11/10/2009

Shopping for Halloween costumes. Josh and Jaycie went for a ride on some ponies!

Jordan was a "not so" dead bride.

Shopping with our grandsons Ashton and Eric. We don't remember exactly what was said when Josh looked at us that way, something along the lines of he's next to get married and have kids.

Our beautiful daughters, Jordan16, Jarah 25 and Jaycie 22.

We went for a drive and had foil dinners one sunday afternoon. This one was Jordan's.

Justin

Jordan and Jeff, just having fun

Jed

If only they would always look this happy!

Happy Jeff!

Looky yonder!

Grandma Franklin sitting up and eating

We're so happy she's doing so good.

Eric turns 46

My girls are such faithful bloggers. I really admire them. Their kids will have so much fun seeing themselves as babies and little kids. They're awesome! And we enjoy getting to watch the grandkids grow up. We watch the video blogs over and over. Me on the other hand, well it takes me forever to blog and post pictures so I don't get around to it as much as I'd like to.

Not much has been going on around here. We went to Idaho to spend Ava's 4th birthday with her. Jarah planned a wonderful princess party. She made the cutest ever princess castle cake. We had hot dogs and plenty of food at the park. It was a lot of fun. Then later that day we blessed Halley. It was such a spiritual time for us all. Kalab's dad said a very nice blessing for her and it was good to visit with them. Jaycie and Dallas and Ashton came too, we love spending time with them all.

Then later that month Eric turned 46. He's a very young grandpa! He thinks because he's a grandpa he gets to act like one. I have to remind him too often that he's only 46. How many grandpas do you know that want an i-pod? I really wanted to get him one too but he's so picky with everything that I couldn't afford the one he wants. So we just went out to dinner. We like the Silver Nugget's $5.00 prime rib. We off handedly told the waiter that it was his birthday and later he surprised Eric with cake and everyone sang him happy birthday. It was a lot of fun.

So that was a month ago and now we're in November. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving already. We're staying home this year. James and Charity will be here and Jody and Ornella and Baby Eric. We'll eat dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Hardy and Bryan and Kim. Then later that night we're going target shooting.

Josh couldn’t take it anymore! His roommates were either going to be the death of him or the other way around. So finely he found his own apartment. He's been so excited. He made all the arrangements and talked to his financial aid advisors and was able to get out of his student housing agreement. He did all this on his own. I can't tell you how much we admire him and all his accomplishments. He's getting all A's and earned a cool scholarship. His work is amazing!

Jordan performed in the play "The night of January 16th." She was the district attorney.

Her parts were incredibly long. I can't believe her ability to remember lines! She worked so hard. She practiced day and night. We hardly saw her at all the two weeks before the play, between soccer and school and theater practice. It was overwhelming for her and she shed a lot of tears but in the end it all payed off and she was the star of the show. We're proud of her and her accomplishments as well.

Jeff went to Reno last week-end. The school chartered 5 buses to take all the kids to the state football game. Jeff got to experience his 1st serious sand storm on the way. He mentioned it was a bit scary. But they got there safely after 12 hours. He had a lot of fun while there; they went ice-skating and shopped at the mall. But in the end our team lost horribly and they all came home pretty somber. I think it's awesome though how much support our town has for the team. Almost everyone I know went to the game.

As for the rest of us, we're just doing the same ol' thing. Eric has a ton of honey do projects to get done. And me, well I make the list.

Earlier this morning we had a wonderful little surprise. I was sitting here writing this blog and Eric sets a brown egg on the desk for me. Happy Day!

The first gift from our 7 chickens. I was so excited I squealed and jumped up and down. Finely we get fresh eggs! Sometimes it's the smallest of things that bring us such joy.

Oh yeah. Jordan got asked to her 1st prom! She was given a beautiful red box and in it was a Rubik’s cube with her message.

She couldn't figure out the puzzle so she wrote down all the letters and unscrambled them. Then when she got home Jeff and Josh tried to do the Rubik’s cube but couldn't so later Eric tried and it took him about an hour and he figured it out. But the sad part is that Jordan won't be here for prom cuz we're going to be at Brianhead. She has to tell him no. Dang it!

I hope I can blog again soon because I need to finish here. We love you all.

Eric Salvatore Hardy baby blessing

On September 6th 2009 baby Eric was blessed in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints. Grandpa Eric said the very special blessing.

Many people came to be a part of something so important and special. Jody and Ornella with Baby Eric and Nonna Agata and Uncle Daniela were there.

Aunt Jaycie and Uncle Dallas and Ashton came from Provo, Utah. Uncle Bryan came from California. And Rebecca and Dan and her family came from Las Vegas. Then of course Great Grandpa and Grandma and Aunt Kim were there. Also Uncle Adam and Aunt Janice and their kids were there. The Pauls and Irene and her family came. And Of course Uncle Josh came from Las Vegas too, and we were there too, Grandpa Hardy, Nonna Liz and all the kids! We counted around 50 people. Thats alot of love! We just want you to know how special you are Eric!

We had a nice luncheon. Great Grandma made her wonderful chicken wings, Nonna Agata made her incredible lazagna and egg plant dish, Nonna Liz made her yummy crescents and Aunt Janice made some tasty salads and cup cakes. We had it at Aunt Kim's house because she has the most room. ( And she likes to party! )

We all had a nice time.

