Family Picture May 2022

Family Picture May 2022

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Pictures



 We took random pictures one Sunday in our back yard. I don't know where Weston was.

Savanna's veggie bug
 Savanna made a grasshopper out of vegetables for a school project, I thought it turned out great!

My mom wrote an arrangement of "I Stand All Amazed" for Savanna (on violin) and me (on piano) to play in church. I took Mom and Grandma to La Jolla Grove for lunch as a payback. It was so good and so fun!

Here are some pictures from our evening picnic at Hope:

Fiora Kynsie Krystal Rachel

At Hope Campground, trying to evade the camp host troll

Mom won the marshmallow roasting contest

Finally a good fire!
Weston School Portrait 2012

Fiora School Portrait 2012

Savanna school portrait 2012

 I drove up to Salt Lake to get this matching dresser/bookshelf/desk set all by myself. Jared's bad back would've prevented me from using him as a hauling help anyway, and the lady selling it and me had to load it in the truck ourselves. Thankfully the Lord took pity on me and provided my old neighbor Bill Valora from Orem as a moving help when I got home, he was just sitting in my house with his lovely wife Julie visiting with my kids!  Miracle.  


Hoping to get it painted soon

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Humorous

Life is great, isn't it? We had a week when there were flies in droves everywhere outside, and one or three would get in the house if you opened the door at all.  Flies make themselves right at home when the come in, and eat our crumbs, land on our food, and fly around our heads all night, on purpose. Thankfully the weather cooled off soon because the fly population seems to have dropped dramatically this week and we were even able to enjoy a nice Sunday dinner outside on our deck without feeling like we were victims in a movie called "Attack of the Flies."

Weston was with Jared when he got the mail one day and saw a credit card offer with a real-looking credit card Jared was about to toss in the garbage and asked him if he could keep that credit card.  Jared let him have it.  That very Saturday Weston went garage sale-ing with Jared and wanted to buy a scooter.  Jared asked him if he brought any money.  Weston said, "I have this!" and pulled out the real-looking credit card out of his wallet. Jared let him buy the scooter on loan, and didn't realize til late that night he never set Weston straight as to why that card wouldn't work.

My kids' idea of "keep your wet towels off your bedroom floor" is to pile them in the middle of the bathroom, on the floor.  This is a step up from letting them mildew on the carpet, but it still makes for a lot of towel washing every week.  They also all think they need TWO towels to dry off every time they bathe. Jared and I use ONE same towel all week, the only difference is we hang ours up after we're done so I don't have to do excess laundry.  I guess I need to give the kids a one-towel-per-week allotment and make them wash their own dang towels.

Fiora and I decided to join my parents and siblings up at Hope campground for a nice fall evening picnic.  There was a camp host there who was a little hyperactive about collecting the 7 dollar fee per vehicle and tried to sell us extra firewood twice, and kept doing the rounds making sure he didn't miss a vehicle. We had three cars there, hence a $21 fee, so we were determined to make the night a fun one.  Unfortunately it had rained earlier that day and the fire pit and some of the wood we bought was a little damp, so it took two or so hours to get a good fire going. Good thing there were 12 of us and only 3 pie irons, cuz it took an hour to get the first sandwich nice and toasted. Once the fire started nice and hot, we were burning the sandwiches because we were accustomed to 30 minutes per side rotation, but at least when they were burned they didn't stick to the iron and make it difficult to scrape out. In fact I dropped Krystal's burned pizza sandwich in the dirt, twice, because it came out so easily.  The rain came back and we were soaked and all our food stuff and table clothes were soaked, but my dad and I kept reassuring oursleves "THIS IS SO FUN!"  Weston was all mad he had to miss out because of gymnasitcs, but I'm rather relieved Jared Savanna and Weston didn't come late and pay another 7 dollars to the crazy camp host to get soaking wet and eat burned toastites.  My mom did roast some prize winning marshmallows on those hot coals towards the end there!

