Nativity picture

Here it is....the final scene. I am so excited about this nativity picture. Last year, late summer, I started making costumes for my ten grandchildren. We were happily expecting Rory Anne, and I couldn't pass up the chance to have our own nativity with a brand new baby in the family. I made the costumes for the three wise (wo)men first, and flew to Boise to take the photos of Heidi and Ken's three girls, Kylie, Ashley, and Lizzie. Rory was born october 29th and was about 6 weeks old when this photo was taken in December. She made a beautiful baby Jesus and was so good while we took the pictures. Randy and Cheri's children, Danielle, and Braden, are the oldest and the perfect choice for Mary and Joseph. Danny and Becca, have a boy and girl, Olivia, and Cameron, and Jeff and Heather also have a boy and a girl, Cessna, and Lance, so between those two families, we had our two angels and two shepherds. The children were so cute, and the whole scene was so precious. It was taken December 16th and did not give us time to get corrections made, and the Kings added in before Christmas, so this year it was a priority to get the photo completed. Our nephew, Derek Ballard is a talented design artist, and he did the wonderful photoshop work on the photo. Everyone was delighted with it last night at our family Christmas party. All of the adults received a framed 11 X 14 picture, and the children each got their own 5 X 7's. The children, even 2 yr old Lance, were happy with their pictures. I am especially delighted with it. These children are so precious to me. I love them all so much! They are so patient with me, always photgraphing them. I just want to keep every moment. This was an especially nice one!

The Lights on Temple Square

Wednesday night, Ralph and I went downtown on TRAX to see the lights on temple square. It was cold outside and there was snow on the ground, but that just added to the beauty. This was my very first try with night photography, using all manual settings. I am thrilled with the results. I do not think I could have gotten more beautiful pictures. I'm so excited to keep learning more and more.

Naughty or Nice

What do you expect me to do anyway? I ran out of rawhide bones to chew on and the gophers in the back yard are sleeping for the winter. What is a girl to do in her spare time when she needs to dig and chew? I'm just doing what comes naturally. Did you hear the news? I am going to obedience school in January! I hope it will be fun.

Does this angelic face look like trouble?

This sweet little face was looking into mine yesterday about this time, and I was telling her how beautiful she is....how I am so happy to have her......how I couldn't possibly live without her....Why then, today, was I telling her that I really hope that she will like her new home....you know that one she will be going to if she does one more BAD thing.
Not to mention any names here, ( I must protect the innocent or in this case the guilty).....but there are a few reasons why you may want to think twice about getting a puppy, especially if you believe that they are well behaved after that first year.

1. Your little puppy friend could spread the bathroom garbage all over the house. That's perfectly understandable since she may just be looking for another pull-up like the one she found Sunday. Do you know what those things are like when they are wet, and shredded?

2. This same pup could chew up a wooden Christmas ornament that was meant for a grandchild.

3. Worse yet....she could mangle and twist up your new glasses.

4. I bet you didn't know that this sweet looking little thing could pee on your brothers foot when he comes to visit.

5. Opps! she could mistake a child's toy for her own, and pull off the eyes and get literally piles of stuffing out of that little hole.

6. The final straw.....who would believe that she would jump up on a chair in order to reach the paint bottles on the craft table. THEN....proceed to paint herself, the hardwood floor, one dog blanket, and a quilt on the bed? This was all accomplished within a 15 hour period, where 8 of which she was in a kennel for the night.

One last word about my dogs. Oscar is an angel, except for his exceptional barking skills.

I will forgive my little "criminal" but it may take me a couple of days.

Christmas Fudge

Tonight, I made my mother's famous fudge. My brother, Jerry, is visiting me tomorrow, and I wanted to send some home with him. I had a lot of tender memories as I worked on the candy. For ten years now, I have been some part of the process, and the last couple of years, mom needed help with the stirring and mixing and cutting. In my mind's eye I see her hands working with such love as she prepared it for all of the family and some special friends, and the young men who brought her the sacrament during the winter when she was shut in. She had such great love for everyone. It was truely a labor of love to make all of her goodies each year. I'm missing her a great deal presently, as her birthday approaches. I was actually in tears as I picked up all the ingredients tonight at the store, knowing that I was on my own for my first "solo flight" with the fudge. It appears to be right. She would be proud of me. I hope to carry on her traditions, so that part of her will live on in memory of the service she gave. Below, you will see pictures of mom teaching my daughters, Heidi, and Becky, how to make the fudge. Heidi has now become well known for the treasured recipe. I believe she said she makes eight double batches every year. People actually remind her about it and ask if they are receiving it again. Way to go Heidi!





