An Eventful Autumn

I am behind in posting photos, so this will be a catch-up posting with a sample of some of the things we have done since we got home from our Volga Cruise.

It is always good to return home, and it is always fun to be with family.

Scott and Kristine came the first of September to bring

Shannon to enroll at BYU as a freshman.

Joshua set up a stand in front of our home 

with jars of honey  that are part of 

this season's crop from the Graham's beehives.

Rebecca's sign lets buyers know the honey is locally grown.

Scott is their first buyer.

(Rebecca, Joshua, and Scott)

Yet another sunset seen from our front door.

Beginning to see some autumn colors in our yard.

Sarah and Derek with Anna and Paul

at the Smith Family Reunion in Idaho.

Their family was soon to become five.

On the day he was born, 

we went to the hospital to meet our 9th great-grandchild:

Max Benjamin Lontine

 born:  October 8, 2018

parents:  Derek and Sarah Lontine

Sarah with her newborn son who has come to

be a brother to Anna and Paul.

Proud Papa, Derek

Great-Gramma Narene

meeting her 9th great-grandchild.

With Aunt Maren

Look at all that dark hair!

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

BYU Spectacular

October 11

(Narene, Beth, Amanda, and Megan)

Colbie Caillat, Grammy Award winning singer 

and songwriter, 

was joined by David Archuleta

for the evening performance.

Also part of the evening's performance 

were other BYU groups:

BYU Vocal Point, BYU Men's Chorus, 

 BYU Young Ambassadors,

BYU Ballroom Dance Company, 

BYU Contemporary Dance Theatre,

and the BYU Music Dance Theatre Program.

The BYU Lamanite Generation also performed.

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

We went to South Dakota for a visit 

and for Sam to help Brent with the combining,

leaving home on October 20th and returning October 28th.

Marla had been in Spanish Fork enjoying her new grandson,

and we appreciate her returning to South Dakota with us

and helping Sam with the driving 

instead of using her return airline ticket.

Here are some photos I took 

while on my walks at the farm.

Walking down toward the calving shed.

On another day walking west of the house 

with the dog as my companion.

Walking past the silage pit with the grain bins ahead.

Stopping to see the new puppies in the machine shed.

There were eleven.

I didn't see many cattle on my walk, 

so I took a picture of these as I passed by.  

Some of the parked equipment.

One of the trucks returning for more combined corn 

after the previous load was unloaded in the grain bin.

The road leading past where the hired man now lives,

looking toward the shop, machine shed,

 Grampa's former workshop, and the barn.

Going past the tree row toward Brent and Tauna's home.

I went with Tauna over east where 

Brent was combining sunflowers.

The bag is another way to unload without 

having to travel back to the grain bins.

Brent coming to the end of the row

with a full tank of sunflower seeds.

Tauna delivered Brent his lunch. 

Brent ready to continue combining.

Sam combining corn.

I enjoyed going to Martin and having 

a nice visit with my friend, Joyce Wilson.

It is also enjoyable seeing the displays and merchandise 

in the Martin Drug and Mercantile.

Here is Joyce by the fountain with the Coke memorabilia.

Joyce also has added a nice display 

at the front of the Mercantile 

with historical items related to 

Kirk's work as a pharmacist.

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

We stopped in Scottsbluff to see Bill and Karen

on our way back to Spanish Fork.

On our way from Scottsbluff to Denver.

(Photo taking through the window as we drove by.)

Went for a walk through a new shopping area near

Scott and Kristine's in Denver.

A play area near the shopping area.

The next photos were taken after we left Denver:

Approaching the first of two tunnels.

The Eisenhower Tunnel

with a maximum elevation of 11,158 feet above sea level,

is one of the highest vehicle tunnels in the world.

The tunnel is the longest mountain tunnel 

and the highest point in the Interstate Highway. 

It is typical for us to go to South Dakota on Highway 70

 through Denver with a stop for a visit with 

Scott and Kristine in Denver and with 

Bill and Karen in Scottsbluff,

and then to return to Utah through Wyoming.

However, we reversed the route this time so that 

Marla could ride with us back to South Dakota.

This is a more scenic drive than the Wyoming route.  

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

We were home in Utah for just long enough 

to do our shift in the temple, 

wash our clothes, and get ready for our visit in Arkansas 

with Jeff and Rochelle's family.  

