March Moab Madness 2010

Here are some pics of Dave's trip to Moab. Brothers Bob and Chris went and also friends Tryson and Delmar Gray and Ken Brown. 

                                Dave on Sovereign Trail

                         Slick Rock overlooking the Colorado

                           Dave and Tyson Gray on the Ricky Lee Trail

With Jett in Mesa

Chantal's mom usually tends Jett while she is teaching sixth graders, but Marilyn had to leave town for the month.  I am here for about nine days. Jett is almost six months old. He likes to chew on everything and spends his time on his tummy playing with toys, in his exersaucer, eating rice cereal or napping. He tolerates lots of kisses and likes to go for walks with Buddy-dog in the park.  This picture is of Dave and Jett while Dave was down here on business.

Wearing a hat Dave brought for Ben

Looking cute and smiley.

Bryson J. Howell Age 18

Saturday we celebrated Bryson's 18 BD in McCall. Mike Bell, cousin Sam and Ryan Belnap were there along with Uncle Chris, his friend Steve and some people Chris invited up. Fri night we watched a movie Chris brought called The Ranger, the Cook and A Hole in the Sky.  It was a good one. The boys went skiing/snowboarding at Brundage. The rest of us ate lunch at My Father's Place and then went snowshoeing on the Upper Payette Lake.   We came home had Bryson's BD dinner, cake and ice cream and opened presents.  Then we all headed for Gold Fork Hot Springs.  Here are some pics...

                                  Something in the water???

                                   Ryan, Bryson, Mike and Sam

President's Weekend 2010

For President's/Valentine Weekend we drove to Utah and met Matt, Kristen and Sawyer who flew there from LA. Annie and Phil were nice enough to let us all crash at their house in Lehi. Friday Kristen, Matt, Dave and Bryson went snowboarding to Park City and I babysat Sawyer.  Rosemary came by and took Sawyer and I to lunch.

Saturday Bryson went back to Park City and Dave had a business lunch, so Matt, Kristen and I went to lunch at Zupas (soups, sandwiches and salads, yum).  Saturday night we met with Donna and her kids and some of Annies (Metta, Claire and Daysa) and had pizza.  It was great fun.  Here is Daysa and Tanner looking on while Janna, Bryson and Daysa eat dessert.

Sunday we went to church, had a big turkey dinner and everyone came over for games and treats.  Sawyer was very patient with all the relatives and had a big smile for everyone.

Monday Kristen, Matt, Dave and I took Sawyer swimming at the Legacy Center.  What FUN!  He is a little water bug!

Idaho Falls and Romania

                         Playing Five Crowns while Linda tries to read.

                            My dad shoveling snow in his Sunday Suit.

Saturday the 30th I dropped off Dave at the airport (India this time) and Linda and I headed for Idaho Falls. Brielle was talking at church on Sunday before she leaves for Romania on Feb. 10. (actually she will be in the MTC for 3 months and then leave).  Saturday night Jeff came in to my parents house and the five of us (our original nuclear family) went to Smitty's for dinner.  It was strange but fun with just the mom, dad and kids. It snowed all Saturday night, but we were at church on time Sunday morning.  Brielle did a GREAT job. She talked about the Plan of Salvation. She mentioned that her family had read the news about two missionaries dying in Romania right before she had to talk and had us in tears.  Then Jeff had to get up and sing in a men's choir while still gathering his wits. He pulled it off...they sang "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy".

We played Five Crown's while waiting for everyone to arrive at their house and then had salads, different breads and cookies. Since it was still snowing we decided to drove home Monday morning.  We enjoyed going over and playing with those Eastern Idahoans. Good luck Brielle - send lots of emails on your adventures!

Snow Day 2010

Taking a break.

Up and Out.

Warm day - almost 50 degrees.

Starting out near the airport in Idaho City

Christmas in Idaho Falls

Bryson, Dave and I drove to Idaho Falls on Christmas Eve day.  Jeff and Jaelyn and family arrived shortly after and Linda, John, Jackson, Sam and Liz after that.  We ate dinner about 5:00 (egg rolls, shrimp, sausage balls, veggies and dip, bbq smokies, etc)  Jeff brought in an electronic piano and everyone had a blast with that.  It came with a microphone and you could change the sound of your voice so it made us all giggle.  Grandma had a bingo game, we sang some songs, Kayla and Lexa played some beautiful piano numbers and we read Luke 2.  (Sadly, we had no one willing to dress up as mary, joseph, shepherds and angels.)

We opened family gifts.  The Howells game Jeff & Jae a wooden pig chopping block, a cloth happy birthday banner, Love Comes Softly set of videos, and a hat with lights in the brim.  The Snows gave us a radio/charger that you can wind (for emergencies), a green smoothie recipe book and a book called Agent Bishop about an FBI/Mormon Bishop.  Mom and Dad gave each of us a new set of towels (that we always look forward to).  They also gave the Snows an electric knife sharpener.  Jeff and Jae gave Mom and Dad a special request - a membership to Sam's Club in Idaho Falls.

We had a great time opening gifts the next morning and had a nice Christmas Day with games, good food, and good company ('cept I missed my "marrieds" who were all in their home towns).  In the evening we had an incident which I liked to call "Libby didn't die this Christmas".  Kayla, Jaelyn and Lexa made a couple of trays of dipped chocolates with cashews, cherries, peanut butter and coconut centers.  They had a great time and they looked beautiful (the chocolates and the girls making them.)  Then they set them outside to cool.  A little while later, someone let Libby out.  When we let Libby in, I saw a sheet of empty chocolate spots and we thought Libby had snarfed a whole tray of chocolate!  The uproar ensued.  Kayla was upset because of all her hard work, Grandma was upset because Libby was going to make a mess somewhere (from either end!) and some of us were upset that Libby would be so sick and might die from the chocolate.  We made a little bed for her in the cold garage and put an old blanket over her.  I checked on her once in a while and she seemed confused but physically fine.

After Grandma and Grandpa went to bed, Brielle made a discovery of the missing tray of chocolates on another table outside.  The sheet I saw was just chocolate spots they had used for getting the swirls on top.  Libby was let inside, and everyone apologized and loved her up.  She was still confused but happy to be in the house.  Kayla was happy, Libby was happy and Grandma was happy when she heard the news the next morning.