Jared and I went on an over nighter marriage retreat at Aspen Lakes hosted by our Stake.  We danced and ate good food and listened to inspirational speakers and developed our relationship, and slept outside in the cold. I'm not one for camping anymore. I tried to make the most of it by bringing our big air mattress and putting sheets and blankets on it and bringing our pillows, Jared thought my flower sheets were funny and took pictures of me trying to make our bed like it is at home.  That night I was wishing for a zero degree sleeping bag! The wind was going all night and my face was painfully cold, and Jared was kind enough to let me get close to him for warmth but that meant every time either of us moved we both woke up.  I did a good job of being upbeat and positive about it all, but looking back I say if you have extra sins that need purging, try camping, a cold sleepless night might be just what you need to work off some guilt!  We were very appreciative of Aunt Wendy who got the kids to their soccer games so we could improve our marriage and purge our sins. I sure love my Jared!






Jared wants to own a little lake like this







Monday, September 17, 2012

No Subject

 Fiora decided to organize the pantry for me the other day. Every time I go in there I want to pull my hair out because its not the way I'm used to, but I don't have the heart to REorganize it since Fiora was only trying to be nice and helpful.  She is a good girl.  I helped her make this Cache County Float for a class project and we both think it turned out pretty good!

Fiora and Weston help Jared start the fire
 Jared got t his idea to have some friends over and cook some meat over the fire pit, and on a short day-before notice two families could actually make it! We had a lot of fun with the Tolmans and the Hanks from our old neighborhood in Orem.  We visited until 9:00 and could have kept on talking but the kids were ready to leave.
Breanne Tolman and Stacy Hanks
Fiora drew a picture of our fun evening with friends

I made some spinach smoothie popsicles and bribed my kids into eating them.  They acted like I had asked them to eat caterpillars.  They really don't like spinach!  But they all did it, and Weston even admitted it wasn't that bad, because the coldness of the popsicle numbed his taste buds!!!  Wimps.



My kids went with Jared to a garage sale on Saturday and scored an old Pogo Stick.  They spent most of that day learning and perfecting the art of pogo stick jumping, and Fiora got two large bruises on the inside of her legs from all the jumping.  Sunday they couldn't keep from jumping either, and unfortunately it busted later that afternoon.  Poor pogo stick was overloaded, like a horse that is run to death!

Monday, September 10, 2012

Arizona


 


 We had a great time in Arizona!!! It was totally worth the time in the car, stress to prepare for, and all the things we blew off in order to make it happen.  The kids were good for the most part, but had their moments. Since we packed them in the compact car in order to save on gas, we were expecting some moments of conflict.  Thankfully no one was permanently maimed.

Our first stop was the Page Boy Motel in Page Arizona, we broke the long drive in half.  Not even picture worthy, but it was a place to lay our heads for the night. Then we were up early and drove to the Grand Canyon.  The weather was perfect and we stayed from 9 til 4.  Poor Jared, every time we stopped the car he had to slowly try to get out of the car and stretch his back.  I had to get used to waiting up for Jared, I would be 20 steps ahead of him before I realized he was invalid and I'd have to go back.  He tried not to complain about the pain, but you could tell he was uncomfortable. We had some nice walks along the rim, but no strenuous hiking this time.

Weston loved the Grand Canyon


Savanna touching the horizon, perfect shot!


Holding up the sky

Powell monument



Weston and his walking stick
At some Indian ruins
Savanna acted like she was bored at the GC, but I know deep down she loved it.
Riding the shuttle bus across the rim
Jared had to stand on the shuttle bus because of his back
Thursday night we arrived at Aunt Betty Ann's and Uncle Steve Curtis home.  They accommodations were wonderful! They had a private room and bath for us, free breakfast, a theater room, and a gorgeous pool! The kids wanted to get in that pool as soon as we arrived at 9:30 PM (10:30 Utah time).  I promised them we would get in first thing in the morning and coaxed them to bed...mostly because I myself was too exhausted.  We were in the pool at 7:30 the next morning, and then a monsoon hit Mesa!  We had to exit the pool because of lightning and flooding rains.  We weren't expecting that in sunny Arizona! Betty Ann put a movie on in her nice theater for the kids while we tried to "wait out" the rain, but it never stopped. Even our booked steam boat ride was canceled due to flash flooding on the roads. We were already at the lake when we learned that, so we went to Tortilla flats instead and had nachos at the neatest saloon I've ever seen. We ate our fill and bought souvenirs. Betty Ann did such a fantastic job at keeping us entertained that day.

