March

March 4 - Best Ever Birthday!

For Shaniel's birthday, we went to the Salt Lake Temple to do her temple work. It was an emotional day. One that I have looked forward to with much anticipation for an entire year. Right after we learned of her death, we got the distinct impression that Shaniel wanted to have her temple work done.

Each one of us girls had a part in her work, and that made today even more special. We felt the spirit in abundance and I have no doubt that Shaniel was there to accept the work with a glad heart. Now that she has received this most important ordinance, she is free to progress at a much faster rate than before. I can imagine the weight lifted from her as she accepted and made sacred covenants with her Heavenly Father. I was so thankful to stand in as proxy for her. It was the best day of my life! I love her so much. I miss her. Today was a very good day. One that I will treasure in my heart forever. And I can't wait to see her on the other side so she can tell me all about her special day!

We had many family members there, for which I was grateful for. Kelley and Kerry. Annie, Heidi. Leslie and Jens. Bill and Alisa. Nick, Natalie, and Jeff. Rachel, Steven and Ann. And, of course, Kelsey and Chad. Audrey and Mike. And myself. And... I know that many other family members from the other side of the veil, including mom and dad, were there to support Shaniel in this most important step toward eternal life. It was day of pure joy and thanksgiving!

March 7 - Makaela's Piano Recital

Her piano recital was held at the Bothwell Church House, where Audrey used to attend. She played a theme song from the Disney show Tangled. She did a very good job for her first year. I was so proud of her.

March 12 - Craft Fair

Today, Kelsey and I went to our favorite annual craft fair held at the Ogden Train Depot. We found a booth that did personalized necklaces. I picked out a heart locket necklace and filled it with charms that reminded me of Shaniel. Her birthstone, a butterfly, angel wings, a nurse hat, a purple flower, and a in memory of my daughter sign. It is beautiful! And, I love to wear it. I bought one for Kelsey, for her birthday. She filled her heart locket with charms that represented her and her family. Fun day!

March 13 - Ice Skating

Alia is getting better with each passing week! I have her spotlighted in her class. She follows instructions to a tee!

March 14 - Drawing with Brayden

Makaela and Brayden spent the evening with me while Kelsey went to a class at the U of U. I had Brayden bring his drawing pad, since we are both taking art classes from Kelly Donovan. I placed a candle stick on the table in front of us and we both drew. Brayden is very good at drawing things in perspective. He is on his way to becoming a great artist! It was a fun evening for both of us.

March 17 - St. Patrick's Day

Audrey's family came up for an Irish day of celebration today. We fixed Irish Beef Stew on mashed potatoes, Coleslaw, Irish Soda Bread, Green Punch, and Mint Oreo Pudding Cups.

It was a day of celebration with our ancestors -- the O'Carrol's from Ireland. We ate on grandma Bentley's beautiful Blue Willow dishes. I enjoyed making the soda bread and will be making it again! It was fun to make a meal that is traditional to our Irish roots. Now... if I could have only listened to grandpa Bentley sing an Irish song in his Irish brogue, it would have made for a perfectly lucky ending to an Irish kind of day!

No pinches here! We all wore our green. The kids left with a pot o' gold -- Skittles in every color of the rainbow, and Rolo's, too. 

March 18 - Boy Scouts

Every year we have the Boy Scouts come up and move branches to the middle of the rows, after they are pruned. They work so hard and do a good job! There were a lot that came and it only took them a couple of hours to do the entire orchard. Many hands make light work! We give a donation of $100 to the ward Scouting Fund every year, and they earn every last cent!

March 20 - First Day of Spring

It was warm enough today so I took my geranium outside and set it on the front bench to welcome Spring!

March 20 - Skating with a Friend

Today was take a friend day. Alia took her best friend RaeAnna. She had never skated before, got cold feet before going out on the ice, and chose to just sit and watch Alia with the rest of us. 

March 21 - Birthdays are for Shopping!

