Monkeys Eat Bananas

This weeks project.

2012-01-07T13:35:00.001-08:00

Miracle transformation!!!

Genealogy pics - Nana B.

2012-01-05T05:13:00.000-08:00

Ancestor pics - Dot

2012-01-05T04:33:00.000-08:00

Ancestor pics - Betty

2012-01-05T03:58:00.000-08:00

Ancestor pics

2011-12-04T14:41:00.001-08:00

My mom and her dad

My grandparents

Grandfather

Great Grandfather F.

Great Grandmother F.

Great Grandfather B.

His second wife

together

Sope Creek hike

2011-10-25T08:35:00.001-07:00

Just learning to blog from my phone. Cool!

Cousins Camp - balloons

2011-09-25T16:03:00.000-07:00

Cousins Camp - Champion Kids

2011-08-28T17:56:00.000-07:00

We finally got Aaron to go here with us!!!!

I said to him, 'You would have really liked this place when you were a kid.' He answered, 'I never would have left.'

Cousins Camp - classes

2011-08-28T17:39:00.000-07:00

Cousins Camp - Fun

2011-08-27T17:44:00.000-07:00

Cousins Camp - Indian Dance

2011-08-27T17:19:00.000-07:00

This is the part the cousins remember most. Thanks Br. F!!!!

Cousins Camp - Music

2011-08-27T16:03:00.000-07:00

Cousins Camp - Resting

2011-08-27T12:57:00.000-07:00

Cousins Camp - Splash Park

2011-08-27T12:44:00.000-07:00

New Blog

2011-08-26T14:52:00.001-07:00

I started a new blog to share what I am painting: www.ipaintedtoday.blogspot.com
Check it out!

Cousins Camp - Travel

2011-07-27T12:31:00.000-07:00

Cousins Camp - visiting

2011-07-27T12:23:00.000-07:00

Cousins Camp - Water Play

2011-07-27T12:16:00.000-07:00

Video

2010-12-17T09:21:00.000-08:00

Cool video about stake growth that I want to save.
Cool site about the Universe that I want to save
Article I want to save.

New Testament video to make pics. Again.

Article on grace.

Article on anti-mormon statements with explanations and very cool links.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-17T08:34:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!!!

Hogwarts!

2010-12-05T11:36:00.001-08:00

Welcome to Hogsmeade! Yummmm....Butterbeer
It felt like you were actually there... The attention to detail was amazing. They even had Moaning Myrtle in the bathrooms.
The roller coasters were amazing too.
But the best was the castle and the ride inside that (even if it did upset our stomachs).

Universal Orlando

2010-12-05T11:12:00.000-08:00

We liked the Wizarding World of Harry Potter the best, but these things were a close second best:

It was fun to celebrate Christmas with the wonderfully overdone decorations.

for Jared:

Dads

2010-08-04T06:42:00.000-07:00

Cool video about Dads. We appreciate you!

July

2010-07-27T10:06:00.001-07:00

July has been very low key for us with a few exceptions. If you notice the new stove and microwave - installed by my wonderful husband.

And, we've been married 35 years!

Wow.

We had visitors from FL...

and visitors from Morocco!

A 5 boy train.I created a profile on Mormon.org and they needed a picture. After 26 trials...

Duality

2010-07-23T15:19:00.000-07:00

Rene Descartes said: I think, therefore I am.
I've been reading 2 Nephi 2 today and conclude:
I choose, therefore I am.
Agree?

adorable grandkid pics

2010-06-16T07:47:00.000-07:00

Our lonely toys had company this weekend! 5 cousins came to visit!

On the way...

2010-06-07T15:39:00.000-07:00

On the way to New England we spent a day at the Smithsonian Museum. Fabulous! Exhausting! TOTAL BRAIN OVERLOAD! I actually got sick of looking at art! Our feet hurt!

Dinosaur bones! Gems! History! Native Americans! Joseph Smith's portrait!

It was wonderful...

Here I am at one of my all time favorite paintings!

We stopped for a day in Princeton.

And had a great time with the kids. They joined us later in Boston.

Memorial Day

2010-06-07T15:19:00.000-07:00

What a way to spend Memorial Day!

We took the MTA to the Boston Common with David and Carol, and saw the Swan Boats (my favorite thing to do as a child)...

...and saw this fabulous display. One flag for every soldier lost in the state of Massachusetts.

Lots of fun people in the park!

Then we walked the Boston Freedom Trail where it all started.

Saw the harbor.

And the North End where Paul Revere lived...

...now the Italian section.

Very charming city!

Newton revisited.

2010-06-07T14:48:00.000-07:00

We went to see Grandpa's old stomping grounds - a must after hearing so much about them!

This is the famous Echo Bridge in the beautiful Hemlock Gorge in Newton Upper Falls.

Our ancestors lived and worked all around this park.

The longest arch, that stretches over the Charles River, really has an echo. Jon counted 15 repeats when he clapped his hands. There are many more that cannot be heard with our ears.
Eli got to hear his echo too.

