Pine Valley picnic with Grandma Kurtz and more

Grandma Kurtz (Anna Lou) has been so involved with the Utah Jazz basketball play offs that she hasn't wanted to come to dinner on Sundays.  We try to have one get together with her each week, so we went up to Pine Valley during a time when they weren't playing for a really nice picnic and walk.  Being in the mountains with the trees, plants, clean air and water is just plain good for the soul...and sharing it with those you love makes it even better!  

When it's finally spring enough to get to the mountains...almost...we start by heading to Pine Valley for walks and picnics.  It's gets us through until we can head to the hills for sure!  If you look close you can see the firelight across the lake in one picture.  The camp hosts were there getting things ready to open up and the smoke smelled delicious!

Evening waterfalls...I know I feel better just looking at them, listening to them and breathing that almost Spring cool, clean air!

Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch adventure with Supe and Beacher

Supe and Beacher invited Paul, Bean and I to join them on a hike a couple of Saturday's ago.  It turned out to be a really good time for that particular hike.  We started at Wire Pass and went on to Buckskin Gulch.  Paul, Bean and I stayed with them through about 4 miles of it.  They continued on and did the full 21 miles ending up coming out through Paria Canyon through the last section.  Paul, Bean and I turned back and then visited Glen Canyon Dam for a bit and then picked Supe and Beacher up at the White House trail head where they exited.  It was such an adventure through the amazing, carved walls and some water in these slot canyons.  It is supposed to be the longest slot canyon in the US (disputed by some).  The sandy parts were packed because of some recent rain.  That also made for some water for us to wade through in narrow spots, but it didn't get past our waists and was still pretty fresh and non stinky.  It was just the right weather and we also got to get out of St. George for a crazy Ironman day.  All in all it was GREAT!  So glad they invited us!

When the water started we wondered if it would go on.  Then as we kept going, we wondered how deep the water would get.  We knew we had to decided whether to keep going or to stop and turn back, so we decided if it got above out waists we would turn back...luckily it didn't.  It was so amazing we did not want to turn back!  We just got really wet, thick muddy water in out boots and up to our thighs.  It was worth every thick, slippery, cold muddy puddle we waded through!

Columbines in my yard - blogworthy!

We were shopping at Lowe's the other night and I saw a potted columbine in the yard shop.  I bought it knowing that it may not survive the heat, but planted in the best spot I could find and am loving it while it lasts!  I did see one of the same variety up at the desert garden the other day, so I'm hoping this hybrid type is hardy enough to last after all.  They are such a beautiful, delicate looking flower.  I love them!

Kaebri #16, Trigg #6, Zade #10 + family dinner fun

The Smith's hosted the family dinner and the birthday party all in one!  The 3 birthdays celebrated all belonged to them, so that worked out really well!  We had a good turnout just missing Ryan and Beacher and the Randalls had to beg off at the last minute to attend a special event in Bryan's family up north.  It's an exciting birthday for Kaebri especially since she will soon be driving and is now old enough to date.  She's a smart, beautiful, kind, young lady and reminds me of her mom in her many selfless ways.  Trigg has grown up so much the last little bit and will be in school all day starting in the Fall.  Zade has grown up too and is learning how to be more physically as well as intellectually active.  I would say all of them have made lots of positive growth through the last little bit even as they have weathered the hardship of losing their mom.  Derek has worked hard to help them and now Colony is helping so much too.  I always miss Weed on special days in her family, but hope she is looking down pleased with their progress and working hard where she is too.  Love to all the birthday kids!  You are all awesome and we love you so much!

Brady's version of Taming of the Shrew

Last Thursday evening Bean, Paul and I joined the Randalls at the old Main Street Theater in Parowan, Utah to enjoy Brady's school group's rendition of Taming of the Shrew - Western style.  It was such a fun play and the kids did a great job of it, mustaches falling off and all.  I love that play anyway and it was fun to see it done by the younger set and in a different setting - Dodge City.  Congrats to Brady and friends for a successful run!

Brynnli leads the way...

