WA so that we could take all the camping gear and things that the kids needed (wanted) from home. Aaron had just gotten a new puppy and wanted the dog cart so that as his puppy got older she could learn to pull it.

Akela 4 mos. old

We arrived at Scott and Erin's about Wed and everyone else started to appear by Friday. Saturday we all drove to a home owned by Scott's employer on the beach of Lake Michigan. We spent about 3 days there playing games, hanging out at the beach and one day at the Indiana Dunes. There was decently warm water in the Lake compare to the cold beaches in WA and lots of sand and sun.




Great Grandma with Jackson - are they both sleeping?
 

Jackson in the car.  I think he is hungry!













Eliza and Akela playing in the sand.















Riki, Eliza and Jackson












Playing Bang.  I bet Danny is the renengade.













Erin and Eliza - ready for church.
















Playing in Lake Michigan.










Grandpa and Jackson

Grandpa running down the Indiana Dunes

















Daddy.... I want to go again.

Scouting for the best place to start

We then headed into MO for camping with a side trip to Nauvoo for the Nauvoo Pagent. After driving all day from IL to MO in the pouring rain we ended up spending the first night in a hotel because all of our gear was wet. We now know to put the sleeping bags into plastic bags as the car top carrier is not waterproof. The next day we headed into the campground, set up camp, made a run to town to pick up all the things that we forgot and some of the family did a little bit of hiking. It was interesting on the way through MO we passed the hospital that Riki was born in. While we were playing at the river in the campground Tim finally arrived to join us. Jackson was so happy to see his daddy! The next day we got up early and left to drive to Nauvoo to spend part of the day touring and the evening at the pagent. It was a wonderful day and the pagent spectacular. We even had a good dinner at the Nauvoo Hotel (I think that is the name) before the pagent started. Before the pagent there was dancing and lots of games and contests that the kids joined in on. I sat saving our place with the dog, Akela. It was a long day but very worth the drive to and from. We got home very late to find our camp being ransacked by racoons. I didn't know that racoons knew how to open up coolers. We got there just as they were running off with our cookies. We cleaned up and they soon returned to see what was left scaring grandma who was in the tent closest to the picnic table.  We then decide we needed to put everything in the cars. The next morning (early) Lonny and all the kids took off for the IL Caverns for some caving fun leaving grandma and I to take care of the little ones (Jackson 7 mos. and Eliza 2 yrs). We had a busy day keeping up with them and trying to entertain two little kids. Lonny and all the kids seemed to have a wonderful time in the caves. Erin went in as far as her belly would allow her to go and then headed out to the lawn chairs with grandpa to wait for the rest. The next day it started to rain again and we decided that maybe we would leave a little earlier than planned. Tim, Lindsey and Steve all left for the St. Louis Airport and the rest of us drove back to IL to finish up our trip. It was a wonderful time and so much fun to be all together again. We did miss Michael though. Next year we'll do another reunion.  The plan is Zions or in that region before Steve and Lindsey leave for law school somewhere.

Erin and Eliza at the river.














Scott and Steve catching crawfish

The girls chilling out

Eliza heading over to Scott and Steve to check out the fishing.

Stopping for lunch on the way to Nauvoo

Scott, Eliza and Grandpa.  Looks like Grandpa and Eliza traded hats












Scott, Erin and Eliza and baby(?) makes 4

Tim, Riki and Jackson








Games and Fun before the Pageant.

If there is a competition, the kids are involved.

Is this a game of skill or weight

Tim might have Scott outweighed (I mean out skilled) this time.

Wait!! Riki is cheating!!!

Will this be an even match?

Go Eliza!!















On your mark, get set, gooooo!














Story time.

This must be the strong man competition?

Then it is time for the Nauvoo Pagent

It was a wonderful show.  It reminded me how thankful we should be for our ancesters who lived and had to leave  this city and the sacrifices they made for us.  We even had a chance to look for the old Hendricks homestead.

The Nauvoo Temple today.

  











Time for Caving and then off to our separate homes.  What a fun time together!