Fall 2014 Visits

We took a trip to see Glen and Eric's families.  We enjoyed seeing Glen and Sarah's new house and fun, very safe and private backyard.  We saw many quail and some rabbits.  One morning we saw about 70 quail run by over the course of several minutes.  The kids have gotten so big.  Logan is 5 now, Lucas is almost 4, and Oliver is 1 1/2. (What a little blond cutie he is!)



On Saturday we went to Logan's soccer game.  It was fun to see the little kids run around on the field.  They only played 3 from each team at a time, which is such a good ideas, because each child gets to interact with the ball a lot more often.

We brought some bubble blowing toys for Logan and Lucas.  I wish we could have bought more of them, because the toys were wonderful, blowing hundreds of bubble with just the pull of a trigger.  We also had fun playing Carcasone ( a game) and Race for the Galaxy (another game) and just playing legos and kicking balls with the kids.

Later we went apple picking again, and the kids also chose some pumpkins from a pumpkin patch at the same farm.  We got to see Lucas' preschool and Logan's school.  They both love their teachers.

On another day we went for a short hike up a shady, pine covered mountain to the top.  We could see all the surrounding hills, and in the distance, the city of Moscow.  A man at the top talked to Logan and I about the geology of the mountain.

So a few days later we reluctantly said goodbye to Glen and his family and drove to Coer de Alene.  We stopped to stretch our legs at the lake and took some pictures.  Then we drove to Great Falls.  The drive is incredibly beautiful, with many of the trees beginning to turn gold.

It was great to see Eric and Nancie and all their kids.  Greg helped Eric get the boat ready for our boating day.  Nancie and I took the kids to the fabric store to pick out fabric.  They had a great time choosing the fabrics for their items.  I sewed a super-hero cape for Trevor.  He wanted it blue on one side and black with a red lightning bolt on the other side. He loved it.   I also made a lavender sparkly maxi skirt for Kaylinn.  She looked adorable in it and loved it too.  I made peacock colored paisley maxi skirt for Catherine.  It was so gratifying to see how truly thrilled she was about her skirt.  At one point she paused and said, "Wait, maybe this is just a dream!"  She pinched herself, and we assured her it was not a dream.  She continued to thank me over and over every few minutes.   I was so happy to be able to bring so much enjoyment to her.    I only regret not taking pictures of the cape and skirts!  Nancie, maybe you would do that for me!

On Saturday we went boating. 

It was so amazingly warm for the middle of October.  It really felt like summer.  The day was gorgeous with hardly any wind - perfect for boating.  We went across the little lake into the Missouri river to a place called, The Gates of the Mountain.  It was named by Lewis and Clark.  We picnicked at a place where Lewis and Clark camped during their explorations.   The river goes between high cliffs where we saw deer, eagles, and eagle's nest, and ducks and other birds.  As you approach the "Gates" of the mountain, they seem to be closed.  But as you come around the curve, they seems to slide back into the mountain.  I pointed it out to Trevor and Kaylinn, and the exclaimed, "How do they DO that!"   It really does look like they are opening.

It was a great trip, but I miss them all already.  :)

Fall Leaves and Apple Pie

Greg had an Optometry convention in Couer D' Alane so I stayed at Glen's house while he attended the convention.  Later Greg joined us.  It was so fun to be with Glen and Sarah and laugh at all the funny things the little boys did. 

One day I took a walk with Glen up a hill to an old cemetery.  It was interesting to read the inscriptions on some of the very old pioneer tombstones.

Another day we went to the Farmer's Market.  There was lots of produce, flowers, baked goods and foods.  One outdoor shop had a huge kettle where they were popping up kettle popcorn.  Logan and I watched as they sprinkled the popcorn with sugar then bagged it up.  They gave us a sample. Yummy!
After his convention, Greg joined us.   Glen suggested we go to the local orchard and pick some apples.  Logan was very excited.  He ran to get his little book and said, "Look!  There is a picture of an apple tree in my book!"  He brought the book with him as we drove to the orchard.  The trees were low and loaded with red, green, and yellow apples.  Ribbons hung from the trees to show which rows we could pick, and what variety the trees were.  We picked Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, and Rome apples.  The limbs were low and loaded with beautiful big apples.  Logan and Lucas both enjoyed picking the apples and putting them in the bags we had brought.  We took them to be weighted, then drove back to the entrance to the orchard to pay for them.
When we got home we sampled the delicious crisp apples.  I suggested we make an apple pie.  Sarah agreed, so I made the crust while Sarah and Glen, with help from Lucas, made the filling.  Logan loved helping me roll out the dough.  Then he and Lucas used cookie cutters to cut some shapes from the top crust.
Later when we were eating the pie, Sarah admitted to not usually liking apple pie, but she loved this one!  I think the nice fresh tart apples, and the fact that it was not overly sweet appealed to her.
The next evening we were taking about things we could do, such as watch a movie or play a game. Sarah said, "Or we could make another pie!"  So we did!   This time Logan helped with the filling.  I gave him the cinnamon to take to his mom, but unexpectedly, Logan dumped a large amount of cinnamon into the filling they were making!  They had to spoon some of it out.  The pie turned out a little spicier than the first one, but it was still delicious.

