Christmas 2008 was a very snowy, blizzarding day but the boys braved the storm after it ended and we had a great day. We were without power for 2 1/2 hrs. and so I just puttered around and didn't make the salad or really worry about dinner because I thought no one was coming. I'm glad the storm let up and that I got to see the grandkids on Christmas. I am so very grateful for my savior Jesus Christ, for the atonement and for the beauty of the Christmas season. Secondly, I am grateful for my wonderful children and their families.

A little one who loves to smile.

Q, E, C, and T on their way out the door.

The boys and a robot.

Two somber girls and a smile.

Kash modeling his new outfit.

Halloween and Fall

View from my window.

Bryan, Lizzy, Emily, Colby, Katie, & Judd

Jenny, Marc and Charlotte






I had a fun Halloween going to Elwood and being with the grandkids. I missed Carter and Tanner but they were in AF. The whole week was semi-crazy with it being Red Ribbon week and a different dress-up day every day. Saturday I worked in the yard mowing up leaves and cleaning up outside. Today, Sunday is a rainy, windy day but the colors of fall are still great. It has been great fall with bright colors and warm days.

UEA Weekend

This was the only good picture I got of Katie, she is hard to photo.

Lizzy

Emily and Colby in one of their many poses.

Tanner with his Bob the Builder gloves.

I did ask him to quit, but he wanted this pose.

Tanner pounding on Carter because he wanted to sit there.

I had a fun UEA weekend with the grandkids and their moms. I took Emily and Colby to UEA with me and they got to experience all the vendors giving away the free candy, pencils, pens, notebooks, etc. On Friday I went with Becky and Emily and their kids to Gardner Village. Becky's sister Angie and her mom met us there and Emily took some pictures of everyone. I got some pictures also. Bryan insisted I take a picture of him picking his nose. I wish I had a video of Tanner when he was hitting Carter, he wanted to sit where Carter was sitting.

September was a blur......

September seems like a blur.
We did celebrate Bryan's and Katie's birthdays.
I went back and forth to school and sometimes shopped on the weekends while Brian was out looking for deer.

*Peaches*

Marcia Keller gave me a huge box of peaches and this the whole box dried.

They are my new favorite dried fruit.

August the longest and shortest month.

It has been a busy August and beginning of Sept. August was full to the brim with things to do and not enough time to get them done. I had workshops and meetings to attend every week. Since I got new carpet in my classroom I essentially had to start from scratch getting my classroom ready for school.
Brian's mom turned 75 in August and planned her own birthday party for all to attend who could. It was a fun party on August 9th.
We were in charge of the Sunderland reunion this year and had committed to redoing the Sunderland directory. Donna and I spent a considerable amount of time working on it and Kay was responsible for making sure we had all the food we needed. We had a good reunion and voted to have a 'cousins only' reunion next year.
At school I have spent more than my share of long days and nights preparing my room and lessons. We also have a new reading program this year and more hoops to jump through for the district. I also committed to attaining my ESL (English as a Second Language) endorsement this year. I should be writing a 3 page paper now instead of working on my blog.
Charlotte Mae was blessed on the Sept. 7th. Marc and Jenny both bore their testimonies of the gospel and their joy in having Charlotte in their family. They planned the family dinner after at Brian's mom's home. It was a day of love and family.

40 Years

We had our 40th High School Class reunion on Saturday, Aug. 2nd. Brian was a good sport and went with me. Of course he got to stop at Cabellas and buy a new fishing rod on the way so he should be a good sport. (I wish he would have held still after taking pictures some were fuzzy)
( These dang digital cameras require no movement).




Me, Mary, Pauline, Susan
Lucinda, Carolyn







I had a great time visiting with old friends. Everyone was friendly and it was fun to see everyone.


Margo, Me, Marla, Carolyn,
Jerry, Debbie, Sharon





Debbie and Jerry Frank

24th Weekend

Brian and I went to Hebgen for the 24th weekend. He had to work the morning of the 24th so I spent the morning at Jenny's holding Charlotte and giving unasked for advise.
When we arrived at the Lonesomehurst Campground we were attacked by mosquitoes. We used a lot of repellent the rest of the weekend. After setting up and having dinner we went into West Yellowstone to make reservations for the play 'Hello Dolly'.
Friday morning we went fishing. The mosquitoes weren't attacking when we were in the boat. The fishing was slow but Brian caught 3 and kept one. Friday night we went to Bullwinkles for dinner and then saw the play. We had a great time!
Saturday we went fishing again and Brian caught several and kept 1. After an afternoon nap he tried again. He was looking for a good place to fish from the bank. After trying two spots that had so many mosquitoes that Brian didn't even want to put the poles in the water, the third spot was the best. He had a few bites but didn't catch any fish. After a while there, the mosquitoes found us and forced us to leave.
Sunday we left early for home. We were glad we missed most of the traffic returning from the weekend.





