Ashley's Geography Bee

Ashley won her 5th grade class Geography Bee! On December 16th, she went on to participate in the the Butterfield Canyon Elementary 5th grade Geography Bee that included the winners of all the 5th grade classes. I was there to support her. She was nervous, but did a great job! There were extremely hard questions, a lot of them the 5th graders had not even learned about yet! She did not win, but I am so proud of her! Four of the seven questions she answered were correct.  She is excited next year to enter the 6th grade Geography Bee! Way to go Ashley!

Looking nervous!

Relieved it is over! We are so proud of Ashley!

Karrie's Christmas Band Concert

On December 15th, Karrie had her Christmas Band Concert at Herriman High School. The clarinet players did a trio of "Silent Night".  Karrie did such a beautiful job!  Grandpa and Grandma Jones, Grandpa Shaw and Faye all came to the concert.  We all enjoyed it and it helped to get us into the Christmas spirit!

Grandpa Jones, Karrie, Grandma Jones

Karrie and Grandpa Shaw

Ashley and Karrie

The Busy Month of December

I have been very busy this month and have not caught up on my blog. I have been working my on call catering job a lot in the past 2 weeks! Here are some things that have been happening in December:

The first week in December I had the joy of babysitting my cousin's (Emily) little baby while they were at a job interview in Santa Fe.  Jackson is such a sweet and precious little baby! My girls were so excited to have him at our house overnight! They had so much fun holding him and playing with him!

Sweet little Jackson

Karrie, Jackson, Ashley

On December 4th, I helped throw a bridal shower for Hayley (my nephew Matt's fiance).  They are such a cute couple and I am so happy for them! I took Jackson with me and everyone loved his chubby little face! Karrie and Ashley helped with him while at the shower.

Matt and Hayley

For family night on December 13th, we went to the mall to visit Santa Claus.  Ashley had a plan to ask Santa for something that only she would know about, and if he brought it on Christmas then she would know that he is REAL! Karrie, Mike and I all asked if she would tell us what she asked Santa for, but she would not tell us! She eventually gave in and told us

 
Once there was a Snowman.....tall, tall, tall.....in the RAIN he melted.....small, small, small!

Sleepover at Grandpa's House

On Friday, November 26th the girls had a sleepover with their cousins at my Dad's house.  It was the first sleepover they have had there (with their cousins) since my Mother died. First, my Dad took us to Brick Oven to celebrate mine and Debbie's birthdays.  Then we went back to the house to visit.  Katelynn was going to spend the night, but ended up with the stomach flu. The kids were excited to be together.  They told me later that it was not as fun without my Mother (Grandmommy Shaw). It was a little strange having Faye there. Even though it is not the same, they enjoyed being together! I honestly don't know if they will spend the night there again, (I think next time we will stick to my house) but at least my Dad made an effort to have them there.  It is not often that they get to see their cousins from Idaho!

Dad (Grandpa), Ashley, Tessa & Austin.

Jacob & Karrie.

Ready for bed. Austin, Tessa & Ashley.

Not wanting to say Goodbye. Karrie, Ashley, Jacob, Tessa, Austin.

Karrie & Jacob.

Thanksgiving 2010

This year we spent Thanksgiving at Grandpa and Grandma Jones.  Cathy, Jerry, Brayden and Nicole were also there.  We enjoyed a yummy dinner (thanks to Grandma Jones)! We had lots of fun playing the traditional "Candy Bar" game! It was a wonderful day spent with family!

I have so much to be thankful for! Here is a list of what I am thankful for:
First and foremost, I am so thankful for my Savior and His love.
I am thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ, my testimony, and our prophet, Thomas S. Monson.
I am thankful for my husband and two beautiful girls.
I am thankful for being sent to my Mother and Father and being raised by loving parents.
I am thankful for having the best and most loving Mother anyone could ask for!
I am thankful for my two loving sisters.
I am  thankful for my Grandparents and their loving example!
I am thankful for my in-laws and my sister-in-laws and their families! 
I am thankful for wonderful cousins and extended family! 
I am thankful for all the many blessings in my life that are too many to mention!

Eating our "Turkey" dinner.

Playing "The Candy Bar Game".

Grandma Jones with Karrie and Ashley.

This is Halloween!

Since Halloween was on a Sunday this year, Utah celebrated it on Saturday, October 30th. This year Ashley dressed up as an Arabian princess, Karrie as a scary scarecrow, and Mike with a scary mask. Karrie must get her taste for scary masks from her Dad, because I do not like them! The day started out with a trip to Bountiful to see Grandma Jones, coming home and making paintbrush cookies, an annual tradition that I carried on from my childhood, having dinner and then out to trick or treat!  It was cold and rainy, but a very fun Halloween!

 

Carving Pumpkins

On Friday night (October 29th) we carved pumpkins.  The girls each had three to carve.  Mike carved his Moms and our two family pumpkins. Fun times!

Dinner at Brick Oven

Amy and I took our cousin Jenny out to dinner for her birthday at Brick Oven.  It was good to visit with her and catch up.  It has been just over a month since Jenny lost her Mother, my Aunt Lillie.  I hope Amy and I were some comfort to her, especially since we have been through it.  I always enjoy when we all get together! We were all close growing up and it is good to still be close. It was a fun evening!

