A little bit of vacation time getting started!

 With Paul's knee surgery we may be limited in some of our vacationing this summer.  I have to have a small surgery myself pretty soon too.  But we took a quick little get away that did us both good.  We have been seeing ants in the house, so Paul wanted to spray for bugs and then get out of the house for a day.  We were able to get a little cabin over at Jacob Lake and spend a night/day over there before Pippin came to stay.  It was so beautiful and cool! The food was delicious as always...especially the cookies!  I am still doing the driving, so I don't see quite as much scenery or get nearly as much rest, but I don't really mind.  It was a great little get away!  Happy Summer!  It has finally arrived for me! We were able to take a few short walks and took a nice drive on a forest road.  The mountains are calling... 

Memorial Day Picnic Fun!

 School's out, graduations are over and it's onward toward Summer vacation!  But, before we take off and get going we always enjoy the Memorial Day Picnic that has become a tradition now.  This year was better than others in some ways, and a little bit scary in other ways.  The Weavers usually have a Sheffield boat trip/picnic conflict which makes things hard for them, but this year the boat trip was scheduled just a bit later and that did away with the conflict.  Yea!  We had 31 people able to make it.  We missed quite a few, but we do what we can with who we have.  Jay and Brynn always come for that weekend and that's pretty much how we got the tradition started.  This year Paul was a bit down for it because of his recent knee replacement surgery.  We took a cot for him to lay down on and an ice chest full of ice to put on his knee.  He actually did pretty well.  And, it turned out that the cot was a good thing to have there for another reason...that was the scary part.  Moss brought along a hammock and he and Jay hung it up in a couple of trees.  It must have seemed solid, but not long after Moss lay down in it, it crashed to the ground dropping him on a chopped off stump which hit him in the back near his kidney area.  He sat rather dazed for a little bit afterward.  I know it hurt lots for him to do that.  Luckily he didn't land on his backbone on a big rock that was also below it.  Then he came over by the tables with Christie and suddenly he was turning pale and passing out from shock.  She and other people caught him before he hit the ground and managed to get him on the cot.  He was having a hard time staying conscious for a little bit and then Ferf stepped in to help with her skills and nursing bag.  She got his blood pressure and did other assessments.  Supe had 911 on the line just about to head our way when Moss seemed to come out of it so they didn't need to come.  They got him laid down and into the shade and calmed down and with Ferf's skills she found that nothing seemed broken or injured internally.  He did have some scratches on his back which she carefully took care of while keeping a close watch over him.  Christie was just about to lose it herself I think with worry for him.  So thankful that it wasn't worse than it was.  He's fine now.  It really showed me how much shock can do in a situation like that.  Moss is very able to do first aid on others, but this time it was his turn and there was nothing he could do to get past that shock without the help he got from others.  I don't think that he thought that it would hit him so hard. The rest of the day went well.  The weather was wonderfully cool.  Pine Valley is such a beautiful place.  The cousins and older peeps had fun visiting.  We had a great lunch of sloppy joes with lots of sides to go with it. Games were played, hikes were taken, people caught lizards and saw snakes (non-poisonous).  Juge and Lance brought their new kitten, Pippin, who was a real hit.  Supe and Beacher brought their dog, Auri, and she is much loved too.  Later we broke out the s'mores and had a good time roasting marshmallows for them and getting very sticky eating them.  It was just a wonderful, relaxing - except the incident with Moss - day!  I always want to stay longer, but the time came to leave so we could clean up and head home.  Jay and Brynn and girls went over to Moss and Christie's after we got home so their kids could swim in their neighborhood pool.  Paul and I stayed at the house because he needed to rest and get his knee up with ice.  It was a great day!  Happy Memorial Day! I remember Weed at this time when  people are visiting graves of military and other family members.  I don't remember Weed by visiting her grave usually, but that doesn't mean I don't remember her. So grateful for family members alive and those gone ahead.  And so thankful for those who gave so much for our freedoms.  I am thankful to live in the "home of the free because of  because of the brave."  

Eden - graduation from high school!!!

No more deets yet, but she's just about there!  Such cute pics of a darling granddaughter.  Just kind of scary thinking about the fact that now she's heading off for the future!  She's been a great student and has a scholarship to help her get started on whatever she's planning.  Go Eden!  We love you Eden, and hope your future will be a great place for you to continue to learn and grow and go forward in wonderful ways!  

                                                     Eden when she was just a wee one.  

The brown hair is some of her mom's hair tied on!  

She was never a brunette.  

