Happy Easter 2011

This year for Easter I decided that since Ray had to work, I would head to Southern Utah to celebrate with my side of the family. We stayed with Grandpa Oliphant and had lots of fun. On Friday, the kids and I along with Grandpa, aunt Kellie and Whitney, Aunt Stephanie, Chylie, Jaxon, and Stetson, and Uncle Chad, Aunt Terra, Taycee, Tymber, Harlee, and Venna went up to the Toquer Cemetery and had a picnic on the lawn next to mom's grave. The kids have been begging to do this since we buried mom, and so this was a good opportunity to do it. Friday evening the kids and I colored Easter Eggs at Grandpa's house while he was down fixing his car at his friend Dave's shop. We got really creative, and made some pretty cool eggs. We each colored 4 eggs. I was quite happy that there was little to no mess to clean up. I hate the messy part of coloring Easter eggs. I hate how the die stains hands and clothes, and counter tops. Saturday we all headed out to Aunt Kellie's house for a day of fun. We had lunch (dutch oven potatoes, chicken, and lots of yummy homemade salads), dessert homemade dutch oven peach cobbler, and then an Easter egg hunt. Here are some pictures of the kids lined up for the hunt. In order from left to right: Jaxon, Jake, Ellie, Harlee, Tymber, Stetson, and Taycee.The kids spent lots of time looking high and low for all the candy they could find.Jake is such a cute little stud. I just love his pose here in this picture. He was showing off his new shirt and hat he got for Easter, along with his new basket full of candy.Ellie held her basket down low so we could see all the candy she found during the hunt. She is such a silly girl, she tells me she never knows how to stand for pictures, and sometimes feels stupid when I take her picture. I love this girl! The kids decided to go over the backyard again and make sure they did not leave any candy behind. I think they actually found some candy hidden that no one had found the first time.

Venna spilt some of her candy on the picnic table, and licked it all up. Heaven forbid she waste some good candy on a table. She is such a funny little critter. :)

St. Patrick's Day!

Or, as Jake called it St. Parties Day! The kids dressed up all cute in green to ensure no pinches from others, of course I got to pinch their cute little cheeks cause i could not resist their adorableness. :) I tried to do something fun this year with dinner for them and I think they really enjoyed it a lot.

We had Green Noodles, green sauce, green jello mousse, and coleslaw on green plates with green punch with seven up, green ice cubes and green straws to drink it with. For dessert we had yummy green cake, with lots and lots of green sparkles on it. Ellie drew cute shamrocks on the napkins.

The kids seemed to really enjoy this all green St. Parties Day meal, and ate all of their food. Jake even got caught licking his plate. LOL They asked if we could have a silly meal like this for Easter, but with lots of fun colors. I figure if it gets them to eat all of their food (which seldom ever happens) it would be the least I could do. Besides it makes for really happy kids! :)

Tanner's Eagle Court of Honor

My nephew Tanner recently received his Eagle Court of Honor. We happened to be in town and were able to go and support him. I love that my kids have good cousins who they can look up to. Ellie and Jake are some of the youngest on both sides of the family, and I love that their older cousins for the most part do their best in setting good examples for their younger cousins. He gave his dad a pin for being his hero. I am sure Troy was honored. It is not everyday a boy looks up to their dad as much as Tanner looks up to his.Troy, Tanner and Melanie. They don't look at all like Proud Parents do they? LOLAll but one of these young men are my nephews. I was hoping to get a picture with all of them in but one nephew scout age couldn't make it into town, and the three older ones left before I could get pictures done.

Front Row L to R: Jaxon, Teran, Jaden, Ryan Back Row L to R: Jason, Kyson, Tyler & Tanner

