SCANDINAVIAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL

This is becoming a fun family tradition, if only the weather would cooperate! The Rudel's and Curtis's visited the Strong's in Ephraim this Memorial Day weekend. Three years ago we set up tents out front of Grandpa Bills and Grandma Ellen's home and had a blast, but the last two years have been cold and rainy, but we still managed to weather the storms.

We also combine Grandpa Bills birthday with our visits. That's always been a nice added bonus.

We start out with the parade in the morning. Grandma Ellen fixes lunch for us and then we go over to the festival and walk around to see all the creative booths and try out a few of the tasty foods. The kids go on a couple of rides and that is about the extent of our stay in Ephraim. Oh the most fun and the one thing the kids really look forward to is riding the ATV's. It wouldn't be Ephraim if we didn't take the kids to see the Elk Farm.

Hear are a couple of pictures from our adventure

The most fun part for the grandkids is the candy that they collect

Getting ready for the big ride!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA BILL

ON MAY 26TH

HE WILL BE 82 YEARS YOUNG

MEMORIES OF MY MOTHER

*I loved her tickling my arm in church
*I loved her yummy warm homemade bread
*Her famous pies
*Bringing home roast beef sandwich's from banquets at the Hotel Utah
*Famous banana splits with the Book of Mormon club
*Five white cleaned and ironed shirts for the boys every Sunday
*3 beautiful hand made dresses for the girls every Easter
*She loved pansies and yellow roses
*She had a beautiful manicured rose garden on the side of the house
*I remember her gorgeous red roses surrounded by white bridal wreath next to the front porch
*I loved summer nights sitting on the front porch with my mother
*I loved watching her work in the kitchen from the open grate in the bathroom upstairs
*Santa brought us the most beautiful decorated Christmas tree every Christmas Eve/mom must have stayed up all night for that one
*Sunday dinners, roast beef or roasted chicken, mashed potato's and gravy
*Family reunions at Bear Lake, mom was always in charge of something big!
*Many years of service in the Primary and PTA
*She always made each of her children feel that they were the special one
*I loved her warm arms giving me hugs
*She loved me unconditionally
*I always had a bad day if she didn't give me a kiss before she left to go somewhere
*When she lost her sight she was amazing to watch as she learned how to read braille, she continued to cook and clean, she never gave up
*Her grateful attitude even in her darkest hours were an inspiration to me

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MOM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAYLER

Tayler admiring all of her presents

A great Elmo Cake!

Sissy helping Tayler with her presents

Yesterday was our little Tayler's Birthday. I love to talk about my grand kid's birthdays because it is a time when I can reflect on them and them only! Baby Creed's birthday will start us off next February, but Syd's was the first Birthday for 2009, her birthday is also in February. Since January we have had one birth and four birthdays and we are only into May! But now we will slow down and we wont see anymore grand kids B-days until August.
Tayler was so excited about the whole party she was genuinely surprised at all her gifts. She literally squealed at every present she opened, I laughed so hard. It was so fun to watch Carlee helping her little sister open her presents. After the party Carlee disappeared, I think she was excited to put together Tayler's 4 wheeler that her mom, dad, Grandpa Dick and Grandma Ruth gave to her little sister. I called later in the day and Carlee said that the 4 wheeler was still charging. I wonder if that 4 wheeler is going to visit Ephraim when the Strong's go down to see Grandpa Bill and Grandma Ellen? Thank you Strong's for a fun day. We loved being with you and also getting to visit with Soupie's family. We are so blessed to have our little miracle baby with us. We love you Tayler.