West Family

Families are the greatest!

2009-02-25T14:17:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I haven't written anything for so long. I love reading everyone else's blogs.
Jim had his hip replaced on Nov. 11, 2008. He used a walker for awhile and then a cane. He doesn't use anything now but he still limps quite a bit.

He is still quite involved with the Draper Temple. It is so exciting to see it all finished. It especially looks beautiful at night when it's all lit up. It's very exciting to see the buses going up and down the hill carrying people back and forth to the temple. It's a wonderful presence to have in our neighborhood. Our family got to be some of the first people through and then we went again when Kris and Jamie were here.

We had so much fun with them. It was a grand occasion to be able to have both Samantha and Sydney baptized together.

I had my appendix out on January 10th [Sydney's birthday]. That was unexpected and quite interesting. I had been told that older people don't usually get appendicitis, so I didn't think that's what it was. It wasn't that bad. I recuperated fast. We took pictures. They're pretty gross.

My life

2008-09-10T16:58:00.000-07:00

Cute background. I must be clever and creative. Summer is almost gone and it was a good one. We are all safe and sound. There are a few health problems to go around but hopefully those will be gone soon. It was great fun to have Kris and Scotty's families here for awhile. We have lots of pictures to remember the good times. Dallas and Anne had a great time in Disneyland. Hope they have a wonderful life together. It was a party month.

I am trying to soak up these last few warm days. I love sitting out on my deck and listening to the waterfall and birds and sometimes if it's still early, the crickets. I definately don't like to rush the holiday season but I did get Nutcracker tickets for Dec. 6 at 2:00.

Hopefully everyone will have a nice, long, safe fall and holiday season. Let's all try to enjoy the journey. Life has been pretty good to us.

A walk through a week at the West's

2008-06-11T13:20:00.000-07:00

We have had kind of an eventful last few days. It all started with Jordan falling down while riding his long board and breaking his collar bone. He may still have to have surgery to remove 2 little pieces of bone. I hope not. Then Hayden had all four wisdom teeth out and was pretty miserable. On top of that misery he got a dry socket. Ouch! The good news is April has a new "career". Way to go April! Porter has to be out to go to his dentist appointment because he got so upset last time they couldn't finish. Poor baby. James is working in Florida. Hope his back holds out.
Brett and Whitney both graduated from high school. Yay! {I'm not sure how to spell that} We took Whitney to the Five Alls for her graduation dinner. Abbie and Jordan are out of Jr. High. Christopher turns 12 today. We are all going to dinner. His dinner request included steak and creme brulee. He and Conner will be going to Junior High. Scary. Whitney is at a job interview as I write. Hope she does well.
Kris and Scott and their families spent a few days in Florida at Disneyworld. Sounds like they had a good time. Ryan's birthday was yesterday. The Hunts and their rats are doing well. Julie has been doing lots of yard work. I don't know who she got that from. That gene escaped me. Jessica has a birthday this month. She is enjoying her 3 horses. Kris and Julie also have birthdays this month.
Lucky me I got to spend Sunday morning in the emergency room for a kidney stone. After a few hours the pain went away. I don't know if I passed it or if it's lurking in there just waiting to strike again.
We spent a few days in St. George with the kids. It was fun. Abbie went on to California with Liz.
My brother Jeff and his wife Kim are about to become grandparents. Joey is in the hospital right now. Kim and Jeff got the news while we were at lunch today. Nohing in the world like getting a new baby.
So far it's been an interesting summer. If it would just warm up. Love to all. Mom

Summer is here.

2008-05-30T15:22:00.000-07:00

These nice warm days are great. Hope it stays warm and doesn't get beastly hot for awhile. We spent the last 6 days in St. George. It was very nice. The kids had fun swimming and shopping. I got a lot of reading done. I read James' book. It was very sad but very gratifying to see how he has overcome some pretty severe obstacles all through his childhood. I have a few questions. I told April you should include a list of 10 most asked questions. Like, "Didn't aybody ever fix you a bowl of bean with bacon soup and crackers?"

