Thanksgiving - November 21-25, 2012

We weren't planning to go to Idaho for Thanksgiving.  And then Oma Simpson passed away and the funeral was planned for the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  We picked up my cousin, Jenny, in Pocatello and drove to Eagle.  Thanksgiving is such a fun time to reconnect with cousins - Carter and Bree pushed Lincoln in Ellie's car - around and around and around. I can't believe this is my only picture from Thanksgiving Day.

On Friday, James and I had a movie and dinner date. Lincoln stayed with Oma and played with cousins.  We met up at the funeral home.  Lincoln and Oma and Oma-Great's casket.

I see Mommy! Where have you been? I am not happy!

Whew! They didn't leave me, I guess I'm okay.

All day Saturday we were involved in events surrounding the funeral.  The funeral program.

The Great Grand Children Choir - by this time, Lincoln and I were out in the lobby trying not to be too noisy, so he didn't participate in this one.

At my Opa Simpson's funeral 10 years ago, the grandsons were pallbearers and the granddaughters each got a flower to place on the casket.  Today, there were two vases of flowers for all the great-grandkids to participate in putting a flower on the casket.  A really nice way to say goodbye.

I just love this picture (thank you Uncle Neil for sharing all your pictures.) of Oma's lap warmers - Christy, Zoe, Hallie and Emma.

After the funeral and graveside service, we had lunch at Uncle Gord's church building. We had some group photos taken - The Simpson Boys - now the oldest generation in our Simpson branch.  Neil, Norm, Gil and Gord.

The Gil Simpsons also wanted a family photo - having everyone in the same place at the same time doesn't happen very often.  So we got a quick just-in-case-the-weather-is-terrible-outside picture in the church. Jed Simpsons, McCalvys, Kurt Simpsons, Oma and Opa, Davis' and Dotys.

And then we climbed a tree. Dotys, McCalvys, Kurt Simpsons, Oma and Opa, Jed Simpsons and Davis'.

Simpson Grandkids - Back row: Emma, McKayla, Hannah, Zoe, Carter, Jake, Tyler, Stella, Hallie, Tucker and Lincoln. Front row: Rachel, Bree, Ellie, Aspen and Christy.

McCalvy family

While we were in Eagle, I made this "frame" out of cardboard, wrapped it in Christmas paper and then Oma tied a pretty bow.  I took about a million pictures of the little cousins in varying poses and combinations in a "present".

We left Saturday night to get my cousin home in time for work on Sunday morning.  Lincoln had only napped between events during the day - 10 minute naps.  So he was asleep before we left the neighborhood and slept the entire drive to Pocatello.

It was around midnight - with a three hour drive still to go.  My uncle had given me some gas money (since we drove his daughter) and we decided to use the money we didn't spend on gas to stay at a hotel in Pocatello.  Lincoln woke up while we got situated in the room and played. But as soon as we got him into the port-a-crib, he went right back to sleep.

And in the morning, he climbed on daddy's face.

This is my favorite picture of Lincoln from the weekend - check out those blue eyes!  He was climbing the stairs to the stage in the gym during lunch. Up and down, up and down.

 I'm really grateful that we were able to go to Idaho for Thanksgiving, to attend my Oma's funeral and especially to visit with so much family. I am grateful for eternal families and have hope for a huge, heavenly family reunion someday.

Oma-Great - November 17, 2012

Oma-Great passed away at age 95. She was an active grandma in Jessi's life and we're grateful that Lincoln and Oma-Great got to meet.  In her honor, I have had honeybutter on my toast. I made my bed so that it even looks pretty. I pulled my hair out of my face. I will hold hands with my husband and I will be an involved mother with my son. I will have dessert with every meal - even if it is fruit preserves. I will use the good china because every meal, every day, is worth our very best... all things I learned from her example.

July 9, 2011 - Simpson Family Reunion - with Lincoln's onesie. I was 7 months pregnant.

November 24, 2011 - Thanksgiving - 4 generations with Oma-Great, Opa, Jessi and Lincoln (2 months).

March 23, 2012 - Idaho Ski Trip - Oma-Great and Lincoln (6 months). I love this picture - Oma's smile!

July 7, 2012 - Simpson Family Reunion - Oma-Great and all the great-grands in their traditional tie-dye. Lincoln was a bit of a Mama's boy on this weekend, but he sat in Oma-Great's lap for the pictures, perfectly happy.

July 7, 2012 - Simpson Family Reunion - Lincoln (9 months) in this year's tie-dye.

Thelma Irene Anderson Simpson
September 4, 1917 - November 17, 2012

Snowy Day - November 10, 2012

We had a wonderful snow storm last night and today. So after Lincoln's nap, we got dressed and went out to play.  Lincoln had no problem tromping around on the pavement, but once we put him out in the deeper snow, he just stood still.

Linc isn't sure how he feels about snow. I tried to help him make a snow angel, like Daddy, but he got snow in his face and cried. We also had a mini snowball fight and watching Daddy play 'hacky sack' with snowballs made Lincoln laugh.

Snowy Day Family Photo before playing in the snow.

And after playing in the snow.

We love snow!

Wheeler Farm - November 6, 2012

Lincoln and I went to Wheeler Farm with our new-across-the-porch-neighbors. Lincoln loved pushing their little umbrella stroller.  He can see and it is light enough that he can purposely change directions. We might need one of these.

Gray (20 months) and Lincoln (14 months) watching the birds from the deck of the Ice House.  The property has lots of old farm buildings. Some are just for show (like the empty outhouse), some are repurposed (this Ice House is the current bathrooms) and some are still in use (like the hay barn).