One more thing.....the recipe:
GRANDMA SMITH'S FAMOUS FUDGE

4 1/2 Cups Sugar
9 ozs. marshmallow topping
1 square real butter
One pkg Baker's unsweetened baking chocolate broken up (8 pieces)
1 can Evaporated milk
2 Tbs vanilla
1 12 oz pkg. semi sweet chocolate chips
1 lb broken walnuts (optional)

In a large bowl, mix chocolate chips, marshmallow topping, and baking chocolate. Set aside.
Boil sugar, butter and evaporated milk in heavy saucepan for 5 full minutes , stirring constantly at a full boil. Pour this hot cooked mixture over ingredients in the bowl. Add vanilla. Stir until mixture is all melted and smooth. Add nuts if desired. Pour into a 9 X 13 inch lightly buttered pan and place in the frig overnight. Cut into squares with a sharp knife. Fudge is best when kept refrigerated and eaten cool.

NOTE: This recipe makes a dark semi-sweet fudge. I LOVE it this way but after tasteing it today, I remembered that mom always adjusted the recipe to how individuals like it. You can go with the semi sweet baking chocolate instead of unsweetened, or even take it a notch milder with milk chocolate. Also, nuts or no nuts, walnuts or pecans. Have fun deciding what you like best.

Christmas 1982

I love this photo of my six children. Nothing fancy for sure. They are basically all wrapped in fabric! Randy, at 14, was not real excited about this this, and I told him that no one would ever see it. Who knew then that there would be the World wide Web, and I would have to put the photo out there? Heidi enjoyed it. Brian was so excited to be a King and get to hold that plate with the cologne bottles and some costume jewelry. Sweet little faces on everyone. I miss the years when my children were young, but look at all these beautiful grandchildren. What fun we had with their nativity last year. That night was the best. Lot's of nice momories. I love my family soooo Much!!!

A few months before Christmas 2007, I started making nativity costumes for our ten grandchildren. On the 16th of December, we got together for dinner, and I was able to take the photos that you see here. My precious grandchildren are as follows: Joseph and Mary...Randy and Cheri's children, Danielle, and Braden. The three wisewomen... Heidi and Ken's children, Kylie, Ashley, and Lizzie. The two shepherds and the two angels are.... Danny and Becca's daughter, Olivia, and Son Cameron, and Jeff and Heather's daughter, Cessna, and son, Lance. Baby Jesus....Becky and Ryan's daughter, Rory.

Grandchildren's Nativity

Ralph To The Rescue!

Yesterday, I bought the turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. I experienced the universal problem of not enough room in the refrigerator. Luckily we have the unheated shop outside, and this time of year it is plenty cold to keep milk and fruit and some other things out there. The problem that we have is that there is occasionally a mouse in there. I was worried about leaving the turkey out there just in case a mouse is camping out in there. Ralph came in and happily announced that he had found the perfect place for the turkey. I went out to see, and he had it hanging from a bungie cord from the high ceiling! It worked out fine over night and now it is safe at Danny's house where Becca will roast it on Thursday.

Happy Election Day!

I can't help but think of elections past, and who I was hoping would win. The first recolection that I have of an election, is in 1952 when I was in the 3rd grade. Here you can see my class. I am in the center of the first row. I am wearing a dress that was a hand-me-down from my cousin, Darlene. It was red and white checked with red trim. I remember the day this photo was taken in October of that year. I thought that I looked so great in this dress, and my election buttons that said, "I Like Ike". That was General Dewight D. Eisenhower, who did win the presidency. A LOT of memories come back to me when I look at this photo, some good, some painful, some from my 45 year class reunion, when I learned how some of these children's lives turned out. Some sacrificed their lives in wars that they fought for us, others sacrificed their values, and some have gone on to great accomplishments. I wonder what kind of a world my grandchildren will inherit. Days like today can make such a big difference in the lives of ourselves and our posterity. May God bless America today!

