Oceanside

When we were in Northern California in Aug, we couldn't not go down to Oceanside to visit our sweet Anna and her family.  So, we happily took the long drive down.  We had a wonderful visit with our dear family that we miss so much.  Our visit was so much fun, but oh sooo, soooo short.  I just am so sad that we live so far apart.  

One evening we went to visit the Mormon Battalion Monument.  It is actually not just a monument, but a large building (kinda like a museum).  It has been recently renovated and there is an interesting tour that recounts much of the history

Baby Joneaux loved looking and climbing on everything.   We loved looking at and playing with him.

He is such an adorable little guy.  He is so interested in everything.  He is sweet and loving and the best little guy.

 

I could just eat up that sweetness!

He looks soooooo much like his Mommy with the build of his Dad.  Such a winning combination!

I don't know how the pioneers ever crossed the plains and went west in such tiny wagons.  They endured so many hardships and were so faithful and courageous.  "Blessed, honored pioneers"

Tatum's B'day Party

 My very first granddaughter had a birthday party for her very first little daughter.  It was held at the park and all of the guests were little people.  Her other grandparents and we got to attend too.  Justin Beber, as you can see, was the guest of honor and lots of the Mommies took pictures with him.  Tat is crazy about Justin and she and her Mommy watch him and dance to his music all the time.

 Auntie Sierra and Auntie Jenna got to come and help supervise.

 Everyone got to make a necklace out of fruit loops or some similar cereal.  It reminded me of one of the projects my Kindergarten class did on 100 day.  Did I ever mention that K was my favorite grade to teach.  I JUST LOVED it.

 Ang was Reggie and Tal's helper.  Actually, she always helps everyone and is always concerned that everyone has a good time.

 There's Mommy Dani in green, her favorite color.

 Tat's Dad, Greg, had his hands full of 2 very busy little girls.

 It's so hard and so much fun to blow out two candles.

 She did it.

Cupcakes are just the right size to eat and enjoy.  What a fun party.

JoJo's B-day

 My little granddaughter called and asked if we could have a birthday dinner at our house.  Of course I said yes.  Their family went to Trafalgar and had a fun excursion and then they came over.

       

 We enjoyed a nice dinner dinner together.

 Opened presents.

Of course we had some dancing.

 And wrestling.

 Even Tal had to wrestle which you can see by her great hairdo of the moment.

 Then JoJo got to have her cake made to order just the way she wanted it; chocolate with pink frosting.

Happy Birthday cute little 9 year old.

Alexandre

 I've probably written about Alexandre, but he's so awesome that I must write about him again.

Alexandre was taught by the missionaries and he studied the gospel for about a year.  He was already a University graduate at the time and was working for a company that was owned by some young brothers   who just happened to  be Latter-day Saints.  In fact one of those brothers became the Bishop of Lille Ward while we were there and the oldest one became the Stake President shortly before we left our mission.  Anyway, Alexandre was very impressed with the life style of these men.  They were hard workers. They lived a good clean life not smoking or drinking, but they also had a ton of fun.  They liked to play and enjoy life. They had a great sense of humor.   They also answered lots of questions that Alex posed to them.  They never pushed him or were negative with him.  When he asked specific gospel questions they answered him in a straightforward, non apologetic way. They told him the truth.  Alex studied and pondered and prayed and he was shown the truth.  He wanted to be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Alexandre is an awesome guy.  He is a very bright, handsome, hard-working, kind guy.  He had been a smoker and a drinker as are most Frenchmen, but he gave that all up.  He also was in a relationship with a girl.  He told his girlfriend that she should learn about the church and study the gospel that it was so great and would be such an asset to her.  She refused and in fact told him that he would have to pick between her and the church.  Alex told her that he would pick the church.  Alex was baptized and has been a very faithful member.  He participated in all activities and soon became the president of the Institute which calling he faithfully and wonderfully fulfilled.

