Marilyn's Monologues

New Family Photo (Allen and Wendy McKell - My brother and sister-in-law)

2012-01-17T15:16:00.000-08:00

Happy 20th Anniversary - Natalie and Alan

2011-12-31T12:25:00.000-08:00

Carson looks so cute in his Christmas sweater

2011-12-30T09:05:00.000-08:00

Moore Christmas party - 2011

2011-12-19T07:41:00.000-08:00

Christmas Party - 2011

2011-12-17T09:23:00.000-08:00

Our Granddaughter Lucy

2011-12-03T13:55:00.000-08:00

Our granddaughter Lucy is shown here on vacation with her parents. She is a beautiful girl!

Thanksgiving at Grandpa and Grandma Moore's House

2011-11-24T19:45:00.000-08:00

There are no men in these photos except Paul and Grandpa McKell. They are all downstairs watching the football game.

Two Peterson Ball Players

2011-11-19T11:42:00.001-08:00

Alan was Derek's baseball coach this summer. They had a very good season. Derek went (with his family as cheerleaders and other ball players as well) to St. George for a tournament in the fall. He is really good at baseball (bragging grandmother - indulge me!)

Nicole and Catherine in New York City

2011-11-06T17:12:00.001-08:00

During the week of UEA Paul's daughter Catherine and our granddaughter Nicole traveled to New York City. A group of fellow dancers and Nicole had the opportunity to learn from professional dancers in NYC (in connection with Nicole's dance company in SLC). The most fun was the great time they spent together seeing the sights of the city.

Halloween - 2011

2011-10-31T20:02:00.000-07:00

Sachin and Divya are dressed in Harry Potter costumes. These daring little kids are two of my former piano students. I miss seeing them every week.
Carson is sweet enough to eat in his hamburger costume.

Megan is getting ready to trick or treat with her friends. (She is the one with the blue hair.)

Carson is Eight Months Old

2011-10-30T11:56:00.001-07:00

Madison Taylor Leach

2011-10-19T09:15:00.000-07:00

Our new little great-granddaughter was born last night. Her name is Madison Taylor Leach. She is beautiful! This is our first time as great-grandparents and Paul and Char's first time as grandparents. This little girl will get loads and loads of attention and love.

Paul and Carson

2011-10-15T11:18:00.000-07:00

We spent part of Paul's birthday (yesterday) tending Carson. He loved to have Grandpa jiggle him up and down and pretend he was dancing.
Carson loves his bouncy seat and flies this way and that!

A New Baby in the Family

2011-10-11T11:52:00.000-07:00

We are about to become great-grandparents for the first time! Our granddaughter Katie and her husband Eric are expecting a baby girl any day now. How fun to have a new little baby to love.

Trip to New England and Canada

2011-10-09T10:30:00.001-07:00

We visited the home where Ann of Green Gables grew up. Prince Edward Island was beautiful - very green
My hair color matched that of Anne of Green Gables. I added her braids and hat for a semblance of her likeness.
Paul is standing at the peak of a mountain in Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine. The view of all of the water below was breathtaking!
It was so cold and windy in Quebec that this was the only photo we took.

2011-09-26T21:26:00.000-07:00

Carson and his blue, blue eyes!

The Popular Moore Birthdays

2011-09-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

Mike, Lucy, and Nicole have easy birthdays to remember. They are all on the same day--September 23rd! Mike was 30 years old on the day that Lucy was born, and then one year later Nicole was born. Is that a coincidence or what?

We hope you all had fun birthdays. I can't believe that Nicole is 14 and Lucy is 15. You are both so pretty and talented.

Grandpa McKell Turns 93!

2011-09-23T10:11:00.000-07:00

On September 17th, my dad turned 93 years old. His granddaughter Ashley Christianson decorated his front porch to celebrate the occasion. Later in the day, family members met at Grandpa's favorite resturant (Chuck-A-Rama)to continue the celebration.

Dad is still in remarkably good health. He walks six to eight blocks a day, enjoys playing his organ, and takes care of his house and rental units, etc.

I am so fortunate to have my dad still in my life. He is a special person.

Jake's First Date

2011-09-14T11:28:00.001-07:00

The Homecoming Dance at West Jordan High School was held last Saturday. Jake and some of his friends (and their dates) had a great time.

Sully's First Day of Kindergarten

2011-09-13T15:15:00.000-07:00

Sullivan is excited about his first day at public school. You can tell he is so ready to jump right in and have fun!

Health Update

2011-08-21T12:38:00.000-07:00

This has been the year from hell for me and my husband. I have been sick, sick, sick for most of the year. I will update you on my present state.

When I got out of the rehabilitation center at the end of April, I had a home health care program where a nurse and physical therapist helped transition me to being home. I became stronger quite quickly, graduating from a walker to a cane and then to just me. A bloodclot I developed in the hospital required for me to take a blood thinner for about eight weeks. The bloodclot finally dissolved, and that was a step in the right direction.

I had a few months of feeling very good. Then about two weeks ago, I developed a sinus infection, which in turn developed into pneumonia. So......I have been battling that for awhile. Today is the first day that I can tell a turn-around for improvement.

Who knows what the rest of the year will bring! I do know that I appreciate every day I have and the people who enrich my life and care so much about me.

Happy Birthday to Sullivan Patrick Moore.

2011-07-18T10:59:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to our sweet grandson Sully. He is five years old today. In the fall he will start kindergarten. Quite a few people think that Sully looks like his Grandpa Moore. I think so too. He and his brother Keaton (and parents) are coming for a visit at the end of August. We are excited about spending time with the boys.