The graduation took place on May 22, 2025, at the America First Events Center on the campus of SUU at 1 pm.  It was a very nice graduation program.  Afterwards we went back to the Weavers for yummy pizza, salad a a grand variety of delicious cookies.  Eden opened her presents.  She wasn't into the idea of the school graduation party and sleeping on the bus to Disneyland and then spend the day there and then do another night sleeping (or not) on the bus to come home.  She seemed content to spend the day at home.  She has some good plans for her "gap year".  She's going to do an internship in manicuring nails for a few months and enjoy some free time at the lake she hopes.  Then she will go to Mexico for several months and "teach English" in a program there.  Then in the fall she will start school at Utah Tech here in St. George with a scholarship that will help with her expenses and be able to do nails to help with it also.  She will be majoring in psychology.  Yeah Eden! Good luck in your future endeavors!

Mother's Day - 2025 & Torin the builder!

 

Had a lovely Mother's Day this year with calls, visits and sweet gifts to enjoy!  We had a nice little dinner with just Paul and I since he's still in recovery.  One of the gifts I wanted was a fondue set...and I got one!  We enjoyed using it for Mother's Day dinner!  

Right about the same time as this Torin came over to hang out one Saturday afternoon.  He and I (mostly him) built a new smoker table for Paul.  He couldn't actually help with his knee the way it is right now, but he read and interpreted the directions for us and gave us instruction on how it should be done and it came out perfectly!  Great work Torin!  It ended up being a fun and satisfying project.  Wish we had gotten some in progress pics.  

Jem boy graduates from Preschool!

 Jem did such a great job in his preschool graduation program!  Such a cute kid.  They learned about children all over the world and sang darling songs with actions and said their parts!  Loved being able to go and see him do this!  Happy graduation Jem!  Great job!  Love you!  

Tavin - Graduation | BYU | Graphic Design BFA

 Don't know much more than this other than he's going to move to NYC this summer to do an internship.  He's so talented and such a nice guy. Congratulations on a job well done...probably more like fantastically done.  He's been a TA and they (BYU Graphic Arts program) want him to stay and teach.  I haven't heard what he has decided about that yet.  May 2025. Tavin is a good man.  He has a great talent and has some hard decisions to make about where his future will take him professionally and personally.  God bless you Tavin.  We love you!  

Class of 2024-25 - Kindergarten

Another school year is coming to an end.  Today was crazy!  Our schedule has been rearranged to accommodate the older classes testing needs.  We are practicing for our end of year Kindergarten program, and most things are just a bit out of whack and the kids are feeling it and are very end of the year crazy!  And I ask myself, do I want to come back next year?  Our school, along with many others in town, have lost their Title One status.  The high cost of living in St. George has driven up the rents so much that many people of lower income have had to leave the area and that makes us lose the extra funding you get when you have low income/at risk kids attending your school.  So my job will take a hit.  It will either go away altogether, or next year I will be a shared para between two classes.  

A teacher takes a hand, opens a mind, touches a heart, and shapes a future!  

I have enjoyed being a partner in that process over the years.  It's so fun to see kids from past years and feel that connection with them. Then to see them completely grown up is also a real joy!  

More Paul's knee replacement recovery

 We went up to Park City on the 15/16th for Paul's two-week check up.  It was actually almost 3 weeks.  He got his staples out by an assistant and then she put lots of steri-strips on to last until his 6-week check.  Then the doctor came in and checked it out and pronounced it good.  We had a good trip up and stayed the night in Heber to be there for the 9 am appointment.  We didn't stop enough along the way to walk around and did no icing and Paul paid for it that night with a very painful time with muscle spasms in his knee.  It was SO painful for him.  We learned our lesson, and on the way home we stopped lots and we made sure he had ice on and he also took a pain pill before we left.  We had much better results.  We stopped in for breakfast at the amazing hospital cafe as we were leaving the clinic.  We had a great custom made omelets and other yummy things.  

Some of the other stops were at The Creamery in Beaver and then in Cedar City to eat dinner with Bean.  Before dinner we went to SUU and walked around a couple of statue gardens and then stopped by to visit Juge and Lance and meet their new kitten, Pippin.  He's adorable and we had a fun visit and then had dinner with Bean at Costa Vida.  Ellie was there working an waited on us!  

He has been going to physical therapy 2 times a week and is making good progress there.  It's been more painful and is taking longer to be able to be up and around than he thought it would be, but I think we are starting to turn the corner now.  

6/16/25 - Well, here's the finished, after 6-week check up scar.  He's done until a next year check up.  He has two more PT appointments, and then he's done.  Last time he got 127 on his extension and 120 is what they were shooting for!  It's amazing that such a giant cut it pretty much healed.  Hiking up to Timpanogas Cave was the real test...and he did it with no pain in the knee!  Yippee!! Surgery date was 4/28/25.