We are going to Zac's Sunday for his birthday and to see his new house. We are excited to see everyone.

Love Sharon

Isn't the computer age great?

2008-04-26T10:40:00.000-07:00

Computers are wonderful. Caitlyn and Savannah love to play games on them. This morning they started telling me they wanted a dog and they were going to ask their dad to buy them one and keep it at his house. So they were figuring out how this was going to work, because there are quite a few pets over there already. So they were having this funny conversation between themselves. Savannah started by telling Caittlyn if they got a dog they were going to have to delete one of the cats. They didn't really want to delete any of them but decided the best one to delete was Elliot because he was kind of mean. I was just laughing to myself while they were deciding what to do and who to delete. Aren't kids great?

Love to all of my dear, sweet family that I love with all my heart. I pray so hard for each one of you every day. Grandma Sharon

Gathering Honey

2008-04-18T09:59:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite sayings is "I expect some new phases of life this summer and will try to gather the honey from each moment". I am hoping for a great spring and summer. I want to plan some fun outings with the children. April can ride light rail up here to Salt Lake so we can go to lunch at the Lion House and the museums. If it's hot we can go to Gateway and the kids can get wet in the fountains.

Looking forward to a fun summer, Grandma Sharon

Chili Fest/General Conference

2008-04-04T09:23:00.000-07:00

I am so looking forward to Sunday and our semi-annual "Chili Fest". Please let me help bring something. I would love to. I will call you. It will be great to see everyone again and catch up on birthdays and other very exciting things like engagements and fun things like that. Congratulations to Dallas, Anne and of course Alexa. We are very excited. I think the birthdays are Hayden's, Michelle's, April's and Anne's. Let me know if I've forgotten anyone. We love you all.

Also, I am looking forward to General Conference with a new prophet. That first time he walks into the Conference Center and 21,000 people stand to reverence him and also the first time we get to sing "We Thank Thee O God For A Prophet will be so touching. Also the first Solemn Asembly in the Conference Center will be exciting and very spiritual. All in all it will be a wonderful day. I even think the weather is supposed to be good on Sunday.

Love to all Grandma Sharon

Each day is free

2008-03-21T18:17:00.000-07:00

I was reading a poem the other day and it was telling me that the beautiful daffodils outside were free. All I had to do was look at them and it didn't cost me anything. I thought what an interesting idea. Look at all the things that are free. March 21st is free! A free day! I can do any thing I want wih it. My pond is melting and there have been 2 ducks in it. Free to look at and enjoy. The kids have been jumping on the trampoline the last week. You guessed it, free! Look around at all the free stuff. Tomorrow when you wake up it will be another free day to enjoy. Happy 3 days before Easter. Going to church on Easter Sunday will be free.

Hope you are all happy or at least relatively so. Love, Mom

Bevyn's Blessing

2008-03-02T17:08:00.000-08:00

What a great day for a baby blessing. Bevyn looked adorable. I really need to learn how to add pictures. The whole day was nice. It was a little cold but beautiful and sunny. Life is pretty good to our family.
Zac and Kylee slept in their new house last night. Hey, I hadn't noticed this before but tomorrow it will be 5 years that we moved into our house out here in Draper. We could always remember the date because it was 3-3-03. Now if they ever forget their move in date I will remember it was 2 days before ours in 2008. [3-1-08]

Love, Sharon

About those really good salads.

2008-03-01T17:53:00.000-08:00

I think of you [Jamie] every time we make our "really good" salads. Also every time I use my glass salad bowl like yours, except mine isn't so fancy, yours has all those chips along the top.

One of the "really good" salads we're making is your chicken, pasta, spring mix salad with the plum sauce. We make it all the time, except I always forget I'm supposed to marinate the chicken. Usually I forget the chicken, but this time I didn't.

I'm not a very good typist and it takes me a few minutes to clean up my mistakes. I may just get lazy one of these days and sent my message as is. Hope you all won't mind.

Much love, you're always in my prayers, Mom

More Snow?