2011-07-17T16:43:00.000-07:00

Growing and changing every day!

Photos from the Past

2011-07-16T10:10:00.000-07:00

I think that Natalie was four in this picture and Melanie was one-year-old. I dressed them alike quite often; they would say that I dressed them in dorky clothes. Of course, I thought they looked adorable. They are my sweet baby girls, and they remain that way today!

Carson's First 4th of July Celebration

2011-07-04T11:55:00.000-07:00

2011-06-25T12:59:00.000-07:00

You can tell that Nicole is a dancer. She almost looks like she is flying through the air above the trampoline.

A Summer Trip for the Ferugsons in Hawaii

2011-06-25T12:25:00.001-07:00

Jessica Graduates from BYU - Idaho

2011-06-19T19:06:00.001-07:00

Jessica Nancy Moore (our granddaughter) graduated from BYU Idaho in the spring. She received her degree in Occupational Therapy. She is working in Salt Lake City and has recently moved into a house in the Avenues with some of her friends.

We are proud of Jessica. She has a delightful personality. We are glad to have her back in Utah again.

Happy Father's Day - Dinner at Paul and Char's home

2011-06-19T18:57:00.000-07:00

My sweet husband
Eric is a father-to-be, (baby due in the middle of October)
Paul and his children - Paul W. and Catherine
Nicole and Bryce

We had a lovely dinner and a relaxing day visiting with Paul and his family.

Sunday at Grandma and Grandpa's House

2011-06-05T18:05:00.000-07:00

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2011-06-05T13:17:00.000-07:00

Jake is going on an exciting adventure tomorrow. Grandma and Grandpa Frost are taking him for two weeks to Germany and Austria. He is a lucky kid to have such a wonderful opportunity. Bon Voyage!

Oregon Grandsons

2011-06-04T10:06:00.000-07:00

Mike and Patti sent us new pictures of Keaton and Sully. These boys are growing so fast.

Carson the Cutie

2011-06-03T09:22:00.000-07:00

Carson loves his bath. Megan shared her glasses with Carson!

2011-05-31T12:13:00.000-07:00

I have stolen this picture of Carson from Melanie's blog. He is almost three months old. Aren't those cheeks adorable.

Great-grandparents!

2011-05-28T10:40:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Katie and Eric! They are expecting a baby girl in the middle of October. We are so happy for them. They will be wonderful parents.

Yes, that makes Paul and I great-grandparents. We hope that Katie and Eric let us tend their sweet little girl on occasons.

Our Little Sweetheart

2011-05-23T14:36:00.000-07:00

Our baby is growing by leaps and bounds. He is now around 14 pounds. He is discovering that he can grab stuff located close to his hands. What an interactive little baby he is. He is trying so hard to communicate with us. We love him lots.

Can you tell how blue his eyes are? They are a dark blue, and his skin is very fair. He will have to use lots of sunblock out in the sun (like his mom and grandma do).

2011 Dance Recital

2011-05-22T11:44:00.000-07:00

We were privileged to attend Nicole's recent dance recital. She is a truly talented girl. In this photo, she is on her toes--in body and in talent!

Baylee's Piano Recital

2011-05-22T10:21:00.000-07:00

I miss seeing Baylee at piano lessons every Monday. She has the sweetest way about her. She is very kind and thoughtful too.

Here is Baylee in her new teacher's recital. I was so proud of her and how well she played.

2011-05-19T16:34:00.000-07:00

Recently I attended a piano recital for two of my former piano students. After I quit teaching piano in December, I told the students that I would like to attend their future recitals with their new teacher.

Madison and Macall Ross are sisters. I taught them for many years and grew to love them. They practiced consistently and were very talented. It was really fun to see them perform again last week. They played beautifully!!

Grandpa McKell and His Great-grandson Carson

2011-05-16T13:51:00.000-07:00

By the end of July my dad will have a total of 24 (I think)great-grandchildren. He is so thrilled with each new baby. Dad came to Carson's blessing day at the church and to Natalie's house afterward for lunch. He is supportive to each family and tries to keep up with them all.

2011-05-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

I can't seem to get this picture of Sully to be larger. So.....This is a photo of Sullivan graduating from preschool. He is such a cute little fellow. In the fall, he will be headed for kindergarten.

Derek's Band Concert; Megan's Wax Museum

2011-05-15T16:43:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday we attended Derek's band concert. He plays the clarinet. The entire band did a great job. Derek had 10 family members in the audience (including nephew Carson)watching his performance.

Megan chose to be Princess Diana in her class wax museum project. The students stood or sat as still as still in their poses. I tried to get Megan to look at me, but she relentlessly kept the "frozen" image.

Baby Carson is Blessed

2011-05-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

Carson Wallace Powell was given a name and a blessing yesterday. He looked very cute in his blessing clothes. He also slept through most of the time. We are so very thrilled to have him as part of our family.

Difficult Times

2011-03-19T13:31:00.000-07:00

It has been a really hectic time for our family during the last two weeks. Melanie had her adorable baby. He is healthy and so cute. She is a good little mom and now understands seeing new mothers walking around in a stuper. Sleep, glorious sleep, is one of her great desires.

Melanie and the baby checked out of the hospital on a Monday, and I went into the hospital the next day. I have a severe kidney infection and spent four awful days in the hospital. I felt like a piece of meat on the metal table being poked and prodded over and over. One night I woke up and the bed was completely soaked. You can imangine what I first thought of. Oh, no, have I wet the bed!! When I called the nurse to investigate, remodeling from the floor above had liquid dripping through the ceiling tiles, of course landing right on me.

