June was here and now its gone

The first of the month, we went down to Las Vegas to say farewell to Nathan and Shannon before they headed to Maryland. Oh so far away. But they seem to be enjoying the new area.
Two new babies arrived this month: Taylor Brooks and Brooks Madrid.
We traveled to Parowan to one of our Branch boys wedding reception.
The CCRSEA had their get to tegther up in Rockville. It's a nice park. It would nice for a family reunion.
We had a a nice trip up to Manti to see the Manti Pageant. It brought back memories of when we went there to see Kurtis perform as Zarahemnah a few years ago. It was a very cold night, but the pageant was great. We also went to Gunnison to a wedding reception of another one of our Branch boys. Also to Richfield to watch Barry run the relay at the Hershey State Track Meet. His team got 3rd. The next day we went to Fredonia and were there to see Bennett sustained and set apart as a 2nd Counselor in the Bishopric.
Then the next to last day of the month went with Kalynn and Barry to the Shakespeare play in Cedar City, Comedy of Errors.
We also had some birthdays in June, my brother Roger and Uncle Ray. Laura, Charlie, Polly, Brady Samantha Gracie and Kalynn. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ALL!
Guess whose birthdays are in July!:}

Travel On

This past two weeks we have gone on some quick trips here and there.
We drove up to Grafton (in Rockville) and walked around the cemetary and
the old buildings that are there. The headstones say killed by Indians and
stuff like that.
We went to PineValley and drove around until we found Steve and Toni's
cabin they are building. Teria's Dad was there and let us walk through it.
What a place it will be when finished.
We drove to Mesquite and checked out Sun City Mesquite behind the new Walmart
there. We had no idea Mesquite had grown so large. We ate at Casa Blanca.
We took a couple days and drove up to Navajo Lake and walked around, then to
Duck Creek, and on to Bryce Canyon. The Hoo Doos are amazing. We ate at Rubys
Inn and stayed at Bryce Canyon Resort after which we drove to Zion Nat'l Park
took the shuttle up to the end of the shuttle service and walked up to the
entrance to the Narrows. The water was ice cold and flowing quite heavily, so
the Narrows were closed to hiking. We wouldn't have gone anyway.
We were invited to Ashton's kindergarten graduation in Las Vegas, so we spent
part of the day at his school and then out to lunch for pizza, went to one
store and then traveled back home.
A few days later,(yesterday)Paul and I again hopped in the car and drove
to Lehman Caves in Nevada. That is an amazing place, too. Stalgtites and
Stalagmites galore. We drove from there to Delta and stayed at an old motel
which Mary and Lori and Dori were staying at. They had been there for several
days out exploring in the desert. We ate breakfast the next morning at the
"Rancher" then headed home. Jessica was here from up North and wondered where we were
but Dorene and she went and had pedicures and shopped until we returned.

Four Wheeling & Flying

This past week my sister Mary came down to the Tri State Jamboree. She was here for three days and was four wheeling all day on Thursday and Friday and Saturday. The first day out as they were arriving back to finish up her trip for the day,she discovered the CV boot was busted, and because of all the other problems she'd had with her old 4 wheeler, she decided to traded it in for a new Honda 4 wheeler.Anyway, each evening we'd go walking, visit, crochet,etc., then she'd be gone for the day, and we'd do it all over again. We were going to go to Las Vegas Saturday after she got home, but their trip that day was alot longer than she anticipated and so we didn't get to go. Saturday morning, Walter called and talked Grandpa and I into going flying with him, so we boarded the little 4 seater plane and flew over to Enterprise, over Pine Valley,across Quail Lake and Sand Hollow Reservoirs, and over some of Hurricane and Leeds areas. We had headsets on, so we could talk to each other and also hear air traffic reports. It was a beautiful day to see some of the St. George area from way up in the sky. Mary was pretty beat when she arrived home each night, so we really didn't get to go do anything else, but we've decided we will figure out another time when she can come to St. G and we'll do some of the other things we didn't get to do.
I'm also glad to have my mid'term evaluations done, but now I have to start preparing for the final evaluations which I can start in the next couple of weeks. My last day of Student Teaching evaluations is April 24th.

Having Fun

I just found some pictures of myself and my two sisters.
So I decided that it would be fun to put them on the blog.
We had such a fun time growing up together.
Life was great then. Of course, it is now, too, but in a
different way. Now we're old ladies, grandparents and
even great grandparents. Now,the young kids will enjoy their
own family times, having fun!

What's New?

Well, February has had some mighty different weather. I guess Spring isn't on its way, as yet. We had a fun BBQ last night over at Dorene's but it was too cold to be outside. Snow on PineValley and all around. But it gives us the water we need for the summer-when its really Hot. I've been busy doing some sewing, mostly quilts, especially the mystery quilt with the Quilt Works. It has some pretty tricky parts, but it will be fun to see what the finished project will look like. At least, I'm learning some new things rather than just square blocks.
Today, I am going to be giving blood at the donation place. Yikes! I don't know how people go and give plasma once or twice a week. I guess the money makes it worth it.
I have to go to schools now to observe student teachers. It is very interesting to go into their classrooms, but it does make them very nervous.
We are discussing The Last Lecture in our book club on Thursday. He has some great insights. We are attending the CCRSEA meeting at Old Main this month. It will be fun to see what they've done inside the building, since good Old Dixie Days of years ago. That's where I went to assemblies and classes when I attended Dixie College. Sam Brooks was the first student to enroll there for the first classes ever conducted at Dixie College and where the arch, that is still there at the entrance, was built with the help of Grandpa George Brooks. I don't know exactly if he designed it or built it or both.
The new Doctrine & Covenants class begins this week. It is so nice to learn more insights there, to help strengthen your understanding of all those messages.
Oh, and the Bishop and Branch Presidents dinner is this week over at Staheli's Catering or whatever it is called. Stake President Doty and his counselors do this every year. It is a really nice evening we enjoy with all those fine people.
Well, that's what's new this week. Needless to say, we don't get bored.

It's February

I'm glad to already have February here. It makes the Spring look closer, and here in St. George, it is already looking a little like Spring is on its way. We have mostly warm during the day, but still get pretty cold at night. Our heater comes on alot, still, but still seems warmer.We have lots of birthdays coming in February: Kori, Donna, Garrett, Emily, Liam, Cooper, Jack, Tina, Ashton,and Kaylee. Plus in there Valentines Day will be popping in. So HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND VALENTINES DAY AND MAYBE EVEN SPRING. I start Supervising Student teacher this month, too, so that keeps me busy running to different schools in the county. But supervising is alot different that teaching, so I'm happy to do it.There's a different level of stress.