2008-03-01T17:45:00.000-08:00

We are having a "white out" here tonight. It's hard to believe the kids were out on the deck and trampoline today in their bare feet. Robyn is downstairs fixing food. She is having her friends from work over for some ping pong and other assorted games. They sound like a fun bunch.

April fixed me up with a fancy new background. I love it!

I bought 2 new Mary Higgins Clark novels. I'm going to snuggle in bed with one eye on T.V. and the other on my book. My favorite thing to do, especially on a very cold, snowy March night.

Spring

2008-02-27T10:02:00.000-08:00

We got the house all clean yesterday and so this morning I shined the hard wood floor. I had the door open. The sun was shining and the birds were just a singing. Boy, did I have spring fever. Except for the fact that soon I'll have to start on yard work. I kind of like all that snow covering up all that work. Maybe it won't be as bad as I think. I wish I loved it like some people do. Oh well, I'll do my best.

Jim took some cute pictires of the twins. Maybe April can find one of them.

I just looked at everyone's blogs. It's fun. We talked to Kris this morning. He has 2 more days in Radiaology. Then he starts the rest of his life in orthopedics.

Joshua wasn't getting his way the other day and he told Jamie it was a good thing she was cute. Also when he couldn't have something he said "mom you're killing me".

Aren't kids great?

Christopher starts his pre-comp swim team tonight. He will practice mondays, wednesdays and saturdays. Hope he likes it. Also, the girls are starting their gymnastics class next week.

We'll see everyone Sunday with our salads. Love Forever. Mom

Savannah

2008-02-18T16:21:00.000-08:00

Robyn and I took Savannah to Nightime Pediatrics last night. She has been complaining of a bad tummy ache for about 3 days. You know off and on not constantly. Actually Robyn took her to the Dr. on Sat. Sunday she was crying really hard. They checked her and she has the same thing Conner had awhile back- FOP. She took some medicine and Jim gave her a blessing and she is doing much better. You start to imagine all kinds of things. Also Caitlyn has had a fever and passed out on Sunday morning, She seems fine. She asked Robyn if she was going to die. Scary for little children.

I just finished writing Zac and Kylee's "Doggie Door" story in my history. I laughed while I wrote it.

Hope you are all doing well Love, Mom

Tayton

2008-01-28T14:10:00.000-08:00

It was so fun to see everyone at Scott and Michelle's on Sunday. Scotty and Heidi looked great. Of course Tayton was darling. I knew she wouldn't come to me willingly so I forced her and sneaked a kiss when she wasn't looking. Sounds like they are all doing great in Kansas. [Pretend like there's a picture of Tayton and her parents]

So sad to lose President Hinckley. Thankfully he didn't have to suffer or linger. My prayers are with his family and the General Authorities. [Pretend like there's a picture of Pres. Hinckley]

Whitney got accepted to the "U". She is very excited but still doesn't know for sure what to do. [Pretend like there's a picture of Whitney with her acceptance letter, which we haven't taken yet] Maybe April could doctor these up a little for me.

(From April: "I done my bestest" )

Jim fell down

2008-01-19T12:49:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago we went to a viewing out on Redwood Road. Jim let me out by the steps. When I got out I told him it was very slippery and not to fall down. He didn't mind me. He stuck his foot out and down he went! It all happened very fast. He layed there in the snow thinking now what am I going to do. He had a hard time getting up. Finally he grabbed on to the door and pulled himself up. He didn't have his jacket on but his white shirt and suit pants got all dirty. I was inside talking to relatives. I wondered what was taking him so long. I didn't know he was outside falling down. I thought he would be sore the next day. He either wasn't or he didn't complain. Be more careful. That black ice will get you every time.

misspelled words

2008-01-01T16:03:00.000-08:00

I do know how to spell "and". I proof read my comments too. That's sad. That's what I get for making fun of all of you when you misspell words. Sorry, I will be nicer.