Melanie really needed my help ith the baby, but I haven't been any help. Luckily, sweet Natalie has been a lifesaver for Melanie and the baby. She even will take him in an overnighter session so Melanie can sleep.

I go in to St. Mark's Hospital every day for an infusion to fight the infection in my body. That is our outing for the day, and it wipes me out. (The infusion takes a lot out of me energy-wise.)
Hopefully, I will soon be some help to both Melanie and my poor husband who does all the house work, meals, and driving me to the hospital every day.

Not a fun time!! The bright spot on the horizon is, of course, little Carson. He is a darling, and we all adore him. (Maybe not so much at night.) He has gained more than a pound in two weeks. He doesn't look like a newborn, and many of the clothes he received for the shower are already too little for him. Carson was born with a full head of blond hair and Melanie likes to part it on one side and slick it down. Melanie calls that style a missionary look.

Someday soon I will have some cute pictures of Carson. I have felt really bad that I haven't helped out yet. I certainly intend to when I get better.

2011-03-05T19:50:00.000-08:00

Carson Wallace Powell entered the world about ten minutes after midnight on March 4th. He weighed in at 8 lbs. 9 oz! Everything went well. Melanie had a C-Section, so her recovery will take awhile.

Wally looked pretty strange in his hospital gown to go in the operating room! They are very proud parents. He will add so much joy to our lives.

Shower # 2 The Ladies from Melanie's Work

2011-01-28T08:48:00.001-08:00

Melanie's friends from her job gave a shower for her yesterday. What lovely ladies! The creativity of gifts, favors, and the marvelous cake was really impressive. The cake is made from various baby items. Isn't it cute!

Natalie and I were also invited to come.

Melanie has just a little more than three weeks left in her pregnancy

Lion of the Quarter - West Jordan Middle School

2011-01-26T19:08:00.001-08:00

Today was a special day for our grandson Derek Peterson. He was awarded the Lion of the Quarter at a ceremony at his school. We are so proud of him and all his accomplishments.

The students aren't told that they won the honor prior to the ceremony. It's supposed to be a secret. When the kids come into the Media Center, all the parents and grandparents stand up and applaud them. Alan asked Derek after the ceremony if he was really surprised. Derek said, "I didn't know about it at first. After we were all called out of class and sent to a room to wait, I looked around and noticed that all the smart kids in the school were there. That's when I knew what was going on!"

Derek is a "smart kid", and we enjoyed sharing this exceptional day with him.

Melanie's Baby Shower

2011-01-16T10:49:00.000-08:00

One month to go!
Stephanie Olsen and Natalie Peterson have been friends since childhood
Melanie and Megan. Megan felt very grown up to come to the shower.
Mary Ann Payne and Sandy McCormick - Two of my very favorite people
Lisa Long, Catherine Ferguson, and Char Moore - Paul's two daughters and sister-in-law
Connie Mayer, Jami McKell, and Barbara McKell
Melanie and her step-mother, Janet Frost
Kristie, Debbie, and Tricia - Melanie's Frost Cousins
Melanie's mother-in-law - Sammy Kennedy
Melanie's step daughter Brandy and her sister-in-law Ivana
Melanie opening gifts.

We had such a great shower for Melanie and Baby Carson. It is a lot of fun to see ladies who I haven't seen for awhile. Melanie was thrilled!

I couldn't seem to get a captian for the third from the bottom photo of Melanie's cousin Ashley and my cousin Sharalyn.

Melanie received some beautiful gifts. Several of the baby blankets were made by talented ladies. Everyone was so generous and thoughtful.

Merry Christmas - 2010

2010-12-20T09:13:00.000-08:00

My camera disappointed me with its quirks at the Christmas party. I took a bunch of photos, and hardly any turned out. They had shadows and strange lighting.

Melanie is seven months pregnant. We are all so excited to see little Carson in February.

We had a fun time eating, opening gifts, and visiting with each other.

12 Weeks to Go!

2010-12-01T20:13:00.001-08:00

Here we are at Fetal Foto checking out little Carson. We could see him so clearly, and he looked very cute. Melanie looks pretty cute too. She is feeling great.

Thanksgiving Day - 2010

2010-11-25T20:06:00.001-08:00

65 Years Old!

2010-11-06T11:13:00.000-07:00

Well, I am officially an old person. Most of my readers are youngsters compared to me. One niece remarked to me, "Aunt Marilyn, you are the only Grandma I know who is writing blogs".

I read about an interview with the author Nora Ephron (69 years old). I very much related to her comments about getting older. "The worst part of aging is illness. What you have when you're 50--wrinkles and flab--seem so inconsequential compared to this lottery of who gets sick and who doesn't. An upside to aging is being wiser. But it's ironic, since at the age you're the wisest, you're also the dumbest since you can't remember the name of that book you just read."

65 serves well for me in several ways from a financial point. I go on Medicare instead of paying a huge amount for health insurance every month. Also, my retirement funds kick in at age 65. There are eating establishments that offer discounts to old people as well as parking spaces closer to the stores.

Most of you know this, but I will tell you that I now have a skin condition called lupus of the skin. It has posed numerous health issues; also, I really look awful with a red, itchy rash. I take prednisone which causes my face to have a "moon" look. There has been some improvement lately with various medications, so I'm feeling better on most days. One of the side effects of the disease is fatigue. Another is hair loss. Fun, huh!!

Where has all the time gone? I don't feel in my mind that I am older. I still feel young at heart.

Halloween Party - 2010

2010-10-29T19:39:00.001-07:00

Paul's son, who lives in Bountiful, (he is also named Paul) invited us to a Halloween party today. We had a great time.

