Tagged by Chanda

Thanks to Chanda for tagging me! I am supposed to post my fourth picture in my 4th folder. Now that takes me back a few!! My old computer died with all my files and I was able to have a friend take off all my pictures off that computer. I really contemplated on what picture to use but this one always touches my heart, and since it was my cute cousin that tagged me, I thought that we could all reminisce about our Grandparents. I have a real hard time doing this but wanted to write about one of the greatest people I ever knew and miss everyday. In fact, after all this time that she has been gone, I still cry at the very thought of her and miss her more than I can stand. There is no one that can mention her name that I don't get teary. I miss her especially this time of year and it's not the same without her here. Granny was the strongest, sweetest, and wonderful women ever. She always had us (her kids and grand kids) in her thoughts. She always worried about us, helped us and made sure that we had everything we needed, and sometimes things we didn't need. Porche wrote the cutest story about Granny in a pop-up book. Someday I hope we can all have a copy of it because it tells what kind of Granny she was.
This picture is of her and Grandpa's anniversary the June before she died. What a great picture of the both of them. Even though neither one of them felt the best, they smiled, had a great time, and let us spend a very important time with them. I hope that as we think about Grandpa Hoot and Grandma Holler, we can laugh and cry joys of tears for the wonderful heritage that we came from. I love all of you guys and send this to you with tears running down my face!! Your the best Grandparents any kid should ever have!! I tag Anne, Christy, Rhonda, Tiffany and mostly Aunt LeAnn!!

Honoring A Scouting Friend

Last weekend I got an email from one of Mont's Scoutmasters from his Timberline Leadership Scout Camp. It was to tell the boys of a tragedy of losing one of their friends that they had there. I felt so bad and Mont was on a scout trip to Moab so I couldn't tell him about it. I worried the whole weekend about Mont and about this sad event. I couldn't even think about it or talk about it without crying (not to mention the anxiety). His friend Calvin Hansen had been killed in a car accident while traveling out of town with his family. His father was injured badly and the rest of the family was sent to the hospital with injuries. Anyway, last night was his viewing. Mont wanted to go and so he and I went. The wait was long. There was so many people there. The hardest thing for me was watching the pain and sorrow of my 13 year old son and the other kids that were there. I truely hope I never have to have this kind of tragedy in my family. There can't be anything worse than loosing a child. My prayers have been with this family and I don't even know them. The Scoutmaster had put the email out to all the scouts and wanted them to be at the cemetery with their uniforms on, holding flags, and saluting the family as they drove there. This was such a thoughtful thing and the time the Scoutmaster has spent in teaching our boys about love, kindness, charity, and brotherhood is amazing to me. I truly appreciate him. These are a couple of the pictures he sent to me and with respect to this cute family I want to show you what kind of tribute it was to them. Amazing to me!!! It sends cold chills down me and brings tears to my eyes. Look at this wonderful site!!

Anniversary at Snowbird

Mike and my sister Penny Jo planned us a getaway to Snowbird for the weekend. It was fabulous. The weekend started by dropping off the kids with her for the weekend and she greeted us with this edible arrangement!!Then we headed up Little Cottonwood Canyon and on our way up we saw a cow moose and a bull moose. We were only about 30 yards from this bull moose!!We had the cutest room with a fireplace and kitchen and beautiful look at the mountain.

We walked around the Octoberfest, rode the tram to the top of the snowy mountain, and enjoyed the colors of the trees.

It rained, it snowed, and the mist was so pretty over the mountains. I wish I could show all the pictures but I took to many!

We dressed up in our best clothes and went to the city for dinner at one of my favorite places...Red Lobster. The weekend was the best and I love Mike more today than yesterday. I hope our relationship continues to be better each day and many years of happiness to come. Thanks for the incredible weekend!! I love you!!

15 Years of "What"?

Today is our 15th Wedding Anniversary. I thought it was supposed to be "Total Bliss". Someone obviously forgot to tell us that there would be a few "Intermissions" along with "Family Fued", "Let's Make a Deal", and "Funniest Family Videos". If we knew then what we know now, would we still have taken the plunge? Of course we would have! We have definately had our trials but over all it has been a pretty great 15 years. I once had a friend that would say she and her husband had a pretty good fight last night. I never understood what that ment and hope I never feel that our fights and disagreements are "GOOD". Nothing comes out of them that makes you feel better. I want my dear husband to know that I love him very much and through the good times and the bad times, he has always been there to pick me up, apologize, and make things right. I couldn't have asked for a better husband, although I probably should have followed muy moms advise about "Marrying more in a minute than you could make in a lifetime." Love is blind and it is a good thing. We got married in the County Barn in Delta and my dad drove me to my wedding in his Model T Ford. I will never forget it although my dad had a heart attack the day before the wedding. He his my hero and I hope that I can learn from his example and advise on makeing marriages work. MIKE...... I love you and hope that we can continue to work out our differences. You are amazing and I am so thankful for you becoming active in the Church and guiding our family. You are a wondeful man and I LOVE YOU!!!

I almost forgot School!!

