February Freesias

We just went to Kirtlyn's 4th grade program for which the theme was "I Love February."  There are so many interesting days in February, including Groundhog day, Valentine's Day, Arizona's birthday, Presidents'  Day, Gumdrop day, and the birthdays of Marlie, Brianna, Lindsay, Brock, Parker, Polly, Bridger, Daynen and Hannah. Those are a lot of reasons to love February, for sure.  February is also, in Arizona, the beginning of spring.  We have had Dad's daffodils popping up and making us smile.  It has been warm enough to swim and really enjoy it and not dread getting out.   I chose Freesias to add to my monthly bouquet.  Aren't they a pretty flower...so colorful.  I have not been very familiar with freesias, but I like them.

~Freesias~

Our poolside daffodils...

Swimming in February.  Very pleasant workout

Our Fabulous February birthdays:

February is the month that all our birthdays are shared...even Brock, who is just joining the lineup.

Marlie turned 12, a Young Woman, on the 4th. She shares her birthday with Brianna.

Brianna turned 9 on the 4th, who shares with Marlie.

Lindsay, who shares her birthday with Abraham Lincoln, turned 6 on the 12th.

Brock's birthday is the 14th, the birthday of St. Valentine :-)

Parker, shown here with his companion, shares a birthday with George Washington on the 22nd.  He turned 19...Parker, that is.

Polly turned 15 on the 26th, sharing her birthday with Bridger.

Bridger turned 10 on the 26th, on Polly's birthday.

Daynen turned 18 on the 28th, a day he shares with Hannah 3 out of every 4 years.

And Hannah is sharing Daynen's birthday this year, turning 18 too.

~VALENTINE'S DAY~

One of the big events this month, is  Devynne's engagement.  It was on Valentine's Day...also his birthday...that Brock asked her to be his wife.  Here is the gorgeous ring and the happy couple.  The wedding date is May 10, in Seattle.  They will come to the Gila Valley Temple for her endowments, though, so we are excited to have them here.  That date is May 3,  a Saturday.  We hope as many of you as can will come.  We'll have her bridal shower while she is here.

The Seattle Temple

Josh and Nicole celebrating the day.

Palmer filled her car with pink balloons for Bethany.

Allison and Taylor enjoying the married student life in Idaho.

2 dozen red roses from my valentine.

Esther helped Soren's class decorate Valentine's cookies.

Mary's family's Valentine's Day

Rachel's family's Valentine's Day.

Rebecca made heart cookies for her family and shared some with Dad and me.  Sorry, to the rest of you, but we enjoyed them.

This month marked the beginning of our switch to the stake center.  Yes, after 26 years in the 20th St. Chapel, we are now holding our meetings in the Stake Center.  Here is Dad pushing Una Mae Larson on the first day of our switch.

Since that day was also Super Bowl Sunday, Mary arranged a Super Bowl Party at our house.  You can see how much everyone was enjoying the game.  Actually, I sat in my chair and read my Kindle.  The teams were Seattle and Denver, so we had to text Devynne and Brock and see if it was driving a wedge between them.  True to their lovebird hearts, however,  seeing Denver get trounced didn't affect their affections.

The 3rd of February was Adina Birdno's 100th birthday.  We went to visit, but it took her a little while to remember who we were. When she did, however,  she really did.  I was impressed.  She even showed me cards I had sent her in the past that were on her table.

The next day, we ate dinner at Mary's to celebrate Brianna's birthday. Which, you remember, she shares with Marlie.

On the 7th, we drove to Mesa to attend the viewing and funeral of my dear, sweet Aunt Ruth Brinton, who had passed away the previous week.  We ate lunch with Joel, Stephanie, Stetson, Crew, Marlie and Esther. 

Ruth is the wife of Grandma Hiatt's brother, Van.  She and Grandma are the same age, just a few months apart...Grandma is a little older than Ruth.  She was a nurse and I always loved her.  I remember when I was very young, not understanding the difference between children and children-in-law, and I wondered why Grandma Brinton named two girls "Ruth."  My goal was for my grandchildren not to know which aunts and uncles were children and which were children-in-law, because they are all beloved members of our family no matter whether they were born to us or married to us.  Her maiden name was Freestone and her father is Stephanie's great grandfather's brother, I think.

Here I am with my sisters and Laura Kay LeBaron Skinner.  Karen hadn't come to the viewing by this time, so she isn't in the picture.

Here are the husbands, standing around, patiently waiting for us to visit with all our cousins.

Grandma and Grandpa with Grandma's sister, Aunt Donna LeBaron. They are all that is left of the Brinton family.