When Alex started attending Institute most of the young women wanted him for a boyfriend.  He was that nice and fun to be with.  The young men all liked him too and befriended him right away. This great group of youth had a great time together.  Now, among this group of young women was one Virginie.  She was the girl all the boys wanted for a girlfriend.  Virginie is pretty, smart, and nice and of course everyone likes her.  Not too much time passed before Virginie and Alex started going out together and pretty soon they fell in love.  BUT Alex told Virginie he needed to go on a mission.  The following day Virginie gave him a present----- Preach My Gospel a wonderful book that explains the gospel plan and teaches people how to be good missionaries .  Their plan was for him to go on his mission.  6 months after he goes she will go on a mission and they will return about the same time.  Then they will be married.  I love their story.  I love that they are both so faithful.  I love that they will be married for time and all eternity.

Several months ago Alexandre was called to serve a mission in Australia.  We and all of his friends and especially Alex are soooooooooo excited.  He will be an awesome missionary.

 These returned missionaries did lots of good, hard work.  Alex often went with them on splits.

 We had too short of a visit because we needed to go home and have JoJo's Birthday party.  We loved seeing Alex and the other returned missionaries.  The guys went on to take a quick tour of Salt Lake Temple Square and then they went out to dinner.  After that Alex had to report to the MTC.  I later got the report that they had a great time at dinner.  Alexandre was so surprised that he could have refillable drinks.  He was also so surprised at the huge portions that were served.   Just right for a hungry boys, don't you think?  I remember how much those young men loved to eat. :)

 Cameron has been sending him Youtube clips of Steve Irwin so that he can practice his "Australian" Ha!

 Alex said that he will be the first missionary to baptize kangaroos.  HaHa.  We all laughed.  He said he's going the be the animal missionary.  Ha Ha again.  In fact he is one of the first French missionaries from France and he's so excited for that.  

Oh my, but we loved our missionaries.  Here I am with returned Elders Brody Carpenter, Alex, Cameron Harper, and Mike Clauson.   They were the best.  We had sooooo much fun with them.  They are such fine young men and are continuing being awesome.

Happy Birthday Michael

36 years ago I gave birth to my 3rd child.  Michael was our second son and he was born on labor day, Sept 1, 1975.  In the top photo he's at the beach with his beautiful wife and the lower photo is of him with Dad and his brother Alec.
Oh my goodness, I was so excited when he came into our family.  He was a darling little blonde bundle of LOVE.  Michael was a very curious little boy.  He was always so observant and wanted to know everything.  He was a great teen-ager and has grown into a wonderful man.  He has always been enterprising and self-reliant.  As a kid he was always making money one way or another.  One of his first jobs was a newspaper boy which he did with Alec and his Dad.   At a paper throwing contest at Magic Mt. he won a bond for $100.00  Not bad for a little kid of about 11.  He had a gardening business which he ran and hired other boys to work under him.  He was very fair to the customers, but also made sure his boys did a good job.  He would also take the boys on hiking and outdoor adventures which they enjoyed a lot.  In fact, many of the boy's Moms would tell me how much they appreciated that Michael would take their sons because they would have an adventure, but then Michael would tell them stories from the scriptures and compare them to some the awesome young men  from the scriptures such as the 2,000 stripling warriors from The Book of Mormon.  He always told them that they should use those young men as an example.  He once has me take him to a turkey farm and picked out just the right pheasant.  He fattened up the pheasant and one day he went hunting with his dog, a rifle and the pheasant.  What the pheasant didn't know was that he was to be the hunted.  He came  home from that hunt and made fishing flies out of some of the feathers and sold them to fishermen.  He sold each of the wings to dog trainers to use for training their hunting dogs. He went out on party boats and worked helping the older people bait their hooks and other fishing things.  He started working at The Outdoorsman and one of his tasks was to help the Taxidermist.  Before long he became an unofficial apprentice and learned how to do taxidermy.  He sold several of his projects to the Outdoorsman for display purposes.  He was always doing interesting things.
I love my boy who is now a man but will really always be my boy.  I pray that all of Heavenly Fathers choicest blessings will to be upon him some day.  Happy Birthday Michael.