Paul update, 1st summer hike, Ironman

 I have still been able to take my morning walks most days while Paul is recovering.  We have the schedule working so I can do what I need to for him before I need to go to work in the morning and I'm really glad the walk still fit into it.  We are both feeling the cooped up feeling that his immobility is causing.  He's doing well with his PT and making good progress.  He can walk without his crutches now.  He can make his own lunch and breakfast pretty much and take his shower/shave.  He just needs a little help getting his horrible TED (compression) socks on in the morning and it's helpful if I can get his ice on his leg for him.  Riding in the car, standing or sitting for too long are not good.  He is better off laying down with his leg up and with ice on it.  A little at a time.  I took him and Anna Lou out to Culver's today for lunch for her for Mother's Day (he still cannot drive). She had to ride in the back seat since he has to lay down pretty much in the front passenger seat.  She could hardly get in and out.  We decided to just eat outside in the shade at Culver's since it was right next to where we were parking.  We got her over there.  Then while we were trying to eat, Paul started having lots of  pain from sitting on the bench and not being able to lay back.  He had to get up and walk around to eat.  Then she had to suddenly use the bathroom, so I had to guide her inside to do that.  When we got back, Paul had finished eating and gone to lay back in the car.  My ice cream was soup by then.  She finished up her food and made it over to the car.  I got her all buckled in. It was such a lot of work for both of them and me.  I'm not sure it was the relaxation anyone hoped for.  But we made it.  Hope not to do it again until Paul is feeling lots better.  We went up to see Bean yesterday to go out for dinner and had pretty much the same experience for Paul.  Too much pain.  Enough!  Just gotta take the time to get better.  I'm getting very tired because sleep is being very interrupted with all of Paul's discomfort.  I may just have to sleep downstairs.  I feel very sleep deprived and still need to keep going and go to work too.  He can nap all day long as needed, but not me.  I'm happy to take care of him, but I'm kind of feeling the strain of the no sleep.  Soon he will be up and at it again.  Until then, thank goodness for morning walks!  I should have taken a picture of Paul and of her with her Mother's Day balloon and chocolates, but it was pretty much a stressful event and I forgot.  

On Friday morning I got to take a "walk" with April Moore, the camp director for our home ward.  She wanted to have me go along to make sure she knew how to find the waterfall trail that we did last year for stake girl's camp.  She pretty much remembered it, but we had to look around a little here and there to find the best path.  We left at 8 am and got it done as well as checking out her camp spots in the campground.  It was a fun morning in such a beautiful place and I really enjoyed visiting with her and getting to know her just a bit better.  She's such a nice girl and has such a nice family.  It was a glorious morning walk for me!  She felt like she needed to do something for me for taking time to go with her.  I told her I was just so glad to get out and go with her in such a beautiful place. I thanked her for that chance! 

This morning on my usual walk I got to check out lot of Ironman preparations that were in evidence along the way.  It was fun and the morning was cool, quiet and nice.  Then I got home and got Paul's terrible socks on and then he showed me how to get the mower started so I could mow the lawn before it got too hot.  

May birthdays are here!

Can't get a May birthday any sooner than May 1st!  Today was Kaebri's #23!  She had to come to us since Paul's not up and about too much yet.  She came over on a break from work.  Kaebri is a dear.  We loved having her live with us for a little bit before she went on her mission.  She's just a truly good, kind and wonderful person.  She's working for Design to Print and we are so happy that she loves the job.  It's run by some good friends of our and seems like a perfect fit for her!  She recently moved to a brand new apartment and as yet still has it all to herself.  She got tired of student housing apartments.  She seems to be moving forward in good ways!  Love you Kaebri!  Happy #23!  I know your mom is proud of you and up there cheering for you!  Pictures from today and some past memories!  

Had a fun evening with all of the Smith kids tonight.  Tasia is home from BYU, so it was nice to have her back in town.  We visited and heard about all the things that people have been/are going to be doing.  It felt good to just have them here and enjoy them.  They are growing up to be great young people.  I'm sure Weed is proud of them.  Happy Birthday Zade and Trigg!  Love you!  Happy end of school Tasia - and love you too!  

Flashback picture!  

Madi and Clara rock it...on their violins!

Here's what Brynn wrote about these amazing granddaughters:  "These two work hard and practice, practice, practice.  Sometimes its a fight, and sometimes they love it but they are doing great and we are proud of their hard work. These days are always paydays.  Madi graduated from book 5, and Clara from book 2."  Wow!  What a great talent these girls have developed over the years of dedication in their pursuit of excellence.  We are so proud of you (and your parents).  It's been lots of work for all of you.  Way to go girls!  

