Jumping Sarah

Sarah has learned how to jump on a tramp, thanks to her cousin Abby. With a little help and some persistence, Sarah now enjoys jumping up and down on the trampoline at Nana's house. Sarah loved Nana and Grandpa's house so much that she decided, or more demanded, to stay there till Tuesday when Daddy could pick her up. I miss my little princess, but it's good for her to have some cousin, Nana, and Grandpa time. I guess this frees up my time to clean the house and finish all my yard work.

The Verdict

Well, the picture says it all.
First, I must say, I knew it was a boy from the start. I had a dream about a month or so after I had Sarah and I knew from then on my next was a boy. So, having said that, here's the proof. Now Jordan and I are debating over every boy name there is. We both listed about 50 names yesterday and we only agreed on two thus far: Daniel and Bryce. There are many more names out there, but that's what we have so far.

Here's a cute little picture of his body. He's still really skinny and so you can see his bones. Really quite neat, I think.

Hogle Zoo

This weekend we (Anna, Karina, Sarah, and myself) went to Hogle Zoo. It was such a nice weekend I couldn't let the day just slip away.

This was the first time I was able to take Sarah to Hogle Zoo. I'd taken her to the small zoo in Logan, but never Hogle Zoo. Sarah was so excited when I told her we were going. She kept trying to drag me out the door. But, we had to finish our chores before we went. Sarah was very good and cleaned up all her toys in the basement and put them away in her playroom. I did my chores, as did Anna, and then we were off. I want to teach Sarah the all important lesson of we work first and then we play.

Sarah loved the elephants and the monkeys the best. She is still talking about them. We walked around the entire zoo. I remember when I was a kid how big Hogle Zoo was. Now I go and I am amazed at how small it is compared to what it used to be to me. Just goes to show things are so much bigger when you're a kid.

We ventured over to their little park area where the desert section of the zoo is. We got to stick out heads through a rock-chuck hole just like they do. We also saw fruit bats, snakes, mice, a fox, and an owl. Sarah liked everything she saw. It's so cute to see how mesmerized little kids get at the zoo.

She wanted to go back to the zoo on Sunday, but I told her we had church to go to. She loves church, so she was just fine to go there instead. All in all, a great weekend with my little princess. I look forward to many, many more times like this. Perhaps next time I go to Hogle Zoo though, I'll have another kid to watch after too.

Easter

Well, this Easter was a little different than we would've hoped for, but yet very wonderful all the same. Friday we drove up to Logan for the funeral and also to celebrate Easter. Since Saturday was booked, we had an Easter egg hunt for the kids at Nana's and Bompa's house and also the adults had an egg hunt as well. We learned an important lesson that night: don't hide Easter eggs full of candy in any light fixture--they will melt.

We also dyed Easter eggs as well. We had Aunt Alice come over with her daughter Nicole and her son Colin. We all dyed eggs together. It was a lot of fun getting together and having a great time coloring eggs. I love that tradition, even though Jordan would rather watch basketball than color an egg. Good thing my sisters love to color eggs too. My neice Abby was there, my nephew Aiden, and practically everyone save my little brother Jon who is on his mission in the Philippines.

We also had a surprise Friday night as well. Since Grandma passed, Jon was allowed to call home for a short while. It was great being able to talk to him again! I think he's practiced his English because he sounded more American this go around than he did last time. Or perhaps it was because not as much time lapsed between calls and so he was more used to speaking in English again. But, it was great being able to talk to him and for him to be able to share his memories of Grandma for us to pass along at her funeral to everyone else.

Grandma's funeral was on Saturday. It was beautiful and everyone shared such wonderful memories of her. She was truly a remarkable person and I will miss her greatly. Some special moments from the funeral are:

1. Sarah saw Grandma in the casket and told Nana, "Grandma Thorne is sleeping." In a way, she is sleeping.

2. I sang, 'I Know My Redeemer Lives' for Grandma. I did the best I could and I think Grandma would've been very pleased with me. Later I found out Michael Ballam was there and loved it.

