I was working in the kitchen this evening at dusk and saw a bird in the tree looking back at me. You can also see the muted image of two daffodils that were the first ones to bloom and my Ella picked them for me.
Sunday, March 29
Red Bird Red Bird What Do You See?
Tuesday, March 24
Lemonade Anyone?
It was only a half day at school and a beautiful day. So Katelin and two other friends got together and had a lemonade/snow cone stand. They each earned five dollars. That's pretty good.
Green Milk! Eew!
The kids woke up on St Patrick's Day and a leprechaun had turned the milk green. So we had green milk and porridge for breakfast.
Paint Party
After the flood, we ended up pulling out all the carpet pad and letting the carpet dry. While the rooms were empty we decided to paint the rooms. So Jacob and Katelin helped us.
Ella and the Boy Next Door
Guess who found the bandaids today? It's just like stickers. Later I found them on the couch, the walls, her bedframe...
Our Basement Flooded
We had a couple of warm days that melted almost a foot of snow off our roof. It then went down a few seems in our cement into the already saturated soil and came up in the cracks of our basement. It came in on the East side of our house. Katelin's room, Jacob's room, the sewing/food room and the hall.
Friday, March 13
Sunday, February 22
Jake's First Loose Tooth
This week we noticed that Jacob's incoming tooth was barely poking up directly behind his loose tooth. Yesterday I saw it again and it had come through and up quite a bit. Well, daddy found out and said he would pull it out for him. That freaked out Jacob. I am a little worried about his tooth coming in crooked so I told Jacob I would give him five bucks if he let daddy pull his tooth right now. That immediately got Jakes attention and for the next half hour daddy worked on it. First with a washcloth and pulling. Didn't work. So he had Jacob go get one of the handheld flossers to floss your teeth with. So John eventually got the flosser underneath the tooth and yanked. He pulled so hard it flipped the tooth out and it landed up on his top teeth and stuck there. So John grabbed it and showed it to Jacob. Jake was stunned or transfixed for about 15 seconds and didn't even move. John had to tell him about 4 times to swallow his blood so it wouldn't drip out of his mouth. I got a picture of the stunned look of him just laying there. He is one happy boy now that the shock has worn off AND he got his five bucks. I can't believe I gave him five dollars, but hey, it worked, and I don't have to worry about it anymore. 
THE REST OF THE STORY:
So he put his tooth in a plastic bag and put it under his pillow and went right to bed. He came to me this morning and was shaking the bag that had four quarters in it. He was so happy. He told me that he didn't sleep last night. He just closed his eyes and waited for the tooth fairy. He thought maybe the tooth fairy might be a boy or it might be a girl. I asked him what he thought it was. He said he thought it was a girl. And he goes, "But she must be really small because I didn't feel her climbing under my pillow to give me the money and I didn’t get any sleep last night."
Uncle Michael Boggs Passed Away
Later in the afternoon of my birthday I found out that my Uncle Mike had passed away so it made for a tearful evening. I was able to fly to San Diego, California for the funeral and visit with family.
Grandma Boggs and Lloyds baby Sage
Jamin and Donna Boggs Family
Ian and Angela Boggs Family
Josh Boggs and his mom Lettie
My mom and dad and I
Beautiful Montana
John worked in Montana for a week and took a ton of pictures of the different scenery. Here are just a few!
Birthday Flowers
For my birthday this year John took the day off and we went to lunch at a Brazilian restaurant and then went to the Bountiful Temple during the day. My friend watched Ella for me while the kids were at a school. When we got home there was a homemade cake at my friends house, a gift and a huge bouquet of flowers that my parents had sent to me sitting on my neighbors kitchen table.
Let them eat cake!
I get to have a party with Ella almost everyday lately and this time she did it first thing in the morning after the kids left for school. John was getting ready to leave for Idaho for three days just when she made the announcement that she had a party ready and I was invited. I told her, "I think you should ask daddy becuase he never gets to have a party with you and he is going to leave in a minute." He heard the end of my sentence and put down his luggage to attend the grand even. She was so touched that HER DAD would come to her party. Look at her face!
Want a Cracker?
Ella asked if she could have a cracker today. I said, "Sure they are in the pantry." Not knowing that the package wasn't yet open. I walked past a couple of minutes later and Ella had opened the crackers alright. Ella Style!
Christmas Eve
We had a wonderful dinner at Grandma's house and were all rolling on the floor. Then we opened gifts and the kids got thier traditional Christmas Eve Pajamas so they had new pj's to wear to bed.
Monday, February 16
Isn't she sweet!
This is Ella in her Christmas Dress. Actually, it used to be Katelin's and it finally fits Ella. She is totally posing for the camera. When she went to church people would tell her she was so beautiful. She would bat her eyelashes and sweetly say, "Uh-Huh!"
Choir Performance
We all got to go watch Katelin perform with her Elementary School Choir for their Christmas Concert. Katelin had a solo with a couple of other girls and they did an excellent job. She did GREAT!
