Mark and Terry Reed Family

First dance

Calla's Jr. High had a "social" this past week during a school day, students could choose to go in a room and play games or watch a movie or go to the gym for a dance. She loves music so she chose the dance. There have been two other dances this year and she avoided being asked to dance by keeping herself in constant motion walking around the room and dodging. But this time she was asked by seven different boys. She came home glowing from the experience and yet was shaking her hands in mock disgust(Calla is very germ conscious and still thinks boys have "cooties")saying "Ewww!" We're glad she feels that way...at least for now.

FHE in December: Gingerbread Houses!

It's nice after being neighbors living side by side and all that goes with it (their chickens eating on our garden, our dog chasing and killing a couple of their chickens) that we can still smile and enjoy a fun evening together. Forgiveness is a part of being neighborly. We certainly get to practice it and they do too. The Ramage's let us play volleyball in their back yard, they watched Kelly while we went on a trip to Utah this year and they let Calla spend hours playing at their house with the kids. Their boys, Ethan and Kai really enjoy Jenny, because she plays ball with them (football, baseball, basketball). They'll come over in the summer and bang on the back screen door, asking for Jen. It makes her happy to have someone want to play with her. She's awesome at throwing a baseball but doesn't catch well, so the boys like it that they can hit a ball and she'll run slowly after it and they always get a home run. :) Sometimes on Sunday's Mikayla comes over and she and Calla will bake cookies together. They love to practice volleyball and softball with each other. Alan Ramage coaches girl's volleyball at the high school and his wife, Mistie is also very athletic and helps to coach teams sometimes. Mistie is working toward an RN degree and I call her sometimes for medical help. Alan helped drive a tractor and prepare our garden plot this year. We're so glad they are our neighbors.

Santa's Visit

We always look forward to a visit from our special Heber Santa Claus (Keith Bigler, Lathe's uncle). He sported a real beard this year and we had fun tugging on it. He loves the girl's so much and this year he brought them beautiful stockings with a surprise. Calla was on her way to babysit, and he followed her to that home to meet some new children in the neighborhood. He's so much fun!

A Rescued Reindeer story

Okay, I will confess this little incident:
The first Christmas Christopher was home from his mission, we were hanging up ornaments and as I unwrapped this one I tossed it in the garbage because it had some of its paint chipped away. Christopher's soft heart rescued it. He was incredulous that I would throw an ornament away that had hung on our tree several years. He then got a black pen and wrote on it's underbelly: "Mom threw me away, Chris saved me." I got the message, and he's safely hanging on our tree.

32 Years of Christmas

Our very first Christmas in 1977,I went to a little ceramic store and bought some ornaments and paints and created our first decorations. So far, none have gotten broken. I thought it would be fun to highlight them this year on our blog. They deserve some thoughtful recognition for their 32 years of faithful service (most of that time spent wrapped in paper in a dark box waiting eleven months to be rediscovered again).

2009 Taylor Grand Ball

Here are a couple of pictures of the decorations that were done for the Ball. I am always amazed at the talents that are shared. The first pictures are of the main entrance everyone comes in, the east foyer. You truly felt like you were walking into a homelike setting.

How do you decorate a long wall in the Cultural Hall? Grab some old white doors with cute knobs, hang some wreaths, string some lights and stockings and wah-lah!

My responsbility with the Ball is the meal. We had a smaller turnout this year, but the Cultural Hall and chapel overflow were full of tables and guests, approximately 350 to 400 by our best estimate. We served pulled pork, baked potatoes, gravey and BBQ sauce, corn, applesauce, rolls, green salad, carrot stix,olives and cake. Lots of work to pull it off, but we had good kitchen help when it came time to serve and clean up. Mark was a great help too all that day and we couldn't have done it without him. Love you, hon!

Reed Family Revue

On Saturday, Nov. 28th we had a dinner and variety show with the Reed Family at the Mesa North Stake Center. I wish I had taken a head count, but 100 were expected to attend and it looked pretty close to that. There were hamburgers and hotdogs to eat and afterwards we enjoyed watching members of the family perform. Calla sang Taylor Swift's hit, "Love Story" and she and I had made a powerpoint slideshow of all the married couples in the Reed family with their wedding pictures.

She did a wonderful job and looked so beautiful in a blue prom dress. The pictures of her singing didn't turn out because she was standing in the dark while the slideshow played. Next time we'll practice with some spotlights or something. Other acts were: piano solo's, poems recited, Mark and some of his siblings sang, a skit, lip sinc numbers, and even a unicycle demonstration. It was a really fun evening. Uncle Ronnie was so enthused he said, "Let's do this again...in 25 years!" Such a tease.

