Good-bye Trees!

For over a year and a half now, we have wanted to get rid of the aspen trees in our yard.  They were planted too close to our house for one, and they send up lots of little tree shoots all over.  We were done with them.  So our neighbor who has lots of tree-cutting experience, came over to help us cut them down.  

Missoula, Montana

Most of you have heard by now that we went up to Missoula, Montana at the beginning of this month.  Well, let me explain a bit.  

Remember how Paul lost his job back in March?  Well he has been applying for jobs all over the place.  We weren't having too much luck with local jobs, so he started looking out of the state.  This company in MT called on my birthday--kind of ironic because I was born in MT.  Anyway, they called and wanted us to come up that week to interview in person.  That was Monday, so we left on Wednesday to drive up there.  We left Glenn with my parents and then drove the rest of the way.  We packed a suitcase for Glenn and he just looked so cute!  

A little traveler. :D

Happy Birthday to Me!

Last Monday was my birthday.  It started out with breakfast made by Paul.  I had been craving pancakes and that's what he made--yum yum!  I got two that were shaped like hearts--Paul sure is good to me.  

Easter Weekend

Easter weekend we did an egg hunt for the three little grandsons.  We had a hard time getting them to sit down so we could take a picture.  I think they just had no idea what was going on...they wouldn't smile at all.  We think they had a good time though gathering the eggs.

Glenn, Devin and Jasper

Ethan's Graduation

Last month my older brother Ethan graduated from college..finally!  We joke that he was on the 12-year plan, instead of the 4-year.  Either way though, we are happy for him that he has done this--and that he walked in the ceremony.  It took my mom and his wife convincing him to do it though.  It was a nice program and it wasn't very long either.  

You know how the announcer asks you to hold you applause until the end?  Well, remember how no one really listens to that?  Except our family.  I guess we obey the rules.  Poor Ethan.  When his name was read, not one of us cheered.  I did a little in my seat, but not loud.  They told us not to, so we didn't.  But every other graduate got a cheer from his family.  Sorry Ethan.  We are proud of you--we just didn't make it know to the rest of the world. 

Glenn's (Swollen) Head

About two and a half weeks ago, Glenn and I were at the neighborhood park.  He was climbing up the steps to the tall slide.  I was talking with a friend, watching him from a few steps away because he had climbed them hundreds of times.  All of a sudden, he fell straight back.  He fell from two or three steps up and just smacked his head pretty hard on the landing.  He was pretty shaken up, but he was consolable.  We went home, I comforted him and he seemed okay.  

A Random Assortment of Pictures

Conference Weekend

At the beginning of this month, we went to Kirsta's house for the Saturday sessions of General Conference.  Kirsta made some delicious caramel French toast.  It called for Texas Toast bread, but since she didn't have any, she used regular slices.  I can see why they call for thicker bread.  It was good though!

Grandma J's Birthday

Remember how I mentioned that Paul's grandma was in the hospital back in February.  She had an operation on her shoulder, and that went well, but afterwards didn't go as well.  Paul went down there because he thought it might be the last time he would see her.

February Birthdays

So I know it is a month later, but I am finally getting to it.  February is a busy month in our family for birthdays--my mom's, my brother's and my nephew.  So we got together to celebrate them all at once.  Paul wasn't with us this time.  He headed to St. George to be with his grandma who was in the hospital.  She wasn't doing well and so Paul wanted to be with her at that time.  

So while he was with her, we were celebrating the lives of our family members.  

It was Jasper's first birthday!

 This was our gift to him.

Paul and Glenn

I have captured some cute moments on camera of Glenn with his daddy.

Indoor Fun

So here it is the second week of April, and it is still cold and snowy!  That reminded me of some things that we did this winter to keep Glenn entertained and all of us sane! :D

Sorry for the Delay

Remember how I was so happy to be caught up with San Fran and China?  I was so happy to blog all the time, doing multiple posts if necessary to catch up.  Remember how that was like a month ago?  Well, we had a few hiccups that prevented that.  The first was when I was actually loading pictures onto our blog.  I got a message saying we were out of room!  What?!  So we had to talk about it and decide what we wanted to do--buy more storage space?  That didn't sound good.  So we looked up ways to put our blog into a book, so we could delete old posts and pictures, thereby gaining back our storage space.  Well it took us awhile to do that...but we finally did yesterday!  So today I did a few entries to catch up.  