Family Vacation to Nine Mile Canyon
We took a two day trip to Nine Mile Canyon with our friends and neighbors. We saw a lot of beautiful scenery and ancient Indian petroglyphs.
Monday, October 6
She Thinks We're Getting Married...Again!
Kids Say The Darndest Things: The other day I had put on a dress and was getting ready to go.
Ella came in the bathroom and said, "Mommy, where are you going?" I said, "To the Temple with Daddy and you get to stay home and play with Grandma McCrary." Ella got exstatic and said, "Oh Mommy, you are going to get married to my daddy. Yeaaaaaaaaaaah!" I quickly added,"No Ella, we are already married."
She said very matter of factly, "No Mommy, you are going to the temple to marry my daddy." I tried to explain but there was really nothing I could say. We were going to get married.
My Jake
It's not very often I actually get his real smile. And this night he was in his pajamas and it just worked out. We had our own photo shoot. He's so cute!
Family Home Evening
Last week for Family Night we decided to take the family up the mountain for a short hike before it got dark. It was beautiful! We had made congo bars and stuck them in the trunk so we ate one before we left and another when we got back. Mmmmmm! A McCrary Tradition!
Sunday, September 21
My First Cake
Katelin baked her very first cake today all by herself. It turned out really good as you can see by their faces.
One, Two, Three...
Ella was practicing her counting to ten. It works especially well when you have daddy's big toes to work with.
A Bountiful Harvest...
This year our garden sported some of our favorites: Carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, cantelope, watermelon, pumpkins, crook-neck squash, two types of eggplant, two types of green beans, yellow pear tomatoes, big beef tomatoes and roma (salsa) tomatoes. Mmmmm Mmmmmm Good! We had to pick veggies every 2-3 days for a while.
Saturday, September 6
The Biggest News of the Year!
Katelin got her ears pierced. Look closely and you can see them.
She told me that she couldn't believe I actually said "Yes" to her getting them pierced. After all, she has been waiting forever and all her friends already have their ears pierced and she is the last nine year old on earth to get her ears pierced. Just as she got finished her friend Ellie Putnam showed up so she was the first one to see Katelin with her new earrings. What a GREAT DAY!
Happy Birthday Katelin
We started the day out by taking the family over the mountain to play in a creek we like to go to in North Fork. On our way back we talked about BBQing our hamburgers and going to the fish park. So we did and as we were loading up we saw the Farnsworths taking all four of their kids to the park for dinner. So we had an impromptu dinner together. 
John had a hard time lighting the candles becuase of a slight breeze, but he did it and we sang really fast and out they went.
All the kids on the playground equipment
Shelby's Surprise
Katelin's friend Shelby was going out of town for Labor Day weekend and they left really late so just before they left Shelby came over and decorated Katelin's bedroom while she was sleeping. So when Katelin woke up on her real birthday it was crazy fun!
Jacob and Katelin on their First Day of School
Jacob is now a big 2nd grader and Katelin is in 4th grade. All of their teachers are really good.
Party
This was her Hannah Montana Cake
Blew out the candles!
Jumped on the trampoline with the water on.
They Played with Balloons
Presents, Presents and more Presents
She got a cute stuffed animal Dog from Katie
DVD Nim's Island from Nicole
Beads and a Summer Backpack from Ellie
Art and Shower Supplies from Rachel
Shower Radio from Shelby
They did girl stuff...You know Hugged and Talked and Laughed
THE GIRLS DANCED
THE GIRLS SANG AND LAUGHED
THE GIRLS TORE DOWN ALL THE STREAMERS
The Surprise - Katelin is 9 Years Old Now
The girls had come early and decorated her bedroom so when she came in they all jumped out and surprised Katelin and Nicole. 
Instead of tearing down the T.P. they crawled under. 
The girls had toilet papered Katelin's door entrance. 
Surprise Party for Katelin - One Week Early
This is Katelin and her friend Nicole. Nicole's mom took Katelin for a couple of hours before the Surprise Party. They went and Katelin and Nicole got their hair cut together and then got Happy Meals. So this is the picture just before they came in the house. I told Katelin that Ella was in her room and trashed it and was listening to all her Hannah Montana CD's. Katelin and Nicole took off running down the stairs to her room.
17th Wedding Anniversary
I can't believe we have been married for 17 years. I love being married to my best friend. We had such a relaxing day on our Anniversary this year. We had it all planned out and we got a wonderful neighbor to watch our kids for us. We decided to just go up to the mountains and go hiking for the day. It was so peaceful and beautiful and the perfect weather. We took some snacks and water bottles and just walked and talked and spent quality time together. On our way back we took a nice scenic drive through the hills. When we got back to town went to Deseret Book and baught a book for each other. One from Spencer W Kimball and the other by Gordon B Hinckley. It was just a great day getting away together and spending time in the great outdoors.
Our First...
Our First Date: We went out and saw the movie "Ghost" There are some very suggestive adult scenes and John was cracking jokes and we laughed through those scenes. The people all around us were shushing us.
Our First Kiss: We were watching the movie "The Little Mermaid" We were at Shar's grandparents house and Sharlene was with us. She went to the kitchen to pop popcorn just before the song came on. Guess which song?
