National Aquarium- Baltimore, MD

Philadelphia

Stake Dinner and Dance

Ben and I had a fabulous time at the Stake Dinner and Dance tonight. It was fun to spend time together and with our good friends from our West Point Branch. Dinner was delicious, creamy chicken, potatoes, green beans, and homemade rolls. I was amazed that all that food was prepared by pretty much one lady who was trying to do everything herself. I found out on Wednesday and offered to help on Friday to decorate and set up for the night. It felt like I was back in the Activities Coordinator calling back in Texas. I couldn't believe how full both of our vehicles were of food and decorations driving to the church house. Connor was helpful placing the silverware on each of the tables at the very end and we finished our job before leaving to pick up kids from school.

 Ben was so funny during dinner and then we got the party started on the dance floor. I don't think people were laughing at my amazing dance moves, but they were impressed! Later someone told me I was their favorite one to watch. Obviously because I am so good! It was fun to relive those good dancing days back in college. One time during a mid-beat song Ben commented that I was moving like Jar-Jar-Binks-- I was just moving with the beat and bobbing along a little bit. I was laughing so hard when he said that. Then I could totally picture myself and what that must look like. I laughed even harder.

LOVE DAY 2014

We had two snow days, Thursday and Friday (Valentines Day) and then no school on Monday for President's Day. Talk about a great vacation and 5 day weekend. We played around the house, I had the kids do "home-school" activities and practice reading and writing. We even made my favorite sugar cookie recipe to celebrate and then we delivered them to our neighbors that night. They were pretty tasty of course and I have to remind myself I don't need to personally eat all of them, but they are so good.

 Brecon had been begging to make our heart cookies for weeks. He was so excited when the time arrived. His job was to add the flour into the mixer. He did a pretty great job, except for the time when he dropped the measuring cup while the mixer was going fast. The gooey dough and flour shot out of the bowl and made a pretty great mess before I could turn the machine off. Brielle loved being right there as well. Obviously the best part is licking the beaters when the dough is finished!

 Ben helped created the red frosting that night. We don't have food coloring (or at least we couldn't find it) so he added cherry kool-aid and it tasted pretty great! I think our neighbors like the treat on the slushy-cold night before Valentine's Day.

Also funny to remember that Ben did our taxes on Valentines' Day. He sure knows how to make a lady happy! He started getting all the paper and documents ready to bring our information to the tax center here on post, but then when he got started he just kept going through Turbo Tax.

I took this picture outside our upstairs window on one of the "snow days". There was barely of skiff of new snow that day. Pretty ridiculous to cancel a whole day of school because of "inclement weather", but that is just the way it goes around here. On Thursday (no school) we had the boys make their own Valentine Cards to take to the classes. Plenty of paper, glue, hearts, and candy make these cards special. It was a good art and craft time. It was a good thing that Ben keeps candy around the house in secret stashes. We used the last of the individually wrapped Swedish Fish- "I Fish you a Happy Valentine's Day!"

Funny Connor

Our branch president shared a funny story. Last Sunday we were all sitting reverently during the sacrament. He was looking out at the congregation and he happened to notice  something was going on with our little Connor. He had his head down close to the desk and saw that he was licking the entire fold out desk top with his tongue- all over the whole surface. They he proceeded to draw with his finger on the desk with his own wet desktop canvas. It was so hard for President Sparrow to keep a straight face watching how serious he was going about his art business. In fact, both he and Brother Musick hit elbows at the same time, trying to show the other what they were both seeing. I think if I would have seen this event I might have been pretty grossed out. President Sparrow said it was one of the best things he has seen while sitting on the stand during church. That and watching the cadets asleep with their mouths open wide.
**Here at West Point we meet in a lecture hall, individual desks and chairs that fold up or down in rows, stepping down for each row toward the stage. The kids do love that they have their very own desk to use to draw or just to hold their place. Most of the time they are pretty good about not making too much noise, other times they can be quite restless.

Grandma Mary Hoopes

My sweet Grandma Mary passed away tonight. She died peacefully, gracefully, and with dignity in her home surrounded by family. She always said "We live until we die" and that is just what she did.  A few of her sons and their families had traveled up to be with her and they shared a Family Home Evening together. When asked which song she wanted to sing she said "Count Your Many Blessings". She was grateful for everything she had. After having grown up during the depression and during many financial hardships in her life, she was an amazing example of the saying

 "Use it up, wear it out, Make it do--- or do without!"

Grandma and Baby Cael July 2004 backyard bar-b-q and birthday cake for her!

She worked hard her entire life. At the age of 19 she fed a work crew of 12-14 men a hot supper meal without refrigeration, microwaves, and also cooked on a wood burning stove. She didn't have the convenient machines while raising her large family, she called laundry day "The Devil's Workday"-- you can imagine all those clothes with 10 children and working on a ranch.

At Great Grandma-pa's house in Fairview June 2005. They loved sweet baby Cael.

My Grandparents have been a wonderful and special part of my life. They once lived "just down the road" when they had a ranch, barn, acres of land, pigs, chicken, milk cows, cattle, and horses for riding. They lived on that ranch for 41 years when they sold it and moved into their home in Fairview. They lived in that house for the rest of their lives. She wanted to stay there as long as she could and they both did.

Grandma won this Levi Blanket at the RELAY for LIFE. She tried to give it back or to someone else. We told her she won it fair and square and she should keep it.

Everyone showing love to Baby Connor. Grandpa Richard, Gr-Grandma Mary, and Uncle Laurel

OUR SURVIVORS- Walked around the entire track at the Jr. High at the beginning of the event. My Grandma is strong!

In the fall of 2003 my Grandmother was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma- a cancer of red blood cells. She underwent treatment and the cancer went into remission for 10 years. Then in September my Aunt Celeste took Grandma into the doctor because she was feeling very tired. It was then discovered that the cancer had returned. He explained that Grandma would continue to become more tired because of the low levels of blood cells and in 2 weeks to 6 months she would sleep and not wake up. We knew our time with Grandma was short.

Visiting Star Valley August 2013 (last picture with Grandma)

This last summer we were able to visit and see Grandma before leaving for New York. She looked so pretty in her pink sweater and pretty accessories. As long as I can remember she has always been a fancy dresser, nice clothes, jewelry, pins, scarves and shoes. She didn't have much money for most of her life, as a young child they moved around a lot and was very poor. She was thrifty and loved to shop and get a good deal when there a little extra money to spend. She loved to get a good deal at the Dollar Store too. Ben loved when she would buy a treat for him to eat- the air-popped corn or orange-chewy peanuts were usually purchased for him and it was a treat he really enjoyed.

Before Grandpa passed away December 2006 we had a family gathering at Como Springs, UT. We got a group shot with the whole family- ALL 10 children and their parents. Grandpa was confused for the reunion, Grandma right by his side. He told a poem, said it was a true story-- we laughed and hugged Grandpa. These were the last pictures with him and the whole family.

Minisink Wrestling