Hooper Tomato Days

Hooper celebrates Labor Day.  It's a weekend filled with fun!  They have dinners for the town, movies in the park, breakfasts, baby contests, dog races, rodeo's,5K's,  carnival games, sporting competitions, parades and a whole lot more.  Hooper is a fun place to be on Labor Day.

My favorite part of the parade is watching the little ones I sit with.  Julie and the kids came.  Julie's sister, Jamie and another friend also came and sat with us.  The parade kind of cracks me up.  We get lots of tractors in our parade...it's actually kind of fun seeing all the different ones.  My favorite was the antique tractors and the driver was a senior lady.  A guy was walking his bull dog in the parade. The different primaries in the stake usually have a float but not always...this year I didn't notice one from our ward.  If you have a cool car you can drive it in the parade. Heck if you have a horse or miniature ponies you can be in the parade.   The missionaries usually find a boat or truck to ride on so they can be in the parade.  The DUP had a float and I was glad to be waving from the side instead from the float.  It's fun...especially with some little's around.

Larry and I spent some time walking around and visiting with people.  We were stalling until it was time for Kamryn to ride the calf.  We signed her up to ride at 6 pm but they moved her up to 1.  We weren't told of the change until Larry ran into a gal that was suppose to call me.  Kam was taking a nap when they got notified and had to be woke up to come.  She didn't last as long on the calf this year and even got stepped on.  She took 2nd though.  First place didn't fall off.  Kamryn is tough and I could tell that she really wanted to cry but she didn't.  She just held her arm for the next little while.  (I wonder if she will want to ride again next year?)

I had to take a picture of the skee-ball game that Jaydan built as part of his Eagle Scout Project.  It is still pretty nice and works great.  There is lots to do and lots to buy on Tomato Days.  I saw my friend Kathy there selling bags and her cute daughter was there selling Posh products...I bought some hand cream.  This year someone was even selling fudge.  Instead of buying any I just took a free sample. (it was a sliver but enough)  There was lots of food too....Ya gotta get a Hamburger at Tomato Days...they just taste good.  I took a bite of Larry's since we had just had a scone.  Oh I could go on and on...the Hooper Park is the place to be on Labor Day.

"Play"ing....See How They Run

Oh My Word...this play had constant action.  It was hilarious.  The gal getting punched was like a rag doll and seriously cracked me up.  I bet every single person in this play was completely exhausted by the time it was over.  They ran around so much.  It was so chaotic and busy and funny.  It's always so much fun to experience the Theater.  I pretty much love it!

The group I go with makes it fun.  Barbie, Heather, Cari, Carol and usually Natalie are pretty wonderful ladies.  Natalie was camping tonight and so Kimleighel was invited to join us. My girls enjoy the theater like I do.  It was so fun having her come "play".  I always enjoy our visits coming and going.  I have grown pretty attached to these gals and told them to count me in unless I die...then...well then I'd be dead and wouldn't need to be counted in.  I Love "Play"ing!

The Books Arrived

Woo Hoo the books arrived.  I'm pretty happy with how these books turned out.  I know a 'writer' could have made them better but for me, I am happy with them.  I compiled the stories that were shared with us in this book.  We heard of so many ripples and miracles that happened when Jared was lost.  I have so much in a 3-ring binder but decided to organize it a little better in a book so that our whole family could have a copy.  There is still so much in the binder that I wasn't sure how to share.  I hope that for my family it gives us all a better idea of what we all went through.  Our experiences were similar but unique to us.  We were asked yesterday about this experience and somehow through our talking we realized that it was probably easier on Jared than anyone else.  Jared knew he was okay.  He knew that we were looking for him and he knew he was doing the things he was taught to survive.  The rest of us didn't know those things and so is was a very different experience for everyone else.  I am just thankful for all the lessons learned.  I am thankful for all the love shown to us and everyone.  I am thankful for prayer and our Heavenly Father.  I am thankful for miracles and angels.  I am thankful that I was able to organize thoughts and stories shared with us and have them in this book.  I feel blessed.

***if you are interested in having a copy of this book it can be ordered a lulu.com.  Search for Our Lost Scout and the Ripples and it will come up.  Double check the shipping options since they automatically suggest the more expensive shipping.

Sister Wright

Sister Wright (Julia) is another former sister missionary that stopped by to see us.  Sister Wright was only here in Hooper while she waited for her visa so she could go to Brazil. (one transfer)  We kind of got attached to her too.  We were so excited and absolutely thrilled when she called us last night to see if she could come visit.  She is attending BYU.  This girl has such a wonderful spirit.  My eyes got a little teary a few times as we visited.  Her cute boyfriend, Johnny came too.  I remember her telling us about a cute boy that she had met before her mission and Johnny is that guy.  They met  on Julia's first day of school in her first class which was a dance class.  It's been three years since that time and here they are...smiling and so cute together.

We told Julia and Johnny that we would like to take them to lunch before they headed back home.  They were cute and told us they'd like to go to Burger Bar so they could get a Buffalo Burger.  We were happy to oblige.  It was so wonderful seeing Sister Wright and her visit just made our Hearts Happy!  I'd call today a tender mercy!