"Kiss the Girl" ha ha ha I still laugh. Kind of lame, but it worked for him. At least it was a clean movie this time.
Our First Halloween: We went to a Young Adult Dance dressed up as Mickey and Minnie
Our First New Years Eve Party: We were definitely together. A thing. A couple. We went to the Annual Fashion Fair Mall New Years Eve Dance. It is a mall in Fresno that the church used to rent after hours every year for the members of the church that were age 14-99. For both of us that was one of the first times that many of our extended families had met John and I together. I felt like I had little spies (younger cousins) all over the place watching us. It was a ton of fun going with John that year.
Our First Valentines Day: By this time I had moved in with my Grandma Boggs and she was on a vacation for a month in Europe so Sharlene came to stay with me for a month. John came over early that morning and made me breakfast in bed with a flower and a heart shaped gift box filled with candy. That night we went to the Valentine's Dance together. Everyone kept looking at us all night. I found out later that all of our friends thought for sure he would propose that day or that night at the dance. They were so disappointed. John and I had fun though.
The Proposal: March 1, 1991 It turns out that that was the same day I got baptized when I was eight years old. He had no idea. John came over to my grandma's house and I had no voice. By this time we were reading scriptures together daily and so we did that and then we read the chapter in D & C about marriage and then he proposed and wipped out the ring box. I had no voice so I just nodded my head and cried. He actually wanted me to say the words so I said YES and I sounded like a frog croaking instead. He just laughed at me and gave me a big hug. But now 17 years later we were reading his journal and found out that he had the same cold just four days earlier and gave it to me. So it's all his fault I had no voice when he proposed. Then he played a song for me that he had found called "A Long Line of Love" It is an old song by a country artist that talks about coming from parents and grandparents that loved each other and stayed together. That's what he wanted for us. It was sweet.
Married: in the Oakland, California Temple
The Dance - September 22, 1990
So yes, we met at that Young Adult Dance on September 22, 1990. John was anxiously on time and Sharlene and I were the casual thirty minutes late. When I walked in the door, John was the first person that I saw and our eyes locked. I remember thinking how cute he was and why all of a sudden was he at this dance when I had never seen him before. Within five minutes John came over and asked me to dance. We danced almost every dance the rest of the night and sat down and talked when we got tired of dancing. It was wonderful! Although, my friends thought I had deserted them. He got my number before we left that night and as they say...The Rest Is History!
Once Upon A Time...
...there was a girl who had recently started college at Fresno City College and decided it would be better to move out of her parents home in Selma, CA to be closer to school and work. So on September 22, 1990 she moved in with her friend Sharlene at Shar's grandparents house to help housesit for a month. They worked all day long getting things put away and that evening got ready and went to a Young Adult Dance.
Once Upon A Time...
...there was a boy named John who had just returned home from his mission in Holland and Belgium on September 21, 1990. It was a great homecoming and quickly got released that very night. Upon which his older brother Dave told him that there was a Young Adult Dance the next night. John was excited and told Dave he would love to go.
Friday, September 5
The Art of Cutting Up
I have successfully been able to keep scissors away from Ella and today she finally found them. She knew what they were for and quickly taught herself how to use them. Upon seeing Mom she proudly exclaimed that she was "Tutting da papaw." We had the immediate discussion that scissors are for paper only and not for hair. She agreed and I gave her a couple quick pointers for easier handling and simply asked that she please pick up every piece of paper when she was done. She gladly agreed and off she went. This was serious work. I would periodically check on her and when she was done she picked up every minute little speck of paper shred. What a good girl and a great paper cutter.
A Weekend Visitor
My friend Sharlene came to visit us for the weekend on her way up and back from Preston Idaho to visit her grandma. It was so much fun to see her again and talk and laugh and reminisce. She is so much fun and we stayed up way to late every night. My kids loved having her here and Katelin let Shar sleep in her bed. We hope she can come visit us again soon. 
Easy Bake Oven - Sara, Katelin and Ella
Today Katelin decided she wanted get those creative juices flowing and we broke out the easy bake oven. We used a regular cake mix and googled the mix to water ratio to get it just right. She invited our new neighbor Sara over for the "girls only" baking hour and they had a ton of fun. Then each girl got to frost their own cake. It was a masterpiece. Watch out Rachel Ray. It was so delicious. They made enough for half of our neighbors. Hmmmm! I wonder why all the boys were hanging around today. 
Annual 4th of July - Cherry Days Parade
Candy, Candy, Candy and More Candy....... It's Fun To Be A Kid at this parade!
This Train is Movin' On
It sure was great to see Uncle Larry and Aunt Linda. We loved visiting with them and having them around for the two days they were with us. They even took us out to lunch before they left. We should have been the one's taking them out, but they insisted. It was great fun having them around and we will miss them.
The Great Salt Lake
They say that you can actually float in the Salt Lake becuase of the large quantity of salt existing in the lake. There are inlets the flow to it but not a single outlet. Katelin and Jacob decide they had to at least go walk out on the lake. It was really cool until the swarms of brine flies began flying all around their heads, legs, arms, feet... You get the idea! Needless to say they ran back.
