Flake Fun

While it has gotten chilly here we haven't gotten any snow yet.  We have gotten a lot of wins though.

This was a pretty good week. Both babies are learning to laugh which is so much fun. It is delightful to hear them react so pleasantly.  They are also liking to talk to and look at each other.  The latest and greatest toy is the bouncer that the Mannings gave us. Rand is really liking the upright position so it is a lifesaver for my arms!

The big news is that my job was posted and Scott applied for it.  Now we'll see what happens.  Fingers crossed that he gets it because I am planning a "training retreat" in Smithfield next month!

I think that is all for us.  Hope all the Spartans survived! Can't wait to hear all of the adventures!

Manning Moments

It sure has been a long while since I posted but I love reading all your fabulous posts! You are all doing such amazing things. Speaking of amazing...I wish we were with you in Cali doing Spartan things. That sounds so fun and warm!
We have enjoyed the nice fall weather for the last little bit. We have gone on lots of walks, played at the park, gone hiking and played frisbee. I think I was meant to be a plant. Being outside is really life giving and puts me in a happy place. We went to the Thanksgiving point fall carnival for the first time and it was a blast! They had so much to do including every kind of ball game, pig races, a candy canon, a dog show, and much, much more. The boys were in heaven!
Nick is enjoying his new place at American Heritage. The students are very nice and respectful and have lots to contribute in each class. It is nice to see Nick enjoying the students, last year was a bit rough.
We went through a little bit of flu a couple weeks ago and it only got Nick and Chet so that was a blessing we weren't all down but we are glad that's over. Last Sunday, Nick's opinion on Wesley greatly increased. We watched the Book of Mormon video where Nephi breaks his bow and Wesley wanted to shoot a bow and arrow. So Nick fashioned a bow out of a plastic hanger and he taught Wesley how to shoot. They hunted the rest of the day and Wesley was elated, as was Nick.
That is about all. We woke up to snow this morning and I am determined to not let the cold weather get the better of me! I will love where I live all year long!
Love you all and can't wait to see you in a month or so!

Smithfield Scoop

Sun, clouds, sun, rain, sun, snow, rain, sun, hail, rain, clouds... Lots of interesting weather here in Smithfield. Definitely fall. Cooler, then cold, then warmer, then definitely cold. I like the variability. It means there is still hope for sunshine now and then :)

Highlights of this week include: being trained to work at the temple (we will have more training this coming week), meeting with families in the ward to discuss getting the spirit of family history and the temple in their homes and individual lives, and finishing reading Insights - President Nelson's biography by Sheri Dew. It was remarkable to read about his life and all he has accomplished and what he is currently doing. It was very inspiring to me.

We are frantically trying to finish up some projects before heading to warmer climes in California - new tires and brakes on the car, for example. Because of our temple assignment, I had to miss a Vital Records training meeting in Ogden and must attend the last session in Salt Lake on Thursday morning, so we will be tardy getting to the gathering spot in Lebec, CA, but we will get there, hopefully in time for the important stuff. We are looking forward to being there with the Spartan goers.

It was delightful to tend the Hart boys while Elise and Alex were in St. George with Alex's parents and siblings. They had a good time down south and we had a fun time in Idaho. Well, most of us had fun. Peter woke up in the middle of the night with croup and missed his soccer game the next morning. He had a miraculous recovery just in time to get to his first basketball game, then went home and crashed on the couch. We ended up bringing the boys back here on Saturday night because there was a mom threatening to go into labor (42 weeks along). The boys were good sports about coming to our house and we played an Escape Room game that their parents surprised them with. We almost made our escape... Peter tried valiantly to feel better, but we brought him (and his brothers) home after sacrament meeting to decrease the threat of spreading germs, and had a lovely Primary/Come Follow Me discussion here. They knew a whole lot about putting on the armor of God! And the mom... well, she had her baby this morning, at 43 weeks, via c-section at the hospital. First baby, 9 pounds, 12 ounces, 22 inches long! All is well...

Have a lovely week, all! Sure love and admire all of you!

Hart Happenings

I must say these weeks are racing by!
So fun to see all the pictures of cute babies, farm life, and exotic adventures here on the blog!  It was great to be with the Flakes for the blessing of the babies!  Ruth's productivity always inspires me and I can't wait to hear details about Thomas and Victoria's trip.  Looks so foreign and wild!
I feel like we are just going from one huge event to the next.  Next up, California!  That is going to be a party!  We are really looking forward to the warmer temperatures given what Ruth has already told you about the dismal weather here.
Then we have Halloween which only matter because the Primary is in charge of the Trunk or Treat so there is stuff to be done for that.  Then we will be into the final week of rehearsal and then Ian's Matilda performances, then Emma gets home, and then Thanksgiving and I don't want to even go past that.....Sheesh!
In between all that hopefully we'll still be able to do our study time, music practice, and eat meals together as a family.  Maybe.  Sigh.
The main thing we are looking forward to is all the time we will be spending together as a family.  That will be the very best!
Sorry this is so brief, we had a night of interruptions and a long afternoon of meetings and church callings and ministering.  My brain has checked out.  Now we are playing a game and my team needs me.  Not sure what I'm going to be able to contribute......

Be well you lovely folks you!

