Birthdays! Birthdays! and More Birthdays!

After I posted this blog, we had Trina over to our house the Sunday before her birthday and had a special meal in her honor. I thought it would be fun to show her boys the evolution of their mom so this adorned the dining room wall.





On Tuesday evening, Trina's birthday, we went to their place and tended the boys while she and Guy went out for dinner. We also took her a chocolate cake. (In case you don't remember - chocolate cakes make Trina very happy).



Since I wasn't here for my birthday, it was decided we would get together Sunday, May 25th for a dinner in honor of all of the birthday during May and June. We met at Deren and Liz's place in Provo for a lovely meal provided by all then enjoyed a cherry chocolate cake provided by Marenda. You can see the birthday cake honors Mellissa - May 6th, my birthday - May 23rd, Marenda - May 26th and Trina - June 3rd.



We each had a candle to blow out (Caleb and Mitchell really wanted to help us). Left to right: Janice Hansen, Marenda H. Brown, Trina H. Harding and Mellissa Rosenhan.

Our Trip to Colorado

We just returned from a wonderful week with Shanda, Preston and Talia in Colorado Springs.
Since we took a desk with us, we then needed to help them find a place for it in their office. This heavy piece of furniture contains their computer and office set-up. We didn't want to disconnect everything so we tried to move it. Well. . . we got it moved a little (with Talia's help) but finally realized we had to take it apart to move it.














This is the final arrangement and it looks like it will work very well.














In addition, we took off the closet doors and I made curtains for the closet and for the 3 windows. Garth framed in the windows and hung the curtain rods.

Half of the closet became Shanda's sewing and craft area. She made her first little baby dress while I was there to answer questions when she wasn't sure how to proceed. (This pattern didn't have a sewing instruction sheet with it). Talia thought she ought to be a part of everything that went on, including the sewing.

































Garth hung the "Very Little Girl" dresses on the wall of Talia's room.





Our big project this time was to help finish off the family room. It had no moldings so Garth spent a couple of days installing the floor, ceiling and window moldings. I went around and filled in the nail holes and all of the corners and areas where the moldings left cracks.

Here Garth is laying the floor molding.
















If you look carefully you will see how much molding there really was in this room. Also, you will see the new light fixtures that Garth and Preston installed.

Shanda and Talia are playing on the couches and poof pillow before we moved them into place.






Here is the finished room! Yeah!


Since my birthday was Friday, the day we returned home, Preston and Shanda fixed chocolate fondue with strawberries, bananas and Vanilla waffers for us the night before - to celebrate the things we had accomplished . . .






. . . . and they fixed me a lovely birthday breakfast. This puffy oven omlette sported a andle for me to blow out. I had special dishes to eat my birthday breakfast on including a goblet for a delicious smoothie.

It's Fun Being a Grandmother

Our recent visit to Colorado gave us some fun time with Talia Hickman. She is a cutie and is always on the go.














We've really enjoyed the opportunity to see and play with Trina's boys. Here I am entertaining Mitchell and Caleb - or is it the other way around?



When Mitchell comes to my house he knows he can get away with a lot he couldn't at home. Here he is emptying all of my button drawers and having a great time. Only a grandchild could get away with that.

The Grand (ma) Move

Much against her wishes, we moved our mother, Ruth G. Nielson into the Beehive House in Hurricane, Utah. It is a lovely home for elderly people and has only 12 residents. The staff are loving, caring people and do all they can to help their people adjust to their new surroundings. The opportunity came up unexpectedly last week and we, as her children, decided to move on it. We have been searching and praying for something to relieve us from the intensive care we have been involved in for so long. Of course, Mother would like to end her days in her own home, but does not want to live alone. This was a hard decision but we felt we had to try it out for now. On Tuesday, April 8th, 2008 we had Mother pack a few of her things and we made the move.

We have been very impressed with the facility and hold high hopes that Mother will find it a place where things are going on and she has some interesting things to do and people to get to know. Her world has been sitting and sleeping in her chair and walking only when she needed to go to the bathroom. She has regained so much of her energy and alertness that she doesn't sleep much during the day and wants to be entertained with videos or reading all day.
After the move, it didn't take me long to rearrange a few things in the house.














Two views of the living room.














Doesn't this entry way look much better this way?



















Thursday night we had a family dinner - minus Mother - to discuss options














LuDeen, Eric and Garth

Corrin, Janice and Fred. Marsha was there but out of the room.













Before we left for home, we stopped in to see Mother. This picture is taken in her room. She doesn't have much more furniture than this so far.














This is the large living area that all residents have access to there are couches and chairs and two dining room tables and chairs and a nice, big kitchen



















This is the front of the Beehive House. The grounds are open and quite lovely






The window you can see is Mother's room - at the back of the building. Garth is coming out the back door.

A Baby Shower & a Baptism

Friday evening Trina, Marenda and I - with Garth as our chauffeur - went to Draper for my niece, Carie Nielson Carter's baby shower as she awaits her first child. Carie and Marenda are the same age.


Marenda and Kasen, Carie and Trina. It was so good to see Carie who lives in Virginia.



The shower was given by her sister , Jean and she provided us with a wonderful dessert bar. This was, by all odds, one of the fanciest dessert bars I have ever seen. with chocolate and carrot cake, cheese cake, éclairs, pastries, fruit fondue, chocolate pudding, tarts loaded with berries, raspberry/Sprite drink etc. Everything was so good!













Lana and Carie trying to decide what to take.



















Trina fell heir to a lot of the leftovers to use for Marcus' baptism the next day.

It is always a special privilege for grandparents to be able to attend the baptism of one of their grandchildren. Guy baptized & confirmed his son, Marcus, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.

Family Home Evening with the Hardings 3-24-08

We were pleased to join Trina, Guy and the boys for Family Home Evening. When we arrived, Mitchell was sitting on the dining room table cleaning out the peanut butter jar.










After dinner. We met for Family Home Evening. Trina is playing for the opening song as Marcus and Mitchell assist.


















Caleb had a little hard time settling down so we could begin.




Both Guy and Garth helped entertain a young man.






































Mitchell decided his job was to take pictures.












Marcus gave a very nice lesson on the importance of baptism in anticipation for his baptism next Saturday.




















Trina and Sheridan are assisting with scriptures.


For a special number, Caleb sang a song about an elephant . . . . .


















and Mitchell was the elephant.




















When it came time for treats, soda crackers with icing was being served but Mitchell headed for the freezer and the only treat he thinks he should have.

Garth is helping him get his ice cream.

Easter at Our House - March 23, 2008

The day after we arrived back in Springville was Easter weekend. The family in the area gathered at our house for the traditional Easter picnic and Easter Egg hunt.
With everyone furnishing something, we had plenty of good food - chicken rice salad, deviled eggs, rolls, veggies and fruit, Hot cross buns and cupcakes.



























Even though the temperature outside was just in the low 50's, everyone agreed that we should eat outside on our back lawn.
Before the meal, Kalen and her friend, Dave, hid around 75 plastic Easter eggs filled with candy all around our yard.





































The children got their Easter baskets and then took off in search of Easter eggs.

Once they had found everything, they gathered in our living room and enjoyed the bounty of their hunt. (Addie's back, Caleb, Marcus and Drake)
David, Kalen and Sheridan watching the proceedings.


Mitchell was more interested in seeing how the eggs worked than what was inside of them.













Drake found our treadmill and wanted to get on it in the worst kind of way. I told him only if he had one of his parents. I then did my best to keep Mitchell back because he wanted a turn just like everyone else. Deren, who was supervising his son, let him get on for a short time.