Walking on the beach at Antelope Island
Our Visit to Antelope Island
Antelope Island is the largest and most developed island in the Great Salt Lake. With an area of 42 square miles, it is the largest island in the Great Salt Lake, the largest lake in the Western United States, and the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. Perhaps the most alluring feature of Antelope Island is its unique array of wildlife. The island is most famous for its large bison population. The herd fluctuates between 550 and 700, making it one of the largest publicly owned bison herds in the nation. The Antelope Island bison herd is also recognized as one of the oldest in the country. The Bison were introduced to the island in 1893.
Deer, bobcats, coyotes, many varieties of birds and waterfowl also call the island home. Antelope Island holds populations of pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, and millions of waterfowl. http://www.utah.com/stateparks/antelope_island.htm
By the time we drove halfway down the Island we finally came across the buffalo herd. It must have taken us an hour becuase the maximum speed is only 25 mph. But seeing the buffalo up close was really cool.
Taking a Rest. It was a hot day.
Carolyn and the kids at one of the old homesteads on Antelope Island.
Mini Mini Family Reunion
Larry and Linda got to have a quick dinner with us and my brother Ben and his wife Toni and Bekah before they had to get back Home. It was nice to be together for a little while though.
Katelin was so excited when Linda told her she could sleep outside with them.
Ella just thought it was cool laying next to her big sister for 2 minutes.
Jacob had fun exploring every nook and crany.
Uncle Larry and Aunt Linda From Michigan
Uncle Larry is my dads younger brother. Of course, my dad is the better looking of the two. He and Linda went on a road trip this year and stopped by our house for the night. Ben and Toni came up to visit too.
Tuesday, August 19
Where is that Leprechaun?
At the end of June we had a nice summer rain storm and out came this beautiful rainbow. If you look at the stop sign in both pictures you can mentally put the picture together. What a shot! 
2 Moms & 5 Children - California or Bust
My cousin Rabilin and I decided to drive out to California for my Aunt Patti's funeral and to visit family. It was us and our five little one's. Our husbands couldn't break away on such short notice so we took the challenge. We stayed with my brother Mike where there were a total of 5 Adults, 10 kids and 1 bathroom. It was little like Circus Circus, but it was well worth the trip. We got to spend some time with Grandma Boggs and my mom flew in from Texas. The day after the funeral we spent time with Grandma Boggs at her home and even went out to eat with all our little kids. It took both Grandma's and both moms to get them all fed at Home Town Buffet. That must have been a site.
Cousins...
We got to go visit John's sister Karen and two of her children Kayla and Logan while on our trip to California. They always get along so well and love spending time together. They are so silly.
Cousins Cousins Cousins
Here are a few really cute shots of the kids with their cousins in California. These are Carolyn's brother Mike's kids. They had a lot of fun together swimming and dancing and playing and just being kids.
Swim Meet
We got to go with Mike and Jenn's family to their children's swim meet. This is the same swimming pool that us kids swam at when we were growing up. 
Mike and Jenn
I just wanted to show pictures of my brother Mike and his beautiful wife Jenn and all their cute kids.
Sunday, August 17
"MY" Aunt Patti
Written by Carolyn: I have my Aunt Patti’s hands. In my down time I have had opportunities lately to look at my own hands and hope that I can use them for good as she did. I want to be an instrument in the Lords hands as she was for so many people. She was like a second mom when I was young and she means a lot to me. I am sad to say goodbye to such a beautiful person. My life has been changed in significant ways because I knew her. 
Carolyn's Thoughts:
God will call people to care about you and to teach you.
- Henry B Eyring
I truly feel that you can learn something from every person that you come in contact with, but there are certain people that are put in your life for a reason. Some for a short while and others for periods of time to help you, lift you up, love and teach you. Patti was there for me when I was a growing up. I loved her then and didn’t realize all that I was learning from her at the time. Now I appreciate the things I learned and thank the Lord for her being there to teach me those lessons and remember those happy moments.
One story I remember was Patti planting daffodils outside her back door at the Ashlan house on the right side of the steps. They were various colors of yellow and I remember bending down to smell them when I came over in the spring. The first time I saw them in bloom at her house I remember asking her what type of flower it was because I had never seen them and they were so beautiful and different from other flowers I had seen. Like a ray of sunshine in her heavily shaded yard. As the years went by I noticed that she planted different varieties and that allowed them to bloom at different times to make the color last longer. Some bloomed early and some later. Some were bright, others pastel and others with variegated or crinkled blooms. It was her little happy spot in the yard. Her spot of sunshine. Whenever I have seen daffodils I have always thought of my Aunt Patti. I have loved those flowers since I was a child and after coming home from the funeral I decided that I am going to plant my own little happy spot in the yard this next fall. So in the Spring I will have something beautiful to make me happy and remind me of Patti. 
An advocate of women, schoolchildren
LDS ward leader also was president of elementary PTA.