There were about 14 pumpkins carved by the grandchildren. My favorite was the one at the top of this post. Jessica came home from BYU-Idaho to visit her family. She carved my number one choice!

Five Months Down - Four to Go!

2010-10-20T14:09:00.000-07:00

Melanie is proud of her big belly! She is now five months pregnant. Little Carson is kicking up a storm in there.

(Thanks to Natalie for the photo)

Beautiful Kolob Canyon

2010-10-19T19:27:00.000-07:00

Last week we spent four days in Southern Utah enjoying the beauty of nature with our friends John and Sandy. Kolob Canyon is a short drive from Cedar City. The combination of magnificent red rock formations and the fall colors of the landscape created a sight to behold!

We also attended two plays at the Fall Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City: (1) Shakespeare's Pericles (2) The Diary of Anne Frank. Another day we drove to St. George and saw a play at the Tuacahn Theater that evening (Crazy for You). Again, what strikes me the most about that experience is the backdrop of nature's landscape at its very best!

Happy 15th Birthday, Jake

2010-10-08T11:57:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my grandson Jake. I remember vividly the day you were born, and how excited I was to meet my first grandchild. You were a cute little kid and now you are a handsome young man.

You have many talents to be proud of. One of the best is the way you treat people kindly. You are thoughtful and helpful to others. Other talents you have are swimming for West Jordan High School swim team, eight 4.0 grade-point average report cards in a row, muscial talent in piano and violin, and many more.

Have a great day. I will be thinking about you.

(When do you get your learner's permit? Now you get to scare your parents out on the highway like your mom scared me!)

A Trip to Salem, Oregon

2010-10-05T10:36:00.001-07:00

We left on Friday for Oregon and came home Monday. Patti and Mike (Paul's youngest son) live in Salem with their two boys -- Keaton and Sullivan.

We had a great time getting reaquainted with the boys and seeing them so much more grown up. Keaton is now in first grade. He also plays soccer. Sully goes parttime to preschool.

The weather was beautiful. We left from a hot, dry 90 degrees to cool, pleasant 60 degree weather. The leaves were changing colors. Mike and Patti have a backyard with many tall, leafy trees in back that give them privacy and also a sense of being in a forest.

You can see in a few of the pictures above that Patti is patient and talented when it come to putting together complicated Lego sets. We brought the boys the legos and then Patti spent time (with the boys' help) making the pieces come alive.

Thanks to Patti and Mike for their hospitality. They have such a loving family. The boys are lucky to have such caring and devoted parents!

September 23rd - Happy Birthday - Nicole, Lucy, and Mike

2010-09-22T15:12:00.000-07:00

Summer Fun

2010-09-21T10:53:00.000-07:00

Our grandchildren, Bryce and Nicole, have gone boating with their parents for many years. It is obvious that they are very good at water sports.

Happy Birthday to my Wonderful Dad - 92 Years Old!

2010-09-17T08:22:00.000-07:00

Megan's Baptism - September 4, 2010

2010-09-04T13:36:00.001-07:00

A boy for Melanie and Wally

2010-09-01T12:22:00.001-07:00

Melanie got a great early birthday present yesterday. She found out the sex of her baby. It's a little boy. We are all thrilled. He looked so cute zipping around in his holding tank!

September 1st - Happy Birthday, Melanie

2010-08-31T14:16:00.000-07:00

Melanie has always thanked me for giving birth to her near or at the Labor Day weekend so she can celebrate longer!

The years fly by, and before you know it, your baby is 37 years old. That means 37 years of love and appreciation for a wonderful daughter and friend.

Melanie will be entering a new phase of life as a mother herself, and I know that she will be a loving and caring mother. No child could possibly be as welcome or as loved as Melanie and Wally's new baby will be.

How lucky I have been to share my life with Melanie. She is a tender-hearted, kind woman. She shines as a daughter, sister, wife, and aunt. Melanie holds a special place in the lives of Natalie's three children Jake, Derek, and Megan. She is a cherished part of our family tree.

A Celebration for Josh

2010-08-30T19:45:00.000-07:00

My brother Allen and his wife Wendy have five sons. The youngest son, Joshua, returned from his LDS mission in England last week. All five sons have been on missions and all five are Eagle Scouts--quite impressive accomplishments for both the sons and their parents.

Paul and I accompanied my dad to Califonia (Newhall) to see my nephew Josh speak in church; we also attended an open house at the McKell home following the meeting on Sunday. We had a great time, and my 92-year-old dad kept up with the best of us! It was so good to spend time with Allen and his family. We don't see them very often, and so the trip gave us some good visiting time.

Josh looks older. He gave an excellent talk in church. He has really grown up a lot. He still has his sense of humor and zest for life, however. He told us a joke about a new missionary walking on the sidewalk on his first day of missionary work. His older and more seasoned senior companion pointed out a plane flying in the sky. He asked the 'greenie', "How far away do you think that plane is?" The greenie made a wild guess, and of course he was wrong. The senior companion then replied, "That plane is 24months away!"

We love Josh and are proud of his accomplishments in England on his mission. He will be attending LDS Business College here in the Salt Lake Valley this fall, so we hope to see him more often.

Megan is eight years old!

2010-08-26T19:58:00.001-07:00

It is difficult to believe that eight years have passed since our Megan came into the family. She has been such a delight and joy!

I can't imagine what our lives would be like without Megan. She brings sunshine everywhere she goes, and she makes our days happier.

Today Megan started back to school. She is in third grade this year. Megan is an excellent student and really likes to read. She also likes to write stories and sweet notes to her family and friends. Megan's pictures fill her house with her creative art work.

