Christmas on New Year's Day...

Since Justin, Tabitha and Jack were in AZ this year for Christmas, we opened our presents on New Year's Day. Everyone was here to ring in the New Year (except Alan). We slept in till about 9...then we opened presents.


It was mostly a "Nemo" Christmas for Jackson...he got the movie (from his AZ grandparents, a Dori and Nemo blanket from us and this cute Nemo pillow from Jarren and Steph.










Jarren and Steph got some much needed stuff and gave some darling home-made gifts.



It is just so fun watching a little one tear into a package. Jackson is so meticulous about it (he gets that from his mommy) removing each piece of wrapping paper completely....it made Christmas last even longer:)
Steve loves to get $$ so he can buy MORE books!



I got some beautiful gifts....but my greatest joy was having my family there...Alan we sure missed having you with us.
Justin and Tabitha wished for and got $$ to pay for their amazing double stroller....but they didn't just get $$, they had to work for it. They went on a treasure hunt throughout the house, figuring out clues that led them to more clues and cold, hard cash... it was so much fun to plan, play out and watch (thanks, Stephanie for being the creative genius behind it)


Happy New Year.....2010 will be wonderful!

Last Fall day

So, this was kinda the last fall day....tho' it had already snowed a little bit. We tended Jack so Justin and Tabitha could celebrate their anniversary. Jarren and Stephanie stayed and we all played hard! Jarren and Stephanie took Jack for a walk down the street and found this tree with it's beautiful colors still intact. Jack brought the leaves home and carried them around for awhile.
We had a marvelous time....but I was so tired! I truly believe you're supposed to have children when you are young for a very good reason:)

guess who?

Wow, I found and scanned these pictures...
On the left, standing on the chair, is Patty and on the right is Peggy...not sure how old.





Not sure how old we all are in this picture, either....but Mother made those dresses. I think it's about 2nd grade.....see how blonde I was??? (I'm on the far right)
We are much younger in this picture....again with the blonde hair. Tracey's just a baby so Patty and I must have been about 2.











Wish I could figure out how to put pics in order. The one of Mother holding both of us should have been first, obviously. Again, Patty on the left and me on the right. Love mother's glasses:)

Playing in Grovecreek

Another trip to the creek to play only this time with
Jack's cousin...Zada.
Again with the rocks......throwing so many it changes the direction
of the water....but that's ok. It's fun, right??
The water is so cold, they are shivering before long
but refusing to get out.
We found a shallow place where it was a little warmer.
Zada likes to put her head it but Jack did not.
Next summer they will be twice as daring, no doubt.

Timpanogos Storytelling Festival

On Saturday, Steve and I spent the day up Provo Canyon at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival. We had never been....had wanted to go, just never got our stuff together...if you know
what I mean....so this year we went.


We were told by several people to "be sure to see John McCutcheon"
so we did and he was wonderful! He tells great stories and is so talented playing all sorts of instruments!
We had great seats, too. (just need to remember next year to bring pads).
I looked up both John and Bill and found them on You Tube...check them out for a laugh!
We were also told to not miss Bill Lepp. This guy is amazing. He could tell a running narrative for a whole hour! It was SO entertaining. We are going for the entire event next year.
We also heard 2 little girls who were very talented....one a 1st grader who
told the "3 little kittens lost their mittens" story.
There was a great lady telling an old story and one from Texas that I
just loved listening to her talk!
Next year we will remember to bring food for lunch rather then stand
in line for 45 minutes.
The Timpanogos park looks like a great place to go hang out on a weekend.

So this morning Justin and Tabitha stopped at our house to invite
us up to Grove Creek to "play in the water with Jack.


He was a little nervous about the water at first....but he LOVES throwing
rocks in the water. I think he could do that non-stop all day long.








He eventually ventured further and further in the water
till he was sitting on a rock. Justin acted like a photographer
on a photo shoot and Jack liked it a LOT.
See what a cute pose he can strike?





We found a cute hat that he really liked wearing.
Only one accidental fall into the water face first....but he got
right back in after a few tears.




There were a gizzillion spiders and bugs but it was a FUN outing.












We are already planning more that may involve hiking...I think I
can keep up with Jack at this age:)......maybe

4th of July yard sale

Justin and Tabitha decided to get rid of some stuff at a yard sale....so I brought junk and Stephanie brought her jewelry. We started on Friday and continued on Saturday. We had an impressive crowd Fri but not so much on Sat. Mostly we sat around and watched Jack interact with people who came by.



Books & CD's were the hottest items, but people bought the most random items...it was a fun study in human behavior. Yard Sale 101.....









Jack literally stalked any little kid who came with their parents. This cute little girl tried hard to ditch Jack by running all over, but he dogged her till she finally rested on this wall. Once Jack learned he could play with the loose dirt with his foot, he completely ignored the girl.