Caleb and Natalia Wedding: Tree Gone

We were able to join in the wedding festivities of my nephew Caleb and Natalia. Mark and Michelle and their family were in town all week. We attended a groom's dinner at Michelle's brother's home which is located in Ogden not too far from Nani's home.

It has been so long since we have been together as a family and it was nice to see other loved ones again. We were sad Mom wasn't feeling too well that day and missed the festivities.

We were enjoying the lovely weather. The huge backyard and play equipment sure made it fun for the younger children.

Caleb and Natalia's wedding reception was held at a beautiful venue in Draper.

It was a chilly day as we all congregated outside for pictures followed by the ring ceremony. The bride and groom had been sealed the day before in the Jordan River Temple. Mark officiated at the ring ceremony.

I loved Natalia's beautiful bridal bouquet, the boutonnieres and corsages that all had succulents in them.

Look at these cute bridesmaids. WAIT a minute!! Only three of them are bridesmaids: Hailey, Nina and Kate. Brooke came along with us and her parents to the reception. Hailey handed Brooke her bouquet for the photo.

I loved the subtle colors in Natalia's veil. It was beautiful.

The next morning Mark's family stopped by on their way out of town for a French toast, bacon and fruit breakfast. It was so nice to have a little bit of time to visit with them before their trip came to an end.

Rebecca's and Ben's families joined us for breakfast. Then we made a day of play after Mark's family left. I got some snuggle/sleep time with Levi.

Caroline also got some baby time.

Levi is getting really close to being able to sit up on his own.

He was just the right size sitting there on the floor for Kade to show him some brotherly love.

We had a Costa Vida dinner. Funny thing was we clearly ended up one dinner short. Thankfully, it was mine. Crisis averted. Glen ordered a second time and I got to eat my meal after everyone else was all finished eating. 

Nani came over one day after her financial planning appointment in Bountiful. She and Glen love Smokin' Bones. The good thing about that restaurant is we always get enough for plenty of leftovers.

Nani has been a little self-conscious about the gigantic bruise on the left side of her face. She had some upper dental work done and the dentist surprised himself with the unnecessary bruising he had caused. She got bruised just in time for the wedding week festivities. UGH!!

The brown tree at the back corner of our house has been causing us problems. I do not know why the tree was planted so close to the house when it grows so big and tall. 

We have had to trim the tree branches that hang out too far into the yard and the ones that smash up into the house. 

The trunk and roots have gotten so big that our cement edging around the tree is now all messed up. 

Upon closer inspection, Glen noticed the tree was growing right in between the roof and the rain gutter. That's a problem!!

We decided that tree needed to come down before we get a roofer and rain gutter person working on the house. There was a truck out front that chipped up all the branches and trunk as a worker climbed up the tree and started chopping from the top down.

I watched the chainsaw-chopping process through the kitchen window. It was an exciting few minutes for me as I watched the process. Glen is always calling me Gladys as I peer out the windows looking at anything new happening on our street. 

This is the new look from our deck. The tree is gone!

But WAIT!! Upon closer inspection we could see the offending branch still stuck between the roof and the rain gutter. REALLY??!!?? That was the reason we were chopping the thing down!

Turns out it may be to our advantage as Glen has contacted our homeowners insurance company to come out and take a look at our roof and our water dripping problem. One of the guys who came out saw that tree branch, took a photo of it and will submit it to our insurance company. 

Haley posted some cute photos of her boys enjoying being outside.

Spring has sprung here in North Salt Lake. We got the tree down just in time before it really started growing leaves that would have made a much bigger mess to clean up.

Quotes of the Week

 Our obedience to God's commandments comes as a natural outgrowth of our endless love and gratitude for the goodness of God. This form of genuine love and gratitude will miraculously merge our works with God's grace.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Prayer is a key. Pray to know what to stop doing and what to start doing. Pray to know what to add to your environment and what to remove so the Spirit can be with you in abundance.
--Russell M. Nelson

Salvation cannot be brought with the currency of obedience; it is purchased by the blood of the Son of God.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Easter; General Conference Weekend; Kaylene and Giovanni Sealing

 Our children's families enjoyed some fun Easter activities. These are the pictures Jacob shared.

Jacob's family had the traditional ebelskiver breakfast that we usually have on general conference weekend.

Sarah's boys coloring eggs, Easter egg hunt and projects that kept them busy while listening to general conference.

Haley fixed Ben some chocolate, chocolate-filled ebelskivers. Sounds gourmet to me!!

Ben's family joined Rebecca's family in a backyard Easter egg hunt.

Caroline drew this darling picture of her holding Levi and Kade with his Easter basket at the Easter egg hunt.

This is how Abe's family enjoyed Easter.

Brooke got ambitious and decided to make the Easter bread bunnies. How creative of her!!

She added one little chick in the mix.

Rebecca helped make the ebelskivers.

We enjoyed watching the two Sunday general conference sessions together.

We had Sunday dinner between sessions and made popcorn after the second session. 

Ben and Haley were happy they had two willing game players in Glen and Rebecca.

Our former missionary Kaylene Parris and her husband Giovanni Nieto were sealed in the Provo City Center Temple.

Two other sister missionaries were there, Ciera Bradley and Jessica Adkins.

It was a lovely day to be able to once again go inside a temple.

Quotes of the Week

 To effectively serve others we must see them...through Heavenly Father's eyes. Only then can we begin to comprehend the true worth of a soul. Only then can we sense the love that Heavenly Father has for all His children.
--Dale G. Renlund

In time of distress, let your covenants be paramount and let your obedience be exact. Then you can ask in faith, nothing wavering, according to your need, and God will answer. He will sustain you as you work and watch. In His own time and way He will stretch forth his hand to you.
D. Todd Christofferson

Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with great and strong purpose in your heart. Love life and look for its opportunities, and forever and always be loyal to the Church.
Gordon B. Hinckley