Swimming before the storm hit
Hoping to get on the Dolly Steamboat at the lake
Superstition Saloon

Aunt Betty Ann and me!

Nachos fed everyone and we had left overs!

Saddle on up and sit at the bar!


Fending off a scary Indian

Oh its just a statue
 That evening we drove another hour down to Casa Grande to see my cousins and Aunt Ann who are relatives of mine on the Barrett side.  I haven't seen some of them for 17 years and never met some of my cousins' kids.  It was really nice to visit with them all, and every one of Aunt Ann's children came!  We really appreciated the huge mexican feast they put on for us and the effort to come see us while we were there. This picture is off the adults there...there were also 23 kids running around if you can believe that! From left to right Kathryn and Ryan Barrett, Jared, Alan Barrett, Brian and Aimee Merrill, Matthew Barrett, Emilee and Edward Retinierra, Heather, Kathy Sue Barrett, Ann Barrett Rand, and Leslie Barrett (not pictured Elizabeth Barrett).
Wish this picture was better quality, but Ryan said he'd email us the nice one!
Saturday was filled with wedding festivities.  My mom's brother Lloyd's youngest daughter Laura Rappleye married Justin Rhodes.  She looked beautiful and it was a wonderful wedding.  The ceremony was in the morning at the beautiful Mesa Temple, and the ring ceremony and luncheon was at 11:30, and the reception was at 7:00.  Savanna and Fiora watched two little babies during the wedding ceremony and they both cried the whole time, poor kids!  But they had a good attitude about it.
Fiora all ready to go to the wedding
On Betty Ann's beautiful staircase (Jared was on the phone)

Laura and Justin Rhodes



Savanna and my cousin Noelle's baby Will, whom Sav babysat
Me, Grandma Rappleye, mom, (aunt Jeanie's head in the background)


After the wedding luncheon (at which the kids were very patient while us boring adults ate and visited), we went back to the Curtis bed and breakfast to enjoy some free time swimming.  Savanna, Fiora, and Weston wasted NO time getting in their suits and getting in the pool.  They were joined by many cousins aunts and uncles who were in town for the wedding or locals of Mesa.  My parents, Jared and I, my aunt Trish and Uncle Mike Terry, cousin Meadow, cousin Noelle, and cousin Clarissa Chapman and her kids all joined in the swimming fun. Poor Savanna hit her head on the rocks somehow and has a bump on her eyebrow and had a headache for a couple days. She didn't let that stop her fun though! My kids swam for 4 hours straight.  My grandma Rappleye watched the BYU game. My dad played a little too hard (for those who know my dad you know what I'm talking about) and got bruised and scratched too, he said he felt like he had been hit by a truck later that evening.
Savanna Diving in the pool
Before the masses came
 We went out to dinner at "Red White and Brew" before the reception, just the adults.  My uncle Steve very kindly took Jared to get some pizza for the kids and Savanna watched little Will again.  And he cried for her again, but she persevered and got him to sleep.  I can't tell you how nice it was to have some exclusive time with my Rappleye aunts and uncles!  They are good people.  The reception was lovely and I got to visit more with cousins.  Jared is even better at socializing than I am and had a good time visiting with my family too! He even stayed up late and played Rook with my parents and uncles/aunts.  I admitted defeat and went to bed with the kids.  The lighting wasn't the best in the reception hall, so these pictures are annoyingly low quality, sorry only had my phone.
        
Dancing at the reception

Fiora and Grandpa Barrett
   
Mom, Laura, and me at the reception


Me and Aunt Jeanie
Me and cousin Noelle Rowe and Will
Me and cousin Kiera Ethington
Meadow Alexander and me again
Me and Aunt Betty Ann
The next day, Sunday, we traveled the 11 hours home. We went home via Gunnison and stopped by Grandpa Neil and Bonnie's house for some dinner. Bonnie always has good food for us!  So Jared got to see some of his family too.  That's a lot of family to see in 4 days!  Thankfully Jared and his back survived, and I was surprised at my stamina as well. We can't wait for the next Rappleye family wedding!

In Memory of Lillian

In Memory of Lillian
Our Family