Grandchildren at Gardner Village

I had such a fun month! It was so fun to go to Gardner Village with five of my grandchildren for pictures. Honestly, I believe I could set up camp there. I LOVE that place. They always decorate for the season and with their beautiful surroundings, restaurants, and wonderful shops, it is like going on a mini vacation. The only thing that would make it better, would be to have lots of money to spend there, but I am happy with the atmosphere. This month it was especially fun to capture some memories of my little spooks in costume. I LOVE them all soooo much.
Dan and Becca's children were Tinker Bell and Peter Pan. Jeff and Heather's children were Dorothy and the Scarecrow from the wizard of Oz. Becky and Ryan's baby, Rory, was Piglet.

Rory's Birthday

My littlest grandchild, Rory Shober, (Becky and Ryan's daughter) had her first birthday on Oct 29th, along with her uncle Danny, who turned 35. She had a little party at her Grandpa Shober's home that night. I took a few pictures of her a few days prior, and at the party. She had a great time. She is a sweet little girl, and it's really a blessing to have her close by where I can see her almost every day. Baby therapy is good!

Trick Or Treat

Some of our family members were able to go to Idaho to be with Heidi and Ken's daughter, Ashley, for her baptism this past weekend. The night before, was Halloween, and we went trick or treating in their neighborhood. It was an ideal night with warm weather and no wind. The cousins had a ball going from house to house together. It was so much fun to have 6 of them together for this special event. They laughed and ran, and rode in a wagon and strollers, all to the delight of parents and of course, Grandma.

Ashley's Baptism Day

My granddaughter, Ashley Wolfe, was baptized by her father on November 1, 2008 in Boise Idaho. It was a wonderful and memorable day. Congratulations Ashley! Quite a few of our family members were able to come. Myself, Danny's family, Brian, and Becky's family. The beautiful little dress that Ashley is wearing, was worn by her mother on her baptism day. Ashley looks so much like Heidi, that it is like a page from the past coming to life again. Enjoy a slide show of a few pictures

Reflections on a Sunday

Today in Sacrament meeting, we had guests who spoke and sang to us. They are the Special needs MIA. Some had Downs Syndrome, others there were deaf, or otherwise handicapped. The parents of a Downs girl spoke, then she spoke, and then we heard from her "buddy". Buddies are serving one on one in the YW and YM programs by way of a calling. A peer, who loves them, and is a true friend who helps them to participate in meetings and activities. The "Buddies" who spoke to us today, told of their great love for the special needs children, and how they are the ones who are benefitting from their service. They receive so much pure Christlike love in return, that no one wants to be released from this service. Our hearts were touched by their singing and their sweet testimony's. Once again, I realized what special spirits these childrn are. My mother used to work for a woman who cared for abandoned Downs babies. She always came home from work so excited at the things they were learning and the sweet love they gave. Also, I was touched today by the song they all sang together in sign language. I miss using it to communicate with mom.

The disney princess challenge

I took Becky's lead,and answered the questions, and guess what? I'm Snow White!


You Are Snow White!

Pure and trusting. You are a gentle soul who can get along with just about anyone. Everyone you meet instantly falls in love with you. How can they resist? You have a pure, lovable nature that's irresistable. Just don't trust everyone who comes across your path.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Winter's first gifts

"The winter left her blanket here this morning
A soft and gentle coverlet of white
Unfolded in the shadows of the dawn
It sparkled in the early morning light"


These words from a song by Cori Connors, aptly describe the scene that greeted us this morning. I have really enjoyed my flowers this year, and I will miss them, but there is something magical about the soft fluffy snow that looks like it's been sprinkled with glitter. It has always fascinated me. The cold, however, my aging bones do not look forward to.

My canine kids celebrate their birthdays

Today, I had a little "belated" birthday celebration for
Oscar and Gracie. They did enjoy their birthday "cakes", but they were both sort of paralyzed by their cute birthday hats. Thus, the gloomy questioning looks on their faces. Gracie was one year old on Sept 27th, and Oscar, turned seven years old on May 1st.

