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....