Ding dong the bell has rung.
The kids are gone

Lets begin,
the Summer fun.
Ding dong the finale bell has rung

Things I am thankful for.

Children who wave at you from a bus.

People who walk by and stop and say Hello everyday when I do the Crosswalk.

The Sun that is there everyday even if it is on the other side of the clouds.

Wind, The power going off, The power staying on.

Phone calls, Letters are better, you can read them over and over.

Family who like me just the way I am. And will let me change for the better.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Ok I haven't done anything here for a while.
It looks like I haven't done a thing since the babies were born and our trip to Alaska

Not so........
June brought lots of Trek stuff. July brought Trek, Camp stuff and more camp stuff.
Ausgust brought all of my children to my house between trek and Girls Camp.
Girls Camp was wonderful. I am thankful Heavenly Father is in charge.
September brought School
I am doing Reading in 1st, 2nd, 4th, Recess and then Kindergarten, then Reading in 5th grade.
Wow do my days go fast.

No pictures I'm not as picturey (if there is such a word) of a person as one should be these days.

HOPE EVERYONE IS ENJOYING LIFE........WHAT EVER IT BRINGS

North to Alaska

The Burtons

The Gardens

Good Bye Seattle
Hello
Caseys I take this as a sign.
I hope someones picture turned out The Oakesons
The Oakesons The Batemans

Thank you children and grandchildren who let your parents go on a trip NORTH TO ALASKA We your PARENTS had a wonderful time.
I am not sure what my favorite part was, but I am sure it had something with being together.
The ship was great, the food was plentiful, the sights where exquisite, the bus ride memorable, the trian trip breath taking, the laughing the best, the shows delightful, the shopping fun, the family the greatest.
I can't get the pictures in the right spot so this will have to do.
I am thankful for the brothers and sisters Heavenly Father gave to me, or rather let me come to them. Since I am the youngest I guess that is how it works.

Of course I had better blog about the twins.

Born on May 15th, 6 weeks early.

Jennifer had gone to the Dr. that morning and was told that no way was she going to make it to June 9th which was when they had her scheduled for a C section.

So they left the Dr. and went to Costco. They were standing in line when Jennifer took a deep breath and the cashier asked "if she was ok?" "Was she in labor" Jennifer said "no she was fine."

Then about 2 minutes later her water broke. So they called the Dr. who said go home and rest see if it was really your water. Well it really was and Boe threw all the stuff from Costco in the house, with the help of the Elders who live with us.

At the hospital they did an altra sound and deteremined it was best to do a C section.

So and hour later the babies were born.

Hence they are known at the Hospital as the Costco Twins.

Cole was born at 4:47 pm and Chloe was born at 4:49 pm

This is what Mike does for part of his day.

He has fun. These pictures were taken in Portland Oregon last September.

Hello dear family and friends.

We are great in the great northwest.

We have had our share of SNOW this winter.

Sad but true story. Last Sunday all our neighbors were

with out power but not us.

I told Boe it was because he lives with us and he has some

connection with the Power Company.

He offered to go pull the switch to shut off our power.

But he hasn't done it yet.

The Kitchen

These are the Before Pictures

This is what they looked like in the middle of it all

This is what it looks like now

It is really fun for us.

NOW AND THEN

This is the Christmas front porch

This is our creek now

This is the flower bed now

This was the creek in November

These were my last SunFlowers in November

This is the finished tree out of order, but I got it here.

Mac and all that

Cousins in Washington

We web camed the COUSINS in Missouri,


This was our frist snow day. Mac, Hannah and Owen came over to help

Grandma build a snowman.

Ok I am trying to figure this out. That is what happens when you get enough snow that you have time to try things.

We had a grandma and grandpa night with the grandchildren. They helped decorate the tree and make goodies for thier teachers. We also had a mouse in the house. It was the best fun.

Sorry no pictures of the mouse.

