Making S'mores

Blake gave me this fire pit for Christmas and I have been waiting and waiting and waiting to try it out. Tonight was the night! Blake built a rather large fire (I thought).

We sat around the fire and waited for it to die down a little. We enjoyed the warmth and the atmosphere. Blake and Ryan are the only kids home, Britta is at work.

When we couldn't wait any longer, we started roasting marshmallows.

It takes patience to toast a perfect marshmallow. I like mine golden on the outside and warm and gooey all the way through. If you don't take your time, they won't be melted all the way to the middle.  Ryan caught his first one on fire, so he just ate it and didn't make it into a s'more.

His second one turned out perfect!

 YUM! I see lots of summer nights making s'mores ahead us!

Spring Hail Storm

We had a BIG hail storm today, which is surprising for us, we don't usually get hail. When we do, it isn't very much and is about pea sized. I took this picture out the front door, and it looks like snow!

There was a lot on the roof.

It was about the size of a cotton ball. Not a very good description, since cotton balls are soft. About halfway through the storm I decided to pull two of my pots flower pots into the house because they were taking such a beating, and it hurt when I got hit!

Lots of little balls in that grass!

This was a geranium. No blooms left at all.

This big pot had a mix of flowers in it with some wave petunias around the edge. I am so sad, I love my flowers. I can't tell if they will bounce back or if they are gone for good. If they do come back, I hope they hurry and don't take all summer. I want to enjoy them now, not at the end of the summer. I will see what happens in the next few days, maybe I will have to buy new ones. Oh Colorado I still love you, and will forgive you this once for destroying my flowers. It is a good thing you don't treat us like this very often. Most of the time this is a very pleasant place to live.

Britta's 3rd Seminary Stake President Award

This is Britta's third year earning the Stake President's Award in seminary. Some of the requirements are 90 percent attendance, memorizing the 25 scripture mastery scriptures, learning the names of the Quorum of the Twelve in order, and reading the scriptures being studied that year. This year it was the Old Testament, and that is a lot of reading!!

Each year they get a book. This year it is "100 Favorite Verses to Bring You Closer to Christ". It sounds like a great reference book for talks.

I'm so proud of this girl! She is a hard worker. She has set a goal to earn this award all four years of her seminary experience, and I have no doubt she will! Good job Britta!

Dagny Stays with Grandma and Grandpa

While Landon and Megan were at the hospital for Lincoln's birth, Dagny stayed with us. It was a great three day sleepover! I realized I didn't take very many pictures, how did that happen?? We had ice cream cones the first night to celebrate.

We also kept Gracie, who made herself right at home. Doesn't look very comfortable for either one of them, but they aren't complaining. Blake and Britta love Gracie and they took care of her while she was here. She is a pretty easy dog who doesn't require much.

Dagny loves to get inside things, the toy box, the newspaper rack, the laundry basket, and today she learned how to open the bottom of the stove. She thought it was great fun to climb in and out, and she tried to sit in one of the bigger pans.

She is just too cute!

One afternoon we went down to Landon and Megan's condo so Delwyn could do some work in their master bathroom. They replaced some sheet rock that had existing water damage when they moved in. It needed to mudded and sanded, and Delwyn wanted to surprise them by doing some work while they were gone.

We gave Dagny this rocking unicorn for her birthday. She can get off and on now by herself. She loves it and rocks so hard and fast, I was a little worried she was going to tip over!

Dagny's hair is growing, and Britta wanted to give her pigtails. She didn't sit very still, but Britta managed to get them done. 

Dagny loves books! She likes it when someone reads to her, and she is also happy to look at them by herself.

Dagny loves to go outside and she likes to go on the trampoline. She doesn't really jump, but just walks or runs around on it. She knows it bounces, but hasn't quite figured out to jump.

Having fun!

So sweet!

Dagny was so happy to see her parents when they got back home. It was sure fun to have her for three days and it's so exciting to have a grandson! I am surely blessed!

