Happy Birthday Ellie & Bailey

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Today is Bailey and Ellie's FIRST birthday. We love you and give hugs & kisses xxxooo on your special day. These are Zack & Kami's youngest sweetie pies. We will have a family gathering later in the week so we can all celebrate their Bday. Bob is holding Bailey and I am holding Ellie and you can tell by our smiles that they warm our hearts!!!

Cool Weather and Sweet Grandbabies

I got to spend some time with Quinn this morning and he just loved playing out in the back yard. The weather has cooled off so he was able to play out there longer than usual . He had such a good time he didn't want to ever come in. I think his favorite thing was to play with the rocks and sit on the big rocks. It doesn't take much to make a little one happy. Thanks Quinn for coming and having some grandma time!
Being the weather has cooled off I better start thinking about doing a little bit of gardening in some pots. I have never done it that way before but life is an adventure so here goes. I'll keep you posted on that one.

Canning Memories

On Thursday Anna gave me a call and she had two boxes of pears more than ready to be canned. My mom was leaving that morning back to Canada so I took her to the airport and then headed to Anna's with apron in hand. The experience brought back nothing but wonderful memories of canning with the children and spending those bonding moments. It had been more than 20 years since I had canned. We spent many a summer in Colorado canning peaches, pears, apples and cherries. Yes the cherries !!! (lots of hard work pitting each and every one of them with a paper clip) I remember being so tired at the end of a canning day but the next morning when I looked at all we had accomplished and saw that beautiful fruit in the jars there was a great feeling of satisfaction. Anna thanks for letting me have that feeling that comes with canning once again. Don't they look beautiful??
My mom has been visiting from Alberta, Canada and this is one of the treasures she gave me. It's a phamplet from World War II asking the housewives to can, dry and store for victory. It has suggestions to assist housewives so that there shall be no loss of food.
This is a picture of the pledge to be taken by every housewife in Canada to help with the Food Service in world crisis. You will probably have to click on the picture to see what it says. Very interesting to read.
This is the card you would place in the window of your home after you had taken the pledge!
Thank you Mom for sharing!!! Just a note - in the pamphlet on canning pears they took 4 cups of sugar and 1/2 cup of water to make syrup for 4 pounds of pears. Talk about sweet!!!

Another Day In Paradise!!!

I not only got to experience another day in paradise but actually 8 days. Kauai is definitely the garden island. Bob and I had a wonderful, relaxing time. We stayed in a condo on the beach in a small town named Kapaa. Our lanai (balcony) looked right out onto the beach. We had that gorgeous view every morning and evening. I will always remember our vacation in paradise. Here are some pictures as we went all over the island and not only experienced the beaches but also the mountains.
This is the path we walked every morning for an hour. It goes on for a long ways but follows the coast line. I miss those morning walks - just a little different then the desert!!!
Bob and I checking out Opaekoa Falls and then heading to the beach. Why the ball cap well!! we rented a red mustang convertible and had an awesome time enjoying the sun and breeze. Oh the memories~~~~
Kayaking up Wailua River. We then landed our kayak and hiked to Sleeping Falls.
Water hole on Wailua River I took pictures and Bob took the plunge!!!
Bob and I hiked up to Secret Falls - the water was too cold for me so Bob experienced the falls and I enjoyed the moment.

Kauai has beach after beach. I thought I had died and gone to heaven! The sand is a gold color, the water is warm and a unforgettable color of blue.
Kilauea Lighthouse - its also a wildlife refuge and we saw lots of red-footed bobbies (a white bird with red feet) that soar in the air above the water amongst the cliffs
Waimea Canyon (The Grand Canyon of the Pacific) we fell in love with the colors Na Pali Coast was gorgeous. We took pictures from above as you can only get to the actual coast by either hiking in, boat or helicopter.

Desert Walks

The best and most beautiful things in the world

cannot be touched.

They must be felt with the heart.

~Helen Keller~

Five days a week the alarm goes off at 5:30 am. Time to get up and go walk the trails in the desert at Ussery Park which is about 10 minutes from our home. These breath taking pictures of the sunrise and the desert where taken this morning. Our desert walks are 3 miles long and we enjoy every minute of that time. What a great way to start your day. Thank you Heavenly Father for your beautiful creations!

Kaley's Baptism

Kaley is my niece Jenny's daughter and she was baptized on Saturday. She looked and glowed like a little angel! What a great way to spend a saturday. After the baptism Jenny had a luncheon for those who attended. Grandpa and Grandma Cook where able to be there so I got to visit with my sister Lorraine and her husband Chester. They live in Los Lunas, New Mexico so we don't see each other often. It was fun to catch up. I have to say the brownies at the luncheon where to die for. I asked Jenny to email me the recipe so when I get it I will share. Awesome for those of us who have chocolate cravings.

Sweet Baby Jessica

Sweet Jessica filled with God's grace

We miss your sweet angelic face

Grandma & Grandpa send you their love

Up to your eternal home in Heaven above

You are always held close in

Grandma & Grandpa's hearts

It's such a blessing to know we will never be apart

Hugs & Kisses xxoo

Jason, Emily and Quinn we want you to know how much we love you and that our thoughts are with you today. Thank you for being such an awesome part of our family!