I almost forgot to take pictures of my kids on the first day of school. Truth is, I did until last minute when I ended up taking 3 of the 5 pictures. It is to bad because it is Garretts first year at High School, and Chloe and Morgans first year in Junior High. Here are the three pictures I did get!!

Garrett has joined the swim team (Thank you Michael Phelps) and taking classes that are over my head. No way can I help him. He also is taking a Social Dance Class. He is actually enjoying despite the wishes of his dad. I think it's the cute girls. Mont is also taking very hard classes for the 8th grade. Good thing they got Mikes brain. Morgan is taking orchestra and learning to play the cello and Chloe is also but learning to play the violin. (Thanks to the Warnicks for loaning us a violin) Oaklee is busy chasing boys and giggling. I have to fight with her to do her homework and read. It is frustrating to me because my other kids have great study habits. Guess that is part of being the youngest. I am to old and tired to care. Lucky her.

Week Long Backpacking Hike

Monts scout troop has been on several overnight scout backpacking hike to prepare for the "Big One" . This weekend they went on a week long backpacking hike up to Tye Fork in Spanish Fork Canyon. They hiked to Strawberry, then around, and down to Diamond Fork. I think this was a brilliant idea. Sleeping quarters were less than desirable to me. Not my idea of the Marriott.We didn't have to ship them out of State with gas as high as it is, they were close enough that we didn't really have to worry, and the families were invited up the last night for dutch oven dinner that was wonderful.
We had B-B-Que boneless pork ribs, dutch oven potatoes, and cobbler.Talk about pigs. They did skits for us and told jokes. I was so fun. I can't even stand how dirty they were. They were so happy to see their families. The first day Mont cut his finger bad enough that he should have had stitches, but they just wrapped it (I'm sure with toilet paper) to stop the bleeding, put a bandaid on it and repeated these things when it started to bleed again. Welcome to the mans world of fixing cuts. I am surprised that the Duct Tape didn't come out. This is definatly not what I call fun, but the boys have loved it. I can't believe that someone who has such an attitude towards scouts, lets her child be so active in the program.

Happy Anniversary to Mom & Dad

I just wanted to tell my parents Happy Anniversary. They are celebrating their 45th year as Mr. & Mrs. Howard Clayton. I am the luckiest girl in the world to be born as one of their children and I am sure that my siblings agree. I realize that it hasn't been all bliss, but at this point in their lives, they enjoy spending time together doing the important things such as spending 2 days a week at the Manti Temple as workers, spending time with their 11 grandchildren, spending time with their friends in the old cars and 4 wheeling trips. I am grateful that I can call them everyday to talk to at least one of them, sometimes both, and share my thoughts, get advise and hear a comforting voice on the other end. They are great and I hope that this day is wonderful to them. I love you both!

Morgan & Chloes Birthday

I know that I am a little late with this, but things like this happen when you deliver "TWINS". I remember when I found out that I was pregnant and Mont was just 6 months old, Garrett was barely 2 years old. Then I found out that there were twins. What in the world could anyone ever do with 2 babies when you already had 2 babies. I was completely overwhelmed. And just how far could a body possibly stretch to be big enough for 2 babies. Well let me tell you!! I was due in July and Portia told me that she had the perfect outfit for me to wear on the 4th of July. I would look just like Maceys Flag. That was no comfort to me and since I was on bedrest with preterm labor with Mont for 2 months, I knew that I would automatically be on bedrest with these twins. I was-for 4 months. Just long enough to crochet their blessing dresses. I prayed that I would just be able to tell them apart. When they were born, we were so excited and I could definately tell them apart. One was so dark and the other one so light. Kind of like "Salt & Pepper". There would be enough babies for EVERYONE to hold. The funnest part of having twins was dressing them, for sleep was not something that we got very much of. They just turned 12 years old on June 18th and we had a surprise party for them. They are the cutest, sweetest and most helpful girls I could ever ask for. Morgan is a clean freak, likes to write and is taking a creative writing class this summer. Chloe likes to sew and is working on a rag quilt.
They both are so great and I am glad that I had all these babies so close together. I can still tell them apart since Morgan is still dark and Chloe is still light. Good thing that prayer was answered

Oaklee Marye's Baptism

Oaklee turned 8 years old on May 11. I remember the day I found out that I was pregnant with her. I have to admit that I wasn't so excited. I already had 4 kids and thought that our family was complete. The news finally sank in and I began to get excited. With a few problems and throwing up every day it seemed like she would never get here. She was the cutest baby ever and I enjoyed her more than any of my other children. I loved getting up with her at night because no one else bugged me about holding her. I took her to work with me everyday and we became best buddies. She was hooked to my hip and I enjoyed that. She was such a pleasant baby and still to this day, makes our life so exciting. She is so funny and cute. She says the funnest things and can make any of my worst days turn into a great day. She is so sweet and I want her to know that she has saved my life many times. She has brought me out of the deepest depressions, most upsetting situations, and even embarresed me so bad that I had to just laugh. She was baptized yesterday by her daddy and all of her grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles and friends were there to spend the day with her. I was a great day and I just want her to know how much I love her. She is the sweetest daughter and makes my day. I am glad she was sent to our home.