Boating with the Hansens

(sister) Kelsey Hansen and her family came to Hooper.  Larry and Kelsey had made plans to go boating.  At first we were going to go to Bear Lake but I am glad we were just able to go to Willard.  Bear Lake is prettier but Willard is much more convenient.  I like Kelsey's parents, Debbie and Dean and her cute sister Cody. They were really fun and it felt like we were old friends.

Kimleighel and Jared wake boarded first.  I had suggested that since they usually have to go with the flow and might even get left out.  They had a good time wake boarding even though the water was choppy.  Kids don't care so much about 'perfect' conditions.  It's fun watching them do 'their thing'.

We pulled the water weenie out next since it was the easiest to get to.  Kelsey, Cody, Jared and Kimleighel all rode it and had a great time.  I loved listening to their laughter.  Everyone's faces showed that they were having fun.  As soon as everyone got one Jared told them to lean and so they did....of course they fell over.  Jared thought it was hilarious...and it was.   We were one of the few boats on the bay today.  There was a sailboat and we saw one other boat.  I almost felt silly for holding the flag up when they fell in the water but I did it anyway.  I'm a rule follower.  Larry and Dean went out on the weenie with a few of the kids.  It was fun having them out there and I tried my best to tip them over.  I succeeded a few times.  We lost a flag today and my visor.  The flag was behind Kelsey's parents and flew out of the boat.  I let Kelsey use my visor to keep the sun out of her eyes and it immediately flew off and was gone.  We had an extra flag and I have more visors at home.

Larry had came prepared with yummy treats and lunch.  I'm glad I wasn't feeling good this morning so that he had to get it all.  He had sandwiches, salads, chips, cookies and drinks.  It was really good.
After lunch we took Kimi back to the dock because she had to go to work.  She had a good time though while she was with us.

We got the tube out next.  We convinced Cody to ride it.  At first she acted like she didn't want to.  Cody and Kelsey went together and they had fun.  Cody stood up and few times on it and the second time she fell and she was done.  It was funny to watch her and her parents actually got pictures of her standing.  Jared had a good, long ride and then we put everything away and just drove all the way around the bay.  It was such a fun day.  I was exhausted when we got home though.  So weird what being in the sun does to me.

Larry and I went and visited Brent (Larry's brother) when we got home.  He looked much better and told us of little things that he is improving on.  I guess Tami had a talk with him about focusing on the positive things and things he could do instead of all the things he can't.  He said her little talk had made a difference and he is noticing the positive things happening.  He told me that he bought the book I wrote...that made me smile.

Larry and I went up to Trichelle's after to talk about Italy.  We are making plans to go there with them.  Larry had some suggestions to have them think about....like cruising around part of Italy.  It's going to be fun!

Opening Social

Woo Hoo....we are meeting again!  Tonight was our Opening Social for Special Needs Mutual.  We had such a great time.  This year our goal is to have better activities.  We started off pretty good.  We played Hungry Hungry Hippo's.  Everyone took turns being the hippo and the controller.  There was only one injury and I made it happen.  When I was pushing one of the guys out to get the balls I hit into some girls and the one standing up fell right on my hippo (guy).  It hurt him a little and he had to lay still for a minute.  I felt bad and didn't push anyone after that.  It was so much fun just watching everyone.  I think everyone enjoyed themselves.  We had ice cream sundae's for dessert.  It was a successful Opening Social in my opinion.

The Young Men Leaders are new except our President.  Jared is the first counselor, Tom is the second (he drove the Fremont bus and knew my kids), and Ray Strong is the secretary.  It's nice having the Presidencies filled.  I dare say it's going to be a fun and wonderful year!

Before our Opening Exercises I was going around greeting everyone and the Spirit overwhelmed me.  I love these friends of mine so much and I know that they love and appreciate me as well.  I am just so happy to interact with them again.  I love my calling....I have truly been blessed and I am a better person for serving these wonderful Children of God.

Back to School Breakfast

Over the years I have met friends for breakfast to celebrate school starting again.  Last year my girls and I went to lunch to celebrate and this year we went to breakfast.  It's amazing we can make it work with everyone's schedule's but we do.  I love, love, love these girls.  I think they are all so cute and pretty much perfect.  Each is unique and special in her own way.  They are all beautiful...inside and out.  My girls are great mommy's.  Kimleighel is going to be a wonderful mom because she is a great Aunt and loves watching her nieces and nephews.  I'm so proud of each of these girls.   My boys have chosen well and I adore each new "daughter in luv" as they have joined our family.  Each of these beautiful gals add goodness to our family.  They are talented and their beauty shines right through them.

I love visiting with them all and really enjoy watching them interact with each other.  I think they are pretty good friends.  I was happy that Sadie wanted to come sit on my lap and finish my french toast.  I was helping her cut a piece and it was hard and I was pressing hard to get through the toast and when Sadie started crying I remembered her little hand was between mine and the spoon.  I felt so bad and even I as I type this my eyes are filled with tears.  How's that for being a good gramma? She let me love her and then she went to get more loves from her mommy.  It was only a few minutes and she was back on my lap.  I love how forgiving little ones are.  I love getting loves from my grands and Macie came over for some before we left.  Jordy had chose to sit by me and Behr just grins and grins.  Oh My....I love these people....ALL OF THEM!