Margene's Blog

Bowling

2011-06-20T21:56:00.001-06:00

A trip to Provo isn’t the same without a bowling spree

at the BYU Game Center!

Wednesday ~ Temple Square

2011-06-15T19:47:00.001-06:00

Austin’s Swimming Accident

2011-06-15T19:03:00.001-06:00

Austin and some of his cousin’s BEGGED me to take them swimming after dinner, so I finally did so they would quit bothering me! Long story short, he did a flip off the side of the pool, hit his head, and we took him to ER for 13 staples. All I can say is there was a FULL MOON!!! NEVER SWIM ON A FULL MOON…or take kids swimming after dinner.

Lori’s Family Arrive at the Reunion

2011-06-15T18:58:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas.....er uh... Happy Valentine's ~ 2010 Holiday Letter

2011-01-02T22:27:00.027-07:00

WOW! Another year (and then some) has rolled around! It's hard to believe that it is time to try to figure out how to add to my blog again! I managed it last Christmas and haven't done a thing since, so I am basically starting over and have spent over a month trying to figure it all out again.

It looks like I'll be a once a year blogger.......... or may just give up and decide I'm too old to do this craziness! I'm still faithfully keeping up on my scrapbooking, but a blog seems to be the best way to send greetings and LOTS of pictures your way, so bear with me.

I could blame Lori, (bless her heart). She added the festive Christmas background to get me started, but I've taken so long I should have her change it to valentines and cupids!

I apologize for the length of this greeting.....but I confess.....I just can't resist when it comes to family pictures! The good news is that I will never know that you didn't look at the whole thing and I can chalk my efforts up to a "family history" effort!

As I read through my Christmas blog from last year, there really isn't much that has changed. The grandkids are getting bigger and my wrinkles are getting deeper, but I've never lacked for words when it comes to bragging about my kids, so here goes!..........

All of the children are pretty much doing the same things in the same places (with the exception of Blaine), so if you are curious or have forgotten, just read previous Christmas greetings by clicking on the appropriate year in the margin directly left of this paragraph and you will be caught up!

I think I will try a new format this year and share the events of 2010 on a month to month basis.

JANUARY......Was uneventful as far as pictures go.

Julie and Eric had their grand opening for "Slab Pizza" here in Provo. Eric needed something to keep him busy for a year, in anticipation of entering the MBA program at BYU in the fall. I must admit, I didn't have much faith in the pizza venture because pizza establishments are a "dime a dozen" in Provo. As it turns out, their pizza was a smash hit and the place is doing so well that they opted to continue with the business and put the schooling on hold! A "slab" is 1/4 of a 20 inch pizza. (I haven't been able to eat a whole slab yet!) My favorite is the Cordon Bleu and it is "to die for"!

Other January (and monthly) activities include full time work at the MTC, faithfully watching all BYU football and basketball games with friends and family, temple attendance, a weekly BYU/CES religion class taught by Richard Holzapfel, typing Patriarchal Blessings (my favorite church calling!)........AND adding a bathroom and second bedroom to my comfy little basement retreat. (Julie, Eric and the 6 children are upstairs)......(We didn't actually build a new bedroom and bath, we merely put a wall across the hall in the rental area of the basement and seized the back portion of the existing area). Eric was the "man of the year" and did all the hard/technical stuff. He's stuck with keeping two women content with all their "honey-do" projects! Poor guy!!!

FEBRUARY

A trip to Reno was the highlight of February. It was a quick trip but for a wonderful cause since Tim and Lori's youngest, Austin, was being baptized. The day I arrived I was able to watch Lori teach in her first grade classroom. She is an absolutely AMAZING teacher and I'm not a bit biased!

Next, I was introduced to Austin's hamster, "Butterscotch" and Jake's hamster, "Oreo"....

Tim is slowly mending from his brain tumor, three surgeries and never-ending severe headaches. He is a great help at home with the children and the upkeep of the house. The past three years have been challenging, to say the least. Lori continues to be a trouper as wife and mother, 1st grade teacher and working with a recently added internet/home jewelry business where she sells her creations. You might want to check it out by clicking on the following links. They make wonderful, affordable gifts!

http://www.charminglycb.blogspot.com/ or http://www.charminglychic.etsy.com/

The baptism was a wonderful experience and well worth the quick trip to Reno! I am so proud of ALL of my sweet grandchildren!

