Here we come!!!!!  Yes I'm bringing a few new creatures to add to your zoo  Olivia!.  

Just waiting for Candice to pick me up to take me to the airport.  I'm so excited to see Camille's sweet family...it feels like it's been forever since I've seen them.  Miss them so much.

Really grateful that my family  helped make it possible for me to go!

 Yesterday after stake conference...which was really wonderful, Candice came over and we decided to get out the projector and watch some of the old home movies I brought home from mums.  It took a while to figure out how to make it work, but once we did, it ran like a charm.  These old movies are really priceless!  What a hoot!  It was fun to see how mum dressed us all in matching dresses that she made.  And the ringlets were just perfect!  It was neat to see all the fun times we had.  Bear Lake, Hardware Ranch, shoveling snow and sledding, Easter egg rolling...  I just sat there smiling.  We had a pretty sweet childhood and I'm forever grateful for it

   

Have I mentioned lately how great my sisters are?  Well they are!

We didn't quite get through all the pictures last time we were together, so we met again this morning at Teinas.  I think sub-consciously,  we don't ever want to ever have this get all the way finished....Well at least I don't!

Teina has been very busy getting all the pictures from the old albums ( our cousins, aunts, uncles, grand parents...) sorted into categories.  That made it go a lot faster today!  She also took all the pictures that we liked last time we were together and put them onto a CD for each of us.  That was super nice!

 So today, we went through each bundle of pictures and picked out the ones we would like copies of  and which ones to put in a book and which ones to junk.

Brenda has an amazing memory and could tell us who most all of the people in the pictures are.  She could remember how they fit into our family tree or how we would have known them.  She remembers little stories about them too.    I'm grateful for that because that helps me feel like I know them a little better...they are not just a face or a name.

The morning flew by so quick.  Brenda and Leslie both had family reunions to go to so we had to wrap things up early today.    We went through  a cup that we had been collecting things in over the past  year...odds and ends that we didn't really know what to do with.  There were all of daddy's medals that he was awarded in the war.  ( those were cool because we have pictures of daddy wearing  them!)  There were some old coins that looked like they were from Japan, lots of boy scout pins and other pins, and some gift cards that mum had collected from all the times she took clothes back that we gave to her.  Ha!  She was famous for that!

 By the time we finished up with that, Leslie had to go.  There are just a few other things left...the chaps, daddy's hat and belt and glasses, the "Braegger" sign that hung in the gazebo and some old records.  We decided to work on those things next time...I think we could stretch this out for at least a few more months!  We made a pact to continue to get together regularly, even if it is just to go to lunch.  It felt good to be with my sisters today.  So grateful for them and the special relationship we share.

The latest progress on the chicken coop...

KC helped him paint the walls.

Building the nesting boxes.

The transmission on Kelley's truck went out (not complaining...it's got over 300,000 miles on it) so he took that in to be  rebuilt.  They were having to catch up at his work  before the masons could lay block, so he had a few days off work too.   I sure like having him home for a few days! 

 When KC got off work on Tuesday, we headed for Strawberry.

It was fun except for the cold wind that came up.  It really got going and had us rocking pretty bad! We could hardly stand up and things were flying everywhere.   We went over into the narrows to get out of the wind and KC did some exploring.

 When we were leaving, we saw a boat pulling a tube with someone riding on it.  It was really cold (55 degrees and the wind was blowing hard!) and we couldn't figure out why someone would even think of getting in the water.  We passed several emergency vehicles headed for the lake as we drove down the canyon.  I think they must have had something to do with this person on the tube. People do crazy things! 

Love spending time with these two!

A few pictures of Camille's cute family

I'm so glad she keeps me informed on what they are doing...

This is their new puppy "Rose"  She is  being a real puppy! ( chewing everything, including lipstick!)

Sam is getting so big and is changing and learning so much right now! 

Camille sent this video yesterday...Sam wants to go down the stairs facing forward now!  That's a little scary!

Sam has not been crazy about the water like Liv was so this is a big step for him.

HAAAAAAAAA! 