3. Saying goodbye to Grandma was peaceful. I know she's in a better place and with Grandpa.

4. Remembering this Easter and the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I know, just as the Lord was resurrected, Grandma will too be rejoined with her body once again.

After the funeral we headed home. Jordan, Justin, Dad, and all the rest of the men went to Priesthood. The girls headed over to Grandma Harris' to chat and let the little kids play together. It was great getting together with family and having a pleasant time. Later we had ice cream and my mom's and Uncle Larry and Aunt Nola came. It was great visiting with them and catching up on times with each other.

Sunday we arose, not too early thank goodness, had breakfast, and then went on search for our baskets. It was really fun watching Sarah find her basket. Same with Jordan and Anna. They took forever and I had to play the hot-cold game with them so they could find their baskets. The Easter Bunny was sneaky, sneaky this year.

Sarah Marie finding basket:

Jordan finding basket:


Anna finding basket:

We then went to Liz's to see what the Easter Bunny brought Abby and Aiden. Liz also is starting a farm, or so we joke with her. She just purchased 3 chicks and 1 duckling. They are so stinking cute!! So now Liz has 3 dogs and 4 birds. Don't know how the birds will handle the dogs and the dogs will handle the birds, but we'll see soon enough when the birds are transferred to live outside.

We then returned home to listen to General Conference. The girls were busy cooking and listening and Jordan zonked out on the couch. Anna took notes, thank goodness because someone had to retain something!! We then had a wonderful Easter Dinner with all the fixings-just as Grandma would've wanted us to.

Sarah took a nap, I fell asleep, and Jordan took another nap as well. After, we played a short game of canasta till Sarah awoke. After which, we had to leave to go home. It was a great weekend, although it was sad to see Grandma go. But having remember the true meaning of Easter about Christ's suffering and resurrection, I too know Grandma will be resurrected when Christ comes again.

Norma Meyers Thorne aka Grandma

I will always, always remember my Grandma. I will miss her dearly, but I know in my heart and mind she is truly in a better place. She is once again with the love of her life, Grandpa. Even though we will miss her, it will only seem like a moment in time before I see her and Grandpa again.

I want to share some of my memories of Grandma. Grandma was indeed special. She made each grandkid feel as if they were the most special. As each of grew, and developed our talents, she would help us along the way. Grandma actually was the one who helped me find my singing teacher when I was 12. She then would encourage me to continue singing and never lose my talent. Grandma would come to my theater shows when she could as well.

I remember Grandma's baked bread. To this day I can't figure out her recipe. I've tried over and over again to no avail. She made the best bread on earth. It was good with melted cheese, peanut butter, jam, or with melted butter. I also recall her canned raspberries. She would add coffee creamer to the raspberries to make them extra creamy. They were so delicious! I loved them and would ask for them whenever I saw them in her fridge. She also loved German Chocolate Cake. Whenever we came over for Sunday dinner, I would spot the desert lying on her kitchen counter. Without fail, a little sliver would be gone from the cake. Grandma told me she was checking to make sure the cake tasted just right. Of course the cake always did, but Grandma couldn't wait to eat her yummy cake.

Grandma loved to garden. I remember going over to her house in the spring and summer and walking around with her while she showed me and my mom all her beautiful flowers. Her favorite was purple iris'. She loved them so much, she never cut them. She wanted them to last as long as they could in her garden. She also loved lilacs.

Grandma was an avid bird watcher. Through all the seasons Grandma would put bird seed out on her window seal for the birds to eat. She would sit at her dinning table and watch idly as the birds came to eat the seeds. She had book after book about birds. She would name each species from memory too. When a new bird would come along, Grandma would share with us just how special it was to see the bird eating seeds from her window seal.

I also recall going to Hyrum Dam with her. The whole family would get together and go boating. Grandma would always bring the baked beans. They were so yummy! She'd add extra bacon so every time you had a scoop, you were sure to get some bacon with it.

I have so many memories of Grandma. She was truly a remarkable woman who will be missed dearly. I'm glad Sarah got to know Grandma too, if not only a little. I don't know if Sarah will remember her, but I'll be sure to pass down my memories of Grandma to her. I love you Grandma!!