Tim's brother Charlie, and family, were in attendance along with Tim and Lori's eldest son, Chad.

On February 10th, my grandson, Tanner, (Grant & Myra's oldest) opened his mission call. It looks like he will be spending the next two years in the Honduras, Tegucigalpa mission!

Grant's family continues to stay extremely involved and busy! Tanner is over 8 months into his mission (at the time of this post) and enjoying it immensely. Jared is a senior at Pleasant Grove High and will soon graduate, having earned his Associate Degree from Utah Valley University. Ryan, Amanda and David are being home schooled by Myra and are doing wonderful things and growing like weeds. Grant continues to work from home with his internet "Preparedness" business. Be sure to click on this link to see all the wonderful things he has to offer: http://www.grant@getpreparedstuff.com/

On February 13th, Julie and Eric's middle daughter, Elizabeth (Lizzy) celebrated her second birthday.

MARCH

This month brought another flight to Arizona to attend another baptism. Mark and Gwen's son, Ethan, was the lucky one this time!

Mark continues to enjoy his work in the IT (computer division) of Arizona Public Service Power Company. He is a wonderful husband and father and loves to spend time with his wife and kids!

APRIL

Hannah Jean Beutler,was born April 29, 2010. She is absolutely adorable, and if spoiled, I take full responsibility! She belongs to Julie and Eric so I've been able to be closer to this grandbaby than any of the others, since they are living with me at the present time.

Daddy looks like the one who just gave birth!

Lizzy was pretty excited about her new baby sister! (and so was Nana!)

MAY

Tanner entered the MTC in May and it was wonderful to be working there so I could see him during the two months he studied the Spanish language. This is a picture of the two of us taken in front of the map in the clinic where I work.

We had a high school graduation in May for Christian Alexander Mahan (Shauna and Casey's). It gave Nana a great excuse to fly to Arizona again!

Little sister, Carli, helps make this a fantastic "twosome"!

Christian is presently attending Arizona State University in Tempe. Mom likes it because he is close to home, although living on campus.

Shauna is still a busy mother and beautician and Casey is President and Manager of Stone Crest Wealth Management, Inc. The business just moved into a brand new building in Chandler, Arizona. http://www.stonecrestwealth.com/

The second memorable thing about May was that Blaine flew into Arizona from Thailand to spend several months in the good old U.S.A.!!!!! We had a wonderful reunion with some of the family in Arizona and then the two of us returned to Utah where I soaked in every minute and day he was home, which turned out to be 5 whole months! (The longest in years)

During that time he worked for Open Air Cinema in Lindon, Utah. While with them for the summer, he helped organize a humanitarian division for that company. He will continue to be employed by them while in Asia.

One of my projects this year was to put labels on a large world map showing all the places Blaine has been since his mission. To date I count 32 different countries and he has been to many of those countries on several occasions.

Each strip is a specific trip (some lasting several weeks or months.) To name a few: He made many trips to India (his "favorite" place)....Others to Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Germany, Nepal, Bangladesh, Tibet,.....and his mission experience was in Madagascar, La Reunion, and Mauritius!

....and then he has also spent many months in Thailand and taken many trips to Burma, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea.......etc. etc. etc! He is definitely my "gypsy/vagabond"!

His first project during 2010 was in Mae Sot, Thailand working with the Burmese refugees.

I just had to put this adorable picture in..........it's a favorite!

Main street in the village.

In November he returned to Luang Prabang, Laos where he helped with a film festival. He plans to make Laos his "base" for a while.

One interesting place in this area is called "the Plain of Jars" (You may want to "Google" the historical findings on these huge granite jars.) They are located in an area where there is a dense population of bombs remaining in the ground from the Vietnam war.

A present project is to help make the villagers aware of the dangers of digging up these bombs and selling them for scrap metal. Many of them are still "live" bombs and can easily kill or seriously injure.

In January he spent two weeks in Vietnam working with a group on a documentary and then returned to Bangkok and Luang Prabang where he now resides.

