Here Comes the Bride (and Groom)

Today was a wonderful day for a wedding. Tony and Caitlyn are so happy and so are we.

This is just as they came out of the temple

AHHH!

Caitlyn, Tony and Leslie

Caitlyn, Tony and Sam (Catilyn's father)

Sean

As I was reading Sean's blog this morning I realized that if you read my blog you aren't aware that Sean has a blog. For some reason his blog information doesn't show up on mine and I think it is because it is web site rather than an actual blog. (Sean, correct me if I am wrong). In our family I believe that Blair's family and us are the only ones that know about his blog. (Sean, I hope you don't care that I am giving out your blog address.) He has such a gift at writing and I am sure all of you would enjoy reading about his adventures in Istanbul, Turkey and his views on life. Keep writing Sean we love to hear what you have to say. This is his blog address: http://www.seancarmack.com/

Story of a cowboy and a cowgirl!

Here is Abbie after a little rodeo. She and I were riding today near the Virgin River when we stopped and let the horses drink. I was riding my buddy’s horse and I was leading Tiny with a lead rope, Abbie was riding tiny and Tiny started stomping his right front hoofs in the water splashing really hard. Then I noticed he bent all 4 legs and laid down in the 4’’ deep water with Abbie on his back. Abbie just kind of rolled off and landed in the water. Scarred her to death. So she didn’t want to get on tiny anymore. So I put her on the other horse. Then I climbed on tiny, (remember tiny only had a lead rope) tiny decided to run back to the ranch. I was going full throttle on a kid’s saddle and no reins. I passed Abbie like she was going backwards. I finally managed to stop tiny. When I jumped off tiny the horse Abbie was riding went flying past but Abbie wasn’t on. When the dust settled I saw Abbie walking up the trail. Of coarse she was already wet and now dirty from head to toe. She said that she couldn’t hold on any longer and fell off. From Darin

Darin, thanks for sharing this funny story.

YEAH, I finally made a decision!

We have lived in our house for 31 years and 10 months and I have been trying to decide what to do with the front porch all that time. I am sure that Don never gave it a thought. Should I leave it as it was, should I put up a wrought iron railing and if so what design OR when vinyl railings came into being should I choose that kind and again which style and would that be too noticeable? I have gone back and forth on what to do, besides it would cost money and I wasn't sure that was what I wanted to spend our money on that. It all started with us pulling out the hedge in the backyard and deciding to put up a vinyl fence. When the salesman came I asked him how much would it cost to put a railing on the front porch. He told me and right there and then I decided to have one put up. Yes sir, I really did it. Well now, that was in June, June 16th to be exact, and I was told that it would be installed July 16th. To make a long story short the company had problems but yesterday, on Halloween, the fence and the porch railing were installed. We love it. For a long time I have been worried about our older friends getting up and down the front steps. You know, THEY ARE GETTING OLDER!!!

Tiffany and Kevin's Children

More of Linda's fabulous pictures. Several years ago she took photography classes and since then we have all enjoyed her great talent. What she loves most is taking pictures of a new baby. Linda, we will be waiting for your famous new baby pictures. I am guessing that these pictures are taken at the corn maze where she takes all of her grandchildren almost every year.

Carston

Anabelle

Every year since Linda has had grandchildren she has taken their pictures inside a large pumpkin. I was wondering what she was going to do this year since Benson would be too small to sit up. Well here we have her halloween picture of Benson. Love it Linda.

Anabelle and Benson

The Story of Little Kettle-head (1904) - by Helen Bannerman

I love this book. I received it when I was almost 5 years old for Christmas. My mother read it over and over to me and I read it to my children. I know all of my grandaughters loved the story of Little Kettle-head which I read to them almost every time they came over when they were growing up. I found this on line and tried to copy it but I couldn't get it to insert into my blog, sooooo you will have to just click on the link below and you will be able to read it yourself and to your children. By the way this story was written in 1904. WOW that is over 100 years ago. By the way the moral to the story didn't work for me because I still love to poke fires!!! Now turn on your computer, put your children on your lap and read this story to them. We need to pass this story on to another generation.

http://www.sterlingtimes.org/kettlehead2.htm

I'm an old cowhand!

