HALLOWEEN

It was a fun Halloween this year. Scott carved these awesome pumpkins for me to use as a centerpiece at a Halloween Enrichment evening. Everyone loved them. Scott is so talented!


We had fun going and being with Christine and the boys Halloween night. We had pizza and then went trick-or-treating with them since our house is boring. We don't get any trick-or-treater's and Jason goes with his friends so we had to go where the fun was. Thank goodness someone knows how to have fun in our family.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF WESTLEY J. WALKER

We spent the whole day yesterday, Saturday October 25 at a hospital in Bountiful, Utah waiting for Scott's father to die. The hospital called the family at 6:00 in the morning and we were all alerted to get up to the hospital fast because he wasn't going to last long. True to his stubborn nature he hung on until 11:30 that night after almost everybody had left to go home. Scott and his sister Mary Ann were there with him when he finally left to go home to our Heavenly Father.

He lived 86 years the last 15 or so with dementia so we feel like we kind of lost the real Westley back then. He lived a long and full life and had so many adventures that he could talk your leg off telling you story after story.

He was a kind and loving father-in-law and I am grateful that I had the chance to love him. I can only imagine how great the reunion was with his loving wife Mary (Scott's mother) and his parents whom he hadn't seen for many years. He was the last member of his generation from both sides of Scott's family to leave us. We will miss you Westley!

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY!

Call me crazy, (my sister Mary Jo did) but I LOVE the first snowfall. Granted it came a little early this year, but that still didn't dampen my excitement for the coming winter season. I love the change of the season's and the new adventures each one brings! We broke out the hot chocolate and flipped on the fire and sat and watched the snow fall. I then got on the phone and called my family with such excitement to share this wonderful site and every person was just grumpy about it. (Okay, except you Mom, you don't get grumpy about anything!) Scott even got so excited that he went out and bought a new snow blower. We've never had one before so this should be exciting. Well I'm looking forward to more snowy days, snowmobiling at the cabin, lots of hot chocolate - sugar free of course so I don't put on the 20 pounds I just lost - and the holidays!

SCOTT'S EARLY BIRTHDAY GIFT

Well I was somewhat happy and disappointed when Scott called me the other day and told me that I had bought him his 50th birthday present. I was a little surprised and said "oh, I did" and he said "yes". I asked him what I bought him and he told me two new golf clubs. I told him I was thrilled that I had thought to buy him such a wonderful gift.

I was thrilled because he has been borrowing these two clubs from my father for some time and I knew he needed and wanted them. I actually was planning on getting them for him, I was just hoping to surprise him with them in December on his actual 50th birthday!

But he had a work golf tournament he had to play in and it was great for him to be able to have his own new clubs to play with. Then my Dad and Mom called and asked him to go play with them and my Uncle Clint at Thanksgiving Point last Thursday evening. He played so well and my Dad said he would trade Scott his old Big Bertha club for Scott's new one.

Well now what do I do? Does anyone have any great ideas for a 50th birthday party? I need help with some great ideas I want to do something really special for him and I need some help!!!!

A PAYBACK MOMENT

I went with Jason to get his Senior pictures taken a couple of weeks ago and while the photographer was shooting them she asked Jason if there was anything else that he wanted like a special pose and prop or anything and he said, "I want a picture with my mom". I nearly started crying. How sweet is that?! I hadn't dressed for my picture to be taken but I was so touched how could I say no. I will forever cherish this picture because he wanted it done.

MY BABY IS GROWING UP!!

This is Jason just before he left for the Homecoming dance Saturday evening. He took Daniel's suit that Dan bought for a dance and had it fitted for him and got this awesome tie to match his date's dress. He looked so handsome and he told me how good he felt in the suit. (His first suit.)

When did he get so grown up? I nicknamed him baby when he was young and then when he got too old for me to call him that anymore I started calling him abies which is babies without the b at the beginning. I still can't stop calling him baby though.

Enjoy your little children because the time when they are no longer little goes by sooooo fast! It came way too soon for me.