Flake Fun

This has been quite the week. Looking back there was only 1 day that made it that way!  On Wed morning it was really quite cold.  When Scott went out to start the truck it was too cold to start.  So he tried th Miata and the battery was dead. So we bundled the babies up and quickly went to try and catch the bus at the last stop.  We just missed it so we turned around and decided to jump the miata. Did you know that the battery in a Miata is located in the trunk? We didn't. But we finally found it and Scott was on his way. (He made it to work on time).  A few hours later I packed up the kids again and went into the office to do a training.  At the end of the training I stopped by my boss's office and told him that we needed to work on an exit plan for me.
That evening I had started dinner and went to feed Robin and noticed that I had missed a call from Scott...3 of them in fact and a text message. The Miata had over heated and was dead on the side of the road about 10 miles outside of town.  So I packed the kids up again and we went on a rescue mission.  Luckily we were home in time that I made it to my 7:00 temple recommend interview.

Speaking of which, the new recommend questions really made me stop and think before I responded.  Good change if you ask me.

We took the babies to the pumpkin patch yesterday.  Robin wasn't a fan because she was tired but maybe she'll like it next year!

That is all for us this week.  Hope you all have a terrific week. We'll let you know Thanksgiving plans as soon as we solidify them.

Nilsson News

Winter decided to show its face this past week.  We kind of decided to skip fall altogether and just jump ahead a season.  The high during the day was around 40 degrees and the night temps dipped down to 14!  Needless to say, it zapped everything.  The poor potato farmers had postponed harvest because of all the rain and the fields were total mud.  In order to save what they could before the major freeze, they were working through the nights, 24 hours straight and still they didn't get it all.  Farming is a hard life!  SO, if the price of potatoes goes up, now you know why.

These past few weeks we have been immersed in canning and yard and garden cleanup.  It is such a busy time of year.  This weekend, we spent some time with grandma and grandpa and the Hart boys.  It is always a fun time to be together!  We went to Addy's piano recital where she did a wonderful performance.  After that, Grandpa did a photo shoot of our family.  Can't wait to see how the pictures turned out.  We spent Saturday out in the barn giving our donkeys vaccines, dewormer, and some hoof trimming.  If you need a good workout, try your hand at hoof trimming.  There's nothing better (or worse) for your back, glutes, and hamstrings!

We are getting excited for our upcoming California trip!  Somehow, in my preparing for the race, I always manage to injure myself.  Most recently, while running/hiking the Buttes, my knee rebelled.  I came home and started researching it and I have what's called runner's knee.  Not fun.  I called Thomas and when I told him I had a week to fix it, he kind of laughed but then he gave me some killer strength workout routines.  If I survive those we'll see what happens...

Hope all is well with everyone!  Can't wait to see EVERYONE at Thanksgiving time!

Flake Fun

First off a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to come to the blessing. It was great to have you all here. We can't wait to see you all over Thanksgiving.

The weather has turned cold in Snowflake and we have had our first freeze. No snow but our garden is toast.  The days have been quite pleasant which is nice.

I went into the office a couple of days this week and the kids didn't like it very much so we are figuring out the next move as far as that is concerned.

The twins are doing really well and growing like weeds!  We haven't weighed them yet this week but I anticipate that Robin is over 10 pounds.  Rand cleared that mark a couple of weeks ago.

There are a couple of apple trees at Scott's office and he was bringing home a few every day so yesterday he made a batch of applesauce and canned it.  It looks really good!

Hope that you all have a great week!

Smithfield Scoop

Yes! Welcome home to you, Thomas and Torie!! Glad you had such a delightful time. You were both sorely missed at our recent gathering in Snowflake, but hope to see you in a few weeks in Cache Valley!

We had a wonderful time with Jenn and Scott and are very grateful for their hospitality and willingness to put up with us for so many days. Thanks, also, to the Hart family, Joseph, Ruth, Lauren, Wesley and Chet for making the long trek to Arizona, some by car and others by plane and then by car. Hopefully, you all found that it was very worth your while to come down. It was fun to be at the rental house together and have room for everyone to eat, play and sleep. Wesley was quite enamored with his newest cousins and wanted to hold and help feed them as often as he could.
And going to church and participating in the blessings of Rand and Robin was a sweet blessing that brought such deep, profound feelings of gratitude for the Lord's mercies to our family. Thanks for making the effort to share in that experience.

On Sunday afternoon, we decided to go for a walk. When we stepped out onto the porch, there was a snake, sunning itself. Dad caught the little bull snake and Wesley tried to touch it, but the snake was a bit feisty by then. We got a video of it, but it is too long so I can't import it. You can see it on my phone sometime :)

On the way to and from Arizona, Dad and I kept looking around for fall colors, but didn't see much. We returned in the dark, so we couldn't see if the leaves were changing in Sardine Canyon. However, the next morning, I got up and what did I see in our own backyard?!!! I dragged Dad out of bed and made him stand in front of the window! Then we went on a long walk up the canyon by our house. Exquisite! Wish the pictures did it justice.

From our livingroom window  

 On our canyon walk...

Conference was spectacular and we feel renewed, inspired and ready to press forward! How blessed we are to live in a time with prophets sharing the Lord's will with us! And to have so many temples! And the blessing of covenants! And family! Oh, my, we are so very blessed. Hope to see all of you again, sooner than later.