What happens when you get your house paid off

For the past year as Paul and I have come closer to that great day of seeing our last mortage payment we have thought about just what we were going to do with the extra money. Thoughts of remodleing our home have always been in our plans but we have been trying for the past couple of years to find us a camp trailer. We have the pop-up trailer but I guess we are just getting to old to keep putting it up. We have wanted something nicer, with a bathroom. So last Thursday we both took the day off and went shopping. This is what we found, a 2010 Zinger 22' travel trailer.

It looks big and I guess that it is but it is a new light weight model and we had no problems bringing it home from Salt Lake.  We are so excited to take it out this weekend to try it out.

                      Our new bathroom. It even has a tub for when the grandkids need a bath.

                                                       Our bedroom away from home.

The back of the trailer. I fell in love with the big back windows and the places we can sit and visit. We are hoping that we will have plenty of time this summer to use this trailer. It is something that we have been wanting for a very long time.

As for the family reunion in July, Paul is getting flyers prepared to let each of you know the schedule of the events. We hope to see you all there.

Attention all Members of the Oveson family

This is for all the Oveson's that wondered why the annual Christmas party was cancelled. Grandma decided that it would be easier for those members of the family who have to travel to Cleveland, to have the party in the summer. This way no more worries about snow storms and finding a place to have the party. Since Paul and I are over the party we decided that the best time to have it would be over the 24th of July town celebration. So I guess we can't call it a Christmas party any more, from now on it will be the Oveson reunion. Plans for this year will be to met on Friday the 24th at the city park to enjoy the Lamb Fry and then the best fireworks in the world that night, I hope. I'm still waiting on Jamie to let me know the schedule. If the fireworks are not on Friday they will be on Saturday night. On Saturday we will met at the school to enjoy the parade and then the rest of the day will be spent at Grandma's. She has been working very hard to make sure that we are comfortable while we are there. Dinner will be around 5:00. We hope to see everyone there. I know that I'm taking the easy way out but we decided that since most of the family comes home for this weekend, it will make it easier. Hope to see you all there. 

Oh, and if you could leave me a comment letting me know that you now know about this, then I won't be bugging you on your blogs.

Happy Birthday Paul

It is so strange posting in two days. I have never done this before but I need to post about a very special person that entered into my life thirty seven years ago. It is Paul's birthday and I know that he isn't going to be to happy when I post his age but he is fifty-five. I told him the other day, just five more years and he can start picking up on all the benefits of being old. I don't think that made him very happy.

I do love him and I'm so grateful to have him in my life, putting up with me and loving me. It was a long two weeks being separated while I was in Rockford with Cyrena but we are together again and I'm not planning on leaving him again for a very long time. 

So Happy Birthday dear and I love you.

Happy Birthday David

I decided at the first of the year that I would post on each of my families birthdays in a tribute to them.

Today is our second child David's birthday. He would have been thirty two today. Over the years I have wondered what he would have been like, looked like, and what he would be doing. My arms still ache to hold him. I remember how he loved to be with his Dad and Les, playing and having fun. When we brought Nicholas home from the hospital as a newborn baby, his first word to him was calling him a doggie. He loved cookies and begged me each day for one as he would take my hand into the kitchen and point.  

As I was typing this the thought came to me to get the journal out that I kept for him. As I looked in it's usual place in the bookshelf, it wasn't there. A panic just hit me, knowing that this was one of the only things I have left of him. I can't even begin to express what that has done to me. I have pictures but over the years I have forgotten about his short life experiences. When we are young we think that we will always be able to remember precious moments in our children's lives. But as today has shown, it isn't possible. Because of prayer I found the book hidden where it was last placed by me. The thought came to me, "What if I had thrown it away, how could I live it myself." Thank goodness prayers are answered. To you young mother's out there, please, please write things down. You never know when a precious moment might come and you will forget. I guess that is why I love blogging so much. You are saving your children's histories in a small manner. 

From his journal I was able to read about how he had grown, the camping trips we had taken and how many times I had to remove he from the cold fire pit. I read about his first teeth coming in, the first time he rolled over, crawling and his first steps across the floor and Les holding his hand helping him. His first and only birthday and the bike he couldn't get to go forward but was a pro at going backwards. When Nicholas came home from the hospital David loved to put his fingers in his eyes and pull his hair. Moving into our new home and finally David getting to sleep in a big boy bed. He had been sleeping in the closet of his and Les' room on a crib mattress. That was the only place we could find for it. He packed his toys from the trailer into the house. His learning to put words into a sentence, repeating things that we said to him. How much he loved his Dad and would only go to him after Nicholas was born. 

His journal is very short but it his about his life and one of my most treasured processions I have. I celebrate his life today. I wish I could have added a picture but the scanner isn't reading into the computer and I have to do a lot of things and I'm going to save that for when one of the kids can tackle that problem. 

Relish each and every moment in our lives. We never know what life is going to bring next.

Emmett Jonathon Grimm

I know it has taken me over a week to get to this post but I have been busy playing with two special little boys. Please forgive me.

