Summer 2009

Well summer is here in Monroe and we have enjoyed the beautiful weather, occasional rain storms and moderate temperatures (so far!). Our yard is looking good and here are a few shots of the trees and flowers.


Our garden is looking good and thus far. We have peas, beans, potatoes, and corn growing nicely.


The rest of the yard is green and beautiful.

Our Sacred Grove!


Here's proof that we still buy cat food!!

Finally, the rumors are true. We are no longer a truck family. I know it is pretty silly, but the 2005 Dakota just didn't find its way into my heart. It had such a stiff and hard riding suspension and the desire for a van was just too dominant. So we have been looking, as you know, and finally came up with a good deal here in Richfield. We bought a 2007 Grand Caravan as shown and it was like slipping into a familiar glove. It is much like Travis' and Andrew's van, a SXT with 3.8L engine, stowaway seats, power sliding doors and other features. It doesn't have DVD and I was disappointed because I wanted to watch movies while Pam drove!!!



Well with summer hopefully will come a few trips. If we show up in Denver some day, don't be surprised.

Memorial Day 2009

I wanted to give a little update on our activities here in Monroe. It is Memorial Day and it has been a fairly quiet day for us. We began mid-morning taking flowers to the cemetery to decorate the family graves. It's always an occasion at the cemetery to visit many, many friends who are also there doing the same thing. The day began in beautiful fashion with clear blue skies and all the flowers and contrasting green lawns made it a beautiful morning activity (sorry I left my camera home).

Following that Pam and I went to Richfield and played a round of golf. It was a perfect morning and the recent rains had caused the rough to be about 2-3 inches high. Unusual for Richfield. But we had a good time and Pam scored a Birdie on the 7th hole with a beautiful drive and then a long iron right to the middle of the green. She had a 15 foot putt and ran it right in. It was great.

Back home Pam has been busy planting flowers in a couple of planters on the front porch. It looks really nice and brings some color to our front door. We have had Monsoon weather the past week with afternoon thunderstorms and frequently rain. Saturday we had about 8 hours of non-stop light rain and everything in our yard has just jumped out of the ground. Unfortunately that includes the lawn, so I have to mow again!! But our garden is doing very well and everything has come up and is doing well.

Sunday evening I presided over my first Seminary Graduation and it was really nice. I had been a high school advisor to a quarter of the students and taught all but 4 of the graduates, so I had a personal interest in how they were doing. We had a good program and it was fun passing out the certificates and congratulating my friends. They will next graduate from High School on Friday.

Well family, I hope all you "face book" fans will not forget your blogs. We so enjoy the updates and pictures. Hope to see all of you sometimes this summer.

Denver Visit April 2009

Pam and I finally got a week with little going on here in Monroe and took off for Denver on Monday the 27th of April. We had a wonderful trip visiting our four children in Denver and our grandchildren--maybe it's visiting the grandchildren and also their parents!

Here are a few pictures of Benjamin, little Alex, and Cynthia. It was amazing how good Benjamin looked and so happy and healthly.




On Friday the 1st of May we attended Megan's Ellis Island Program and also Grandparents Day at her school, the Collegiate Academy of Colorado. It was an interesting and well done program by the students. Megan was great and her story of her family relative that imigrated to the US through Ellis Island was very interesting.











On Sunday afternoon, the 3rd of May, Tom and Johanna hosted a family activity and dinner at their home and it was wonderful. Tom cooked a beautiful roast with all the trimmings and we ate and visited and covertly enjoyed a Nuggets vicitory!!

Tom has done a very nice job on the window replacement in the front of their home--it's been quite a job, but they are making headway.


Is this a cute couple of guys or what?






Monday morning, the 4th of May, we returned home to Monroe with Andrew Wood in tow! He's been a great guest in our home and has burned up the backyard, the streets of Monroe on his bike, and is rivaling Alex on creative creations with Construct's. He's spending a couple of weeks with us and we hope he is enjoying himself!

Easter in Monroe

We have had a wonderful Conference weekend and also Easter Weekend here in Monroe. Andrew and Sarah with their children Jand and Reynolds arrived mid week and we had a wonderful 4 days with them. Additionally Erin and Weston and Kate came down Saturday evening to spend Easter Sunday with us. The weather didn't cooperate too much, but Andrew and I got in one round of golf on Friday morning,. We didn't burn up the course, but had fun.
Here is a shot of us with Jane in Monrovian Park.

Pam and Jane walking across the main bridge in the park. You can see from the coats that it wasn't very warm.

All of you kids loved to get right down by the water and Jane was no exception. Find something to throw in the water and made a big splash.

Andrew hauling Reynolds on his back. That didn't last very long as Reynolds wanted to be on the ground finding things.

Easter Morning was a beautiful day with mild temperatures and some of the bunny eggs every went outside and Jane and Reynolds had fun trying to find them.

Meanwhile inside Andrew was having breakfast....

Inside the house the living room was loaded with eggs and the little kids, including Kate by this time had a good time finding all the colored eggs.

Some quiet moments -- few and far between I must add on that Easter Morning!

We hope all of you readers are well and safe. With the advent of "Facebook" it looks like this blog might be threatened, but I like the stories and pictures and the feelings you express herein.