Missouri in June

The last week of June we drove to Missouri for Brian's baptism. While we were there we were able to do some fun things with the DeLeeuw's. We weren't very good a taking very many pictures. We took our bikes so we could ride the KT trail, which was a fun morning for Joseph and I. The trail is dirt but well maintained.  We started in Columbia and rode the MK trail from the center of town out to the KT trail and rode on it for a ways and then returned.  Most of the trail is in shade so it was pleasant despite the humidity that we aren't use to. On another day we rode on the Bear Creek trail, it is more designed for walking and running and not for bikes but still was an adventure.

While we were there Joseph worked on projects for the DeLeeuw's as Bill is very busy with school. Joseph enjoys looking for things he can do to help out. They had been having a lot of rain so the grass  is hard to keep up on.

 We spent a day in St. Louis. Joseph and I left early in the morning and took Zachary and Brian with us. Jessica and Bill with the others kids met up with us later in the day. Here is a view of the arch from the freeway.

 To get up to the top you ride in a shuttle (washing machine, I'm not kidding!) The door opens and there is barely room for four people. Thank heavens there is a window in the cubicle so you can at least see the inside of the arch as you are going up or I think I would have lost it.  Deep breaths!

Here we are in that washing machine although the picture is too light to show how tiny it is.

 There are small windows at the top to look out on both sides. Again, deep breaths! Whew!

Looking down at the stadium. It is amazing how flat the land is and how far you can see. 

 A barge on the Mississippi.

 Another view of the river and the bridges crossing it.

 This is looking across to Illinois.

This still causes my head to swim.

 With our mighty grandsons! (As Grandpa Clarke would have said). You can see the tiny windows in the background.

Looking down at a church next to the monument.

It is the 50th anniversary of the building of the arch. They had the grounds completely tore up. One would of thought they would have completed this prior to the anniversary year.

This is one of the reflection ponds which I'm sure would have been amazing with water in.

A view from below.

 Zachary in the visitor's center. They had a video on the building of the monument which was interesting to watch. Some very brave individuals to have worked on this.

This was a fun adventure. We met up with the rest of the family at an amazing BBQ place not far from the arch in an historic part of town. Bill then went and picked his mother up at the airport and we went to the Botanical garden.

 Hibiscus!!!

 This was in their children's garden.

A cute little fairy house. We didn't think to bring our camera into the garden. These were taken with my phone. I wish I would have taken more pictures. It was a beautiful botanical garden with so many varieties of gardens to enjoy.

Eric's senior project

We went up to Logan for Eric's senior project in May. His group worked hard on this project the entire year. They came up with a great idea to solve the problem they were given and gave a well prepared presentation.

We sat in the back of the room as they gave their presentation.  Then listened as they defended their work. Great job!

Happenings in June

Angela came out to Utah for a couple of weeks which was a great way to start the summer.  

Christine wanted to have a little party so we made cupcakes. I got out my glass trays that I let our girls use when they were little, for their "tea parties". Christine and Audrey are a little young to appreciate them. But it was still fun.

Jacob enjoying his cupcake.

We went to the park and tried to feed the ducks but they weren't interested. Four cousins having a great time together.

 We went on a picnic at Fernwood park which is on the mountainside. 

 It started to rain so we ate our lunch under the protection of the trees.

 It's good we have our denim quilts for such an occasion.

 It was nice to have the cement pad as well so we weren't in the dirt.

Afterwards we went on a little hike along the Bonneville trail. Keith helping the kids to wash their hands.

 I love pictures like this. Such sweet moments with their papa.

 Tried to get a picture of everyone on the bridge but didn't have a good angle.

 The kids were having fun.

 Getting to be grandma.

 At the end of the hike. The kids were happy to be carried.

 Some Iris' growing on the mountainside. I think there may have been a pioneer home here at one time.

We had a fun couple of weeks together.

spring of 2015

Thought I'd try to catch up on the year. Life has been busy and we haven't slowed down all year. I don't want to lose these moments so here are some of the things we have done.

 Audrey helping to cut out sugar cookies for St. Patricks day.

 Mollie helped sprinkle the sugar on the cookies.

 Joseph bought an old 4-wheeler for a hundred dollars that he and Keith are fixing up. They got it running but it still needs more work. It came with a snow plow so he needs to get it going before winter because I think it is going to be a long one.

 Even though our numbers are few we still have to color Easter eggs. 

 Audrey and Mollie are more interested in licking the beaters.

 On our way back from a trip to Southern Utah we stopped and took a picture of the soon to be dedicated Payson temple. We were able to go to the open house with Joseph's dad and sister Judy. It is an incredibly beautiful temple inside. I don't know how many times as I walked into a room I said: "wow!! 

We also stopped and took a picture of the Provo Tabernacle soon to be Temple. What an amazing renovation. The historic tabernacle burned down several years ago and the church decided to rebuild it as a temple. 

 We had a very mild winter this past year without much moisture. So of course after the trees had blossomed too early, we got the biggest snow storm of the season in March. Branches on trees broke from the weight of the snow. We lost most of our fruit as we had several hard freezes after they bloomed.  I have three peach trees and only got one peach. I haven't done much canning this year.

 We had moved the chickens away from the house and had removed most of the plastic from around the coop as winter was supposedly over. 

 Joseph shoveling snow off the deck.

 This bird feeder has been around a long time.  

Eric had made a hammock and the little girls are trying it out.

Another tree that needed to go. This had gotten too big for the spot it was in and we couldn't see out the east window. 

It had two trunks. Joseph cut one off to see if leaving the other would be okay but it needed to go as well.

He trimmed the lower branches off before cutting it down.

 We thought it might look a little bare, but it actually looked better. We still have a couple of aspens that need to go. Hopefully we'll get to those this fall.

Joseph participated in the Cinco de Mayo bike ride in Kaysville. He wasn't able to finish as it was the same day as Eric's graduation. So he rode as long as he could until it was time to leave for Logan.

There was quite a group participating. This is put on by a local bike shop.

 They started at the high school in Kaysville and then headed west and then north to Syacuse and then back/

Eric's Graduation

After 4 1/2 years of hard work, Eric Graduated from Utah State University as a Mechanical Engineer with an emphasis in aerospace (he really is a rocket scientist now). We started off the day by meeting for lunch at the Blue Bird cafe. It is an older restaurant with lots of atmosphere and a great menu. The restaurant would have been perfect, except everyone else graduating also seemed to be there too so it was a bit crowded.  After lunch we had a bit of time to spare so we went on campus and just hung around for a while. The girls had fun running around and it was Keith's job to try to catch them if they got too far. There was an old tree that gave us plenty of shade while we waited for the commencement exercises to start. Once the graduation was about to start we went inside with everyone else. Eric's class was pretty large so the graduation took quite a while but it still was a perfect day. Afterwards they gave everyone some Aggie ice cream and we had an ice cream social.
Congratulations Eric, you did it!

 Debra and Audrey

Keith keeping Molly and Audrey occupied until the program was ready to start

 

 A perfect old tree for taking family pictures

 Debra and Ashley cleaning up the pine sap on Audrey after the photo shoot in the old tree

Eric's graduating class

Eric receiving his diploma 

 Eric and mom and dad

 Eric and the Keyes

 Eric and Keith

 Ice cream social afterwards

Aggie ice cream is the best!