Briefly, the large Open Air Cinema inflatable screens and projector equipment that Blaine has in Asia enables him to reach thousands of people at a time to educate them on AIDS prevention, hygiene, anti-terrorism, and other similar causes, and believe me, he finds new causes on a regular basis!

JUNE

Summer brings wonderful trips to the canyons with picnics and all sorts of fun.

Amanda (Grant and Myra's) loves watermelon, as do we all!

Grant, Blaine and Julie

JULY

The 4th of July in Provo is always exciting and we usually get visits from some of the out of state kids. This year it was Mark and Gwen's family.

The 4th fell on a Sunday this year and so we celebrated by giving little baby, Hannah, a name and a blessing at church.

Eric, Elizabeth, Joshua, Julie, Hannah, Jeremy, Abby and Nathan

Monday night we celebrated watching fireworks from the field just below the Provo Temple. Thousands bring their blankets and chairs, and Grant and Myra brought homemade ice cream.

The spectacular sunset would have been adequate without the fireworks!

Another spectacular July experience was a hike to Stuart Falls in Provo Canyon

Julie's Abby and Mark's Maddie are great friends and "Cousin Twins"... Mark and Caden are hiking buddies.

The end of July brought an eighth birthday for Joshua (Julie and Eric's) I just had to put this picture in because it is Josh's true smile....and, besides, what kid asks for pickles for his birthday?!

The best part of being eight is you are old enough to be baptized! Our third one for the year!

AUGUST

Lori and Austin visited for 3 short days, but we found time to go to Seven Peaks again and there was plenty of "cuddling" time with Hannah

Josh and Jeremy (Julie's)......Ryan (Grant's) and Austin (Lori's)

It doesn't get much better than this!......Lizzy and Hannah zonked on Nana's lap.

Amanda had a swimming party for her fifth birthday.....and she was a baby just a minute ago. Is she a doll or what?

Grant with two of his boys, Ryan and David

SEPTEMBER

Nathan finally gets to go to school.

Another birthday, and this is a tenth for Abby.

OCTOBER

Trick or treating and pumpkins always go with October! Bet you can't guess who Lizzy was. Instead of Snow White she calls herself "Hi Ho".... as in..... "it's home from work we go!"

Blaine with our adorable little lady bug. Happy Halloween!

'Nope, the baby doesn't have long red hair.........that's Julie's hair hanging down over her. (No redheads yet!)

Lori turns 29 AGAIN in October …and gets a new puppy "Buddy" for her Birthday gift!!....I suspect the boys were in on the idea!

NOVEMBER

Blaine went back to Laos and Thailand and missed a quiet Thanksgiving in Provo with Grant and Julie's families.

DECEMBER

Danielle and Chad (Lori and Tim's) celebrating Christmas!

....and Danielle celebrating her 28th birthday with Austin and Jake.

Shauna's Carli turns "sweet 16" and she is definitely sweet!

A picture of a few of the grandchildren depicting the birth of Christ seems a fitting end to my wishes for a wonderful year in 2011. May the Lord bless us all as we strive to keep His commandments and emulate the great example He set for us. My greatest blessings are my testimony of the gospel, my precious family and my wonderful friends. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for the role you play in making my life so happy. Have a fantastic year!

I LOVE YOU!

Merry Christmas 2010

2010-12-22T16:09:00.007-07:00

WOW! Another year has rolled around and it's hard to believe that it is time to try to figure out how to add to my blog.........yep..........it looks like the Christmas season is going to be the only time you'll hear from me via my blog! I'm still faithfully keeping up my scrapbooking, but a blog seems to be the best way to send greetings and LOTS of pictures.

Lori, (bless her heart) put some festive background on and helped me with the frustrating issues of blogging, so I am going to make a second attempt. The first attempt was a couple of weeks BEFORE Christmas..........but now this will officially be a Happy New Year's blog.

As I read through my Christmas blog of last year, there really isn't much that has changed. The grandkids are getting bigger and my wrinkles are getting deeper, but I've never lacked for words when it comes to bragging about my kids, so here goes!

All of the children are pretty much doing the same things in the same places (with exception of Blaine), so if you are curious or have forgotten, just read last year's Christmas greeting (below this year's) and you are caught up!