Then we drove over the mountains to Montana to see Eric and his family.  The trees were brilliant in their fall colors.  We even saw a special kind of lacy pine tree that turns yellow in the fall and drops its needles.  Then they grow needles again in the spring.
We had a great time with Eric and Nancie and the kids.  They drew us numerous pictures and love letters.  I told Nancie the story about the apple pies and she said, "We have a whole box of apples!"  So, you guessed it, I made another apple pie!   On the way out of town we took some food to Eric at work, including the last slice of pie.  Nancie told me later that the first thing he said when he got home was, "Did you get the recipient for the pie?"
When we arrived home, I check facebook.  Sarah had posted that she had make an apple pie!  Then later she posted the picture above.  She had made two more pies!

Tulip Festival April 2013

Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival with Alex's Family

Staying with the Grandkids

I took the Shuttle to stay with Alex’s kids while he and Lanette went to Hawaii.

The day I arrived it was Winrey’s 6^th birthday.

 

This is the skirt I made her.  It is very full and pretty.  Winrey is one of the sweetest little girls you will every meet,  She is helpful and kind to her brothers and very generous.  She is fun and creative and loves to make things.

Below is a picture of Aedin in his pajamas.  Aedin is one of the nicest, kindest, most helpful boys I have ever known.  He is a wonderful big brother and a joy to be with.  He is a boy with a strong sense of what is right, and always tries to choose the right.  He was so helpful to me as I took care of him and his brother and sister.

This is Cedar.  He turned two last fall.  He had a cold, which is why his cheeks are red.  He is a sweet, happy boy and almost always smiling.  He is also very curious and wants to do whatever everyone else is doing.  

 The first night I was there, he woke up crying in the night. It was about the only time he cried, but he was missing him mom.   I ended up taking him to bed with me, so unfortunately I caught his cold.    I’m finally getting over it.

These are the chicken tequitos that Lanette made for Winrey’s birthday party.  She also made Key Lime Pie at Winrey’s request!  Yum!

Very early the next morning, Alex and Lanette left for their flight.

Over the next week, as Alex and Lanette enjoyed Hawaii, the kids and I had a lot of fun.  I forgot to take pictures of most of the things we did.  However, this is a list of some of our fun:

Especially for Cedar:

• Used colored water to demonstrate color mixing
• Played with a beanbag
• Sorted toys into piles by color
• Colored with crayons

We also:

• Made Valentines
• Played Board games
• Watched movies
• Looked at Hawaii pictures including: volcanoes, fish, resorts, beaches, fruits, surfing, cultural arts center
• Made an erupting volcano with a vase, vinegar, soda, and red food coloring
• Played with clay
• Made paper dolls and clothes
• Made Cookies
• Played Pirates and treasure hunt
• Read stories and told stories
• All helped to think up parts for a story
• Played with toy gliders
• Sang songs
• Ate yummy food                                                       
• Cleaned up the house for Alex and Lanette to come home. 

My cold made my brain a little foggy, so I forgot all about the other games I brought such as memory game, kids pictionary, and some card games.  But that will give us something to look forward to next time I come!

When Alex and Lanette came home there showed us a video taken during their helecopter tour of the mountains of Kauai in Hawaii.  They were breathtaking!

They also went snorkeling and hiking and had a great time. I am looking forward to seeing their pictures!

Generations of Horsleys

Here are pictures of me, and my ancestors on my Horsley line:

Joyce Gudmundsen Richardson

Bernice Sayre Gudmundsen

Violet Horsley Sayre


David Robert Horsley

Mary Susan Hall Horsely

Christmas 2012

We had a wonderful Christmas.  A few days before Christmas, Greg’s mom sent us her electric player piano plus two boxes of piano rolls.  Besides being a player piano, it is a regular piano with a lovely soft touch.

We drove to Alex’s house on Friday and were blessed with dry roads the whole way.  Alex and Lanette treated us to sushi!  We had never had it before.  It consisted of rice (always required for sushi), fish (thankfully cooked), and vegetables, and seaweed rolled into rolls then sliced. 

On another day she made pies - apple, pumpkin, and key lime.  YUMMY!

Alex and Greg enjoyed working on a project to add 12 new recessed lights to the ceiling around the edges on three sides in the family room.  The result was very nice.

On Saturday, I taught Aedin and Winrey to make snowflakes.  They caught on so fast, and can both fold and cut their own without any help.  They even figured out by themselves how to cut stars and hearts in the snowflakes!  We had a great time making them, and almost completely covered the back sliding glass door and upstairs playroom window with our creations.  On Sunday we could look over the fence from the church parking lot and see the snowflakes in the windows. 

On Friday we drove into Salt Lake City to see the Christmas Lights and manger scene at Temple Square.  It was really crowded!  Everyone had the same idea!  It was beautiful thought, and not too cold.