Welcome to our Family, Baby Lincoln

Lincoln Palmer joined our family on Tuesday, May 17 at 1:12 pm. He weighs 6 lbs. 14 oz. and is 19.75 inches long. The next day, Delwyn and I took Dagny to the hospital to meet her brother. She looked at him for a few seconds, but she was more happy to see her Mom and Dad.

The happy Mama and her new baby boy!

It's hard to tell when they are so new, but I don't think he looks like Dagny. He has a different chin and mouth. Megan thinks he has her nose. He's very cute, no matter who he looks like!

A proud Dad with a child in each arm.

They are now a family of four!

Grandpa and his first grandson!

Another baby for me to love! I just love babies! They are so sweet and add so much joy to our lives.

Dagny takes one last look at new brother before we leave the hospital. She's not quite sure what to think about all of this, but I am sure they are going to be quite the pair and the best of friends. They are so close in age, they will do everything together, is my guess.



This picture was taken the day they came home. Megan had a C-section, so they stayed in the hospital for three days. Landon is taking two weeks off from work to take care of his little family. He is a great Dad and I am proud of him!

Ryan's Spring Band Concert

This is Ryan's last band concert at Mesa Middle School. He has enjoyed being in the band and has learned much the past two years. There are 43 kids in the advanced band. Percussion is in the very back, so it is hard to get a picture of Ryan. 

I went up on the stage after the concert to get at least one picture. Ryan played the marimba as well as the high tom drum, snare drum, and bells and chimes. They played four songs, my favorite was "Brave Spirit."

Anna and Ryan have known each other since birth. I have lots of pictures of these two growing up over the years. Next week the Mosers are moving to Arizona, so of course Sarah and I both wanted one last picture.

Last week the band went to a competition called Music in the Parks. They got a superior rating and won two trophies, one for the Best 2A Division School, and they also won the Best Band Overall. It was very exciting to win overall as a middle school, there were several high school bands competing as well. Mr. Van Alphen is a great teacher and conductor!

Mother's Day

I had a fabulous Mother's Day! I talked to all my kids either in person or on the phone, and Blake gave me this beautiful cake!

Being a mother is a most wonderful blessing! I am so thankful Heavenly Father gave me the opportunity to have 7 amazing kids. I may not be the perfect mom, but I sure love each one of them with all my heart! I am also thankful for the wonderful Mother I have. She is perfect in every way, and if I can be even half the woman she is, I will be satisfied. My Mom is loving, generous, talented, and serves others endlessly. I have learned much from her, and would wish to be just like her.

The Mormon Prom 2016

Every spring the church has a Spring Formal for the kids 16 and older. Everyone calls it the Mormon Prom, or Mo Po. It's a lot like the school prom, but with church standards. Britta is going with James Etchells. Kimberlea helped Britta make a corsage and boutonniere. They turned out so nice and looked so cute since they had the same flowers and matched. James thought Britta was going to stick him with the pin and he kept flinching. Britta thought it was quite funny!

She finally got it pinned on.

Her corsage was on a beaded pearl bracelet. It was really pretty and it was nice there were no ribbons to have to tie.

Kim and Doug Perry have a beautiful yard and that's where we went for pictures. James is quite funny and a joker and I have a lot of pictures that are goofy. This is one of the nicer ones.

They are going with a large group. There are two high schools in Castle Rock, and this is a mix of kids from both schools.

Two of the moms (Stacy Houser and Sarah Houghes) were posing the kids for pictures and one of them got the idea that the girls should give the boys a quick peck on the cheek. Britta cooperated, but James wasn't quite sure what to think.

Britta and Chloe have been good friends for two or three years. Britta went to her house and they got ready together.

James and Britta, Chloe and Bryant.

Britta's dress had a cut out section in the low back, so I made this bow and used velcro to stick it on the dress. I was so lucky to find the perfect shade of blue in a similar fabric. It turned out quite nice. Many of the mom's who were taking pictures commented on how cute the back of her dress was and they were quite amazed when we told them we added the bow.

My sweet girl has grown up!

Beautiful Britta!

The Hughes' ordered food from Maggiano's and the kids ate at their house. They had apple pie and ice cream for dessert, then they were off to dance the night away!