Mark's Birthday, Oct 4, 2009

Jess & Scott where able to come over for dinner for Mark's birthday this year. Scott was in town to go duck hunting with Jesse. They had lots of fun hunting and got their limit each day.

Scott & Blajyn. Resting after dinner.

Mark blowing out his candles. We decided not to put all the candles on the cake, the fire alarm might have gone off. LOL Love ya lots Mark!

Jesse, DaNell, Sam, Megan, Scott, Blajyn, Sarah, Tyler, Gage, Nicole and Mom came over for ice cream and cake. I didn't do very well at taking pictures that day.

Gage liked playing the Wii game, and just walked around with the remote in his hand. He was cute. Gage and Blajyn played the Wii game together. Blajyn is pretty good at it, he was beating Mark & I at bowling every game.

We really enjoyed the weekend with the kids home.

Blajyn at the Zoo, Oct, 2009

Scott & Jesse went duck hunting in the mornings. So, we were able to spend some time with Blajyn. We took him to the zoo on Saturday. Blajyn woke up not feeling the best that day...but, after a few minutes said, "I an talk now Grandma, when are we going to the Zoo?" So headed for the Zoo. I was not thinking that it would be a busy as it was that day. Blajyn had fun, and we saw all the animals that he wanted to see.

I used to take my kids to the Zoo about 4 times a year, and we always got one of those plastic molds and a cotton candy just as we left the Zoo. The Zoo has good memories...

The new baby Elephant. Grandpa holding Blajyn up so he can see it better.

Blajyn by the giraffe and the baby giraffe. That was a cute little baby!

You have to have your picture taken by the Great Apes!

Going on the train ride at the Zoo, and moving the big black ball just before leaving the Zoo. That was a fun day to spend with Blajyn. This was his 1st time at the Zoo. Glad that we could take him!

Visit to Kanab - Sept 17, 2009

MaryAnn had to have some surgery that week. I went down to help with the kids, (and because I could not bear to be in Salt Lake when she had the surgery). The surgery turned out good. We where so grateful for that.

The kids where a joy to be around. They are just the best. They played with friends, helped around the house, played football...

Bryant made everyone stilts, and the boys are really pretty good on them. This is Clay walking around on his.

Jake walking around on his. I remember when I was a little kid...my Dad made us some of those too. And it was really fun to try and walk around on them. It brought back many memories from my childhood watching them play with the stilts.

This is tired! Cora was taking a nap on the couch and started to come of the couch.

Football practice. They are very serious about football in Kanab. The boys had pratice 4 nights a week for about 2 hours each night. All their practice payed off in the games. They played a good game. And when the High school time played that week, all the boys went to the game in their jersey's and played football at the other end of the field. It was neat to see how the town supports the teams.

Bryant and Clay...waiting for Clay's turn to play in the game.

I am sure that Jake is one of the those boys on the field...just not sure which one he is.

Cora got dressed up, and Addie got out the make-up and they proceded to make themselves up so cute! Nothing like a couple of little girls and make-up.

Addie & Cora. They are so cute! Miss them lots.

Stake Fair - Sept 12, 2009

Our Stake President challenged everyone to grow a garden this year, and then they would have a Stake Fair to show off what we have grown or canned from our garden. We could also bring crafts to show off also. We had planned to grow a garden anyways, but, the Stake Fair made it fun. It made it fun for everyone in the Stake, we talked about our gardens thoughout the growing year. And Joy Bossi came to our Relief Society Luncheons once a month and gave us gardening tips.

Some of the members of our ward, sitting at the table.

Alan & I refinished Mom's hardwood floor. Sept 2009

We have talked about for years redoing the hardwood floor at Mom's house. And after the Nicole's dog got really sick and ruined the carpet in the front room...we decided that it was a good time to do the floors.

Mom was planning a trip to California to visit her sister Maxine. So that is the week that we took everything outside and covered it, and started on the floor. I had so much fun working with Alan on this project. (I think he had fun too!) Mark & Alan's family also helped us with this project.

We rented the sander, and started working. We where so excited to use the sander, we didn't think to strip the old wax and finish off the floor. That sander was so much fun to use! I had to fight Alan to use it. LOL I used the broom mostly and cleaned up after him. That was even fun to do, cuz, we were doing this together and doing it for our Mom.

Alan sanding the hallway. That is all the dust that was in the air. We where both covered in after each day that we worked. I worried about Alan, but, he kept telling me that he was ok.

The floor while we where sanding it. That is a pile of the saw dust from sanding.

Sanding around the edges, where the big sander didn't get to. That was not as fun as the bit sander. LOL

This is Alan, putting the stain on the floor. There is also a funny story to go with this one. We just got back from buying the stain, I went over to get Mark to help us...Alan and his Grandson Alan carried everything in the house. One of the cans of stain slipped out of his hand and bust open on the floor. When I came in, I was thinking that is a lot of stain to put down all at once. And Alan was working so fast trying to get it worked in. Then when I found out what really happened...I laugh now every time I think about it.

This the floor after it was all finished. I really did not want to make this color, I wanted it to be a really light, because the wood was just so beatiful with no stain on it. But, there was a few really dark stains on the wood that we could not get out. (From years of having carpet on it.) So, we choose this dark color. Now everytime I go over to her house....well, lets say "Ilove it!"

Blajyn - August 29, 2009

Blajyn came to visit for a day. He is so cute! When he got to our house, he came in grinning from ear to ear. And said that they were going to stay for 2 years (he really meant 2 days). Love him lots! Blajyn and his Dad just finished putting together this puzzle.

