Giddy-Up!

Chloe Jane rides the horse!

I love how our kids give our grandkids enrichment opportunities all the time. Recently Lowell's sister and her family moved to Utah not far from where our kids live. On Labor Day they went out to visit and have a barbeque. The girls' Uncle Gordon gave them each an opportunity to ride their horse. I thought these photos were just so colorful and fun.

Miss Julia gets a turn!

Hazie rides the horsey!
She looks rather excited about this, don't you think?
She looks so tiny up there!
Hang on to her, Daddy!

Miss Piper gives it a try!
She looks so grown up on the horse
when you see where her feet are!

Hazel fell in love with their beautiful dog.

Jen said she spent about three hours doing this!

What a great and fun family day. The girls will never forget the wonderful things their parents expose them to when they are young. Isn't it fantastic that activities don't have to be expensive or elaborate to be meaningful in our lives? The wholesome times we spend together with our families are what make up the beautiful moments of life.

It is in times just like these that passions are born, talents and interests are developed, and family bonds are deepened. We have heard that families that pray together stay together. I think it can also be said that families that play together stay together too. Each little moment like this add to the glue that creates a heart print that endures.

Happy Birthday Julia!

Julia just a year or so ago. I have loved this school
photo of her but never used it in a blog post before.
So today I thought I would!

This is another one of my favorite pictures
of her when she was younger.
She has grown up quite a bit since then!

Our sweet little Jewel had her birthday last Sunday. She is now eleven! We actually woke up at her house that morning but she wasn't there. All the family but Jen and Hazel had gone to Lowell's family reunion, where they had a wonderful time with their other grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins. Poor little Hazie was sick so Jen had to keep her home.

So we gave Julia her birthday bucks, and left a card and a cute decorated head band on the table piled up with her presents and then Barbara and I headed for home before the family returned. We were sorry to miss seeing all of them and not to have been able to wish Julia a Happy Birthday and give her a big hug and kiss.


These are not our Julia's real presents but I found them on flickr to represent the pile of hers that I forgot to take a photo of that morning. Her pile actually included an old guitar case and her Mom's guitar from when she was a girl. This really delighted Julia. She is a piano player and music lover. Julia had been a music lover since she was little. I can still see her sitting on the bench playing away at her Grandma Mary's baby grand piano when her feet barely came to the edge of the bench.

This is a cute photo of Jewels and Anyslee at our family reunion. I just love these two sweet little cousins and friends. They have so much fun together. It is wonderful they live in the same town, go to the same school and get to see each other often.

Oh, how I love and envy this sisterhood she and her siblings share. This is pure heaven to me as a girl that never had a sister of my own. I know they just take it for granted now but the day will come when they see the tremendous blessings of it. I love to take these fun kind of goofy shots of them together. Mom does too.

I think this is the most recent photo I have taken of Julia. It was while I was up in Utah, one of the four times, cannot remember which time! I love this photo because is shows her cute style and her personality. Julia is a cute, perky, happy, young lady and I love that about her. She always has a smile for you and some service to perform for you to make your life better.

She is a great helper and still gives a wonderful foot massage. She asked me to bring her one of my books on reflexology to study. She is becoming very good at it. She does all this not only to bless you but because she is looking into her future. She has a little entrepreneurial side that is always thinking about how she can create a successful business someday!

Julia is such a loving and kind girl. She is carefree and enthusiastic about so many things. I just know she will succeed in her life no matter what she takes on! I love being her grandmother and sharing her growing up years with her. So does her Grampa. Jewels is one of our bright shining stars, a constant source of joy and we love her so much.

Here she is on her first day of school
with her new pixie cut!
Hope your 6th grade year is lots of fun,
My 'Beautiful Chocolate Eyes' Girl!

I am retro-fitting this cake in here.
It is now September 9 and Julia's party is tonight.
Jen and Amanda made this awesome
five-layer raspberry cake for her!

Happy Birthday, Julia!

One of the biggest blessings in my life was to be present when Julia Mae was born ten years ago today! I bought this little picture frame in the hospital gift shop and put this adorable little photo in it. I thought I would just change out the pictures as new babies were born. But nope, it was made for her and she is still there!

4th Grade Photo
I think Julia is so photogenic.
She is very relaxed in front of a camera.

With Piper in Moab at the art festival.

Playing with the kittens and Anyslee

All the Sisters

Sporting around Edinburgh this year!

A Bird's Eye view of Scotland on the open air bus top.

Summer Photo Shoot with Kate Benson

First Day of School this week!
Big 5th grader now!

There are so many things to love about Julia Mae. She is such a fun-loving enthusiastic girl about everything. She has so many interests and loves to do so many different things. When I think of her life it is a verb, not a noun. Julia is so sweet and loving and so funny too. She loves her family and helps Mom and Daddy so much. She sends me lots of fun e-mails and we miss her so much. Julia is a good girl and loves the Lord. We wouldn't trade her for anything in the whole world. Would love to be with you today, Miss Jewels. Have a very Happy Birthday, Honey!

