A reflection on our neighbors

We had a BBQ at our home Monday evening, and I just wanted to take pictures of the people who live around our home, that we call "neighbors." They are wonderful people. Their names aren't necessary for you to know, just wanted to share their friendly smiles. The children have spent many hours playing in our yard, sending the sounds of squeals and laughter thru our kitchen windows. We love our little cul-de-sac in Taylor.

Yippee Wahoo Day

The girl's started school today! This is Jenny's last year to attend Snowflake High School (Special Ed. students can attend till they are 22). Calla was nervous and excited to step onto the Snowflake Jr. High campus, she's now in the 7th grade! They both came home happy and brought me my "homework." The school's send home these huge handbooks for the parents to look over and sign. And each teacher has a list of their classroom procedures for you to read and acknowledge. Tomorrow will be the Back-to-School night. Here we go, another year of readin' and writin' and 'rithmetic! Summer is officially over...

A Reunion of high school friends

Mark and I were able to enjoy an evening with some of the Class of '73 Mesa High Superstition singers. We took pictures of them, but most had their spouses there also. Maybe you'll recognize one face, Trisha Hyde, who sings in the Mormon Tabernacle choir (she's in the coral blouse on the couch). I mostly know the maiden names of the women, so that's what I'll use. Those pictured: David Cox, Mark Reed, Robert Noble, Ray Speakman, Mike Hale, Sheri Wheeler Hale, Becky Smith, Becky Riding, Kristie Rowley, Lana and Lyla Palmer. So much fun to feel the comraderie among them after all these years.

Blast to the Past

We were opening gifts four days after our wedding at Mom and Dad's...fun memories.

"Twin's Week" at Grandpa and Grandma's July '09

I love to see the temple

Trip to Utah July 2009

Mark and I left Taylor on Sunday morning, July 5th and headed for Provo. It was a beautiful drive, we listened to a book on tape, and stopped in Nephi in the late afternoon. Calla and Jenny were taken to Mesa to stay at Brooke's and visit with family and cousins. I had gotten a virus that weekend and was feeling tired and sick. We decided I shouldn't be around the new baby till I saw a Dr. We found a great walk-in clinic in Nephi on Monday morning and he gave me some antibiotics and precautions. We drove on up to Provo and got a hotel room at the Travelodge that Chris and Jenelle used to manage, not too far from their apartment. I slept during the afternoon while Mark went to see them. That evening Chris brought Dawson over and he and I had fun blowing bubbles outside in the parking lot for a couple hours. Everytime he would run after them he would yell, "Weehee, woohoo, waahaa!" It was so cute! The next morning we followed them up Provo Canyon to Bridal Veil Falls for a nice walk. That afternoon Mark and I left the hotel and went to stay at the apartment, with me wearing a face mask around the baby. He was the highlight of the trip. Durham is our sixth grandchild, we now have five grandsons! We had a nice, relaxing week and didn't do much more than just enjoy being with each other. Mark drove up to Salt Lake City one day and saw the new Church History Museum and did some research. Landon Woolf and his fiance, Becca came for dinner one night and we enjoyed talking about their upcoming wedding in August. Jenelle and I went shopping at the mall a couple hours. I really love their neighborhood, the big blocks of old homes that evoke such history and character, with huge trees and a mountain backdrop. So I went on several walks with whomever would join me. We love and miss Chris and Jenelle, what a wonderful little family they have! Thanks for opening your home to us and making us feel so welcome.

New Grandchild-- Durham James Reed (6/24/09)

Where did you come from, Baby dear?
Out of the everywhere into here.

Where did you get your eyes so blue?
Out of the sky as I came through.

What makes the light in them sparkle and spin?
Some of the starry spikes left in.

Where did you get that little tear?
I found it waiting when I got here.

What makes your forehead so smooth and high?
A soft hand stroked it as I went by.

What makes your cheek like a warm white rose?
I saw something better than anyone knows.

Whence that three-corner'd smile of bliss?
Three angels gave me at once a kiss.

Where did you get this pearly ear?
God spoke, and it came out to hear....

How did they all come just to be you?
God thought of me, and so I grew.

But how did you come to us, you dear?
God thought of you, and so I am here.

By George MacDonald, Best Loved Poems of the LDS People

Fun weekend

During the 4th of July weekend, Trudy and Paul brought their family (including their future daughter-in-law Becca), their ward friends the Payne's, and Tim and Cindy and Brooke and Lathe came for the big Taylor rodeo weekend. We got to spend some relaxing time together, prepared and ate some BBQ, visited, played volleyball in the neighbor's back yard, some went riding quads, in all it was memorable. I should have taken many more photos, but here are the few that were shot...

Beautiful summer rainstorm

4th of July "Taylor style"

Okay, I got up at 4:15 a.m. and threw on some clothes, got out my trusty reed and dunked it in a glass of water to soften, drove to the City ball park and found a borrowed clarinet, climbed up on a decorated trailer and joined the Jennings band for the annual Taylor 4th of July parade that begins at 5 a.m. with the "shooting of the anvil." There are two long bed trailers full of musicians that drive side by side and we sound awesome! We play patriotic songs and the parade goes thru town, tons of cars, trucks, quads with families all join in the motorcade, celebrating Independence Day. People line the streets, wrapped up in quilts and wave. There's always a beautiful sunrise to greet us (and then I go back home and take a nap).

Happy Birthday Jenny-girl!

July 1st was Jenny's big day. We had hidden a new bike for her at a neighbor's house and drove by there for a minute. I went into the garage and came out with the bike and she was sitting in the back of the truck with Calla and said, "My?" She was very excited to test it out and rode it home. That night she had a DQ birthday cake and didn't seem to mind that there weren't 21 candles. Yum!

"There are clearly special cases of individuals in mortality who have special limitations in life, which conditions we mortals cannot now fully fathom...They are in the Lord's hands, and he loves them perfectly. Indeed, some of those who have required much waiting upon in this life may be waited upon again by the rest of us in the next world--but for the highest of reasons." Neal A. Maxwell

Horsey horsey on your way

I don't think there is an image of Calla that looks more beautiful and carefree and happy than when she's on a horse with the sun shining on her blond hair as she rides bareback in the neighbor's field on a summer day.