Karrie's Fall Band Concert

Karrie had her fall band concert at Herriman High School on October 26th.  Grandpa and Grandma Jones and Grandpa Shaw and Faye came to support her.  It started to snow while we were inside enjoying the music. We are very proud of Karrie! I did not get a picture with Grandpa Shaw because he and Faye left early.

Grandpa Jones, Karrie and Grandma Jones

Karrie and her friend Ingrid

Dad's 69th Birthday

My Dad's birthday was on October 20th and he turned 69 years old. We could not go see him on his actual birthday since he was going to dinner at Amy's house. But it worked out because my Dad needed some help with the crown molding he is putting up in the house, so he asked if Mike could come help him. So, we went on Saturday October 23rd, to visit, give him his present and for Mike to help him. It is very hard to be at the house.  They have changed everything and there is hardly a thing left of my Mother. I do not feel my Mother's presence when I am there. There is no warm and loving feeling there since my Mother is not there. It is very different but I still try to go when I am welcome, so I can be with my Dad! Happy Birthday, Dad! I love you!

Halloween Time at Disneyland

 
Yes, we went to Disneyland again! Since we have annual passes, why not? The girls were out of school for fall break so our trip was October 11-17.  We left after school and work on Monday, October 11th and drove to Las Vegas and stayed one night. We got up early on Tuesday and drove straight into Disneyland. That evening, we attended Mickey's Trick or Treat party. Ashley dressed up as Tinkerbell and the rest of us wore Halloween shirts. It was so much fun! We got so much candy! The decorations were so cute and the "Halloween Screams" fireworks show was amazing! We met Captain Jack Sparrow, Captain Hook, Peter Pan and Wendy, Jafar, the Evil Queen, the Queen of Hearts, and many more. The highlight was of course, meeting Jack Skellington and Sally. On Thursday, we met up with our friends, the Pursers. We did some pin trading and rode all of our favorite rides.  It was a very fun trip and fun to be there at Halloween Time!

Silver Lake

On Sunday, Oct. 3rd, after we had dinner with the family at Grandma and Grandpa Jones and listened to the last session of General Conference, the girls wanted to go look at the fall colors in the canyon. We usually go to Cascade Springs in American Fork Canyon, but since we didn't have enough time to go there, we drove up to Silver Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon.  Since it is a higher elevation than Cascade Springs, there are not as many Maple trees. There are a lot of Aspens and Pines, so the colors were mostly yellow.  It was very beautiful!

Pumpkin Patch

On Friday, October 1st, we attended my Aunt Lillie's funeral.  It was a beautiful service, and it was good to see all my extended family! That same evening, we went to the pumpkin patch to pick pumpkins.  Every year, my girls love to go to the pumpkin patch, not only to pick pumpkins, but it has a small corn maze that they like to go through. We enjoy this time of year!

A Tribute to my Aunt Lillie

Jenny (my cousin) called me on Saturday afternoon and was crying. I knew even before she told me, that her Mother (my Aunt Lillie) had passed away.  I was not completely shocked, as she had been in the hospital for nine weeks after open heart surgery.  But, I cried along with Jenny, because my heart went out to her and her family left behind.  Aunt Lillie had been struggling with numerous health issues since her surgery.  She was suffering so much! I am so happy for her to finally be with her parents (my Grandparents) and my Mother! What a wonderful reunion that must have been! In the past six years we have lost Granddaddy Wilkerson (2004), Grandmother Wilkerson (2008), my Mother (2009), and now my Aunt Lillie (2010).  My Aunt Breta is the only one left of the Ben and Lillie Wilkerson family.
I want to let my cousins, Kaye, Ben and Jenny know how much I love them and I am here for them.  As I have been through this, I know how hard it will be.  You will miss your Mother every day for the rest of your mortal life, but with time your grief will get better. I pray the Lord will bless you and your Dad with comfort and peace!
Lillie Deaton Wilkerson Compton was the oldest of three girls born to Benjamin and Lillie Wilkerson.  She was my Mother's oldest sister by four years. She was a beautiful and petite lady and I have many fond memories of her.  She is the one responsible for getting my parents together.  She has told me many times that she thought of me as one of her own because she helped with me when I was a baby when she and my Mother lived across the street from one another. I have good memories of coming to Utah and staying at her house and playing with my cousins.  After my Mother passed away, I talked with my Aunt Lillie many times.  She was such a comfort to me and I am so thankful for her and her love! I will miss her but I know she is not suffering anymore and now she is so happy! I love you Aunt Lillie and I look forward to seeing you again!!

This is a picture given to my Mother, from Aunt Lillie. I think it was her senior year in high school.

After Grandmother Wilkerson's funeral. Cynthia Wilkerson Shaw, Lillie Wilkerson Compton, Breta Wilkerson Sorenson.

Lillie Wilkerson Compton, Breta Wilkerson Sorenson, Cynthia Wilkerson Shaw, Lillie and Benjamin Wilkerson