This will be some good black mail on Olivia!   She's gonna give her folks a run for their money!

Counting the days till I can hold these cuties in my arms!

Oh dang, I can't make the sound work.  That's the best part...here Sam is saying mama  mama!

Had a nice Fathers day.  We had Kelley's dad and Pat come over for dinner.

Kelley made rolled tacos and amazing salsa.  I love how he likes to try making new things!  He really is a good cook!  I'm more of a 'use what ever we've got  on hand and throw it together quick and eat  it ' kind of girl.  Kelley is a plan ahead, buy all the ingredients, marinade or slow cook for hours, then roast, slice, saute', chop, roll or stuff what ever he's making.    He is patient and will take the time to make it good. He does that with everything he does in his life. I like that about him.

Candice colored her hair.  It looks nice.  I like it blond, but she can really pull off any hair color.

Had a fun day with her Saturday...I picked her up  at her house and we went down town and shopped around a little at City Creek.  We both found something pretty...a  small miracle for me!

When Candice asked me what she could get for Kelley for Father's day, I suggested  an ice cream maker.  Ours died last summer, so we had been using grandmas old one.  It was pretty rusty though and the motor was on it's last leg, so we went on the hunt for one. 

We weren't happy with the one they had at Walmart.  Kind of plastic-ee.  We wanted one with a wooden tub so we checked around and found one at Shopko.  Whoda thought. 

Made a marvelous batch of Strawberry ice cream Sunday afternoon.  mmmmmmm  so creamy and good!

Glad Pat felt up to coming over for dinner.  He has lost a ton of weight since his surgery. I think he's being a good boy and sticking to his diet.

Been thinking a lot about daddy as I've gone over these pictures this last week and then with the celebration of Fathers day...Thinking about what a good daddy he was.  Thinking about how he worked so hard to support our family and make our home a beautiful, happy, comfortable, peaceful place to be. Thinking about how he treated mum...  They never argued or raised their voice at each other. I liked how they worked together.  They would plan things they wanted to create, then daddy would go to work on it with mum looking on or if it had to do with flowers, she would be right there working beside him. 

Mum used to get terrible headaches from her high blood pressure. She would lay in her room with the curtains closed and Daddy would rub her head to try to ease the pain.  When she was older, her heart gave her fits...either beating too slow, or way too fast.  Many times, daddy would rush her to the emergency room in the middle of the night.  He was always kind and loving and caring to her.

He was a fun dad and grampa.  He used to fill  the  wading pool for us and hook up the slippery slide so we could slide right into the water.  When we were older, he rigged up a slip and slide with a big piece of plastic and the hose.  That was fun! ( I know it about killed the grass underneath it, but he never said anything)    He built us a pair of stilts that we had hours of fun on.   He let us ride on the side of his truck on the wheel cover down to the sugar factory, then let us climb around on the big rail road cars full of rocks while he got the samples he needed for work.  He made us a fun swing from the tallest tree that swung clear out over the road.  We'd climb up on the top of his truck ( I'm sure he didn't appreciate that, but never said anything) and jump off to get a good swing.

He would pull us behind the truck on inner tubes in the snow and I remember one time, he flooded the lawn so it would freeze so we could have our own ice skating pond.  He'd take us on picnics up the canyon ( even though it was just as lovely right there in our own yard) and our annual trip to bear Lake.

When I got older, he would come and rescue me when I ran out of gas, or got a flat tire, or the car broke down.  Then there was the time I ran into the back of another car at a stop sign in Logan on my way to work because the roads were icy.  I bashed the front of the car in pretty good, but he didn't say anything.  Just came and picked me up and took me to work.  I always felt safe when he was around.   I knew long before I was married that I wanted to find someone just like him.  I think I did pretty good.

Couldn't ask for a better man right here.