It is actually an aqueduct that you can walk over. You can look down and see the old cotton mill where our great aunt Ada worked as a child (before child labor laws).

Here is the mill from the ground. It is now offices.

My great grandfather sang in the choir at this Methodist Church. They loaned him the money to send for the rest of his family from England. My father grew up in this church too.

This is the street where my father's family lived before they bought a house.

This is where the house they bought was. It has recently been torn down and replaced. Property is worth a fortune there now.

The Ralph Waldo Emerson school. My grandfather named it. Emerson lived in the town for a year.

Piccadily Square in Newton Center. Grandpa's printing business was downstairs at #75 in that building, across from the MTA station.

Burial

2010-06-07T14:19:00.001-07:00

What a lovely place to leave a loved one!

We buried Dad's cremated remains with his sister, parents, grandparents, aunt and cousin.

He was the last of his generation to pass. Several descendants came to see him off.

Everyone had a chance to comment before the grave was dedicated.

Miraculously, the stormy weather held off for us to do this.

Barbara, Carol, Albert, Jet, Becky, ?, Jon, Bill, David

Jonathan, Anna, Eli, Danny

The Maine Coast

2010-06-07T13:24:00.001-07:00

The day after the burial we drove with Carol and David to the Maine Coast. It was cold and windy and a great mist came up from the sea. I can see why they had so many lighthouses. This is Nubble Lighthouse. It's an island. Can you imagine living there?Hardy tourists were determined to play on the beach despite the cold and mist. Another Beach.
We ate both lobster and Bison Burgers. Beautiful place!

Vermont

2010-06-07T12:02:00.000-07:00

Thursday, we went 3 hours north to Sharon, VT to see the birthplace of Joseph Smith, Jr.

We had the unusual experience of seeing it with local cousins, Gary and Gail. We learned a lot of local history that most people don't hear. For example, the 'Holy KFC' in Lebanon is the site where the Smith family lived when Joseph underwent his leg operation. We also saw Dartmouth, where the doctor came from.

But what made the tour most unique is that Gail is the local pastor of 2 churches.

We toured both of them also.
This is the only steeple in the world with a pineapple on the top of it. Someone volunteered to build the steeple if they could top it with a jug. A few years later the ladies of the church deemed it inappropriate and added the pineapple affects.

We found the area to be very hilly and rocky - hard to farm. The year the Smith family left they had a 'year with no summer.' The area's population was much higher then with many less trees. When news of flat farmlands in Iowa came, most farmers left Vermont for the midwest.

It's a very beautiful place with yummy maple syrup!

Moving in WI

2010-05-16T16:21:00.001-07:00

Camera ran out of memory!

But they are the cutest grandkids ever!

Babysitting in FL

2010-05-16T16:13:00.000-07:00

One super wild day - Zoo, Birthday party and Circus.

Started with the ZOO.

And ended with the circus.

I think I used more muscles wrestling boys than the trapeze artists did!

Great trip to NJ

2010-05-16T15:56:00.000-07:00

Easter egg hunt.

Growing!

E had a love affair with our van.

Sunday he stayed in it for 4 hours!

Spring

2010-05-16T15:50:00.000-07:00

I took this several weeks ago when it was Spring to show off the new landscaping.

The replacement for Relief Society Homemaking Meeting

2010-04-24T06:26:00.000-07:00

http:tipnut.com
Check it out!

Lots of fun visits

2010-03-21T12:09:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we visited the Monkey Ranch in TX and had cousins come up from Houston to visit. So fun! Here are Scott and Cathy:

Karla and Kirk came the day before and I FORGOT to take pics. Sorry!

When we got home, Alissa and Dallin came to visit and I painted Alissa's picture for a wedding gift. It's not done (especially after seeing this photo of it!)

Friday night was the Ward Talent Show and Jon sang, Blue Suede shoes.
And today Sebastian and Becca stopped by:
Twitterpated!
Maybe these will be family history pics?????

Death

2010-03-04T07:28:00.000-08:00

My dad died and it has discumbobulated us a bit. For latest go to:
http://www.johntemperley.com/

Miniature

2010-02-17T12:39:00.000-08:00

A month ago our art group did an assignment to paint a miniature, so I did one of my grand-daughters. Here it is!

Serious engineering

2010-02-07T10:53:00.001-08:00

I told Kathrine that she should have majored in engineering. She answered, 'Who needs to when you have boys?'

Tallahassee Museum

2010-02-07T10:36:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I drove down for a quicky visit to Florida. While there, we went to the Tallahassee Museum - fabulous natural habitat zoo and history.

The weather was just what you want Florida to be in winter! Lots of trails to hike.Real history. (The boys LOVE trains.)

There were birds and snakes and deer and wolves and bears and turkeys and several other native animals. Best of all was a real southern SWAMP.

Almost as good as the Okeefenokee!

Smithgall Woods

2010-02-07T06:01:00.000-08:00

Monday and Tuesday we drove to the North Georgia Mountains to a retreat at Smithgall Woods. Delightful place!!!