Sunday evening the whole family, B's mom and Grandma came over for Brian's and Lizzy's Birthday party.




We had a fun time visiting and then watching Bryan and Tanner try on Lizzy's dress-ups.

24th Weekend

Brian & I went to Hebgen for the 24th weekend. When we stepped out of the truck upon arriving we were attacked by mosquitoes. We used a lot of repellent the rest of the weekend. After setting things up we went into West Yellowstone and made reservations for the play "Hello Dolly" for the next night. Friday morning we went fishing.

Fishing was slow but Brian caught 3 and kept one.
Friday night we went to dinner at Bullwinkles and then to the play. We loved the play and had a great night.
Saturday was another day of fishing. If we were in the boat the mosquitoes didn't bother us. That afternoon Brian tried fishing from the bank. It didn't take long until the mosquitoes found us. From the boat he caught several, from the bank he only had a few bites.

Sunday morning we packed up early and set out for home. We were glad we missed most of the traffic heading home from the weekend. Sunday evening the family came over to celebrate Brian's and Lizzy's Birthdays. We had fun visiting and watching the kids. Bryan and Tanner made us laugh when they were trying on Lizzy's dress-up clothes.

Charlotte Mae Hamson

Charlotte Mae Hamson - What a cutie! I am so glad to have another girl in our family. After all those years of only boys and me, now I have beautiful daughter-in-laws and granddaughters.

Marc and Jenny"s baby

Marc and Jenny had their baby on July 18th at 1:53 A.M. She is a darling little girl who weighed 7 lb. 3 oz. The proud and excited parents were very tired, but it will be the first of many, many nights of being tired. They were at the hospital at 10:00 the night before and had her 4 hrs. later. She is grandchild #8, we now have an even amount of girls and boys and love each and every one.

A Super Week

Christine Olsen Wight

I had a great week last week. As a prelude I knew it was my turn to give the lesson in Relief Society in July. I knew I wanted to talk about keeping a journal and also a personal history. In thinking about my history and my ancestor's histories I remembered a talk I had heard Pres. Boyd K. Packer give that included information about Brian's Great, Great Grandmother who pushed a handcart across the plains. I wrote to his office and requested a copy of the talk.
I did the lesson on Sunday the 6th of July, it went pretty well. Probably because I went to the temple on Saturday. On Monday I got a phone call from Sister Packer who said that Pres. Packers' secretary had forwarded my letter to her and she had some pictures and additional information to share. On Tuesday I got the package from Pres. Packers office, I was so excited. On Wednesday I received the email from Sister Packer with pictures and more histories. There was a wonderful spirit accompanying the histories and it made me even more grateful for our pioneer ancestors.
Wednesday morning I went to the temple with Marcia Keller and JoAnna Yardley and then lunch at Olive Garden. Wednesday night Emily and Lizzy spent the night. Thursday I went to the movie (Nancy Drew) with Emily and Colby. Thursday afternoon I went to lunch with Peggy, Cally, Dorothy, and Sheryl. Friday Becky invited me to go to the Parade of Homes with them and Quinn & Emily. On Saturday Brian and I went to Ogden twice, once for dog food, and he bought a spotting scope, and once to buy a tripod for the scope.
On Sunday all the kids came over and I made Quinn read the talk from Boyd K. Packer and we talked about their ancestors. Afterward I went to the fireworks with Judd & Becky and Kids and Quinn & Emily and kids.
I attribute the good events of the week to making it to the temple.

Journaling

I am going to try journaling online by publishing to this blog. I spent the 4th of July going to the movie Hancock with Marc and Jenny, doing a water turn, and then going to the fireworks with Marc and Jenny. The fireworks were great! Willard is a great town! No pictures of the fourth but a pic of our wonderful mountains.