Trip to Utah--August 3, 2011

The morning started out quite early--we left shortly after 6:30 am so we could meet with the Stake President (Pres. Simmons) in Terreton--45 miles away.

He had some good advice to give to Ethan, and then set Ethan apart as a full-time missionary.

We (Rusty, myself, Ethan & Zane) then drove (in Pamela's Jeep) to Rexburg.  Grandma Marge was in the hospital (she is fighting cancer).  Ethan wanted to tell her good bye.  We arrived just as the doctor was talking to the family about what needs to be done.  

So we were at the hospital about 45 minutes longer than anticipated.  Pamela tried to call while we were there, but I had forgotten to turn off my phone & so when it rang (while the Dr. was talking), I was quite embarrassed & quickly turned it off.

After saying good bye to Grandma Marge, then we drove to Idaho Falls to meet up with Pamela & the rest of the kids (in the van).  We met them at Wal-Mart.  We got the few things that Pamela hadn't picked up yet & then Ethan met up with a friend (Dillon Richey) to say a quick good bye.

Then we stopped in to visit Great-grandma Bowhay.  

 When we lived in Idaho Falls (for about 7 years) we would go and visit her every Sunday. 

 She just turned 96!  I think that is amazing. She is in great shape for her age!  Our family picture turned out really good!

Then it was off to Utah. But we had to stop at Melina's Mexican Restaurant in Blackfoot. (yum, yum!)

 Ethan can usually tolerate getting a picture taken if someone else is in it (example:  with Ben so Ben will be able to look at the pictures later).  But he does not like pictures of himself.

 And Benjamin is taking after him.  But only when he wants something else.  Thankfully Ben still lets us take his pictures, but at this time, Ben was ready to get changed into his swim suit.  So he is telling us:  Hey--It's not picture time; it's SWIM time!

 Callum got comfy on the floor to watch some cartoons.

 Zane lucked out and got the bed to himself.  Rusty, me & Benjamin shared the big bed in the suite room.  Ethan took the pull-out sofa bed, and Emmalee made a bed out the chair & ottoman (her choice).

Pamela & Brienna shared a bed in the other room, Zane had one, and Callum made a bed out of the the chairs (again--his choice). I think Callum ended up on the floor (but he does that at home too).  So at least we had no fighting on where everyone was sleeping.

 Zane brought up the cart to get the luggage down to the vehicles.

 Emmalee and Ben watching a few cartoons.

 I didn't get many pictures of us swimming.  But this is Brienna & Ben in the pool, and Callum getting ready to jump in.

 Ben telling me to get in.

 Zane, Rusty & me swimming.  It was a nice pool--just the right temperature too.

 Emmalee had a blast swimming.

 Ethan came down for a few minutes--and was the inflator of the floatie devices.  Then he did some sewing up in the room with Pamela.

Emmalee was very brave & swam all over (even where she couldn't touch).  We swam for about 1/2 hour before the pizza was delivered.  Then we went to the rooms and ate the pizza.  Then we swam again for about an hour.  And of course, we swam again the next morning after breakfast.  After breakfast we were looking for Ben's swim suit.  He walked right to his suitcase & pulled out his wet swim suit.  Silly boy!

The pool was a lot more crowded in the morning.  But the kids had fun. 

More MTC Pictures

After editing more pictures (I've been at it for about 2 hours!) I found more pictures!

This is the view of the MTC campus & Utah Lake from the Provo Temple.

Ethan was too quick for my camera--but this is him getting out of the Jeep & getting his luggage. 

And I didn't get a picture of them hugging, but you can see a lot of emotions on their faces.  Looking at this one brings back the tears!  Although I'm not supposed to be prideful, I am a very PROUD momma!

I am Back!

I am really back--back home! (At least for about 2 weeks).

This summer I have been away from home--at my parent's for 3 weeks, moving Ethan back home from college, camping in Montana for almost a week, and then to Utah for a few days.

When I was "home"--I was really in town shopping or attending the temple.  It was a lot more work than I ever imagined to get Ethan ready for his mission (the shopping end).

But we took Ethan down to Provo, UT on Tuesday, August 2nd, stayed in a motel, and then dropped him off on Wednesday, August 3rd.

 The drop-off procedure at the MTC is much different!  It is almost a "slow down & jump out!"  But maybe it is easier on everyone that way.

