Full weekend

Josh watched the two kids yesterday while Heidi took care of things at her ward's Relief Society Super Saturday. She has spent hours putting together projects, taking care of the sign-ups, purchasing supplies, and then making sure it all came together. It did! Lots of sisters came and they seemed to enjoy the things they were doing and the company of one another. I enjoyed watching her in action, making a few items for myself, and helping some of the sisters with their projects. Heidi is an amazing woman--and Josh is an amazing support to her.

Today was stake conference--the regional broadcast. Mike's dad came out, and even Mikie and Charesa came to conference with us. Mike was sustained as a part of the stake high council today. President Willard (stake president) made a special point to be the one to set Mike apart. What a wonderful and powerful blessing he gave Mike. When I got to the car I immediately wrote down some of the things said. Mike will do a great job with his responsibilities which include working with the young single adults.

After conference Heidi, Josh, kids, Mikie, Charesa, and Mike's dad came for dinner. Pretty crowded, but fun to have family gathered together.

Heidi and Sy

Some of the men at the dinner table. Roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, green beans and salad. For dessert, pumpkin pudding and whipped cream.

Sy has learned to play with the driving toy. Sometimes she likes it, and sometimes the noises scare her.

Grandpa Wakefield, Heidi, Sy, and Deegan.

We don't get many pictures of Grandpa Wakefield, so we take advantage of it when there is a chance.

Josh--

Thanks all for coming over! I love having family around and hope to do it more often.

Jack-O-Lanterns and Sugar

Josh went to Salt Lake for the day and Mike (Poppa) went to the BYU football game, so . . . Heidi and the kids came to spend the afternoon with Nonna. Mikie and Charissa joined us for the fun.

First one the list of things to do--make a jack-o-lantern. Mikie and Charissa helped Deegan clean out the pumpkin.

Heidi suggested we roast the seeds for snacking on later. Deegan said he didn't like doing this because it's slimy. Mikie told Deegan that boys like playing with slimy things and the two came up with a list of slimy things boys do, and Deegan kept playing in the slimy pumpkin seeds. I don't think he minded the attention from Charissa either.

Baby Sy had to have a piece of the action as well.

Deegan was so excited about using a knife to cut the pumpkins. Later, when telling Poppa about the day, the first thing D. said was, "I got to use a knife to make a pumpkin and Mikie helped me!" (Thanks again to Mikie for being D's hero for the day!)

Next on the list--decorating cupcakes. Again, Mikie and Charissa guided much of this process. It was fun watching D and Mikie exhibit their culinary presentation talents. I had "store-bought" frosting, "store-bought" decorating frosting, and various candy for them to use then turned them loose. The two hardest things about this project--I bought frosting for the first time ever, and I relinquished control of the final product. In other words, I kept telling myself (and I mean literally telling myself over and over) that the cupcakes did not have to be perfect and pretty--the time together was the most important.

Mikie showed D how to squirt the frosting straight from the tube into the mouth.

Next, watch "James and the Giant Peach" while making a spider-web on one of the pumpkins. D helped hammer little brad nails into the pumpkin and wrapped yarn around and around to create a stunning and original work of Halloween art.

The two masters and some of their creations.

After the creative outlet, we had spaghetti and eyeballs for dinner. Deegan took home a small bag of treats, cupcakes, homemade oreo cookies, his own jack-o-lantern, and some new Halloween pajamas for Sy and himself. (The pajamas have written on them, "I'm so cute, it's scary.") Fun day at Nonna's house and a huge thank you to my helpers!

Halloween Projects

Living in this small, temporary housing has required me to pack away many of my hobbies and projects. In the meantime I have taken up cross-stitching (you know the saying--busy hands, happy heart--in my case busy hands, less mental breakdowns). It doesn't take up much space, I can quietly work on it when I can't sleep at night, and I can stab the fabric instead of people who cause me frustration.

I have had several Halloween projects somewhat finished. Today I took some of my comp time and completed them (two are being framed right now). Kind of fun, and adds some holiday spirit.

Frank

Boo to You

Be a Witch (I can do that really well!)

Halloween Grins

Trick or Treat

Random Pictures

Mike and I rode to Flaming Gorge Dam on Saturday. He decided to take this little winding road to the bottom and expected me to follow. I did-- I have a history of following him to out of the way places (like Roosevelt), and it was interesting. On the way back up Mike stopped and gave this old fisherman a ride to his vehicle. It was funny watching this mature man in his waders and with his fly ride try to climb on the back of Mike's bike.

We stopped at Flaming Gorge Lodge for a late lunch. Surprisingly enough, the food was really good.

Poppa, Deegan, and Sy playing on the tramp. One of the last nice days before the winter chill sets in.

Mike loves this picture of little Sy's hand in his--painted nails and all.

The Return of the Snakes

Under our 80 year old rental farm shack live snakes. Yes, snakes. When we moved in I had no idea that we lived over a den or two or three of snakes. They have their spring orgy then leave for the summer. In the fall (like right now) they return to hibernate. I don't even want to know how many there are. I try to ignore the fact that I walk over these slithery creatures, and most days I do OK--until I nearly step on them as I walk out the door or cross the lawn.

My daughters tell me to find the positive in my surroundings, so--my positive thought is that if there are snakes under the house, there are no mice in the house (at least during the fall and winter). Another bright spot, if you can call it that, the grandsons love to hunt for the snakes then have Uncle Mike or Poppa help catch them.

UGHHHH!!!! The spring time party I interrupted.

