Quotes of the Week

"Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared."
-- Buddha

"The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president. You realize that you control your own destiny."
-- Albert Ellis

"It's not just other people we need to forgive. We also need to forgive ourselves. For all the things we didn't do. All the things we should have done."
-- Mitch Albom

General Conference Weekend

There was an extra little someone joining in with the usual grandchildren who show up around here on general conference weekend. It was Newland!

He had a good time sitting with the other little people and watching their every move.

This is what everyone was doing during conference.

Abe, Klarissa, Glen and I had tickets to go to the Saturday afternoon session and we were able to go because of Sarah's willingness to take care of Newland while we were gone.

It was Cafe Rio between the morning and afternoon sessions, Arby's between the afternoon and priesthood sessions and homemade ice cream after the meetings were over for the day. Rebecca and her kids went to the grocery story with me to pick up the ice cream supplies and Haley made the ice cream so the guys would have some when they got home.  

Next morning I was up and at 'em slaving over a hot stove making dozens and dozens of ebelskivers. It's been a long-standing family tradition to have that specific breakfast on general conference Sundays.

Time for the Sunday morning conference session.

At one point Newland really focused on conference. Hmmm, wonder if it was the woman, her voice or her bright yellow dress that kept him in rapt attention for so long.

Time for Sunday dinner! Glen couldn't resist and purchased himself another kitchen tool and showed us all how well it works. Ta da!!!! His pineapple corer/peeler worked like a champ. Mr. Dole Pineapple man himself showing off his handiwork.

He gave it the artistic touch when he placed the top of the pineapple in the center of the slices. I got a kick out of him not cutting off the Dole label and leaving it as part of the display. Nice job Glen!

While waiting for dinner to get ready, Haley entertained Brooke, Caroline and Eli by looking for things in the Where's Waldo book.

Brooke had colored a beautiful picture for her grandpa.

Rebecca was busy doing her number puzzle that she gets addicted to during conference.

Spencer climbed up on his chair a long time before dinner was ready and sat there ever so patiently just waiting and waiting for the food to finally be served.

Here's the group enjoying a little deck time together.

It just wouldn't be Sunday without popcorn! The kids were promised that special treat at the end of conference.

Brooke is posing with us because our shirts are so beautiful together.

Klarissa's sister Mariah joined us for some game playing. She's the reason Abe and Klarissa were in town. She sings in the BYU Women's Choir and had a performance this weekend.

The food, fun and games had to finally come to an end so everyone could part and go their separate ways.

We were very glad Abe, Klarissa and Newland could come for a visit.

Quotes of the Week

"There are hundreds of paths up the mountain, all leading to the same place, so it doesn't matter which path you take. The only person wasting time is the one who runs around the mountain, telling everyone that his or her path is wrong."
-- Hindu proverb

"At least three times every day take a moment and ask yourself what is really important. Have the wisdom and the courage to build your life around your answer."
-- Lee Jampolsky

"Everything in life comes to you as a teacher. Pay attention. Learn quickly."
-- Cherokee Saying

An Engaging Easter Weekend

We knew it was going to happen at some point. We knew plans were in the works. We knew the time was drawing closer. And then it happened! On Easter weekend.

Ben and Haley are officially engaged!!!

Ben was eagerly awaiting the moment when the jeweler told him the ring was finished and he could pick it up. When he got the word, he put his plan into action.

He planned to bring Haley up to spend the Easter weekend. As soon as they got here, we went to eat at Texas Roadhouse. Then, to get her away from the house, they went to the grocery story to buy some ingredients for homemade ice cream. This is certainly something they have consistently done the last half dozen to a dozen times they have come up here. They are obsessed with homemade ice cream.

As soon as they were gone, Glen and I quickly jumped into action.

Glen got busy hiding the Easter eggs Ben had filled with love notes and candy. Ben had instructed us to hide them mostly in the front yard with a few on the side of the house. There were a dozen of them. I was working on the 13th egg--a large one--which was the culmination of the Easter egg hunt.

Originally Ben had wanted the last egg presentation--complete with red rose petals and a bouquet of red roses--set up on the grass in the back yard.

Glen and I had worked hard all morning out in the yard cutting down unwanted trees, pulling all the dead trees up out of the scrub oak trees and weeding all around. The yard was looking very nice...UNTIL the guy came to aerate our lawn. Looked like the grass was covered with dog poop! Very unromantic.

Plan B was for me to set up the last egg on the deck hidden by the grill so she wouldn't immediately see it when they came around from the side of the house.

When they got home from the grocery store, there was an Easter basket sitting on the steps and the Easter egg hunt began.

When Haley got to the last egg, the big one sitting there next to the roses, she was a little disappointed when she opened it to not find a ring inside. At that point Ben pulled the ring out of his pocket, went down on one knee and proposed to her.

The date has been set for August 23rd. This New York girl is choosing to be married here. Let's just say that will be a lot easier on our family to not have a destination wedding. (I guess for Jacob and Abe's families it is a destination wedding for them...)

So the plans are being made and we'll find out all the exciting details as time goes on.

The sisters wanted to be in on everything, so they were eager to come up for Sunday dinner. Happy Easter!!!

Congratulations Ben and Haley on your engagement!!!