Our November was

notable

Maddy's concert was

polished!

Then we had some

Thanksgiving visitors:

These two and their

Mom and Dad!


Lucy seated the
Thanksgiving guests:

And helped to set

the table.

The cousins

arrived,

The dinner was

FUN,

Then we took

a little

break

and

read

a book.


Travelled to Mark and Maria's to watch

a movie on the big screen.

THE NEXT MORNING

BRIGHT AND EARLY

WE CAUGHT

THE TRAIN!


WE ALL WENT!

EVEN GRANDPA!

WE RODE IN

THE INSIDE CARS,

AND THE OUTSIDE CARS!

HERE'S THE TRAIN!

HERE'S THE CONDUCTOR!

BABY GREY LIKED THE RIDE!

MEGGIE AND KATIE DID TOO!

WE WENT BACK TO ZACH AND

SANDY'S FOR LUNCH,

AND PLAY,

OUR DAD'S AND

GRANDPA

WATCHED THE

FOOTBALL GAME!

WE CAN'T WAIT FOR

CHRISTMAS!!

Long Postponed Post

SOMETIMES OUR HOUSE

LOOKS LIKE THIS:

SOMETIMES LIKE THIS:

SOMETIMES LIKE THIS:
LOTS OF TIMES LIKE THIS:
BUT BEFORE ALL THAT,

ABOUT MID-MAY

GRANDPA & I

MOVED IN WITH THIS

FUN FAMILY:

THEY GAVE UP THEIR TOY

ROOM AND

ADDED PICTURES

OF EVERYONE IN OUR FAMILY

ABOUT MID-JUNE

WE MOVED INTO

OUR HOUSE AND OUR FIRST

GUESTS ARRIVED

WE LIKE OUR NEW HOUSE

WE LOVE OUR

FRONT DOOR!

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!

IT IS SO GOOD TO HAVE

SPACE TO HAVE ALL

OF US TOGETHER

IN GRANDMA'S

HOUSE!

Family Vac. Discusion Continued...

What do we want to do for meals?
Should each family be in charge of one day like we did last year?

Maybe:
Mon. (play at Wyview/FHE) Wes & Lori
Tues. (temple/Wilk games/swimming/lip sync) Suzy & Joe
Wed. (provo canyon/park city?) Mike and Marci
Thur. (Seven Peaks) Mark & Maria
Fri. (Freedom Festival/parade/etc) Zach & Sandy

Also, if we want to set up the living reptiles show at the museum we need to decide what day.

Let me know what you think. We're excited to see everyone!

Jr

I have never been called “Junior” in my whole life. Grandpa and I have the same name but me going by “Wes” instead of “Spencer” removed the need to be dubbed “Jr.” I even skipped my “Junior” year in high school and then took so many years in college that I don’t know which to rightfully call my “Junior” year. So why does this Father’s day make me think of Jr? It goes back to a night when Dad took all the boys to Burger King. I was especially excited because Dad had told me that I was going to get a special hamburger, he called it a “J-u-n-i-o-r” hamburger! What that meant…I didn’t know but I was sure that it was a good thing and I was excited. I found out after getting my sandwich that all “junior” meant was that my hamburger was smaller than everyone else’s— I was not happy. But instead of Dad lecturing me about how I never was able to finish a full hamburger, he gave me his burger, ate my “junior” in about three bites, and watched as I slowly made it through about half of his sandwich. He then uncomplainingly finished the cold burger and took us home. I don’t know why this memory has always stayed with me but it came in handy a little while ago when Lucy was throwing a fit at the cafeteria. She wanted my food instead of hers (mind you, same food just different proportions). I was about to lay down the law and say something like “well you can just cry about it as long as you want but you have the same food on your plate as I do on mine” but then I remembered Dad and the “junior” whopper and I realized that it was more important for me to show her that I loved her than it was for me to be right. We switched plates and had a lovely evening. Thanks for the example Dad.

Family Vacation 6/30-7/4

Hey Everyone,
I thought I'd keep the ball rolling for our upcoming family vacation. I'm not sure we want to plan like we did last year (everyone takes a day) or not. I've got the feeling that we might want to tone things down a little from last year . . . that is, we don't have to have a huge, far away activity each and every day. In that spirit, I thought I'd throw out the following itinerary, as a suggestion:
Mon: arrive, play on play grounds, FHE that night (I think it would be fun to do a family Jeopardy game that night)
Tue: SEVEN PEAKS (it seemed like this was a big hit for most everyone last year)
Wed: games in Provo Canyon (picnic there for lunch); after lunch, Park City (Alpine Slide, etc) (just up the canyon!)
Thu: early morning Temple; after temple, bowling/games at the Wilkinson Center (on campus); swim at DT pool; Lip sync that night (we have to do the tug-o-war again, too!)
Fri (July 4): in the morning, Provo July 4 carnival (like the summer of 2005); in the afternoon, water games at the housing complex (water balloons, water guns, etc); maybe family picture in here, too; in the evening, BBQ
Sat: checkout, go back to Vegas (Marci and I would like to see the Truman grandparents on the way down to Vegas; as well as Grandma Bolwer; maybe we could plan a get-together with some of the cousins?)
OTHER activities: maybe some kareoke (sp?); we can plan a hike for older kids; Lagoon for older kids; etc.; BYU Creamery (every night!)