Cows!  And bunnies and goats and turkeys and horses and ducks and geese and sheep and lots of little kids to see!

It's a working farm, so there is a huge barn full of hay.

And tractors - these blue tractors are set up for hauling trailers for "Tractor Rides" around the property.  We didn't take a ride, but Gray and Lincoln took turns "driving" every tractor we passed.

Rusty yellow tractor - Lincoln is driving, he just disappears in a patch of golden sunlight.  This tractor doesn't look like it works anymore, so we didn't feel guilty playing on it for awhile.

There's my boy!

There were lots of animals and the boys were mildly interested. But they would have played on the old tractors for hours!

Lots of people at the farm were getting their pictures taken. In this field, a pile of leaves had been raked together - probably for somebody's pictures. So we played in the leaves for a while. Lincoln got a stick for each hand!

There is also a really neat playground that we played on. Lincoln loves to watch the big kids before he decides that he wants to try something. He did really well on the slides!  It was fun to spend some time with our new neighbors and enjoy this pretty fall weather.

Halloween Hike - October 31, 2012

It was 74 degrees in Salt Lake City today.  On HALLOWEEN!  James was in class, so I took my little dragon out in the woods on the trail to Dog Lake.  It was only 54 degrees at the trailhead, but it was sunny and the little dragon was in fleece.

Not everyday you see a dragon in a backpack - it makes a really interesting shadow on the trail!

I let Lincoln out of the backpack after a 45 minute hike.  I thought he would play for a few minutes and then go back in the backpack and down the trail we'd go.  Stubborn little dragon insisted on hiking down the trail for half an hour.  He would cry and arch his back every time I picked him up to carry him across the muddy, slushy parts.  After an especially long "carry", I set Linc back down and he continued to cry even as he trekked down the trail.  Finally he got distracted by a rock or a stick and was happy again. Funny little dragon. 

When he finally turned to be picked up, I carried him in my arms for a while.  It was getting dark though, so I stopped to put him back in the backpack and discovered that Lincoln is missing one little green croc.  It was too dark and getting too cold to go back up the trail and look for the shoe.  I might be doing this hike again on November 1st!  I did get some cute pictures of our dragon out in the woods.

We didn't make it all the way to Dog Lake, but we did make it to this sign. This sign was one reason I wanted to hike this trail this fall and it was my goal for today's hike.  I really wanted to take our picture by this sign because I have another picture by this sign from 7 years ago.  Looks like they've replaced the sign sometime in the last seven years.

October 22, 2005 - McKayla (3), Kim, James, Carter (1) and I hiked to Dog Lake. We went earlier in the day and James hiked the entire way with one kid pack while Kim and I took turns with the other. And we made it all the way to the lake. I remember McKayla telling James that he was a moose, or a bear, or a turkey. What a difference seven years makes.  Wish the rest of my hiking buddies could have been with us on the hike! Maybe next summer.

McCalvys come to Utah - October 17-29, 2012

We got a special treat this month - Grandma and Grandpa McCalvy came to Utah to visit us!

Lincoln had a stomach bug the first few days they were in town, so he took a few days to warm up. But then he was his usual adorable, fun little boy self. Grandma let Lincoln play with her cell phone ("Hi!" he says) and he sat in this toy and talked on the phone.

Uncle Brian and Aunt Tiffany came for one weekend and we had an apartment full!  We loved it! 

The weather was amazing most of their visit and they took Lincoln out for lots of walks. And one hike - we hiked along the old water trail above Ledgemere Campground in Big Cottonwood Canyon.  Most of the leaves have already changed color and fallen.

At the end of the hike (because of a pretty significant ravine) there is a bench for sitting and taking in the view.

I'm pretty sure Lincoln loves going for hikes - don't you think so? (He does, he's just making a face.)

We found some snow at the Ledgemere Campground after our hike and James taught Lincoln about snow balls. Lincoln would pick up the snowball, throw it, laugh, clap for himself, pick up the biggest remaining chunk of snow, throw it, laugh, clap for himself, and over and over again.

The major project of their time in Utah was spent working on James' XTerra.  The night before the McCalvy's flew in, The Outlaw broke down. If it had to break, we are so, so, so, so, so grateful that we had extra help to work on it!  Lincoln tried to help, he kept examing all the tools.

The couple days that it did rain, showed us that the covered parking isn't very dry over our spot.  They hung a tarp under the roof and over the car to stay dry.  Every so often, James would take ski poles and guide the water over to an edge of the tarp.  James guessed, and Dick proved, that the timing belt was the problem. So they had to take apart the front part of the engine just to get at the timing belt.  And then they changed the water pump since they were already in that deep.  Then they got the car put all back together and it ran!!! And it leaked. So they had to take it back apart and tighten up somethings. 

But in the end, The Outlaw is running again and we are so grateful! And now we have a couple new automotive tools and a tarp too.

We had lots of plans for their week-and-a-half in Utah that were put on hold because of the Xterra Project.  But we did get to explore Ikea and we got in lots of walks. We stopped by the kitchen store that Dick wanted to visit and we spent an afternoon at Gateway. We took Linc to the Instacare and Lincoln shared his stomach bug so everybody had a day or so of feeling under the weather.  Wasn't that generous?  We visited and we ate and I worked and James went to class and Lincoln played with Grandma and Grandpa. 

Next time: Jessi and James want a date night.  Grandma and Grandpa want to spend some time at the Family History Library. I'd love it if we could all go to the temple together. We want to wander the City Creek Center and maybe go to the zoo or to This is The Place Monument. 

Or lets just pack up the car and spend a week in Moab.