Lincoln and Juls---12/08

Julia and Lincoln 12/08 "I Know...Momma loves me SO much....so what else is new?"

Hey? How ARE you????

Ok---enough of the silly captions---this is my beautiful newest grandson---and these pictures were taken by Amber (his aunt) who has been learning a lot about photography the past few months. She did great, (I think so, at least.) Of course it helps to have great subject matter to work with....I mean---how beautiful is this baby??? They don't come much prettier---but then I am partial--I think I have 3 of the prettiest! (If you don't think so--you must have grandkids of your own---that is the only reason I could understand for not thinking mine are the cutest ones on the planet at the moment.) (haha)

"What you talkin' 'bout Willis???"(sorry---I couldn't resist....)

"Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful boy"

-John Lennon-

(Love you Juls and Lincoln. Merry Christmas,

Mom)

Wishin' Well...

A friend, today asked me to join a website that you post poetry on. I have no talents in that area--but I think I do have an eye or "ear" for things that are "one of a kind".

I love this part of a song by Patty Griffin, called "Wishing Well", for example:

"Darlin', I wish you well,

On your way to the Wishing Well,

Swingin' off of those "Gates of Hell",

But I can tell how hard you're tryin'.

I just have this secret hope--sometimes all we do is cope...

somewhere on the steepest slope, there's an endless rope,

and nobody's cryin'."

Smile,

Denise

Compa Homecoming

Today Rhett and I went up to Brigham City (We stayed at Julie's in Ogden last night) to his last (and only American) companion's homecoming--Elder Derek Law. He did a great job and it was fun to meet his family. Rhett says Elder Law was his favorite companion. They were only together 6 weeks before Rhett left for home, but they shared some memorable experiences. One was the baptism of Guillermo 2 days before Rhett left (an unexpected blessing) and they also survived the floods from Hurricane Dolly--wading through water up to their armpits in one area. It was fun to hear some stories afterward. We took a couple of pictures at the Law's house afterward.

Elder Law and Elder Palfreyman

Denise, Elder Law and Elder P.

Mothers and Sons...Michelle, Derek, Rhett & me. So glad they are back.

Halloween 2008

I don't think I remember a single Halloween here when my kids got to Trick or Treat in their shirt sleeves, but I think it was probably the nicest Halloween weather we have ever had here in Utah. It must have been 60-65 degrees even after 7-8 that night. After everything, a light shower began to fall, as if to signal that it was time to go in. It was a fun night, especially for the grandkids.
I got to go to Springville to see the kids costumes and to help Amber take them trick-or-treating around the neighborhood. Lily had a blast and loved dressing up as "Princess Leia" from Star Wars. Crew was "Darth Vader" (and such a cute one.) (He pretty much just looked confused the whole night.) In fact he sort-of resembled his dad, Ryan, who can't stand Halloween and doesn't get all the hoop-lah surrounding it.
Anyway--I think "The Force" was with us, and it was a fun night.
Here are my pictures:

Crew and Lily: I mean, Leia and Darth

Lily doing her "scary face" for the camera. Well--it was Halloween, after all...

"Obi Wan

Kenobi,

you're my

only hope!"

Grandma and Crew: Sorry the picture is so blurry. Lily stepped on my camera, and I'm not sure it was working that well... but how cute is that face?

See what I mean about the confusion??

Recovering from

"Ludicrous Speed"

"Smoke if ya got em!"

After we got back, we made some Rootbeer with Dry ice and Lily had fun pretending it was her witch's cauldron. She sat there for a good half hour stirring it and dipping into the rootbeer with her slotted spoon, trying to get sips out of it.

The witches brew gets a little out of hand...

At the end of the evening I got a text from Julia with this picture of Lincoln...She said, "Happy Halloween from our little Tucson Chili Pepper. :) Spicy! Awwwww....

Matt just got home from a trip to Washington DC with the Student Govt. group from UVU. Some of you may not realize that he is, along with completing his degree, studying for the LSAT and being an awesome husband and son--the "assistant to the Student Body President (same position Amber held at Utah Valley in her Senior Year)", but he is also on a National committee for which he presented a "presentation" in DC this past week. (Sorry, he keeps me in the dark as to the details) (my poor little "rural brain" probably couldn't handle them anyway..) while he was there--and in which he says the attendees all managed to stay awake and seem interested.)

Having attended my own share of "presentations " for one work/academic requirement or another--I came to appreciate those who could hold a student's interest for longer than 15 minutes...so way to go, Matt!

