Happy Birthday Dad

The first thought that came to my mind this morning was, it is Dad's birthday. He would have been eighty-one today. He has been gone from this earth life for eighteen months. But he hasn't been gone from my mind. He as well as Mom have been in my thoughts, just as strong as they were when they lived here. I have been thinking a lot of all my memories of my parents and I'm going to start writing them down. My father gave so much and received so little in return. Several times while I was growing up he would work three jobs just to provide for his family and still take the time to be with us. Many times in his last remaining year he would ask me if that bothered me and I told him that he was always there for me. It was the quality not the quantity. While sitting around the campfire on Saturday my sons talked a little bit about their Grandpa and how it was at times like these that they missed him the most. They, we all still miss him so much. Every time Paul and I go camping or for a ride on his four-wheeler I can't help but think about my parents and at times even feel them with us. My parents are a great example and today I celebrate my Father's life, for I know that he lives and is still with me.

I tried to fix this picture but I couldn't. I hope that you can see a little bit. It is a picture of my Dad's family while he was growing up.
I had to post this picture because whenever you would look at Dad he would have his finger under his nose. No matter where he was, even driving.
I love you Dad!

Easter weekend is back!!!

For the past couple of years we haven't been able to celebrate Easter in the traditions from the past. Last year I was in Illinois with Cyrena celebrating Emmett's birth. This year Paul and I decided that nothing was going to stop us, even the weather. For our campsite we chose a place below the Dinosaur Quarry. It brought back memories of the time we went in 1989. The wind blew just as hard and rain fell. Our family camped in tents in that year. It made for a long night but we still enjoyed it. Nicholas, Brittany, and Hunter went out with us on Thursday night. Friday morning was beautiful for a little while and we had fun with Hunter playing Transformers and I spy. We tried to find a lizard for him but I guess the lizards knew that it wasn't spring yet. Silly us.

Nicholas picked up his kids Friday at noon and brought them down. They were able to play a little while with Hunter before he had to go with his Dad. Kassy, their boys and her little brother Brian also came camping. We had kids running all over, just the way I like it. Mark, Tara, and Van came down on Saturday morning, just in time for breakfast.

Kyler, Lexie, and Ashton didn't have a chance to color their eggs so on Saturday we decided that they had better get it done so the Easter Bunny could hide them.
Every year while camping with my family, my Dad would always cook breakfast. Paul is carrying on the tradition but he is teaching the next generation. Of course they love helping Grandpa. This is Kyler, Lexie, and Josh.
Ashton really felt grown up even though he lost a couple of the sausages on the ground. They are hard to control.
Paul and I took the kids out for a ride to look for dinosaurs. We didn't find any dinosaurs but Grandpa did find a pocket knife. Of course he gave it to Kyler. Kyler is so excited about this knife but he can't have it yet because Grandpa needs to sharpen it(or dull it) before he can have it. He acts like he has a million dollars and is now so grown up.
While on our ride the Easter Bunny came dropping candy, eggs, and toys. The kids were so excited. The adults worked so hard building a egg rolling hill. They even had tunnels. Josh didn't want to stop rolling eggs, even when there wasn't nothing left but the yokes.
The highlight of any trip is of course the four-wheelers. They kids are always eager to go for rides, no matter how cold it is. They love even sitting on them.
Alex loved camping as long as he was able to be in the trailer where he could get down and play.
Van is learning to pull himself up and walk around things. He also loved being inside.
We did take the two little boys out for a little while and we broke them in to what camping is all about, the best things of life, sticks and rocks.
Our little darlings, missing three. Oh, how we miss them!
It was a great weekend and the grandkids didn't want to leave. They were able to run, play, dig holes to plant sunflower seeds and to help keep the fire going. This is what life is all about. I'm so grateful that we did this. We are building memories for the next generation.

Happy Birthday Lexie

Yesterday was our only Granddaugther Lexie Marie Oveson's fourth birthday. Because of this she is our very special pretty princess and she knows it. She has really grown up lately. She loves dressing up. She loves pretty dresses and especially shoes. For right now she is into Barbies and the other day I found all of Cyrena's old Barbies and she couldn't wait until she could come over to play. Most of the gifts she received on Saturday were Barbies and things to do with them. She is such a mother hen watching over Ashton and trying to also take care of Kyler even though he really has a problem with that. We love this little girl. I'm looking forward to when she gets old enough to be a shopping buddy. Then look out malls!