When we got there, we found out we had our own perfect cabin, and it even had a hot tub!!! Which was necessary because while Jon was retreating, I went hiking along the creek with the other 'wife.'

Later we hiked a mile up and down a mountain to a double waterfall. It was glorious!

You couldn't fit the whole thing in a picture, so I took a video. It still doesn't do it justice. Enjoy anyway.

Surprise visit from FL

2010-01-22T15:19:00.000-08:00

Aaron and family came up to visit so he could present at a conference. We were expecting just him, and were thrilled to have the rest of the family.

The weather turned gorgeous, so we drove everyone to the top of Kennesaw Mountain on MLK day,

Then we hiked up to the tippy top. Everyone in Atlanta also came with their kids and dogs.
Even Levi hiked.

Then came ROCK CLIMBING toddler level.

Awesome sunshine!!!!

It's why I like GA.

New Year's

2010-01-04T12:14:00.001-08:00

Some folks lingered on.

We melted small crayons together and Michael cut his finger on the scissors. His parents made him a splint so he wouldn't bend his hand.

We played some more.

And visited Grandpa.

And got babysat by Nana and Papa.

And toured the BAPS Hindu Temple

And celebrated New Year's Eve on the wild side. (She actually captured one of our children!)

Happy 2010!!!

At the Gym

2010-01-04T11:53:00.001-08:00

We took almost the whole gang to Southern Prep Gym. (Thanks Reva!)

We totally wore them out!!!!

Cousins galore!

2010-01-03T17:46:00.000-08:00

Yes, it was noisy! Yes, it was messy! Yes, it was lots of work!

But the love was worth it.

We sang.

We danced.

And played charades.

And pretended to be babies.

Uncle Alex helped them make boats that floated down the creek.

We had quiet time shows.

Did art (later blog).

And got to know each other. And best of all, nobody got seriously sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas

2010-01-03T17:33:00.000-08:00

Christmas morning we spent a long time opening gifts, played with them, skyped with Solei, ate a turkey dinner, then the FL cousins came and opened their gifts.

The next day we brought Grandpa to visit!!!!

Christmas Eve 2009

2010-01-03T17:16:00.000-08:00

...And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,keeping watch over their flock by night.

And lo, the angel of the Lord came uon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them...

...And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger.

...there came three wise men from the east to Jerusalem.

...And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Like the wise men, we too give gifts to the Christ child.

What gifts we give to one another, we give unto him.

Temple

2009-12-21T15:05:00.001-08:00

Saturday I got set apart as a Birmingham Temple worker. I will serve one shift a month.

More Fall Highlights

2009-12-20T16:47:00.000-08:00

The kids sold their house in November and came down for the closing.

We miss them.

The FL gang came up for Thanksgiving and worked on the bathroom. We cooked a whole Thanksgiving dinner and made Monkey Book Pictures. I caught this precious moment on film:

I think we are done.

2009-12-18T12:28:00.000-08:00

I actually think we are done. The only thing is the toilet paper holder b/c I couldn't find one I liked. There is even toothpaste in the drawer.

Do we win????

2009-12-12T14:32:00.000-08:00

Saturday, December 12th 5 pm.
THE BATHROOM IS FUNCTIONAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Monkey Book

2009-12-07T10:18:00.000-08:00

Solei, Isaac, and Michael helped make this book about visiting Papa and Nana:

Fall Highlights continued

2009-12-07T08:32:00.001-08:00

The day after Grandpa Fred left, Aaron and the boys came for 10 days while Kathrine and the baby flew home for her Grandpa's funeral. I had the oldest 2 boys by myself for 3 days.

We did Halloween.
The new playground at the park.

Southern Prep Gym

I like the part where they exercise and I sit. All that company pooped me out!

The rest of our fall has been getting ready for more company.

Fall highlights

2009-12-06T12:03:00.000-08:00

I missed blogging for a while and thought I'd catch up:

In October we had company all month! The first was the Hachtman's.

We went to the park. Hung around the house.

And visited Grandpa.

Strung beads during conference.
And tried on jewelry.Then Grandpa Fred came to visit.
We met him in TX.

We brought him back to Atlanta and then went to FL for Michael's birthday.

We went to a carnival at Michael's school.

And of course took family pictures.4 generations of third children.With similar interests.

When we got back to Atlanta we toured Kennesaw Mountain, GBI, the Cowboy Art Museum in Cartersville...

Amicolola Falls State Park...

the BAPS Hindu Temple...And recorded his life history.

Movin fast!

2009-12-05T12:46:00.000-08:00

Today we are floating drywall, sanding, priming, painting, and glueing the tile down. Catchin' up!

It's all about blow dryers...

Moving along

2009-12-03T17:00:00.000-08:00

Got up at 5:30 this morning and did the first float on the drywall. It's been drying all day, which gave me lots of time to shop!

