Scenes from Summer

Since summer is almost gone I thought I had better update my blog. Besides having to deal with Mother's health problems and Bill opening a new office, we were still able to enjoy some visits with family and friends and fun with the grandkids.

Linda and Don came in June. Linda helped me decorate Bill's new office while they were here and Don helped hang pictures and move computers. The grandkids loved spending time with Uncle Don - a great kid pleaser.

Here is Linda and Don with Sadie, Hannah and Abby.

Bill arranged for Don to have a ride in our friend's little red corvette. I think it took him back to his youth.


Here are some pictures of the fruits of labors in Bill's new office.



Brent's family helped us trim the trees in the backyard. These are the fastest growing trees you ever saw. My Dad had Brent plant them when we moved in over 4 years ago and they have grown 5-7 feet every year. They are some kind of Austrian shade tree he ordered off the TV. We can't even keep up with them.

They do make great trees for climbing as Hannah and Brigham can show you. They have also helped shade the back yard so I guess all the trimming is worth it.

Moses and Brigham are great little buddies. I think Moses will outweigh Brigham some day. He is a real little chunk, a solid heavy little boy.

In August Larry and Burna came to Missouri for a visit. They were at the tail end of their vacation but we were still able to show them some of the Kansas City area and introduce them to Ray Stevens comedy so they would have something to entertain themselves on their way home.

Here is Bill with Larry and Burna outside Bill's new office building.

We took them to the Steamboat Arabia museum. The steamboat had sunk in the Missouri River. Over time the river's course moved, leaving the Arabia and her treasures buried deep beneath a Missouri corn field. In 1988 it was found, dug up and items preserved. They called it a floating WalMart for it's time. You wouldn't believe the stuff they found. Very interesting.

Sandy with Burna in one of the Museum's room.


We took them out to eat at the "Jazz" - a Louisiana, Cajun restaurant. We all had Chicken a la Mer, my favorite. We also went to Cabela's since they had never been to one. They were "thrilled" to see the aquarium and all the stuffed animals. We called it the "dead zoo".

A kind person took our picture. Here we are: Larry, Burna, Sandy and Bill.


Nathan and Kristy's family also came for a visit in August. Brent's and Nathan's kids really bonded and had a great time together.

Here are Christian and Sadie,

Michael and Hannah,

Abby and Finn,

and last but not least, Moses, Brigham and Esplan.

Here are Nathan and Kristy with Grandma the morning they left for Utah. Christian and Michael are standing by. Finn and Esplan were already strapped in their seats.


Last weekend we took a trip to Branson with three other couples from our ward. We had great fun.

Here are the guys before we left Platte City: Dave, Jim, Tom and Bill

Here are the girls: Sandy, Sue, Shirley and Linda.

We went to great shows,

shopped,
ate heartily,

and relaxed.


A fun time was had by all.

Stephensons Visit Missouri

Heather, Robert, Micah and Ellie made their annual trip to Missouri last week. Unfortunately, the day before they arrived we had to put my mother in the hospital with pneumonia. She was in the hospital from Friday to Wednesday. After church on Sunday we all invaded her room which included a visit from the seven great grandchildren.

In spite of a dismal beginning, we were all able to have a fun family vacation with Brent's and Heather's families. This included lot of rides in the car. Most of the time we were able to get all of us in two vehicles: Heather and Robert's Durango and our Toyota Highlander. Here is a picture of Brent and Amanda in the "rumble seat". We had to put car seats in the middle two seats because they wouldn't fit in the back. After this trip Brent and Amanda opted for a different arrangement. Brigham is sitting in the middle with Moses facing backwards in the other seat.

Brent and Amanda came to the rescue many times during the week by doing most of the cooking, smoking us a pork butt and spareribs and making their famous kettle korn.

The evenings were cool and a fun time for the kids to play outside and ride bikes and scooters. Here is Micah riding Hannah's bike.

Robert and Heather brought their Wii and the girls had great fun with that. Micah and Sadie are playing Star Wars.

On Memorial Day we went to the cemetery in St. Joseph and decorated the graves of my Dad, Grandparents Smith, Grandparents McCoppin, Aunt Phyllis and Valeria's parents. It was overcast that day but didn't rain. The kids enjoyed cleaning the headstones, trimming grass around the headstones and placing the flowers. Everyone had a job. They also enjoyed searching for the right graves. Here are some of us at Daddy's grave.

The week included some good meals out as well. Here are Sadie, Hannah, Heather, Ellie, Abby and Amanda waiting for a table at Cheddars.

There were also several nights of sleepovers. Ellie and Hannah talked into the night and enjoyed telling their own made up jokes.

We spent a fun lunch at Chuck-E- Cheese for pizza and games. Ellie, Hannah and Sadie are enjoying one of the attractions.

Heather's kids hadn't been to Build-a-bear and Ellie had some birthday money she wanted to spend. Micah picked out a black bear dressed like Spiderman and Ellie got a princess unicorn.

Of course you can't come to Kansas City without a trip to World's of Fun. Micah, Ellie, Hannah and Abby enjoyed time at Camp Snoopy.

There's always lots to eat at WOF and here are Ellie, Micah, Hannah, Heather and Robert enjoying dippin' dots, big slurpees, funnel cakes and turkey legs.

I actually managed to get all the kids to sit together at Great Grandma's house for one last picture together. From left to right are Abby, Brigham, Micah, Moses, Sadie, Hannah and Ellie. We all sure love and enjoy getting together. A fun time was had by all.

Spring Things

The weather has finally warmed up enough in Missouri so that we have been able to plant some flowers and tomatoes. That is about the extent of our gardening. We are trying the Topsy Turvy Tomato planters this year on our deck, as well as in our usual, small garden spot. This is one of my pretty pink geraniums.

The girls are taking swimming lessons. Here is a picture of Sadie and Hannah after one of their lessons. We have also all joined the YMCA - 2 long blocks from our house. I have been doing some water aerobics with Amanda's mother. It is quite fun. There are men in the class as well so I'm going to get Bill to come to some of them with me.

Brigham thinks he is hot stuff on his little wheels. Since we live on a cul-de-sac, there is lots of sidewalk and safe roadway for the kids to ride their bikes and play.

Abby turned five on May 7th. We took her to build-a-bear and Chuck-E-Cheese for her birthday. The kids all had fun. She chose a pink unicorn for her stuffed animal.

Nothing is prettier than my three granddaughters dressed up and ready for church. It is fun taking them to church with us.

Fun in the Sun

We finally had a warm day on the Saturday before Easter so the kids could go outside to play. Unfortunately, Brigham was taking a nap so he didn't get in on the photo shoot. Sadie got a new bike this year and handed her old bike down to Hannah.

Abby is trying her hand at Sadie's scooter.

Sadie can really make that scooter go fast. It is hard to catch her in action.

Here is Hannah riding her "new " bike. She just learned to ride on two wheels so she's having lots of fun perfecting her new skill.

Sadie took this picture of Bill, Hannah and me by our little Redbud tree. We've had such cold weather that the poor little buds have had a hard time blooming.

Moses enjoyed sitting and playing in the grass.