I think I will try a new format and share the events of each month in the year 2010.

JANUARY......Was uneventful as far as pictures go.

Julie and Eric had their grand opening for "Slab Pizza" here in Provo. Eric needed something to keep him busy for a year, in anticipation of entering the MBA program at BYU in the fall. I must admit, I didn't have much faith in the pizza venture because pizza establishments are a "dime a dozen" in Provo. As it turns out, their pizza was a smash hit and the place is doing so well that they opted to continue with the business and put the schooling on hold! You can see pictures and check out all their delicious choices by logging into provo pizza . A "slab" is 1/4 of a 20 inch pizza. (I haven't been able to eat a whole slab yet!) My favorite is the Cordon Bleu and it's to die for!

Other January activities (in addition to full time work at the MTC) included BYU basketball games, temple attendance, a weekly BYU/CES religion class taught by Richard Holzapfel, typing Patriarchal Blessings (my favorite church calling!)........AND adding a bathroom and second bedroom to my comfy little basement retreat. (Julie, Eric and the 6 children are upstairs)......(We didn't actually build a new bedroom and bath, we merely put a wall across the hall in the rental area of the basement and seized the back portion of the existing area). Eric was the "man of the year" and did all the hard/technical stuff. He's stuck with keeping two women content with all their "honey-do" projects! Poor guy

FEBRUARY

A trip to Reno was the highlight of February. It was a quick trip but for a wonderful cause since Tim and Lori's youngest, Austin, was being baptized. The day I arrived I was able to watch Lori teach in her first grade classroom. She was an absolutely AMAZING teacher and I'm not a bit biased!

Next, I was introduced to Austin's gerbil, "Butterscotch"....

......and Jake's............ gerbil, "Oreo"!

The baptism was a wonderful experience and well worth the quick trip to Reno!
Tim is slowly mending from his brain tumor, three surgeries and never-ending severe headaches. He is a great help at home with the children and the upkeep of the house. The past three years have been challenging, to say the least. Lori continues to be a trouper as wife and mother, 1st grade teacher and working with a recently added internet/home jewelry business where she sells her creations. You might want to check it out by clicking on the following link:

Tim's brother Charlie, and family, were in attendance along with Tim's oldest son, Chad.

On February 10th, my grandson, Tanner, (Grant & Myra's oldest) opened his mission call. It looks like he will be spending the next two years in the Honduras, Tegucigalpa mission!
"It looks like an exciting place to me!"

Grant's family continues to stay extremely involved and busy! Jared is a senior at Pleasant Grove High and will soon graduate, having earned his Associate Degree from Utah Valley University. Tanner is 7 months into his mission already and enjoying it immensely. Ryan, Amanda and David are being home schooled by Myra and are doing wonderful things and growing like weeds. Grant continues to work from home with his internet "Preparedness" business. Be sure to click on this link to see all the wonderful things he has to offer: www.grant@getpreparedstuff.com

On February 13th, Julie and Eric's middle daughter, Elizabeth (Lizzy) celebrated her second birthday.

MARCH

This month brought another flight to Arizona to attend another baptism. Mark and Gwen's son, Ethan, was the lucky one this time!

Ethan has a big sister, Madeline (Maddie) and a little brother, Caden. Gwen is a busy mother and is a wonderful professional photographer on the side. You can see some of her work by clicking on this link: http://www.gwendolyngracephotography.com/

Mark continues to enjoy his work in the computer division of Arizona Public Service Power Company.

APRIL

Daddy looks like the one who just gave birth!

Lizzy was pretty excited about her new baby sister! (and so was Nana!)

MAY

We had a high school graduate in May. Christian Alexander Mahan (Shauna and Casey's) gave Nana a great excuse to fly to Arizona again.

Little sister, Carli, helps make this a fantastic "twosome"!

Christian is present attending Arizona State University in Tempe. Mom likes it because he is close to home, although living on campus.

During that time he worked for Open Air Cinema in Lindon, Utah. While with them, he helped organize a humanitarian division for that company and will continue to be employed by them.

O.K. here comes my last link, just in case you are curious! http://www.openaircinema.org/

What did the pioneers do without computers???