Looking good! Regardless of the condition of the walls, Saturday night I want to lay tile so it can dry all Sunday.
Tomorrow we are having a new HVAC system installed (by someone else $$$$)
Here is Jon working on the little hallway into the bath and closets.

Has anyone read the BIO of Pres. Hinckley? He would start these kind of projects and move walls in the house for wedding receptions like a week before the event. I relate.

Coming along...

2009-12-01T17:58:00.000-08:00

4 pieces of drywall are up! We're on a roll!

3 weeks till company - yikes!!!!

The race is on!

2009-11-29T15:57:00.000-08:00

Both Alex and Jon are putting in basement bathrooms. It 's a race to see who can finish first.

This is Jon last week.

This is today. (After a lot of help from Aaron.)

We still have rough electrical, drywall, paint, tile, and fixtures.

Who will finish first?

Papa's Wish List

2009-11-22T18:04:00.000-08:00

Here is a wish list for now (updated Nov23):

Long sleeve white t-shirt for running (NEW ENTRY))
Coupon for hemming my pants - two pair (NEW ENTRY)
Temple Tie
Temple Belt (for 38 waist)
Flashlight, good quality
Head lamp
Battery charger for car Harbor Freight 45005
Circuit Breaker Detective Harbor Freight 96934 (ok if on sale at 19.99)
Shop Rages
Jersey (black cotton) gloves
Stainless Steel Pocket Ruler Harbor Freight 83684
5 Blade Crimper (for crimping duct work ends) Harbor Freight 93192-6VGA

CDs (used is OK)
Beach Boys, any title (I do not have any)
Carly Simon, Moonlight Serenade
Riders in the Sky- Public Cowboy #1
Riders in the Sky- Yodel the Cowboy Way
Riders in the Sky- Always Drink Upstream of the Herd
Riders in the Sky- Best of the West

Life Expectancy

2009-09-17T11:38:00.000-07:00

I just did an online life expectancy calculator and they said I would live to be 102. Yikes!!!!!!!
They also said I should weigh 136 pounds. That's not going to happen. Will that shorten my life?

Thinking time

2009-09-17T05:56:00.000-07:00

I've had time for personal development like art and religious studies. Here is one result, which is a work in progress:

To_______,
I was thinking today while I was working about what you said about ‘liberal’ theology, and what you said was very consistent with traditional Christianity. Changing the order of Bible stories is the capstone on a long history of logical development in Christian theology. It solves many problems.
I took two fantastic courses in my Master’s program from Dr. Bertram, a well known Lutheran theologian, who has since passed away. We studied much of the Patrilogia, which is the collection of Early Christian writings. What was preserved was the ‘winning’ arguments, but there were many other points of view in the early church. We know of the opposing viewpoints because most of the writings are arguments ‘against’ another person. They are usually titled “against so and so”.
These writings also evolve. You can see it right inside the New Testament. The apostle John in his letters, tells how he is not accepted in the changing Christian church. He talks of deceivers who deny that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This happened because Christianity absorbed more and more ‘gentiles’ who had been immersed in Greek culture. Hellenism, or Greek culture, especially Greek philosophy, found the flesh distasteful and prone to evil. Philosophers, particularly Plato, were fascinated with the mathematics underneath life. They felt that the body was something to escape from. The idea of having a God with a body was against all their philosophy.
Also, the early Christians were heavily persecuted. To avoid this, they sought common ground with the people around them through finding similarities with Greek Philosophy which was respected. As they did this, philosophy gradually became elevated to an almost equal level with scripture.
And until about 150 AD, there was no official cannon of scripture. There are about 70 years between writings of the Apostles and the beginning of a cannon. During that time we have a story of a reconciliation, and the writings of Justin Martyr. It was in 150 AD that we heard from Irenaus, the Bishop of Lyons, who proposed that there be 4 gospels because there are 4 corners of the earth, and that the policies of the Church in Rome be followed because Peter died there. There were no Apostles, and it was being debated which Bishop should lead.
It was about this time also that the Apostles Creed was written to define who was a true believer and who was involved in heresies. I think this creed still includes a physical resurrection when I read it. Christianity came from the Jews, and at least half of them still believed in a physical resurrection. Paul used that argument to get the Saducees and Pharisees to fight amongst themselves instead of focusing on him. In the middle ages, the Jewish philosopher Maimonides opens his ‘Mishnah Torah’ with the statement that many Jews believed in a Physical resurrection in old times.
Over the next centuries there were many Christian writers who argued about heresies concerning Christ and who he was. The main heretical group was the Arians, who said that Chirst ‘became’ fully God. The ‘orthodox’ or winning view said that Chirst was always equal to God. These arguments chronicle a developing view of who Christ was. And all the arguments were based on the rules of Rhetoric, or logic. You went from one point to the next point, until you came to a conclusion. Point by point, the view of Christ underwent a metamorphosis. Logic was equal to the Biblical record.
Then came the conversion of Constantine, who wanted to use Christianity to unite the Roman Empire. He gathered all the opposing parties to several councils, such as Nicea, and told them to agree on a single creed. What happened was typical of politics – a carefully worded document that was so broad and general that no parties could disagree with it.
Compare the Apostles Creed with the Nicene Creed sometime and you’ll see the changes I am talking about.
After that, when everyone supposedly agreed, and also enjoyed the protection of the state, they had to start explaining what the Nicene Creed really meant. That went on for about a century.
Right before the fall of the Roman Empire came St. Augustine, who ended the discussion. His works are so painstakingly and thoroughly logical that nobody has ever dared to refute his arguments. By all the rules of logic, he has sewn up the argument. He states outright that his goal is to disprove the scripture that man is created in the image of God. He concludes that man and God have no likeness at all in any way, except for sharing a sense of justice.
All traditional Christian theologians after him, Catholic and Protestant, have accepted his verdict. This has produced other problems to grapple with like free will and evil (and what actually did happen to the body of Jesus?). If God is so far above us and he created us out of nothing, then he created both good and bad people. Both came entirely from God. Hence came the doctrine of election, which was mostly taken up by John Calvin who was a great fan of St. Augustine. Lutherans sit on the fence about that.
Then came Modernity, which was the topic of my second class with Dr. Bertram, and the crisis between freedom of the human will and the traditional doctrine of a God that creates at His will. Who is in control? Man or God?
My Masters Thesis topic was based on that class, and in struggling with all of that I came to a few conclusions: If God is disembodied, and wholly different from us, then he is far away and not intimately involved in the affairs of men. But, if God is like us, and conversely in our image, then He can be involved in the affairs of men. God can involve himself in the material world because it will not defile Him. The material world is ‘good’ as it says in Genesis.
A disembodied God is a convenient god. He lets us worry about the material world. He makes no rules about it. When there are no rules, there is no breaking of rules. And the crux of that is that then there is no guilt. And isn’t that the uncomfortable thing we are all running away from?
But like I said earlier, that argument ended with St. Augustine. And your liberal theology professors are carrying Traditional Christianity to it’s logical conclusion.
It does not work with Traditional Christian logic to have a Christ that has a body after he dies. There must be a logical explanation found for the resurrection. The answer is Biblical Criticism – a fascinating study. Not all the Bible was written at the same time. So why not carry that a bit further and say that parts of the books of the Bible (which means library) were written at different times? They say the last part of the book of Mark was added later. Why not switch around the timing of the stories. It works. And it solves one of the gaping holes in Tradtional Christian logic – What happened to the body of Jesus. Wow. It means he never had one after his death.
No body, no sacred matter, no God who meddles in matter, no rules about it, no punishment – and no guilt!!!! It works.

