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.

High Priests at the Cannery with Bozo

Bill had some cancer removed from his nose on Monday. On Tuesday night we went to the church cannery with some of the high priests. Five couples went. We had a great time but they kept referring to Bill as Bozo. I had told him no one would notice, ha! ha!

Jim Burch with Bozo at the canning machine.

Jim and Linda Burch with Amy Nichols and Sue Frame. You can still see Bozo in the background. I think he even glows in the dark.

Sue Frame, Linda Burch, Shirley Jackson and me. We really liked our hair nets. Helps make up for a bad hair day.

Conference Sunday

Conference Sunday was cold and dismal. It even tried to snow, but luckily the ground was warm enough that the flakes didn't stick. The kids hung out at our house while Brent and Amanda cooked a belated 62nd birthday dinner for Bill at Grandma's house. They fixed a turkey dinner with carrot cake for dessert. YUM!

Moses and Brigham hung out in their jammies all day.


The girls spent some time with their webkinz. Sadie used the desktop in the computer room.

Hannah and Abby worked on the laptop in the family room.


Abby also took some time to play with the marble works.


Grandpa Bill and Brigham did some masterful work with the blocks. We had a fun day with the kids.

Move from Arizona

Last weekend we made a quick trip to Arizona to help Brent's family move back to Missouri. They were living in Concho, in the Snowfalke/Show Low area so we were able to make a quick side trip to see the Snowflake Temple and the cemetery in Taylor where Grandma Hartman is buried. Here are a few pictures of the Adventure in Moving.


Bye bye Concho, bye bye desert, bye bye Juniper trees.

Sadie, Hannah, Abby and Brigham at the motel.

Bill and I at the Snowflake Temple.

Brent, Amanda, Bill, Sadie, Hannah and Abby at the Taylor cemetery.

Christmas in Platte City

Christmas this year was cold, snowy and filled with McClellans. Our kids didn't come home this year since we celebrated Christmas together in Disneyland. Linda, Don, Bruce & Kimberly's family came from Utah while Emily's family and Amber came up from Texas. Ryan and family came for a short visit after Christmas so we had a total of 21 people coming and going between our house and Mother's for the holidays.

We had a Christmas Eve program at our house. Here are
Bruce, Amber, Joseph, Don and Linda waiting for their turn to participate.

Linda, Mother and Emily visiting at Mother's house.

Even though it was very cold, the kids loved playing in the snow and managed to make 196 snowballs to put in Santa's sleigh.

Amber, Linda and Emily helped roll out the noodles to dry for Christmas dinner. It is a family tradition that Mother makes her homemade noodles for all family holidays.

Emily, Hayley, Amber, Alex, Tyler, Sean, Kimberly and Joseph on Christmas morning at our house, ready to open their presents.

Bill and I on Christmas day at Mother's house.

I made hats for everyone as well as the dolls. Here is Erin with her new Christmas Doll and their hats.

On Sunday, before everyone left on Monday morning, some of us made a trip to the cemetery to visit Daddy's grave. Some of the snow had melted but it was still pretty cold that day. Standing from left to right is Linda, Amber, Ryan, Bill, Seth, Sandy, Mother and Don.

Disneyland!

We just got back from a wonderful trip to Disneyland with our kids and grandkids. We must have walked 50 miles but it was all worth it. We made many great memories that will last a lifetime. We had fantastic weather - in the 70's during the day with no rain. Hannah turned 7 while we were there and we all enjoyed a great character breakfast with Lilo and Stitch on her birthday.
Here is a picture of me with Ellie, Hannah, Abby, Micah, & Sadie posing with Goofy in his Christmas sweater.

A cute picture of Baby Moses. He is a happy boy and enjoyed being outside in his stroller.

Sadie, Hannah and Abby with Snow White.

Brent and Amanda with Sadie 10, Hannah 7, Abby 4, Brigham 2 and Moses 6 months, in front of Sleeping Beauty's castele.

Ellie with Cinderella, her favorite Disney character.

Robert, Heather, Micah 6, and Ellie 3, in front of Mickey's house in Toontown.

Ellie got her face painted.

Bill and I watching Brigham and Moses on our favorite bench. We were under a shade tree and had a great view of the Castle and the Matterhorn. Brigham enjoyed watching the Disney cars and horse drawn wagons going around the Turnaround.

We came home from sunny California to snow and freezing temperatures. It is 4 degrees this morning but the gas is $1.27. We are now excited about Christmas and are preparing for the McClellans who will be coming to share Chirstmas with us this year.