Team UHP MS Best Dam Bike Ride

June 23, 2012
MS Best Dam Bike Ride
Team UHP
Logan, Utah

 Anticipation

 Team UHP

 Camping at the fairgrounds

 Trying on the Jersey

 Getting ready

 almost there

 Hallie and Grandpa at the first rest stop

 starting line

 aftermath

 some of the family

 Hallie's accidental tattoo

 at the finish line

 1-0-0 club

Fred completed a century ride with several family members.  Many of us volunteered at Team UHP's reststop in Trenton, Utah.   It was so fun to be with the Nordfelt family and friends.  Thanks Kenz for the pictures.

 Great Grandma Irene

 Great Grandpa Mack

 duncan

 Olive the Owl for the nursery

 at the baby shower

 Grandpa and Grandma

 Aunt Nat

 Aunt Kenzie

Hallie and Kallee talking about the arrival of Kollyns in just a few weeks.

Excitement building at our home!!

Blessed

Fred and I are very blessed as parents.  Challenges come and go, we face them and try and move onward.  Yesterday, Sunday June 2 our 1st granddaughter H. Bug was blessed by her father, Josh.  May I just say that it was so sweet.  Afterwards I leaned over to Fred and whispered..PAYDAY.  Words cannot describe this happiness we felt at that moment.  When I have pictures I will post.

Thanks for the family/friend support for Kallee and Baby Kollyns.  The baby shower was great and Natalie's home was the perfect setting for everyone to come.  We look forward to many more get togethers there...if she will have us.   And may I add...she makes the best treats:)

Kenzie's best (boy) friend and Missionary left for his mission on Wednesday.  It has been very tearful around here.  Her heart longs for his presence but her mind and spirit know he is where he should be.  It might be apparent that she thinks  he should walk through the door any minute but deep within she is very proud of the fact that he chose to serve our Savior.  Fred, myself and Kenzie have talked quite a bit about missionary service.  He will be blessed in many ways.  He will be in the Arizona Tucson Mission.  His name is Elder Justin Bouwhuis.."Bow"...like the dog bow, wow + wh + iss (like in miss)
He was a young man in Spencer Nordfelts' ward here in Layton.  He loved Spencer, Joy and their family.  Elder Bouwhuis and Kenzie were able to visit Spencer in April.  They had a wonderful time in California.   It will be another adventure to report about.

Peace out...as Fred would say.
Char

Mahjongg

I finally beat the beast!!

Yesterday I cleared the board FIVE times!

Fred claims that Mahjongg is brain therapy.

I just wanted to win for once.

Now he says I'm addicted.

Addicted?

No

It's called Mental Therapy

I will just add it to my list of therapies:

Retail therapy

Family therapy,

Sewing therapy,

Crafting therapy,

Grandma therapy,

Outdoor therapy,

Biking therapy,

Exercise therapy

scrapbook therapy,

Movie therapy,

chocolate therapy,

and so on....

Introducing Hallie Avery Carlson

 Grammie and Grandpa

 Favorite Aunt Natalie and Uncle Clint

 Favorite Aunt Kallee

 Favorite Aunt Kenzie

 First Shot

 Savoring the moment

 Peaceful slumber

 Grandpa and new Daddy Josh

 The New family

 Proud Grammie

 Yet to be named Baby Carlson  7 lbs 12 oz.   20 inches long.  April 19, 2012  8:25 am

Thinking about Heaven

I like, I love, I don't

I love reading blogs.
I don't post as often as I would like to.
I just finished reading, "Heaven is Here" by Stephanie Nielsen
Our garden is starting to grow.  It is Spring.  I love springtime.
I love seeing the new growth on trees, daffodils and tulips blooming.
I love hearing the birds chirp in the morning.
I am then reminded that springtime in Utah also means uncertain weather.  It snowed this week.
I  love hearing the neighborhood kids screaming with delight outside.
Our cat, Sukee, can still growl at the other stray cats that come to eat her food.  She is old.
She still has spunk and knows her territory well.
I love the sound of lawn mowers and trimmers.  Fred is hard at work.  Josh helped him today. Smiled.
The yard is taking shape.
I don't love the clutter in the garage or the "hot spots" in the house that need attention.
It is okay.  It reminds me that I live here and not in a model home. 
Kenzies date said our front room looked, "interesting"
I guess he was not used to seeing animal mounts on the wall.
I chuckled.  I paused and reflected.
This is who we are.  Not like everybody else. 
I still dream about becoming a better photographer.  I need help here.
I need to pull out my photoshop notes and practice.
I love to look at the work of family photographers and marvel at their talent.
We may have a new grandbaby this week or next.  Heavenly Father and the doctors will decide.
Life comes at us fast.  I wish it would slow down.
I turned a speed limit this week.
My mom and dad came to visit.  She made me a corsage.  She grew the orchids.  It was beautiful.
She is 84.  Dad is 87.  I cannot put into words the gratitude of that simple gesture. 
I'm trying to dejunk my life with useless clutter.
I rode my bike again this week.  It felt good.  Then it rained.  I went to the gym instead.
Days with G.A.D. are hard.  I try and get past the fear.   I'm thankful family is around.
I'm a wife and mother.  I treasure that blessing more than anything I have.
I am humbled.