Then I ask, what if you threw out the whole logic of Christian history and went back to the Bible as it is preserved? You would find witnesses of the resurrection of Christ - hundreds of witnesses. They saw him cook and eat and walk, they touched his wounds. Those wounds are the key. The witness who touched them no longer had faith, but knowledge. And think what that meant for how they viewed their own humanity. They knew that because Christ was resurrected that they would be too. Their bodies were not disposable.
How would someone feel about their body if it was not disposable? Would they see it as a temple, as Paul said? Would it be sacred? How would that change how they take care of it physically? How would they feel about defiling it with sin? Would they be accountable to God for what they did with it? Would there be laws about how to use it? Laws, consequences and the dirty word – guilt?
Lots to think about. It’s been fun putting it into words. Sorry I say so much, and not enough, in a long nutshell. Hope it makes some sense. Enjoy your classes!
Becky

PS – I could expand this by a further discussion of free will or how the Bible says to get rid of guilt. Too much…

Quote

2009-08-28T04:41:00.000-07:00

I just opened some emails. One quote was worth passing on:

"God gives every bird its food,

but He does not throw it into its nest."

Also, one of our family members put a link on facebook that is fantastic!

http://www.mormonsmadesimple.com/

2009-08-26T04:32:00.000-07:00

I miss my grandkids and want new blogs. HINT!

Our 3 boys

2009-08-21T13:05:00.000-07:00

Before the surprise trip to WI, the kids visited from FL. I always take tons of pictures and a few turn out well enough to post.

Michael is now in the "I don't want you to take my pictuah stage.'

Isaac is in the 'Of course I'll pose for a picture stage,' but silently. He just poses.

And Levi is in the 'And what's that thing you are pointing at me?' stage. You have to surprise him to catch his gorgeous smile.

All charming!

6 boys total!! As Michael says, "The boyth aw winning!!!"

[For recent pics of our other 3 boys, see http://dandafamily.blogspot.com/ and sorry, but I can't post the new baby yet - no links work. (We need more pictures!!!!)]

On the way home

2009-08-21T11:52:00.001-07:00

On the way home I emptied the car of Sarah's attic storage. It was so happy. And I was happy to see my 2 girls and kids!

We painted the garage floor and played.
And went for a walk.

Wednesday we went to Nauvoo. I babysitted while the parents went to the Temple.
I'm finding that it's really fun to take grandchildren around Nauvoo!!
We went to see the oxen.
And yes, she did comment on the size of the posteriors of the animals.

