The view from Jen and Lowell's front porch
Whenever we go to Utah or anywhere we are with our family we take a lot of photos. Kids today have such a chronology of photos of themselves growing up that I am sure they will remember their childhoods far better than we do. Photos capture the details of our lives. Studies have actually been done on this with children. Photos create what I call "heart prints" for people that endure. Not just the formal ones but the ones where we look more real. The ones that are not always flattering but that remind us of precious moments of real life.
We had a great time with our kids while we celebrated Easter and also our son's Chris' birthday and our granddaughter Piper turning 17. Jim went to do Grampa Camp with the three younger girls while Jen and Piper went off to check out some colleges in Oregon. That is a long standing tradition for these kids and they love Grampa Camp.
Grampa Camp was created when Hazel was very tiny and in the hospital a lot. It took four adults to keep those four kids going. Jen and I would go to the hospital and trade off shifts while we stayed in the Ronald Mc Donald House in Salt Lake. Lowell would keep working and fill in for us on weekends. Jim minded the kids an hour away from the hospital where they lived. He got them to school, cooked for them, did their hair, etc. This great tradition was born. He is a phenomenal Grandfather!
Here are some of the captured moment of those couple of weeks with our family.
Hazel looking so hip with
with messy hair!
Chloe serving "Tea" at Piper's Birthday party!
Note her apron and the kitchen towel...just like Grampa!
We all colored and decorated Easter Eggs with friends.
Lots of eggs more than 8 dozen.
Friends brought some to take home.
Out on the dream porch at the Stewart's
is always a treat!
Julia made some pretty ones too!
Hazie with her dog Leo.
Not sure where Lucy was at this
moment they're usually together.
moment they're usually together.
Aynslee, Missy and I went to
The General Conference Women's Session
at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City
with 21,000 other ladies on Easter Eve.
Excellent experience to share with them.
We had an Easter Egg Hunt on Easter with the Grandkids
Connor and Owen checking out the loot!
We enjoyed Chris and Missy's ward at church that morning,
and a relaxing afternoon of togetherness.
Rare shot of Jim in a chair just hanging out.
Grampa and some of the kids!
Nose to nose
Zach, Piper, Aynslee, Grampa, Julia
A few more of us joined in!
Nose to nose
Zach, Connor, Piper, Gramma, Grampa, Aynslee, Julia
Missy prepared an amazing dinner~this is the kids' table.
Jen and Hazie getting ready for dinner!
The six youngest kids sat here and the two oldest,
Piper and Connor sat with the adults.
The buffet with the Birthday boy, Chris @41 and Zachary
Jen and Lowell
Prom Match!
Other days of our stay..music fills their home!
Connor practicing his music.
He played in Sacrament meeting on
Easter Morning. What a treat for us.
Aynslee practicing her violin after school one day!
Zachary on the clarinet!
I love how the kids just come home and practice.
I saw no prompting and no whining!
Jim and Chris built a great garden shed
while we were there.
It is not finished yet but the framing
and roof are on.
Chris will finish the rest.
Six barn doors, interior and paint, etc.
Jim building memories with our boy!
They do it up right!
Spring is on the way...What's not to love?
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