Baby Shower for Caraline

 family and friends gather as gifts are opened. 

 Our wonderful friends and neighbors!!  Lindsay,Jackie, Olivia,Maddie and Sue

 Vivian, Colleen and Claudia

 Denise, Melanie, Jenette, Liz and Kallee

Debbie, Dixie and Kerry

 Nancy Burton

 Annette Brady

 Sheila Glandon admiring the gifts for "our" new granddaughter:)

 Caraline and Amanda (friend)

 My mom

My mother received a tender mercy of good health and came to the shower.  She has been so ill and practically flat in bed for almost a year.  This was a real blessing to all of us to have her come and participate in the fun.  She doesn't look 84 does she?  We are looking forward to a new family member in about three and half weeks.   Wow...guess I'll have to get used to a new title in life..Grandma, Grams, GMA, but please not granny....

March 2012

Chocolate apron, quote and tag for my friend.  I don't know what craft number I'm on.  However, the apron did look like chocolate bliss...the tag was made from things I had around in the craft room.  I took the quote off of pinterest and put it in a $3.00 frame.    It ended up being a very cute gift basket.

 Lazy Dog assuming her spot on the stairs

 Kenzies' candy bouquet to her friend.

 The surprise entrance on our 29th wedding anniversary.  We just came back from RC Willey's where we purchased a new stove after 25 years.  It was time.  After all I had thoroughly worn it out and freaked out my relatives when I would have to manually light the oven each time.  Maybe it was the smell of gas that gave that away.

 A re-creation of the "Reams" sign from Provo.  When Fred and I were dating we would often stop in at Reams and grab a .10 hot dog and drink.  It was a fun and  cheap date.  Kenzie took us down memory lane as a gift to Fred and I.  It was very thoughtful and turned out to be exciting and fun.

 Part of the twenty-nine memories that she had gathered from family members and placed them on a colorful banner in the entrance of the kitchen.

 The TV is not normally there.  The kids grilled hot dogs for us, had bottled orange soda and chips on hand to devour.  While we feasted on our meal the Carlson Movies were playing.  We enjoyed watching home movies all over again.  I think Kallee must have them all memorized.  She could recite, act and tell you what was coming up next. 

 My first reaction...always with a tear.

Limmie and her favorite spot....the place where she shouldn't be!  On the furniture, any furniture.

We are super excited that most of our children are currently residing in the same county as we are!  A friend reminded me that it was a real blessing to have family close by.  I have always been around family.  I grew up living next door to my grandparents.  I enjoyed the frequent cookie and treat runs to grandma's house.  Her tidy kitchen often smelled of home-baked yummies just waiting to be devoured.  I loved being able to go over and eat freshly made donuts or devour a creamy cold vanilla malt shake.  My mouth still waters thinking about it all.    Nat and Clint purchased a home in East Layton.  They have received a warm welcome to their "empty nester" ward.  Who wouldn't love a fun and energetic young couple to spice things up a bit?  They are excited for this new opportunity and though sad to leave dear friends behind in Ogden they do not miss noise or wild neighbors in the area.  Kallee is as busy as any beehive in YW and Duncan is working 65 + hours during tax season.  They are excited for new carpet, spring and a baby girl in July.  I was delighted that Kallee invited me to go with her to her doctor's appointment.  It was fun to watch her baby move all around and to listen to her heartbeat.  Josh and Caraline will soon welcome their baby in April.  They live across the street and have settled in to their home and new ward.   I think our lives are going to get very busy again!!  It will be a welcome blessing in our lives.