Brittany had fixed Lexie's hair all up. She normally loves to leave it hanging but for this she was a princess with even a crown in her hair.
This is the cake that I made for her. Of course it is Barbie and pink!
I love her look as she opened up her present from Mark and Tara, it was Tinkerbell flip flops. They always give the best presents. She also loves Tinkerbell, except in pink.
For the party we went bowling and the kids loved every minute of it. This is Kyler's bowling form.
As we finished up the games we were shocked with the scores. All three of Nicholas' kids tied at 87 and Josh outscored everyone else, even the adults with 122. Of course they all had a little help from the bumper pads. Lexie's ball would take the longest to go down the alley. But she did manage to get a couple of strikes as well as the other kids.

We really had a great time spent together as a family helping Lexie celebrate this very special day.

Junior Prom

Friday night Paul and I attended Emery High School's annual Junior Prom. We arrived early and while waiting for the Promenande we talked about our Junior Proms and also that of our children's. I could even remember who the kids each took to Prom. Oh, the memories. So today while waiting for time to go in to work I found some of the pictures from my Prom and here they are.

I found this dress in Provo while on a speech meet. My parents had told me to go shopping. When I found it, I fell in love, but I was greatly concerned because it cost $35.00. I put $5.00 down to hold it. That was a lot of money for my parents. I told them about it and my Dad surprised me with it the following Monday. I loved my dress and I still have it. I just wish I could still wear it. I was also surprised to see it in the Seventeen magazine. I have offered it to the young women to wear but so far I haven't had any takers. I can't remember who painted the mural behind me. It was on one end of the old gym.
Paul was my date. Our theme was Pieces of April. It was held on April 13th. Our bad luck for the night was the band didn't show up. Our theme was on the other end.
Our class worked hard on lowering the ceiling by creating a patchwork of pastel colors out of streamers. The hooks are still in the bricks of the gym. Even back then we did a promenade. I danced with Wayne Nielsen. For those who may read this who are my age will also recognize David Fielder and I think the girl is Ruth Fugate. Also David Bott and I not sure of the girl in purple, Lori could that have been you? Behind my head is my cousin Phillip Bell and Joy Lynn Dale. Who would of guessed that both of their lives would have been cut short.

It is always great to go down memory lane.

Happy Birthday Hunter

Today is Hunter's fifth birthday. We are so excited to him in our family. We don't get much of a chance to spend much time with him but I'm sure we will in the future. He is a typical little boy who loves Transformers and playing on the Wii. He is in pre-school and getting ready for kindergarten this fall. He loves to hang out with his mom and his grandpa, Doug.

He had his party on Saturday at the Wave Pool in Price. We didn't make it because that was the same day as Alex's and we really felt bad about it. I know that he had a lot of fun as well as his brother Kyler.

So Happy Birthday to him and we love him.

Happy Birthday Alex

Today is Alexandra James' first birthday. He is such a little sweetheart. It is hard to believe that he is a year old. This past year has gone by very fast. He loves to eat, bite, especially fingers and shoulders, laugh, and play by him self with his toys. Because of this he just barely started crawling. Mike and Kassy have tried to get him to crawl but he has been content to just stay in one place, that is until last Monday when he really wanted to play with one of Josh's toys. Now Josh is having to put toys up high where he can't get them. Now the battle begins. Alex loves to get kisses on his neck and it always brings a big laugh.

Mike and Kassy had a big party for him on Saturday. He received a lot of new toys and clothes, one from his family is a Mail Box toy that I'm sure Josh has taken over. Alex's favorite is a puppy. I made him a teddy bear cake. He wanted to get it before the party but when he was able he didn't want to even touch it. It was so cute that he would cry until he got a taste of the cake, he would start the process over and over.

I was so excited Saturday night thinking that finally I had taken a lot of pictures that I could post but as I went to down load the camera, it is MIA. We have searched the house and even called Mike and Kassy. Hopefully we left it at the Pratt house and they find it for us. Paul thinks this is funny because I usually don't use the camera and it could only happen to me. I will post them when we find the camera.

Young Women's Theme

A good friend of mine change her background and so because of her I have changed mine. It is about time because I have had it for over a year now. Any way I went with a page dedicated to Young Women's. As a few of you may know I'm back in the ward as the President. I served in this calling beginning ten years ago. I have been back in the program now for over three years, serving as a counselor in our ward and then as a counselor in the Stake Young Women's. It was a shock to me. I knew that the release from the Stake was coming but not in the manner that it did.

Needless to say, I'm back and because of the great women that the Lord has called to serve with me I'm excited to say the least. We are already looking forward to camp and all the fun we will be having with the girls. Plus we have new personal progress books and jewelry to go with the program. I now need to begin working towards another medallion for this new year.

I love this program because it's main purpose is to "Come unto Christ". Each of us, no matter our age needs to do this. This is why the church has opened this program up to all women of the church.

So new changes and new beginnings for this new year and new decade.

Happy New Year even though it is a little late.