More Kreober fun

 Eli wanted me to take a picture of his waffle creation!

 Then of course Isaac and Keenyn did also!

 Dad bringing out more waffles from the kitchen...so fun to have company.

 After Heather, Eli and Isaac left for Rexburg, Briella and Keenyn made cookies - delicious.

 After making cookies we walked with Grandpa to the park.  Beautiful sunny day and dry ground.

 Swings - Briella is almost too big for the baby swing - we could get her in but was hard to get her out!

Here they are all in the car on their way home - loved having them - come back soon!!

Kroeber's Visit Pocatello

 Heather and kids came to Pocatello Thursday evening.  Heather's friend Amy Hackworth's mother passed away and the funeral was in Rexburg.  Eli and Isaac are friends with her two oldest sons and they wanted to attend the funeral also.  Both older boys needed new Sunday shoes and Dad went with they to Payless - Keenyn and Briella discovered the Turkish bell that Sam gave us - they had a great time ringing it!

 Briella was cute - when I got this quilt out to cover the air mattress in the sewing room - she said:  It is puzzles!

 Here is the twin air mattress in the guest room - covered with the darling quilt Emily Laurel made - Briella kept saying:  We are going to sleep over!

Friday morning - Briella discovered my stickers and she and Keenyn made sticker pictures... The older boys enjoyed their electronic games.

Grampa made us all yummy waffles!  Notice the steps at the far right - Isaac did very well with his crutches most of the time - then fell up the stairs - yikes!  He was crying, I was crying - Heather was comforting him and Dad got him some ipbuphren (sp)  - The doctor told Heather he would fall - and that it would do no damage - the rods are too strong - but that it would hurt - that's right!

Uncle Larry Funeral

 On Thursday, Feb. 25th, we drove to Murray and attended the funeral of my Dad's younger brother - Larry Don Smith.  Here is a white sweater his wife, Aunt Lorraine knit for him and a BYU Blue one that Grandma Christine Smith knit for all her sons...Gramps had one.  Also a mission picture and their family - six daughters!  Aunt Lorraine died Feb. 2nd and Uncle Larry, Feb. 21st - happily together again!

 Here we are with my cousins Christie Blanchard and Lyman Jr. 'Smitty' - he served in England the same time as Derrell.  They are the children of Lyman and Betty - the brother just younger than Gramps.  Christie's husband is doing a lot of family history work and providing family names to others - I joined the list!  Becky has been doing some for a few years.  I'm wearing a nice suit handed down from Great Aunt Ethel - okay Granny gave it to me after Aunt Ethel died!!

 Here we are with my Uncle Ralph - he is the last living of Gramps' family - and he is ready and wanting to go across the veil.  His wife, my Aunt Ruth, died 11 years ago - he has built his own casket and has it in his bedroom!!  He spoke at Larry's funeral and did a good job.

 Becky and me with Uncle Ralph.

 After the funeral - nice to have Uncle Ralph smiling!  Both Larry and Ralph were 6' 7'' and when people would ask how tall they were they would say:  5 feet 19 inches! They both had thick glasses and the boys on their high school baseball team would ask them to use their glasses and 'burn' their initials in the end of their bats!!

 We filled up in Murray to drive home - 1.49 a gallon!!

Fairbanks were in Bountiful at Aunt Michelle's house and we stopped for a few minutes to see them - such beautiful women!!

YSA Idaho Food Bank

 Last week we joined one of our YSA Wards in providing service for the Idaho Food Bank ... it was a great FHE.

 Dad showing how happy he was to provide service!!  We filled plastic bags with items for the 'Backpack'  program.  It provides weekend food in a backpack for those children at risk for hunger over the weekend.

 Here are the bins of items that we walked around putting into our bags - then sealed them and they were left on a table.  A worker then counted them and placed them in a big bin - 100 to a bin.

 I think they did 1400 bags that evening!!  We were happy to be a part of a nice evening of service.  I recommend it to all of you.  Our YSA Ward was joined in the effort by a group from the Rotary Club, and then several middle school aged children came in the room with their teachers or leaders.  It got crowded - nice problem.

Hyrum Trip

 Last weekend we loaded up the truck with all the things Mortensen's didn't take and headed to Hyrum.  Here is the truck as we parked in their driveway...yes - the backboard sticking up like that caused a little wind pull.  Dad thought of hanging it off the back but decided that wasn't as safe.

 The back of the truck with Dad beginning to unload - Joel was happy to have his bike.