On Christmas Eve it began to snow, and eventually piled up 2 or 3 inches.  I made a paper doll with clothes for Winrey.  She really liked it and carried her new doll around wherever she went.  On Christmas Eve we sang carols and watched the Luke 2 movie about the nativity.  That night we went to bed with the anticipation of a beautiful, white Christmas.

Alex and Lanette had stretched a large piece of wrapping paper across the hall so that the kids would not forget and go downstairs before everyone was ready.  On Christmas morning Alex slipped downstairs to turn on the Christmas lights and start the Christmas music.  On cue, the kids ripped through the paper and went downstairs.  There was a large pile of gifts under the tree.    Aedin had been talking about how much he was dreaming of getting a motor scooter.  He was wondering if he had been good enough for Santa to deem him worthy of the scooter. 




To his complete joy and excitement, there next to the Christmas tree was his scooter, and another one for Winrey. 





He literally jumped up and down he was so excited.  Everyone opened their stockings, which were neatly laid out on the couch.  Cedar was very happy with the 3 or 4 small toy cars in his stocking. If the cars had been his only gifts he would have been perfectly happy. 

We began opening the gifts one at a time. 

Some of the gifts were part of a pirate treasure hunt!  One present had clues about which gift to look for next, and so forth.  The treasure hunt ended with a large pirate treasure chest full of “gold” coins, which they will use for playing with as well as decorating on Pirate day.  Lanette also had gifts with clues for Alex that resulted in more gold coins and “jewels.”   They both had the same idea! 

 Winrey got a ballet outfit and ballet doll.

  

                                                                                                     

 

 Lanette got box after box of beautiful clothes.   Alex had found a Chinese site online that sold cute clothing for ridiculously cheap prices.  The clothes are very small sizes, which worked beautifully for Lanette.   Later she tried on the different outfits and Alex took pictures of her outside as she had fun modeling the clothes.

 

The kids had fun trying out their new motor scooters.  This is Alex helping Winrey on her first try on the scooter.

 

That evening, one of the neighbors decorated the whole street with "luminaries."   They are paper bags with candles inside.  It was beautiful.

We had planned returning home the evening of December 26th.  However, the weather forecast was warning of a blizzard that would start very late that night.  Out of concern for our safety on the road, we resignedly decided to go home on Christmas evening.  Alex and Lanette prepared a wonderful dinner for us, and then we drove home.  We had dry roads all the way home.  The next day it snowed all day, and over the next couple of days piled up about 6 inches of fluffy sparkling snow.

Alex and Lanette went snowshoeing and sent us a picture.

Saturday night we watched “It’s a wonderful Life.”  We didn’t think it was too late to watch a Christmas movie. 

It's been snowing the last few days.  We have 6 or 8  inches and it is piled up everywhere and is very pretty.  It's cold too, about 15 degrees at noon.  Tonight Greg and I are going to chaperone at the church youth New Year's Eve Dance.  It's for kids 14 to 17 years old.  We've helped before and they are great kids.  We never have any problems.  So we'll be dancing to their music LOL!

Backpacking in the Sawtooths Aug 2012

Alex, Lanette, Aedin, Eric, and I went backpacking! It was my first time backpacking, and it was great! We camped three nights. Thank-you to Alex and Eric who carried some of my stuff!

We arrived pretty late at night, so we camped the first night near the trailhead.

The next day, we left my Buick near Petite Lake, then we drove up the rocky road to the upper trailhead for Hell Roaring Lake. We all hiked up to a junction. Alex left his pack there. Then he had to hike back down, over a mile - drive the car to the lower trailhead where the Buick could later meet it - then hike up from the lower trailhead to meet us again. He hiked several miles in the process so save the rest of us from the longer hike. Thanks Alex!



Aedin was a great little hiker and carried some of his own gear. Other hikers were amazed to see this little guy deep in the back country!




















Lanette









Aedin at Hell Roaring Lake.






















Eric and Alex






























Aedin at Imogene Lake. We camped here the second night. We all went swimming - well, Eric, Alex, and Lanette swam, and Aedin and I got wet!

























We went up over 20 switchback, then down more switchbacks, then up another 20 switchback, then down again. That was a challenging day! We saw some beautiful mountains, streams and ponds. I should have taken more pictures!

























Lanette relaxing at Toxaway Lake. We camped here the 3rd night.







































Eric, Lanette, Alex, and Aedin






























At the top of Snowyside Pass.

We hiked up a bunch of switchbacks, turned a corner, and wow! There was Twin Lake!

Eric, Alex, Lanette, ME! and Aedin.
I never thought I'd actually be here!






Lanette looking cute above Twin Lakes on top of Snowyside Pass.









Alex made us amazing food. One evening we had pasta with broccoli, chicken, peppers, and Alfredo sauce.

Another night we had yummy burritos with Spanish rice, refried beans, chicken, peppers, and salsa on flour tortillas!














Alice Lake






























This wood trail felt so good under our feet after hiking down over rocks for several hours!