Rusty got a picture of Ethan giving me a bear death grip hug.  ("My" camera--really Brienna's--would not take the picture while Ethan was hugging Rusty).

After the hug, the missionary hosts took his baggage, asked him his last name, and said, "Welcome, Elder Stewart.  Follow us."  They went one way, and we drove off the other way.

It really wasn't as emotional as I had anticipated.  Maybe it will be harder the longer he is away & I am not able to "talk" with him.  He has been gone for 5 days--this is probably the longest I have gone without talking to him (texting, phone call, Facebook, or Skype).  I guess it helps that I have other children at home that need the attention.

I just finished downloading, labeling & sorting the pictures from our Utah trip.  I need to work on our camping trip to Montana & our time in Wyoming.  Then I plan on posting lots of pictures (since I use this blog as a family history).

Donut Day at Grandma's

Friday (July 1st) was donut day in Lander.  Once a year we make spud-nuts.

 Each of the grand-kids get a turn at cutting out the donuts.  Here is Callum.

 Emmalee is watching Sashaann (cousin Tiffany's daughter).

 Emmalee using Great-great Grandma Pearl's donut cutter.

 Benjamin taking a turn.

 Caleb took a turn (cousin Tina's son).

 Caden (Tiffany's son)

 Zane

 And finally Brienna.

 Here are some of the donuts....

We made 76 donuts, and 111 donut holes.  This is what was left after we ate them & took/saved some for those not at the house (Rusty & Ethan were traveling at the time).

So after everyone had eaten some, I took a banana & was eating it.  I just put the last bite into my mouth when Emmalee said, "Mom--did you eat a donut?!!?"  

Since I am still not eating sugar, I wasn't eating the donuts.  So I told her I just finished eating a banana and that it was good for me.

Emmalee--"The banana is good for your TUMMY, but the DONUT is good for your MOUTH!"

Gotta love that!

Family Fun

We have had so much fun the last week or so with family.

 Emmalee & Benjamin sharing the rest of the watermelon.

 Grandma Carter reading to Emmalee (in bed).  Grandma & Grandpa got to sleep in Emmalee's bed & she slept in Ethan's room with Brienna & Aunt Pamela.

 Benjamin showing Grandpa how to comb hair.

 Ben was all tuckered out & fell asleep in Pamela's arms.

 Grandpa Stewart (Grandma Marge has been battling cancer so she was home resting)

 Benjamin was so excited to have Grandpa over for Zane's birthday that he piled Grandpa as high as he could with his toys (and notice the Hawaiian lei.)

 Callum liked eating the mini cheesecakes with no fork!

 And so did Emmalee.

 She decided to try a blackberry--I don't think it was very sweet!

 In fact--she said it was quite sour!

 Benjamin wearing his new Toy Story jammies.

He loves them & would wear them 24/7 if I let him!

Zane's a Teenager!

Yep, that's right!  Zane turned 13 yesterday, June 21st.

 It was a very busy day for me--I did some laundry, dishes, and then got ready to go to town. I decided not to "make" Zane go shopping with us, so he stayed home along with Callum.

 And they said they actually got along!  (And I guess it helped that Callum bought Zane an Arizona drink at the store for him).  And Brienna gave him her old MP3 player for his birthday.

 (A shirt from Aunt Pamela)  We went to Rexburg (shopped at the DI thrift store) & then got Ethan so he could get some things he needed at the church distribution store (temple garments).

 After Rexburg, we got Wendy's for lunch & then headed to Idaho Falls for Brienna's back brace appointment.  She needed new padding & Velcro on her back brace.

 After picking up a few groceries (and birthday presents), we came home, made tacos & his dessert--Cheesecake (with blueberry topping).

 And enjoyed the rest of the evening.  Actually--Zane & Brienna went to mutual (young men's & young women's).  I even made 6 mini-cheesecakes for the kids.

 Zane enjoying his birthday "cake".

 Playing with his rubber-band gun.

And wearing his "Parry the Platypus" t-shirt from the family.  (the character is from a TV show called "Phineas & Ferb")

While we were eating dinner, Zane told us that he had a dream about Parry the Platypus the night before.  

So I asked Zane to come into the living room so I could take a picture of him with his new shirt on.  When I saw where he was standing, I asked for him to take one small step to the left & then took this picture.  If you look closely, it looks like he has antlers on his head--(it's just the antelope antlers hanging on the wall).