Getting Ready for Christmas

You will be proud of us.

On the day after Thanksgiving we put up our Christmas decorations and on the following Monday we had our friends, the Smiths from Sandy, down for dinner to compare notes on teaching in China.

They took our pictures so we would have something to put on our Newsletter this year.

Thankfulness at Thanksgiving

Here we have our tables set in anticipation of a good sized gathering arriving shortly.


With the Hardings : Guy, Trina, Sheridan, Marcus, Caleb & Mitchell;

the Deren Hansens: Deren, Liz & Drake;

The Browns: Sam, Marenda, Addie & Kasen

and Kalen Reynolds and Mellissa Rosenhan,

we had a wonderful time of eating, visiting, and playing


Sheridan wanted some football so Sam, Sheridan, Garth and Guy played a game of touch football. Garth didn't want anyone to know but the fall he took bruised or possible cracked his ribs on his right side.

The "girls" sat around sleeping and crocheting.




I just couldn't resist getting a picture of our little "Shirley Temple" as we all called Addie.

The Last Rose of Summer

Well, not quite but it is the last perfect rose. I found this blooming in my garden. Unlike most of the roses I have seen, this one had no blemishes at all.

I brought it in the house and it stayed looking perfect or several days before it began to wilt. I just had to share the beauty of this with all of you. But as perfect and beautiful this rose is, there is still nothing to equal the beauty I find daily in my family.

Halloween in Utah

The witch and the Gaucho enjoy Halloween with the Hardings, Deren's family and the Browns.
















Marenda and Kason & Addie







































Trina with her children: Mitchell - jester; Marcus - dragon, Sheridan - wizard & Caleb - a knight









I couldn't resist the little jester and his happy smile.

















One of the most clever costumes was created by Liz and Drake - captured by an alien.















I wish had had gotten a picture of Kalen alone. She was very charming as a gypsy.





The "group" after trick or treating was finished.

Drake's Baptism - 10-27-2007

It was our privilege to attend the baptism of Drake Aidan Hansen on Saturday, October 27th.

Deren baptized and confirmed his son a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.












Marcus and Sheridan Harding joined Drake in singing "Nephi's Courage"












Guy, Sam, Garth and Bishop Buckley assisted at the confirmation










Drake's request from us was a couple of shirts like his Father had when he was a boy. They were supposed to represent some kind of space uniform.


We were very grateful we could be present.

Golden Generation Reunion at Dixie - Oct. 26, 2007

With a lot of concern, I agreed to attend the Dixie Homecoming activities and sing a song from Brigadoon - the 2nd musical every produced there.

I was blessed and felt good about my performance of the song, "Waitin' For My Dearie". Garth video taped a little of it but I couldn't figure out how to get it onto the Blog.




Several years later, my brother, Corrin, danced in "The Boy Friend". There aren't too many men his age who would dare to get back on the stage and dance.









I had received no information but found out that my graduating class was being honored as the Golden Generation. I joined those of my class who were present for a group picture.














We were each given a small clock in a multicolored rock.














The program that we did was to honor three of our teachers who worked with us in the musicals.

Sitting in front are: Howard Putnam - vocal instructor, Marion Bentley - Director of the musicals and Ron Garner - Orchestra director.
Here are some of the performers from the 7 shows that were spotlighted at this time.



Garth and I are with Marion Bentley who had a profound influence on my life as he worked with me in Brigadoon and again in Oklahoma.











All of the performers were presented with a beautiful letter opener with our names engraved on them.

It was really a special time for me to be able to be a part of all of this.

Welcome to our newest granddaughter in Arizona

After leaving LaVerkin, we left for Phoenix, Arizona to meet our newest granddaughter and help Kendra and Barry for a few days.

We were treated to a beautiful sunset on the way down that evening.











After a little prodding from Shanda, I prepared a special breakfast on Kendra's first day home after delivering Tessa. She enjoyed having her breakfast in bed.












It was fun to see Shanda and Talia when we got to Arizona. Shanda had been there to help Kendra get ready for Tessa's arrival.

While they waited, Kendra and Shanda knitted these green caps for their little girls then we sewed big flowers on them to use as Halloween costumes.























A proud "Papa" surveys his newest granddaughter, Tessa Ruth Halterman








And I have to have my time to get acquainted with Tessa.















In addition to preparing meals, doing laundry and keeping the house clean I helped Kendra with some sewing, altering and mending.
This is one of the towels I helped Kendra make for Christmas. She told me I had better not put them in a place that Kira would see them but I am trusting that she won't be looking at this entry.