By Jim Steinberg / The Fresno Bee
06/25/08 23:28:44
Patti M. Binford was well-known for her compassion and the ability to translate it into action.
Mrs. Binford, 59, of Fresno had suffered pulmonary fibrosis, and died Friday.
She was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and had served as president of her ward's relief society, concentrating on the needs of women.
Earlier, she had been a leader among a small group of parents in Fresno Unified School District who challenged administrators and eventually prevailed on them to find more than $13 million to air-condition district schools. She and the ad-hoc group challenged the status quo that had forced tens of thousands of small children and older students routinely to sit in classrooms with temperatures exceeding 90 degrees for hours each day. They returned home literally red-faced on hot days.
Mrs. Binford was born in Lynwood and moved with her family to Fresno, where her father had found a printing job, said her husband, Tom Binford.
She attended Fresno schools, and worked for a telephone company until she graduated from Fresno High School.
She continued at Fresno City College, married and became increasingly involved in her children's schools, serving with the PTA and as president of the Del Mar Elementary School PTA.
That warmed her to schoolchildren's plight inside hot classrooms, Tom Binford said: "When I got here from the Bay Area, I was just blown away. I thought, 'How could anybody in this Valley not have air conditioning?' Administrators had it in their offices."
Mrs. Binford's work with her LDS church deserves at least as much praise, said her husband, mother, Arba Boggs, and close friend, Ellen Thomas.
"Patti was very organized," her mother said. "She was given basic responsibility from our bishop for the care of women in our ward," a geographic and administrative division of the church. "I guess Patti was called to do this."
Mrs. Binford maintained a notebook of all women in her congregation, or ward, and directions to each woman's home, her mother said. She kept track of the ward's "visiting teachers."
"She was born to it," her mother said. "We believe they come with these gifts. She helped a lot of families."
Thomas called Mrs. Binford "a master of organization," a talent she handled "with such dignity and grace."
Mrs. Binford also was an accomplished musician, particularly on piano and organ, teaching music in her ward along with organizational skills and preparedness.
"The compassionate service is something she did so well," Thomas said.
A memorial "graduation service" was held Wednesday in the LDS church on East Alluvial Avenue.
The reporter can be reached at jsteinberg@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6311.
Patti in the the 80's
This is how I remember my Aunt Patti when I was growing up.
Patti was a wife, a mother, a mother-in-law, an aunt, a grandmother, a sister, and a friend to many.
Boggs Siblings
Back Left to right: Lloyd, Jonathan, Michael
Front Left to Right Suzanne, Nancy, Elizabeth
These are the remaining children of Ralph and Arba Boggs.
Ralph W Boggs
Here is a picture I took at the funeral of where my Grandpa Boggs was buried. It is at Belmont Memorial Gardens in Fresno, CA.
4 Generations
This was totally unplanned but we were able to get a picture of Great-Grandma Boggs, Grandma, Carolyn (Mom) and Ella. Pretty Cool!
Father's Day
This was a picture of Father's Day in June. The kids helped me get him some speakers for his IPod. He also got some knee pads for when he is working out in the yard.
Ella loves to get dressed up and so she was wearing her pretty church dress, play shoes, railroad conductor hat and sunglasses (upside down). She cracks me up!
Saturday, August 16
Utah's Hogle Zoo -Salt Lake City, Utah
We got to take a trip to the Zoo in early June and spent the day there. The weather was still pretty cool. They have done alot of upgrades in the last ten years and it was pretty fun!
This black marble ball is able to roll becuase there is a thin layer of water all over it at all times. -Utah's Hogle Zoo Entrance
Monday, June 30
2008 PIONEER TREK
This was an amazing experience that none of us will soon forget. It was one of the most difficult things I have ever done, but one of the most spiritual experiences I have had with my whole family. What did we learn from it? That those people who crossed the plains and gave up so much. They were doing it because they were following the prophet. He had asked them to move West to Zion. Their challenges were hard and many died, but many many more lived. We face challenges that are just as difficult in our day. Ours are not physical, but we have still been instructed to follow the prophet, in all things, and we will be protected. They had to work to together in many aspects of their lives and we rely on others during difficult times to help us get through the challenges we face. Our entire ward banded together and it was a growing and spiritual experience for many many people. We are so much closer. And we are so glad that we went. We hope to do it again someday when our children are older.
This is where Ella sat most of the trek. She just couldn't keep up when she walked with her mom or she cried from the wind and dirt in her face so we put her in the cart and hauled her with the rest of our stuff. She was much happier then.
Our family in front of the statues that represent those who died the cold winter night after carrying hundreds across the Sweetwater River. There were actually several people men and women who carried people across the river but these four young men were there the most and ended up passing away soon after.
This is Jacob standing near the Sweetwater River. It winds back and forth across this vast landscape. I can see now why the pioneers crossed it several times. We were given the option to cross if we wanted. With all the rain this year it was about waist deep and they told us not to take our carts through. There were still about twenty people who decided to conquer the ice cold depths of the river.
This is Ella at the Sweetwater River. It was really windy and our bonnets helped protect our faces from getting windburn. That is, when it wasn't blowing directly in our faces.