New Years Day 2008

2008-01-01T15:31:00.000-08:00

I can't believe 2007 went so fast! What happened? Where was I? It is a beautiful, sunny day today the first day of 2008. That's a good sign.
I love looking at all the blogspots anf websites. It's a cool way to keep in touch.
We love you all and care for you so much. We truly hope the new year will be a wonderful one filled with good health, good choices and lots of fun and happiness.

2007 Christmas

2007-12-26T12:23:00.000-08:00

I'm always a little relieved when Christmas is over because I worry so much about everyone having a good time. I have nightmares about forgetting someone, especially with the Santa gifts. So far it's worked out ok. We had a very nice Christmas. Mostly we are grateful for our family. We especially missed those that are far away. We talked to Scotty and Kris and wished them a Merry Christmas.

In fact January is my favorite month of the whole year. Everything kind of settles down and things get put away. I always go through all the cupboards and drawers and get a bag ready for the DI. It's nice for me to think that everything is neat and tidy.

We hope 2008 will be a wonderful year for our whole family. I'm going to try and savor these last few days of 2007 before it slips away.

NUTCRACKER

2007-12-13T07:30:00.000-08:00

This year our annual trip to the Nutcracker was extra special. It was our sweet daughter in-law Michelle's very first time going with us and, her first time ever seeing the Nutcracker. She said she was fullfilling a childhood dream. It was very nice. Some of us ate lunch first at the Olive Garden.

HERE WE ARE GETTING SETTLED INTO OUR SEATS.

Here are Sydney, Bailey and Savannah acting "as usual"
Robyn, Bailey and me standing by the giant nutcracker inside the Capital Theater

All of us waiting in line to use the elevater after the show to go to our cars.... we finally just walked outside and down to the parking garage. Brrrrrrrrr.

We missed Jamie and her girls and Heidi this year. But we think of you everyday and love you all very much. Merry Christmas everyone.

Elder Wirthlin

2007-12-01T17:55:00.000-08:00

Jim and I had the opportunity to meet Elder Wirthlin last Thursday. A man in our ward, Les Moore, knows him very well and he invited us to go to his office and meet him. Les has been wanting to give him some of the pens that Jim makes. Jim made him a beautiful set from the Salt Lake Temple trees and a very nice one from the Draper Temple trees. He left some great "before" pictures.Elder Wirthlin was just as you would expect an apostle to be. He was kind and gracious and had a great sense of humor. He made us feel very comfortable. He spoke about the Prophet Joseph Smith and the fact that it is his birthday in December. He said he hopes he gets to meet him someday. I'm pretty sure he will have that opportunity. He mentioned his wife several times. It is obvious how much he misses her. He has several pictures of her in his office.It was fun for me to open the December Ensign and turn to the visiting teaching message and see a quote from Elder Wirthlin. I will be sure to use it when I go out. We were able to get a real nice picture with him. Jim will frame one and hang it in our office. It was a very memorable experience for us. We appreciate Les extending the invitation.

Thanksgiving 2007

2007-11-23T16:36:00.000-08:00

We had a great day. Some of our family couldn't be here and we miss them very much and remember them in our prayers every day. We had tons of food. We are very blessed. My gravy went goofy. Luckily, I had enough stuff to start over.
Jim is downstairs putting the tree up. I'm glad he likes to do that. We didn't have time to play games yesterday so Julie's girls came over today and we played some. They have been playing really good together.

2007-11-18T18:01:00.000-08:00

Hi there everyone! Thanks for checking my blog. See what great progress I'm making. I learned how to type something and I even left a comment on Tayton's blogspot. April is on the phone with me as I type helping me one step at a time. Thankyou April. Next time maybe I'll learn how to add some pictures. Today is our 48th wedding anniversary!!! [Jim didn't remember].

Kris's kids

2007-11-11T20:48:00.000-08:00

Kris and his wife Jamie live in New York. Kris is in his first year of residency at a hospital near by. They have 4 children, Mariah-8, Samantha-6, Joshua-3 and Gabriella who is about 7 months old.

Grandson Porter

2007-11-11T18:20:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of my darling grandson Porter on his first day of preschool. Fall 2007