I hope you had a good first day of school, Megan, and that you enjoyed a wonderful birthday.

A New Baby in the Family

2010-08-18T10:23:00.000-07:00

We are going to have a new baby in our family. Melanie and Wally are expecting a baby at the end of February. There isn't a word in the English language that sufficiently conveys our joy in this future event!

Ever since Melanie was a child, she has wanted more than anything to be a mom. As a little girl she carried her baby dolls around on her shoulder, patting them, talking to them and pretending to be their mom. As an adult, she has been the best aunt in the world to Natalie's three children. She is just so good with children.

The path has not been easy. At times we thought it would never happen. Everywhere we turned, it seemed that the odds were against us. So, now, to actually be waiting for this sweet little child to be born--it seems quite unbelievable.

One really good thing I have noticed throughout all the IVF (invitro fertilization)process is the resulting unity we have all felt as a family. Melanie and Wally's experience has brought us closer together and caused us to appreciate each other more. An example of this is Melanie's mother-in-law Sammy, who gave Melanie injections every day for several months (at the same time each day). She was so willing to help and adjust her schedule; her expertise as an RN was also much appreciated. That is just one of many ways that we as a family gave and received support to make this miracle happen.

I will keep you posted on the progress of Baby Powell. (When we find out the sex of the baby, I can stop buying yellow baby clothes!!)

Happy Birthday, Natalie

2010-08-11T13:14:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow my baby girl turns 40 years old! I can hardly believe it. 40 years ago I was anticipating being a parent and wondering what my new baby would look like. Well, she has far surpassed my expectations in every possible way.

She was a pretty baby and is a very pretty 40-year old. She is a good mom, a hard worker, a compassionate friend, and a very intelligent person.

When Natalie was eight years old, she started learning to play the piano, and she progressed rapidly and plays very well to this day.

Natalie has never had to go out to find a job. Since she graduated from BYU in Finance, she has had employers come to her to ask if she would work for them. The employers adapt to her schedules so she can work around taking care of her family. She is a valued employee wherever she goes because of her strong work ethic and efficiency.

What a lucky mom I am to have Natalie and her family to share with in my life. She is my sweetheart and I love her very much.

P.S. Natalie wanted to turn 40 on the beach, so that is where she is! I hope she is having a good time in Florida.

Joshua is Coming Home

2010-07-28T14:24:00.000-07:00

My nephew Joshua McKell will soon be coming home from his LDS Mission in England. He is the last of all eight of my dad's grandsons to go on a mission.

I have been reading Josh's e-mails for the past two years, and I am pretty confident that he is coming home a true Englishman! At least his writing is very British. Josh has been a good missionary and has worked very hard. I'm sure that he will miss the English people (maybe not the weather, though).

The pictures above show my dad and Josh; also shown is Paul and I and Josh at his home before he left two years ago. At the end of August, Dad, Paul, and I will again go to California to hear Josh tell of his experiences from his mission and get a chance to visit with my brother Allen's family.

Notice how tall Josh is. Dad looks like a shrimp next to him, and Dad is six feet tall! All of Dad's grandsons are tall. The shortest one is six feet tall and the tallest is six feet five inches.

I threw in a few pictures of Josh as a little boy. Isn't he so very cute!

Cute Nephew Mark

2010-07-20T12:28:00.001-07:00

I was going through some past photo albums and boxes of odds and ends (trying to find my birth certificate) and came across this adorable picture of my nephew Mark. I would guess he is around 12 years old here.

Mark is now 33 years old (Am I correct?) and lives with his wife Jami in Spanish Fork. He is an optometrist.

Do you know a person who would do anything for anybody (including total strangers)? That is my nephew Mark. He calls my elderly father twice a day to check on him. He also helps him with jobs that need to be done around the house and yard, and he can literally fix almost anything! Mark is a real example of living the Christ-like life.

P.S. Did I find my birth certificate? Of course I didn't. To start taking my retirement income from my teaching years, I need this document. So....I had better get busy and obtain another copy.

P.P.S. Turning 65 years old has its benefits. In three months I will officially be a senior citizen and go on Medicare. I will also buy a supplemental health insurance, but it will cost so much less than the insurance program I have now. I know this is extremely boring to youngsters like you, so I won't mention it again!!!

Happy Birthday, Paul White Moore

2010-07-19T09:01:00.000-07:00

My husband is named Paul Frank Moore, and his oldest son is Paul White Moore. Today Paul White Moore turns 50 years old.

We were invited to his birthday party yesterday at his home in Bountiful. We had lots of fun teasing Paul about being "older than dirt" and other insults about getting older!

Happy Birthday, Sullivan Patrick Moore

2010-07-18T09:44:00.000-07:00

Our grandson, Sullivan Patrick Moore, turns four years old today. He is a handsome little boy, with the bluest of blue eyes.

Sully (as almost everyone calls him) is looking forward to tasting the special Toy Story cake his mom is baking for him today.

Sully is a busy little guy, but at the same time, he loves cuddles with Mom and Dad. He also likes playing in the water and hanging out in the large tent set up in his backyard. Preschool is also a favorite place for Sully to learn, play, and interact with other children.

Happy Birthday, sweet boy. We hope you have loads of fun on your special day!

Derek's All-Star Team

2010-07-16T10:08:00.000-07:00

Our grandson Derek Peterson has had a great summer in baseball. He and his All-Star West Jordan Team won the title for the regional playoffs. Now he and his team go on to battle for the state championship. Congratulations, Derek!