Emmett Jonathon Grimm was born as scheduled on April 6 at 12:35 p.m. He weighed in at 8 lbs. 15 oz. and was 21" tall. He has lots of black hair and is ready to take on the world. He has added to his weight over the past week. He loves to eat and sleep and I guess that is what all babies love to do. Bauer loves his new little brother. He was a little worried about him when he first seen him but that has changed. He can't get enough kisses and hugs. He loves to sing to him and keeps him from crying. It is funny how much Emmett looks like Bauer. We have pictures of Bauer when he was eleven days old and they are very alike. We are hoping to get a picture of Emmett in the same outfit and then we can compare.

Cyrena is recovering well. It has been a little interesting with trying to recover and also keeping up with the carpet cleaning business they have here in Rockford. I just wish they lived closer and I would keep Chris busy.

One week has past very closely and before I know it I will be flying back home, missing these two little boys and wishing I was back with them. But I have also missed those in Utah. Paul will be flying out next Wednesday which will be great having him here. Bauer really misses his papa.

When I return home I'm hoping to add more pictures to my blog. So one is going to have to do for now.

One more week and counting!

Next week at this time I will be somewhere over the midwest flying to spend three short weeks with Cyrena, Chris, Bauer, and Emmett. I'm getting so excited about doing this. First off I love to fly even though I still can't figure out how an airplane can go so slow and still stay in the air. Second I get to spend time with the rest of the family that I don't get to see only twice a year at the most. Third I get to spoil Bauer and share Easter with him. Fourth I get to help welcome a new member into our family. Holding new babies is the best blessing in the world. Fifth, just possibly getting to go shopping with Cyrena. We are shopping buddies from forever. Even my Mom was sad the day that she went to school because that meant she couldn't go shopping with us as much. I know that we will have to take things easy but it is shopping. I can only really buy good clothes when she is with me. I have found that it is getting easier to shop without her but I do look forward to those precious times when we can go together. 

I'm going to miss so much being here with Paul and I am worried about leaving him here alone for so long. He will be flying out on the 22nd and spend time with us and also help with the blessing. We will fly home together on the 27th. I'm going to miss being home for Easter. I have made cinnamon rolls last night so the tradition will go on. The pickled eggs will be in the fridge on Wednesday night. Since Kyler was born we have decorated eggs with all the kids together and this year I'm going to miss out on that. But I will be able to help Bauer. Just watch this year is going to be a warm year just because I will be gone. The kids are planning on coming down to spend it with their Dad and take him camping. It will help pass the time with him being alone. I will miss working. Did I really write that! No I will miss being around the kids and especially the little bit of money that I bring in. I will also miss my bed. It is getting so I can't sleep anywhere else. I love my bed and almost every night that thought goes through my mind. Now pathetic is that.

I know that the weeks are going to be going by fast and I will be back into my normal routine before I know it. Look for my next post to be about the new baby. That is if I remember to take the camera. I really need to start my packing list.

Happy Birthday Lexie

Lexie and her new baby. She has a few of her new clothes on in this picture.

She wanted a baby doll cake and I was happy to make it for her
Lexie helping Grandma make cookies. She loves to cook, do dishes, and help me with whatever I'm trying to do. I have promised her that when she is four she can help me quilt. 

I will try this again. You will have to bear with me because I'm still trying to learn about blogging. 

Paul and I had another great weekend spent with our children and grandchildren. Friday night we spent at Mike and Kassy's being able to play with the boys and watching the older kids play "Rock Band" until midnight. I have always loved watching Mark play the drums and now I can add Mike. They had a lot of fun with Kassy and Tara doing very well with the lyrics. Even Josh got in on a couple of the songs. On Saturday Paul and I were able to attend the temple with our niece Courtney and her future husband Kyle as they received their endowments. The session was very large but it was awesome because of all those receiving their endowments. How I love going to the temple and I need to do more of this. We wanted to stay longer so that we could play more with Josh and Alex but we needed to get back home to help celebrate Lexie's third birthday.

She was so excited when we arrived at their home in Wellington. She made sure that we knew it was her birthday. She loved showing me the presents her Grandma GG had given her and we had fun dressing her baby, feeding her baby and just playing. Kyler and Ashton were able to play when the balloons came out, especially the punching balls. I guess I kept them busy while the other cooked her birthday dinner, blue pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs, and green salad with crunchy bread. It was a strange meal but we all loved it. 

Lexie loved the new clothes that she received and she had to put them all on to model for us. When I say all, I mean all of them at the same time, layered on top of each other. She loves the new baby that her parents gave her. She is going to make the best mother in the world as she made sure the baby had been fed, burped, and quieted down to sleep. Lexie is growing up very fast now and we can even understand her most of the time. She has been talking a lot for the past year but we couldn't understand. Now she is forming her words better. She keeps reminding us that she is a big girl by going to the potty and throwing her binkie away. She loves doing what Kyler does and she making sure that Ashton is taken care of. 

How we love our beautiful pretty princess!!