Waterton National Park

As a child and teenager I used to spend quite a bit of time here during the summer and I love to go back whenever I have the chance. It is very beautiful and serene. The deer are all over the place and very tame. I had one try to eat my camera. I think she thought I was offering her food. We had a nice family outing with 3 of Douglas' kids, (Aaron, Talmadge, Julia) Darren's 3, LaChelle, Sarahlynn and little Donny. It was pretty windy of course but that didn't stop the kids from playing in the water. We drove by the old Palmer home where we always stayed and it brought back so many fun memories. I was glad to have gotten a picture.

An Outing

Yesterday I took Dad for a ride. We got him into the car, which is quite a task, but he loves to go for rides. I asked him where he wanted to go, and he said that St. Mary's reservoir was really nice. So off we went. I just had Nicole with me for the day and she loved just playing in the water and having a little time alone, away from her brothers. It was a special day. We were able to help Dad onto the picnic table bench where he sat and enjoyed the scenery for a while. Living in a facility and having to rely on others for all your needs is very hard for him but he never complains and has a very good spirit about it all.

O CANADA

Well I'm here and having a great time. You forget about things eh, like the accent and the phrases. Last night we went to a POW WOW of the first nation. They had beautiful costumes and so much energy to be able to dace for a very long time. My sweet little Dad is so frail now. His mind is great but he is growing very weak. I have been taking him for rides every day because he loves to get out and have a change of scenery. We went to the cemetery one day to visit my Mom's and Jacob's (Larry's) graves. My brother Larry came down from the Banff area to visit as well so we have had quite a family reunion. I brought along Logan, Nicole and Jacob, (Darren's) for the trip so they could visit with their Grandparents (Jolayne and Doug) while I visited Dad and to keep me company on the trip up and down. It was also Nicole's birthday so we had a little celebration.

Monkeys and Cousins

What a fun time. I added a new feature to the tree house. A climbing rope!. Well first Hailey and Aubrey tried it by putting their feet on the knots and pulling themselves up the rope with their arms. You know, the good old fashioned way, and they became quite successful but just couldn't go very high but they were determined and kept practicing.
Then of course along came Brooklyn and decided to put the rope between her toes and she climbed right up. Well she taught her method to Bryan and Alyssa and the next thing you know I have a bunch of monkey's swinging on the rope.
Then they moved on to swing upside down on my hammock swings and then, what is more fun that bubbles and cousins. I LOVE IT!!!

24th of July and Apricot Jam

Wednesday night I went home with Liz to spend the night. We went to the Real Soccer game and watched the fireworks afterwards and then in the morning we sat outside the apartment and watched the Parade. So much fun!!!

Then I came home and spent the afternoon making Apricot Jam YUM!!!

Fun on the Big Swing and "LET ME OUT!!!"

Hailey and Aubrey finally got brave enough to try swinging off the windmill and of course now we can't get them off of it!!





Miley J is starting to pull herself up and stand. Everyone else was having fun outside and she wanted out.



"Hooray! I made it!"

A Wonderful Scofield Surprise!

I had a wonderful surprise last week. Melanie called me to say they were in Malad and headed my way and could they stop and visit. Well ya!!! She was taking Ashley to the airport to go home for girl's camp and then picking Brian up the next day so he could join the family for the rest of their vacation. So she and Cory, Emily and Gavin spent the night and the kids had a ball playing in the tree house and swinging on the big swing. Cory figured out that if he stood on my windmill base he could get a really good swing out of the deal. Melanie and I just hung out on my hammock swings. She loved them so much that she went and bought the material to make one and I gave Emily a little sewing lesson as we put it together.
The next day she left to pick up Brian and they returned to Malad. Then on Friday they all returned to spend another night. We really had a good time. That night we went to our Ward's ice cream social and Cory and Logan (Darren's) were called on to make and eat a banana split in a contest. After they left on Saturday they headed to a cabin up by their property up at Strawberry and the last I heard, the hammock swing was a big hit.

New Carpet and Foot Surgery

WAHOOO!! The carpet finally was installed Tuesday. It's so soft and nice. I was really worried for a bit when they rolled it out on the driveway to cut it because it looked really light and green but once it was inside and laid down, it looks exactly how I want. Now I just have to get rid of the lovely 15 year old wallpaper and do some painting and put things back together. (I think I'll get the grandkids together and we'll have a wallpaper ripping party.)
That may take a while though because yesterday I had foot surgery. It's called a Plantar Fascia release. They went in and snipped the tendon that had torn from my heal. I hope it works because it has been bothering me for months. I'm supposed to keep mostly off of it for two to four weeks. AURGHH!!! How am I supposed to do that and what am I supposed to do?
My Primary class brought me dinner last night and it was so cute. Our lesson last week was on gratitude and one of the little boys told me he was grateful for me. It made me feel so good. Now I get to show them my gratitude for making my dinner. What a fun object lesson.

Tree House Fun

The deck is done! Thank you Caleb. The kids love it!!! Bryan christened it by being the very first Grandkid up there. Then a sleep over with Aubrey and Brooklyn who spent most of the day up there and thought it was so fun to throw "Cheezit's" at Uncle Mike and then at Troy.
Liz took Franklin up there one day and then the next time he was visiting he wanted up again but Liz said, "Not this time." Well next thing we know, he's half way up the tree and just about to climb in. (He just turned 2 in April). When Liz went to get him down he said, "I'm a monkey."
TRUE TRUE TRUE!

Enjoying the Deck

It's finally finished, well almost. Just a little more staining here and there but I'm waiting for Hailey to help with that. She came over one day and bless her little heart worked for hours on her back and tummy staining under the bench and the lower slats. Brooklyn came to help for a little bit as well. I've made some hammock swings that we all enjoy for various reasons and if we're not careful we could spend all day in them reading or sleeping. I had to make some gates to keep kids and little dogs in. The big dog just jumps over.

4th of July

What a nice day! It was quite cool for here (90's) and there was a nice breeze all day. I went to the famous Clearfield parade with Emma and Neil and kids, then Neil went to work and the rest of us went to lunch and then to the carnival. Emma took the boys home for a nap and Brooklyn and I spent the rest of the day together. Then it was off to the fireworks.

Frogs and Funerals

Brooklyn and Aubrey had a sleepover and really had a good time playing with the frog that I have in my pond. But alas it hopped out and met it's demise. They brought it to me with it's guts hanging out and were quite sad so they had a little funeral and buried it under the bird bath and made a very nice memorial for it. Later I found the frog still in the pond so I guess it was a different one that had died. POOR POOR FROG!