Bethany's 29th Birthday 6/12/2016

Bethany's 29th birthday was on a Sunday.  We had Stake conference that 

day.  We had a nice lunch and she had a long nap. :)  Then we had friends 

and family down for homemade ice cream and rhubarb upside down cake,

It is easy to find Bethany.  Just follow the...beauty!

My peace roses bloomed for her birthday.

Bethany on her 29th birthday.

A small group, but a comfortable one.

We had some bubble fun.

The kids had a blast while the adults visited.

This is Katie and Montie.

Wil, Beth, SJ and the cake.

Katie painted  my toes that evening.

Bethany said it was the best birthday she has had for years.

Free Fishing Day: June 11, 2016

Free fishing day was June 11, 2016.

This is Mammoth Reservoir in Fairview Canyon. 

Grandpa and Uncle Ty went up early to do some fishing.

This is how it got its name.

The rest of us came around noon with a picnic.

It was a rather chilly day.

Ty caught both of these nice trout.

               Luke with the life jacket under his jacket!   Does this jacket make him look buff?

Grandpa is ready to take the kids on a boat ride.

Grandpa, Leia, SJ, Luke and Ty are on their way.

Within minutes a rather violent storm tumbled into the valley.

We got the kids in just as it hit, but the boat had to weather the storm on the water.

Within a half hour the white caps were gone, and the 

weather was lovely again...just in time for pictures.

Tyler, Gabe, Leia, Katie, Luke, Grandpa, SJ and Bethany.

Bethany joined us just before the storm.  She had to facilitate 

last minute visitation for Baby Wil.

Grandma and Grandpa

Cute cousins: Leia and SJ.

Dallin's Baptism 6/4/2016

Dallin Kurt Mellor was baptized and confirmed on June 4, 2016.

Dallin and Neldon                                            Dallin 

After the baptism there was a luncheon at a park near their new home.

This is the super fun tree house play set there. 

Can you see three kids you know?

Grandpa Marvin was there.                   Grandpa Kenison was there.

The Wilkins were there.                Haylie is watching over Dallin's fun cake.

Dallin was excited about his Mutant Ninja Turtle pinata'.

So were the rest of the kids.

It was a beautiful day for a baptism and picnic. 

Memorial Day Boating and Barbeque

MEMORIAL DAY! 5/30/2016

The Wilkins were the first family to try out the tube.

The first arrangement had too much junk in the trunk, so here is Plan B.

The flag means "man in the water."

Bethany takes a turn.

Leia was just too tired.

Loading up to head home.

Katie and Gabe

Tyler brought his BIG BUBBLE maker.

Bethany was able to pick SJ up so she
enjoyed the last hour of the day with  us.

Dots and Grandpa

Leia and Dots

Grandpa and Luke

New version of London Bridge is falling down.

SJ, Tyler, Wil, Grandpa, Leia and Dots.

LEVAN HOMESTEAD NEWS….May Edition 2016

Dad: After Brenda and Neldon moved into their new house, I went up and helped Neldon move something out of the trailer into the house. Then I helped Brenda put pictures on the walls. I finally got the garden planted and the potatoes hilled this month. The High Priests were in charge of a fencing project so I went on two fencing assignments to repair the fence on the stake farm so they could turn out the cows. Then Gord and I went down to Otter Creek fishing. On our way down we stopped to help two women in a VW bus that hit a cow the night before. Their accident  knocked out their lights. Then they just drove the thing until it would not run any more. We pulled them off the road and gave them a ride to where they could get a phone call out for help. We both got plenty of the sun, and we brought back 7 fish.  All in all we had a good trip. I tended Katie’s kids while she and Ty went to the Hale to a production and then Ty and I put the slide on the swing set.  Another day I tended Gabe and Wil while Grandma, SJ and Beth and the rest of the Wilkins went to the Hale Theater.  Grandma and I did a wood hauling project at the Mellor’s in Nephi and took the wood up to David Shepherd’s camp ground. For our anniversary, I went to Provo and picked up Grandma from her bus and we went to the Temple.  We did the initiatory and endowment and sealing for a couple all in one day.  It was a couple Andrea had found researching on her mission, so that made it extra nice. Their baptism and confirmations were done the night before by our ward youth, so all of their temple work was done in less than 24 hours.  We also went out to lunch at the Olive Garden and went to the new movie, “The Jungle Book.” I also went out for ice cream.  It was really a good day.  Then Brother Hanks thought we should talk in Sacrament meeting. He had us talk on prayer and personal relation.  We each talked for 18 min. They must have been pretty good talks because we had a few in the ward that wanted copies.  Anyone wanting a copy should talk to Grandma.

Mom:  May was an extra beautiful month here in Utah.  We actually had a long, mild spring and the blossoms have been truly glorious.  Our lilacs were the most abundant I can remember and I have enjoyed them so much.  The business part of my month could be charted by two funerals, three weddings and ten bus trips!   The funerals included Marion Wankier, and the other was my good friend Marci’s son, Kyle Kennedy.  He committed suicide so that was a particularly difficult one.  The weddings included: Tyler and Quinci Marvin on May 6^th and a couple of girls from the Levan 2^nd ward: Kambree Worwood and Megan Wood. The bus trips were a result of several other drivers nearly maxing out their hours and shifting the end of year trips to those of us with lots of hours and a willingness to be tied up that much.  On the very last trip of the year, I rounded up 8 other drivers who were at the same place and we went out to lunch.  It was a great way to end the year.   Dad and I have learned to be opportunists, and we can use bus runs to our advantage.  For instance: I got paid to celebrate our 40^th wedding anniversary. I worried that I might need to talk to my bishop about that, but then I realized…”somebody had to do it!” J I am happy to report that we got moved back into the big bathroom early in the month and that had been so nice.

The whole month was not all business.  We had lots of fun, too.  Dad and I went to the musical Jane Eyre at the Hale Theater.  Then Beth, SJ, the Wilkins and I went to see Sleeping Beauty Jr. I love being at a theater with my kids and grandkids.  It brings back memories of being with my grandpa at the Promised Valley Play house in SLC.  Mother’s Day was a nearly perfect day.  Jake called me from his first thing.  The call was brief but very precious to me.  He and Meghan sent a beautiful bouquet of flowers as well.   We attended our ward in the morning and then Dad and I went to the Mitchell’s mission report.  They were the couple that Andrea worked with at the Institute in Muncie.  It was a payday for us.  Both of them mentioned Andrea by name as being a dedicated, successful missionary.  Then we came home and had dinner with the Wilkins and Bethany and kids.  The finale was when Sister K called.  For 45 minutes it felt like she had never gone.  It was so good to hear her voice.   I loved the other phone calls throughout the day and we are so excited about going to the Tuachan.  Thanks to you all!

Abby and Scott made a quick visit to Utah and that was a very pleasant surprise for us.  I had bus runs both days they were here, but I got home in time to go boating with Abby the day Scott was taking care of business.  Our anniversary was as nearly perfect as a day could be and the video was a complete surprise and touched us deeply.  It represented some serious forethought, an effort by all, and a BIG sacrifice for Laura and the Mitchells.  That kind of a gift is difficult to express adequate appreciation. 

Our last day of school was May 27^th.  I can’t explain how it felt to park that bus for on that last day.  I am so ready for summer.  FYI: McKall Kenison graduated this year.  We got to feed the Sister Missionaries the night of graduation.  It was Sister Gold and Sister Brown.  They brought a lot of light, cheer and enthusiasm with them.  It was a true pleasure to have them in our home.   For any who need a good read for the summer, check out “Wonder” by Palacio, and “The Amish Midwife” by Clark and Gould.