Anyway, anything you want to change or if you want to have everyone just plan a day, that's fine by me. I've got three more days of seminary next week, but I couldn't wait to get to this. We are thinking about it all the time and can't wait to see everyone this year!

HAPPPY BIRTHDAY MARK!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK!

THANKS FOR LETTING US LIVE WITH YOU, FOR TAKING CARE OF US AND EVEN FOR LETTING US USE YOUR COMPUTER. WISH I COULD FIND THE PICTURE FILES AND I'D ADD A PHOTO TO YOUR BIRTHDAY WISH!

WE LOVE YOU!


I'll add a photo =)Here's the birthday boy and the rest of the man crew on their way to breakfast and Indiana Jones.

(Lucy was pretty shy around all of these handsome faces this morning, but now she keeps wanting to see "Dadda and Zach and Uncle Mark and Harry and Tommy and...BEN!")

Should be a fun boy weekend!

Happy Birthday Mark!

Baby Kate is

growing up!

Happy Birthday, Kate!

We love you!

Lucy in the sun shine!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUNSHINE!

WE LOVE YOU, LUCY!

grandpa and grandma

When ever Dad and I count our blessing we think of the Mothers in our family, and we are so grateful for Mothers Who Know. Last week we talked about that speech in our Relief Society and I remembered when I heard it that I thought of all of you!

Happy Mother's Day!
We Love you!

Happy Mother's Day Momma!!

Everyone in the family, I’m sure, remembers that until we were a certain age we had to go to bed at 8:00pm. I think it was a 12 year old rite of passage to stay up until 9:00pm, or even later if we had a good enough excuse. When I was the only one still under 12 I remember lying in bed and listening to all of my siblings either playing the piano, doing homework, watching T.V., or just bantering with each other. It was fun to listen to but who wants to be in bed when everybody else is up! I think mom realized that I felt jipped, or she just knew that I could use some attention, so she started coming in and spending a few minutes with me before I slept. We looked at scripture picture books, or just talked about the day; I remember thinking it was funny that she would fall asleep sometimes when I had asked her to stay until I fell asleep—who knew that parenting was a tiring thing? Well I know now and I just wanted to tell my Momma how grateful I am for her and how much I love her. Happy mothers day.

this summer's vacation

Hey everyone, I just thought we ought to open the dialogue regarding this summer's family vacation. We'll be winding up our week with the Steeds on the weekend of the 28/29 June and will be ready to party Truman style come 6/30. I heard talk a while back that Provo was off this year and we may stick around Las Vegas. Please confirm/deny if you have some solid information on that. If you don't have any solid info, this is a good time to start airing our opinions. We are happy to have the vacation in Vegas (especially because we get to stay at Mom's cool new house!), but if you all are looking for a reason to get out of town for the week, we liked really liked the Provo arrangement last year. Anyway, we can't wait to see you all soon! -Mike and family

Milestones and memories

A beautiful day, a brim full heart, a milestone for Wes, Lori and Lucy and one for us too.
All our children are now college graduates.
The first so long ago, and today sitting in the Marriot center, watching Lucy smile and clap and draw patiently during the long ceremonies, I feel so blessed!

The accomplishment is amazing and one reached with determination through interruptions and with patience.

From the first speaker who mentioned Wes' favorite Calvin and Hobbs characters, to the last who explained that education is important, but not everything, that it is people, relationships that are important, the day was wonderful. Sitting in the audience looking at families being proud of families, listening to speakers who spoke unashamedly of their testimonies and their faith, realizing again how blessed we are in the gospel, and giving thanks for the miracles and the faith that made the day possible.

Happy Day!

Wes will graduate

from BYU

April 25, 2008

Congratulations!

We love you all!

Happy Birthday Jessie!

THE THING I LOVE BEST ABOUT

JESSIE . . .

HER SMILE!

HER SMILE!

HER SMILE!

ALL YEAR LONG

I LOVE

JESSIE'S

SMILE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSIE!!!