February Utah Adventure

This trip was much less stressful than when we came in October and December.  The big difference was that we had a lot of family come to see us instead of having to travel to them.  We got to see all the Great Grandparents and just hang out with no set plans.  JD has been SOOOO busy with school this semester it has actually been nice to have people to talk to and do things with, and I am sure JD has appreciated having uninterrupted study time without feeling guilty about not being with us as much as he would like to. 

General Conference

This was a neat General Conference.  I have always loved Conference, especially in October, and especially when my birthday falls on Conference weekend.  I thought the messages were amazing and I loved spending the two hour blocks with family as we listened to the prophet and apostles speak.  This time, with nice low voices, dim light, and quiet houses made it perfect cuddle and sleep time for Porter.  He was able to snuggle with different grandparents each session which was nice because then I could hear more of the talks too.  My Grandma Ada held Porter the entire 2 hours of the Sunday afternoon session and loved every minute of it. She was called a baby hog, but I was kind of glad that he wasn't being passed around to so many people too.  It is sad not being with JD during conference and my birthday since we have a lot of traditions around this time of year, but it has been good to be with family so much too.

Meeting the Greats

It was so fun getting to show my grandparents and Karen Mr. Porter.  He was his usual calm self as he got passed around to meet so many new people during this trip. I remember 5 of my great grandparents very clearly from when I was growing up.  I am sad that Porter will never know his Grandpa Bryant who passed away when I was about 8 weeks pregnant with Porter, JD's Speth grandparents also both passed away while we were dating, I had never been able to meet them.  How grateful I am for the ones who are still here though! It was fun surprising them in different ways as well.  Karen was over for a visit when we showed up.  We did a doorbell ditch number again for my Grandma Ann.  My Hewlett grandparents were invited for dinner not knowing that Porter and I were in town.  They are all so cute, kind, and wonderful people that I love so much.

Porter's Family Tree

I had fun putting together Porter's Family Tree today.  It was also a very good opportunity to update our genealogy on familysearch.org.  Porter is now on there, I need to update my great great grandmother's information on my dad's side, and JD's family was not connected between his grandparents and great grandparents so now they are all linked together.  It is amazing how easy it is to do now and how quickly you can generate a pedigree chart or fan.  Fun afternoon activity and to think it all came because I have a tree themed nursery for Porter!

Grandma & Grandpa Kelly

Grandma and Grandpa Kelly got into town about 1 hour before we left the hospital.  It was so fun having them for a week taking care of me and Porter while JD went to school and studied.  My mom was an absolute angel in cooking, cleaning, and bossing me to get some sleep or sit down while she would take care of Porter.  She would spend the day with me while my Dad and Matt would go hiking or sight seeing.  On the weekend when JD was home, they were all able to go to the coast twice and experience some crazy cool tide pools and other fun things.  Porter loves both of them, my dad is a bit of a baby hog but is magic in getting Porter to calm down when he is waking up enough to eat.  My mom loved giving him his first sponge bath.  I am so grateful for all the help they were and for coming all the way out here to see us.

 
 

A Virtual Baby Shower

Technology is crazy neat.  My mom and Erin were able to put together a long distance "virtual" baby shower that included family and a few friends and it turned out pretty good.  It was really fun getting to see some far away friends that I haven't been able to see in a long time.  Some statistics include: all 4 time zones were represented.  Attendees included the states of Utah, Wyoming, Oregon, Virginia, Texas, and California.  It has felt a bit like Harry Potter the past few days at my house. It started with one package and then they started multiplying.  Packages from Amazon.com, Target.com, and Walmart have been arriving via all sorts of ways and at all different times: FexEx, USPS, UPS, while I am at work, after work, and late night delivery-sometimes all three times in one day.  I am grateful for good long term friends and family and leaders who have done so much for me.  I'm also getting pretty excited to put the outfits, gowns, swaddle blankets, bumbos, books etc to good use even the diapers, wipes, and Bordeaux's butt paste to be honest though I am sure that attitude will change soon enough......but not yet. ;)

Oregoned Out

What a crazy couple of weeks we have had!  We had our own mini vacation down the coast, the Speths came to play, and we got to hang out with our pharmacy friends.  JD has traveled all but about 34.7 miles of the Oregon Highway 101 of 346 miles total in less than 2 weeks and a total of 3 ocean trips.  We have done a ton of new things, seen a lot of animals, trees, beaches, ocean, a new temple, and where JD will be doing a few rotations as well.  Last night I asked JD what he wanted to do (it being Friday and all) and his response was 'nothing'.  I said that is fine, do you want to watch a movie or something? He just looked at me and repeated 'nothing'.  That should give you an idea of just how busy his break has been.  Regardless of our current physical state, we are both so grateful for the time we have had to spend together and with our family as well as the incredible things we have been able to see and enjoy.  We feel truly blessed to be here in Oregon.