The "original" Reed's: L to R (Kirk, Patty,Gay,Ann, Mark, Janene, Becky, Brad)

Precious "Grands"

We went to Freestone Park and my dear friend LeeAnn Freeman took some family photos for us. It's not easy to try and capture sixteen faces all smiling and focused at once. She did a great job. The kiddies were in a happy mood which made their parents be in a happy mood. We weren't seeking perfection, just some shots that would be printable. You'll have to wait to see what we chose for our Christmas card...which reminds me, I'd better get them ordered! You'll have to click on the picture to see their faces up close. We love each and every one so much!

Standing: Grandma Reed, Durham Reed, Brolin Bigler, Grandpa Reed
Front bench: Saylor Bigler,Dawson Reed,Connor Reed, Stryder Bigler

Thanksgiving 2009

We had a wonderful day at Brooke and Lathe's home. All of our family was there together. Chris and Jenelle and their two boys had driven down from Provo. It was a "perfect" Thanksgiving day: delicious food, comfortable surroundings, beautiful weather, children playing, grownups talking and laughing, a little football on the t.v., playing Phase 10, a walk around the neighborhood, naps, some pie and a bonfire in the backyard. I hope I don't sound uncompassionate, but having Cindy feeling nauseous from her announced pregnancy was a major blessing to add to the others. I didn't do too well taking pictures, but I'll share a couple moments.

Fringe benefits

Mark attended a nice dinner, steak at the Flake barn, and got to tour a local facility with the two town councils. Not a bad way to be initiated, right?

Some other time

Well, my "dream trip" to Ohio with my Dad, Trudy and Tonya didn't happen, due to an ill-timed case of bronchitis. I stood out on my Dad's street and watched a Southwest flight I should have been on with Dad head toward the Northeast. I got back to Taylor that night, thanks to Tim driving me to Payson, and Mark and the girls bringing me back home. The next night there was a knock at our door and the stake president's wife gave me these gorgeous roses. I didn't know how she heard, but figured one of my counselors had a conversation with them. I told her I was okay over the matter, but she said she knew, "Some disappointments were harder to get over than others." So sweet! It felt good to return and recuperate here, where I am needed.

Front page news

Happy Halloween!

We drove down to Mesa on Saturday morning and got to be with the grandkids on Halloween night. So fun to see their costumes in person! Saylor was a beautiful princess, Stryder was a brave knight in shining armor, Brolin was a ferocious dragon, and Connor was a swashbuckling pirate. We saw some darling great-grandkids come to see Grandma Reed, then drove to Jay's house to find Grumps (Grandpa Klepinger) there, and then out to Paul and Trudy's so Leah and Calla could trick-or-treat together in her neighborhood. Jenny stayed home with Grandma Reed to pass out candy to anyone who rang the doorbell, although the evening was disappointingly quiet for her. Mark got the most laughs with his "Personal Trainer" get-up. It was a memorable night!

Taylor/Shumway Heritage Dinner

Okay, how did I get myself into this? I guess I said, "yes." Arlene Lee wrote a script regarding the "good ol' days" and Brad Click and I played Charley and Julia Shumway. We introduced the various acts during the show and tried to be funny. Got some laughs and were both very glad when it was over. The dinner is the big fund-raiser of the year for the Heritage Foundation. Our stake center cultural hall was full of people from Snowflake and Taylor, who made donations to support the local restoration and museum projects. A worthwhile cause. After the dinner Mark and I were invited to a Halloween party at Stan and Brandy Shumway's. Mark won the "grand prize" for best costume. We borrowed the blow-up outfit from Jake Tenney. Pretty funny! We laughed at him all night, especially as he maneuvered to play some charade type games. Hysterical! Had a little fan inside to keep it inflated.

Bigler grandkids come to visit for a few days

Stryder: Helpful, protective, bright, athletic, sensitive

Saylor: Energetic, bubbly, talkative, feminine, motherly, social

Brolin: happy, affectionate,ticklish,
joyful,easy to please

Calla's Concert

The Snowflake Jr. High had a music concert at the high school auditorium in October. Calla sings in the Women's Choir and they had an absolutely wonderful performance. Lots of talented singers. They were well-rehearsed and nailed their songs. The choir director saved them for last, because she knew they were going to be the "best." Calla is a second soprano and is learning to harmonize. She really enjoys this group. (Click on the photo to see Calla in the middle, wearing a black headband)

Happy Birthday!

We were in the valley to celebrate Mark's birthday with the kids. Tim suggested (and treated us)to eat lunch at "Native New Yorker." It was so delicious! Then we all gathered at Grandma Reed's and had some pumpkin pie together. The little ones played with the toys in Grandma's hall closet. Mark received lots of books...it will keep him busy reading till Christmas. The pictures capture the day better than any words can. It was just a nice, quiet birthday...the kind Mark likes best.