My little day trip to St George

I have to be careful what I say to my son, Brian. When I tell him there is something I need help with, or would like, he is Johnny on the spot to make it happen for me. I mentioned that it would be so fun to go to St George and drive up to Pine Valley to cook a foil dinner, and just come right back home. He called me a few days ago and said he had Monday free, and would I like to go. He listed us on the flights, and we left the house at 8:00 AM, caught our 9:45 flight into St. George and arrived there at 10:45. He has a car there because of his work, and needing it in So. Utah when he lived there. We went to Smith's, bought the supplies we needed, and were off for the mountains. The area where my parents used to take the kids camping was closed for the season, but we found another picnic spot that we remembered going to with them.
Brian made the fire and got the coals just right while I made the foil dinners. We had a nice talk, and took a few photos while we waited for the dinner to cook. I'm telling you....there is just nothing like a good foil dinner in the mountains. The only problem we encountered was after opening them up, and we saw a swarm of wasps headed right for us. Brian had a great idea. We dumped out our dinners onto a paper plate and he took the foil a few feet away to another table, where the wasps and flies were very contented with their feast.
When we finished our dinner, we stopped on the way out at the little lake there. It looked beautiful, and I got some nice photos there. On the way back to the airport, we stopped to gather some sandstone for Heidi's girls, who are rock hounds, and we climbed up on a clif for some pictures of the city. We caught our flight home and came in as the sun was going down. On the way home we saw eight temples from the air! St George, Provo, Timpanogus, Jordan River, the almost finished Draper and Oquirrh temples, then Salt lake, and Bountiful. It was a perfect ending for a perfect day. Once again, I am so grateful and feel so blessed to live here in Utah where there is beauty all around us. The beautiful mountains that I love so much, and the amazing red cliffs in the Southern part of the state. I love the seasons, especially Fall that we are experiencing now.

My Trip to Idaho

My Daughter, Heidi, celebrated her birthday on September 26th. I was lucky enough to be able to fly down there to celebrate with her and her family. The 27th was a fun day as well. Ken goes to Singapore once in awhile with his work, and he had brought home beautiful silk dresses for Heidi and the girls. The kids also had some play clothes that were fun. We had such a riot taking pictures. I think it is the most fun I have ever had with Kylie, Ashley, and Lizzie. We laughed so much and did some real silly things too. In the end we had 339 photos!!! Here is a handful for you to see these gorgeous girls!









Saturday afternoon, Heidi and I escaped for a little while to my favorite scrapbook store, Archivers. I am more into tools than stuff to stick on my pages. In fact, I have not really spent much time this year on scrapping. But,,,I love to make cards and we found some fun tools to create cute flowers for cards or pages. Fun! Thanks Heidi ,,,,,,I had a great time!
Saturday night, Heidi and I went to her stake Center, where we enjoyed a delicious meal of salad and burritos with about 300 plus women in her stake. Everyone brought things to donate to a women's shelter there in Boise. There was a "gynormous" amount of things that will bring a little relief and some happiness to others who are suffering through some hard times. This is the purpose of Relief Society.
After dinner, we went to the chapel for the world wide broadcast of the General Relief Society Conference. We heard from the General Relief Society presidency, and also enjoyed a wonderful talk from Brother Uchdorf, 2nd counselor in the First Presidency of the church. We saw his funny side, and felt encouraged and uplifted by his remarks.
We didn't stay for dessert at the church, because Heidi still had half of her birthday ice cream cake from Cold Stone, at home in the freezer. YUM! It was the best ever.
Early on Sunday morning I started out for home as a stand-by
passenger. I missed that first flight and the loads did not look in my favor all day, so Brian listed me on a United flight to Denver, and from there, on a Delta flight into SLC. I could never have gone into that HUGE Airport, and found my way around without my clever son, Brian, on the phone with me. He told me every step to take up and down escalators, onto an underground train that took me to another terminal, and finally to my gate where I did make the Salt Lake flight and arrived safely at home. Those of you who know me well, know that this adventure was a bit out of my comfort zone, being alone, with a very sore foot, and miles from home. It was a good experience and gave me some confidence to try something else when an opportunity comes along.