Gloria Jean Leavitt Oliphant

Hurricane, Utah - Gloria Jean Oliphant, 69, walked again into the arms of her Savior, after a long battle with a chronic painful illness on April 4, 2011. She was born June 11, 1941 in Las Vegas, Nevada to Jack and Dorene Beatty Leavitt. She was sealed to the man of her dreams, Clair Oliphant in the St. George LDS Temple on November 19, 1962. They were blessed with eight children and their spouses: Karren Olds, Kellie (Merlin) Spendlove, Jackie (Pat) Stone, Stephanie (Chai) Sanders, Tracey (John) James, Melanie (Troy) Barlow, Mickie (Ray) Westfall and Chad (Terra) Oliphant; 39 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers: Jerrol (Peggy) Leavitt, Lane (Shirley) Leavitt, and Ronnow (Rhonda) Leavitt; a sister, LuNetta (Joe) Ipson; and step-mother, Grandma Toni”. Gloria was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She held many Ward and Stake callings throughout her life, but felt her most rewarding accomplishment was raising a close family who loved the Lord. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Hurricane LDS 5th Ward Chapel, 274 South 100 West, Hurricane, Utah. Visitations will be held Friday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Metcalf Hurricane Valley Mortuary located at 140 North Main Street and prior to services on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Chapel. Interment will be at the Toquerville Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Hurricane Valley Mortuary, (435) 635-9922. The family wishes to thank mom’s angel nurses at Dixie Regional Medical Center for their tender and loving care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gloria’s name to Zion’s Bank. Donations will be used for her funeral and medical expenses.

Puppy Heaven

We headed to southern Utah a few weeks ago for Tanners Eagle Court of Honor. While we were there we got to play with Granpa's puppies. They were 9 weeks in these pictures, and Ellie was in absolute puppy Heaven playing with and loving on these little fur balls. She is holding Lucky. Lucky was born with a hole in her side but she lived. Ellie loved Lucky because she looked the most like Maddi when Maddi was a little pup.
This little puppy is named Lucy. She was my favorite because of all three pupps, she was the most willing to try and learn the tricks I was teaching them. It only took her a few tries and she was able to learn how to shake. I nick named her IQ. lol Lucy, Molly and LuckyThis puppies name was Gert, but to keep dad's older sister (Gertrude) from being offended one day when she stopped by, they quickly changed her name to Molly. I think Molly was a better name for her anyway. She looked like a little Molly to me. Watching these little puppies play kind of got us excited for the day when we let Maddi have pups. My only fear will be getting rid of them when it is time. I would hate to get stuck with a little family of puppies forever. :)

~Jake's Goodbye~

Here is a picture of Jake saying goodbye to his Grandma. He sure is going to miss her. I'm not saying Ellie wont miss her, Jake just had a special bond with her that I don't think her and Ellie shared. He sure has been weepy for her, and wakes up in the night crying for his Grandma. When he says his prayers at night he asks Heavenly Father to please give his grandma a hug and tell her that he misses her so much in his heart. I know Jake is going to sure miss the farm, even though his allergies always got the best of him, it was one of his favorite places to be. A little bit from Jake. Grandma, I miss you, I love you, and I wish you didn't have to go to heaven to live with my Grandpa yet. My mom said you are happy cause you are not old anymore but I wish you could live at the farm still and not be old. I hope Heavenly Father and Jesus will help take care of you, and keep you safe. I hope you like the picture me and my sister put in your coffin. I love you clear to heaven. Love your best grandson- Jake

Families are Forever

While at the luncheon after mom's funeral, we got all the family together for pictures. This is all of mom's children and their spouses. There are 7 grandchildren and a few of their spouses missing from this photo, and a few great grand children as well. This is a picture with mom's side of the family. This is a picture with the Westfall cousins and aunts who attended the funeral and luncheon.Uncle Norman (mom's brother) and his daughter MiaUncle Gene, and Aunt Kathy (mom's twin)

This is my niece Katrina. She is attending school at BYU Idaho in Rexburg. She is such a sweet girl. I think she is such a pretty girl.

Aunt Mary, (Ray's dads sister) and some of Ray's other Westfall cousins. For some reason I was a bit surprised to see such a big turn out of Westfall relatives at moms funeral. George has been gone for almost 44 years, so I didn't think many would come. Boy was I mistaken. ;)

Aunt Diane, one of mom's younger sister's. She is one that would call mom everyday, sometimes twice a day to check up on her and to visit with her. Diane is surely going to miss mom a lot.

This is Zjolie, and Mollie. They are Rays cousins grand kids. That little smile melts my heart.

Carl, Lana, and Katrina watching moms life video at the luncheon.