Hi Everyone!



Yup, I'm still alive. Our lives changed so much on May 12th when Lance and Christy got married that I actually became a little depressed not to have Lance come home every night for dinner, and yes I really miss his sweet little dog, Precious. I don't miss her "puppy paws" on my hardwood floors, her licks on the patio doors or especially dog hair all over the place, but I do so miss her sweet little companionship while I'm fixing dinner and I had lots of little songs I "howled" out to her. I know I'm nuts and NO, I am not getting another dog to replace her. She was way too smart and cute to be replaced, anyway. Maili really misses her, too; they were little buddies. Preicious went to live with Christy's little 3 year old brother, Matthew, and apparently is doing just fine. Matthew kind of follows her around the yard and she barks too much, but over all, she's OK. Christy and Lance had a beautiful wedding and live in the basement apartment that her Grandfather Jones just recently finished. It's roomy and nice. I haven't heard back from Christy's mom on the recipes for the amazing food at the reception, but when I do, I'll share them with you. I made all the chocolate fudge there. Half was the hard, old-fashioned, beaten fudge and half of it was what I have referred to as fake fudge, but it was creamy and delicious, so here's that recipe:



FAKE FUDGE (This is easy!)

2 pkgs milk chocolate chips
1 pkg white chocolate chips
2 cans Condensed Sweetened milk
1 cube margarine

Combine all ingredients and melt on HIGH in microwave about 3 minutes total. If chocolate is in the microwave too long it changes into a weird conglomeration, so stir it a couple of times while cooking and stir it for at least 30 seconds after fully melted to make sure all the ingredients are blended well. Add broken walnuts if desired. Put in a buttered 9X13 glass pan and place in fridge allowing it to set up for several hours until totally cooled. Cut into squares. The fudge does not need to be kept in the fridge after the initial setting-up time, but should always be covered to keep the air from drying it out.



We've actually been able to go camping a couple of times in the past few weeks with some of our friends in the neighborhood. Cameron went with us last time and seemed to enjoy himself with other grandkids our friends brought. It's great company. We put no limitations on who can be there. We've been doing this for years and have had some wonderful times, plus there is always good food. On our first trip this summer to Anderson Cove up on the Pineview Reservoir in Ogden Canyon one of my friends, Jari Wood, made this yummy corn chip salad. She was kind enough to email all of us the recipe:

CORN CHIP SALAD (This is easy, too!)

3 cans whole kernel corn 15-20 grape tomatoes (sliced)
2 green onions (thinly sliced) ½ chopped red bell pepper
½ chopped green bell pepper 1/3 c mayonnaise (approx.)
½ bag Chille Cheese Corn Chips

Drain corn; add grape tomatoes, bell peppers, green onions, & mayonnaise (to taste). Add corn chips just before serving. Serves: 8-10

To give it a southwestern flare add:

Chopped cilantro (to taste)
1 can black beans (drained)
Southwestern Chipotle Dressing (to taste)

I'll keep you posted on news from Nana's Nest. For now, all is well. Mikol is so wonderful to share the fun things in their lives on her blog. Kenney and Sandi have moved to Facebook, so check them out there, and the newlyweds haven't gotten into the blogger world yet. Did talk to Grandma (Roxie) today. She and Elmo would have celebrated their 75th anniversary today. She is doing great! Says she has the normal aches and pains of a 93 year old. Next Sunday, June 21st, she'll be 93 and Anna will be 5! Wow, how time flies! I love reading all of your blogs, so keep it up.

Finally! May of 2009 has come. Christy received her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing this very day from Weber State University. We were there...Neil, Kelton, Cameron, Lance, Christy's parents and myself to see her walk across the floor and receive her diploma. Way to go Christy! You'll never regret it. I'm so proud of you.
It brought on a de ja vue moment back to when Sandi graduated from high school in that same Dee Events Center 12 years ago and married Kenney 3 weeks later. Brian and Kenney both graduated from WSU and Brian was there for HS graduation, too. Lance skipped that portion of HS and just stepped into Evanston's gown, or was that Clearfield's gown with Jennie and was perfectly content to have them mail him his diploma a week or two later to avoid the sheer pleasure of (how did he put it?)..."parading across a stage in a funny-looking gown and hat in front of hundreds of people he didn't know, shaking hands with people he didn't like!" Wow, am I glad Lance has improved his teenage attitude. Now he and Christy only have 11 days to go and we sincerely hope that everyone (and I mean everyone) has received their invitation to the wedding reception on May 12th in Christy's back yard. If you're reading this and you didn't get an invitation, it was a terribly regrettable oversite or we can all assume that it is lost in "Mail Heaven" (as I love to call it when my clients claim their payments or statements were never received). Please...........Come anyway. I've got a bad memory, so I won't know if you were invited or not and it will make my heart (and yours) a whole lot happier if you just show up so I can hug you and thank you for being our special loved ones. Also, pray for good weather and lots of tulips.
Brian and Mikol survived the trip to Mexico without being beheaded and stuffed in a pickle barrel or without catching swine flu. We survived keeping their 3 girls for 4 days and 3 sleeps, as Becca and Anna used to call it. They were little sweethearts, and with Kaitlyn's adorable natural curls and Becca giving me a few pointers or how to make pony tails without comb or brush or finger marks they all actually looked pretty dang cute for church on Sunday, April 19th at 9:00 AM on which day I also had to teach my Relief Society lesson on Joseph Smith's Liberty Jail experiences (which kept everything in perspective) and then Neil and I were guest speakers in the singles branch here in our stake, the same branch that Mike and Jill met in. We spoke on the plan of happiness and thank goodness Lance was here to watch the girls during that hour and ten minutes. That added to my plan of happiness, I'll tell you that much! During our 3-hour block Becca chose to go with Lance to Elders Quorum, Neil took Kaitlyn to High Priests Group, I stayed in RS and Anna went to Primary. After our talks in the singles branch, we came home and the 6 of us had roast beef dinner together, so all in all the day went as usual, busy and crazy!!
Kenney, Sandi and their kids returned from a week long trip to California where they all seem to have had a wonderful time. They went as far as Las Vegas the first day but Kelton told us that Vegas is not a kid-friendly envionment anymore; we got a kick out of that. And Cameron said that during the whole trip, no matter who was driving, his mother or his dad, their GPS unit was repeatedly telling them to make the first legal U-Turn possible. Maili got to have breakfast with the princesses because she was there on her 6th birthday, April 25th. All 3 kids agreed that Splash Mountain was their favorite spot in Disneyland. One day they met up with an old missionary companion of Kenney's, and his family. I'm sure that was a wonderful experience and Maili told us all about his family. Sandi still has all her hair and I haven't heard a word of complaint about the trip. She, of course, came back to a mountain of work at her job but all in all, I think they survived it pretty well.
We are loving life here experiencing the true "Plan of Happiness". Hope this finds you all the same. See you all soon!