Speth Trip Day 6: The Gorge and Home

Today was the final day for the Speths to experience "our way of life" here in Oregon.  They packed up and drove out to The Gorge with JD driving separately.  They got to see Shepherd's Dell, Bridal Veil, Wakeena, Multnomah, and Horsetail Falls.  When they were all done exploring, Speth's continued east on 1-84 and JD came home and took a nice nap. It has been fun, but also crazy the past couple weeks.

Speth Trip Day 5: Astoria, Seaside, Ecola

Final Full Day in Oregon=Coast

This day included the Astoria Column complete with flying an airplane off the top of the column.  Ft Stevens State Park, seeing the ship wreck and photo bombing Miranda's mad tumbling skills.  Seaside, seeing a 2 week old baby harbor seal and playing in the touch pool.  Ecola State Park, tide pooling and hanging out on Indian Beach.  We had a really good dinner at La Fogata, a Mexican place near us that has foot long gigantic burritos.  It was a lot of fun having the Speth's here and having the chance to show them around Oregon and let them see part of the reason why we love it here so much. 

 

Speth Trip Day 4: Downtown Portland

The day started off with JD, Jeff, JaNae, Sye, and Jake going to the Portland Temple while Miranda slept in.  They got to go down town to see the sites.  Some stops included: Waterfront Park, Powell's Book Store, Pioneer Square, and VooDoo Donuts (a first time attendance for JD-I don't eat donuts so the only ones he has had are ones I have brought to him from coworkers that I didn't eat) they are a very famous donut shop with rather unusual names and toppings.  Portland has what becomes almost a month long celebration for the Rose Festival, and one of the first things that happens is the Pioneer Square flower art.  They put a design on display for about 2 1/2 weeks at which point all the flowers that were used in the art are sold.  After the downtown adventures I was able to meet up with the fam and we went to Washington Square Mall to eat dinner, but a stop at the Lego store was a must the picture on this post was what I saw when I walked into the store: three grown little boys looking at a box of Legos.  Miranda got to go see a Timbers game with her friend Joe who is playing on one of the reserve teams for the Timbers.  We ate at the Cheesecake Factory and it was delicious.  It was another busy but fun day.

  

Speth Trip Day 3: Silver Falls

While I love Silver Falls and would have loved to go there with the family today, it was time for me to get back to work, and to be honest our little guy probably would not have been a very good friend to bring along on the 8.7 mile loop that takes you past 10 gorgeous waterfalls.  So JD got to go with everyone to experience the amazing Silver Falls State Park.  This is a place that is difficult to describe so it just goes more along the lines of if you come to see us, you must go there because while the pictures are nice and look cool, it is even more incredible in person.

Speth Trip Day 2: Cape Outlook to Cannon

Happy Memorial Day!

This year it was a wet one.  While it was cold and wet, I do have to say I'm fairly certain that it is a good thing, what could have been a nightmareish busy day on the 101 turned out to be empty, parking was a breeze, there was not a single person in line at the Tillamook Cheese Factory, and we were able to see a lot more coast than we were expecting.  We started in Tillamook and Cape Outlook-where they found full size, unbroken sand dollars and we got to see 'new' waterfalls because of all the rain, we got to go up to the lens of Cape Meares Lighthouse as well.  Other fun sites along the way was a stop at the empty Tillamook Jerky Outlet and Mo's-famous clam chowder, also famous for long lines which were non existent today.  We walked on Cannon Beach before heading back home for another round of games.  It was a good day and while sun would have been nice, it would have made doing everything we did a lot harder.  I'm officially worn out and thinking that working while the Speth's do the rest of the things we have planned is probably a good thing with how drained I feel after a week of playing.

Speth Trip Day 1: Church, Roses, Hoyt, & Pittock

The Speth's are here!  It was so fun meeting them at church, though it was weird saying most of a bench when we are used to just two of us.  We had a quick lunch and then headed up to the International Rose Test Garden, Pittock Mansion, and Hoyt Arboretum.

After our adventure we went back to our apartment and cooked the Papa Murphy's pizza we bought after getting home yesterday and played games.  We are all (almost all) now versed in Bohnanza, also known as the 'bean game'. 

