Going To Church According to Julia!

By Julia

Notice the little thought bubble coming out of my head is a picture of Grampa!

Hazie Get A Bob

It is so much fun to be present when the firsts in a child's life occur. Hazel got her first haircut the other night. Her hair is quite curly and she was beginning to take on a bit of a Susan Boyle "before" hairstyle, so Lowell suggested a haircut. Brilliant.

Lots of sister support at the salon aka kitchen counter.

Still a little wet but with a hair bow for fanciness!

All Done to Perfection!

The Pinewood Derby

Last night Connor and all the scouts in his age group from two wards had their Pinewood Derby. Each boy makes a car and races it. Connor did really well, but he pointed out to me that it is not about winning but about having fun. They did do plenty of that! Connor won a metal for the "Most Fun Design" and Chris said he only supervised the creation. Connor did it all. The Judge called it "The Flying Credit Card!"

The Track! The Lady in Charge...our own Liz Capson Ellis!

Gramma sprung for some Cold Stone Ice Cream
after the Pinewood Derby!

Chloe and The Camera

The other day, Aunt Jen had an errand to run so I thought it would be fun to do a photo shoot with Chloe. She is one funny little girl and so full of personality. Some of the kids are so hard to photograph because they never sit still for 3 seconds in a row. So I put her up on the office desk and tried to get a few good pictures. These were my favorites.

She lost her second lower front tooth while I have been here!

That is two teeth already and look how old she is!

So Serious

So Sweet

So Silly!

Kazam for Ross Boss Applesauce!

Hi Grandma and Grandpa,
Guess what happened yesterday at recess? I was on some Italian- like monkey bars with circle steps that lead to a jungle gym. I like to go from the 2nd step and jump onto the monkey bars and I did it. But after I was hanging my friend Jude said, "awww" because he was about to go. And I said, "I can get down". I was swinging a bit and as you know the steps where right below the monkey bars. And when I was facing right I let go and... KAZAM. And guess what? I ... I ... guess- can you? No you can not, so I will just tell you. I broke my arm. And just to let you know that this e-mail got to you late this happened on St. Patrick's Day 2010. And that is why they gave me a GREEN sling. Tell everyone!

Love, Ross

Laura writes, "Ross broke his arm today- it was very sad. According to the doctors he has a double forearm fracture. Which means that both his radius and ulna are broken. In addition to the fractures there was buckling and compression with the wrist bones- poor kid. Anyway, this is a picture of Spencer reading to Ross in the ER while we waited to be sent to Orthopedics- what a good brother!"

Dear Ross,

Grampa and I are so sad about your arm and are praying you will be better soon. Dad told me you got a chocolate bunny out of the deal and that you said it was worth it! Good way to turn a bad thing upside down with a smile! The Chocolate Cure has been tried before!

Love you, Honey, and hoping you have a speedy recovery!

Hugs and a billion kisses...XOXO times infinity

Gramma and Grampa

Aynslee and Zach's Puppet Show!

Piperpoozela is Eleven!

Yesterday was the beginning of a three day event for Piper's Birthday. I am so glad I am here for it. In the morning before the sun can up, Jen was up cooking bacon and eggs and toast for the family. It is their tradition to have breakfast (whatever the birthday girl requests and open a few presents.)


Piper got a bike for her birthday and we had to pick it up the night before and leave it in the car. She has an uncanny way of finding her presents otherwise!

She had a fun day at school and brought treats for her whole class. After school she did her homework and then we got ready to go to dinner at the Cracker Barrel.

It was sweet, I think she chose CB because she knows I enjoy going there and we don't have any in CA. It turned out to be just Jen, Piper, Julia and Chloe and me for dinner as Lowell was feeling ill and so he stayed home with Hazie.


We enjoyed a little time in the gift shop and then had a yummy dinner. Piper chose a hamburger and fries. I always get their pancakes there...I don't think I have tried another thing on the menu. When we got home we got ready for the friend party today after school. We cleaned up and made some fun favors for her friends. Then she opened the rest of her presents. She said she had a great day!

