September catch up!

I have been going to blog several times this month but it's been a hectic month and "stuff" got in the way so I'm playing catch up.

Our "princess Haily" turned 4 on September 14. They have a wonderful Grandma Fuller who makes various princess play dresses for them to use. This one is a little big but Grandma Fuller can make it right. How can I compete with princess dresses! I am giving Sydney piano lessons.

It doesn't matter what size box we happen to get in the mail, big boy, our cat has to use it as a nap.

Once the heat let up some, we've had a final push from the garden with some extra produce. Our peppers have outdone themselves and I have made the most delicious pepper relish.

I have been planting various types of baby greens in the greenhouse and picked this yesterday! It made the best salad!

That catches me up for the highlights!

Hiking in Utah!

We took a day trip to hike the Grotto trail in the Payson canyon that crisscrosses a creek and leads to a beautiful waterfall.

It wasn't a hard hike but just so beautiful.

Little Victoria was along for the ride and seemed to really enjoy herself!

Here is one of the scenery pictures that I took that gives you an idea of the beauty.

Are they not just the cutest little family!

Caleb was prepared for the hike and did really well walking across the bridges to the falls.

I guess it is called a grotto because of the enclosure.

Caleb loved exploring around the water.

After the falls, we went up into the mountains to a lookout where we are with Mt. Nebo in the background.

Oregon Family

I saved the best for last about our trip to Oregon! Family pictures.


Here is my almost 96 year old father with his children, Mick, Linda, LaDonna and Richard.

The morning after we got there, we went to the Portland Temple. Richard and Michael were ready to go!

LaDonna, Renetta and I were up bright and early. We went through the temple with Mick and Mary, Amy, Tami and Leone who had just been for the first time the month before.

After the temple, we went to visit with Johnny and Leone.

We had Mick with us who spent the night at Rich and Renetta's and we had a lot of fun playing apples to apples. The next day we went to visit dad and met back up with Mary who brought Beth and the boys on their way to Klammath Falls for a trip.

We had Amy and Megan and their families along with Malia Long for a pizza dinner and a night around the campfire.

Amy, her Richard and Annalina were enjoying the evening.

Look how cute little Katherine, Megan's daughter is. I just love those curls! She has to have surgery this week and our prayers are with her.

All of the cousins!

Kevin had a canoe trip last week so Bonnie bravely drove up for a visit and a canning frenzy! I hope she got a little rest!
It was so much fun to see little Katie and how much she has grown. She loved being around people and was just so cute. She stands and is almost ready to walk. She screamed with delight as she chased the cats around.

Ethan lost a tooth while he was here, his second front tooth!
Here's all of my precious girls! They had a blast together. They got to try out the new water slide park up the street.
We had to put up a gate for Katie but the kids loved playing downstairs. The week flew by.

An afternoon at the Park

One of the beautiful days in Utah, we spent some time at the park. Everyone had fun playing Bocci ball, which Adam got Caprise for graduation.



Caleb, on the other hand, loved the freedom of all of the lawn and ran and explored. He wanted to play with older kids and discovered some cute puppies and petted them. We ran those little legs until he was tired but he loved every minute of it.

A taste of the Harper Christmas 2009

I'm still trying to get caught up on the Christmas pictures and activities. Here are some highlight pictures of the big day!



We decided instead of going to a photographer with crowds and having to wait we'd take our own family pictures this year. We used our nice camera and Michael even got a wireless remote that will click the picture so everyone can be in them.




It went pretty well, but let's just say that they are not professional but do have more character to them than the professional everything is right pictures. He's a slideshow of what we got!

2009 Thanksgiving

I hope everyone has had a great Thanksgiving with a lot of great turkey!

Michael and I were able to make a quick trip down to Albertson, NC, where Michael was raised to see family there.

Pat and Him were at the old homeplace living there from Utah for a few months.

Pat did us all proud with a lot of wonderful food!

Their youngest daughter, Janelle came from Fayetteville with her two guys, Lane and Cole. Her husband is in Afghanistan but will get to visit at Christmas.

Eleanor had her boys over on Sunday for their big dinner as Alan had to work and the others went to in-laws so she came over for a great meal!

Janelle has a beautiful chocolate lab named Thunder! He lives up to his name but is a good dog, but really big!

Jim as always was a wonderful host and we had a lot of great visiting!

Haily is 2!

Our little Haily turned 2 on September 14th. She is so cute. She's an angel but those are not her wings!

She was dressing up as a fairy with her sister Sydney!

The party was fun for everyone and she got some cute new toys.

A day at the Florida Beach!

One family activity we did (besides eating delicious food) was to go to the beach! Haily didn't like the sand but Ryan and I persuaded her to go for a little walk on the beach with us.

Sydney had a great time playing in the water and building a sand castle.

Tracy and Will, Bonnie's dad enjoyed the umbrella to relax and enjoy the view.

The kids had a ball in the water. Unfortunately a big wave hit Eric and Ethan and he grabbed Ethan and lost his glasses!

Here's Michael and I with the ocean behind us! I did get a little sunburned but it was a beautiful day!

TWO BIG EVENTS IN FLORIDA

Last weekend we took a quick trip to Florida for two big events. One was for the blessing of our new baby Katy. . .

and the other was Maggie's baptism. Two sweet little girls from a sweet loving family!

Eric and Tracy and family along with Ryan also came to visit.

The kids were so great together and had a wonderful time together! I played a lot with the kids and it was fun to have 7 of 8 of my beautiful grandchildren together!

Caleb is the cutest baby!!!

We had a whirlwind trip to Utah last week to meet baby Caleb, Todd and Amanda's little one and be there for his blessing on Sunday. He was so cute and smiling. His whole routine was turned upside down but he took it all in stride.

Isn't he the cutest baby!

He even smiled at the picnic!

This is after his blessing. He loves his daddy.

Here's Todd, Amanda and Caleb!

Here's our Utah family! Caprise and Adam, Todd, Amanda and Caleb along with Michael and I

Michael and I had a hard time leaving Caleb in Utah!