Oh Christmas Trees, Oh Christmas Trees!

This post is mainly for our family! This is what our home looks like this Christmas Season. I had a hard time deciding which tree to put up this year, so I put them all up, well almost all of them! This is the first Christmas we will be spending alone, here in Elizabeth. We will greatly miss all of our sweet, adorable grandchildren and their parents! Hopefully one day we can be together again for the holidays! Hope you enjoy the pictures of our home. It took us long enough to decorate!

Ruby's blessing

We were so lucky to be able to be in Preston for little Ruby's blessing day! What a great way to top off a great weekend! Unfortunatley I happened to have the flu! It was such a fun weekend though. It was nice to see Betty Lou and be with the Johnsons. Thanks everyone!

Jackson Hole

Well after being home for a few days we were off again! This time John and I were at least together! Aaron was in an art show in Jackson Hole, Wyo. It is so fun to be able to be at his art shows when we can. It was such a great trip.
John got to meet Ruby and we got to see the Johnson's one last time this year. We stayed at the Virginian hotel and the kids got to spend the night with us. We drove around to see the Tetons, of course they were covered with clouds. It was still a beautiful trip. I always love going to Jackson.

On to the Ingrams!

After spending the night at home with John, I was off to Georgia! It was a busy time for the Ingrams! Lex and Indie had their first soccer games of the season. It was so fun to see them play, but it was so STINKIN HOT! As soon as the games were over it was time for Indie's baptism. It was so fun to be with Indianna at her baptism! She was so EXCITED to just get into that water. She was so cute and so sweet. I am so happy I was able to be there for her special day!
Then it was time for Olive's birthday! She turned THREE! I can't believe she is growing up so much. It was great to be there for her birthday. Emily, Indie, Olive and I went to Disney on Ice. So many princesses! It was so fun to see their little faces, I think Emily and I enjoyed it as much. Always a Princess I guess.
While there I took each of the kids to the store and let them pick out something special. Indie picked a book, Lex picked a game and Tadhg picked cars of course! I had spent time with Olive all week and didn't think she noticed we hadn't been "alone". I drove up after taking Tadhg and she was at the door waiting her turn! It was so adorable. We went to the gas station and pick out what ever she wanted, and she knew EXACTLY what she wanted. She had picked out something earlier, we weren't alone though, so I guess it didn't count. It was so nice to see them all agian. I hope I NEVER have to go a year without seeing them again!
It has been a great summer!

Time spent with the Phillips

Some random fun things we did while with the Phillips!
The kids love a place called Jumpin Jax. A whole lot of jump houses!
It was so cute watching Miles on the computer. I was amazed how well he could run the mouse and knew what he was doing on the games! He loves the puter!
We went to their ward party at a park by the lake. The kids love this place!
Of course we had to go to Chuck E Cheese!
This little boy LOVES his cars. I love this picture of him. I had a great time with them - as usual!

Our Little Wesley Cordell

Wow what a wonderful summer it has been! I flew to Michigan Sept. 8th to be with Alexis and her family waiting for baby number 4! It ended being more like waiting and waiting and then more waiting! This little guy was TEN DAYS late. He was born Sept. 20th. I have to say I was REALLY impressed with my baby girl! Lexie didn't complain, wine or get impatient! Even though the hospital just didn't seem to want to get her in! But what a sweet little man they have. I guess you can really say he was worth the wait.
It was fun being there to take the other kids to the hospital, even though I did miss my most favorite thing, which is being there for the birth of my grandbabies. I guess those days are over. Especially when there are children at home that need attention too! The best part of life is welcoming little souls into our family! I ended up extending my flight for a few days just so I could hold this little man. I got to spend the second night at the hospital with Lexie and Wesley. I got to hold him and sleep with him for awhile, which is also one of my favorite things! Thank you Phillips family for such a wonderful time! Welcome little Wesley Cordell!

My summer job.

I have had a busy summer! This is my brother's cabin that is on his property. He had a close friends daughter get married there in July, so I decided to take on the yard work! It had not been really taken care of for years so the weeds had decided to move in! It has been a ton of work and I have loved every minute of it. It has been nice having a job to pay for all my travels to see kids and grandkids! This is deffinatley a job for me! I get to work hard and make it pretty without paying for all the flowers and I get to travel when I need to! It is so beautiful to see all the flowers at their best. I only wish it were my yard! The photos are before and after photos, actaully they are after and before!

Garnet Digging

We had so much fun digging for Garnets! I did not know that Idaho is the only place in the US where Garnets are found! We did find a few small ones, not sure if they are worth anything but Aaron is going to find out. Just as we were arriving a man was walking out with a 5 OZ. garnet he had just found. The biggest found this summer. Even though we didn't find the big one is was a blast looking!

Ruby and her blessing dress

I have been privileged to be able to sew each of my grandchildrens blessing outfits, except for my Lex boy, (I didn't know I could when he was born), and Raul, Ellie and Jackie, they came into our lives later! It was so fun to sew this dress for Ruby, she looks so beautiful! I hope each dress or outfit is something my children will cherish and remember about me. I love each of my sweet grandchildren so much.

Our little Ruby Aileen Johnson

Is there anything sweetier than a baby? I just love the fresh smell of their skin and even their poopy diapers! It was so fun to be there when Ruby was born. I have missed 2 of Aaron and Hannah's babies being born, because they were early. I have to thank Hannah and Ruby for waiting for me to be there. It is one of my MOST favorite things.
I just love the name they have chosen. Ruby is after my grandma, I love that lady! She always took care of me and as for a grandma in my life I have the most memories of her. She is who I think of when I think of grandma. She was always out in her garden or in knitting or crocheting. She lived to be 100 years old!
Aileen is after Corey's grandmother. She lived close by him growing up and I am sure all those Johnson boys drove her crazy! We would take our kids to see her and she would always have salt water taffy in the drawer in the kitchen, but she would only let the kids have ONE! She was a very sweet lady. She lived to be 92 I believe.

Wow time flies! 35 years is almost unbelievable to me! Thanks to everyone that helped out with the night. I hope it was as much fun for you as it was for me. I must say I am really glad it is over! Thanks to Jill Hansen for helping me find so many classmates addresses. You're great, even though you didn't come!
I sometimes think we forget those that we spent so much of our growing up years with and how important that time of our lives was. It was awesome seeing you all! Hope to see you in 5 years!