CELEBRATION!!!

Last night before the fireworks we had everyone over and had a cookout. It was really a fun time with lots of yummy food. While the hamburgers and hot dogs were being grilled and we were getting the food ready, we let the kids play in the trailer for a while. They thought that was great and had a lot of fun--they also ate their dinner in there. Afterwards we did a few little fireworks in the road in front of the house and then we sat across the street in the neighbor's driveway and watched the fireworks. We all had a lot of fun!!!

TRADITIONS!!!

Every year since the kids were pretty little, we have built an ice skating pond in our back yard. This year was no exception! On New Year's Eve some of the kids donned the snowshoes and packed down some of the back yard. A few days later, most of the kids got in on the action. We had snowshoed kids and husband all over the back yard stomping down the snow so that we could get started spraying. Jon took the responsibility this year of spraying the pond several times a day, and about a week or so ago, we had success! The back yard was turnedinto a winter playground. The grandkids have loved being pulled around on the sleds and attempting to learn to skate. The older guys have played hockey and skated, and we have had a few tumbles on the ice as well. But all in all, it has been such a fun time for all!!

Another tradition is shoveling the snow off the ice when we get a snowstorm. That isn't as fun as skating and playing hockey, but it is a necessary part of the action. Today we got about four inches of snow and Anne-Marie and the kids went out to shovel off the ice. Barring another snowstorm, the ice is ready for another week of adventure.

Yay for traditions!! Let's make some more!

Christmas 2009

We had a really fun Christmas! This year my parents decided to have Christmas Eve in their old house. We were all so excited and it was so great!! We moved into the house around 1961. Several years ago Logan City came up with a plan to widen the road in front of my parents' house. As my parents were getting older and my dad was having problems with the stairs, they decided to build a home in Nibley. It's a beautiful house and it is great for my parents because there are no stairs, but after living in Logan in the same home for about 48 years, we all miss it a ton. Mom came up with the idea of having Christmas Eve in the old house, and so we took tables and chairs over, and even though there isn't much left there except some things that haven't yet been moved out, it is still HOME. It was so great to have all of the memories flood back as we walked into the house, and it was so fun to relive those times and make new memories for our kids and grandkids.

Thanks Mom and Dad for making it possible for us to have this Christmas Eve at HOME this year!!!

Katie and David's Wedding Day

On Wednesday, June 24, 2009, Katie and David were married. It was such a great day, beginning with me forgetting my recommend because I was so worried that Katie was going to forget something. However, after I got to the temple and actually got in, it was a magical day for all of us. Katie looked so beautiful and I have never seen her so happy! It was such a beautiful ceremony. We are so happy for Katie and we are so grateful and excited to have David join our family. He is such a great guy and he and Katie are so happy and excited about the many adventures that lie ahead for them.

It was such a fun day and it was so fun to have all of our children here. We had a full house and had good times, good food, and a great visit with everyone.

Thanks Katie and David. We love you!!!

So, the Moving Begins

Katie and David could move into their apartment today, so I helped a little bit. Katie and I did the kitchen while David and his brother and brother-in-law set up the beds and carried the heavy stuff in. The kitchen is in good shape now; that is until they get more stuff, but we washed all of the cookie sheets, cake pans, canisters, silverware, kitchen gadgets, and storage containers and put them all in the cupboards. It was a fun time!

Now that we have another room in our house, we are thinking of setting a bed up in Katie's room and doing a little moving around of some other things. It seems weird to have 6 empty bedrooms (well empty is not the word--I guess just no one living in them). However, this weekend and next week we will have lots of people here to fill them up. I'm getting so excited for everyone to be together. It will be so much fun and exciting.

Tomorrow we will try again to have Katie's bridals taken, that is if the weather cooperates. It seems that every time we schedule it, it rains. Maybe tomorrow will be our lucky day!

I've Joined the Craze!

I thought that now would be a good time to start a blog since this next week and a half is going to be a very busy time, and all of the kids will be here--hence, lots of picture-taking and good times. Katie is getting married now in nine days (if you don't count today and the day they get married). Wow, it is crazy. Seven kids married, and Dave and I will be alone in this big house with of Burke, Webster, and Myleaux (alone?).

Yesterday we decided to dejunk a little and Dave and Ben brought tons of boxes down from the attic. Not too many treasures and a lot of junk and D.I. things, but we made some progress--I thought a lot until they told me that it was only the beginning. It's weird how you accumulate things and think you can't throw them away and years later you just start tossing! It feels kind of exhilerating in a way. I just wish that I could do that with the tons of books that we have collected over the years, but I can't seem to let them go. I need to work on that.

Kids will start coming on Friday and will come off and on until Tuesday night and then the wedding is on Wednesday. Good times are ahead!!!!!