Here's What We Did Today!

We decided to go on a picnic up the canyon today. A few years ago, John and I discovered a great picnic place up one of the canyons and we wanted to find it again. So, after spending the morning getting everything ready, including putting together the new table-top bbq, we set out. As we were getting gas, John asked if we had packed the salt and pepper -- no. So, I went to the grocery store while he finished up and bought s/p. Then, we took the wrong canyon -- we wanted to go up Big Cottonwood Canyon, and we ended up in Little Cottonwood Canyon. But, here is what we saw: It was really beautiful! There were several rushing rivers coming off the mountains. We tried to get a good picture, but it was so bright that it just didn't come through as well as we had hoped. The white streak is the stream and it was just crashing down the rocks.

Here we are: in the Little Cottonwood Canyon.

So, we backtracked down the mountain, and went up Big Cottonwood Canyon! And there it was. Just as we had remembered it. It is a quiet little picnic place with a stream running right through it. The only problem here was that we discovered we had forgotten the matches! So, while I went back down the canyon to 7-11, everyone else did some exploring. It was worth the extra trip! The picnic place is called Moss Ledge.

Good picture of John's foot--

Madi took pictures of the rocks and flora, like this columbine. But the only "fauna" we saw came with us. (Well, we did see a few lizards and a squirrel. But they wouldn't sit still enough to get a picture. How rude!)

These pictures of the stream are great. The water was so clear and cold! We all ended up in it in one way or another.

Here was our picnic. The stream is running right behind us. As a matter of fact, in order to get to some of the tables, you have to cross it. Both times that John and I have been here, it has been vacant except for us. A few hikers came up, but they didn't stay to eat. We think this would be a great place for a family get-together. It takes less than 1/2 hour to get there, and there is so much to explore and do.

After-dinner exploration--

Just thought we would share our adventure with everyone. We look forward to seeing everyone this weekend! So long 'til then.

Arden's Birthday

Arden is now 16 years old!!!
We are having a party for Arden at Sara's house on Saturday afternoon. Asian food is the theme: sweet and sour chicken and homemade chinese dumplings (I can't spell the Chinese name) will be on the menu. We will also bring the cake.

These are a few pictures that have been collected of Arden over the years. They aren't in any specific order. I tried, but I kept finding more pictures and I didn't want to keep switching things around. ENJOY!!!

Christmas 2006:
>2000?
Summer 2003:
Summer 2006:
Summer 2003:
1st grade:

Arden and Gabe: 2008Arden's model shoot at Dad's work (huge fan giving the effect):

Halloween 2002 or 2003:

Las Vegas 2006:
This one's a keeper! Before 2001:
Arden and Noah. He hasn't changed much!
Arden and her cousins in 2003 --

and in 2008.My, how they grow up!

Happy 16th Birthday, Arden! We love you!

Blogging Roses

First of all, thank you all for being there for our wonderful event! The sealing was so special, and having friends and family all there was just the icing on the cake. These were the only pictures that were taken, although the pictures in our hearts and minds will always remain. (Oh, great! I'm crying again). Gabe asked me this morning why Dad and I looked like angels in the temple. He's the one that looked like the angel coming in to the Sealing Room.

Gabe is such a poser!!!!!

Lalo loves to nap on the hoods of cars. He's just waking up and showing how difficult his life is. Sleep, eat, sleep, eat . . . . He loves to get on the hoods of the nurses cars. One day I was watching from the window as one of the nurses was leaving. Lalo was stretched out on the hood of her car, and not showing any inclination to move. She was trying to shoo him off with her papers, and he just looked at her and rolled over with that "scratch me" look! I was laughing as I finally sent Gabe out to get the cat off her car. Such a silly cat!

Ok, here are the roses and other plants. This is the strip of roses on the south side of the house. John has really chosen some great colors and they are blooming out so beautifully.

These are from the rose bush (Queen Elizabeth roses) at the corner of the house. They go all the way to the eaves of the house. You can see them really well from the inside, too.