Camping and Seven Peaks

Starting a blog post is so hard. I've been sitting here for almost an hour and can't even come up with a catchy title. Maybe it's because I'm grumpy and I have a headache. But I really want to write. So here goes. Eric and I, Josh, Jeff, Jordan, Justin and Jed all went to Provo. We met Jarah and Kalab and Ava and Halley at a K.O.A camp ground early Friday afternoon. The girls have grown so much.


They are very cute!

So good to see them, lots of hugs and kisses! We got camp all set up, right next to the Provo River,

had some yummy sandwiches then went to D.I. It was the biggest one we've ever been too. We found lots of good stuff, Justin found an awesome backpack so he was really happy. Jeff found some cool speaker boxes and Jed found a scooter.

Later we all met Jaycie and Dallas and Ashton at their new house.

The guys helped Dallas and Grant unload the big Penske truck. They had four different families packed in it so they had to unload everything to get to all Jaycie's and Dallas's stuff. They worked really hard. Some of the stuff had to be moved twice thanks to the nosey neighbor across the way who decided that her lawn needed to be mowed at that very minute. (A lawn shared by everyone in the apartment complex!) Jarah and I bought chicken for dinner while Jordan helped with the babies, Jaycie was helping unload too and directing which room the boxes went in. By dark everything was unloaded and everyone was exhausted! Then it came down to one room and two couches and a T.V. Jaycie and Jarah must have moved them around 15 times trying to decide where to put them. We finely gave up! And it was time to go back to camp.

We worried that someone would go through our stuff at camp but all was good when we got back. We stayed up and talked for awhile but it was late and time to get some sleep.

Jordan and I woke up early the next morning. We took a walk around the camp site. It was a beautiful morning and Jordan and I had some one on one. I treasure these moments!

We had a yummy breakfast, pancakes, hash browns, breakfast burritos and eggs. We stuffed ourselves then began breaking down camp. We really need to learn not to bring so much stuff! It took the rest of the morning packing and loading. Then finally it was off to seven peaks water park! When we drove in front of the water park and I saw that first slide I was shocked! I said coming off that slide you'd be free falling! It gave me the heebie jeebies! I can't believe anyone would be that brave! Then after we got in the park the half pipe was closed because a guy hit his head and was unconscious. It seemed to be a little hush hush and people waited in line for him to be scooped up and hauled away. Like it was nothing! Everyday occurrence. As soon as he was gone the line opened up and the fun began again. Although none of us attempted it!

The first thing we did was the waves. It was like being at the ocean, the waves were stronger than I anticipated and I was knocked over and swallowed my share of water. But the kids loved it! I think this was Jeds favorite. Ashton and Ava loved it too!

Soon everyone separated and went to try out the slides. Grandpa was awesome with the grand babies! He didn't want to play in the water so he got baby duty, even feeding Ashton his bananas. Jeff couldn't get his ears wet so he helped with the babies alot too. He took them in the kiddie park and let them play. We couldn't get over how much the babies loved the water. They were so happy and content.

We had one little fright when Ava got outta Grandma's site for awhile. She's way too fast for me! Josh saved the moment and knew just what to do and all was good again. I grew 14 new grey hairs though!

Afterwards Jarah bought us all ice cream. She's awesome!

ice cream break!

hey Jaycie, take a real big bite of smoothie!

brain freeze!

all better now!

Then it was off to play again. We loved going down the lazy river! I think this one was my very favorite. Just my speed! I loved when we all went together, it was fun making sure someone unexpectedly went under the water falls or dropped down from the drop offs. We must have went down the lazy river a million times!

The high light was when Dallas, Kalab and Jordan went down the ( Free Falling slides ). They looked crazy! And Jordan was heard screaming across the park! I still can't believe they braved those slides!

I kept looking at the slides and I really wanted to go down one, I told Eric I was going to go down the green one. It wasn't very high at all. But then Jaycie found me and they desperately needed someone to go down on the triple tube with them. Down the PINK slide. I kept telling her no no no! But she managed to get me 3/4 of the way up! If I hadn't of looked down I might have been able to do it. But I ended up doing the "walk of shame", instead. It was OK though. I just didn't look at anyone on my way down. But after they came down the slide they told me I would have died anyway. They got dumped and Jaycie came down the slide without the tube and Josh came tumbling down after her. It was hilarious to hear them tell us about it!

I can't think of anytime I've had more fun in 8 hours. I loved the water park and I loved seeing all the kids so happy! It was great!

But it was time for the park to close and time for us to head to Jaycie's.

Ashton's so hungry, he tried to eat Halley's toes!

All tuckered out!

We got pizza to hold us over until we got the taco's made. Then it was time to make beds and get some sleep. Jaycie's house was wall to wall beds and people! I can't believe I forgot to take pictures of us.

Sunday morning was hectic as usual for us. Making breakfast, getting the truck re-loaded, getting out the door! Our goal was to go to the mall and do some birthday shopping for Jaycie. But the mall was closed dang it! We ended up going to walmart then McDonald's for ice cream. It was a little lame compared to the day before. But oh well. We needed to get on our way home anyway. And Jaycie and Dallas needed to get settled into their new home. So it was time to say good bye and we all left our separate ways.

We love getting together with our kids! It was alot of fun and we can't wait until we can meet up again. We love you all so much!