Then we ate by the river, which got Miriam's clothes very dirty.

So we went to Pioneer Pastimes.

They spent about an hour housekeeping.

And feeding the animals.

Then we all went to the Blacksmith Shop for rings.

Then we ate uptown, shopped, and went to see Sunset by the Mississippi -

- on our old City of Joseph stage!! I commented several times that that grass was made green by our very own sweat!

The show was incredible. The highlight was this senior missionary (Elder Moffitt) singing Old Man River. Perfect for the setting. (Hope it uploads!)

After that show we saw BYU's Vocal Point perform. That was just as awesome!!! There are great perks to travelling.

Trip to Wisconsin

2009-08-20T17:16:00.000-07:00

I drove all the way from home to WI and stayed the night with my cousin Beverly!
The next day I made it to Reedsburg. This is their new home.
This is one view behind thier house. Really nice!

This was the view from the back patio during the full moon.

Solei is taking violin lessons from her mother. Here she is learning to hold the instrument with her chin.

Pepperoni Pizza bowing.

Trying the strings!

The end of the lesson.

We visited the hospital and learned about having a sibling.

They only have a few stores, which tend to sell EVERYTHING. The grocery store has a toy department with a 10 cent ride.

They are prepared for winter!

We went out and had fun too. One day we visited Circus World!!! We saw tigers and elephants and trapeeze artists.

Solei got to try a bit of balancing herself.
Saturday I went back to Baraboo to shop and visit and art fair. Sunday we went back again for church. What a great view from the church front lawn!

All dressed up.

With Mom and Dad.

With Nana.

We tried a new hairdo. She looks different!

Monday we went with the summer camp kids to the Wisconsin Dells. That is the very most touristy trap looking place I've ever seen - maybe right next to the LasVegas strip at night. But, behind one of the rinky tinky fronts was this wonderful place with storybook characters and lots of unusual animals. (Apparently WI is a big animal refuge area.)

Here is Humpty Dumpty.

And Cinderella.

The Little Red Schoolhouse.

And our own Goldilocks!!! Couldn't get Goldilocks to leave...

The class took a train ride.

I touched a real tiger (no photo).
And Solei got licked by a giraffe!

Conclusion: I liked it there and want to go back!!!

This is for Michael.

2009-08-20T11:08:00.000-07:00

Michael, you are just about to start school!!!!!!!!!!!! You are our oldest grandson. Wow! You are the first to really start school. How does it feel? Are you excited?

I used to get butterflies in my stomach the first day of school every year!

Here is a picture of your daddy when he first started Kindergarten:

How do you think he felt?

He was wearing his favorite shirt that he earned by graduating from Safety Town that summer.

Safety Town helped kids learn to be safe. This is one of the things they did to learn about traffic.

Doesn't that look like fun?

Here is your dad in his Kindergarten class. He had a fun teacher. They had a pet rabbit in the class and one time they hatched eggs. Sometimes she would dress silly like this.

One thing I remember about your daddy was that he always wanted to be a good boy. Some of the boys in the class were very naughty and had to be punished often. Your daddy tried very hard not to be one of those boys. Sometimes that was hard to do, but he was brave.

I hope you will choose the right too.

We love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Learn a lot and have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nana and Papa

2009-07-27T06:43:00.001-07:00

So I've had time to finish painting the bathroom. It still needs more work. How do you like it so far? Any suggestions?

For parents:

2009-07-26T15:24:00.000-07:00

When I was at BYU, a L O N G time ago, at the advice of my roommate, I took an elective called CDFR 445. It was a hands on class on parenting. Luckily, I took it before I got married and had children. I still have the textbook and referred to it often when raising our children.

(When I googled the book, I came up with my own blog!)

I will repeat myself and recommend it to all parents!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think I've given copies to all of our children.

It is an excellent guide for parents with tricky or strong willed children.

(of course, we have none of those in OUR family...)

VACATION: Nauvoo

2009-07-26T13:07:00.000-07:00

We actually got to go to Nauvoo twice on our vacation. The first time was on Friday night to see the new Nauvoo Pageant. Opinion - it was just different than 'our' pageant, in some ways better, and in some ways not better.

The best better part was that they had wonderful pre-show activities. Lots of bagpipes. (I never imagined that many LDS folks actually played bagpipe!!)

This is a puppet show.

Mini-Nauvoo photo op.

Free bees

Kiddie crafts.

And of course - the show.

Our achievement: Miriam watched it on our laps.

On Monday morning we travelled there again with Jared and Reva to see the Smith family get sealed in the Nauvoo Temple.

Nana played babysitter. It was so fun showing a new generation all the fun things in Nauvoo!

We saw great big oxen and watched them get yoked.

We rode in the wagon that they pulled.

Don't be too jealous. We were so early that Solei was the only kid in the blacksmith shop and got both a ring AND the horse shoe.
We saw a fabulous sculpture show on exhibit at the Visitor's Center around this statue.