One of my projects this year was to put labels on a large world map showing all the places Blaine has been since his mission. To date I count 32 different countries and he has been to many of those on several occasions.

Each strip is a specific trip (some lasting several weeks or months.) To name a few: Many trips to India (his "favorite" place)....Others to Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Germany, Nepal, Bangladesh, Tibet,.....and his mission experience was in Madagascar, La Reunion, and Maritius!

.....and then we have a long list of strips to Thailand and many other trips to Burma, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea.......etc. etc. etc! He is definitely my "gypsy/vagabond"!

His main projects during 2010 have been work in Mae Sot, Thailand with the Burmese refugees and in Luan Prabang, Laos where he helped with a film festival. He plans to make Loas his "base" for a while, but left January 2nd for a four month stay in Vietnam.

Briefly, the large Open Air Cinema inflatable screens and projector equipment that Blaine has in Asia enables him to reach thousands of people, in one screening, to educate them on AIDS prevention, hygiene, anti-terrorism, and other similar causes, and beleive me, he finds new causes on a regular basis!

JUNE

Summer brings wonderful trips to the canyons with picnics and all sorts of fun.

Amanda (Grant and Myra's) love watermelon, as do we all!

Grant, Blaine and Julie

JULY

The 4th of July in Provo is always exciting and we usually get visits from some of the out of state kids. This year it was Mark and Gwen's family.

The 4th fell on a Sunday this year and so we celebrated by giving little baby, Hannah, a name and a blessing at church.

Eric, Elizabeth, Joshua, Julie, Hannah, Jeremy, Abby and Nathan

The field just below the Provo Temple is the perfect place to watch the fireworks. Thousands bring their blankets and chairs, and Grant and Myra brought homemade ice cream.

The spectacular sunset would have been adequate without the fireworks!

While Mark's family was still here we had to spend a day at Seven Peaks!

Two year old Caden was a regular little fish

Gwen and Caden relaxing in the sun.

Hannah likes to relax also!

Caden is at it again!

Another spectacular experience was a hike to Stuart Falls in Provo Canyon.

Julie's Abby and Mark's Maddie............"Cousin Twins"

AUGUST

Lori and Austin visited for 3 short days, but we found time to go to Seven Peaks again and there was plenty of "cuddling" time with Hannah

Josh and Jeremy (Julie's)......Ryan (Grant's) and Austin (Lori's)

It doesn't get much better than this!......Lizzy and Hannah zonked on Nana's lap.

August brought more swimming and Hannah loves the water!

Amanda had a swimming party for her fifth birthday.....and she was a baby just a minute ago. Is she a doll or what?

Grant with two of his boys, Ryan and David

SEPTEMBER

Nathan finally gets to go to school

Another birthday, and this is a tenth for Abby.

OCTOBER

Trick or treating and pumpkins always go with October! Bet you can't guess who Lizzy was. Instead of Snow White she calls herself "Hi Ho" as in "it's home from work you go!"

Blaine with our adorable little lady bug.

Happy Halloween!

'Nope, she doesn't have red hair.........that's Julie's hanging down over the baby.

'Just this last week she has learned to pull herself to a sitting position and is crawling (well, sort of Olympic swimming) across the floor at high speed.

Nana tried her hand at crocheting a hat. She'd look cute in anything!

2010-12-12T20:19:00.004-07:00

Jeremy, age 12, in his class play costume

The whole Beutler family picking raspberries at the neighbors

Eric holding Elizabeth, Julie holding Hannah, Abby

Jeremy, Joshua and Nathan

Christian's Graduation

2010-05-30T22:53:00.003-06:00

Christian's Senior Prom Picture

Carli & Christian

2010-05-30T17:02:00.000-06:00

Lori's 1st Grade Class in Reno Nevada

2010-01-28T22:54:00.000-07:00

Doing what Nana does BEST!!!

2009-12-28T09:47:00.001-07:00

Editor’s note: Lori did this first part! (I refuse to be responsible…… but am guilty as charged!)

2009 CHRISTMAS/ NEW YEAR’S GREETINGS!

To all my dear friends and family! I am hereby officially venturing into the new and unknown realm of blogging!