Having a horse means lots of work. Darin says the girls don't even mind cleaning up after it. You can see that Abbie is hard at work. Boy that horse has been eating a lot!!!

Bailey

Saidee
Work done and the girls are heading to the old bunk house.

THE END!

Meet Benson

This is a picture of Tiffany on Sunday. Boy, (no PUN intended) was she ever ready to have this whole thing over with!!

Benson weighed in at 6 lbs 11 ozs. and is 19 inches long and looks almost like Carston did when he was born. We now have 9 great-grandchildren 5 boys and 4 girls. We can't wait until Mindy makes it even again in February. The happy family, Tiffany, Kevin and Benson.
Carston and Anabelle brought Tiffany and Benson some flowers that they picked out.

Can anyone name the girls in this picture?

Thanks Brent. At first I wasn't sure who it was myself.

Okay only one person knew so I will tell you.

L to R: Me, Aunt Nancy and Aunt Karen. This was Nancy's bridal shower down in our basement at our other house.

Is The Spudnut Shop still alive and well?

Uncle Neil went on a trip to Washington state and found this Spudnut Shop in Richmond, Washington. So yes, the Spudnut Shop is still going strong but just not in Bountiful, Utah. I would love to hear how the Spudnuts were? Doesn't it make your mouth water? It does mine.

Sean's off to Turkey

This morning our tall and handsome Sean left for Istanbul, Turkey where he will be teaching English to Turkish people who want to learn more English. Their schools teach English but if a person wants to learn more English they go to private schools. He will arrive around 4:30 our time tomorrow afternoon. He is like my brother, Clark, who loves learning languages, traveling and living in foreign countries. We wish you the best Sean and will miss you. He has a website that you can go to if you want to see what he doing. He said he would put new pictures up every day of places that he went to. Go to seancarmack.com.

TV segment on South High's 55th class reunion.

Yeah, I was on TV. Now I am famous twice. In Denver and at the General Relief Society meeting they scanned our section. WOW. One of my classmates, Arlene (Duck) Kimmet, arranged for a reporter from a local TV station to come on our bus tour. This is the 2-1/2 minute story on Channel 7, in Denver, showing interviews of various reunion attendees during the bus tour and lunch on September 18, 2008. I am on it three times but was never interviewed.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/video/17518529/index.html

Tiny, the newest member of Darin and Julee's family.

They are keeping Tiny at their friend’s ranch on Staheli Hill which isn't far from them. He has an out door riding arena and lots of stalls. It makes it convenient to feed and ride. I still don't know what breed of horse it is but I will let everyone know when Darin responds to my e-mail. I can't wait to go to to see them so I can pet the horse. You know me. I am sad that I am to old to ride anymore. I am afraid of getting thrown and breaking all of my bones.

Saidee on Tiny.
Julee looks like the pro horsewoman that she is. Lucky you Julee!
Saidee, she seems to be enjoying just the saddle.

Congratulations are in order!!!

Tony and Caitlyn are getting married on November 22, 2008 in the Salt Lake Temple. They met up at BYU Idaho. Caitlyn is from San Antonio, Texas. In August Tony went down to see her while she was home with her family. He proposed and she accepted. She is darling girl and so much fun to be with. Way to go Tony!

Tony, Caitlyn, Makenna and Austin

OLD, OLD PICTURES!

Boy how time flies! I sure wish I knew for sure old Brian was. I am thinking he was a deacon. He sure is a handsome boy.

Don with his crew cut. His mother didn't like it at all but I loved it and he loved it because he combed his hair with a wash cloth! I hope you can tell who the person on the left is with ALL of that hair. If you are wondering how long ago this picture was taken Darin was 2 years old.
Beverlee, Don and Kathleen. Boy have they changed.