Salt Lake County Fair - Dutch Oven Cook off - August 8, 2009

This was the last cook off we were in. We took 2nd place. We cooked, BBQ Beef Brisket, dinner rolls, and chocolate swirl cheesecake. It was a fun day, we decided that we needed to do this. Here is pictures of the food that we cooked. Then we handed out samples to the public.

Pictures of our booth.

Gwyn's Birthday - August 6, 2009

It was really the day before her birthday. And she was turning 9 also. What a cute little girl! Love them all so much! Words just can't describe the love I have for my family.

Some pictures from her birthday dinner and party. Happy Birthday Gwyn!!!

Grandkids playing at Grandma's house - August 4, 2009

Everyone came home for the funeral for Teresa. These are some pictures of the kids eating and playing. What would we do without our families? They are forever, and I will not ever be able to express how much I love them all. They are my life! Everyone of them!

Discovery Kids - August 3, 2009

We decided that we needed to take the kids and get away. To think of something else...besides being so sad. We asked Sarah, Nicole, Gage and Tyler to come with us just for a few hours.

These are some pictures that we took there.

Teresa - August 1, 2009

This is a hard one for me to write about. On Saturday morning and all through the day (I was in Idaho) I kept thinking that needed to get home, I kept feeling an urgency to get home. I kept calling Mark to make sure that everything was ok. And he kept telling me that everything was fine. Until I called at 7:00 that evening when we were leaving Idaho to come home. He told me that "Teresa didn't make it this time." I am thinking, what do you mean that she didn't make it? She had passed away earlier that afternoon. I am thinking that it must have been about the time that I was feeling so sick for no reason.

Susan drove as fast as she could to get us home safe and sound. Then she was going to drive my car home for me, and then drive her mom & dad back. But, the weirdest thing happened to my car. I pulled it out of the garage, turned it off and went in the house for a sec, came out and the car would not start. We pushed it out of the driveway and got Susan's car out, and she drove me home in her car. We decided that there must be a reason why we were not supposed to drive my car. For the life of me, I still haven't decided what it is. Cuz, in a few days, she started my car right up, and it has run just fine since then.

Everyone was gone from the house by the time I got home. They had the funeral planned, and they wanted me to talk. I would give everyone's talk for them. (Since they said that I was so strong, I could do that.) I think they have more faith in me than I do. But, they where counting on me to be strong. I can do that. I loved Teresa so much! I still have a hard time believing that it is true. I look at her picture, and think...you where such a good person. She made some bad choices in her life...but, then we all have done that too. She had 2 beautiful daughters and the cutest little grandson. They were the light of her life. She will be greatly missed by all her family and friends. Tersa was a beautiful person. We will all miss her a great deal!

This is what her girls wrote for the obituary.
Our beloved Mom, grandma, daughter, sister and friend was suddenly taken from us on August 1, 2009.

She was such a loving and giving person, and was known as “T” by many of her friends. Her hugs changed the world and she was loved by all. Teresa had a big heart and brought peace to everyone around her. Her advice and beautiful face will be greatly missed. She loved to spend time with her daughters and grandson, and they were the light of her life.

Teresa and Kerry Graser were married on July 4, 1989, but were later divorced.

She is survived by her two beautiful daughters, Sarah (Tyler) Ormond, Nicole Graser, and grandson, Gage Ormond, her mother, Jean Renner, brothers and sisters; Ken (Patty) Saxton, Cindy (Mark) Romrell, Alan (Amy) Saxton, Kyle (Becky) Saxton, and Sheri (Shannon) Johnson and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her devoted friend and companion, John L. Rawlings. She was preceded in death by her father, James Saxton, stepfather, Chuck Renner, nephew, Chris Johnson and her grandparents.

The viewing will be held on Tuesday, August 4, from 6 to 8 pm and one hour prior to the funeral on Wednesday, preceding the funeral, held at noon, at Jenkins-Soffe, 4760 South State Street. Interment will be at Redwood Memorial Estates.

Bryant, MaryAnn & family - July 31, 2009

Bryant had a doctor appointment in SL, I love that, cuz they stay with us for a couple of days. Bryant worked the bees while he was here. And they celebrated Jake's 9th birthday while here also. (I was gone to BYU/Idaho Education week, while they where here.) So, Mark took pictures for me. These are some that he took. Jake is such a good kid. Always wants to help you out, well...all of MaryAnn's kids are like that. All the grandkids have something that makes each one so special to me.

Bryant working the bees. Then everyone having dinner. Maybe it is Jake's B-day dinner.

Having Birthday cake on the patio. Happy Birthday Jake!!!

Education Week July 30 - Aug 1 2009

My cousin Susan asked me to go to BYU/Idaho to the Education Week with her and her friend Linda this year. I have always wanted to go to that...just never signed up for it. It was one of the best experiences! To be spiritually feed every day for 3 days from the time you got up until your head hit the pillow in the late evening. I loved every minute of it. It really made a difference in me.

We attended a Passover dinner on Friday night, that was very interesting. The bitter herbs that they eat 3 times during the meal, were bitter! When we where eating the dinner, I was reminded about a book I read called: The Devil's Arthmetic. (I borrowed it to Susan to read, so I can't tell you the author). Glad I had read the book, it added to the dinner in my mind.

I am hoping to go next year, and invite Mark to go with us. I think he would really enjoy it also.

We had 2 really fun room mates from Idaho in our dorm room. Every night when we came home they would be waiting up for us, and we would talk for a while. I enjoyed every minute of my time there!