My daughter, Lori, suggested that my Christmas card for this year could be “easily” (ha ha) handled on the blog that she created for me last July. Unfortunately it has not been added to since….(because I have no idea how to blog and still don’t!)

Lori, however, gave me a crash course while here at Christmas and I suspect the rest will be done with numerous calls to Reno and some help from Grant’s wife, Myra, who just posted her first attempts at blogging…..(and she even managed to have snow falling through her pictures! WOW …… How do you do that???!!!)

Anyway……here goes……I hope you enjoy my unprofessional, futile attempts and at least realize how much I love you and hope that your Christmas was absolutely marvelous and the coming year is even more so! My love and best wishes to EVERYONE!

*********

I suppose that I should start with myself (but don’t expect more pictures…….the ones above are incriminating enough!)

I just received my certificate for having worked ten years as a receptionist at the Missionary Training Center Health Clinic. It has been a thrill to be able to be a part of the missionary program by welcoming and caring for the fine young men and women of church who carry the message of the gospel throughout the face of the land. Many of YOUR children have added greatly to this exciting privilege! I have no plans to retire at the moment, which indicates how much I am enjoying my work…..(and the pay check).

My present calling in the church is the absolute best calling EVER! For over a year I have had the privilege of transcribing the Patriarchal blessings for our Stake Patriarch, Jae R. Ballif. I was able to do this for several years while living in Missouri, so this has become a double blessing for me. I love the special spirit this brings to my life and hope to be able to continue with this calling forever!

My spare time is spent enjoying the grand children, trying to schedule in a weekly visit to the temple, attending church functions, hitting the dollar movie theater with friends, reading, keeping my scrapbooking current and working on genealogy! This keeps me busy enough with full-time work in the equation.

Last August I invested in a “pop-up” camp trailer and hope to entice more visits from the out of state kids so my life can continue to be filled with family gatherings.

Traveling to births, baptisms, ordinations and school functions tend to keep a Nana busy and involved also.

My life is full and happy and I’m hoping for many years ahead to accomplish all my hopes and aspirations….(I’m I’m a slow learner and my genealogy will take at least 100 more years!)

2009 Update of Children

2009-12-27T23:24:00.001-07:00

Grant’s Family

Grant is still working on his home based internet business selling “preparedness” items. He is presently a Primary Chorister and has survived his second Sacrament Meeting Program with his calling.

Myra is a home school mom, taxi driver, Knights of Freedom advisor and Nursery Leader….and did I say taxi driver?

The children keep them hopping. Tanner (18) just finished his first semester (on a scholarship) at BYU and lives in one of my basement rental rooms. It is great to have him so close. Jared (16) is taking classes at UVU (Utah Valley University in Orem) and will have his Associate Degree by the time he graduates from high school! Both Tanner and Jared are fantastic pianists (and play the good classical music that Nana loves so much!) David (12), Ryan (9) and Amanda (4) keep mom super involved with all the things that wonderful children bring to family living!

Jared, Grant, Myra and Tanner, Ryan, Amanda and David

Grant and Mark try their skills at outdoor cooking.

Myra and Amanda

Grant’s three youngest during out first campout with the tent trailer.

Father and eldest son, Tanner

Shauna’s Family

Shauna and her family are still living in Mesa, Arizona. She continues as a beautician but hopes to retire SOON. I’m betting that will never happen because her clients (including her mom) will not be able to get along without her!

Casey is a financial planner so he says Shauna still needs to keep working!!! (Financial Planning??!!!….yep!)

Christian is a senior this year and is busy playing on the the Varsity basketball team. He is also an excellent baseball player. Carli is in junior high and has become a beautiful young lady. She enjoys soccer and basketball! Shauna and Casey are their best fans and are kept busy going to all their games. The kids are both excellent students and a joy to have around.

The family in New York

On top of the Empire State Building.

A very unfamiliar landmark! (Just kidding)

Shauna, during my visit to Arizona for Thanksgiving

Lori’s Family

Lori is still in Reno with her family. She recently began a second career as a teacher and is in her second year of teaching first grade.

