Back in Time to Easter

Chef Ren

Charlie's Angels? or Harrison's Angels

It doesn't matter that it is cold, the snow is gone and we can play.

Food is the most important and when I say I'm hungry. I'm hungry.

Yeah warmth and no snow, we can ride the bikes.

Easter Dinner is always so good, that potatoe salad, BBQ chicken, all that first taste of summer/spring food.

Then there's the Easter Egg Hunt a tradition at Grandmas and Grandpas.

Of course we love any excuse to get together but Easter is our first outdoor time once the snow melts or it warms up a bit. The grandkids can't hardly contain themselves and bust through the doors to get outside to play.

Family is wonderful and we do love each other, holidays are great times to be with each other.

Back in Time to Teasher's Adoption

Rachael, Cole and Tesher with Judge McClellan

The Proud Mama and Papa

 The little family with Attorney Reynolds.

After Tesher already being a part of the family for 6 months he legally became ours in January with his adoption. It was a great morning. Judge McClellan said some very touching words similar to the fact that he usually doesn't have positive experiences, but this was a very rewarding experience for him to participate in. We are so blessed to have this little fellow in our family, he is so happy and such as joy. He is ours and we love him so much. Cole and Rachael have indeed taught our family many things and given us opportunities that we would not have had without their desire to have children and perserverance to have them come to their home. Heavenly Father has indeed blessed us greatly.

Back in Time to the Grand Canyon

So we really love to go for rides and one week after having cabin fever during the awful cold winter Ren said we are going to the Grand Canyon for our Anniversary. We left on a Wednesday and came back on Sunday. We visited the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, went through Monument Valley, Natural Bridges National Park, Arches National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park. There is so much to see in the great country we live in and so much right so close to where we live you really need to see these places. I also love rock formations and the way the land lays. I had never been to the Grand Canyon and it was breathtaking. We hiked alot even though it was March and still a bit cold it was warmer than Vernal. We had a wonderful time together for our Anniversary, me and my honey.

Back in Time to My Weight Loss Efforts

Ren and I before I seriously started my workout regimen and eating healthy.

 Colette and I in May after we had been working for     

               a while on our weight and healthy lifestyle.                    

So of course this journey started actually in January of 2011, Colette and I started exercising and trying to get in better shape. We had both ran before but had slacked off and knew things were getting out of hand. Then Danni asked me to particpate in the Epic Relay and I knew I needed help both with weight loss and training. So at Relief Society one night I talked with Lynise Mason and she mentioned she would like to be a trainer, so we decided I would be her experiment. On March 28th I started with my workout regiment with Lynise and also healthy eating. In the first week lost 2 lbs. and 6 inches from my body. I continued to keep track, from March 28 - July 19 I lost 19 lbs. and 35 inches total. I dropped 3 sizes. I feel great and work every day, usually running 3 miles 3 times a week, not bad for 50. Colette has dropped alot of weight as well and is doing and looking wonderful. It's our goal to do the Dino-Tri for 2012 and I will be doing the Epic Relay again. From the very beginning from January to now I had lost 28 lbs.

Back in Time to Cancun

So much to write about Cancun, we went from April 29 - May 7, we had a great time. It's a beautiful place. We enjoyed the beach, snorkeled in the ocean, went to Xcaret Park where we learned about the area and the different cultures, Mayan and other. Went on the ziplines across the Mexican Jungle which is very different than you might picture it, that was a blast. Swam in cenotes, one that did resemble the description of that noted in the Book of Mormon. We attended Sacrament Meeting in a ward that was all in Spanish, it was Fast Sunday, was an awesome meeting and felt the spirit strongly. Went to Cozumel for the day and saw ruins, fresh water crocodiles, snorkeled and shopped. Saw the ruins at Chichen Itza, this was a testimony builder in itself to the Book of Mormon. 

We stayed at the Xcaret Grand Hotel and Resort, so many pools and things to do it was amazing. We went with our Best Friends, Brad and Joyce Jackson. We have gone alot with them and we really have lots of fun.

Back in Time to Grandchildren's Birthday's

 Birthdays are a big thing and there is always
a party. This is Kaydences's Party, she got a purple guitar and a beautiful party dress. She was 4 year. Sept. 4

Caleb was really able to emjoy his birthday this year turning 2 years old. He really loved opening his presents. Sept. 21

Lucas loves to pose but his favorite present was a gun that shot, in his words "shooty balls". He was 4 this year too. July 28

Kaylee's Birthday was alot of fun, she got lots of present but she wanted a pinata and the kids had a blast swinging at and then eventually breaking the pinata and letting all the candy spill out. She turned 5 on June 27.

  

Tesher turned 1 this year and he had the most fun eating his cake. He really wasn't in to the present thing, who would be at 1. His birthday is July 11.

Parker turned 6 this year on February 7th. No one got any pictures so this is picture from Easter but he got a new Cowboy Hat from us that he loves and still keeps very nice. He is a great little boy.

Landyn turned 2 this year, his birthday is May 20th. He loved opening this presents and loves to get books. He also loves to be with his cousins both on Rachael's side and Cole's side.

Back in time to Rock Creek

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Rock Creek water running everywhere.

One of the great creatures of the area.

One of my favorites things to do is to photograph cabins, old barns etc. 

Ren and I love to go for rides and just enjoy the scenery. With all of the snow this year we wanted to see if Rock Creek and the Stillwater Dam would be overflowing. I have never gotten to see it do that yet. So we took off and Rock Creek was running very full and of course we thought that we would see the Dam overflow but when we got there, no overflow yet, we were a week too early and would be gone on the trek when it actually had its overflow. Then of course the batteries on the camera went dead too. it just wasn't meant too be but we had a nice ride and of course we love being together and seeing the great outdoors. 

Back in Time to Martin Cove's Trek

The Keith B. Caldwell Jr. Handcart Co.

Vernal Utah Glines Stake Trek

June 28-30, 2011

The Stake Leaders and Stake Trek Specialists

The Trek scripture: 1 Nephi 16:5

And it came to pass thaey did humble themselves before the Lord, insomuch that I had joy and great hopes of them, that they would walk in the paths of righteousness.

Ren and I were the specialists over the transportation, making sure everyone and everything got to Martins's Cove. We arranged for the busing, the stake supplies to be transported including the food and then making sure all the leaders got there in as few of vehicles as possible.

It was a wonderful experience except for a few kinks with some wards that didn't want to ride the school bus and going to the Stake President about it. That was a bit disheartening, they should have just come to us. It was a stressful enough situation let alone to have that. But it probably was alot like those orignally trekking, you have those that did all they could and should and those that would murmur. In retrospect I learned alot and learned that I too had some thoughts that maybe I should have controlled a little bettter.

The Willie and Martin Handcart Companies went through so much that I believe I should do alot better with all that I have. I have a great love and admiration for them. I will most likely never be that strong, but hope to get close by learning about them and trying to exemplify them and the Savior whom they gave everything for.