Here they are with their Driggs cousins who came for the funeral.

After the funeral, we went to Costco with Jeremy and four of his kids. It was so nice of them to go with us and let us use their card.  When we got there, we saw Shad, who had come to shop, eat lunch and get away from the painters at his house.

On the 12th, we celebrated Lindsay's birthday with her family.

On Sunday, the 16th, Thomas had the painters in to completely redo the El Charro.  It had to be on a Sunday because that is the only day the restaurant isn't open.  He had been conferring with Stephanie and Rachel and they developed a color scheme and decorating plan. I was a little apprehensive, at first, that it would be too dark, but I have to say, now that I've been there several times, that it looks really great.  I've heard comments from customers who say it looks more like a restaurant you would see in Phoenix or Tucson and that it seems cosy and elegant.

Rachel was there most of the day, after church, and Mary came down later that evening to help decorate.  Dad and I mainly just looked on and gave unsolicited advise.

It was Rachel's anniversary, so we finally talked her into going home to be with Tony, who was babysitting.  After she got home, she sent Rylie back with Isabel and Luke to help finish up. Mary and Tyson also came back later that evening and I stayed with their kids at their house.  I have put some photos of the finished look in Thomas' section at the bottom.

On Presidents' Day, we had a weenie roast/work/swim party.  Rachel and Mary and Esther gave Dad a "sandpile" play area for Christmas, I think, and they, along with Jenn, worked to get it ready for spring and summer.

While they worked, the kids swam, and Rebecca and Thomas and I did lifeguard duty.

That night, he hosted an El Charro appreciation dinner to thank all those who helped in the redecoration project. I guess we were invited because I babysat while Mary went back to help Sunday night.

Dad drove his little John Deere over to our lot to mow the weeds. He was a happy farmer that day.

Rebecca and Rachel and I attended our stake's Women's Conference together.

For his birthday, Bridger asked to go to Safford with his dad.  So, actually,  he came the day before his birthday, and we went to the school and checked Luke out of class and they enjoyed a day of swimming, El Charro and watching a movie before all the other kids came. While we were at El Charro, we saw Shad, Tyson and Thomas, who were meeting for lunch.

We went to sample some of Polly's birthday cake and to wish her a happy birthday after our shift at the Temple on the 26th. 

On the 27th, we went to Kirtlyn's school program.  She was truly the star of the show, with a solo part, a small group singing part, a speaking part and a dancing part.  She didn't seem shy or nervous either.  We were proud of her.

On the 28th, February's last day, we went to watch Lillian's, Polly's and Rylie's tennis matches.  Each of them won! Rylie ran off before we could get her picture.

~NEWS FROM AROUND THE FAMILY~

NATHAN AND SHAUNA

This picture is from the place where he had a meeting with Google in San Francisco.

This is Hannah with her friend, giving blood, I think. She is planning to attend BYUIdaho in the fall.

For Hannah's birthday, she got to invite some friends to eat at a nice restaurant.

That birthday cake looks sooo yummy.  How can you beat strawberries and chocolate?

JOEL AND STEPHANIE

The  Gilbert Temple open house and cultural celebration and dedication has totally absorbed Joel and Stephanie.  They have been working on it for months and months.  It will all come to a screeching halt on Sunday, March 2, when President Monson dedicates the  temple.  Until then, he and everyone who works for him are "up to their ears in alligators" as Dad says.  They have over 12,000 youth, not including the number of leaders and parents who attend the practices...and to top it all off, they are expecting rain on Saturday, the 1st, just in time for the big event!!! Joel says the show will go on, rain or shine. We can hardly wait to see it.

This picture was sent to Rachel by Anna Alder when she was at the Cultural Celebration orientation meeting.  She was so impressed that Joel was in charge and was speaking in front of everyone and that she was related to someone who is related to him.

Thanks to Esther for this picture of the head honchos.

Docker has been playing basketball and is for sure, the best one on the team, making several baskets per game.

Stetson seems to be enjoying the dating life.

DANIEL AND CONNIE

Well, we've already told some of their big news, but here's some more.  Porter has been accepted to BYU for the fall semester.  

Colorado has been a winter wonderland. The girls sledding down their hill.

Brock plowing snow 

These deer were just across the street from their elementary school one day.

So, what were these quasi secret service types waiting for?

Oh!

Devynne's little sisters got to go wedding dress shopping with her.  What fun!

REBECCA AND SCOTT

Allison finally received her official college diploma after having finished her internship with Joel's company last summer.

In their little married student apartment

Scott, real estate developer that he is, is building another set of apartments.