Ellie graduates from the Beacon Academy of Southern Utah

 I wish we could have been there for her big day, but Paul's knee was just not ready the day after we got  home, April 30th.  She has worked hard I'm sure.  I know she has enjoyed the foreign travel opportunities as well.  She especially seemed to enjoy the trip to Paris this spring.  I think it was a really nice bonding/end of shared educational experience for her and her mom.  I will admit that trying to have a close relationship with older grand kids is hard for me.  They hit teenage and then they are off and running and so busy with work, friends and school and hopefully church. There are so many of them that we can't keep up with all of the activities that we could attend for them.  There are too many even within one week's time.  We are proud of Ellie's hard work in school, at her job and in her life with her peers and at church.  She has a very nice boyfriend on a mission.  We love that she has decided to serve a mission as well. She is such a hard worker having saved enough money to pay for her mission.  She's a granddaughter to be so very proud of. Congratulations Ellie!  You've made good work of it so far.  Keep it up!  We love you!  

Paul gets a full knee replacement & Eliza gets a broken clavicle

 

On Monday, May 28th, the deed was done.  We had it done in Park City with Dr. Lind the attending physician.  He did the partial about 11 years ago and said it would last about that long.  The arthritis and wear and tear had done its' work and it was time to get the full knee replacement now.  They had a cancelation, so we were able to get in quickly.  I have taken the whole week off school for it and am glad that I could do that to be here to help Paul get started on his recovery.  It's going to be a while, but it will be worth it.  Down the road he will have to have the other partial replaced most likely as well.  The nurses and other hospital staff were great along with the doctor.  I drove  him home from the hospital on Tuesday afternoon.  He has had his first physical therapy appointment here.  Now onward to a great full recovery!  Paul made it his work to get to know and visit with all of the staff who took care of him.  I'm sure they all loved talking with him and hearing his jokes!  

From Moss - "Eliza decided to join Grandpa as an invalid.  Broke her clavicle shouldering a big cedar girl off the ball in her soccer game last night, Wednesday, May 30th. (And yes, she did win the ball.)"  So sorry Eliza.  Hope you heal quick!  Love you! We've noticed how hard you've been trying to be more aggressive even though you're kind of a tiny mite among the bigs.  

April Birthdays - Christy #37, Noah #16/late celebration, Essie #11 and Afton's play too!

 April is a little bit low on birthdays compared to other months.  Christie and Essie are really the only ones.  Noah's birthday is in December 2, but he's decided he'd rather save it until April 2nd for his own reasons, so that's when we celebrate it too!  Christie turned 37 this year.  She was such a little kid when Moss married it seemed like, but she has turned into a beautiful, confident, accomplished woman.  I can't believe how many things she's involved in and doing an amazing job of.  Great way to grow up Christie!  Happy #37!  We love you and are proud of you!

Noah's to that great age where things really get fun.  He did get his license when he really turned 16.  Didn't want to wait for that.  He's a great snowboarder and scooter rider.  He's been in some really good plays at school and is sure that girls are "not interesting or interested" he says.  Hopefully that will improve with some more time and experience.  He's working hard to grow up and has worked through some rough patches and is a great guy.  Love you Noah!  Happy #16! One thing about Noah is that the next time you see him he will probably have a new haircut or at least a new color!  

Along with all of the birthdays, we got to go up and see Afton perform in Much Ado About Nothing - her school's 80's rendition of it.  She played a couple of parts and did a great job.  It was a fun evening!  It's so good to see her being confident and having such a good time.

We got to celebrate with Essie for her #11 in person! It worked out that we happened to be up there for Paul to get his knee replacement surgery done.  We went up a little bit early so we could hang out with Jay, Brynn and girls.  The first part of the trip was fun...the last part was good to get over with and get back home.  

Madi and Tahlia both participated in the ice bucket challenge for Mental Awareness while we were there!

Ellie opens her mission call!

 It's Tuesday, April 22nd and at 7:30 pm Ellie opened her mission call.  She's been called to serve in the California, Riverside Mission beginning her home MTC training on August 11th and will report to the MTC in Provo, UT on the 20th.  We don't know much more than that at the moment, but we are so excited and proud that Ellie has chosen to accept this chance to serve Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and her fellowmen.  I have no picture to put with this unfortunately.  Couldn't screen shot it.  I'll just have to put  something in later when I get something.  

Ellie update - she got her wisdom teeth out the other day.  Fun stuff!  Getting things ready.  She did a shopping trip up north for clothes.  She bought a nice new camera and is doing on-line training suggested by Brynn to learn how to work it.  While she was up there getting clothes, she spent some time learning how to edit with Brynn and also went on a photo shoot with her to learn more.  She and Brynn did some editing on a mission photo someone else took of her.  Her farewell is on August 10th.  Coming right up!!!

We're getting close now to the big day and then the even bigger day!