Memorial Day Weekend

We spent the weekend at the ranch for Memorial Day. We were cleaning and fixing fence for the cows that were being delivered. We had a lot of company during the weekend. It was great! We had some extra help that we really appreciated. We got some sage brush chopped down, quite a bit of trash gathered and burned, the metal separated and put in a pile for scrap, a new barrell fixed up for a burning pit, a new invention for the dutch ovens and for foil dinners! (The dinner cooked real well on the old bed springs that they found on the ranch) The weather was pretty chilly and rainy, but we had fun despite of it.

We got to know some new friends and got to visit with some old friends and relatives. It was a wonderful weekend.

Curt and I came down and went to church and put flowers on his mom's grave. It was hard to leave the ranch, but I'm glad we did.

We have new neighbors there... Brian and Kino put the trailer there that they and Stacie bought so that they can come visit when they want. Curt helped them get it set up so it is ready when they are. It's starting to look like a real commune! I guess we were raised in the hippie era... we fit right in!

I wanted to get pictures of everyone who came up, but I missed quite a few when we came home. Our friends from Montpelier came while we were gone and I'm sad we missed them. When we got home Monday there was a message from them. I hope we see them up there again. Jenny and Alan had 40 people for lunch that day! That was some pic-nic. They all said that it was wonderful. It worked out real well with us all chipping in on meals. Al and Jenns friends the Witts had some great food for us too. It is great when everyone helps out.

We have a lot of work left to do, but I have to say that it is fun work. When everyone helps it goes so much better.

Shane Hinck came up and gave us some pheasants for the ranch. We are excited for the wildlife. Curt and his dad saw deer and moose. We of course have the beaver in the ponds, ducks and cranes. I have only seen a few deer on the top of the ridge east of the camp. I hope the weather is better the next time, so that we can explore some more.

Curt said that they ranch was for raising grandchildren. I think he hit on a great idea. They were so tired and dirty when we got through, but not one of them was cross or complaining. It was so cool to see them all get along and have so much fun. They are going to be in the best shape from up there, they hike all over and have already made a secret grove! Cute Kids!

We have great plans and dreams. It will be good to see them come true.

Celebrating 80 years!

Mom, Kari, Aunt Myrt Kari, Mom, Mysti

Today we celebrated my moms 80th birthday with her twin, my Aunt Myrt. It was at the clubhouse where she lives. Myndi and Mysti (My neices) Cyndi (Their mom) Doris (Aunt Myrts daughter-in-law) and I made the food and decorated for it. ( Not all of it, my family all brought desserts for it too!)

It was so cool to see and talk to my cousins again. I actually knew some of them this time!!! I had to be told a few of them, because I hadn't seen them for so many years. We were looking at photos from the past and the cousins sure look like the generation before them, with a few minor changes!

I think that they were very happy with the way it turned out. So many family and friends showed up to greet them and share the day. It was so good to see everyone having a fun time and see my mom and my aunt so animated! They wore matching shirts and both of them had their hair done so they looked so cute. We had a good time with them.

We had tons of food left over, I sent a lot of it home with people and still brought some of the desserts home. I now have dessert for Memorial Day and Shauntaes Birthday camp-out.

My cousin Wally and I decided to have a reunion next year before we lose any more of our generation. We would really like to get to know them again.

Looking at the photos that I put together really made me see the changes that we have gone through. I don't want to miss anymore of my time here, it goes WAY TOO FAST. Next thing you know I will be the one having the 80th and I will wonder where the time went.(I just want to get there knowing that I spent the time with family and knew them.) Anyway, it was a fun day and I'm glad that we did it. It was good.

Alan's family-Kari- M&M Hannah (cousin) Kim,Braden,Ashley with mom

Looking Back

On Bessie's funeral day I received word that my Aunt Jessie had died. She is my mothers sister. Kari and I went to her viewing last night in Midvale. I have to tell you that there were cousins there that I would not recognize if I saw them on the street, or anywhere else! There are a few that I knew, the ones we played with as kids and have seen at other funerals and weddings. But, there were some that I had no clue who they were. I feel bad that the family has been apart for so long. My kids didn't know any of the extended family that were from that side.
My mom had 12 brothers and sisters, so the families are all over the place. It's just that as kids we got to go visit and see them and it was great to know them. Now, I don't know them anymore. I felt bad as I walked through the line, I knew my cousins that were there and was glad to see them, but sad at the same time because they really don't know me either! Aunt Jessie didn't have kids, so she spoiled all of us when she would visit. She was little in stature but big in heart. I know that she appreciated the family that took care of her and watched over her home and belongings.
We are celebrating my mother and her twin- Aunt Myrts birthday on Saturday- They will be 80 on May 20th. There are only three of their family left. Their younger sister, Aunt Betty lives in St. George. I can see changes coming in our family, too. It's hard to see these things and not be able to do anything about them. I just hope that when the time comes I will know what to do to help my family through whatever happens.
I really hope that my kids and their cousins keep in touch and I hope that my grandchildren stay friends even after they are grown and moved away! They all mean more to me than I could ever say. I pray that they KNOW it!

Grandma Bessie

What can you say about a person who has been a big part of your life for over 36 years? That's about the amount of time that I have known this lady. I was dating Curtis and my first meeting was very intimidating. I was pretty shy around adults and I was totally unprepared to meet someone so straightforward and opinionated. It took me a while to get to know her for who she was and what she stood for. She helped me to can food every summer for my family. She sewed for my kids and taught me how to do my sewing better. She took care of my kids when I had emergencies and at other times when she could. She was invloved in Farm Bureau and got us started in it when we were young. She loved her children fiercely and wanted the best for them, no matter what! She eventually accepted me in to her family and was patient with the things that I did differently than her. She raised my husband to be the man that he is today, which I am so very grateful for. She will be missed in ways that may be totally different from anyone else in the family, only known to me, but she will be missed. I cherished the times I got to take dinner to her and visit while she ate. There were times when I didn't know if she would make it through another day, then she would rally and be great again. I felt for her when she would comment that she would like to either get better or die. Well, she got better! She is now preparing the places for her family to meet her again. She has left a legacy and I am a small part of it. Hopefully I can take what she taught me and pass it on to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Wednesday will be our last good-bye and then it will be back to making life the best we can so that we will be able to meet her again and remember our times on earth! She took her next step and we need to follow the best we can!