The Evans girls, Polly, Lillian and Savannah went to the Temple.

Polly got to go to state with her varsity basketball team.

just in time for the tennis season to begin.  She and Lillian will play singles and doubles.

Lillian had to quit her job at El Charro because of tennis season.  Here, she and her parents at the restaurant on her last day of work.

Dallin has been seeing a lot of Sarah and even visited her home on the Jersey Shore.

JEREMY AND ERIKA

Daynen has finished and turned in his requirements for his Eagle Scout Award and Duty to God.  He did it just in time before his 18th birthday.  He has been so busy with filming his movie and working at the Temple open house and celebration, but it is all done and worth it.

His cast and crew.

Jeremy at the cultural celebration practice. (Thanks, again to Esther)

Tayte and fellow Priesthood Quorum members at the temple.

Erika is really becoming a medico.  We all can hardly wait.

As busy as she is she still takes time to do fun things with her kids.

RACHEL AND TONY

The twins participated in cheer camp.

On one of their Mesa trips, they visited 

         Joel and Stephanie and Camille found a perfect spot to meditate

Rylie has recently renewed her interest in art.. She has so much talent and it makes me happy to see her using it again.

Luke's first gassing-the-car experience.

Rachel & tony went to Mesa for their 18th anniversary and were hiking around the Buttes when they saw this field being readied for the A's spring training`.

ESTHER AND SHAD

Marlie's birthday

Bridger's birthday

All of these cousins were going to see the Brown's new house. They were all crammed into Reygan's little blueberry.

Esther, as a YW leader had to be at the celebration practice...all day...with the 12,000 youth...at least 6 of whom are ours.  Docker is doing what Docker does best...avoiding the camera, but we can see Tayte, Marlie, Harrison and Reygan with Esther. Daynen was probably being a techie somewhere.

Marlie took her nonmember friends to the temple open house.

THOMAS AND JENN

Here are the promised photos of the finished El Charro. Classy, right?

Thomas had his first pinewood derby in February.  What a fancy car!

This is the notice from the Eastern Arizona Courier about Thomas' election to the chamber of commerce board of directors.

Jenn has accepted a job with the Safford public schools as an aid to special needs children.  She goes half day and loves being in the same school with Kirtlyn, Thomas and Hyrum.  Maya and Henry enjoy their daily playdate at the babysitter's house.

MARY AND TYSON

Mary put on a spectacular "Frozen" birthday party for Brianna and Lindsay on a day that was neither birthday.

She has been enjoying taking pictures of her newest niece and nephew.  The little hat on the baby was one he already had; she just brought it to me to crochet a border and stitches to make it look like a football.  The other picture is one she took on the Polar Express.  She entered it into a contest and is neck and neck with the closest competitor.  Her picture was chosen to be in the top 10, but depends on votes to be the winner.

They had a few miserable sick days.

She canned white beans with Dad.

She built this puppet theater from PVC pipe.

Tyson and Carson went boar hunting with Tyson's brothers.  Carson loves hunting and camping.

Rebecca called on Mary to make an emergency birthday poster for Polly's party.

OUR MISSIONARIES

According to their letters and their parents, our missionaries are doing very well, working hard and avoiding sickness by carefully observing common sense cleanliness...although it isn't always easy and not always effective.  But they are happy in their work, which makes us happy.

DeWitt went hiking with other office Elders.

Preparing a fire for a "white shirt asada"...his one year anniversary.

Levi and his companions.

Parker and his companion and his zone.

SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU SMILE

Henry decided to try a lemon from his mom's water glass at the El Charro.  His face is priceless! But the really funny thing was when he kept eating it!!

I think this is Bruce, not Mike, but I'm not sure. Jeremy's kids think he is a toy, not a pet.

Thank you for sharing your February with us.  March has a lot in store, as well, with birthdays, Grandma Hiatt's 90th birthday, Cultural Celebration and Dedication of the Gilbert Temple, anniversaries for Jeremy & Erika and Esther & Shad, and our anniversary cruise to Mexico.  Lots of picture-taking opportunities.  I am really trying to take fewer pictures.  I don't know if you can tell, but most of these are ones you all have sent me.  My iPhoto crashed and Jeremy had to  get it all back for me.  I had over 48,000 photos to reorganize!! Many of those were duplicates, thank goodness, and I've been working on them for about 2 weeks now.  I have narrowed the file down to 16,000 plus.  Do you see why I'm determined to take fewer pictures?  I am trying to only take one or two per situation. I know this may not be realistic, but if I know you will send me your pictures to fill in the gap, maybe I'll be able to control myself;-)  We love you all very much.  See you in March!