Luke and Jessica are engaged!

Luke asked Jessica to marry him and she said yes! We are happy for them. Jessica is a sweetheart and we love her. They are already busy with making plans for the wedding. May 22, 2010 is the date for the wedding. They will get married in Fresno, CA at her church. We will host a reception in the Payette,ID area probably in June of 2010.

They announced their engagement to us by a text with a picture of the two of them with her hand in the picture and something shiny on it. I have to tell my "where I was when I heard" story. Jay and I were visiting in Ashland with Shirley and Craig. It was the much anticipated return trip to the Rogue Valley to see people. On Monday, Memorial Day, Shirley didn't have to work so we were shopping. We had been to several stores and then went to the mall. We were actually in the dressing room at Maurice's trying on clothes. Shirley was shopping for Michelle a birthday gift and I was trying to find a pair of jeans. I get this text. Great picture of the kids...oh wait...is that her hand in the picture!! .... Shirley asked if there was a ring on her hand....so I'm digging in my purse for my "readers"....I text them is this what I think it is????!!!!!!! Yes!! "Oh! I'm sooo happy excited!" Then Luke asked if I was crying?? Happy tears:)) I was shaking and was totally done trying on clothes. Jay was also at the mall and I called him he said that he was getting a text but because of how overloaded his inbox is it was taking a long time to download. He told me to stop talking and wait for his text to come in!! Then he joins us in the dressing room area...with the rest of the staff...while I'm showing them all my text!!

If I can figure out how to download pictures from my old razor to the computer I will post the picture. You can also link to Jessica's blog from mine for the re-enacted pictures and their story.

Amelia's Graduation

My niece, Amelia graduates from the U of Idaho! I was able to fly to Boise and then catch a ride to Moscow with Jamie and family to see the graduation. She graduated with a degree in Vet Sciences and has been accepted to continue her education in the Vet Program at WSU in Pullman. She was one of 10 or so graduates that were chosen from the 1300 graduates to be in a video to be shown at graduation. It was really special to be able to be there for her. Amelia walking into the Kibbie Dome with the rest of the graduates.
Amelia on the way to get her diploma, a quick hug with dad (Jamie)

Amelia and Neola... I missed all the family pictures. So I had her pose for one more with me.

Amelia with her 82 year old grandmother Zelda that was able to attend. Amelia with her cake.

Being silly with her parents! Jamie, Amelia and Norma.

Her brothers, Jerrad and Jeff. Amelia is shooting a Nerf thing at me!
Amelia with Mark and Luke....notice that she is on her tip toes....the days when she was taller are gone. Her younger cousins are grown up!

New adventure on my own!

I had a new adventure. My first commercial flight by myself. I flew from Grand Junction to Denver. Two of us had the same seat but I got to keep my seat and the other person got to sit in the front row so all were happy. I sat next to a business lady that traveled all over so she and I talked all the way to Denver and she helped me find my way to the next flight. I had 45 minutes between flights. I actually sat next to a friends brother so we chatted the whole way to Boise. Martha was waiting for me when I got off. We got my luggage and met Becky at Costco. Where we had lunch and I got my Costco fix:) Needless to say I spent some money. Becky introduced us to new deals and goodies.

I snapped this picture right as we were saying goodbye to Martha and the rain was starting to come down and the wind blowing.
Becky and I stopped by to see Wally, Cathy and Lady the dog. Had a nice visit with them.
Then we stopped by Kerry's to say hi! She was busy at the greenhouse and we visited there. Saw several local people that I knew. Here Carson is showing how much taller he is than his mother.

I spent the night with Becky and Steve and got to visit with them. Jamie, Norma, Jerrad and Zelda picked me up and we headed up to Moscow, ID for the U of Idaho graduation and to see the boys.

Luke, Mark and Neola at dinner at Applebee's.

Jamie, Amelia and Norma at dinner. It was amazing as Luke said anywhere in Idaho we can run into people we know and Jamie knew several people that walked by our table. Dinner was great thanks Jamie and Norma. I shared my motel room with them and that helped us all out.
Mark still had a bunch of stuff to move out of his dorm room.
Luke had even more to move out of his apartment. They were able to store most of their stuff with a friend. They will be getting an apartment together in August for the coming school year. They are looking forward to rooming together.

Mark's stuff almost loaded and ready to head home. It was a very long evening and morning of packing his and Luke's stuff and putting it in storage.
Neola and Mark on campus outside the Ag Science Building.

Mark and Luke at Luke's apartment.

Luke and Neola
Mark, Luke and Neola as we said goodbye to Luke and headed to New Plymouth. We got to Kerry and Doug's late on Sat night. It was a couple more days before we got home but we did have a good visit with people in the Treasure Valley.

Mother's Day

It is truly a privilege to be a mom! I have been blessed with 3 boys. All are special in their own way. How Mother's Day is celebrated changes as they get older. I got a phone call from Luke and Mark as they were both at college and busy with dead week and finals. I did get to spend the day with Jay. Also didn't have to do any cooking or cleaning:)
I got to pick out a hanging basket for Mother's day.
Here I am with my hanging basket. I had John take the picture the first day I got it when it was still beautiful. I try really hard but don't always keep them looking like this. As a matter of fact two days later it was 90 degrees and we had moved the plant to the back. I went a whole day and forgot to water it. When I saw it I thought I had killed it...but....water and sitting in the cool grass brought it back to life. Thank God it lived!!

Mother's Day is sentimental as I think of my mom and John's mom who are no longer with us. I really miss them.

Jay and FFA

On Sunday, May 3rd, the day before his birthday Jay and his floriculture team boarded the little white school bus along with the rest of the state competitors from Fruita and headed to Colorado State University for the State competition. He celebrated his birthday by competing and then at dinner afterward a bunch of the kids from around the state sang "Happy Birthday".Jay, Codie, Kelsi and Kady
Jay at home with his blue ribbon and the bouquet that he did for the competition. Jay placed 7th in state as an individual out of over 200 kids and his team received a gold team standing.
Codie, Jay, Kelsey and Kady at the annual banquet in "O D" official dress receiving recognition for their success at state floriculture.
Alex and Jay introducing a senior for her retiring speech at the annual banquet.

Stephanie handing over the secretary job to Jay.

Seniors presenting the advisers with gifts. His advisers are the adults in the picture. From left, Mr. Hudson, Ms Heath and Mrs. Hudson.

Jay presenting an award.

Officers being installed. Jay is right above farmers on the banner.
Mrs. Hudson, Jay, Kady. Jay performing his first duties as the secretary for the Fruita FFA chapter. The FFA has been a great experience for Jay this year and has helped him get involved.

Jay turns 17!

Jay turned 17 this year. He was going to be gone to State FFA Floriculture so we took him out to dinner before he went. Rockslide Brewery was his choice for a burger and a Virgin Daiquiri.Jay and his "drink"
Jay and his lemon/lemon cake. Sorry for the interesting shape! Couldn't find the round pans and he wanted a double layer so...13 by 9 pan cut in half and stacked!

Jay taking a big bite out of his cake.

Friends from church sent him a poster and a fun box of things including a picture of them with the poster and then they signed it. Made him happy and homesick.
Jay reading and looking at the goodies they sent. This meant so much to him and was a great gift.

Marble Size Hail

It was a beautiful day and then the sky changed and in comes this amazing hailstorm. We had marble size hail and it was a bouncing off everything.
Looking out our front window at the street.
Hail in my hand.
Bouncing off the car and pickup. Thank God it didn't damage the vehicles. Did tear up the trees and left plenty of leaves and little branches.
"Snow" in May!