Easter at Melissa & Jeff's

Saturday we had a picnic and Easter egg hunt with lots of family and even more neighbors.  I was excited to meet Eric, Lauren's guy friend.  Jeff's yard was incredible with so many daffodils and tulips.  He and the girls had planted all of them.  Melissa had made the most delicious pulled pork for sandwiches and every contributed to the feast.  Perfect weather with perfect activities.

On Sunday we met again at Melissa's for Julie's 3rd Sunday Dinner.  Her home is being remodeled (new flooring at present) so she provided the ham and we all contributed as we met at Melissa's.

Tulips are a favorite of mine and they were blooming in abundance.

Cute Paige and Crew

Chase being Chase and Mason

We love seeing them and it doesn't happen often enough.

Tom & Julie with the grandchildren

We love that Beau, Val and Ander came.

Ellie, Madi, Melissa, Crew and Jeff

It's always fun to be at their home.

Stacy & Dane with Dax, Tess and Hobie

Nice to have Kari in town with Hayden and Paige.

I love the relationship between Kari and Paige.

Ellie, Madi and Julie had their turn at the beanbag toss.  

Jeff is a great Dad. Madz even has clothes on.

Conference Weekend

We took Wayne's new car to St. George.  He loves it.

We enjoyed meeting Francesco because he is so nice and treats Lyndsey well.

It was great because we were able to see Kim and spend time with Julie and Chantel.

The Conference Breakfast was really good with a lot of people.

Conference was especially spiritual for me.

Seth let us stay at his home. So good.

Ciera is in Miami helping Pamela.

Julie's Third Sunday Dinners

These dinners cement family bonds and I appreciate all Julie & Tom do to make them happen.

Mom's Funeral and Burial

It was a cold and frosty Sunday, the 1st of January 2017 when Mom peacefully died.  She would have been 97 years old in April. It was comforting to have Karl, Dick & Carole and Shawna here during her last days.  All of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren who lived close enough came to see her in her last days.  Family was everything to Mom and this meant a lot to her.

Mom's funeral was held on the January 6th in Bountiful, Utah.  Michelle Brooks arranged the casket spray and this arrangement from the four of us children. We each had a child, Mom's grandchildren, speak at the services:  Kimbra Leigh for me, Andrea Grasteit for Karl, Tiffany Thomson for Dick, and Mitchell Brooks for Shawna.  The talks were all excellent.  

It's too bad that it takes a funeral for us to get together, but it was nice to see all these cousins.

Front row, left to right: Michael Brooks, Kim Cable Parker, Rick Mangum, Chantel Cable Markel, Natasha Mangum Rucker, Nicole Mangum Robbins, Kristy Brooks Schwab.

Back rows, left to right:  Jaclyn Mangum, Andrea Mangum Grasteit, Michelle Mangum Farnes, Jason Mangum, Tiffany Mangum Thomson, Mitchell Brooks, Kathy Brooks Tinker, Brett Mangum, Julie Cable Uriona, Chad Mangum, Rustin Mangum, Mark Brooks.   Love them all.  This picture taken was after the lovely meal Mom's Relief Society provided. 

On Saturday the 7th we all went to Bicknell, Utah for the burial right next to Dad.  It was very cold but everything went well and it was marvelous that the cousin wanted to stay and visit with one another on this freezing day.  I'm sure it also made Mom and Dad happy to watch the love shared.

I love this picture of my girls.  It's days like this I miss Cherie more than usual.

Such amazing people.  I know Mom & Dad are proud of them.

It is heart-warming that they all came.

Hayden's Mission