Slithering in and out from under the house. At least they don't come in the house!

Tapioca and Family Pics

If we wait for the entire family to be in one place for a picture, we will wait for forever. A friend of Josh and Heidi's came by and we coaxed him into taking pictures of those of us that were in the front yard.

Heidi, Sy, Josh, Oma, Opa, Ranell, Mike, and Deegan

Four generations of Bramwell gals

Opa is the "tapioca man" and makes the best tapioca pudding. As a family we have enjoyed that treat for as many years as I can remember. Our last night together Opa made a huge batch of tapioca pudding that most of us enjoyed. (I think it must be an acquired taste because I know lots of people who prefer other things to eat.) It can't be a Bramwell get-together without one night of our traditional dessert!

Thanks Heidi and Josh for being gracious hosts to Oma and Opa. Thanks Mom and Dad for making the long trip. We will cherish the time (though it wasn't much for me) we had together.

Our family is the greatest and will be an eternal one!!

We just have to hang in there and enjoy the journey!

Red Canyon Lodge

Red Canyon Lodge is a great little place to eat, hang out, and I think you can rent cabins to stay in. It is on the way to Manila, past the Flaming Gorge Dam turn off. We went up and had lunch then Opa helped Deegan fish in the little fishing pond. Of course, they caught a fish--but then released it. How could they not have success with Opa, the great fisherman on hand?

Heidi, Oma, and Sy relaxing and watching the fishing experience. Josh rode his motorcycle up, but for some reason, I didn't get him in any of the pictures. I think he prefers to take the photos, not be in them.

Getting the salmon eggs on the hook and making last minute adjustments to the high-quality WalMart kids pole.

Canyon Rim Lookout to Flaming Gorge

It was a fun and relaxing day--one I wouldn't mind repeating.

Oma and Opa

It was fun to see Oma and Opa (my mom and dad) play with two of their great-grandkids. It had been a while since they had seen Deegan and this was the first time they met Sy.

Opa playing with Sy. It was great to see him be the doting great-grandpa and loosen up a little. I would bet that if they lived closer, Sy would be Opa's little darling.

Oma, Sy, and Deegan

These next pictures are totally out of order and I am not going to take the time to change them. On one day Lars and Lauren came out from Salt Lake and all of us--Oma, Opa, Josh and Heidi's family, and Mike and I went to Matt Warner Reservoir for a little fishing. It wasn't great for picnicking, but the fishing was great!

Deegan caught the biggest of the day. He was on the float tube with Poppa and Poppa thought the pole and Deegan were going in the water. The fish was a 17 inch rainbow trout. Oma helped Heidi fix fish for dinner and Deegan ate the fish he caught.

Deegan and Poppa on the float tube

The big fishermen--Deegan, Josh (in back), Poppa, Opa, and Uncle James (Josh's brother)

Heidi, Lars, Lauren, and Sy

More of Horses and Family

Mike loves his horses, and I love him to love horses. Every time the grandkids come around, or the nieces and nephews, the horses come out. For many of them, this is the only up-close exposure they have to horses and Mike tries to make it a good time. I enjoy the horses from a distance--maybe someday I will learn to be comfortable with them and on them.

Vi leading Roux on Hook. Hook has turned out to be the preferred horse for the kids. Amazingly enough, he is also the horse that a few years ago inflicted many of Mike's current physical pains.

I am trying to look comfortable here--but really wasn't. I was sitting behind the kid-saddle, bareback on the horse. Normally I like to have a saddle beneath me, feet tucked tightly into the stirrups, a firm grip with my knees and my hands. Roux was just happy to be there and wanted to be riding, not just sitting there.

Poppa (Mike) and Roux

Roux did not want to get off, so it was Mikie's turn to ride with him.

I am not sure if this is showing off Deegan and Roux, or showing off how calm Hook can be.

Poppa's Joys

I haven't done much with this page in the past several weeks. It has been a hectic time and my efforts have been in other areas. My mom and dad came to visit for over a week. They stayed at Heidi's house. I will post pictures about their visit later. Vi and Roux also came and spent some time with us. During both visits Mike and I were really busy with work and didn't have as much time as we would have liked to play with family.

Poppa's (Mike's) great joys come in the form of our three sweet grandchildren. Of course, they are perfect in all aspects and tons of pictures are taken every visit.

All three on Hook. A few months ago Roux would not have been in the picture--he was petrified of real horses (but you couldn't take the play horses away from him). Now, he rather enjoys being on the horses--but not crowded out with too many bodies. This reminded me of the picture of Aunt Cathy and Uncle Newell's kids all on the back of a horse--six, or seven, or maybe eight kids on one horse!

Anxiously awaiting the saddles, bridles, and other stuff to be put on the horse.

Poppa (Mike) found a praying mantis on the house. Being the nature and biology person he is, he had to share the benefits of the praying mantis and let the kids get up close and personal with it. Deegan first. . .

. . .then Roux. They safely released the critter when finished.

Poppa and Sy at the park. He rests, while I run and chase Deegan.

I think Sy likes her Poppa.

Poppa, Deegan, and Sy sitting on the front porch.

Captain

Lars spent the summer in New York selling alarm systems. While he was there he made the big commitment of getting a puppy--the problem? The breeders wanted the puppy picked up before Lars would get back. So. . . Lauren (Lars's friend) went to get the puppy, then I met her in Salt Lake and brought the puppy home so we could "puppy-sit" for a week.

Lauren and Captain. Cute girl--cute puppy!

Why is it everyone wants something from my wallet?

Lars and his new companion.