Anyway, it's that way on Kelsey's birthday. We don't do this very often... but once or twice a year we go out, find deals, eat, and just have fun! We started out early. We were able to go to Six Stores and Eat Out. Kelsey introduced me to Zupas. A soup, salad, and sandwich shop. It was over the top delicious! I will be going back. Today was so fun. Loved it! Especially the Christmas steals! 

Ornaments and angels for Shaniel's Festival of Trees.

Happy Birthday Kelsey!

March 22 - Mom's Pancakes

I love Saturday mornings. I always fix mom's pancakes. Just like she always did every Saturday of our lives. They just aren't any pancakes. They are Bisquick pancakes. Complete with maple syrup, eggs, bacon, and orange juice. It wasn't too long ago that Kelsey walked in the house and said... "yummmmm... mom, your house smells just like grandma's!" 

I miss those Bisquick Pancake days of home. It's on days like this that I yearn for my mother. Yearn for the days when my kids were young. Yearn for the house full of togetherness, visits, eating, comfort... that is only in my memories now. 

I suppose I will make pancakes on Saturday's for as long as I can. It brings me a sense of connection to home that I loved so much. And, besides that, it's my favorite breakfast! I don't think Dave minds it, either.

Frozen Party

What do you eat when you have a Frozen Party? Popsicles, Icee's, and Ice Cream bars! Mike spent the day in the orchard cleaning up branches and cultivating. That evening we watched Frozen, the newest Disney movie to come out. It was great fun!

March 23- German Chocolate Cake

This is another tradition that we can depend on every year for Kelsey's birthday. German Chocolate Cake! I have fixed this for her since she was young. And, that is what she wants every single year. No matter who fixes it. This is her cake!

March 24 - Apricot Blossoms

I enjoyed walking through the orchard today. It was an especially nice treat to walk among all the blossoms popping out on the Apricot trees! It was a beautiful sight! I love Spring!

March 26 - Painting Lesson

I started a painting today. I found a picture on a calendar of the red rocks in Southern Utah that I really liked. I didn't think it would be so hard! I had to mix up a lot of different color combinations to get the right colors. It was a challenging day. I can't wait to finish it up next week and see how it turns out. 

March 26 - Skating Love!

Hey... love isn't suppose to be torturous! Alia hugs Ben a little too long and a little too hard! He can't wait to get out of that head lock!

March 28 - Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

I met Steve's family in Draper at the new living Aquarium to check out the new exhibits. Well... most of them. This was it's first week open in its new location so many exhibits have yet to be set up. I enjoyed watching the kids run from one tank to another as they discovered colorful and exotic rain forest frogs to Native Utah otters swimming in their new home. 

The best part of the new Aquarium... watching sharks in 4-D. The seats were interactive with the film. Movement, smells, water spray, and 4-D visual images. Awesome! We ate at In-N-Out Burger before parting ways. Such a fun day. I loved it!

March 29 - General Women's Conference

I went to the General Women's Meeting with Kelsey and Makaela. We ate dinner and then enjoyed the sweet spirit of the first ever combined Women's Conference for girls 8 years of age and older. It was a historic night. And, I'm glad I got to spend it with two of my favorite girls!

Capturing Great March Moments!

Alia's first science experiment.

One day Ben said to me,"Grandma, do you want to watch me fly!" Oh boy! He is so boy! Love this little guy. He makes me laugh.

Emilee is the "Queen of heels!" She loves to get in the dress up tote, get those pretty pink heels out, and walk around the house. She likes wearing pretty jewelry, too! She's a little princess, that girl!

Remember these lunch trays we ate on at school? I found a few at the DI last year and once in awhile I get them out for the kids to eat on. Today, we had bbq hamburgers, steak fries, and cut up fresh vegetables with dip. Yummmm!

A pretty purple floral heart to remind me of Shaniel! I have it hanging on my bedroom door that leads to the balcony. Tia Pan was having a close out on them and I picked it up for only a couple of dollars.

I bought me a Kindle Fire so I could take it to Europe. To read my scriptures. To read books. And anything else I need to. I often look at it and admire the bright green case it sits in. Now... I just need to use it!

Month in Review

Shaniel would have been 34 years old this year. I miss her so much. Some days I just can't believe she is gone. Oh... Shaniel....