A Trip With the Grandkids to See the Dinosaurs at Thanksgiving Point

2010-07-15T14:04:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday, Catherine (July 11th)

2010-07-10T08:06:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday to my step-daughter Catherine. She has been a joy in my life since I met her 12 years ago. Catherine is loving and supportive. She is kind and genuine. She is also very intelligent. Did I say what a great mother she is to Bryce and Nicole?

Catherine is a devoted daughter to her dad. It is obvious how much she loves him. She frequently calls him to keep up on the happenings in his life. She appreciates her dad's perspective and advice.

Catherine has a combination of enthusiasm and optimism; at the same time, she is also pragmatic, even-tempered and diplomatic. These traits have served her well in the business world as well as her family life.

Step Mother has a bad connotation in this world. Catherine puts a positive spin on the term. She has always made me feel accepted as her friend and as a companion to her dad. I feel loved as a step mother because Catherine makes a real effort to show her support and her caring nature.

Sometimes, as you go along in life, you get really lucky. I am lucky to have Catherine as a part of my life. She is the very best! I appreciate her and love her very much.

Cute Sully Celebrating the 4th of July

2010-07-06T09:10:00.000-07:00

Isn't he adorable!

Happy Anniversary to Us - 12 Happy Years

2010-07-03T09:08:00.001-07:00

It's been 12 wonderful years since Paul and I said, "I do." They have been years filled with joy! We are lucky to have each other and also our six children, who are loving and supportive.

We were married by Bishop John Gardner at Thanksgiving Point in 1998. Our honeymoon took place in Russia as we cruised from St. Petersburg to Moscow.

Summer Time in Salem, Oregon

2010-07-02T20:14:00.000-07:00

Our grandsons Keaton and Sully are two little active boys who find lots of fun things to do this summer. They seem to be growing so fast. Just the other day, it seems, I was holding them as babies.

Keaton plays socccer. Both boys ride their bikes and scooters. Blowing bubbles is always fun.

One of the best activities for the summer is sleeping out in the backyard in the family's new tent. Mike is getting the boys accustomed to sleeping in the tent in the backyard before he tries actual camping sites.

Happy 4th of July

2010-07-02T16:40:00.001-07:00

This is one of my favorite pictures of Derek. I think he was around one year old at the time. Isn't he just the sweetest!!

I hope you all have a good 4th of July (and safe too!).

Megan's Dance Recital - 2010

2010-06-19T14:32:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday, Wally

2010-06-13T11:21:00.000-07:00

Melanie and Wally's engagement photo - We were happy to have Wally join the family.
Red Butte Garden - rehearsal for wedding
Wally with his children - Brandy, Zac, Erica, and Zane
A very happy day!
We love Wally's mom and step-father.

Happy birthday, Wally. Wally joined our family six years ago. He is a fun son-in-law. He has a great sense of humor.

Wally is very supportive of Melanie and the things that are important to her. The two of them make a good team.

Wally is very intelligent. He is an excellent writer. He has a degree in Business Management from the University of Utah, which he obtained while working full-time and raising four children. Wally's oldest son Zac is a chip off the old block. He has been accepted in the fall at the University of Utah Law School.

One thing I really admire about Wally is how thoughtful he is. He will call to thank me for various reasons to let me know his appreciation for what I do.

Wally is very upbeat and positive about life. He adds the silver lining to any given situation. We are glad to have him as a part of our family!

Happy 12th Birthday, Derek

2010-06-12T17:29:00.001-07:00

Today our grandson Derek is 12 years old. Wasn't he just the cutest little kid? He has grown into a very handsome young man now and has many adventures and challenges ahead of him.

Derek will enter West Jordan Middle School this fall. He plays baseball and basketball and loves both of them. Derek practices hard and has lots of ability to do well in sports. He will be on the All-Star Team in his league this summer.

This grandma thinks Derek is one of the most polite young men she knows. He is kind to his younger sister Megan and patiently teaches her to play baseball.

Derek has lots of friends and teachers love him. He is a good student and also respectful.

One of Derek's favorite hangouts with me is Wendy's. He and I have spent many fun lunches there during off-track time from school.

Early Father's Day Celebration

2010-06-05T19:23:00.000-07:00

Paul and his daughter Lisa
Steve, Lucy and Lisa
Eric, Katie and Brittany
Bryce, Nicole and Abby
Char and Catherine
Russell and Paul

This was a good weekend for family members to get together to celebrate Father's Day. Some of the family will be on vacation on the weekend of Father's Day.

Catherine and Russell volunteered to have the party in their backyard. The weather was just right. We barbequed hamburgers and had salads, fruit, cookies, etc. Brittany (the Ferguson's dog) was on alert during the meal to pick up leftovers and table scraps!

Paul is such a good father to his children, and they love him dearly. We always miss having Mike and Patti at our family gatherings. We wish they lived closer.

Happy Sweet Sixteen, Abby - (June 7, 2010)

2010-06-01T13:07:00.001-07:00

This is one of Paul's favorite pictures of the two of them together.
Abby and her cousin Nicole at a Father's Day celebration last year
Having fun in Park City on the Alpine Slide
Wasn't Abby just the cutest little girl!
Abby is front and center with Aunt Catherine, Uncle Travis, siblings and cousins.
She is just as sweet in personality as she is in looks.
Love the hat! Everyone adores Abby.

Sixteen is a unique birthday. Abby turns sixteen in June 7th. She has her learner's permit to drive. She is officially old enough to date. Next year, she will be a junior in high school.

How time flies. The first time I met Abby, she was four years old. I fell in love with her. Abby and her family joined with Paul and me and other family members to share in our marriage ceremony on July 3, 1998. A few days before this, Abby had asked me if Grandpa and I had ever kissed. It was halarious!!

