A happy New Year

We have had a very wonderful beginning to 2009! January 27th, 2009 we became first-time grandparents! Ashley and Derek welcomed their first baby - Kenzie Marie Cook - into the world. She weighed 7'11' and was 21" long. I had purchased airline tickets 'on a whim' several months ago when Southwest was have a 1/2 off sale. With such a good deal I tried to predict when to fly out to be with Ashley and Derek and help with the new baby. It turns out that while I was waiting for my bus at Salt Lake City to take me to Idaho Falls they called to tell me that Ashley was at the hospital and would be having the baby that day! I told the bus driver that I didn't want to miss this! :) I arrived about 4pm and Kenzie was born at 8:38pm the same day. What a priviledge to be able to see her right after she was born. They had gone to the doctor that morning and the Doctor asked if she wanted to have the baby today since she was dilated to about a 4. Of course they jumped at the opportunity.

I was able to stay until Friday February 6th and then I headed to Salt Lake to be with all my sisters, sister-in-laws, and mom to have a girls weekend. We had a great time. Then I flew home on my scheduled flight on Sunday the 8th. I had never been away from my home and family that long. Even though I had a great time....I was glad to be home again. Mark and Emily came to Rexburg while I was there to see the baby and it was good to see them!

Now we are in Richfield with David and Carol Lyn and my dad. The guys went to Las Vegas to pick up a new ski/wakeboard boat....on Valentine's Day! We know what their "true love" is!!!! But we're glad that they enjoy do such fun activities with their families. And we're thankful for those opportunities.

When I get home I will post pictures of our new grandbaby. She is adorable!!!!! It was love at first sight. Being a grandma is at least as much fun as everybody says it is!!!! We can't wait to see her again. (and Ashley and Derek too of course :)

New backyard landscaping

We took out our trees that had been sick for quite a few years and replaced them with flowering trees that will bloom in the spring and some will bloom all summer. We have a hibiscus tree and a burning bush tree for fall color. We also have a Newport Plum tree and another ornamental tree that I can't remember the name right now. We have had some VERY cold temperatures this winter. Hopefully they come back. They are guaranteed for 1 year...but I hate to see trees die. We also had new grass installed on the side next to the patio and a smaller flagstone patio installed up under the Ash trees. We're excited for spring! We also got a firepit that is really fun to sit around!

Fall home improvements

Christmas Eve 2008

I am new to the 'blog' thing. Ashley will probably be surprised that I even figured out how to get back on. I couldn't even remember the address of our blog!!! But I figured it out and somehow figured out how to get to this place to write something. Wow....what will I figure out next!

We are excited to celebrate Christmas! We will go to a movie today and enjoy some good food and then drive around to look at the Christmas lights to pass the time waiting for Santa to come! We are smaller in number this year since Ashley and Derek will be staying in Idaho and Matt is in Mexico on his mission. But we will have a great time with the 4 of us and be grateful for eachother even though we feel kind of lost without everyone else.

A very exciting event tomorrow will be the opportunity to talk on the phone with Elder Matt Morgan who is in Valles, Mexico!!!! We can't wait to talk to him. We are very blessed to have him serving on a full time mission. We have noticed that we feel even closer to him than when he was here! He has mentioned the same thing. It is a blessing that we are very grateful for.

As we ponder the meaning of Christmas and the birth of the Savior, we are filled with gratitude for Him and the glorious plan of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas!!!

Lake Powell with Mark and Donna's family