Trip To Omaha - Part 4

Some of my favorite memories of my childhood are of all the fun little projects my mom did with us. She made everything special, from birthdays to holiday dinners to summer activities to weekday meals.

It is so fun to see her using her creativity and talent to make things special with the grandkids. Grandma makes everything fun!

One day she helped Tyler and Ashley make Bunny Salads for lunch.
A half of a canned pear makes the body, which sits on a bed of cottage cheese. Raisins are attached with toothpicks for the eyes and a red hot makes the nose. A big marshmallow for a tail and pink ears cut out of paper complete this cute little bunny!

Raggedy Ann and Andy Salads were another special treat.
A half a canned peach for the face, raisin eyes and a red hot nose and grated cheese for hair. Their outfits are made up of lettuce, celery and string cheese chunks.
OK, I get to take credit for this one! After mom saw the cupcakes I made for Easter this year, she thought the kids would enjoy re-creating them.
Such beautiful works of art!
They look good enough to eat!

Creative food wasn't the only fun thing happening. Meet Melody, the singing dog! Melody is brought to life with a paper plate, a jello box, some crayons and a bow.

Of course, Aunt Jennifer couldn't resist giving Ashley a hairdo to match!
Later on we stuck a bandaid on her forehead to match Tyler. He had bonked his head good enough that he needed stitches right before we got there and was sporting cool Batman bandaids for a while!

Melody helped the kids learn some new songs. When they sang nice and pretty she would open her mouth and sing right along with them!
Do we have a fun mom and grandma or what?

To be continued...

Trip To Omaha - Part 3

Not far from Ben and Josephine's home is the Winter Quarters Visitor Center.

Persecuted for their beliefs and driven from their homes, the Latter-day Saints set out from Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1846. They were seeking Zion–a place where they could worship as they pleased. Their destination was Utah's Salt Lake Valley. Thousands of Saints crossed Iowa and encamped on both sides of the Missouri River, including the site of Winter Quarters, where they constructed hundreds of shelters. These temporary towns became safe havens for the Saints–a place to gather strength before resuming the trek west.


I have ancestor's on my mom's side who were part of the Martin Handcart Company. They crossed the plains from Iowa to Utah carrying only what they could load into simple handcarts. They suffered unimaginable trials in order to reach a place where they could be free to worship the Lord.

It was a special thing to be able to take a picture of some of their posterity next to a handcart like the ones they pulled over the plains.


Many of the Latter-Day Saint pioneers died at Winter Quarters. Next to the visitor's center is a cemetery where many of those pioneers are buried. At the center stands this touching statue.


I had seen photographs of this statue before, of a mother and father burying their child in a shallow grave in the cold ground. But as I stood beside it, I noticed something I had never seen before - the form of the child, swaddled and laid to rest.

I couldn't help but weep at the thought of so many who perished and lost loved ones, especially precious children. I am inspired by and grateful for their faith in the Lord that these separations are for a short time until our families will be reunited on the other side.

Now, near the site where so many Saints are laid to rest, stands a beautiful Temple of the Lord. A place where families are sealed together and bound for all eternity. (If you'd like to learn more about LDS Temples, click here.)

What a blessing to be able to visit this inspiring and sacred place. I'm awed by the strength and faith of those early members of the church, especially my own ancestors, who withstood such hardships in order to build the kingdom and worship God. This day was one of my favorites of our trip.

To be continued...

Trip To Omaha - Part 2

We found Omaha to be quite pretty, with a lot more rolling hills than I expected and enough trees, green and beauty to keep me happy.

We spent one day at the park. My parents, who had been anxiously waiting to spend time with their grandchildren, came prepared with big bubble wands and kites.


Ashley was the master bubble-blower. Or spinner, rather! These big wands didn't require blowing, just some serious waving. The best technique, of course is to spin in circles!
Tyler loved flying his kite because all that requires is running full-tilt across a field - something he excels at!

This was the first time mom and dad got to meet their new granddaughter, Claire. They couldn't get enough of her!
Who could resist such a cute munchkin?
We took a little hike through the woods and Tyler kept stopping to pick wildflowers and show them to me. Melt my heart!!!
Ashley collected quite a bunch as well.
Grandma didn't come on the hike, so the kids decided to present her with the bouquets of blossoms they found.
Being with family is beautiful.
To be continued...

Trip To Omaha - Part 1

Recently we took a family vacation to Omaha, Nebraska.

Yes. Nebraska.

When Ben and Josephine announced last year that they were moving there, our reaction was as follows:

"Omaha. ......................Seriously?"

So when my mom and dad asked us if we wanted to hop in their van and join them as they drove through Ohio on their way to visit, it wasn't so much the thought of vacationing in Nebraska that tempted us as much as the thought of getting to vacation with family.

Well, we had a wonderful visit, plus a little surprise: Omaha is NICE! We absolutely were impressed.

We roadtripped for 2 days to get there. I love road trips! We talked and laughed (and some of us slept) and found some fantastic little restaurants and fun things to see along the way.

On the second day, we stopped at Adam-Ondi-Ahman. (An LDS church history site.) It was beautiful and we really enjoyed the peaceful, natural setting and the beautiful spirit that was there.

It felt really good to be able to get out of the car and walk around and enjoy the gorgeous scenery.
We found some helicopter leaves.
They were too green still to flutter nicely though, they just kind of dropped to the ground instead of spinning and rotating in the breeze. So we had come up with an alternative way to play with them.Scott looks better in a mustache than I do.

To be continued...

It's here!

The first trailer for New Moon!

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON trailer


November cannot get here fast enough.

Easter Celebration

We had another wonderful Easter celebration this year!


While Scott was working his magic in the kitchen, I was in charge of setting the table...




Some of the daffodils from the front yard made a lovely bouquet for the table.


Dan and Melinda came over and shared in our feast. It was absolutely delicious, as always! And the best part was spending time together and all the fun conversation we always have. We love them so much and are grateful to have them as our "extended family."


Scott and I had a lot of fun being creative together this year - with decorating our springtime flower cupcakes for dessert...




...and dying eggs - one of my favorite traditions from my childhood.

My family had a little custom where each of us would decorate an egg for each member of the family. We would write the person's name on it with the wax crayon and decorate it in a way we thought they would like. I made one for Scott (can you tell which one?) but I forgot to tell him about the tradition, so he didn't do one with my name on it. :(


But I picked out my favorite egg that he decorated and we decided that one could be "mine." :)


Isn't it gorgeous? My cute husband is so talented!

I think it's so perfect that Easter is in the springtime. What better time of year to remember the gift of the resurrection and the atonement, when we are surrounded by the beauty of spring flowers, newborn animals and budding leaves. Everything feels fresh and new. What beautiful blessings the Savior gives us.

Hope you had a beautiful, colorful Easter!

Signs of Life

I love this time of year!

Signs of life are all around...





Newborn lambs are wobbling about at Carriage Hill...
So pure and sweet...aren't they precious?



Wildflowers are blossoming at the base of a tree...


The magnolia trees are blooming gloriously...


Buds and baby leaves begin to adorn the trees and bushes...


Daffodils are spreading sunshine in my front yard...
And I am happy!