To Grandma,

"The" Quilt

It is finally finished! This quilt has a rather interesting story which I am so excited to share with you all.
It had its start probably 30 years ago when Clara Wolfe (Mom-mom) embroidered the quilt top. I am guessing that she began the project in 1976 around the time of America's Bicentennial represented by the eagle and red-white-blue colors. After Mom-mom passed away in 1983, the quilt top was given to my Mom, Carol Ann. Some years later she gave the top to me and I stored it in our cedar chest and forgot about it. In 2006, Katie received her call to serve in the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Mission. What a coincidence that she was called to area where my Mom and Dad joined the LDS Church 45 years and where Mom-mom was born, raised and stitched the quilt top! It wasn't until Katie had departed for her mission that I came across the quilt top in the cedar chest and the idea was born to finish what Mom-mom had started so long ago and present it to Katie as a keepsake of her mission experience. It would tie generations and geography together!
It took over a year to complete the hand quilting and I loved every minute of it. Many thoughts and memories went through my mind as I stitched. I finished the stitching earlier this year and today gave it a final washing and laid it in the sun to dry.
You can see in this photo that the embroidery in the corners tells the story of the quilt.

Happy Birthday, AJ

Hope you have a good one. How does it feel to officially be old?

Lazy, Crazy, Hazey Days of Summer!!

Summer provides time to do lots of fun things, including getting in to trouble. Mia and Ethan decided to face paint with Cami's lipstick. Don't you love that smirk on Ethan's face!? He looks like the victim, while Mia looks like the proud artist. Who do you think came up with the idea!!?

Lagoon, the local amusement park, is a summer must! Dallin and Cami got real brave and rode the new ride called the "Bat" and other scary ones. AJ kept the other two on the calmer rides like the Merry-go-round and Helicopter (more in keeping with Dad's sensitive stomach), while Ty spent the afternoon at Grandma and Grandpa Morgan's.

What would summer be without a KoolAid stand?! Here Ethan, Mia and neighbor friend, Lacey, peddle their wares!

Dallin and Mia enjoyed their swimming lessons. Dallin said that the best part was learning to dive. Mia gleefully reported that she jumped off the low dive without even sweezing her nose!! Ethan is going to try lessons again next year!

Very Interesting Blog

I just found this blog and wanted to pass it on. The Marriott's have impressed me for many years. Maybe because Bill was our stake president when we lived in Washington, D.C. and we had some very nice conversations with him. He is a regular "joe". The thing that most impressed me about them was learning that their children are required to work, starting at the bottom, at their hotels and are not handed things on a "silver spoon". Very interesting comments, links, and other stuff on this blog. Enjoy.

http://www.blogs.marriott.com/archive/default.asp?item=665191

Dallin's Champion Team

It has been fun to attend some of Dallin's games through the years. I was especially impressed when I watched him play to notice how much he and his team mates had grown up and learned the game in the few years he has been playing. They really know what is happening, they know when to run and when not to, how to throw and where to throw. I saw Dallin hit an amazing line drive and bring three runners in!!

And what an exciting tournament! Dallin's team, the Yankees, gave the crowd a real show in their final game. The teams were well matched. Dallin had a great hit that got 3 runs in. Sadly, he was tagged at homeplate or it would have been a homerun. Aunt Katie reports that at one point in the game the Yankees were down 9 - 4 but came back to tie in the last inning. An extra inning was called and the other team was up first. The tension mounted!!! That team got three outs without scoring. The Yankees took their turn at bat. With 2 outs it was Jackson's turn at bat. Jackson had a rough season and was "gun shy" because he had been badly hit by the ball a couple of times during the regular season which caused him to shy away from the ball. It was absolutely fabulous when, to everyone's surprise, Jackson hit a homerun and won the game, 10 - 9!!!! Katie said that the game was, by far, the most exciting one she had ever attended!!

Way to go Yankees and Dallin!!

Thanks, Kids!

I need to take a minute to tell my fabulous children how very much I appreciate their individual acts of service while Frank has been ill. The phone calls and humor, stocking the fridge with easy-to-prepare meals, taking me to lunch, sitting at the hospital, visits, Priesthood blessings, offers to help, and countless other kindnesses have reminded me that I am a lucky mom to have such amazing children. You are my strength and my joy! I love you all.

Whatcha doin'?! A visit to AJ's Family

Dallin, Mia and Ethan began this summer's session of swim lessons today. They are all at 10 a.m. for the next two weeks. (Cami - Good planning!) Dallin poses at his new desk in his room. He and Grandma are both reading the first of the Harry Potter books. We can't wait to talk on the phone about Harry's adventures at the end of each chapter.
One of Mia and Ethan's favorite games is Hide and Seek with Uncle Jared. In this pic they have been found hiding behind the rocker! Mia is such a good big sister and helps with Ethan and Ty.
Ethan is working hard at being potty trained and when he has successful days he gets to play with his 36 in long Tonka Fire Truck that drives it self with blinking lights, siren, etc. (Such a D.I. find!) It is a would-be fireman's dream! Keep dry, Ethan!!

One-month-old Ty

Baby Ty is growing up. He is one month old today! Jared and I stopped in for a visit yesterday and got a few snaps. As you can see, Ty is already sharing his talent for making faces. The first is Just Ty, then he demonstrates his happy face, then blows some "raspberries" and for a finale, the angry face. He is a cutie. This grandma thinks he has is own look, though others think he is the spitting image of Dallin when he was Ty's age. Anyway you look at it, he is a sweetie!

Get well soon!

We hope Frankie-O is back to his old self again soon! What is this, your 32nd surgery this year?
We love ya!