Grandma Speth

Edna Bernice Merrill Speth, 99, passed away from TMB (Too Many Birthdays) on March 9, 2013, to join her sweetheart Ernest Speth on their 81st wedding anniversary. She was born in Logan, Utah, on Sept. 18, 1913, to Claude and Constance Eva Brown Merrill.
Mom grew up in Logan, Utah, and graduated from Logan High School. While in high school, she met and fell in love with Earnest Herman Speth and they were married March 9, 1932, in the Logan LDS Temple.
Mom and Dad began their life together in College Ward where they built a home, bought a dairy farm and raised their four sons. Mom worked side by side with Dad on the farm and one of her favorite chores was feeding and taking care of the baby calves.
Mom also worked outside the home at various jobs including Bluebird Candy Co. and Mode O'Day. At the Bluebird she learned the art of making chocolates and was well known throughout the community and her family for her delicious peanut clusters, toffee and other candy. She was a wonderful cook; her family can still taste her delicious roast beef and Yorkshire pudding Sunday dinners.
Mom was a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She had a strong love and testimony of the Gospel and her Savior Jesus Christ. She was always willing and eager to share her testimony with others and she touched many many lives.
One of her choicest blessing was being able to do family history and to have been an ordinance worker at the Logan Temple for many years. She held positions in the Primary, Young Women's and Relief Society, and was a faithful visiting teacher. She was also a member of Daughters of Utah Pioneers.
Mom is survived by her youngest son Brent and his wife Coreen of Providence and two daughters-in-law, Jean Speth of Providence and LaDean Speth of Kanab. She has a loving legacy of 21 grandchildren, 64 great-grandchildren, 67 great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind her "favorite moose" dog Bernice. Mom was preceded in death by her husband Ernest; three sons, LaMoyne, LaMont and Ronald; daughter-in-law Patty Speth; two sisters, Lorraine Kent and Laura Downs; brother Howard Merrill; three grandsons; one great-grandson; and one great-great-grandson.
Mom was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She will be greatly missed by all who were blessed to know her.
Funeral services be held at noon Thursday, March 14, 2013, at the Spring Creek Ward chapel, 2400 W. 2200 South in College Ward. A viewing will be held prior at 10 a.m. Burial will be at the Providence City Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Allen-Hall Mortuary.
The family would like to express sincere appreciation to IHC Hospice for the loving care they gave our mother and grandmother during the last few months, especially Jeanine, Anna, Pam and Shannon.

Bryant A Miner

Bryant Albert Miner, 78, passed away December 20, 2012. He was born August 9, 1934 to Caroline Eyring and Glen Bryant Miner in Moroni, Sanpete, Utah. He grew up in Logan and Riverton, working on his family dairy farm. Bryant graduated from Jordan High School in 1952. He attended the University of Utah, graduating with his PhD in Chemistry in 1965. He served in the Army from 1957 to 1959.

Bryant married Janice Mabey on June 8, 1960 in the Salt Lake Temple; they were married for twenty-six years. He later married Karen Preece Neff on July 7, 1987 in Ogden, Utah.

He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served an LDS Mission to Argentina. He served faithfully in his callings. He especially enjoyed being a home teacher. His greatest passion was teaching chemistry at Weber State University for 43 years. He was a master teacher.

He had a great love of birds and was a member of the Audubon Society. He loved to travel the world and visited every continent except for Antarctica. Bryant was a diehard fan of the Atlanta Braves and the Weber State Wildcats.

Bryant's greatest love was being with his family. He is survived by his wife, Karen; children, Melanie (Val) Durrant, JaNae (Jeff) Speth, David Bryant (Kerry) Miner, Heidi (Adam) Marberger, Jason Mabey (Nichol) Miner, Jared Todd (Laura) Miner, Elizabeth (Matthew) Neff-Mikolash, Kari (Shawn) Murray, Eric Morgan Neff; 27 grandchildren; also survived by his 3 sisters and 4 brothers, Carol Morgan, Rosemary Fairbourn, Edward Miner, Henry Miner, Camilla Smith, Joseph Miner and Steven Miner.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Janice, and daughter, Helen.

Funeral services will be held at 12 Noon on Thursday, December 27, 2012 at the Forest Green Ward, Weber Heights Stake Center, 1401 Country Hills Drive. A viewing will be held on Wednesday, December 26th from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Myers Ogden Mortuary, 845 Washington Blvd. and Thursday at the church from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Graveside services will be held at 4 p.m. in the So. Jordan City Cemetery.

Clarke Cousin Party

I love my cousins.  It was so fun checking off our lists by doing things such as Just Dance, watch football, play 3 card games, play 3 board games, cut snowflakes, color pictures, golf, and ping pong.  It was great catching up on their lives, what they are doing, and hearing some amazingly awkward 'love' stories.  I love that we still play together, no skits, standing on logs for 4 hours, or Mulan/Harry Potter reinactments this time, though we did hang out in the Gryffendor Common Room for a while.