That will be my next posting.

Family Celebrations in Denver and at the Farm

In spite of the miles traveled to get there, we appreciated attending special family events in Denver and at the farm in South Dakota.

Brent and Tauna's oldest, Seth, was married to Jennifer Sisneros 

in Denver on June 23rd.

  Seth and Jenn

md. June 23, 2018

 With Seth's parents, Tauna and Brent

With Seth's family

(Weston, Rachel Risse, Sam, 

Seth and Jenn,

Tauna, Brent, and Rachel)

With Jenn's dad 

(Her mother died when she was a young girl.)

Jenn's family

With Seth's siblings:

Sam, Weston, Seth, Jenn, and Rachel

With Seth's grandparents, Narene and Sam

The newly weds with both families

It was a nice day for the wedding.
Seth's family were on the front row

with other family and friends behind.
Ireland family cousins who were able to attend the wedding
were Trent, Jenna and Shannon;
Carson and Maria;
and Marisa. 

 Visiting beneath the shade of the tree.

Rachel with cousins, Jenna and Shannon

 Gramma Narene and Grampa Sam with Rachel

Seth's cousin Jenna (middle)

with friends, Sarah Johnson (right) and Chase (left)

Seth's cousin Shannon

with her friend, Adam 

After the wedding ceremony, family and friends gathered at another park

for a luncheon catered from Chipotle and an informal social time 

celebrating with the new bride and groom.

  Seth and Jenn cutting the cake.

The top layer was a white cake with a peanut butter filling,

and the bottom layer was chocolate with a fruit filling.

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

In the interval between the wedding and the luncheon at the park,

Sam and I visited the Denver Museum of Nature and Science

that was near the park where the couple was married.

Sam at the Museum of Nature and Science

 A mummy displayed at the 

Museum of Nature and Science.

 One of the wildlife dioramas at the

Museum of Nature and Science. 

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

Jenna's Open House

Following the luncheon for Seth and Jenn,

we drove back to Scott and Kristine's home

in Westminster for an open house for Jenna

prior to her leaving to serve an LDS church mission in Brazil.

The next day, we were pleased to attend church

with her to hear her speak.

Jenna visiting with friends at her open house.

On the following Tuesday, Jenna flew from Denver

to Sao Paulo in Brazil

to enter the MTC (Mission Training Center).

Kristine served delicious refreshments

including a variety of cheesecakes.

It was a pleasant evening enjoying the

backyard at the home of Scott and Kristine.

Scott and his dad

Jenna's brother Trent (center) visiting with

Adam (left) and Sarah and Chase (right).

 * * * * * * * * * * * *

Monday morning, we left to return home to Spanish Fork.

Marisa and Trent had come with us, and Trent helped Sam with the driving

both coming to Denver and returning to Utah.

After only three days at home,

we left for South Dakota to attend the open house at the farm.

Open House at the Farm
for Seth and Jenn 

The open house was held on Sunday, July 1st,

so we had a couple of days at the farm before then.

Ethan and Joshua enjoying being at the farm.

Fun braiding each other's hair

incorporating embroidery floss in the braid.

(Amanda, Rachel, Megan, and Rebecca) 

Shannon and Rachel

wearing shirts from our last Ireland reunion.

The open house for Seth and Jenn was

on July 1st at the farm.

We hope we were some help to Tauna in 

getting ready for the open house,

and Kristine certainly was.

This was the area ready for the gifts and cards.

Kristine got up early Sunday morning

to help with the decorating before we left

for church in Rosebud.

 The kitties wanted to be part of the display.

 We came with Beth and children to the farm

and appreciated having their good company

as we traveled from Utah across Wyoming

and part of Nebraska into South Dakota.

Beth drove the whole way.

For our return trip to Utah,

we left the farm Sunday about 5:00 p.m.

for Scottsbluff where we enjoyed a visit

with Bill and Karen (Sam's sister)

and stayed overnight before leaving the next morning

for Spanish Fork, arriving home about 4:15 p.m.

 (Rebecca, Beth, Ethan, Joshua, Megan, Amanda, Sam, Karen, and Bill)
 

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

More photos of the open house will be in a later blog entry

representing those Beth took with her camera.