Emma Bellessa The Poser

Emma is quite the future model. She definitely has the ability to pose creatively and show off her fashions with style.

Loving The Little Ones

I had the wonderful opportunity to babysit Sally and Willie's two boys this last week while Sally took a group of young women on a three day hike and camping. Luckily with the free air travel I get with Calder being a pilot, the trip from Salt Lake to Grand Junction, CO is a piece of cake.
Wyatt and Hank really enjoyed having a bath outside. I put hot water in the tub then dragged it outside and cooled it with the hose. It was a treat for us all. Such joy from simple things.
A little running around after.
The last time I visited we celebrated the big potty training bench mark at Chuck E Cheese. Willie took us there again. Wyatt was so cute as he thanked his dad over and over again for taking him. Even little Hank is good at saying "thank you" for every little thing that is done for him.
I brought Wyatt a 3/4 size violin I had as a child. He was so excited to have one like his dad. (who plays the fiddle)
Hank could hold out two fingers and say, "Peace".

I thought they would get lonely for Sally but we had such a good time there wasn't a moment of wistful homesickness for her..but when she finally did come home they were very happy. Hank tries to do everything that Wyatt does. He wears Wyatt's underpants over his diaper. An added creation is wearing one for a hat.



Back home in Midway were the Princess grand daughters wearing the latest creations from Grandma. Dress up is always a hit.
Liz and Kelly came with their girls from St. Anthony ID. They always work hard and help when they come. Kelly trimmed and cut down trees and mowed the lawn. Liz planted our garden for us.
Megan is a very enthusiatic horse rider. Her big sister, Anna has a real horse she is learning to ride.

A nice ending for the week was coming across the bridge and finding the baby ducks I've been waiting for..soon there will be a baby grandchild to write about (due in about ten days.)

Spring is Here

We're in full bloom and enjoying "just right" warm days. I'm putting the top down on the Mini and appreciating the beauty around me.










I'm watching the pond every day for the signs of baby ducks.
Bringing Spring onto the table.

A Baby is Coming

Something wonderful is about to take place in Midway, Utah. Starr and Calder and grandma are waiting for their first born child, a little girl named ?.

The celebration and anticipation is great as family and friends gather to express their love and happiness for them.

Starr's family is the best for parties and gatherings. They always come in mass with great food and humor. This shower was at her grandmother's home in Provo.
I am very excited to have a baby grandchild living down the street from me since all the other 10 grandchildren live far away. I will even babysit and hold her when she cries in the night.
Starr's mother and grandmother create an ambiance with flowers, food, and fun...such classy ladies.

Yum, Yum.

Mom's El Capitan Experience

When Calder was 17 years old he announced he was going to spend the summer living in the Yosemite parking lot in his pimped out VW bus. As a parent the prospect of danger was many fold the least of which was the peril of his climbing activities. Nothing would dissuade Calder from his desire and so with trust in his goodness and judgement he was sent on his way. He called me weekly to report and tell me about his adventures. This was the beginning of many years of big wall climbing and the resulting physical and emotional growth that it brought to him. He became very accomplished and well known for his skills and proved to be a credit to his family.

His older brother Travis, who is an established business owner and father of three, decided recently that he would like to experience the thrill of climbing. He arranged for Calder to take him along with his best friend and business partner, Enoch Palmer, to Yosemite to climb El Capitan. Calder invited another climbing friend, Nate Brown, to join them. The photo above is the farewell photo the morning they started on their way.
This is a photo in the meadow before their ascent. This trip had new and wonderful ways to keep me in the loop. With the age of the iphone, facebook, internet and techie geek Travis, there were daily updates and photos reporting their progress and feelings.
Planning the route. (Enoch and Nate)


Six days of this does not seem fun to me but they had a wonderful time. They said the days flew by as they busied themselves with the process of placing and cleaning their gear and climbing.
Before they started up the bears got hold of their water supply.
Sleeping at night would freak me out but they were tied onto the rock and assured me it was all safe.
Two brothers in a bonding experience.


One of many remarkable photos taken by Travis was this water falling from above which he described as separate diamonds catching the light as they fell.
At the top. A great feeling of accomplishment for the climbers and great feeling of relief to me to know they would be on their way home.
Back in Midway cleaning the gear. (the sailboat in the barn will probably be the next great adventure.) I told Travis and Calder how much I loved them but more than that I'm thankful they love and enjoy each other so much. I think this trip deepened all of those feelings. Glad they went..glad they came home safe.
The parting shot.