Jacob's Fifteen!!!!!

Ready?

Aunts, uncles and Michele, special guests

everybody's happy

Grill's hot

Grilling veggies

Onion Volcano?

Poof! Surprise

Shrimp, Scallops, Salmon. . .

Shrimp, Scallops, Salmon

Entertainer, chef, with happy diners. . .

Back at home with all the youngsters

At the Zoo

Kindergarten Field Trip


The weather,

after a record breaking

95 degrees two days ago,

was a perfect 65.

We're enthused, awake,

Blessed to be alive.

Mommy and her babies

in Big Bird's nest.

Hmmm, what have we here?

Strange creature.

You've amazing ears. . .

Ohhhh, Ahhhhhh

After this pose

The lion stretched up on

His hind legs,

scratched his paws on the glass

And opened his mouth wide

I think it was a yawn

But one little child

Was terrified

Lizard in artform--

We're really fearless

While the live specimen

remains behind glass.

Mommy had to climb up

The giraffe slide

To get little one down

The slippery slides

Were as much fun

As watching animals.

Anyone surprised?

Happy buddies ---

Together at the Zoo

s'wonderful, s'marvelous;

Kindergarten field trip.

Baptism Day!

April 4, 2009-- We're all so happy! This is just before Ryan's baptized. If you look very carefully, you can see Dallin, and Criag on the right side of Ryan and Kate left of her Dad in one photo and Mom in the other. It was nap time for for baby so she's resting on my shoulder. Oh the joys! Making covenants that give us the priviledge of strength from our Savior is a blessing beyond my ability to express. And, to have families adds a dimension that gives us additonal support and guidance. How blessed! And, and to know that we've made covenants that promise we can be together forever. Wow!

TULIP FESTIVAL

Make a Smilebox slideshow

I had a breathtaking walk at Thanksgiving Point to enjoy the Tulip Festival. Wonderful. Putting this Smilebox together was a BIG deal (I mean at least two hours) and it takes a few minutes to view. So relax, and be enchanted by tulips by the thousands.

My Abundant Blessings

This is just one of the hundreds of fantastic views of the tulips at Thanksgiving Point. To think that this beautiful world was created for us to enjoy.

My friend brought my attention to Jacob 4:3 wherein he hopes that his children would receive the record (now the Book of Mornon) they kept, "with thankful hearts, and look upon them that they may learn with joy and not with sorrow, . . ."

As I read from that book each morning and as I associate with my family and friends in many capacities, I recognize that I am abundantly blessed; great is my joy in understanding the eternal nature of our existence. Could there possibly be greater comfort?









What a treat(?), their third popsicle on a cold April day. They pled for this reward after helping me sweep the patio. Sweet girls. They with their many cousins make my life bright. They went home with fingers and lips blue from the cold but masked with red food dye. .


















On April 25th we were entertained by a six stake dance festival. (Enough teenagers that they filled the basketball court.) Jacob danced with about three hundred others in the Salsa and the Mamba. Extraordinare! So alive! What a mover!! He posed for this picture after he had removed his dashing flamingo red scarf and cummerbun.


















Women's Conference here again at last (April 30-May 1). What a blessing to be in a place where the spirit of love and unity was clearly evident among thousands of women. To be in an atmosphere so spiritually charged was just the best. Not to mention the blessing of being with some of my daughters. My blessings overflow. . .


















Springtime on campus! The blossoms were full as were our hearts after two days of listening to stirring messages testifying of receiving strength in Jesus Christ.
















Wonderful to conclude our time together with Knudsen girls.














Four months already? --- Elizabeth cooed, awed and even giggled? And sooooo cuddly... I already miss you little princess.


On May 1st Michele's volley ball team won their final game taking home a trophy for top consolation prize -- out of something like 150 teams! Nice job team. . .












On May 3rd I delighted in taking Dad to the blessing of his 51st greatgrandson, Connor! Since his birth another has come and I believe four more are in preparation stages. Whoopee, we are promised joy in our posterity. Here we see it in Papa's smile.













Now, If I can get the spacing to end up as I direct. The published piece never looks like my original. Oh well. . .

FOREVER FAMILY --- EVERYBODY PRESENT!!!

Ryan's birthday, one of many joyful times at the firepit for roasting hot dogs, marshmellows and just getting warm. Oreo is always included.

Happy, Happy Time -- Here at Last. . .

March 30, 2009. Ryan's birthday now even more of a Red Letter Day!! At court the judge was very casual. He had no questions other than to have Mark introduce everyone and then turn to the case worker to ask if he knew other judges. Mark acted as his own lawyer and must've done a bang up job on the paperwork because after those informalities the judge said "Done". He banged his fist on the desk. Laura asked if he had a gavel. "No", he said as he rumaged through the desk. "I don't need one; there'll be no misbehavior here. This baby is yours. She's your responsibility until she is eighteen, but from the looks of things here, she'll want to hang around you till she's forty. . ." Pause "There will be trials. . . Every family has trials. . . " He told us about his family and gave us advice. "Now, time for photos". He reached for the baby.

March 31, 2009 at the Columbus Temple

What a splendid day! Sealed for eternity!! And through mortality now we're together, to stay. During the sealing the baby was especially bubbly -- beyond her natural cheerfulness--and she is cheerful. I had the sweet priviledge of holding her, as best I could with her slippery dress. When I handed her to her mother she proceeded to jump and then she clapped. Did she 'know' what was happening? Was she allowed to "see the angels" who have an interest in her? Whatever her experience, it was a very sweet, very sacred moment I shall be forever grateful to have witnessed. Those who were there described her as jubilant. . . Indeed, she and her entire family, including me, were that. . .

Beach Day

So nice to rest in our beautiful condominium after the fun day in the sand and water.

Melbourn, Florida. Nothing like a beach. . . I collected sea shells; one to represent each grandchild.

More Disney World -

Goofy had everyone smiling but Emmaline. . .

Everybody ready?

Disney World!! February 10, 2009 was perfection! What fun to have grandparents and kids together, fabulous. . .

February 10, 2009 Disney World, We're here!

Talk about Norsemen. . .

One of our best moments!!!!!

Just mere steps to the gate, such anticipation. . .