SEWING FOR SHANDA & IT'S A "GRAND" MOVE

To help finish off Talia's nursery, I created the following 3 "dresses" for wall hangings:

. . And the very little girl grew Bigger



















and BIGGER



















and B I G G E R



















It doesn't look like it but it took me 3 days while I was with Grandma in LaVerkin to put these together. I will be excited to see the finished project on the wall of the nursery.

We arrived home Saturday afternoon at 5:00 and "demolished" the part wall on our stairs in the entry way so that it would be easier to . . . .



















. . Move the baby grand piano from our living room in Springville to Marenda's house in Orem. With 4 strong men: Garth, Deren, Guy and Sam, it worked like a charm and Marenda now has her piano.

Cousins, Couches, Calming Kasen & Caleb

We've had a busy past couple of weeks. On August 10th we went to Ogden where the Hansen Cousins meet once a month at the Golden Coral for lunch and visiting. Garth loved being with his cousins again.

The next night we traveled to Layton for a reunion with some of my Nielson cousins whom I haven't seen in 30 to 40 years. I took individual pictures so won't bother to put them in here but it was wonderful! They are some really neat people.

Our 2nd week home, Marenda told us they had material to reupholster their couches. We started on the first on August 7th and delivered it back on the 9th. We started the 2nd smaller couch on the 13th and, with Marenda's help on this one, delivered it back on the 15th.

Calming Kalen




Deren used his singing and low bass voice to calm this little boy who thought if he was awake that he must need to eat.













Caleb Harding turned 4 and we were invited to his celebration. Here he is wearing the Charlie Brown costume that I made for him for his "Charlie Brown" birthday.

The Reynolds Return to India

As all vacations must come to an end, so did this one and Saturday, August 4th, we helped the Reynolds load up and took them to the airport to begin their long return trip to India.


Brian and Garth are loading all of the bags into the back of our pickup for the trip to the Salt Lake Airport.

Garth is helping weigh the bags so they will not be over 50 pounds each.

















All met at Marenda and Sam's place to say goodbye.


















The time finally came for us to say Goodbye. This is the first time they have not gone as a family and tears flowed freely as they said goodbye to Kalen as she starts her new adventure as a college student.

A Sewing Lesson for Tamlen

Tamlen was excited to have a day with me to "have a sewing lesson". Our first step was to make sure she could sew in straight lines and on curves. Also, I feel it is important to understand the machines you are working with. I started her on the treadle machine and gave her a piece of paper with lines to follow. Once she had done that she learned how to work the big electric sewing machine and she sewed practice sheets on that one (without thread). She then learned how to thread the machine and then she chose a pattern and started in to work.


Tamlen is cutting out the panties for the outfit she is making for Taren.










Tamlen is sewing the ruffles for the panties on the sewing machine, and doing a good job of it.

I was amazed at her patience and desire to do it right the first time but also the willingness to undo something if necessary in order to do it right.


Tamlen said she was afraid of the serger but didn't hesitate to use it when she needed to.

















" I did it! I'm Finished- At Last!!!
















Tamlen is holding Taren who is wearing the new dress made for her by her sister.

A Month of Birthday Celebratons

Shanda's 27th Birthday - celebrated a few days late. We promised her a Mom-style birthday dinner when she, Preston and Talia came from Colorado to visit us.

Addie is anticipating helping Shanda blow out her candles.






My 70th birthday was in May while we were in Arizona helping Kendra so our children - except for Thayne - met on July 16th to help me celebrate. (Now I ask you, is getting this old something to celebrate?) Seriously though, I was very touched and amazed at the thoughtfulness that went into the celebration. In addition to pulling pictures from all parts of my life, my children put together a most wonderful Memory book titled 70 Wonderful Things about Mom. In addition to the 70 things, they had also included pictures of me with them at different times through the years. All of this was professionally published into a small book. This is a memory I will carry with me for the rest of my days. THANKS TO MY WONDERFUL CHILDREN - INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE MARRIED INTO THE FAMILY.



Kalen Reynolds actually turned 18 while in India but chose to wait until the family arrived in Utah for the month of July to celebrate her birthday.














Trysten Reynolds celebrated her 16th birthday a few weeks early so that we could all join her celebration before their family returned to India.
Her parents - following the traditions of India - first gave her an arranged marriage. She did get to choose which of the 4 gentlemen she preferred.

The Joy of grandchildren

"FLOUR BOYS"

Owen and Drake find great fun playing in the flour while I am preparing pizzas for our lunch.










Our grandchildren enjoy playing around with their cousins in our swimming pool.

Dana in goggles, Shelby, Caleb, Owen, Tamlen, Marcus (on Alligator) and Alden.








Addie finds Trysten's jewelry and decides she has to put it all on.

















Addie is indoctrinating her cousin, Talia, in the art of watching movies on TV.











Mitchell Harding just after eating and wiping his food in his hair and all over his face. I just couldn't resist this one.



















Kira Halterman is holding Talia Hickman










and Trenton Halterman is also holding Talia Hickman. These two grandchildren were with us earlier but had to return to Arizona before the following picture was taken.













THE YEAR OF THE BABIES - Oct. 2006 to Oct. 2007
17 of our 19 grandchildren: Left rear: Trysten Reynolds holding Addie and Kasen Brown, Dana Hansen, Shelby Hansen holding Talia Hickman, Owen Reynolds (front), Drake Hansen, Kalen Reynolds with Taren Reynolds, Alden Reynolds. Front: Paxton Hansen, Caleb Harding, Marcus Harding, Tamlen Reynolds & Sheridan Harding with Mitchell Harding.













Our 4 daughters and their babies: Marenda with Kasen, Shanda with Talia, Kerali with Taren and Trina with Mitchell. Kendra is expecting in October but was not with us for the picture.













FOUR NEW GRANDCHILDREN IN ONE YEAR AND STILL ONE TO GO
Left: Kasen Brown -13 days old- (Marenda), Talia Hickman - 4 mo. - (Shanda), Taren Reynolds -6 mo.- (Kerali) & Mitchell Harding -9 mo. - (Trina) Kendra's little girl is due in October 2007.

Gubler Reunion July 21, 2007

My Gubler cousins & two Aunts met at Pine Valley, Utah for a reunion during July. My 99 year old mother joined us in holding the flag - the symbol of our freedom - as each of us told what the flag meant to us. Other activities included games, genealogy, food, program and remembering those gone before us. Corrin Nielson, my brother, was the organizer and LuDeen and Fred Lundin, my sister and brother-in-law, hosted the group and prepared much of the food. It was a special time to be together as an extended family.