Abby is an excellent student, and she has also been on the student council at her high school. She is an all-around great kid.

Happy birthday to a wonderful granddaughter!

Memorial Day - May 31, 2010

2010-05-31T14:08:00.000-07:00

Melanie, Paul and I drove to Spanish Fork today to decorate my mother's grave. Spanish Fork Cemetery is really something! It seemed that the whole town was out putting flowers on their loved ones' graves today.

Spanish Fork also has a section of the cemetery dedicated to veterans. The pavilion displays life-size statues of soldiers of the various branches of the armed services. Dad served in the army during WWII for three years.

Jessica's 22nd Birthday

2010-05-26T12:54:00.001-07:00

This is a recent picture of Jessica. Isn't she a beautiful girl!
This is maybe nine years ago in the basement of our Sandy home. Jessica is the one on the left.
During her growing-up years, Jessica played well in a number of sports.
She won many awards, and later she became a referee for young teams while she was in high school.

Our granddaughter Jessica will turn 22 on Saturday. She is going to spring and summer school at BYU Idaho, but she will be home in Bountiful for the three-day Memorial Day weekend and her birthday.

Jessica will graduate from BYU Idaho either in December or April. She has worked hard in school, and we are proud of her accomplishments.

Happy Birthday, Jessica!

Three Little Sweethearts

2010-05-24T18:57:00.000-07:00

I love this picture of Jake, Derek, and Megan. It was taken in their backyard on Easter Sunday many years ago. They have changed just a little bit since then!

Nicole's Dance Recital

2010-05-23T09:45:00.001-07:00

Our granddaughter Nicole is a gifted dancer. Last night we had the privilege of seeing her perform in five different dances at her year-end recital. She was always front and center in the dance numbers. She was obviously the best of the bunch, and the teachers wanted to show her as a focal point on the stage.

We are very proud of Nicole. She is committed and disciplined with her talent. Three days a week she attends lessons. She is motivated to excel and works very hard to perform at her top capacity.

When Nicole dances, she adds so much animation in her facial expressions and body gestures. It helps that she is beautiful as well!

You probably think I am bragging excessively, but she really is that good!

A Walk Down Memory Lane

2010-05-19T15:20:00.000-07:00

Grandmother Stewart's birthday party: I am the geeky-looking one on the right on the last row, and Kent is the cool-looking kid on the left of that row. Allen is the kid kneeling in the yellow shirt below me. Grandma Stewart was so proud of her grandchildren. She ended up celebrating 95 birthdays before she passed on. I really loved her.
I wish this picture were clearer. It is a precious photo. My dad and his brother Art are posing with my brother Allen on the left and Art's son Brent on the right. In the middle is Mary Helen's daughter Becky Ann. She is my cousin who passed away last fall from pancreatic cancer--so sad for a brillant mind and a caring heart to be cut short.
Christmas (probably about 1955) at the McKell home. We don't look all that thrilled, do we?!
We were on vacation and stopped for awhile at Cove Fort on our way to Bryce Canyon National Park. I love seeing the old car in the background.
Bryce National Canyon Park
This is the first day of school. I think I am a junior in high school here. We loved this kitty cat!

One day when I was at my parents' house, I started looking through photo albums of Kent, Allen and I when we were growing up. I asked Mother if I could have some of the photos, and she said OK. I didn't ever check with Kent or Allen to see if they wanted copies. So......here are some of them. (We didn't have very many altogether--lots of me as the first child, some of Kent, and a very precious few of Allen, the youngest.)

I apologize to Kent and Allen for taking all these pictures and not sharing. (Sharing was never my strong suite -- my brothers will tell you that.)

Here is a "sharing story" my mother told me that happened when I was around four and Kent was two. Mother said I had to share some money with Kent--a dime and a nickel. I knew that Kent would want the biggest coin, so I asked him to choose from the two. Sure enough, he chose the nickel.

Happy Birthday, Allen

2010-05-12T10:26:00.000-07:00

My youngest brother Allen was born on May 14th. It was Mother's Day that year. He was so cute with his blonde hair, blue eyes, and chubby cheeks.

Allen lives in California and has his own CPA business. He and his wife Wendy have five boys - Bryce (lives in California with his wife and two girls), Tyler (lives in Washington with his wife and three children), Ryan (working on a Master's Degree at U of Cal), Chad (working on a Master's Degree at Wakeforest, N.C.), and Josh (on an LDS mission in England).

Allen has a pleasant, quiet way about him. He is a very good father and works hard for his family (especially at tax time). One of his favorite things to do is attend BYU football games. As a young boy, he collected baseball cards (now very valuable cards). They are somewhere in the depths of Dad's basement storage, I hope! One day we may come across them!

Happy Birthday, Allen. I hope you have a nice day.

Mother's Day - 2010

2010-05-08T16:11:00.000-07:00

Melanie offered to host Mother's Day at her place this year. She and Natalie made the delicious dinner, and I just relaxed and came as a guest.

Melanie's home is beautifully decorated. She really has talent in that area (which she didn't inherit from her mother).

Derek conked out on the love seat right after dinner. He had been up til 3:00 A.M. at a sleepover last night. Jake followed suit. Megan was the bouncy, animated one of the group!

It is hard to go through a Mother's Day weekend without missing my mom. She was such a wonderful mother, and it seems as the years go on, I miss her more. I am grateful for my two daughters who are so loving and thoughtful to me.

