Visiting Jeff & Rochelle's Family in Arkansas - Part 1

We enjoyed our visit with Jeff & Rochelle's family in Arkansas. Rebecca, Isaac, and Mason went with us and had a fun time with their cousins.  We flew on Frontier from Salt Lake City on Wednesday, November 29th.  After having a fun Saturday, our return flight got us home in time for a short night's sleep before going to our 9:00 church Sunday morning.

Here are some memories to share from photos taken:

A warm greeting and happy hugs. 

Feeling the love with Chance and Ella.

Grampa Sam getting a nice hug from Ella.

And hugs from all of the family.

But the children were in for a big surprise!

They didn't know Rebecca, Isaac, and Mason were coming with us.

Kate's happy surprise to see Rebecca.

And Miles is overjoyed.

Here are some photos taken during our visit.

They have acreage for some nice walks and fun activities.

It was a little cool but a nice walk around their property on Friday, December 1.

Zack, Miles, Rebecca, Ella, Mason, Grampa, Chance, and Gramma

Their house is in the background by the trees.

We walked around the hayfield where Jeff had mowed a path.

Fun on the hay bales 

Jeff & Rochelle own the property where the hay was cut.

Miles & Mason (front) Jeff & Rebecca (behind)

Chance, Ella, and Zack

Mason, Chance, Rebecca, Miles, and Ella

in the "camping spot."

Another view of their house

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On Thursday, November 30th, we visited the Scott Family Amazeum in Bentonville where Austin has a part-time job during his senior year.

The Amazeum features approximately 50,000 square feet of exhibit and learning spaces inside the museum.

"Everything is hands-on and designed to be touched, climbed on, and interacted with.  Exhibits are designed to engage the imagination and to bring art and science to life."

Austin and Miles watching Mason behind the counter.

Ella and Austin

Miles and Mason

Rochelle and Ella in the playhouse

Ella "grocery shopping"

Grampa Sam and Jeff watching Mason, Miles, and Chance

Miles and Mason

Ella and Austin

Rochelle, Austin, Ella, and Chance

Watching the ball they launched go through the tubes.

More Arkansas photos posted on the next blog entry.

A tooter who tooted a flute . . .

Many years ago I learned a silly "tongue twister" that I still can recite very fast from memory.  I saw this online recently and found it interesting that I had learned it a little differently.  Instead of a "Tudor," I had learned it as a "tooter."  The second version shared here is how I always have said it.

A Tudor who tooted a flute 
tried to tutor two tooters to toot.
Said the two to their tutor,
"Is it harder to toot?
or to tutor two tooters to toot?”

My version:

A tooter who tooted a flute 
tried to tutor two tooters to toot.
Said the two to the tutor,
"Is it harder to toot?
or to tutor two tooters to toot?”

The History of Aprons

The History of Aprons

(from Facebook)

The apron second from the left was my mother's.

I don't think most kids today know what an apron is. The principle use of Mom's or Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few. It was also because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and aprons used less material. But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.

And when the weather was cold, she wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls. In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, she walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men folk knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

REMEMBER:

Moms and Grandmas used to set hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool.  

Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw. They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron.

I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron - but love.

Primary Pumpkin Decorating Activity

Decorating pumpkins was our activity on October 22nd with the Primary boys.  It was a nice day to do it on tables set up in our backyard.  Each boy brought their own pumpkin to decorate, and they could also choose a small gourd from our garden.    

(back) Isaac Tanner, Carter King, Wyatt Finlinson, Alex Voorhees; (front) Charlie Teuscher, Alex Hutchings, Kaelon Jorgenson, Owen Memmott, and Corwin Richardson

 Pumpkins and gourds from our garden added to our front entrance. 

Celebrations with Family in October

House decorated for Autumn and Halloween.

Went with Sarah to their ward's Trunk or Treat.

Anna and Sarah as characters from Harry Potter

with Derek in a wig. - October 20

There was a variety of soups from which to choose.

Sarah and Grant

Anna and Paul

The Trick-or-Treaters enjoyed stopping at the Lontine's trunk for their treat.  Each child took hold of the magic wand to raise up a pumpkin before getting a treat from the pumpkin bowl.

Sarah held the candy bowl, and Derek was in position nearby.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Marla rode back with us from South Dakota on Friday, October 20th; and the next day there was a baby shower for Haley in our home.

Baby Shower for Haley

 Saturday, October 20, 10:00 - 12:00

 Ready for the shower to begin.

 A nice brunch was served.

Sarah reading the answers for the Dr. Seuss quiz.

 The shower theme was Books, and attendees shared a message on a book they gave.  My gift was a set of five Dr. Seuss books, and my special message was written on a gift card.

Haley looking at some of the other books she was given.

 One of the pretty quilts this baby will have among the many other nice gifts unwrapped for all to enjoy seeing.

 Anna and Rebecca 

Haley with three friends from BYU who came a distance for the shower (Saint George, California, and Georgia, I think).

Haley with Tyler's mother

Narene, Marla, Haley, Maren, Sarah, and Anna 

Shannon, Amy, and Haley

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Jacob's Missionary Farewell

Sunday, October 22nd, we went to Layton to hear Elder Jacob's talk in their church, after which we were invited to Doug and Shannon's home for a nice brunch with Jacob's family and friends. 

Jacob called to serve in the Brazil Santos Mission.

Jacob with Shannon and her mother and siblings

Jacob with Sam and me

Sarah, Marla, Anna, and Maren

Marla had come to Utah with us when we returned from South Dakota on Friday so she could be here for Haley's baby shower on Saturday.  Then on Sunday Beth took Marla and us to Layton to attend Jacob's farewell and brunch at Doug and Shannon's.  Marla then left for the airport to fly home that afternoon.

Prior to this Sunday, Jacob had begun his mission with an in-home training experience, which has become a common process.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Beth's Annual Donut Activity

Beth has continued on with a tradition I started in St. Johns of deep frying and glazing Spudnut donuts for friends and neighbors in October.  I had done mine for Halloween, but it works better for Beth to do it as a Family Home Evening prior to Halloween.

(Beth, Rebecca, and Megan)