This was our family group. The Johnson's, Katie Paskins and our family. During the time of the Pioneers they were arranged in family groups to help and support one another during the journey.
We visited a Gorge in Idaho and on the drive in there were signs that said WARNING: PLEASE HOLD ONTO YOUR CHILDREN. PARENTS PLEASE CONTROL YOUR CHILDREN. So my kids were a little apprehensive to go out on the bridge to see the view.
Friday, June 6
Boise Trip
When we went to Boise we got to stay at a nice new Marriot and we got the "SUITE" for the same price as a regular room. Woohoo! Two bedrooms, a living room and kitchenette. Free Breakfast, a pool and 3 flat screen t.v.'s. Ella had a ton of fun having free access to everything she loves! I gave her an inch and she took a yard. In one hour period of time she also ate a whole box of fruit snacks too. Isn't she pretty in my makeup! Yep! You guessed it. That is mascara on her eyebrows. The funny part was that she came out of the bathroom with that look on her face that she new she was beautiful. She was just waiting for someone to tell her.
Meridian, Idaho
SCHOOL IS OUT and so we went with Daddy up to Boise for 4 days and we got to visit Uncle Jerry and Aunt Bev. They live in Meridian, Idaho. Aunt Bev is John's Dad's sister. So it was good to see them again and the kids were all calling them grandma and grandpa within 15 minutes. It was great.
Aunt Bev gave us all the last of her ice cream and it was nice enough for the kids to eat it outside. She played games with them, they read books, they climbed on her bunk beds and they ran all around her yard. They had a ton of fun. I think she was worn out by the time we left.
Long Lost Cousins
My cousin Debbie Webb Alvey came to visit Utah from Houston, TX and they got to stop by our house for about an hour. It was great to see her again after about 15 years and get to know her family. My Katelin and her Chloe are a year apart. Guess who is older? They had a ton of fun together.
Monday, May 26
Jacob's Top 10 Birthday Party Countdown
10. Bubble Gum Blowing Contest (it's hard when you are missing a couple of teeth.)
9. Balloon Toss (it's hard to catch a balloon when they are slippery)
8. Twister (to many boys for one small mat)
7. Balloon Game (keep the balloon up in the air as long as you can without running into a wall)
6. Spin the Bottle-Boy Style (rub your tummy, pat your head and sing the ABC's)
5. Fat Boy Ice Cream Cake (the best cake in town and easiest for mom)
4. Jumping on the Trampoline (all out screaming, jumping, craziness...)
3. Bodily noises (self explanatory)
2. Smores (what's better than playing with fire and eating sweets?)
1. Water Gun Fight (Water and Guns-Pure Joy)
Robot Day
Katelin's class had a Robot Day the last week of school and they were supposed to come up with an idea for a robot they can build at home out of stuff they already have. Katelin made a "SCHOOLBOT" It goes to school and can actually learn. Grandpa helped her a little before he left and then daddy helped her finish it the night before. It was pretty creative and was the tallest most realistic robot at school that day.
Moving On
It's true! Grandma and Grandpa have moved to Texas. We have loved having them here, but now it's time for them to enter a new phase again and us as well. We will miss them a ton!
School Talent Show
Katelin participated in the school talent show and played a lovely piano solo. Then there is a picture of Katelin sitting next to her best friend (to the right) named Rachel Scott. They must be related somehow becuase they both have RED HAIR and Katelin now wants glasses. They have a lot in common and love to get together for late nights.
Hermy the Worm
In third grade at her school they have Pet Day. Since we don't have any normal pets Katelin got creative and went out the garden and dug up Hermy the Worm. She also took a copy of her story she wrote and illustrated about Hermy the Worm Part I and Part II. Grandma Boggs should have a copy of her story if you are interested in reading Katelin's rendition. She also sold copies of her books at Market Day and it was a big hit.
Jacob got a sweet Speed Racer Car from Grandma and Grandpa Scott and got five $1.00 bills in a card from Grandma McCrary. It was fun!
We celebrated Jacob's Family birthday two weeks early so that his Grandma and Grandpa Scott and Grandma McCrary could be here.
Mother's Day
This year we had our family, Grandpa and Grandma Scott, Grandma McCrary, Ben & Toni and Amy & Nick for a Mother's Day dinner. We pigged out and then let the kids play. Ben's little Bekah is getting big enough to play with Ella in the sandbox.
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We made a deal with the kids and did all the research. It will be the birthday present for all the kids this year. Then we went on a family date and baught a new trampoline for the kids. They love it and I love the net.
Pioneer Trek
I have been sewing clothes for the girls in our house to wear when our Ward goes on the Pioneer Trek at Martins Cove, Wyoming in June. So far I have all three skirts and bonnets completed. Then I made bloomers for the girls and I used my friends sewing machine to put cute designs on them. They will be cute.