My Spring Piano Recital

2010-04-24T16:41:00.001-07:00

At the end of the recital, Derek had endured more than enough!
Paul is very supportive of my musical adventures.
Megan and her sweet Grandma Nedra
Even the "brothers" came to watch Megan perform
More cheerleaders--Melanie and Grandma Nedra
Megan Peterson
Divya Sundar
Sachin Sundar
Macall Ross
Madison Ross
Hannah Edwards
Tia Harrington
Eric Whitlock

My annual spring piano recital was held this afternoon. The kids did great! It was a red-letter day for me to see my students perform at their best.

This was Megan's first piano recital. She played with confidence and poise. As her cheering section, she had Grandma Nedra, Aunt Melanie, Mom, Dad, Jake and Derek. As you can see in the top photo, by the time the recital was over, Derek was ready to move on! He had come directly from a baseball game, and he was really tired.

Eric's Graduation

2010-04-24T09:04:00.000-07:00

The Moore family celebrated graduation exercises yesterday at BYU. Eric Leach, our granddaughter Katie's husband, graduated in the School of Business with a bachelor's degree in Business Management. We are so proud of him.

Katie and Eric have purchased a home in Draper not too far from us. They are excited to move on to this new phase of their life together.

Sully Playing Tennis

2010-04-08T09:01:00.001-07:00

While Keaton was at soccer practice, Sully and his dad played a game of tennis (three-year-old style). He is such a cute little guy!

Easter Party - McKell Family - 2010

2010-04-03T18:53:00.000-07:00

Another family, this time the McKell's, enjoyed good company and yummy food today in celebration of Easter. On the menu were ham, funeral potatoes (I know, they are loaded with calories and bad fat), fruit salad, veggies, cocoanut cream pie, and cupcakes.

We were glad to have Wally with us. He has been gone driving his long-haul truck for the last two weeks, and he lucked out getting this Easter weekend off.

Natalie wanted me to point out that, if you look closely, you can see Alan is reading a "People Magazine". This, apparently, is not a cool "guy" thing to do.

I think that Grandpa McKell is definitely the best-dressed of the group. He looks very handsome.

On this April day, 2010, it was officially noted that Jake is taller than his dad! The years roll on, and the grandchildren always show each year just how much time has flown by.

Moore Easter Party - 2010

2010-03-30T13:10:00.001-07:00

Eric, Katie and Paul
Char
Andrea and Chad
Paul
Lisa and Lucy
Steve
Nicole and Driggs
Abby, Bryce, and Eric
Paul, Russell, and Catherine

Enchiladas and tacos (courtesy of Marilyn and Paul) were the fare for this early Easter celebration on Sunday. A relish plate, fruit salad, and chocolate cake were furnished by other family members.

I did something wrong with my camera, because most of the photos have shadows behind the people in them. SORRY!! Does anyone know how to avoid that?

We had fun visiting with each other. The kids challenged themselves to climb the hill across the street from our house and made it to the top!

We were missing Jessica (who is still at BYU Idaho), and of course, Patti, Mike and the boys in Oregon.

Easter - Many Years Ago

2010-03-27T11:39:00.000-07:00

The top picture, I am guessing, is around 1978. It was taken next to our impressive cherry tree in our Sandy backyard. I always loved to buy new dresses for Natalie and Melanie at Easter time.

In the middle photo, I think I am about 10 years old. Kent is eight, and Allen is five. As you can see in the bottom photo, wearing a stylish Easter hat was quite the rage back in the 1950's. Things have changed a bit since then (thank goodness).

Memories From Our Trip to Ireland

2010-03-17T13:14:00.001-07:00

I have never seen a place quite as green as Ireland. My friend Sandy McCormick and I are enjoying the beauty of this landscape.
My husband Paul and friend John McCormick thought they looked quite dashing in these funny hats in a shop.
We visited the Blarney Castle where we comtemplated kissing the Blarney Stone.
This beautiful green country naturally comes with lots and lots of rain.
I love the words of this Irish Blessing.

Beware the Ides of March!

2010-03-15T14:32:00.000-07:00

My friend Susan Capps reminded me on Facebook today that it is the Ides of March. Does that ring a bell? If you read "Julius Ceasar" in your sophomore English class, it should.

Ceasar is warned by a soothsayer on March 15th that he shouldn't be out and about. Ceasar goes to the Senate anyway, and his fellow senators stab him to death (over and over).

I don't know about you, but I think I may have stayed home that day. I'm just glad that I am not a politician who has to worry about these things. Of course, in today's world, I wouldn't be stabbed. However, every mistake that I made, both in the present times and in the past, would be dug up and thrown at me. I say, if you have unsavory incidents in the past, don't run for office!!! We don't want to see the tawdry details of your life march through the T.V. news, newspapers, and magazines. At least, I don't!

My Chimi Dog

2010-03-12T14:12:00.000-08:00

I ran across these pictures of my dog Chimi and had to smile. She gave me 15 years of delight with her funny, quirky personality. I miss her still. She died eight years ago.

My friend Kay and I would go for walks in our neighborhood with Chimi, and we would get the strangest looks from people. Some drivers would slow down and yell out the car window, "Is that a rat?".

Paul and Marilyn's wedding pictures - 1998

2010-03-08T10:08:00.000-08:00

It's been almost 12 years since these photos of our wedding were taken. I was looking at them and couldn't believe how much the grandchildren had changed. We didn't get pictures of Jake and Derek because they stayed home. Derek was only three weeks old at the time.

The bottom photo was taken by our son-in-law Russell Ferguson. I think he really captured the personalities of these cute grandkids: Bryce Ferguson, Abby Moore, and Driggs Moore.