Princess F turns 5.

What a Birthday!

The Princess had a Birthday that lasted 5 days.

She is after all a BIG 5.

I was amazed at the work her mom put into her Birthday Party!

She made a banner that was about 25 feet in length total, made from scrapbook paper cut into triangles and stapled together and hung from a tree.

She strung a 25 foot balloon line [balloons strung on fishing line] high above the patio in colors that matched the "Strawberry Shortcake" theme.

It was fun watching them pop throughout the party from the sun or birds or whatever. A "Rice Crispy Cake" that was adorable.

And each party goer got to take home "Strawberry" sun glasses, Strawberry Shortcake coloring book, and a special "Strawberry Shortcake" CD with songs they could dance to. Pink Lemonade, Cinnamon rolls [homemade by Carly] frosted in of course pink frosting. And Carly stayed up until 3:30 in the morning modpodginga house made out of particleboard covered with scrapbook paper that looked like carpet and wall paper. She cut out furniture from RC Willey and Lowe's ads and glued them on the walls so there were 4 rooms....a kitchen complete with cupboards, refrigerator, and small appliances....a bathroom with toilet, shower, pictures on the wall, and rug on the floor......Front room complete with sofa, and big screen TV.....and finally a bedroom with bed, dresser, lamps, and mirrors. It was for Farrah's Pet Shop animals she got for her birthday [E-Bay]. What we won't do for our kids. She did everything for Farrah's Birthday but stitch her name on a hot pad! [If you get my drift]

Farrah had a great party with all the people that love her.....her friends, Grandmas and Grandpas, her mom and dad and the Farnsworth cousins!

Happy Birthday Princess!!!!

For tomorrow.....well you will be just Farrah....But I love that girl!

What's New???? Eva May....that's Who!!!

Eva May 7 lbs 2 OZ. Born 9/15/2011.

So happy you are here you beautiful baby girl so fresh from Heaven.

Congratulations Mac And Priscila!

No Labor on Labor Day,

I decided to take a 4 day weekend this past Labor Day weekend.

It was just what I needed.

On Friday I met my sisters for lunch at "Kneaders" in Bountiful.

We had a great lunch and an even better visit.

I love my sisters and I just needed a good dose of them.

On Monday I got up early and headed for Nikki's house.

She planned a hike for us at Sherwood Hills. Much to our dismay, they won't let the public hike there any more with out a fee and since we did not come prepared, we headed for Nik's back-up plan which was to walk/run the trail around the lake at Mantua. It is just 4.1 miles which is exactly the time we had before Nik had to get back to Brooke.

Here are some pictures from our adventure:

The morning breaks over Mantua.

Emma loves horses and here are two in the bushes eating breakfast.

Emma watches the fish jump? The ducks dive? The fisherman?

It was a beautiful calm Labor Day morning...

Thanks Nik and Emma for the memories on a wonderful Labor Day morning.

I was also able to go on a drive with Doug. We had a great time driving up to Kamas and then on to Park City. Doug had been to a cafe up there years ago where the owner had a wall full of bottles of Coke from all over the world. Probably 10 years ago Robin went to Prague, Czech Republic and Doug had her bring him back a bottle of Coke Cola to take up there. We were 10 years too late as the wall of Coke does not exist anymore. I guess we need to get out more. We decided to head to Park City and the Outlet stores where Doug found a new leather coat at Wilson's Leather. Then we headed back to the Valley. We were lucky to be driving the opposite direction of the crowded highways. When we left to go home on I-80 East, the other direction, I-80 West was backed up way past the Heber exit. Everyone was going home. Made me glad I live where I do. It was a relaxing day full of "no Labor". Hope you all had a great holiday as well. Next Holiday off...Thanksgiving. Can you believe it??

I hate to see the summer go....there was so little of it.

I've just been thinking.........

...........about my Great Grandma Mary Ann.

Four Generation Picture: Aunt Dora with baby Maryanne, Grandma Rosetta, Great Grandma Mary Ann, and Aunt Faye with baby Marlene.

This was Mary Ann's 93rd Birthday.


Part One: England [An expert paraphrased from her life story]

Mary Ann was born in England the daughter of Edward and Ann Smith Ingram. Her parents worked as tenant farmers in Newbold, Warwickshire, England for the "Bates" family. Times were hard and at 6 years old she was left in charge of the younger children while her older brother [8] helped his father in the fields and her mother helped to clean the "big house". When the baby needed to be nursed, she would take the baby to her mother at the big house where she took in everythng from the pretty plates, the beautiful glassware, cushioned chairs, and the shining floor.

The English countyside was beautiful with its green trees, rock fences, hedgerows of blooming shrubs, and flowers at all seasons. Flowers bloomed near the Ingram cottage and a small piece of land was set aside for the tenanats to grow vegetables for their own use. The grazing cattle and sheep made a pleasing picture.