Something good has happened to Uncle Neil!

Congratulations Neil. For those who don't know, Uncle Neil has a new calling. He was called to the High Council in August (sorry Neil, but I don't have the exact date). Now as for the picture, I am trying to learn how to take pictures of pictures so I can save them on my computer. I will try to get the picture more clear next time.

Darin and Julee's house

I got to thinking everyone hasn't seen where Darin and Julee live.

This is great view from up on the rocks behind their home. Darin finished their swimming pool almost two years ago. They have such great views of the valley and are right up again BLM property so hopefully they will never have neighbors behind them.

For those of you who know Bryce and Kathy their home is the one just below Darin's.

Makenna's Soccer Game

Last night we went to see Makenna play soccer up in Farmington. We were surprised how good she did. The little girl on the left with her elbow up was something else. She was better than any of the boys on both teams. It was sure fun to watch you play Makenna. We'll see you next week.

Makenna after the game.

My 55th Class Reunion, FUN, FUN, FUN

My 55th high school reunion was held in Denver from September 17 to 21, 2008. I graduated from South High School on June 2, 1953 which was the same day as the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II of England. My dad bought a TV and it was delivered the day before the coronation so we could see it on TV. That was the first TV we ever had.

We only attended the first two days which were in Denver. The last two days were held in Estes Park, Colorado. Words don't describe how much fun it was to see so many friends from the past. Because my hair is white people don't seem to recognize me and that really worried me but to my surprise they did remember me. I know Don didn't enjoy it as much as I did but at least Vern was there to keep him company.

On our way into Denver from the airport we took a quick tour through downtown Denver. This is the Union Station where both Don and Vern worked from time to time while they were stationed in Denver. They served as MP's in the Army. This is the old Denver train station and they spent a lot of hours here checking military passes and making sure the service men weren't causing problems. They also had a beat where they went into bars in the downtown area to check on the soldiers. Don also rode trains from Denver to Pocatello and back also checking to make sure the soldiers had passes. He volunteered for this after I moved with my mother and family to Pocatello. We moved in August 1954 and were married on February 4, 1955.

Poor Pat. She had choir practice most of Wednesday while we had fun going to the museum. Sure wish she could have been with us.

Don, Vern and I went to City Park to the Museum of Nature and Science.

Beverlee and Don with Denver skyline in the background.

Vern and Don

Skyline of Denver from City Park.

More of the 55th--Museum

I sure hope that my children remember going to this museum when they see these pictures. We took them a lot when when we would go to Denver. My parents began taking me to the Museum of Natural History when I was a very little girl. I still love it as much as I ever did. The following dioramas are taken inside the museum. The polar bear diorama has been my favorite since I was a little girl and it still is. I just wish I could have gotten all of the bears in the picture.

Walrus

Arizona desert

More 55th--Bus tour

On Thursday morning the committee had arranged for a bus tour to see all of the elementary and junior high schools any of has attended that eventually went to South High. This is Asbury Elementary School which I attended all through elementary.

This is Byer's Junior High which I attended for a year and a half. I started at Grant Junior High but we moved and I changed to Byers. My mother attended both Byers and South High also.

We stopped at the Bonnie Brae Tavern for lunch. They had the best pizza I had ever tasted. I forgot to say that we had two busses with 90 people that went on the bus trip.

At our table front row L to R: Don, Beverlee, Vern and the back of Arlene D's head.

Other side of the table: Don and Marelene, Dougie and Eloise . Marlene, Dougie, Eloise and I were all in the same Girl Scout Troop and went to Asbury together.

After lunch we saw some of the things we remembered about Denver. This is our big time rival, East High School.

This building is downtown. This is a huge blue bear that is looking into the 7th or 8th floor window. Notice the man walking buy in the foreground of the picture. I am sorry about the reflection in the bus window. It makes is hard to see the bear clearly.