2012 Christmas with Mom and Dad

Mom and Dad this year. We had a great visit with them, and 

the day after Christmas, on Mom's birthday, Francie and Ray,

and Matt and Karnette, along with their kids came up for a 

birthday dinner.

Dad hit the jackpot with lots of treats!

Garretts Popcorn from Chicago

The Birthday Girl, Dad, and Francie

Max, Max, and Matt

Mom turned 97 years-old today!

October 2012 - We Got Lily

Adam and Cory took some time off in October and spent a few days in Denver.  We were able to have Lily with us and she charmed the day-lights out of us (especially Jichan)

                              She was perfect - even in Church for 3 hours!

August 2012 Kevin's Birthday!

Happy 60th Birthday Kevin!

Cory made him a "Ho Ho" cake (his favorite junk food) which was fortuitous since Hostess went out of business and you can't buy them anymore.  Thanks Cory -

August 2012 All Our Grandchildren

In early August Kim was able to bring her crew to Colorado so for the first time in quite awhile we had all of the grandchildren together.  It was a photo opportunity we couldn't pass up and Adam did a great job of getting them in "picture perfect" order.  The neighbors were totally entertained by the chaos!

I'm not sure what Adam threatened them with, but for some reason no one looks very happy...

except for Paul and Blythe -

"Say Cheese", Uncle Adam

The Perfect Picture -
Front Row:  Hollie, Lily, Samantha, Paul, Blythe
Back Row:  Max, Grant, Spencer, Eilis, Emma

The Hopkins Girls - Hollie, Eilis, and Emma

Sweet Lily - the youngest of them all

The Chicago Gang  - Max, Blythe, Spencer, and Grant Ellsworth

Paul loves it when the boys are in town because he's not quite so outnumbered by the girls

Sweet Girls...Sammi, Lily, and Blythe

Our August Visit to The North Pole!

  The Summer is not complete without a trip to Santa's Workshop at the North Pole (Colorado style).  So Cory, Angella, and I packed up the kids, the snacks, and the water bottles and headed up the mountain for a day of fun.

Samantha and Eilis (and Angella) ready for a train ride

Even Lily had a great time

Help! Help! Help! Help!

I'm sure there's a motorcycle somewhere in Paul's future! Though I hope
he won't be driving with his eyes closed.

There WON'T be a motorcycle in Hollie's future!

This was the favorite of the girls and thank-goodness for Angella who was brave enough to go with them!

Lilly was so sweet.  She was happy all day!

Big day for a little guy

July 2012 A visit with Mom and Dad

However, I'm not sure where Mom is... could be in the kitchen doing dishes or sweeping, cleaning out the refrigerator, doing laundry, writing birthday cards to grandchildren and/or great-grandchildren, balancing her checkbook, sorting Dad's pills for the next week, making her bed, ironing, fixing Dad a snack, squeezing lemons, or maybe even sneaking in a nap.  We can never quite keep up with her!

2012 Summer fun in Chicago

 June 2012 -  Spencer turned 12 years old and we celebrated in Chicago with a birthday cake made by super cake-baker Kim.

Spencer was ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood by his Dad



Kim and Chris went to Nauvoo IL, for a couple of days with the youth from their Ward and left Grammie in charge!  We had such a great time - swimming, scooter racing, and jumping on the trampoline.  We cleaned the car and went to the movies, and then went swimming some more!

 Blythe being a fashion queen!

One morning Max and Grant found an old bedraggled stuffed animal outside half buried in the dirt.  Max finished the job and decided to hold a funeral service in which we were all invited to participate.

We met Chris for lunch one day downtown and then caught a ride on the river boat back to our train stop.

May 2012 Kate Graduates!

Congratulations Kate!  She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Iowa

Go Hawkeyes

Spring Break 2012

Spring Break 2012 found me back in Marysville spending the week with Mom and Dad.  Mom's mission for the week was to find some "just right, not too tight" socks for Dad for Father's Day.  (she was planning ahead)

Surprise! Surprise!  Their choice of fast food was Burger King this time.  Mom LOVES a Junior Wopper from BK - we should have got them crowns.  The cashier even knew them by name.