Family Fun Day

At the ZOO
Another Saturday without Matt around...what should we do with our time...the zoo is having a family fun day, we should go!

My mom and I ended up being all on our own for the day so we decided to take the kids to the zoo. It was a lot of fun just walking around and being together to see fun things. The kids were able to jump in a bounce house, see a HUGE snake and a couple of them even wanted to get their faces painted. Luke became Spiderman and Shelby turned into a dog.




After the walking and checking things out we got to go on a trolley ride with Uncle Cody. It was so fun to see him in his element, driving a bus (or trolley in this case). So funny to see him all grown up acting like an adult! SMILE

HORSE RACES

OFF TO THE RACES!!

When I was younger my family spent oodles of time back and forth between horse races. We traveled to the Sandy Downs track in Idaho Falls regularly and spent many weekends camped out here at the Pocatello race track. Of course as I got older and got busier with my own life it just seemed I didn't get back very often. It was such a fun experience and one my own family hasn't been able to be a part of. You can only guess how much fun it was to take all of the kids to the track to see their grandpa Shappart's horse race. I'm pretty sure Luke has the racing blood or at least the absolute love of horses running through him. Definitely a childhood memory that was fun to share with my own kids. I think Matt even had a good time! :)



You can only guess how much fun it was to take all of the kids to the track to see their grandpa Shappart's horse race. I'm pretty sure Luke has the racing blood or at least the absolute love of horses running through him. Definitely a childhood memory that was fun to share with my own kids. I think Matt even had a good time! :)

Time Flies!!

It only feels like a week ago I posted Shelby's baptism but as life goes it has been much much longer than that! We have had so many things since then that I thought maybe I should get this little blog updated at least a tiny bit.

The week after Shelby's baptism we celebrated Easter. What a wonderful time for all of us. It gave us some much needed time for reflection and a chance to be so thankful for the knowledge our Heavenly Father has given us. It was a very full weekend with Leslie's funeral and enjoying all the family that was in town. So grateful for the time we got to spend with everyone, especially Paul! Matt seems like a more complete person whenever he has his little brother around to talk to and hang out with.

Given the circumstances we didn't miss the chance to have to kids do an Easter egg hunt, Grandma Leslie wouldn't have wanted it any other way!! They were all so cute and fun to watch as they searched through the little patches of snow for some brightly colored surprise.




Then Aunt Annabeth planned some fun games for the kids complete with some awesome prizes!! Just a wonderful experience and a fun time.

Shelby got Baptized!!

We were so blessed to have Shelby baptised on March 27!

It was such a wonderful day for our family. Shelby looked beautiful and was so full of excitement knowing the new commitment she was entering into. The Spirit of the event was just amazing and her grandma Leslie's spirit was very strong throughout the day. We know she was so happy for the choices Shelby has made and the beautiful girl she is growing into.
We talked a lot about what the choice to be baptised meant and it was a very touching moment for Matt and I when she told us that she only wanted to know that she was taking all the steps she needed to help our family become an eternal family.

Shelby was lucky to have both her Romriell and Sparrow family's support. She also had Houghton's, Jorgensen's, Nielsen's, Merlyn Sorensen and Kathi Wright present. Afterwards we celebrated with root beer float cake and pina colada cake. Just a spirit filled day all around to celebrate Shelby's choice to become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Shelby we are so grateful for you, for your love and for the person you are becoming!!

We LOVE you!!

We will miss you!!

It is our Heavenly Father's turn to watch over our grandma and mom, Leslie. She passed away peacefully on Sunday morning with the love of her life at her side. Throughout the past week our family has been blessed with such a strong spirit knowing that our time with her on this earth was coming to an end.

In Lexi's words, "Grandma Leslie is walking with our Heavenly Father today, holding Jesus' hand. I think she's all better now."

Although we miss her deeply we know that she is at peace now and no longer in pain. Leslie can now watch over us and take care of us in ways she couldn't here on this earth. Such a blessing to know she can now hold her youngest daughter, Amelia, and rejoin her dad and many other loved ones who have been waiting for her with open arms.

Goodbye for now, we love you and miss you but know our Heavenly Father must have some very important work for you to do to be taking you home now.

Colbie Callait Concert

In the wake of all that has been going on in our family we are very lucky to be celebrating Shelby's 8th birthday. A couple of things she asked for: a toe ring, mentos, a calculator and the chance to go watch one of her favorite singers, Colbie Callait. Well lucky for her Colbie was making a stop right here in Pocatello!! So what did we do...honor her wish!

Shelby, Matt and I had such a blast!! We were able to go with a few of her aunts on Matt's side of the family and even an uncle. Susan, Annabeth, Joanne and Jeff went along for the ride. Jeff even gave her a couple of dance move lessons.

Leslie, Greatest Grandma and Beloved Mom

Leslie

Many of you know the hurt our family is feeling knowing that we will soon be losing our GRANDMA, MOM and FRIEND. So what do you say when you know such a loss in pending and in the very NEAR future?

The only words that come to mind are THANK YOU!
Thank you for your KINDNESS.
Thank you for NUTURING us.
Thank you for always being there.
Thank you for your SMILES,
your LAUGHS,
your MOMENTS.
Thank you for being OUR GREATEST example.
Thank you for showing us how to SERVE.
Thank you for being YOU,
for never compromising your beliefs,
for ALWAYS voicing your thoughts.
THANK YOU for raising SIX amazing children and
loving 19 grandchildren with all your HEART.
Thank you for being the BEST grandma I could have
ever wanted for my CHILDREN.
most of all THANK YOU for LOVING ME!

We LOVE you more than our HEARTS and WORDS can express. We couldn't be more grateful to have LOVED you and been LOVED by you for the time that we have had.

THANK YOU!