Tim has gone through quite a year of recovery from a brain tumor that was diagnosed in Aug 2008. He has had radiation, chemo therapy and 4 surgeries so hasn’t had the most exciting year ever. He continues to improve and appreciates all the prayers of friends and family!

The two younger boys are growing like weeds. Jake (10) is in fourth grade and Austin (7) is in second grade. They love anything to do with the outdoors! Danielle (27) and Chad (21) are both working in Reno and doing well. For more on her family you can go to her blog: www.thefamilywoodman.blogspot.com

Tim was too busy fishing for a family portrait so we had to “catch” him with his back to the camera!

There is no better fishing than the Provo River….just ask my brothers who travel from Iowa and Idaho at least twice a year to try their luck.

Lori and Nana would rather visit and take pictures than fish!

Lori with her boys while waiting for the 4th of July fireworks display, which we watched from the field just below the Provo Temple.

Mark’s Family

Mark works for Arizona Public Service as a Computer Analyst. I tease him about the fact that he commutes from their home in Chandler, Arizona (which we jokingly call North Tucson) to North Phoenix (which is almost South Flagstaff). He leaves about 4:30 a.m. so he can finish and be home with his family for the rest of the afternoon and evening. What a guy!

Gwen is a very busy and wonderful mother! She is also a professional photographer and has her own photography business. Click on this link to see some of the photos she has taken of the grandchildren. They are on Lori’s blog and you will find there an additional link to her blog: Gwen's Photos

Madeline (9) and Ethan (7) are busy with school and the usual childhood projects. Maddie is great at crafts and creating and Ethan helps “Papa” solve all his computer problems (…even though Papa is very good at the computer)! Caden (1 1/2) is Nana’s adorable baby who always has a smile and a hug. (The picture is very typical of his nature!)

Sledding on the hill below Nana’s house.

I told you he was cute!

Julie’s Family

Julie and her family recently moved to Utah from Wheeling, West Virginia. I am thrilled to have them back in the West and especially excited to have them living with me!

Julie is also a fantastic mother and super busy. Every evening I arrive home from work to a delicious cooked meal, laundry that’s folded and placed in my room and all sorts of other wonderful amenities! What a deal!

Eric has been accepted into the MBA program at BYU next fall. I have kept him busy, since their move here on Labor Day, with “Honey-do” projects you wouldn’t believe! He is a wonder handyman to have around the house!

He has also recently become extremely busy opening a pizza place just south of campus to keep him involved during the interim.

We are all excited about the fact that girl #3 is due in April. This will make 20 grand children (13 boys and 7 girls) Wow!….think how much spoiling I can do with a new baby in my home!…..and I confess, it’s fun to spoil the others also!

Their kids are fantastic. Jeremy (11), Abigail (9) and Joshua (7) are all able to walk one block down the hill to attend Wasatch Elementary. Nathan (4) and Elizabeth (almost 2) stay at home and help mom tear up the house so they can clean it every evening to get dessert!

Eric, Julie, “Lizzy”, Jeremy, Nathan, Josh and Abby

Below are pictures of our annual attempt at a Nativity skit with seven “angelic” grand children. (Two of which are Lori’s) If you could see the video you would find that there was a “little” bedlam involved also ….but it was great!

Joseph and the shepherd (bottom left) are Lori’s boys. The rest are Julie’s five.

Elizabeth was our “special angel”

this year!

I told you they were angelic!

At this point I want to delight you with a Christmas bonus. Julie and I had to substitute in the nursery two weeks before Christmas and we decided to have a nursery nativity skit with the little ones. The results were adorable. Julie’s Elizabeth was the angel and she decided to make good use of the tissue box that we added at the last minute because we forgot to take a gift for the king……ENJOY!

Blaine

Blaine is still living, working and doing humanitarian projects in Asia. He is presently living on the border of Thailand and Burma in Mae Sot, Thailand.

The last time we counted, he had been in 36 countries since his LDS mission to Madagascar! I’m often heard repeating the fact that he is definitely “out of control”…. but he seems to love every minute of it and we are proud of the things he is accomplishing!

I am extremely grateful for gmail chat sessions that allow me to catch up on him. The greatest barrier is catching him when we are BOTH awake (since there is a 14 hour time difference).

