Sienna's New Do

Sienna's hair is so thin and fine. She gets it from me because my hair was the same way. There is hope for her but not for another twenty years.

Here are the before pictures of her mullet like style.

She sat really still and was so excited about her new hair cut.

Sundays

It is really hard waiting to go to church at one o'clock. Marshall leaves to meetings around 9:00 and the minis want to get dressed and go to church then.
This past Sunday we completed a 550 piece puzzle before church, got ready, ate lunch and got to church ten minutes early.

I posted three of these hoping James and Sienna had a smile in the same one but they are opposites.

It was snowy and cold after church so everyone loaded quickly in the back.

UVU Basketball

Thanks to our bishop we got to go to a UVU women's basketball game. They updated the arena and renamed it and everyone got pizza and shirts.

Marshall took a picture of the big screen because in the left hand corner you can see James and his friend Ryan. They were on the big screen a few more times after this and it made their day.

The shirts are more like nightgowns for the kids.

Last Potty Training

I tried potty training the minis in September but it didn't go so well. It has been on my mind to try again. It seems like when you are waiting for the right time to do something there will never be the perfect time. You just have to do it and everything else will fall in to place. Last Wednesday James and Lynnlee got the minis all excited to use the potty. We put underwear on them and just went for it. I put the treats in this barbie potty so they would know that was their reward.

We also printed of potty charts for their stickers. Then I filled their sippy cups with juice. Taggart had one accident right off and then stayed dry the rest of the day, including through his nap and night time. Sienna wasn't so easy. She has been way more stubborn through this whole thing.There were lots of tantrums trying to get her to go potty. The first few days she didn't want to go in the toilet but also didn't want to have an accident in her underwear. She held it for seven hours on Thursday. That night she stayed dry through the night and didn't go again until ten the next morning. She is pretty strong headed to hold it for fourteen hours.

It wasn't the best timing to potty train over a busy weekend with the funeral. It was pretty crazy but we got through it ok. This week has been great and Sienna is now going willingly and regularly. Taggart has been great and had few accidents. Thank goodness because I think I would have given up if he hadn't figured it out.

Granny J

(This is a re-post because I added her obituary)
My sweet grandmother "Granny J" passed away last Sunday. She was 93-years-old. She was a great example and had many talents. It was fun celebrating her life with family and hearing stories about her.
This picture was taken at the Salt Lake Temple eleven years ago.

Marshall and I went to her viewing Friday night. Thanks to my in-laws for watching my kids. The good thing about funerals is that they bring families together. It was fun having Katie and Charlie in town.

The funeral was Saturday at her home ward, Garden Park. The building is historical (built in 1939) and very beautiful. The grand kids and great grand kids sang two primary songs. Ali took this picture when we practiced before. It is fun seeing everyone come together to sing her favorite primary songs.

She was buried next to my grandpa at the Salt Lake Cemetery. This is a picture of most of the grand kids.

Here are the sons, sons-in-law, and grandsons.

Daughters and daughters-in-law.

My siblings oldest to youngest. I love them all so much!

My sisters! Yay for being able to spend time with them.

Kaden and his favorite cousins at the luncheon.

These are pictures that were on display at the viewing. My grandma was very musical. She sang in many groups and acted in plays. In her older age she was in the Rhodes radio commercials. My aunt put together a really nice video with pictures, recordings of the commercials, and videos of my grandmother singing.  It was really fun to watch all of the ways she has used her talents.

I haven't seen some of these relatives in over ten years so it was really fun to all be together.

It was cold but we walked around the church after because the grounds are beautiful.

It was a whirlwind of a weekend but it was so fun seeing family and remembering my grandma.

I decided to add the obituary so I can remember my grandmother's history.

Jeanette (Jeri) Ruth Bowers Jarvis, age 93, died peacefully January 8, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Jeri was born June 22, 1923 in Salt Lake City to Charles Ernest and Vera Marie Chamberlin Bowers. Jeri attended Uintah Elementary, Roosevelt Junior High and graduated from East High School. After high school she worked for several companies, including the Salt Lake Tribune and the Granite School District.
Jeri met her husband Lee Jarvis, a handsome young soldier from Utah, in San Antonio, Texas, during World War II.  Jeri sang in a female trio, Eddie, Tony and Jeri, that was part of a USO troop.  After corresponding by mail and then courting when they both returned to Utah, they were married May 18, 1946 in the Salt Lake Temple.