Wonder Why I Haven't Been Posting Lately? - See What We've Been Doing
We started out by having my dad paint the laundry room. John hung my cork board with my calendar and items of immediate use. John painted boards and hung hooks up low for backpacks and coats and another shelf up high for winter gear and summer towels. I found a nice silver desk organizer that I had John mount on the wall next to the coark board that I use for long term paper items I need to hold onto for longer than a month. This room is my laundry/mud/coat closet/calendar/kids papers/key room. So I just renamed it my "COMMAND CENTER"
We put in a new floor. It used to be a stained white linoleum. The person who put it in did it wrong and ran out just about where the washer and dryer meet up. So we always had this dark crease where it had been patched together. So now I have a pretty new floor and nice new rugs. Everything is various colors of dirt. There are reasons why they call it a mud room. I LOVE IT now.
My husband put up new cabinets above the washer and dryer. Before it was a cheap metal shelf. Then my dad painted the walls in the laundry room a nice shade of sand. It looks so good.
After the room got painted my husband got a few friends and moved the piano over to our house. It is his sister's piano, but she is letting us use it till she gets into a place of her own. Katelin is really progressing well in her piano lessons.
This is a typical Ella look we get when she is trying to tease us. It is so funny I am glad I finally got it. She used to always look at Catherine with THE LOOK!
Katelin wanted me to take a couple of pictures of her. She is starting to look older. My little girl is growing up.
My dad painted the front entry for me while John was gone. The color coordinates with the new light fixture above and it matches my curtains in the living room. He also helped me paint the Music Room/Den with a darker color on the bottom and a lighter color on top. Thanks for all your help dad. I really needed you and it turned out better than I had expected.
I gave Ella a haircut and she got bangs for the first time. She won't let me do her hair. She knows she is beautiful.
After Jody, Ivan and Catherine left our kids were sad. Jody had given us a large package of assorted chips so we took our kids up to the top of our mountain and looked out over the valley. We let the kids pick out any chip they wanted. They felt better by the time we got back.
Tuesday, April 8
Just the Beginning
For our Family Home Evening activity John took Katelin and Jacob out to the garden to plant our sweet peas. The temperature was in the 40's. You can see vines growing on the fence. Those are concord grapes. The garden is about 30 x 40 ft.
Friday, April 4
You will be missed!
Today Jody and her kids loaded up the moving truck with us and said Goodbye to Utah. They have been here for nine months and we have loved living close to them. They are moving back to Texas with Mom and Dad coming in a month or so. We are really going to miss them all. Wow! What a change.
Thursday, April 3
Best Friends
Today my neighbor Brittney took her son Bradley and my Ella to the treehouse museum and they had a ton of fun. It is finally nice enough outside so she got a cute picture of them together on the rocks out front. They are six months apart and Best Friends. They play almost everyday. He loves trains and she loves dolls.
I LOVE YOU
Just a couple hours after her temper tantrum today she wanted me to take her picture and tell me how much she loves me. She just learned how to do this sign and thinks she is really cool.
I'm Hiding
Ella had a temper tantrum today AGAIN. One of several daily tantrums that I now get to experience. She asked me if she could play with another set of toys and I asked her to clean up her mess first. She didn't like me telling her that so she went and hid where I couldn't see her and she couldn't see me.
Piano Teacher
This is Jacob with a picture of Katelin's Piano teacher. Her name is Shayna and she is almost 16 yo. She is the best! She also just happens to be our neighbor and live right across the street. We love her and Jacob can't wait to start piano next year when he turns eight.
How'd I Do?
As soon as she was done playing she turned around to see everyone's reaction and then got up and went to her seat. This is her getting up and she looked very pleased with herself.
Dance of the Butterfly
She played Dance of the Butterfly and she had it memorized but she still read the music anyway. It was beautiful.
Handyman "NOT" For Sale
This is my great handyman that I love so much. He put knobs and pulls on all my kitchen cupboards for me. He is so awesome. I really appreciate all he does for us.
Visit to Portage
The day after Easter we took off with John to head towards Idaho for a short trip and stopped in Portage, Utah. That is where his dad was born and now where he is buried. So we went to go see his grave and tell our children alot of the old stories about Grandpa McCrary.
Wednesday, April 2
Playing DS
John and Jacob are playing Jake's new game. Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games. Who do you think won? Who is having more fun? Who is this game really for?
Easter Dinner
For Easter dinner this year we had a crowd. It was great. We turned the dining table the other direction and moved the couches out of the way. So it went lengthwise from the dining room to the other end of the living room. We added two folding tables to make one long table. Then we covered them all with newsprint and crayons so everyone could customize their area. We had Gramda McCrary, Grandma Scott, Grandpa Scott, Jody, Ivan, Catherine, Ben, Toni, Bekah and our family. We were stuffed.
Crazy Picture!
After about 60 pictures trying to get all three kids to look at the camera and smile at the same time, they were sick and tired of it. So then they had fun! Thank you grandma for trying so hard to get a good shot.
Getting Ready
Getting ready to go to Church. Ella loves to get her hair done. She knew she was cute. All day when people would say how pretty she was, she would respond by saying, "Yah!"
What's In Your Mouth?