You're Busted, Brian!

Last night Anna asked me if it is okay for people to say "shut up". I told her no, of course. She then proceeded to tell me that her dad told her to shut up. She said that since I'm his mother and Papa is his dad she thought she better tell us because parents don't like their kids talking like that. I assured her that I would have a little talk with my son about his language. Needless to say, I talked to Brian and we had a good laugh. Nothing gets by Anna, so you better watch yourselves or she'll tattle on you to your parents.

Neil and I are celebrating our 35th anniversary on Easter Sunday, April 12th. We are flying to Seattle for a few days. Thought we'd drive by Brian's office at Microsoft, for one thing. I spoke with one of my customers the other day in Seattle and told her to make sure the weather is good from the 9th to the 12th. She said it had snowed the day before. Neil's been watching the weather and said it doesn't look too promising, but then again it was such a terrible snow storm the day we got married in 1974 that it about ruined our wedding cake trying to get it into the building, and then later that night Neil got pulled over by the UHP at the point of the mountain for going too fast in dangerous weather conditions. I think he was doing like 35 mph. I think he made some comment to the cop about it being our wedding night and guy got a strange grin on his face and just gave him a warning. I tell you, I married a "wild" one :~) !!! He's the best thing that ever happened to me. I'm a lucky girl to have my calm, level-headed Neil.

Neil and I took Kelton out for his 11th birthday the other night. Wow, he's getting old!! We went to Applebee's where they sang a cool birthday song and gave him a hot fudge sundae after he ate his dinner. Next, we went to the bookstore where he bought the latest edition of (can't think of the name, sorry, but the author is going to be at their school next week for the book fair, so Kelton's going to get him to sign the book), and also we went into the Old Navy store where he bought a shirt that says "They're Going to Make a Movie About Me Someday". We are so glad to be his grandparents and it was fun to be with just him for a couple of hours. He's a nice kid with lots of friends. He invited me to his 5th grade classroom yesterday as he presented his "All About Kelton" poster. It was fun to meet his friends and teacher. Happy Birthday, Kelton! You're my favorite 11-year-old in the whole wide world. Always stay good, so you can be happy!

You're Busted, Brian!

Happy Birthday to Lance

This week has been the best!! Lance and Christy went to the Salt Lake Temple to receive their endowments on Tuesday March 24th which happens to be Lance 's and also Christy's mother, Elaine's birthday. What a wonderful way to spend a birthday!! I had forgotten just how gorgeous the Salt Lake Temple is on the inside. The beauty and ornate designs are beyond description. You all really need to take some time and go there occasionally; if not on the inside then at least on the outside.
I took my camera to get pictures of Lance and Christy before and/or after they went through the temple, but of course I forgot to take the pictures. Pretty soon you'll all be getting wedding invitations. I guess you'll see their mug-shots then. Besides I have to practice a little on how to get pictures on to my blog posts. Mikol taught me how so after a little practice, that's my next project.
Hope everyone is doing well, especially my sweet brother-in-law, Greg. Hope the chemo and radiation aren't getting him down too much.
Brian wonders who I'll pray for now. I've spent the last 8-10 years earnestly hoping and praying my prodigal son back, but believe me you are all continually in my thoughts and prayers. Seeing and being in the temple with Lance and my other children was the highlight of the 21st century, second only to January 28, 2000 when Brian and Mikol "tied the knot" there!!! Families are forever and I feel the love and strength of all your sweet concerns for our little group up here in Davis County!!
I'll keep you posted at Nana's Nest. Thanks to those who have left comments. I welcome them and I love reading them. Plus, checking everyone's blog spots is something I look forward to daily.
Since this blog was designed for my grandkids, I must say to them: YOU ARE MY SIX MOST FAVORITE PEOPLE ON THE PLANET. On some of my future posts I think I'll add a few of the adorable things you say to me. You are the greatest! Just be good, so you can be happy forever and ever.

My First Blog Message

Yahoo for Mikol. She's trying to teach me a few things about living in the 21st century. I'll write more when I actually know what I'm doing. Isn't it great to live in this day and age? I loved seeing everyone at the shower. I'll keep you posted.

Memories & Moments

One more thing and then this blog is all Eva's. :c)
I just thought to welcome Eva, we could all leave her a comment. Please post a comment on this post and tell Eva of a favorite memory you have of or with her. Thanks so much!
~Mikol