Finally, we went to get a cookie at the bakery and while there the Brass Band played! They were excellent.
Best of all, we saw the Smith's come out of the Temple. They made me cry they looked so sweet.

Lots of picture taking, so we took some too.

VACATION: Iowa City

2009-07-25T16:39:00.000-07:00

We went to Iowa City to help build out a basement, which we did and got a LOT done.

While there, we enjoyed the company of our kids and two adorable grand-daughters,

...and then our family from Wisconsin came and we had them - and 3 adorable grand-daughters to enjoy. (For more pics, click here.)

Sunday we took a walk on the Mormon Trek park trail.

VACATION: Kirtland

2009-07-25T12:58:00.000-07:00

After Niagra, we went southwest to Kirtland, OH. Here is a diagram of the early settlement.

The tour focused on the Whitney family, who were well to do, helped Joseph and Emma a lot, and owned most of the sites we saw. This was a room in their store.
For a while, Joseph and Emma lived upstairs over the store. This is the room that was used for the School of the Prophets.

Their accomodations were surprisingly comodious.

Did you know that there are 4 recorded sightings of the Father and Son in Kirtland?

1.School of the Prophets, 2. Kirtland Temple, 3. Isaac Morley farm on the ourskirts of Kirtland, 4. the Johnson Farm (we did not visit). The church owns all those properties.

Our church does not own the Kirtland Temple. We enjoyed our tour of that magnificent structure and contributed to it's conservation.

It was a great church history tour!!!

VACATION: Niagra

2009-07-25T12:54:00.000-07:00

The next morning we visited Niagra Falls. This picture has everything impressive in it. Being right on the cusp of all that water was overwhelming!

My parents actually honeymooned here. We got a nice Japanese couple to photograph us.

VACATION: Palmyra

2009-07-25T12:29:00.000-07:00

On the way between Harmony and Palmyra we stopped in Fayette and saw the Peter Whitmer Farm where the church was organized and some of the Book of Mormon was translated.

In downtown Palmyra we toured the Grandin Printing Co., where the Book of Mormon was published.

Next we drove to the Smith Family farm. This is a replica of the original log home they lived in.

The family gathered here.

This is the room the kids slept in when Moroni appeared to Joseph.

In the distance is the newer home they lived in when Joseph brought the plates home.

The barn - rebuilt.

The cooper shop - rebuilt. At one time the plates were hidden here.

You can see the temple from the farm, near the path to the Sacred Grove.

And from the window inside the Temple, you look out on the Sacred Grove. I love the reciprocal relationship!

The Sacred Grove.

Later, we attended the Hill Cumorah Pageant!

It's a spectacular production with great costumes. These 3 girls were our 'missionaries.'

Best of all, we met up with the Martin sisters from our ward and watched it together.

VACATION: Harmony

2009-07-24T12:59:00.000-07:00

On the way to Palmyra, about 5 miles east of the interstate, are the remnants of Harmony, PA.

This is the place where the Aaronic Priesthood was restored,
and most of the Book of Mormon was translated.

A local member posted a map to get behind the fenced railroad tracks and find the path to the Susquehanna River. We drove down an almost unnavigable cinder road to find the path.

The minute you stepped on the path, you felt the spirit!

This was the place... very sacred.

Across the street is the Hale farm, where Emma grew up. It is partly restored. Harmony was our favorite church history stop on the trip!

VACATION: New Jersey

2009-07-24T12:48:00.000-07:00

Anna already uploaded a bunch of pictures of our visit, and did a great job!

Here is one video.

We loved our time with our boys and Anna and Danny. Great weather too!

very cool thought

2009-07-06T05:13:00.001-07:00

The whole web site is awesome, but I was particularly struck with this page.
http://personalfinance.byu.edu/?q=node/70
General Conference this time is amazing too. Maybe later I'll add my favorite quotes.

Miracle Transition

2009-06-30T05:19:00.000-07:00

Before

After...

An army of paint brushes and ladders from the Paper Mill Ward

attacked the house for about 8 hours and transformed it!

As you can see, we moved the entryway to the bottom floor.

Last minute sorting, packing and rearranging...

We tucked extra things into corners for photo ops.

The completely flabbergasted realtor.We call this 3 women, ten minutes. Reva was shocked.

The Thevenins painted the bedroom for FHE. Reva sorted and packed with help.

Reva also sorted and packed toys, clothes and baby things with help.

And it's done on time!!!!

Movers come today.

We will sure miss them...

June in Atlanta

2009-06-13T16:06:00.000-07:00

We have our own issues!

Lots of last chance babysitting...

cousin fun

7 months pregnant

A major fixer upper project!!

New Jersey

2009-06-13T15:44:00.000-07:00

While I was waiting for the baby in New Jersey, I took advantage of being there and did some of my mother's genealogy. Didn't find anything spectacular, except for the farm of an ancestor, and the plaque mentioned in a previous blog.
I took pictures of books with my digital camera to use for future reference if needed.