THE NOT SO BEAUTIFUL SIDE OF HAWAII

This is the side of Hawaii that Daniel gets to see. He says he hasn't really seen the pretty parts yet, maybe a few. He has seen the ocean once since he has been there. I have to say the picture was not quite how I had envisioned Hawaii, but I guess there is the opposite side in every city.

I keep waiting for the day that I don't miss him so much. If anyone asks me how he is I can't help but get this big smile on my face or depending on the day I might break out into tears. He is doing so great though. We are so proud of him.

Don't you love the ties in the window in the picture below. I guess they are ties left from all the missionaries that have been there. I thought they were using them as blinds or something.

30 YEARS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL -- Would I Do Surgery?

Well Saturday was the 30th class reunion. It's always fun to go and see how people have changed. Some age better than others! I am always amazed that the guys who were so good looking in high school are actually the ones that don't look so good now. The guys who were just okay are the better looking men now. It's a lot more fun to be with these people now though. Most everyone has relaxed enough that we can all be friends now and there is not the clicks like there used to be.

We did have two of our classmates come in late and I seriously thought, who are those teenagers crashing our party?! They look amazing! But you know money and other stuff can do that these days if you want. It seriously got me thinking, would I do surgeries and Botox if I had the money? I like looking my best. I'll be honest it's been hard to age and the thought of coming up on 50 scares me to death! But I can't help but think that being happy with who you are comes from within not what you look like on the outside. Would I really be happy if everything looked perfect? I don't think so. So I guess I will stay with my sagging boobs, my hands and face that are getting age spots and the extra lines that are across my face. I can't be dishonest and I feel like looking like something that I am not just isn't who I really am. After all, these lines on my face are well earned I think!

I'VE SAID IT BEFORE AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN

Never has there been three people that have tugged at my heart more. Made me laugh so hard. Made me so proud that I become obnoxious from bragging so much! Life just wouldn't be as much fun without these three!



These two truly define the word JOY! Life is so much more complete with grandchildren in your life.

WOW, I REALLY AM A GRANDMA!

Sorry, I wish I had pictures for this post but I have lost my camera and I am so sad!

Christine and Brad recently took a trip to Vancouver, Washington for one of Christine's friends wedding. Consequently we got to tend the boys for three days. Wow! I'm not as young as I used to be! It took both Scott and I to keep up with the two of them. I guess I really am a Grandma!

I wish I had pictures of the cute things they did. They kept us laughing and very busy. Scott and I would collapse each night with shear exhaustion. One night he was staying up to watch the Olympics and I reminded him that he better get to bed because they were already recharging for the next day.

I used to take care of my kids pretty good by myself. Daniel and Jason were 18 months apart and they were both in diapers for a while. With Carter and Easton we only had to change one child's diaper but it seemed like we were always changing a diaper. I remember it being much easier.

They were such good boys for us. We had a blast with them. I'm glad they love coming to Grandma's and Grandpa's house. I had Grandparent's that I loved to visit. I treasure those memories and I am constantly grateful for the impact my grandparents had on my life!

ELDER WALKER ARRIVES IN PARADISE

I got the neatest email today from Daniel's mission president. He sent these photos and told us that Daniel had arrived safely and was off and running. It was a great relief to hear that he had arrived safely and that all was well!



This is such an emotional time!!! I can't read anything from him or about him without crying. I go from being so proud to missing him so much! You think oh the time will go by fast and then you think 2 YEARS! It seems like forever! I'm glad he is well and I can't wait to hear from him.

How lucky he is to see Hawaii though! And the people over there are so loving and kind. I know this will be a great experience for him.

OUR FIRST MISSIONARY

What an incredible experience it has been getting Daniel ready for his mission. One minute I am so proud and happy. I know that this is what he should be doing and I wouldn't want him to be anywhere else. The next minute I am bawling my eyes out!

I can't believe I won't see my son for two years! I feel like my heart has been ripped out and a piece of it is going to Hawaii!

It's been a week since we left him at the MTC and we have received the most beautiful heartfelt letters from him He loves it! He loves what he is doing and his health (meaning his diabetes) has been incredibly wonderful. He got an insulin pump just before he left and that has been a huge relief for him!

We miss him tons, but we are so PROUD!