Fruitland House

This year we decided to sell our Fruitland house to move to a flat, quieter road. We'll miss the old girl but she kept us constantly busy with maintenance and cleaning. There wasn't time to do the projects we wanted to because there were plenty of repairs and projects that had to be done first. And that's all just for the inside. The yard was it's own beast that couldn't be tamed without a crew of gardeners.

I loved the great room that the kids named the dancing room or Bear Lake room. I loved how a big Christmas tree looked in the window. I loved the chalkboard mantle in the living room. I loved the view in the back yard of the mountains in all the seasons and weather. I loved to see the deer come into the yard and snack on our apple trees. I loved all the storage spaces and my office. I loved watching the dogs run, play, or lay in the sun in the back yard. I loved watching the kids climb the hill or stand on the big rocks while they imagined different adventures. I loved hearing them race around the house up and down the two sets of stairs, especially during Nerf gun fights with Jake. I loved watching the cats sit in their window every morning to watch the birds. I loved sitting in the barn while Jake worked on all kinds of projects, amazed at what he could create.

The Fruitland house was perfect for us during the season of our life we were there. It worked perfect for our adventures and needs. We recognized that after four years, our season there ended and it was time to settle into a home where we could use the yard, ride bikes in the street, and have more time to spend together that wasn't just cleaning and projects. Moving is a great adventure. Any house can be our home and adventures open us up to personal growth, new opportunities and experiences, and lots of new people.

Thank you Fruitland house for being our home. We love you!

 

July 2016

Joey and Dad on 4th of July.

Joey and Jake on the 4th of July.

Henrik and Auntie Jubby on 4th of July.

Noah so excited on the morning of 4th of July.

Noah's 7th birthday party a week early at Grandma's.

My associates said I looked like a 12-year-old boy. They were right.

Jake made jam with our apricots.

Daisy napping in the sun, reading a book.

This naughty chicken escaped the yard and I had to find her in the dark.

Jake made us an indoor herb garden.

Jake and Joey on Hilda the Harley.

Noah at the North Ogden park on 4th of July.

Marlie, Abbi, and Noah on 4th of July after the North Ogden park.

Abbi and Marlie ran the Riverdale 5K with Jimmy and Amber.

Abbi and Marlie before their 5K.

Noah gathering candy at the Riverdale parade.

Abbi riding with Uncle Cody in the Riverdale parade. Anne was their driver.

April 2016

From my 2016 Mason Jar Journal:

• 4.2.16-4.3.16 - We watched and listened to another wonderful General Conference; focus felt like we are children of God, to improve love, compassion, and service, and to start where you are
• 4.4.16-4.8.16 - We spent the week in Snow Canyon (St. George) with the kids and my family; perfect weather and fun house for the kids; lots of visiting and fun; Dad got a call from the Ogden Temple President to make an appointment - mom and dad were asked to be a temple worker
• 4.6.16 - I did my first session at the St. George Temple with my sisters; it had an interesting design and decor; I did the work for my grandma's cousin's stepmother, Luanna
• 4.8.16 - I adopted a Maine Coon cat, Stella; she's 4 months old and the adoption was $40
• 4.9.16 - Tammy married Brandon Bills in the Ogden Temple; the day was beautiful; the sealer advised them not to compare themselves to others, compare yourself to your covenants
• I made a new friend at work, Jessica Saari; she's a development counselor and we like to play cards at lunch together

Ogden Temple. A talk in April 2016 conference said we should see ourselves in the temple.
 

Henrik loves to play in the sink. He never wanted to stop. His mom was mad and said she would teach any baby I had to play in the sink. She forgot!

Anne, Wendy, Joey at the St. George Temple.

Abbi and Noah playing on the red rocks.

Grandpa Hansen and Noah playing in the rocks.

Joey and Abbi in a little rock canyon.

Foster kitty, Stella, a Maine Coon, and Baymax.

I wanted to keep Stella to see how big and lazy she would get but we only had her a week or so before we gave her to a forever home.

Noah's 1st-grade program.

The kids talked me into letting the dogs ride to school with us. They both escaped at the drop-off. I had to chase them around in my pajamas!

Tammy's beautiful wedding.

Tammy Markland married Brandon in the Ogden Temple.

Jake, Abbi, Noah, Joey at Tammy's reception.

Joey and Jake at the Ogden Temple for Tammy's sealing.

Auntie Jubby and Henrik in St. George.

Climbing the rocks in St. George.

Joey at the St. George Temple.

Abbi and Marlie playing with Wendy's phone.

Elizabeth, Abbi, and Noah on our way to St. George.

The indoor pool at the St. George house.
Marlie, Abbi, James, Jack, Noah, Elizabeth lined up.

Abbi, Elizabeth, and Noah on our way to St. George.

Abbi, Mom, and Noah listening to general conference.

Hugo listening to general conference.