What happened in February?

These days, we don't hear too much from Cam.  She's busy living life in Arizona.  Everyone in awhile, I see snippets of her life on Instagram Stories.  Whenever I do, I hurry up and grab a screen shot !  Here she is with Hannah and a little one, both of whom are cousins.  They were lucky enough to get to go to some Spring Training games.   Landon and Payson are heading down there later this month to catch some games, hope they can meet up :) 

Here' a cute pic of Bexlee that her mom posted.  Can you believe that curly hair?  And that mischievous look on her face ?  

Bexlee and Payson celebrating their birthdays as Grandma Carol's - Fun times :)

This was our Family Home Evening last month.  We followed the iron rod past the great and spacious building, the dirty river, through the mists of darkness, finally arriving at the Tree of Life, and partook of the fruit (cheeseballs hanging on yarn).  The angel in white led us along the way.  It was a great night, hope the kids remember this forever. 

Ward dinner was fun - the Relief Society was in charge of the food (tacos).  It went well,other than the left over food, and exhaustion!  ha!   Glad it is done. 

Cam's friends - looks like Coldstone was on tap !

Can't remember if I posted this, but this is the flower arrangement I did for Phyllis' funeral.  She was one in a million, and I'm going to miss going to visit her. 

Here is a picture of her as a young woman - probably about the time of her marriage.  I've posted it to Family Search, along with several audio snippets of her and Effie Rich talking about the "good ol' days"

Poor Thatcher had to have a BUNCH of teeth removed (in preparation for braces in a few months).  He actually went to an oral surgeon, and was put out for the procedure.  I guess the roots were LONG !  The toothfairy sure had a hey day :)

Tagg turned 12 !

I made it to the temple a few times :)

Zac had Rog help him (do all the heavy lifting) work on the chicken coop at his house, and he is finally able to do a little bit with his arm (very little).  He's still a few weeks out on going back to work.

Can you say ALMOST automatic feeder?  Now Tagg won't have to go in the muddy coop to feed everyday.  

Mom's flower sure grew !

Payson got a new bike for his birthday

And we gave him and Thatcher this same book.  They sure had fun with it. 

Zac needed more hay for his goats, so the boys came over, and between them all, they got a few bales loaded up.  Zac could only carry a bale with his left arm...... and Tagg struggled, but was able to help out also.  Treyson was at a friends, and Thatcher was minding the gate with Grandma. 

Cam got ANOTHER new cousin.  She sure loves the babies. 

Family Home Evening - Look and Live !!

Last Sunday evening we gathered together at Grandma D's as a family.  We talked about Moses and the brass serpent.  The gist of the story is this:  After wandering in the wilderness with Moses for many years, the children of Israel began to forget the great miracles that had been afforded them.  Being freed from slavery from the Egyptians, the parting of the Red Sea for their safe passage, Moses delivering the ten commandments to them, written by the finger of God........and so forth. 
To help them remember, the Lord send fiery flying serpents in their midst, and then when they were bitten, a way to heal from the poisonous (killing) bite.   All they had to do was LOOK at the brass serpent which Moses had fashioned on a staff, and they would be healed and LIVE.   Unfortunately there were many who were too stubborn, and did not believe that to do something as easy as LOOKING would heal them, so they didn't look and they died.

The brass serpent was a TYPE or a symbol of our Savior.  If we but LOOK to him, we will LIVE.  By small and simple things, great things are brought to pass.  We talked about the Property, and how it started out as a small (BIG) mess of trees, and little by little we have transformed it into what it is today.  We talked about Grandpa Roger's yard business, and how it started out so small, and has grown and grown.  We talked about the kids gymnastics and tumbling, and how when they first started, they could barely do a cartwheel, and NOW, they can all do back handsprings!!

The little things our Prophet asks us to do, like read the Book of Mormon daily are small things.  We may think, "How can this help me?"  "Just by reading a little bit everyday I will be happier?"  "That is too easy, no way............"   And if we think like this, we will be like the children of Israel, who didn't look at the brass serpent.  Our Prophet has promised that if we read the Book of Mormon every day, we will MAKE BETTER DECISIONS - EVERY DAY, and we will BE HAPPIER, and IT WILL BRING US CLOSER TO OUR SAVIOR.   

To help us remember to LOOK and LIVE, we worked to make a SERPENT on a STAFF.

We had made four batches of salt dough clay earlier, and colored it green to resemble a snake. 

We layed it out of the counter, and proceeded to roll it into a snake shape.

We added eyes, and fangs, and a red forked tongue.

Getting it to stay together was pretty hard, but we GLOMMED it on the staff and made it work :)
Good Job Everyone !! 

Then each grandkid had their own mini-staff, and made their own serpent to take home. 

Of course, what's FHE without a little POKER at the end (haha) 

and loves..............

and cheesers................

and puzzles..........

A good time was had by all, and I think this is a lesson that will be remembered ! 

Let's finish off August.........crazy busy

Still gardening.........watering......... and now we are into the harvest season.  Corn is on, tomatoes are slowly coming on, cucumbers galore, peas are done, onions looking good, and last night Dad cut his first cabbage, and sent it home with us. 

Treyson and Tagg are playing football

Partying at the Property.............

Swinging

Climbing..............

Jumping.........

Building (new Chicken Yurt) 

Eating.............

Selling.......
This is CJ's new set up for Ivory & Birch at the Morgan Mercantile

Working (Playing?)
This is me with the Rich County Assessor and Daggett County Assessor during a Greenbelt Seminar held in Morgan County.   What a great day we had together.  It was fun to show off Morgan County to my peers. 

Early morning at the Temple

Putting hay in the barn

Fixing fence

More eating YUMMY hamburgers at The Property

Hi Bexlee !

Catching grasshoppers

And even a Praying Mantis
Look at that face on Bright !   HAH !

Getting more hay (to feed steers and goats this winter) 

Fishing..................

FHE at the Property
Learning about Prophets (thanks Lando) 

Love this girlie :)

Roasting Marshmellows

Fixing sprinklers (beautiful pic, huh?)

This is what happens when you go to buy 4 bushels of tomatoes.......... and forget to bring your own boxes !

This is what happens when you mess up when canning tomato juice :(

Fixing sprinklers..............

My handy dandy salsa man !

Don't know what I'd do without him :) 

More football

Family pictures

Fun time on Vaca!

Fun time in AZ with cousin Hannah

Fall baseball !!  Yeah !!

New baby cousins

Ouchies

And that's a WRAP on August !
Bring on September !!