The Magrole

In this house is a little room under the stairs. In the past, the grandchildren of Arben and Barbara Jolley called it "The Monster Room". They would draw or paste pictures on the wall as well as write their names and post comments. Since our grandchildren are getting older I wanted to get this room ready for them to start their own memories. William wanted a "hole" in the wall to let their imaginations take them to new and fun places. I also wanted it to have a more positive name. William and I thought of various names but we decided to create a name that described what it is. The name we created stands for the MAgical GRandchildren's hOLE -The Magrole.

Here are the before pictures:

Here it is after:

We put a vinyl "hole" on the wall.

Mission Call!

This morning at 6:30 am (our time) Kristine called us from the Garden of Gethsemane where she had just opened her mission call. We had Heather on a cell phone, Wills and Robin on the web cam and Kristine was on speakerphone on the land line. She will serve in the...

Slovenia/Croatia Mission. She will enter the Provo MTC on January 11, 2012 and will learn the Croatian language. She is having a wonderful time in Israel and we know she will be a fabulous missionary.

New Chairs!

Many years ago, I think it was 1996 or 1997 , we had a couple of folding lawn chairs that had the plastic webbing breaking off. My friend, Kathy W, helped teach me how to weave macrame yarn in fun patterns one of the chair frames. I did one chair in this hot air balloon pattern. Then life went on and the other 2 chair frames that I had didn't get finished. I thought about finishing them a number of times but it just didn't happen. In the meantime I collected up 3 more chairs. Last spring I decided that I was going to get them done. I talked to Kathy and she said that she couldn't remember how to start the weaving but had her instructions that were the same as the instructions I had. One day I opened the Nickel Ads and a B&D ad jumped out at me. It said that they were having a clearance sale on their macrame for $1.99 a skein, regular price was around $8. So I hustled down and bought enough yarn to finish the chairs. I found a "new" friend that was willing to help me get started and she was willing to share her patterns.

Here is the Hot Air balloon chair...

Here are the chairs before:

These 2 have wooden arm rests that needed to be refinished.

I had started weaving this one before I thought to get the before and after pictures. So this is showing how the first color is started.

Here they are all finished. It took me about 2 months to get them done.

I hope you can see the dolphins in this pattern with the seat pattern having a wave feel.

This child's chair has a teddy bear pattern.

I liked this pattern. I used the multi colored yarn as the back with the solid as the pattern.

I refinished the arm rests on these chairs. The back of the chairs are shorter that the patterns call for so William helped me chose this seat pattern to use for the whole chair. There isn't much contrast between the pink yarn and pink multi yarn. The pattern doesn't show up very well in this picture but it is that same pattern as the blue chair.

I am so glad to have these chairs finished and to cross them off my "To Do" list!

2 Weddings and an Altitude Change

Last Saturday, August 13, Rebecca and Devin were married in the Idaho Falls Temple. Here is a picture of Dad and his children.
Back row left to right: Lynae, Marilyn, Janette and Karen
Front row left to right: David, Dad and Allen
Kristine was able to fit the trip into her schedule.

Here is the happy couple with the Bride's immediate family.

Here is Janette with her family.

On Monday, August 15, William and I went to Michael and Lindsey's wedding in the Salt Lake Temple. They were a very striking couple with Lindsey in her beautiful dress and Micheal in his uniform. Micheal is Kirk's grandson and our grand-nephew.

After the wedding luncheon William and I headed up to Wolf Creek Pass and to Wanema B's cabin. It was is in such a beautiful setting and the air was nice and cool!

Over 32 years ago on our first date, William picked some cone flowers for me. This time I took some pictures.

New Patio

For the past few summers I have wanted to enlarge our patio. This spring William and I decided that we would do it this summer. We talked to Dan, our do-it-all man, and he planned on helping us but his health didn't cooperate. So we hired it out to a cement company that came by to give us a bid just after the 4th of July. William thought I was bold when I asked if it could be done by the 24th of July. Well, they got it done a few days before the 24th. William had scraped out the lawn and lowered the space earlier in the summer. The cement guys framed it up on one afternoon.

Gravel was added for the base.

The next morning we had a cement truck out front. Where are the grandkids when we need them? They would have been entertained all morning.

The cement truck couldn't get to the backyard so one man ran the cement pump, one man ran the chute by guiding the cement into the wheelbarrows, three younger men took turns running the wheelbarrows and dumping the cement and one man was smoothing the cement.

The cement relay lasted about 1/2 hour. The wheelbarrow guys said this was an easy job since the path was in the shade and downhill when the wheelbarrows were full. The lawn has recovered from the wear and tear.

We were told that we could lightly walk on it that night but not to drive on it for a week. We stayed off for a few days and don't think that we will need to ever drive on it. The lawn was a bit low on the south side so some of the extra dirt was left there. We are waiting for the lawn to fill in!

We have had one dinner on the patio and look forward to more parties out there.

Thanks Geek Squad!

My computer was attacked by a virus last week. I am glad that William is on a first name basis with the Geek Squad that fixed it and had it back to me within 2 days!!!! Thanks honey!

Upper Stillwater Dam

This year has been unusual in the fact that we have received so much water. The Stillwater Dam has had so much water that it has been running over the dam. I joined a group from our ward to go see it. I have a movie of it but it wouldn't upload.

It was an awesome site (not like Niagara Falls, but pretty cool) and very loud.

1 More Graduation!

We were able to attend the Moffat County High School Graduation. Mandi and Katie excelled in their education. Mandi gave the opening welcome and was the Outstanding Female Student of the Year. It was a great day!

Day 1 - Everyone to Arizona

Months ago when we realized that Wills and Charlie would be having their graduations on back to back days we decided to make a family trip/reunion out of the event! We started in Arizona with everyone arriving in time for dinner. Here are Monson and Eliza dancing to the Latin music playing at the restaurant.
This picture was taken on Day 2 - I guess I am still tired - But it is a cute one of Bailey and Monson.

Day 2 - Wills' Graduation Party and Wills' Commencement

We started Day 2 by attending the Mesa Temple. Bailey's mother, Missie, took care of the grand kids so we were all abel to attend the same session while Kristine participated in baptisms. Then the BBQ/Swim party began!

Clair and Kristine preferred the shade.
Monson and Eliza liked doing the same things.

Ryan's brother, Conner, and his family met up with us in the afternoon. Alexis is with Eliza, Charlie and Emmett in this picture.

Then we were off to the commencement.

Outside the Sun Devil Stadium.

Clair thought it was bedtime - and it was in her time zone.

Waiting...

Wills is easy to spot in the center of a crowd!

Wills is there...

Fireworks were set off as we left the stadium ~ I didn't take a picture of the fireworks but I did get a picture of the brush fire that was started by the fireworks!