Eat Cake!
chalk greeting and cake~flickr

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice...

Seed Pearls and Lace

A Jewel of a Face

Grins that won't stop....

And a Cherry on Top!

Grampa Makes a Ramp for Hazie!

Here is the metal grating Lowell decided

would be best for weather.
Grampa found it and hauled it home.
12 foot lengths were not easy to fit
into the van but he did it.

The project took a lot of "noodling through"
as Jim calls it as mountains and driveways
and decks and most other construction is not plumb.

He had a helper with the project, Miss Julia!
I am hoping she helped him with the faux mohawk
too as I really hope he didn't come up with it on his own!

It was incredibly tedious cutting and filing off all
the end pieces to make it lie down properly.
And it was incredibly hot.
Jim never let's anything get in his way.

They made a huge mess but eventually
they got it all cleaned up!

The two twelve foot ramps are completely done now!
Jim, Lowell and Chris worked until after
midnight to finish last night. Jim loved having their help!

When Hazie wakes up she can try it out!
Chloe has already figured out that
this could make a great bike jump!
Hmmmm.....

I am very proud of your Grampa, he is an incredible worker and totally devoted to serving others. It is especially fun when it can be for some of the kids. Now he is helping Chris on their basement. Connor and Aynslee are coming over here for a late night of fun with their cousins!

Our family works together!

Scottish Adventures For Pipes and Jewels

Chloe's Souvenir from the travelers
~Love it!! The 'hair' is a crack-up!

We really enjoyed this vacation vicariously of Piper and Julia's, our oldest granddaughters. Since Piper was born in Edinburgh eleven years ago she has been looking forward to returning to her birthplace. Lowell's work took him there this month and it was the perfect time for them to fulfill their promise to Piper to take her back. In a way Julia's beginnings are here too as Jen was 4 months pregnant when they returned to the USA. I have been to Edinburgh twice and Jim three times so these lovely places are so familiar. If you haven't been you may enjoy seeing some of their adventures around this beautiful city and the surrounding areas. Jim and I have dreamed of serving a mission here someday. We will start looking for that opportunity very soon.

Fashionable young ladies at the
Royal Botanical Gardens
always kept at the ready for a
visit from the Queen!

At the Pond in Invertleith Park near
the flat where they once lived.

The girls beach combing @ North Berwick

The streets of Edinburgh

The Monument to Greyfriar's Bobby
This little Skye Terrier kept watch over his
master's grave until
he himself died 14 years later.

Ice Cream from Luca's

Where JK Rowlings got much of her
inspiration as she sat writing while over
looking Edinburgh Castle.

JK Rowling's home in Edinburgh,
she lives fairly close to
our friend Paul's home
where Lowell and the kids were staying.
The girls enjoyed Harry Potter
so this was fun for them.

This particular phone booth
does not descend to the Ministry of Magic!

Monument to Sir Walter Scott,
one of Scotland's favorite sons.
Under this huge structure dedicated
to him sits this statue of him and his dog.

The Pilgrimage

The Royal Infirmary where Piper was born.

The street where they lived~
Dean Park Street

Piper and Julia in front of the building
where they lived when Piper was a tiny baby.

The Scottish National Monument

Piper hugging one of the columns...

Flamingos at the Edinburgh Zoo

Julia loved the nooks and crannies of the castles.

Across the street from their old flat.

The Famous Princes Street very crowded this day.

The girls at the National Science
Museum trying on Space suits!

On the town on Castle Street

View of the Castle from the gorgeous
Princes Street Gardens

Enjoying the scenery and taking photos!
Waiting for their lunch at Mamma's Pizza!

Climbing, climbing, climbing~
The Castle Wynd Steps

The Cannon at Edinburgh Castle.
Mons Meg

The view from the top!

Check out the seat covers on this bus!

Loving the open air tourist buses.

Cute photo, Lowell!

Highlander all dressed up and sporting
a kilt for the passersby and photographs.

A glimpse of Holyrood Castle where the
Queen stays when she visits Edinburgh.

The Castle where The Crown Jewels are kept.

The Castle from Waverly Bridge above
the rails and near the Waverly Station.

Old Town

St. Giles Cathedral in the background.

Royal Scottish Academy

Inside St. Giles Cathedral

Edinburgh Castle Entrance with Paul.

Piper and the guys!

Julia's turn!

A little window shopping...

The Plaza in front of St. Giles Cathedral
Piper once had her photo taken here with a bagpiper!

Heading for Paul's flat.

These photos are not any particular order...they were just selected from a group of many, many more pics! Thanks Lowell for taking us along! We had a lot of fun! We are glad you are home safe and sound. Loved the gift you brought Chloe! I have a feeling it was a winner in her eyes!