During my last chat with him, he promised to send some more current pictures and a little write-up of what he is doing in his own words. “Better hurry Blaine!”

The following pictures are of years long past:

I think this is a mountain somewhere in the Himalaya’s

In a sandstorm in the Nevada desert.

At a meeting with the Dalai Lama (Blaine is on the far right & the Dalai Lama is in the red robe with yellow scarf)

A very pale face among some novice monks!

Blaine in Bhutan

Also Bhutan

This is the official end of my Christmas/New Year’s card that updates you on the family.

Have a wonderful year and keep checking back for new pictures and events (IF AND WHEN I FIGURE THIS BLOGGING OUT! Arghhhhhhh)…I’ll try to add to my numerous resolutions a promise to add more as the months roll by (and officially notify you when that is done)

If you are not totally bored by now, there’s more pictures below AND a link at the bottom for “older posts”.

Love ‘ya

More pictures taken during the holidays

2009-12-27T23:00:00.001-07:00

Joshua tubing at Rock Canyon park

Abby

Jake and Austin

2009-12-27T22:57:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo of the family at Tanner’s ordination as an Elder. (December 20, 2009)

Back: Margene, Lori, Jared, Myra, Amanda, Tanner, Grant, Julie, Elizabeth & Eric

Front: Austin, Jake, David, Ryan, Joshua, Abby, Jeremy, Nathan

Lori’s Family ~ Lori, Austin, and Jake (Lori’s husband Tim was still in Reno when this picture was taken).

Julie’s Family~ Eric, Julie, Elizabeth, Jeremy, Nathan, Joshua, and Abby.

Temple Square w/ Julie and Lori's Family

2009-12-15T22:54:00.000-07:00

Like mother like daughter

2009-07-16T21:01:00.000-06:00

Carli's
wears her
sun glasses...

just like her mom!

Angel Caden

2009-07-16T19:48:00.000-06:00

Angel Caden
waiting for the Sadium
of Fire Fireworks Display
to begin on July 4th 2009

Maddie 4th of July Provo

2009-07-16T19:34:00.000-06:00

Draper Temple Open House

2009-03-30T23:41:00.002-06:00

Margene with Maddie, Ethan, Caden in the Visitors Center of the new Draper Temple during the open house.

2008-12-14T21:00:00.001-07:00

2008-09-14T18:59:00.000-06:00

Grandchildren

2008-09-14T14:00:00.001-06:00

Ethan, Maddie (Mark's children) and Jake, Austin (Lori's boys) in COLD COLD Lake Tahoe. This was in 2007 when I visited Lori and we spent the 4th of July on the beach at Lake Tahoe and watched fireworks over the Lake.

Maddie, Carli, Jake, Ethan, and Austin bowling at good 'ole BYU Bowling Alley!
Austin, Ryan, Jake, David, Maddie, and Carli playing with slugs on on the front lawn at Nana's house!
Nana, Lori, Mark, Jake, Austin, Ethan, and Maddie waving their flags at the 4th of July parade in Reno.
Austin, David, Shauna, Carli and Jake playing at Kiwani's park near Nana's house.

Grant's Family

2008-09-13T19:01:00.000-06:00

Shauna's Family

2008-09-12T19:02:00.000-06:00

Sorry...couldn't find any photo's w/ Casey!

Lori's Family

2008-09-11T19:02:00.001-06:00

Lori lives in Reno Nevada and has been married to Tim Woodman for 12 years. They have 4 children, Danielle 25, Chad 20, Jake 9, and Austin 6 1/2!

Mark's Family

2008-09-10T19:17:00.000-06:00

Julie's Family

2008-09-09T19:18:00.001-06:00

Eric & Julie's new family home

Blaine...aka "the TRUE International Man of Mystery"

2008-09-08T19:18:00.005-06:00

Blaine at Burning Man in Nevada! Blaine is always traveling overseas. We never know if he's in India, Nepal, Burma, Bangladesh, Malaysia, China...or Nevada. Here are some photos of him in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada when he put up one of his big projections screens for the patrons of the "Burning Man Festival"in 2007. It was so windy and dusty that he had to wear a gas mask most of the time.