 Kelley had a few days off work...so we went fishing! 
I caught a big one right off the bat ( sorry it was on your pole dear!)  then we had a slow spell for a while.  We tried a few different spots, then Dan moved over to the side of the boat where I caught my fish and started catching.   He is pretty relentless in the mocking when he is catching and no one else is.  You really want to strangle him.   
We were moving to a different spot when the engine cuts out.  We were like "did you put gas in?"  "No! I thought you put gas in!"  HA!  One engine was still going so we puttered into the dock on that.  That is just Dan's luck to be able to make it into shore just as it runs out!  He's a good one to have around!
After we got gas, we decided we better spend some time and get the boat organized.  It really was a mess.  Bags and bags of lures and stuff they hadn't even opened.  So we pulled up to a good fishing spot, threw our lines in, then got to work.  I cleaned out the cubby while they got busy on the tackle boxes.  I bet they found over a hundred white curly tail  and squiddy  looking lures.  Then there were bags of other ones that were sure supposed to be just the ticket. ( banjo minnow?)  Dan sees an info-mercial and can't resist!  I suggested the yard sale again, but they threw them right in the garbage can.  ( I think they must have wanted to get rid of the evidence)    They got everything organized into separated tackle boxes and cleaned off the sink and the counter and it started looking really good! 
We noticed Dan had gone outside and was sitting on the edge of the boat looking kind of green.  I asked him what was up and he said he wasn't feeling very good.  So we headed back to the dock and called it a day.  Found out later, he was sick all night.  I had felt the same way the night before.  Hope I didn't give it to him!  (love the picture of him behind us...not sure what he's doing)

 Hmmmmmm KC....I smell a smell....Ha!  skunked!

Kelley's dad went up with Mark and Kevin over to Soldier Creek.  We talked with them a little bit over the radio.  They had a good day...caught about 20.  I'm glad Lisle had a fun time...He probably doesn't have too many fishing trips left in him.

The other night we went for a "Walk About" for Relief Society.  They had come through our neighborhood last month ( I wasn't able to go because we were having dress rehearsal for our concert that night) and said it was fun, so they decided to have  one in the other neighborhood this month.   It was fun to get to visit with the ladies as we walked around and find out where people lived.

We went to Mary L.s house for some treats.  Her back yard was amazing!  They have won several home beautification awards for Taylorsville over the years.

Mary has been a hard one for me to get to know. I've had a few encounters with her through the stake, but not gotten to know her well.  She is a bit outspoken and may rub some the wrong way, but I have enjoyed her sense of humor and admired her positive attitude and the way she has handled the whole situation of having  to deal with cancer.  She teaches Relief Society and is always up beat and honest about this trial and how she is getting through it.  We chatted a while about our love for flowers and gardening and found out we have a lot in common.  Sure do enjoy getting to know these ladies!

 This was in Maureen's yard.  She has a real pretty place too.  They had made this cool invention for watering their tomatoes....just put the hose down the pipe, turn on the faucet and they are all watered!  Genius!  She is such a nice lady.  I have really loved having her for my visiting teacher and getting to know her.  Very classy and dignified, but funny and down to earth too.

Things are growing...

Peas

 Beans

There are cute little  yellow squash on the squash plants and there is a full size pepper already too!  The broccoli and tomatos are looking good too! 

The chickens have gotten so big.  They eat a lot!  They get really excited when they see me coming with a bucket full of food and start clucking and bawking and flitting about.

Lizzy is having a hard time with the whole situation.  I always give her something out of the chicken bucket before I give the rest to them, but she is still very jealous and tries to stick her nose under into their cage to steal their food.  I'm pretty sure she hates them.

The raspberry bushes were really loaded this spring, but weren't getting watered, so the other day Kelley got some more soaker hose and I wrangled it through the bushes.  I came out looking like I had been in a cat fight and lost. But the watering has made a real difference and they are growing big berries now!  I picked a bowl full this morning!  So yummy! 

Back to mum's photo albums...

Some fun pictures of the kids with their cousins...

 And finally just some beautiful shots of the yard...there were lots of pictures of the flowers over the years...books and books full of them.  I 'm so glad to have these to remember what it used to be like there.  Mum's begonias and flower beds were really beautiful. The rock garden and pond were as well.  The lawns were always perfectly kept and green. The whole yard was amazing.  Having an ache in my heart as I look at these pictures.  Those were wonderful times.