Essie - Granduation from Elementary School

 We weren't there of course, but we are still excited to see Essie growing up (sort of) and going forward!  Now it's on to the next fun grades!  Congratulations Essie!  We are proud of you!  

Zade High School Graduation - Desert Hills High School 2025-26

Sunday night, after Gaige's mission  homecoming, Zade graduated from seminary!  Lots of big endings going on  for him right now.  Getting ready to enter the world after high school!  Big happenings!  Proud of you Zade.  You're on a good path forward!  

May 20th - we got a great seat in the bleachers without the sun in our eyes for Zade's graduation!  Grandpa Smith and Kelly got there early and saved a row.  Derek, Tasia, Kaebri and Trigg were also in Zade's cheering section!  We've had a recent cool snap, so at 8 am it was still really nice weather for the event.  Zade got to play in the Jazz Band number at the graduation.  One final gig with his friends.  He was pretty glad that got to happen!  They did a great job!  I didn't really take any pics because it was too far away to get a good one with my phone, but I'm hoping to get some great ones from Derek.  The only thing that could have made it better would be to have Weed and Grandma Smith (Marie) there to cheer him on.  Is that a thing they get to do from heaven?  I  hope so!  

The day after his graduation we took Zade out for a celebration dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse.  You could also say it was a celebration for my retirement dinner too.  We had a fun evening visiting with him and then with the Tasia and Trigg at the house when we took  him home.  We met their new bearded lizard, Lady, then too.  She's quite the pet!  Tasia is home from BYU for the summer.  She's making good progress on her degree up there, but is happy to spend some time at home for a while.  

Eliza and Trigg - Choir and Karate!

Thursday night we got to attend Eliza's final Advanced Choir concert.  I'm not sure she was thrilled to have us there, but her folks were out of town for the state soccer championships, so we were her fans for the concert.  They sang a varied array of songs and did a great job.  There were many more girls in the choir than boys.  Eliza sang a solo that she did a good job of, but the acoustics in the gym made it very difficult to hear any of the soloists very well unfortunately.  She wouldn't let us take her out for any treats so it was a short but sweet evening.  Great job Eliza!  (She's the one on middle far left.)

Saturday afternoon I got to attend Trigg's Black Belt Level 1 presentation!  He has worked hard for several years to get here.  Now with so many other things, including football, competing for time and money, he's leaving Karate behind.  It was a great learning experience for him with great teachers teaching great values along with the physical side of it.  We are proud of Trigg for working hard for this!  Congratulations Trigg!

Eden gets back to the USA!

 We are so happy that Eden has now arrived back to the USA after her semester in Mexico teaching elementary students English.  It looks like she had a grand time there.  Juge says she was happy to see her at the airport and ecstatic to see her car!  It ended up being a long flight because of some delays, but they made it  home and into beds Sunday morning at 4 am it sounds like.  Eden posted that she is delighted to be back!  Here are some pics Juge posted. Hopefully we will get to visit with her soon!  Great job Eden! What an adventure for you to remember and learn from!  

April birthdays - Noah #17, Christie # 38, Essie #12 & Turkey hunting!

 Noah started off the celebrations with his late celebration of his #17.  We dropped his present off early and then shared the opening of it on Facetime.  He's an amazing snowboarder without enough snow to keep him happy this year.  He started tennis at school and is pretty devoted about practicing at 5 am in the morning at a friend's indoor court.  He had a list of many snacks that we satisfied for a birthday present:  thin Oreos in regular and golden,  some Yoggies from Costco and ChapStick in mint and green apple. He should be set for a while with those.  Happy birthday Noah!  Hope you get more snow later in the year!  

Christie celebrated #38 this year and we were able to get a present over to her a little early - a waxed amaryllis and a pedicure gift cert.  She's a talented and busy lady.  She is a wonderful wife and mother.  The family helped her put together a puzzle she got while they watched conference and celebrated Easter!  They did lots of other fun things on the day of her birthday!  Happy #38 Christie!  We think you're awesome!  