He says he is sending me some pictures soon of his trip, so I will share those when they arrive.

Needless to say--I am so proud of my brilliant son and of his accomplishments. (Sorry if this blog is turning into a "brag sheet" of sorts..but oh well...bite me. My kids, friggin''rock!

Seriously, though--I am so lucky to have such great kids, and I can't take all the credit---their father helped every bit as much as I did--but truthfully, we can't take too much credit--they pretty-much came that way (brilliant)....all we did was encourage them a little.

Until I get the pictures--this will have to do...

Rhett's Homecoming

What an amazing thing it is it to have a child return to you after faithfully serving our Heavenly Father for two years...two years of completely and utterly dedicating their lives to the work of the Lord? I can tell you, having experienced it twice, now, that it is one of the most wonderful and precious experiences that you can ever have in a lifetime. It truly is.
August 4th 2008 was one of those amazing days for our family. Rhett returned after serving in the Monterrey Mexico, East Mission, since Aug 2, 2006. It was a long wait, but worth every minute, because we were blessed beyond meaure, as a family, and we also got to see Rhett grow in stature, from an amazing "boy" to amazing "young Man"...That is such a life-changing process to see and be a part of. We went through the very same thing with our Matt.
Now that he is home, we are all so grateful that he made it and was such an amazing missionary. We will miss the blessings that came with his service, but we are enjoying every minute that we have with him here at home, finally. He has made the transition amazingly well--of course, I would have expected nothing less--he is, after all--our Rhett...Great things are always expected of him and great things have always been delivered. (As it has been with all our children ( Dave's and mine)---he is just following the example he has been set, by his older siblings, after all...)

Rhett, we are so happy you are home, safe and sound and good, and we love you and missed you terribly while you were gone. (Strangely, enough--however, I miss having a "missionary" out there....I really do...but I wouldn 't trade it for having you back.)

Here are some pics:

The "Sun " returns:Had to make sure it was really him!

Brothers and best friends...

Matt, I know, missed him SO much! (He found Kelly just in time!") Amber and Rhett:

Dad finally gets to hug his son, again....a "Proud Father"moment.
The rest of the family who were there to greet Rhett--Ryan, Grandpa and Janet, Julie, Doug and Lloyd. (who have this to look forward to in a few months with Kirk... (So awesome). ...Rhett--meeting Crew for the first time and seeing Lily for the first time since she was 7 1/2 months old:

Rhett and Jimmy--best buds---separated for 2 1/2 years. (Thank you, Cami for taking these pictures for me. You are great!)

Back at home:

Matt & Kelly's wedding - 05-10-08

On May 10, 2008, Matt and Kelly got married in the St. George Temple. It was such a beautiful day and a wonderful time for the whole family to get together. Kelly was a beautiful bride, and Matt was as happy as I have ever seen him....he still is--I hope they continue to be as loving and happy as they have been the past 6 months, for the rest of their lives. Also, we feel so lucky to have someone as wonderful as Kelly in our family now. We love her so much....and Matt is one lucky guy. Here are some pictures from their wedding day: (I'll try to figure out how to download a slideshow sometime soon....still learning here.)

The birth of "Crew-be-Do"

This has been a really eventful year for this family. In March, of course, we had the wonderful birth and addition of our cute little "Crew-be-do" to our family. Here are some pictures from that amazing event as well. What a sweet and wonderful little person he has turned out to be.
We are so blessed--in just the addition of these amazing little people to our family unit. You gotta love it, right?

Amber and Joni---both "big time pregnant" with "baby
Mia (who was born in July, and "Crew"---this is the night before Crew was born, Mar. 16, 2008)














This is Grandma holding Crew on his birthday.



This is Crew with Great-"Grandma Cookie". How awesome that she was able to be here for his birth!








Lily is not too sure about this little
"usurper" coming into her life
(she wouldn't even touch him for several days....not sure I blame her....
She has, however, come around)...
________________________________________
More Pictures of Crew:

April or May 2008:
May 2008:June 2008:

July 4th 2008 With Grandpa Great Palfreyman:

July 24th, 2008 in Arizona at Grandma Cookie's:

August 4th 2008 - Uncle Rhett's Homecoming:
At Grandma's house in October 2008 with Lily and Lincoln:

More to come....Matt's wedding....and Rhett's homecoming. What a year it has been! So full of great things!