Holidays

I love the Christmas season and this year I have enjoyed it more being able to share it with my granddaughters. Little children bring such a joy to the season. Braelyn has quite the imagination and the things she says makes us laugh. One day she asked if I wanted to see Santa. I said yes and she ran in to the office and grabbed the Santa hat and then sat down in the chair. She put on the hat and had everyone sit on her lap and tell her what we wanted for

Christmas. She would reach into her pocket and pull out our present and hand it to us.

For our company party we went bowling and out to dinner. I lost, but it wasn't my fault since I couldn't find a ball that worked for me. Taryn won and we wonder if she really is attending school or if she spends her time bowling. We ate at Los Hermonos and our waitress told Taryn that her friend would give her five dollars if she got Taryns phone number for her. After finding out he was older then Taryn and a returned missionary she gave him her number. We will have to find out how it went. Christmas Eve we saw Australia and enjoyed it. Then that night we had a WII tournament. I had some hope that I would do okay since I had beat Taylor a few times playing air hockey and bowling. I guess it was just a fluke because Taylor won most of the games and got the prized trophy, that he has to display in his room until next year.

Christmas day was the only day Braelyn has ever slept in. So we changed out plans, had a big breakfast and then gathered to talk to Greg. It's great hearing his voice and being able to talk to him. He is doing great and loves teaching the gospel. Only two more phone calls, two more general conference's and he is home. So for the first time ever we didn't start opening presents until 10:30. By then Berkely was asleep but we figured she wouldn't care. Braelyn was so cute and sweet over every gift. Everything she got was beautiful and she loved it. But then the two-year old side kicked in and she didn't want the gifts to stop. When Berkley finally woke up Braelyn was more then happy to help her open the gifts. The snow had started that night and didn't stop until that afternoon. Luckily the plows came by that afternoon so I grabbed Taylor and tried out my GPS. I'm now ready to drive anywhere. It was a nice Christmas.

Fat and Bald

Berkley will be 7 months in a few days. She is a happy sweet baby. When you walk in a room she smiles so big that you can fill how much she loves you.

For a few days she was doing this crazy smile, she would tilt her head back and close her eyes. It's fun to have a baby in our house again.

Greg's Mission

In a week I will be happy to report that Greg has been out on his mission for 10 months. Since I am his mom I will be thrilled when he hits the one year mark and I can start counting down the months until his return. This mission thing has been bittersweet.

I wouldn't want him anywhere else, but I still miss his quirky personality. But he is loving his mission. I hope that when his time is up he will come home. In this picture he is with Elder Rangel. He was companions with him in the CTM and loved him, so he was thrilled when they were made companions in the field. They served together for a few months and were a great team. They hope to be able to serve together again.

Every Wednesday we wait anxiously for Greg's e-mail. I don't know how mothers made it through before e-mail. It helps to hear from him every week. His letters are inspirational. He has such a love for his Savior and the Atonement. He is an example to his family and everyone he teaches.

He was transferred a couple of weeks ago and went to an area that had a ward and their own building. He got there and the missionaries before him had no contacts, no investigators and said the ward mission leader wouldn't help them. Alot has changed in a few weeks. They have baptisms lined up and the ward mission leader is working with all his family and friends. They do splits most every night with members from the ward.

I hope when it's time for me and Steve to serve I will be as great of a missionary as my son.

Closing the cabin

I always dread the weekend when we have to drain the pipes and put things away for the winter. I keep dreaming of the time when we can keep it heated all winter and we won't have to close it up. Here are the two rooms we finished this year in the basement. We have a bedroom and a small family room. This gives us space to sleep six more people, so we hope next year to have plenty of company up there. The first couple of years we were so tired from working hard that it was nice to shut it up for awhile. But the last couple of years we have learned to relax a little and take the four-wheelers out for a spin. Last weekend we were sitting around the fire at dusk and I asked Steve if he wanted to drive the loop in the dark. He took me up on the offer, which in hind-sight was not the smartest idea. The temperature was in the 30's and it was dark and we had to cross the river two-times. So we got dressed really warm, I grabbed my gun but of course left the flashlight and we headed out. Luckily we had a half moon to give us some light. It wasn't scary until we started talking about Cain and how Joseph Smith looked him in the eye from the back of a horse. We ended that conversation and concentrated on seeing any wild life. By the time we made it down we were cold. Crossing the river at the bottom of the loop was scary. There is a part that is un-even and it feels like your going to tip over. We made it and hurried home to sit by the fire and get warm.