I'm Thankful For

Happy Thanksgiving,

I have many things to be thankful for.,
Here are a few,

1. I am thankful for my Husband Mike,
For 35 years together and eternity to figure out the rest.

2. I am thankful for my Children, Bryan and Julie, Holly and Matt, Melissa and Monti, Jennifer and Boe, Jeff and Heather-Ann. Nathan and Sonie also.
For the many lessons I have learned by being their Mother.

3. I am thankful for my grandchildren Mac, Hannah, Owen, Megan, Wyatt, Naomi, Mariah, Ruth, Lindsay, Cameron, and the rest that are yet to be, for the hope of the future and keeping me young. Thanks for playing with me.

4. I am thankful for our Parents, Ron and Tania, Ray and Leone, Who have always been there for us. To whom we owe our very lives.

5. I am thankful for Brothers and Sisters Gail & Darlene, Glen & Moana, Sue & Mike, Judy & Fred, Cathy & Curt, Dave & Sherri, Rhonda & Harold, Vic and Mandy,
For being our friends, and good examples of love, family, and for living a life worth following.

6. I am thankful for Nephews and Nieces, Russell & Julee, Kevin & Penny, Polly & Dave,Monica & Eric, Curt & Michelle, Elissa & Clark, Stacy & Ben, James & Gale, Heidi & Bruce, Michael & Amy, David & Jennie, Harley & Amber,Anna, Kristi, & Allen, Cheri & Tandy,Brian & Brenda, Jamie & Jared, Scott & Haley, Brice, Darren & Brenda, Trevor & Trish, Brent & Lindsay, Steve & Ruth, Shane & Jolie, Braine & Ken, Nic & Kristi, Andrew, Shara, and Tania.
With out I would not be blogging. for the hope of the future as they raise their familys towards God.

7. I am thankful for my testimony In God our Eternal Father, His son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. I am thankful for my memebership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints.

8. I am thankful for Friends, at work, church, and everywhere else. You help me be a better person.

9. I am thankful for my job. The children I work with and the teachers also.

10. I am thankful to know JOY

Thank You Monica, I have been tagged.
7 Random things about me.

1. I like starting fires. Of course in a safe place.

2. I don't think you need a vegetable with every meal.

3. Not everyone knows. At the age of 16, I had my nose operated on to give me the wonderful look I have today.

4. I can eat what ever is left from breakfast when I come home from work. That includes cold pancakes, oatmeal and dead toast.

5. I can't wear shoes with out socks.

6. I don't like to drive. (considering my mother loved to drive places and could go forever, it seems a little strange until you realize I haven't always had a car that you could drive without saying a prayer each time you went out to start it.)

7. It is easier for me to talk in front of 100 people than to talk one on one to someone I don't know.

I hope that does it for the 7 random
things and now I am going to tag, Cathy, Holly, Trish, Ruth

What I was wondering is did everyone get to see women's conference?

I always like to think that my family is together when we get to watch things from Salt Lake.

So I hope that you were watching and then when I think to myself.

Here we are My daughters, Sisters, Nieces, and friends all together learning what Heavenly Father wants us to do.

So I look forward to General Conference.
May we be together in learning and love
Melea

A New Baby

Hello,

I would like you to meet

Cameron Lee Johnson

Born Sept 10, 2008

He got out of the hospital yesterday.

All is going well.

Jeff and Heather-Ann are happy to be at home with him.

Girls Camp.
What a treat. I don't have pictures yet but I carry the spirit inside.
If you haven't experienced 125 young women in the outdoors with 40 adults to make it happen.
What Happen?
Testimonies grow.
It is hard to explain. If you've been there you know.

Our Theme this year was the Justis League
Steadfast in our Mission
Immovable in our Values

Mike was part of the priesthood,
Melissa and Julie got to be cabin Mom's, I was up as a Stake Leader.

I got to teach the class the Fantastic 4
God the Eternal Father, His son Jesus Christ, The Holy Ghost, and You.

Hopefuly I will have pictures soon which are always worth a thousand words

New to the scene.

Hi,

I am now a blogger. I think? Therefore I am.
I think I skipped the layout part.
I don't have any pictures to add so we will figure it out form here.