Mary Ann was small for her age, small and tough fibred: made to withstand life, whatever it brought her. She had large features in proportion to her size, her eyes were a clear light blue, not plain because of her clear white skin and the soft pink flush on her high cheek bones. She had light blond hair as a child which would later turn to a shining light brown as she got older. It was tied back away from her face with a bit of a string. As it grew it was braided down her back and tied with a bit of hair from her comb.

After a hard days work, her father would read to the children and teach them to read and "reckon" and gave them a love and respect for knowledge. In their home was love and the teachings of the gospel which was aways a part of Mary Ann's life.
The walk to church was a three mile walk. Every three months they would walk 12 miles for conference. On some of those occasions the way was made shorter for Mary Ann. One of the families they met along the way was the White family who had a son John, 9 years her senior, who would put her on his shoulder and carry her "piggyback" part of the way. When she was 9 years old a missionary from America came to their home one evening and asked Edward how many there were in the branch that were ready for baptism. Mary Ann and several others were baptized that next Saturday with the services on the banks of the Avon River near Cosford. Mary Ann never forgot that day as long as she lived. She could remember the cold wet nightgown as it clinged to her legs as she walked to a clump of trees to be dried off and then changed into proper clothes. She never forgot Elder Day's cautioning her to listen to the "still small voice" that was the gift of the Holy Ghost and given to her as a guide throughout her life if she kept the faith. As young as she was, she sensed that it would be an anchor for her and give her the strength she would need to meet the many challenges she had in life.
Her childhood ended at age 14 when according to custom she was old enough to find a situation to support herself and help the family as well. She had learned what she needed to know by taking her mothers place at the Bates "big house" from time to time where she learned to cook over an open fire and clean and polish fine china and silver. She was ready to help her family financially.
She had good "notices" from Mrs. Bates and so it was not hard for her to find work. She worked several different places until she finally took a position at Rugby as a cook in a boarding house for boys attending the famous school at that place. Her mistress was thoughtful and therefore their relationship was pleasant. The best thing is that it was near Cosford. When she had a day off she would sometimes walk to see her family and also happily saw them at church every Sunday.
Two of her brothers were making plans to go to America and on to Zion. She decided to save her money to go with them. She was almost 21 when the day of departure was set. When the time came she did not have enough money. Through answers to prayers and her own faith and courage she was able to obtain the money needed to go to the promised land.
On the morning of April 11, 1862 the Ingram family gathered at the Liverpool docks. The family was not a demonstrative family, but they loved each other and stood in a tight circle as they said goodbye. What must Mary Ann's mother have thought as she watched some of her children leave for America not knowing if she would see them again. especially her youngest son George only 9 years old. Mary Ann's mother's heart must have failed her seeing him leave her, but knowing that Mary Ann would take good care of him, MAry Ann's mother knew that the prospects for a good life would be much better in America. There were no tears, only strong hand clasps and quick kisses, then the Ingram chldren went on board the ship the "John C. Boyd".

Happy Day Aaron...

THIS WEEK WAS AARON'S BIRTHDAY!

I won't tell you how old he is, but it rhymes with GREAT!!

Which is what he is.

He never ages.

Can you guess what year this was taken?

I love that Aaron is such a great dad.

He is always doing fun things with his kids.

But most of all Nikki is his number one fan!

Hope your day was "Super"!

Wilson's Love Aaron!

Thank Heaven for Priscila...................

Priscila had a Birthday this last week!

I just want to say "Thank Heavens for Priscila and a Mother and Father that are willing to sacrifice and let her come to America, become a citizen, marry Mac, and have soon to be 4 beautiful children and give up so much to help Mac get through school." Thank-you! Thank-you! Thank-you.... Zivic Family for this great blessing to our family. I can not even imagine what it would be like to see your daughter leave on an airplane for a country far away from Argentina, knowing it may be years before you see her and her family again. It was hard enough to send Mac off on his mission those years ago for just 2 years. It was also hard to leave them in New Jersey so far away for Mac's school. Here is a picture [though a few years old]of Priscila's family:

I hope you had a wonderful and fun Birthday:

I love you and miss you so much.

I could not have asked for a more beautiful and loving daughter in law.

Thanks for loving Mac!

Thanks for a beautiful family as well!

HUGS!

Special Day for Lindsey......she is 8.....Great! Great! Great!

Saturday was a special day for Lindsey.
She was Baptised by her dad.

Her Grandma Mary bought her a beautiful confirmation dress.

She also got her own set of Scriptures with her name on it.
It was a wonderful event where her Aunt Amanda gave a talk on the Holy Ghost.
Her sister Emma sang "I know He lives". [Touching]
But the best part was when Lindsey was conformed by her dad.
He gave her a beautiful blessing.
What a day to remember......

Congratulations Lindsey. Saturday you got the best "Gift" of all.

You will never be alone.