Halloween

This will be the last year that Taylor can dress up for Halloween at school. Unfortunately I am not creative and couldn't help him come up with a good costume. He searched the internet and somehow came up with the little Caeser Pizza Guy. He bought the cloth and found the leaves for behind his head. I did help him make the pizza. I had made the snow white costume for my girls when they were little. Braelyn loves princess and made the cutest Snow White. While we were putting Taylor's costume together we pulled out the wigs. I had the black one on and Braelyn thought I was beautiful, so I put it on her. Then we had to put one on Berkley so we could see what she looked like with hair. I think she looks like a cabbage patch doll.

Braelyn singing

A few weeks ago Taylor said he wanted to learn how to play the piano. He is my only child I never put in lessons. So I told him to go through the beginner book by himself and then I would help him in the other books. So he played jingle bells and Braelyn sang along with him. She wanted to sing "I hope they call me on a mission" since Taylor doesn't know how to play that one he played an indian song. She didn't mind and sang away. If you notice the leaf on her head, she had watched a show earlier that they made a hat out of a leaf and she wanted to make her one.

UEA

Me, Steve, Taryn, Heather,
Braelyn and Berkely went up to the cabin on Wednesday night. Taryn had her fall break from college and needed to rest and relax. The weather was wonderful and even hot on Friday afternoon. Taylor came out Friday morning with Steve's mom and sister Monica. Kevin came up after work on Friday. With most of the projects done on the cabin we spent alot of time sitting and relaxing. Thursday night we even went down to the Hanna Cafe for dinner. I've never been there and loved my dinner. We will have to go back.

We hiked up the canyon all the way to the top of the hill and were able to enjoy the beautiful views. Taylor spent his hike pushing down all the dead trees.

We tried to get the go-cart to work but after sitting for four years we will need to do some work on it.
Braelyn enjoyed playing play-do with Grandma Roberts.

Just enjoying the warm weather.

Taylor's Deer

Steve goofed up this year and instead of putting in for the bow hunt he put himself in for the rifle. The last couple of years he has only been able to bow hunt. So this weekend him and Taylor got up early Saturday morning to hunt. They didn't come back until 10:30 so we all thought they had got one. They both had a shot at a four-point but missed. Neither of them was too upset about missing, just grateful they saw a couple of bucks. So Monday morning they got up early again, but this time they returned home around 9:00. Steve came into the cabin and asked for the camera, because Taylor had shot a deer. Since he isn't able to hunt this Saturday he shot at a two-point and got him on the first shot. Thank goodness my family likes venison.

Finally we have carpet

Finally after five years we have carpet on the floor at the cabin. We put it upstairs in the loft and our master bedroom and in the bedroom and family room in the basement. We have been walking on plywood upstairs for the last three years. To walk around on carpet feels wonderful. Especially in the middle of the night. We will enjoy it for a few more weeks until we close it up. Which may happen sooner then we would like. We told Greg about it and he says that he can't remember what it feels like to walk on carpet.

High-School Friends Sleepover

This Wednesday Gini, Teresa, Annette, Leisa and Toni my friends from high school came up to the cabin for a day and night of talking, eating and catching up on each other's lives. We started this tradition last year and decided that we need to continue it every year. So each fall we plan to get together. After lunch we decided if we wanted to see the fall colors we better take off. The sky was black and we didn't want to get caught in a downpour. We went up Rhodes Canyon and were amazed at how beautiful it was. After driving for awhile we pulled over for pictures. While we were taking the pictures we heard a couple of gun shots and with the dark clouds we headed for home. Everyone was covered with a thin layer of dust. Toni arrived around 6:00. After working so hard riding the four-wheelers we started dinner. Annette's brother Terry was nice enough to bring us up a homemade pie made in the dutch oven for desert. We talked some more and Teresa left for home around 10:00. We were still going at 11:00 and turned on a movie. That wasn't the best idea because we all fell asleep watching it. We retired to our beds around midnight and at 6:30 that morning I could hear talking. I was determined to stay in bed and was hoping I would fall back asleep. Finally at 7:30 I knew that sleep was not going to come I got up. Everyone else was awake so we put in the movie and finished watching it. Then with everyone's help we had a big breakfast and lingered until noon when everyone figured they better go home and become Mom again. I can't believe I was so lucky to grow up with such great friends. I can't wait for next year. We do appreciate Toni flying in from Florida to join us.

Leisa (yes she spells her name just like me) gave me a sign that reads "what happens in the cabin stays in the cabin" I guess that will be our theme.