The kids baskets had bubble gum Easter Eggs and Reeses Easter Eggs in them and when ever someone asks Ella what is in her mouth she opens it to show you. Can you guess which one that is? All her candy and gum was gone by that night.
Katelin's Eggs
Katelin was having so much fun she had a hard time posing even for a picture. Look at her eyes, she is still searching.
Jacob's Egg
Jake started by following Katelin around the room and after about five minutes was wondering why he wasn't finding any eggs. Then he got creative and really started hunting.
Ella's Eggs
We woke up grandma and grandpa to come join the fun! So grandma helped Ella while mom took pictures. This year Ella got it. She really likes hunting for eggs.
Easter Baskets
This is our kids first thing Easter Morning. They still have that, I just woke up, look on their faces. We had just gotten back the night before from the Discovery Museum so they all woke up pretty tired and surprised that the Easter Bunny came becuase we hadn't even set out our baskets or anything. And this year the Easter Bunny only hide our real eggs that we had colored. Katelin was a little upset by the fact that we had forgotten to take our zillions of plastic eggs out of the storage bin and the Easter Bunny didn't know where to find them. So next year we better be more prepared for when he comes. Katelin was so excited though becuase she finally got a Tomagatchi. Jacob got a new game for his DS and Ella got some pretty new panties. Yes, we are trying to give her the idea "again" that it really is O.K. to go in the toilet.
Friday, March 28
Park City & SLC
We were so excited to get away to Park City. We did the whole Grocery Store Chicken Dinner and took it back to our Hotel and watched Enchanted. We did a little outlet mall shopping and the kids really enjoyed swimming in the heated swimming pool After about fifteen minutes they were cold and came back for a nice warm swimming suit bath. The next day we drove to Salt Lake City and went to the Gateway Discovery Museum. It included a lifesize beehive for the kids to play in, a construction zone, house, grocery store, park, river, treehouse, and farm. The entire upstairs is for older children mainly and consisted of tons of science hands on exhibits as well. Jacob spent most of his time at the river and as he put it, "It was sweet!"
Jakes Field Trip
Jacob and Mom got to go on a field trip together Last Thursday before Easter Break. They started by going to the Ogden Nature Center where they learned how to make paper and made some to take home. Then they walked around and explored the wildlife preserve while learning about the different birds, animals and trees native to the area. We then went to the Treehouse Childrens Museum. They started out by acting out an Old Asian Folk Tale and Jacob got picked to be the Dragon King. We learned about other countries and they told stories. Then they got to explore for themselves and let their imaginations take them where ever they pleased! Jake Love It!
Wednesday, March 19
Colored Eggs
Today was short day at school so Katelin and Jacob got home early. It was perfect because Ella was down for her much needed nap and Grandma and Grandpa were here. Dad even stepped away from work for a minute and decorated a few himself. Jacob's favorite egg was one he named "The Sunset Egg." We had a fun time coloring our Easter Eggs together and mom was very pleased that there were no major spills or accidents involved in this years annual coloring tradition.
Monday, March 17
How to trap a Leprechaun
Katelin knows that our sneeky Leprechaun must live in our rocks out front because that was where the trail originated from. So after breakfast they set the trap.
1. Get a box
2. Put an old shoe in the box
3. Put tissue over the box
4. Put a gold coin on the tissue carefully so it won't cave in.
5. Hide and wait.
They went in to watch cartoons for a few minutes and when they left for school this morning the Leprechaun had taken the gold coin, and didn't get caught.
WHAT WENT WRONG?
Green Eggs and Ham
The kids loved the whole green eggs and ham idea and gobbled it up. Ella, on the other hand, didn't want to eat any ham that was now green and ate her toast. We even broke out our festive green dishes.
St. Patrick's Day 2008
We woke up this morning to a green trail from a Leprechaun. Katelin and Jacob figured out that he must have come in through the front door and then down the hall to their rooms. He tried to go down the stairs and then came back and went to the kitchen and turned the dogs water green. We are watching Grandma McCrary's dog Mandy right now. The leprechaun then went to the fridge and turned all our milk green and exited through the garage door. The kids saw his trail leading to our neighbors house.
Sunday, March 16
While Dad was away the kids will play!
While John was in California on business the kids were busy having fun. Carolyn took a few pictures of them to send me. Enjoy!
Jake in nearly 4 feet of snow
This Winter was quite a snowy one. On Super Bowl Sunday we got over 21 inches of snow and the kids had a blast. Here's a few pictures including some of Jacob playing in the deep snow.
Grandma McCrary out for a walk!
John asked his Mom if she wanted to go for a walk out front and she about came out of her skin. She was excited because she had hip surgery in late February and this was her first time out.
Katelin's School Drum Program
Katelin played the drum at her 3rd Grade class recital. She did a great Job! Here's a few pictures from the performance.
Jared and Amity went to Disneyland and had to buy Winter clothes for Alexis. Hawaii doesn't get very cold so they had to buy everything new before they left. Before returning home they shipped all of the new "Cold Weather" clothes to Ella. She thought it was Christmas when the package arrived. Here's a few shots of her trying them on.
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