Lee and Jeri returned again to San Antonio, Texas, while Lee attended chiropractic school. (Before the war Lee had also served in the Texas Louisiana Mission). After graduation they came back to Utah and raised their seven children in Salt Lake. They also hosted several students in their home at various times, including Vicky, who lived with them for several years, and Sami, a Finnish exchange student.

Mom’s family, the gospel of Jesus Christ, service, music, and acting were her passions. She always had a positive attitude and was a wonderful example of faith, love, and kindness. She served faithfully in many church callings. For eight years Lee and Jeri were hosts on Temple Square and thoroughly enjoyed meeting people from all over the world. After retirement they served three proselyting missions in the United States for the LDS Church.

Music was an important part of family life. All of her children learned to sing and play musical instruments. Jeri appeared in musical and dramatic productions at Kingsbury Hall, Promised Valley Playhouse, Hale Center Theater, Triad Center Theater, Silver Wheel Theater in Park City, the Salt Lake Tabernacle and other venues. She also wrote and directed many roadshows, skits, and dramatic productions for church and civic groups. And together Jeri and Lee taught ballroom and folk dancing in many wards and stakes.

Jeri and Lee loved to travel and took the family on several  road trips across the United States, visiting historic places, national parks, beaches, amusement parks, etc. They also enjoyed going camping with friends and family. And as a couple they traveled to Israel, Egypt, Mexico, Hawaii, South America and Europe.

Jeri was a devoted mother to four daughters and three sons: Ken (Patty), Patricia, Kelly (Ruth), Scott (Jane), Jill, Kathlyn (Tom) Thatcher, and Wendy (John) Hairel. She is also survived by 25 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren. Jeri was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sister Audrey Marie Bowers Arthur, her brother Joseph Harry Bowers and her beloved grandson Christopher Lee Jarvis.  The family would like to think the many caregivers  who assisted in Mom’s care over the past few years.

Hugs of Joy

We made coupons books for each other for Christmas this year. James and Lynnlee gave away coupons for two minutes hugs of joy. It is something from a show they like called Liv and Maddie. We all redeemed our hugs on Sunday morning. It was a pretty great way to start the day.

Then these three were playing together on the plant shelf. It was quite the bonding morning.

This One Shopping Trip

Sometimes it is good to document the little blessings so you don't forget them. The minis lost store privileges after a few crazy shopping trips. They hadn't been grocery shopping in a month. They also were recovering from colds and were excited to get out of the house. I told them they could ride outside the cart if they stayed by me and didn't run around like crazy.

They were perfect angels and walked next to the cart. By the end Taggart wanted to ride in the cart.

It was a very enjoyable trip to the store. I even got to stop and talk to a friend for a few minutes and the minis stayed by me.

Taggart

Taggart LOVES Marshall but when Marshall isn't home then he is my little helper. He follows me wherever I go. If I leave the room he will come find me. He entertains himself in my bathroom when I'm getting ready. Today he wanted deodorant. He is my cute little man. He feels like the baby of the family with his personality and he's so little in size. None of my other kids fit into clothes smaller than their age but he is still wearing 18-24 months clothes.

Minis

The minis have been under the weather. Taggart had a fever for five days and now Sienna has it. It is cute watching Taggart check up on Sienna while she's sick.

A few days before Lynnlee took this picture of the minis. They were under their blankets giggling.

Bean Museum

I went to the Bean Museum with Kaden's preschool. Kaden is so much more energetic and talkative than James and Lynnlee were at this age. He likes making everyone laugh and being the center of attention.
He made everyone laugh when the teacher asked him to show everyone the egg and say "behold." Kaden said "Bleh bleh!" (from Hotel Transylvania) Then he asked Kaden which animal the egg came from. It was a plastic Easter egg so Kaden said the Easter Bunny. Ha ha, this kid is one of a kind.

Snow Day

The weather has been so crazy here. One minute it's raining, the next it's snowing, then it's frigid and then warm. It is like an emotional teenager girl. Last week we had a fun snow day and it wasn't too cold. Unfortunately it was the day back to school after winter break so James and Lynnlee missed out.

The minis were in their happy place being able to swing.

I finally talked them into coming inside with making some popcorn.

Cabellas Adventures

It was fun having Marshall home on Monday after New Year's. We went to the car wash which is pretty much equivalent to seeing a really cool show. Everyone was highly entertained at a low cost.

Then we went to Cabellas. James wore his Jett Wheels and had fun wheeling around the store.