And I played with Eli!!!!!

Grandma Goo

2009-06-11T06:36:00.000-07:00

Here he is - # 8 grandchild! Are we ever blessed.

10 lbs. 2 oz.

Women stopped me in the hall to comment on me being the grandmother of the 10# baby.

'Thank you mama.'

Family of 4 now...

OK, so I teach Buddhism and they say that the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, had the signs on him that denoted he would be either a great world leader or a great religious leader. One sign was that he had this circular, hat-like lump on his head, and I noticed that our baby had that too. It went away in a couple of hours.

Will our baby be a great leader?

Another sign was long earlopes and a wheel on his flat feet (creases?)
What sign does our baby have - other than gynormous feet for a baby?

And gynormous hands!

So sweet...

What great grandparent does he look like in this picture?

Yawn... All this talk is boring me.

Most typical view.

Profile
And Nana can't wait to see him again!

Pre-funeral family fun

2009-06-10T16:12:00.001-07:00

Levi enjoyed being able to move his hands and legs - perfect baby holder!

Michael hung out with his big boy cousins for a day. They played on a slip and slide and even taught him how to spit.

They are killing fire ants in this pic.

Jimbo found them a box turtle. Elisabeth named him Herman.

Peace.
The mode of transport.

It cuts grass too.

The better mode of transport. But watch out for crazy driving!

We checked out the new path in the woods.

The big room was for kids.

We managed to get everyone presentable for the funeral!

...continued in the post funeral post ->

Post-funeral family fun

2009-06-10T15:44:00.000-07:00

After the funeral...

We all went through Grandpa's things and took some cool stuff. (Did you notice that it's always Aaron driving?)
The kids went to the next door neighbors to see their goats.
They saw goats, cattle and the rodeo arena.
A 'hayride' home from Aunt Wendy's. Elisabeth's birthday party. We all fit in our place!

Kathrine made her a castle cake with Texas flags.

Papa played the guitar.

The kids adored their relatives...

And we all talked and told stories...

And ate...

And opened presents.

We all helped at church. Alex taught the lesson Grandpa would have, Sarah sang, Kathrine played the piano, and I directed the children's choir.

The 3 muskateers.

And some people kept the Sabbath.

Goodbye Texas.

To be remembered...

Sarah came up with a great name for the property - and Papa put on his inherited Stetson and played it up...

Texas Funeral

2009-06-10T09:36:00.000-07:00

The ViewingHe was buried with this child's note in his hands.

Before the funeral there was a family gathering.

3 tries and these 4 still couldn't be still!

Jimbo's family

Marie's family...

Our side of the family...
Classic shot of Elisabeth. She told everyone that Grandpa's spirit was gone.

Wendy's side of the family...

They closed the casket and wheeled him into the chapel.

We all got to participate in the funeral and share memories. Perhaps some more could be added into the comments.

At the gravesite, Grandpa was given full military honors, which was VERY touching.

He must have liked it a lot.

They presented the flag to Wendy.

The grave was dedicated, then we hung about a bit...

Jimbo with more family.

Teaching about the temple (Mesa Temple engraved on headstone).

We went back on Mother's Day.

Thanks for everything Grandpa!!!

PS - some videos...

Practicing for the funeral.

21 gun salute

What goes around, comes around

2009-05-23T12:12:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Jacob Frost was born in the Princeton Hospital on Thursday. I was there today and the elevator happened to open up on the second floor. Right across from the elevator was a plaque dedicated to donors of the hospital. Now, I've been here looking for genealogy with not much success. There, right before my eyes was my great great uncle's name!!!!
There is a family story that he gave money for a wing of a hospital and I thought it was in Ridgefield Park, up nearer to NYC. Maybe he did. But he also gave money to this hospital, or rather the money was given in his memory by Forsgate Farms, a business he started.
So, I googled Forsgate Farms - and that is just east of here.
More sleuthing to do...

I was very touched to think that one of his future family members was blessed by his generosity!

Empty the Camera

2009-04-22T16:40:00.000-07:00

I finally decided to empty out the 2 gig card I have in our camera. All the pics are from 2009.

Trials...

2009-04-03T17:02:00.000-07:00

This week has been a series of trials...

Grandpa J broke his shoulder.

Grandpa F is having his possessions impounded.

JJP lost his job.

Grandpa B died in the hospital and was revived.

Cousin SR went to the hospital with diverticulitis.

and next week AH is having surgery.

Crazy!!!

Any more that I forgot??

Taste of TEXAS

2009-04-03T14:45:00.000-07:00

I really did mean to go out one afternoon and do a photo documentary of all the little Texas-isms that I saw while driving to town and around the neighborhood, but the visit was abruptly cut short! Here are the few that I took that turned out:

The neighbors have a rodeo arena and invited their friends to practice for the upcoming rodeo that weekend. We walked over to watch.
My first experience that wasn't on TV!

Walking home, all the lights went out in 5 counties! They do things BIG in TEXAS! Thank goodness for flashlights and candles...