After a long, hard wrestling season -- my nephew, Cache, qualified to go to State. The community really gets behind kids here in the Valley to support their hard work and efforts. As you can see, on the mile makers leaving Kamas and all the way to the Francis corner, were signs with the name and weight of each wrestler who had qualified to wrestle at the State meet. We were proud of Cache and his work and determination!
They're back!!! The elk are back on the hillside!
You can tell the days they are visible, as the cars are parked all along Lower River Road just gazing at the beauty of these creatures. They know they are safe where they are and they blatantly stare down at the onlookers and admirers. They are amazing animals!
I had meetings in Heber one morning and was
running a bit late by time I brought my sub up to speed on the events of the day and got out of the school. The weather had been a little dicie and I was a bit concerned about driving too fast over the mountain to Heber. The picture below shows the gorgeous sight I saw as I came through the pass and started down the other side. There was beautiful, deep blue sky with the sun shinning on the mountain tops and then a layer of fog, followed by the lake below. There are two pictures showing this beautiful sight. I stopped at the overlook and took these pictures with my little camera (which I thought turned out quite well), despite the fact that I was already running
late. I put the car back in gear and started toward Heber again. When I got off the mountain and headed south on Hwy. 40, the fog was just beginning to rise and the sun was shinning through the fog and it looked like a full moon at night! It was so pretty -- I just had to stop again and take another picture! When I arrived at my meeting 1/2 hour late, no one even seemed to mind, nor did they know what a beautiful world they had missed!














Dad really wanted us kids to get together at Christmas to go through Mom's jewelry and divide it. Because of all the different schedules, it was impossible, so he wanted us to do it this weekend. We all gathered at Dad's on President's Day and began the journey of reminiscing a lifetime of our beautiful Mother and recalling her wearing each item we looked at. We sorted and sorted and then took turns selecting pieces of jewelery. It honestly turned out to be such a fun day. Mom was always known for her beauty and appearance. It was fun to acquire some of her possessions we remembered her wearing. We had lunch together and laughed and talked and planned Dad's birthday party. It will be 84 years for him and we are eager to help him celebrate! It has been 28 years since his first heart surgery--who would have known that he would still be laughing, loving, teaching, sharing and caring with all of us! We are so glad for him and for his willingness to still teach us to have faith in our Savior and Redeemer. We are so thankful for the blessing of eternal families and for our Heavenly Father's beautiful plan of salvation.
I just had to include some pictures of our two cute little boys. Evan has decided there is a big, unexplored world awaiting him. He has found his knees and the ability to move around to reach his toys and other interesting things. Eli is not quite ready to leave the comfort of his Mother's arms right yet and didn't find us a bit entertaining when we put him down to join Evan on the

floor. Eli really does like his Mom carrying him around as she does everything and DOES NOT like being put down while she does ANYTHING! He does like to watch his dinner heating up in the microwave and gets really excited for that!!! Meanwhile, Evan gets faster and faster at his new-found ability!
Valentines' Day found all of the sweethearts in our family in great, loving condition. Tim and Billie Jo escaped to St. George to visit the sweethearts, Max and Chelsea, down south. Rick and Olivia stayed in town and helped with the ward Valentines' Party. Allen and Patrice also stayed close to home, while Dad got yet another new baby calf! He has four--two girls--two boys--all in good shape. Rob, Dad (Grandpa) and I enjoyed each other's company and wished all the sweeties in the family the most loving day ever!

If you have one of the cutest little grandsons in the whole, wide world...you MUST take pictures of him--especially when he is eating snow. As you can see, Noah is licking his fingers and oblivious to everything else...what a wonderful life! Sadly, there comes a day when one doesn't even think to delight in the sweet, refreshing taste of snow. I am happy for Noah that he finds pleasure in the beauty of the world and is ambitious enough to get out and experience it!


I was trying to experiment with my camera and
sun's rays streaming in to the picture. Olivia has actually researched it and I guess I need an umbrella for the camera to get it to look how I really want it to. Even though it's not exactly what I want.....it still has an ambience--plus that cute little model!






I have posted pictures previously about Earl
working with the horses. They are making pretty good progress with them. Noah wanted to ride the other day and Allen said to his Dad, "Is it really safe to put him on that horse?" Of course, Dad (who loves living life on the edge) said it was safe. They put Noah in the saddle and started to walk and turned around and there was Noah on the ground! He was a tough, little cowboy, however, and got right back in the saddle....ah, after we went in and got his cowboy hat and shirt. We were able to talk him into a scarf rather than take his coat off to put the shirt on. You must admit--he is a darn cute little cowboy. He
practiced tipping his hat and saying, "Howdy Partner!"
Last Friday night, Cole accomplished a major move in his life! He asked Dusty Erkenbrack to marry him! She, of course, could not resist his charm and said, "Yes!" We adore Miss E and are so happy to have her in the family. We're glad Cole could recognize he needed this really great girl in his life and made the necessary move to ensure she would spend forever with him! Congratulations Dusty and Cole!


This picture is such a beautiful reflection of life in my world! Saturday morning, I went up to Dad's for breakfast with him and Rob. He was getting his hearing aides right after we ate, so I was able to spend the morning with him and then we kind of bummed around the Valley for a while. By 3:30 I went home, as I thought I should actually shower, dress and put on make-up. Earl and Allen were heading out to get a load of hay and invited me, so....knowing it would be time well-spent with two guys I really love, I hopped in the truck and went across the Valley to the Ures. When we got home, it was close to 5:00 and I found it necessary to take the pictures posted above. By time I got in the house, it was nearly 5:40 and I went to the computer to see what movie might be playing in Kamas. By 5:50, I told Earl that I wanted to see the movie at 6:00--Bridewars. Earl wrinkled his nose and said he didn't really want to see that movie. Time out--back up just a bit--Trudy had called me on Thursday night and told me they would take Dad to dinner Saturday night (I thought I was a great detective and thought Cole was proposing to Dusty that night). I kept asking DeLoy where they were taking Dad and he was very non-committal. There was a Jazz game Saturday at 8:00 PM, so I told Earl that we could go to the movie and still be back by Jazz game time. He asked me if I was really wearing my sweats and no make-up and I just replied that it was dark in the theater. We jumped in the car and went off to the movie--enjoying buttered popcorn and a huge Dr. Pepper and laughing at the movie. About half-way through, Earl's phone beeped and he turned to me and said, "The little girls are dying to give you a birthday present. Do we have time to stop on our way home?" They are always so excited for my birthday and want to give me presents, so I smiled and said, "Sure." When we pulled up at the Butikofers, Rick and Olivia's car was there, but I knew she had been baking a birthday cake, so I thought they had just gotten together on their plans. Andrea's truck was also there and I just thought to myself how nice Billie Jo is to always remember her Aunt Andrea. We walked in the house and Billie Jo said, "Luke and Ellie are in the bonus room having a guitar hero war. Come on out." I started toward the kitchen--the lights flipped on and there were the people I love so much and dear friends shouting, "Happy Birthday!" I was thrilled....but so embarassed at my sweats, the shirt with a bleach spot, no make-up and nasty Saturday hair! Lesson learned: Your family loves you no matter what -- and always try to make yourself presentable...even if it is Saturday! Thank you Billie Jo and Tim, Olivia and Rick -- Allen and Patrice--Earl and loved family and friends for making my day so special! I love you all!