Happy Birthday Piper!

Babysitting for Aunt Missy and Uncle Chris

Chris and Missy had a dinner date at the University to attend so I got to stay with their kids for the evening last week. It was great fun! We ate tacos prepared by Missy, we played, Aynslee and Zach put on 2 puppet shows and Owen was such a big boy and let me get him all ready for bed. Connor helped me so much and all the kids were as good as gold. It was a delightful evening!

Aynslee waving to Grampa!

Connor enjoying a soft taco!

Zach wearing my favorite shirt!

Owen sitting still enough for a photo!

Connor has only been taking piano lessons for a little over a year and Grampa has rarely heard him play so here is a video I took of Connor playing some music from Harry Potter. I think he did an amazing job!

Connor Reports on Your Grampa Andrew's Life

Connor~Cool as a cucumber just before the presentation.

This has been a great week for me to be here in Utah. Today I got to go to the kids' school and listen to Connor give his ancestor report. He did a lot of research and did an interesting presentation to his class about Grampa Andrew.

This is a wonderful assignment that gives the fourth graders an opportunity to learn about their roots. It is a way for them to appreciate who and where they came from and to realize that the choices made by their ancestors affected who they themselves are.

Connor, I am very proud of you, as were your Mom and Dad. We recorded it to share with Grampa and Grandma Gloria and the rest of the family and some friends. Your previous experience as a news reporter on TV for two broadcasts of the local news and your opportunities to speak in church have helped you become very comfortable in front of a lot of people. What a wonderful experience. Not a lot of adults could have done as well as you did today. Good Job, Con!

Serendipity Date and Choir of Angels

Last night I was so happy to be able to go to the Tabernacle and watch the elementary school aged kids from all over the area perform in a choir festival. There were over 500 kids (3-6th grade) participating from about a dozen school. I marvel at the work that the teachers put into this big event. It was really neat. It was especially fun since we had 3 grandies participating. Piper, Julia and Connor. And I got to be with Chris and Lowell to watch it!

Quite by surprise I got to go out to dinner with our son, Christopher. I thought their whole family was coming but both Jen and Missy had been before and were wise to stay home with the littler kids.

We dropped the big kids off at the Tabernacle and then we had an hour before the door opened so we went to have dinner together on the spur of the moment. I was so delighted to have these few minutes for a one on one experience with him. It is a rare thing for a mom and son that live so far apart.

Chris

Guru's

We went to this little place and it was really good. I loved the decor and the copper table tops. I love me some copper and this place had lots of it. Neither of us had ever been there but it would be fun to go back again sometime.

We walked over to the concert and stood in line for a few minutes and we were happy to have an umbrella. We were lucky it wasn't snow as it sure felt cold enough. Burr, will this winter ever be done?

I love this building that was painstakingly
built by the pioneers and early settlers of the valley.

The interior of the building before the concert.
The woodworking and craftsmanship is really amazing.

The stained glass windows are a beautiful amber,
they are simple but exquisite.
Julia's math teacher is in the foreground,
Mrs. White!

Connor and his friends before the concert.

Piper and her best buddy, Mitrian before the concert.
We couldn't even find Julia and her group in this
sea of kids all dressed alike.

Connor having fun!

First each school performed alone.

Here our kids are singing and the accompanist is a friend of mine that I met when I redesigned her living room back home! Now she lives here and our paths crossed again! She has been reading this blog so "Hi Nancy!" You did a beautiful job. It was worth finding the perfect place for that baby grand in your living room! Practice makes perfect!

Julia and Piper

Con, Gramma and Piper

Connor and Jewels

Connor and Gramma

The Finale

Anyone who can get 500 + kids to do this is a miracle worker in my book. Looking twice I realized it was a friend of ours from back hone in the Singles' Ward named Julianna! Ms. Barker is conducting this last song. I wish the sound was better but you can get the idea. Grampa wanted to make sure he could hear them, so this one is for you, Honey!

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