Coming right up is a big first event for us in this family.  Beautiful Brynnli "Bucket" Borrowman will lead the way in graduation from high school.  She's worked hard and will be one of the valedictorians in her class.  We are looking forward the big day and will post more after it takes place. She's darling as well as brainy!

And she did it!  Here are photos of that awesome day in family history!  She was one of 23 valedictorians of her class...pretty smart group!  She sang in a choir at the graduation.  It made me want to cry to see her taking this giant step forward into the adult world...scary but oh so wonderful too.  Here she comes!

We had the Lillywhite side family graduation dinner/party at our house.  It wasn't a fancy graduation party, but she didn't want to join the one at school, so we had a nice dinner with lots of the family here and had some graduation present opening and visiting on the lawn after that.  Pretty calm evening, but she seemed pleased.  Oh how we love these grandchildren and hope for joyful, righteous lives for them.  

And Clara Lenae was cracking us all up with her baby and her sour cream! It's good to have Weed's namesake here with us to remind us how pleased she would be to see these good things taking place in her family's lives!

A Lovely 2018 Mother's Day!

I'm so behind on here, but I will just start the catch up from here backwards for the last month's good times.  We wanted to make it a nice Mother's Day for Paul's mom, but still enjoy our own fun and we found a way to make us all happy I think.  She didn't want to come on Sunday because she wanted to be home to get phone calls, so we planned some Saturday fun for her and us as well.  We got her up as early as she could stand to come over for a yummy omelet, fruit, juice and bagels breakfast. Afterwards we took her up to enjoy a walk through the Desert Garden which is blooming beautifully right now.  We walked and swung and took in all of that beauty and it was a cooler, sunny morning.  Then we took her home and put together a wind catcher we bought for her and installed it and a birdhouse. She seemed pleased with the morning and gifts.

Then we came home and got our lunch and gear together and drove up by Browse to hike to a hidden waterfall that Lance and Supe told us about.  We did find it and it was beautiful.  I even got in the cold water for a little ways and then dried out in the sun while we ate our lunch.

After that we drove the rest of the way up the road to the Browse Guard Station and check on the Sequoia tree and saw lots of pretty mountain flowers and scenery to boot!  Then we drove home stopping at Chic-Fil-A for one of their new Sunshine Orange drinks and we froze our brains while drinking them!  Then we ate a quick, simple, good dinner and watched a funny movie.  It was a  fun and lovely day all around!  

For Sunday Paul made yummy crepes with lots of good toppings and juice.  Church was way good.  I did miss Weed there and felt a sadness for Kaebri and Tasia (Zade and Trigg).  We had simple but yummy brauts, beans and potato salad and watermelon (my choice) after church.  Then we napped and tried to take Bean back to Cedar via Pine Valley, but the shield on the bottom of the car was coming off so we turned around, came home and ate cold cereal and toast and then Paul just took him home.  I talked to my mom and she sounded happy and then later talked with Moss and Juge, Ferf, Lou and Beacher texted.  Jay and Brynn skyped earlier with their girls.  

The kids went together, except Bean, to get us a dinner card and tickets to Shakespeare theater in Cedar which we will really enjoy.  Bean's sweet card and gift card to Chili's, which he got Dad to help him pick up, were a truly special thing.  The card was beautiful and appropriate and he signed it so nicely too.  And he thought about what would be a good gift card.  He is doing so much better.  I still feel scared that the hard realities of what his limitations may be will be too much for him somewhere down the road and he won't be able to bear it, but for today he was the sweet and wonderful Bean we have missed for so long interspersed with a new Bean and a still sometimes lost to sadness Bean.  Unless you can understand where we have been to with Bean through this illness you will not be able to fathom how much this card means coming from him.

Don't want to forget the beautiful roses and sweet card that Paul gave me.  He made it such a fun weekend for me.  I felt his love in all of his kind deeds.  He's the perfect partner to my mothering and I love him dearly.

Oh, this year I made some home made cards for several peoples I love and used the quote that Lynne gave me.  I love it and wanted to share it.  I liked how it turned out home made or not.

My prayer is that Bean, and all of my children, their spouses and the grand children will stay the course and be with us as a family and Weed someday forever!