 I finally finished the needlepoint for the piano bench.  Notice Kate's footstool - Granny's old one - the first needlepoint project a couple years ago.  Emilee and Lindsey have some chairs from long ago - they are wearing out!  Anna still likes playing the piano but needs a new teacher.

 Close up - the new cover makes the old bend look like it needs refinishing!

 Annabelle's teacher had a contest to guess the M & M's in this jar - Anna won!  She said 7,000 and there were 7500 - or something like that!  She said her teacher tried to trick them, having large M&M's, peanut and then some of the tiny ones!  Way to go Anna!!  she shared with us.

 Joel's Junior Jazz basketball game - he is at the free throw line - and he made the shot!  Number 27 - all the boys on his team are from Hyrum - the play Saturday's in the Logan Rec Center - next to the high school.  Really nice facility - and Joel's team did well - final score 34 - 12.

 Joel made lots of shots, and passed a lot - several assists also.  You can't play defense on the home side of the court - so he and his teammates are waiting for the other team to bring the ball up court.

Here's the cute Mortensen Family - and two old coots talking basketball!  It was fun to have Uncle Ken there.  He says he still plays at the noon league - and will until they stop guarding him!

After Joel's game we went to lunch with the Mortensen's and then attended the Logan Temple with Aunt Becky.  When the temple was finished we went back to Becky and Ken's for a light dinner...yummy crab cakes and salad.  It was funny to see Becky's Valentine's decorations included the same small book - The Story of Valentine's Day - that I have on our entrance way.

Mountainside Elementary School - Kate's Internship

 After Polly's School event - we headed north.  We wanted to get to Kate's school around four o'clock when she was finished for the day...We were a little late but she was driving away and we honked and she stopped and turned around and showed us her school.

 This is a beautiful school - very clean and new and big!  Kate said they have 3 or 4 empty rooms, right now.  That's smart - building for growth.

 Wonderful gym - Kate said Joel was impressed with the gym, Annabelle the Library!!

 The other end of the gym, with the stage area.  Kate said many community events are held here.  Kid come to school an hour early - and stay afterwards.

Blurry picture - but pretty Kate and her speech office.  She goes to the classrooms and also pulls students out to come to another room.  We drove home on dry roads and smile when we think of our wonderful day.  Two temples, three daughters, dry roads - we feel very blessed!

Wonderful Day! February 2, 2016

 Tuesday, February 2, was a really wonderful day for us.  We began early with tickets to the Provo City Center Temple Open House at 7:00 AM.  It is stunningly beautiful - all who could see it should.

 Back to Fairbanks to tend these darling girls - Olivia on her way to the dentist.

 Sadie and Georgia playing with Play Doh - making snow men!  Millie watching them.

Lindsey and Olivia got back from the dentist in time for us to attend a sealing session at the Provo Temple.  Next we met Polly and Chris at her school to  celebrate the mural a Gueat Artist and the boys painted.  Here is the history teachers side of Polly's class room.

 We were so honored to be invited and attend this wonderful program.  This Artist was himself incarcerated three times before he was 16 years old.  He found his art talents in a juvenile facility when he was 13.

 He goes around the country painting inspirational  murals at juvenile facilities and having the boys help him.  The Utah State Board of Education was the funding, we think.  A lot of them were there, along with case workers, volunteer staff, judges, etc.

What an awesome situation - the boys were very proud of doing something that will be a legacy for them and a positive in their lives.  One of the speakers said we need to celebrate their potential, not their problems.

Dancing Ballerina's

 It has been great to be in Provo with the Fairbanks and participate in their busy lives for a bit.  We got to take the girls to their dancing lessons -twice!  Here is Olivia - stretching - and itching!!

 Sadie with her pretty hair bow - waiting for directions.  Both girls are in the same class and do really well.

Millie and Georgia waiting patiently for big sisters to be finished.

On the way home - such pretty girls.

 This week we got to take Georgia to her lesson - here she is dancing with a scarf and ribbon wand.

 She is one of the oldest in the class and very good at following directions and dancing.

 The older girls were in the room next to Georgia's and here we are getting ready to go home.  There is a small stage and they all got up on it to dance.

 Action picture!

We took Millie for her Well Baby Check up - she was so cute.  The nurse gave her this tongue depressor to keep her busy and I said: Put it in your mouth and say Ahhh.  She promptly put it in her mouth!! Course she does that with just about anything she can grasp!