The other hiccup was Paul lost his job mid-March.  We were really shocked at the unexpected news.  He had had so much work at Horrocks...we didn't understand why he was let go.  They did say that they didn't have much work left and they needed to cut several people.  Unfortunately he was one of those cut.  So he has been using the computer to network and to look for jobs.  

But we are feeling okay.  We don't know what the future holds for us...stay here or move...we just don't know.  But we have enjoyed being together as a family every day.  So keep us in your prayers...and if things get really bad, we'll ask for a meal or two! ;)  Hahaha!

But I will update regularly and keep you posted on our lives.  (I have done 3 new posts, besides this one, so check 'em out!)

Momma's Boots

A few years ago I got a pair of black boots to wear on Sundays.  It is so nice to have warm shoes to wear in the winter!  

Well, I guess I'm not the only one who thinks so...

 Doesn't he look so cute!?!  I laughed so hard when I saw this!

I also recently bought every day boots--which I loved wearing this winter!  And of course, Glenn had to try these ones as well!  Goof ball!

Our Little Helper

Glenn loves to help.  When he sees Paul or I doing something, he wants to help.  I haven't gotten a picture of this one yet--last week was the perfect time, but the camera wasn't close at hand.  Friday is garbage day here at our house.  Glenn gets really excited about it too.  If we say the words "trash" or "garbage", he runs around the house saying "trash" and finding all the trash cans.  He then wants to hold the bags and put them in the big can outside.  He has so much fun!  

Another one that I don't have physical proof yet is he likes to help me with laundry.  If he sees me taking clothes towards the laundry shoot upstairs, he extends his hands, telling me that he wants to throw them down.  So all I need to do is make a pile in front of him and he will send them on down!  Then once we head downstairs, he pulls them from the shoot, and puts them into different hampers.  Sometimes he is pretty good about sorting the different colors.  Then when I tell him which one we will be washing, he takes the hamper to the washing machine and starts to load them in!  It really is so wonderful!  I love that he wants to help.  He does a good job as well!

Glenn also likes to help with meals-dinner time especially.  He wants to stir the noodles, and mix the sauce.  He also likes to sample the cheese after we have grated it!  He is just like his daddy--they both LOVE cheese!  Glenn likes to measure out flour and sugar.  That can get a little bit messy, but never fear--he likes to clean up too!  If he makes a mess, he finds a wipe and begins to clean away.  

As I write this, it makes me realize that I need to take pictures of all of these things!  I do have pictures of other times that he helps.  Here they are!

Raking the leaves

 

 

You may not be able to tell just yet, but Glenn also helped spread the leaves around again.  He had fun raking (or sweeping) them into a pile, then he liked running into it and kicking it around and flinging the leaves.  I thought how interesting it was that I didn't have to show him--he just knew that that's what you do in a pile of leaves!  Kids will be kids! : D

Shoveling Snow

 

Almost every time it snowed, Glenn found his little "shovel" and came out to help Paul and/or myself in shoveling.  He loves being outside and helping.

Book Power

So one day in January, I guess we were kind of bored, so we found something to keep us occupied...

Book Stacking!

I don't remember how long we had been doing this, but we finally got all of Glenn's little board books to stack!  Yay!!

Knocking them over was fun too!

This then lead to book dominoes...

We did this a few times, but this one was the most successful--enjoy!

First "Real" Hair Cut

On the first day of the year, we finally decided to really cut Glenn's hair.  I was a little apprehensive at first--I wasn't sure how he would do and how he would look.  But he did great during the cut and he looked great after!

The first cut...

I thought he would be scared or nervous--but he actually thought it tickled.  Here he is laughing...

Almost done...

Look at all that hair!

The finished product!  He sure looked handsome!!

(And a side shot)

Glenn did really well, and he looked so good!