No Camera

We left early Thursday morning to go up to the cabin. As soon as we hit Woodland and I saw the beautiful fall colors I thought about taking a picture. Then I realized that in our hurry we left it at home. The drive was beautiful. At the cabin we thought we could relax more, but of course we found plenty of things to do and each night we would crash with exhaustion. Friday night we decided to cross the river and head up the valley by the cabin. Steve was driving and to the side I noticed a big black shape, then I saw the antlers and realized it was a Moose. The first thing that ran through my mind was that more people are killed in Alaska from Moose attacks then bear attacks. So I yelled at Steve to look, wondering how we could turn the four-wheeler around and if we could go faster then a moose. I didn't need to worry, the Moose looked at us and then turned and walked across the river and up the mountain. It was a big old bull Moose. Later that night Steve went looking and saw a couple of Elk and a three-point deer. And of course we didn't have our camera. Saturday we went for a drive up Rhodes Canyon. At times you felt like you were driving through a tunnel of trees and around every corner we were astonished at how beautiful it was. At one spot all the trees were a bright orange. The camera is going in the car today so I will have it this week to take pictures of nature in all its splendor.

Major work at cabin finished.

After five years of hard work in the summer we can finally say that all the major work at the cabin is finished. Last weekend Steve crossed off all the items on our list. Does that mean when we go out we will never have to work. I wish but it does mean we can do things at a much slower pace. Hopefully we will be ready to landscape next year. We have loved having friends and family come up and spend time with us. I'm looking forward to having my high-school friends come up in October and staying up all night talking. Okay we are to old for that, but hopefully we can make it to midnight. "http://w464.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w464.photobucket.com/albums/rr4/leisamroberts/2e9dcdfa.pbw"

Labor Day

Ali and Aubrey can't believe how chunky Berkley is. How come it's so cute when babies are fat?

Taylor is hoping to get that big buck on the bow hunt. Steve messed up on the permits and got a rifle permit instead of a bow permit so he is the designated driver for Taylor. Unfortunately the only buck they have seen is while Steve was relaxing out on our bedroom deck at the cabin.
We don't care if it's cold we are going to sit around the fire.
Taryn telling Heather how to make her famous rapid fire mouth bursts. I can't give you the recipe, but they are wonderful.
I think the Allred clan is worn out. That is everyone but Braelyn, I don't think she ever gets tired.
Papa with baby Berkley. Even though the weather was cold it was fun hanging out with family and friends and being at the cabin.

triathon

Steve, Heather and Taryn did their first mini-triathlon. It was held in Orem. They swam, biked and then ran. They were all worried about the swimming portion of the race. But they all completed it. The girls were impressed with their old man who not only kept up, but stayed right with them. I'm proud of all of them.

Braelyn

Braelyn is two-years old and keeps life interesting. She has more energy then we know what to do with. She is a little ball of fire and has more love in her heart then anyone I know. The other day I was playing primary songs with her on the paino and not doing a great job. I complained that I can't play anymore. She put her arm around me and said "Don't worry, it's okay". It's great to wake up to a big hug and kiss from her. She has never called me grandma but came up with the name Munga. We don't know where that came from but to her I am Munga and Steve is Papa.

Greg has been out on his mission for six months. Time is flying by for him and going a little bit slower for us. He is loving serving the people of Brazil and assures us that we will speak Portuguese in heaven. He is now serving in a town called Botucatu. It is the furthest town in his mission. He is serving with Elder Rangel who he was roommates with in the CTM. He enjoys Elder Rangel and was thrilled to have him as his companion. Everytime Braelyn says a prayer she ask's for a blessing for Elder Greg.

Berkely Kate

We think granddaughers are awesome and we were so excited when Berkely joined our family on May 14, 2008. She weighed 7lbs 11 ozs. She has blue eyes and brown hair. She is a sweetheart and it's fun to have a baby to hold again. She gained weight quickly and everyone comments on her fat cheeks. They are perfect for us to kiss. She smiles and giggles and most of the time sleeps through the night.

All winter me and my friends have talked about taking a night and staying up at the cabin.
We found a night in June that worked for all of us. Unfortunately the weather was cold, but we still headed out. We turned the fireplace on and had a great time talking, eating, watching movies and catching up on each other's lives. We slept in and stayed in our pj's until noon. We had so much fun it was hard to pack up and return home.

This year instead of spending the time at our towns celebration we took the boat out to the cabin and spent the weekend boating. Norm and Julie, Gayle and Alan and some friends were there. The water was really high so we were able to enjoy jumping off the cliffs. Taylor was our brave one and dove off it. The lake wasn't busy and we had a great time playing on the water. We even talked Dallin into trying body-surfing behind the boat. It was amazing that he was able to hang onto the rope and keep his swimming suit up.