Here's another little celebration that went on  during April - Trigg got his first turkey hunting with brother Zade and his dad.  Pretty big deal for him!  Congrats and hopefully good eating!  

Today is Essie's #12 birthday!!!  We wished her an early one a couple of days ago when we went up for Madi's violin graduation and also to see Essie's play, Annie!  She's one of the orphans and it's a great community play!  Her first one!  She had to audition to be in it and was pretty nervous, but now she knows she can do it!  We loved seeing her perform so well.  Happy Birthday Essie!  We love you tons!

We didn't get any very good pics while we were there...shucks.  Maybe I can get one from them!  

Fun with grand kids!

 Paul did some work for a historical group and they invited us to a sneak preview showing a film they collaborated on with Angel Studios - Young Washington.  He could bring some guests, so we invited Zade and Trigg.  It was a really great movie/treats and we enjoyed spending time with them.  

Madi called about a month ago to invited us to her Suzuki Violin Graduation concert.  It turned out that Paul had his one-year knee replacement check up the day before in Park City, so it would be a great time to get to both of those things.  It also worked out that we could attend Annie, a community theater play that Essie was in and even bring her an early birthday present too!  We didn't have time to stay to see Tahlia's play unfortunately.  We did have time after Paul's appointment to visit with Jim and take him to lunch.  On the way home we stopped and took Bean to dinner in Cedar!  It was a great trip for so many reasons!  

Essie and Tahlia rocking it!

Thanks to Brynn for trying to keep us a little bit in the loop!  She sent a video of Essie at a recital where she sang and played the piano.  She did a wonderful job of both things!  Wish they were closer so we could attend more of these things.  She sent a great pic of Tahlia when her school took Silver at state for a government thing called "WE THE PEOPLE"! Congrats to both of you for doing a great job of your things!  

 

President's Day Weekend

 Our usual President's Day week end was changed this year.  It's probably the beginning of it being changed forever.  Jay and Brynn usually come down and we do lots of fun family things with everyone.  This year Madi got invited to a Valentine's Day dance at school.  She's just about to turn 16 and things like this are now going to change Jay and Brynn's freedom to go.  It's ok.  Kids grow up and get busy, busy and families adjust.  Also on this week end Moss and Christie had to go out of town for his work.  While they were gone Brenden and Eliza had soccer tournaments and they asked us to go  and watch if we could. We did and spent a long, exciting day of watching soccer games in what turned into some pretty cold, windy, rainy weather by the end of it. They both got wins and medals and it was fun!  I messed up and didn't get pics of Brenden unfortunately.  Kai had a little tournament too.  We watched one of his games after Moss and Christie got home. Unfortunately they lost all of their games and didn't get medals. Didn't get pics there either sadly.  Sometimes you just get so involved in the game that you forget the pics.  

Jem goes native!

 We had such a fun time going to see Jem dance with his friends from the Siva Pasefika Polynesian dance school.  This was his first time, and he and the other boys did great!  It was put on at the Jubilee of Trees as a fundraising event for the hospital.  

July Birthdays - Jem, Beacher, Supe, Kai, Ellie

 It's a busy month for Supe and Beacher's family with 3 of their 4 birthdays happening.  It started with a party for Jem over at Beacher's folks house.  From our family we had Moss and Chrisite and kids and us able to attend.  They started out swimming and playing in a bounce house they rented and then we had picnic lunch and presents and cake.  Jem was pretty excited for this #5 birthday and got lots of loot!  I think his favorite thing was a toy grappling hook!  He loves all things super hero and dressing up as different ones.  Happy #5 Jem!  We love you.  Supe and Beacher's #39/35 come right on the heels of Jem's, so we gave them their present too.  They are such a cute family!  Love them all!  Kaia has to wait until December to celebrate.  

We went ahead and gave Beacher and Supe their July 6th and 13th, #35th and #39th birthday present too.  We gave them an awning in a combined present.  Hopefully they will enjoy using it on their outdoor excursions.  Happy Birthday you two!  We love you!  

