One Year Ago

Hazel and Jen

The Bike Ride

Right after school on Wednesday Grampa picked up the kids for their biking adventure. He had the bikes and the snacks and off they went to the Canyon!

Searching for the Energy After a Hard Day at School!

Bridal Veil Falls

Connor Leads Out...Come
On, Girls!

Julia Checking Out the Mirrored Lake

Taking a Rest

Boulder Hopping

Tree Huggers

Treats

Ahhhh...such Fun!

Surgery and the Sisterhood

Hazel waiting to be examined at one of the check points

Hazel had her surgery on September 30th at Children's in Salt lake. The procedure she had is a reversible one and is designed to relieve the pressure in her bladder that causes her kidney reflux. The surgery will be reversed when she is a little bigger and can then have the valve repair she needs. They have quite the procedures there for doing kids' surgeries. You enter at a certain point and go through these different check stations.

Always Smiling!

When we got to the last one the anesthesiologist told Jen that the procedure was less dangerous than driving to the medical center. That was nice to hear. He picked up our little girl and just walked to surgery with her in his arms...that was tender. She went right to him~it was so sweet.

I was a miserable failure at keeping Jen company as it was at that point that I realized I was really not feeling well. I got really sick and realized that being away from home in that state is the worst..even in a hospital, there is no comfort in it. I could not believe I was having the flu for the 2nd time in Utah. Bummer! Somehow we got home and I managed to give it to Hazel on the trip home. She surely did not need that the day after surgery~poor baby. Her recovery has gone very well and no more catheterizing for Jen and Lowell anymore~ so hooray for that!

Here are some of the photos I wanted to include to show you the kind of sisterhood I see in their home that warms my heart so much.

There Can Never Be Too Much Love!

Christmas Shopping in Utah~Sorta

While in Utah this week my main goal is to do the shopping for all the grandkids that live here. That would be 8! That way when we fly back on Christmas Eve we won't have to bring a ton of extra stuff or ship it all. Brilliant, don't you think?

Well, Grampa was sweet to volunteer to watch the little girls while Jen and I went out to do it. Love that man he is so good to us! We left the house about 9:00 so not much was open that early. So we decided to drop by Shopko. Well, we got all the kids things there and were done by 9:45 just in time for the stores to open so we could see if there was just one or two other little things they might like...and if you believe that... It was actually play time for Jen and me!

Can I just tell you that Utah has the best shopping around? Honestly, where we live cannot hold a candle to it. Check this out...

One of our favorite haunts!

Great decorative door for sale!

Witch Time!

Camo Jen

Jen and her Pumpkin Love!

More Pumpkins!

Lovin' the Ornamental Cabbages!

Beautiful Store

Who can think of Sugar Plums yet?

Happy Halloween!

Get your Broom!

The Veranda~So Posh and Beautiful!

Double Click this one if you like Sparkle like I do!

One of the greatest pleasures I have in this life is spending a day like this one with my girls!

Super Grandpa

Everyone needs a super grandpa! Our grandkids have one. When Jim comes with me to Utah everyone is happy. Grampa is not only a big helper around the house, doing laundry, cleaning, cooking and general maintenance and special projects, but also loves to have adventures with the kids. Grandpa is always thinking up fun things to do with them and last week in Utah was no exception.

He loves to take the kids outdoors and of course all that are big enough love that too. Jim calls it 'Grandpa Camp' and it all started in earnest when Hazel was born and he took care of the other girls for two weeks. This past week he took the kids on a great bike ride in the canyon after spending a few hours there with the family one afternoon.

Such a pretty place to relax and enjoy the mountain fresh air!

The canyons are so beautiful this time of year

As the wheels of the stroller are turning,
Grampa is already planning the next trip here on
Wednesday afternoon after school with the big kids.

Beautiful foliage everywhere!

The Wonder of it all!

Julia Mae's Baptism Day

Julia's Flower~She picked it herself! (from flickr)

In our Church children are baptized when they reach the age of accountability or age 8. At that time they are baptized by their father if he is a worthy Priesthood holder. Lowell baptized Julia yesterday and it was a wonderful event. Julia was so excited to be baptized and to become an official member of the Church. She wore a beautiful, white, fancy dress and she was so excited about her special day. She was sorry that her Aunt Laura and Uncle Robert and her cousins couldn't come and she really missed her Stewart Grandma and Grandpa and all her Stewart aunts, uncles and cousins. But she totally knew that they would have all been there if they could have been, and she felt very loved by those that were present and those that could not come.

Such an Exciting Day for Our Family!

Daddy's Julia Mae!
All photos can be doubled clicked for enlargement

Happy Family!

Julia's best friends joined the family in celebrating her baptism!

Beautiful Julia loves Jesus and is Happy, really Happy today!
She is has deep spiritual side that always shines through.

Grandma and Grampa are pretty Happy too!
To say we love this little girl doesn't
really seem special enough.

We Totally Love Her!

Today in Sacrament Meeting she leaned over to me and told me how happy she is to be a member of the Church! I am sure she will serve in the Church and be happy in doing so all of her life! She is one of God's most beautiful JEWELS...no doubt about it! We are proud of your decision, Julia Mae!

Now on the the PARTY!

Jen made a great dinner for everyone with three different kinds of soup and bread bowls with all the trimmings. We had white cupcakes for dessert to celebrate Julia's big day and Hazel's first birthday a few days ago.

The cousins!

Uncle Chris and Owie!
Owen has just learned how to say "Hello!"

Silly Faces!

The Hofheins and the Houses~really special friends to us all!
Becca & Gordon, Grampa and Kim and Hazel!

David, Kim & Shelby House with Piper

Grampa among the sunflowers and pumpkins!
The yard is gorgeous this time of year.

Everyone watching Hazel dive into her cupcake!

Traci catching the action! We love those Hartmans too!
She is a great photographer!

Hazie has done this before~check it out on her real birthday post!