Individual roses. You'll have to ask John the names. I only know that I love them!

This one is on its way out, but Gabe really liked the effect of the dark edges on this rose.

This is a climatis.

Tiny tulips.

We have 2 crabapple trees in the back yard. They bloomed out so pretty this spring. I'm glad I got these pictures when I did. The trees don't look like this now.

These pictures are from Gabes "non-birthday" party during Spring Break. We invited 5 friends from school to go bowling, play games and eat pizza. They had a great time. The girl is Allorah -- Gabe's first girlfriend.

These are some pictures that Gabe took of his things. This is a collection of toy bugs that his new cousin Michael gave him for his birthday.

This is Gabe's pet rock. It now lives out with the roses, not in his bed.

This is Michael Piep -- he's the nephew I knew at Utah State 20 years ago. I knew of the relationship between us, but he did not. We became great friends.

This was the Easter egg hunt at my brother's house the day before Easter. You can see that Gabe is having a great time.

The kids were led out of the house to the hunting grounds. Brent was the one leading them: he is my brother.

Here is Gabe with his Grandpa Bob -- otherwise known as my father. The cheeser behind is a grandson of Brent and Julie. I was so happy that Brent, Julie and my father were able to be in the temple with us last evening. For some reason, I think it was supposed to be that way. It is going to be fun to get to know my father a little better this summer. I've got time to visit a little more often.

Ok. So, that was a blogful of pictures. I hope you all enjoyed them. Again, it was great having everyone here to have a triple celebration. Each occasion was a special event, and ones that we will always remember.

Goodbye until the next blog.

Temple Day

We've set our date. We've been able to combine our day with that of Zack and Morgan and Andrew. Shelley asked us if we could do ours the same weekend they were having Zack take out his endowments, which is also the same weekend that Morgan and Andrew are blessing Lily. So. . . . While everyone was in D.C., John set up the Draper Temple for both ordinances: Zack's session for the living is at 6:00 p.m., followed by our sealing which will be at 8:00 p.m. If you are not going to attend the session, you will need to be at the Temple by 7:30 p.m.

One thing we need to let everyone know: Draper Temple does not have a laundry facility. Therefore, everyone needs to have their own temple clothes, from the dresses or shirts and slacks to the packets and shoes. I really hope this won't give anyone major stress. However, it was a great time for me to get a new temple dress. My mother bought it for me. I found it on-line, and then found it in the store, and still liked it. Here it is.

I just wish I would look as slim in it as the model does.

Anyway, we just thought everyone should be aware of the date and the times. Jenny, this will make for a loooong week for you. You will be jumping from one event to another. At least it will all be done at once, and then you can really relax.

One thing that will be really special for me is that not only will my Mother be able to be there, but so will my father. My brother, Brent, and his wife Julie will be bringing him. This will truly be a day to remember.

Birthday Present -- a Day Late!

Last Wednesday, the day after John's birthday, we received a very interesting letter. It was signed by Thomas S. Monson, Henry B. Eyring and Deiter F. Uchdorf: We have received our clearance to be sealed! It has been a long wait, but it is finally here.

Now we just have to pick a date, and hope that at least some of you will be able to come join us as we go through this wonderful ceremony. We'll wait until school is out, and by then, hopefully, everyone will be back from Noah's wedding festivities. We are looking at a week day, rather than a weekend, but we will let you know. We're looking at a Tuesday evening, Wednesday during the day, or a Saturday afternoon. We'd like to avoid a Saturday in June in the Salt Lake Temple, but we are also looking at the possibility of doing this at the Draper Temple.

This will just be family and a few close friends. We're hoping to even be able to get my mother there.

Anyway, we wanted to let everyone know as soon as we could. This is easier than oodles of phone-calls. Please let us know what days may be easier for you so we can plan. We don't want to wait beyond the middle of June, but we do want as many of you to be there that can be.