Makakai Moss Lillywhite "Kai" is turning 8 this week.  We will be out of town for it, so we took his presents over early.  He's such a cute kid!  Pretty exciting that he's going to be 8 and will be getting baptized.  Times flies!  Happy Birthday Kai!  We love you!  

Ellie's was the last of the July birthdays on the 18th she turned 19 and old enough to go on her mission.  We went up and joined the fun and had dinner and visiting with her and the family.  She got her very own pink luggage to take on her mission (she actually picked it out)!  I made her a leaving home G'ma Poulsen apron.  It won't be long until she has her farewell and pretty soon she be out there sharing the Gospel!  Happy 19th Ellie!  It's a big one!  We love you and we're proud of you!  Her apron is the bright one on the right.  I've made 2 more now - one for Eden and one for me.  

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.  

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.  

Zade - Brag Time!!!

Great things happening for Zade lately!  He got his braces off!!!  Lookin' so good!  He participated in a Skill's USA Knowledge Bowl school competition in SLC where his team took 2nd place!!! And, he got a 35 on his ACT test...a 36 is perfect, so he came pretty close!  That means a lot of colleges will be willing to invite him to come and offer him scholarships.  Way to work hard and be smart and have fun Zade!  Proud you!  Now I need of pic of you playing in your Jazz Band!

Lots of wonderful weekend fun!

On Thursday afternoon Brynn posted about Tahlia's school play that was happening.  Last minute like we decided to drive up and see the Friday night show!  She did a wonderful job in The Little Mermaid Jr.  She was in the water dancers/chorus.  They had beautiful costumes and she was fabulous!  I was so glad we could make it and also get to see the rest of the family in the process too!  We went out to Leatherby's Family Creamery afterwards to celebrate Tahlia's great job (she went hot tubbing with friends) and ate way too must wonderful ice cream! We got to see Madi with her short hair a little between her activities. She got 12 inches cut off recently donating it to make wigs for people. She looks as cute as ever. The girls are growing up and getting busy with activities and friends.   We got to visit a little more in the morning before we had to take off. 

Madi's before and after hair.  

Below is Madi playing first chair for her most recent concert.  Way to go!!!

It had to be a quick trip because we had a wedding reception to go to for the Akita's son on Saturday afternoon.  I wasn't quite sure why they invited us.  We don't know them well, but they lived in Weed's neighborhood when she passed away and were so wonderful to the whole family in their time of need.  For several summers after they moved to Hawaii, Trigg went over to spend time with them and their son who was a childhood friend of his.  I think Becky was like a mother figure to him when he really needed it.  It turned out to be such a fun reception.  The Akita's are Hawaiian and the bride's family had Tongan and Samoan roots.  After the yummy Polynesian dinner there was lots of hula type dancing by different family members to honor the bride and groom.  As they were dancing, people started coming up and throwing dollar bills around the dancers and even putting it in their clothes!  We found out that instead of giving gifts, this is a way to give to the bride and groom as they start their lives together.  They actually had to sweep up piles of bills after each dance.  It was fun! I had already given them a gift via Amazon.  Becky came over to our table and shared some of the money she was going to throw so we could have a chance to participate in that fun little tradition.  There were lots of really nice people!  The little girl in the picture with Kaebri has Lenae's name as her middle name.  So sweet.  Becky wanted us to meet her for sure.  Lenae has other namesakes as well.  Lenae Fawson, in our homeward is named after her too.  She is the sweetest, kindest and prettiest little girl and smart to boot.  Love seeing these namesakes!  

This morning before church, Paul and I took our walk on the Red Hill to see if there were wild flowers since we had a little rain the other day.  There weren't tons, but there were some and it was so nice to see them.  

We have had wonderful week with daily Easter Readings.  We had lovely church today.  Happy Easter!  I am so grateful for the gift of Easter that makes all my fondest dreams possible.  Thanks be to Heavenly Father and Jesus for this infinite gift of love.