Easter Weekend

Jordan, Mariah and Della came up for the weekend. Jordan and Jim had fun playing FIFA Soccer 11 Friday night and Saturday. Jordan help Jim do some venting on the new addition Saturday also. I spent most of Saturday in the kitchen preparing for dinner on Sunday. I made 2 batches of rolls, 2 potato casseroles, 2 cheese cakes, an angel food cake and sliced some strawberries to go on top, a batch of raisin cookies(for Jordan) and Mariah cut up a pineapple that was very yummy. We had angel food cake and strawberries Saturday night to celebrate my birthday which isn't until Tuesday but Jim will be out of town this next week so I celebrated early. Sunday morning Jim surprised us with Easter treats on the breakfast table.
After church Jodi, Steve, Jeri, Emma, Mark, Jeff, Kathy, Jaimie, Jordan, Mariah, Della, Grandma, and Grandpa all came over for dinner. Jeff made a rib-eye roast and fruit salad, Grandma made a turkey, pretzel salad, frozen fruit salad and deviled eggs, Jodi made a big cookie pizza and with my potatoes, rolls and asparagus we had a huge feast. It was delicious. Jim had to leave for the airport about 3:30 but the rest enjoyed games and some took naps. It was a wonderful day.

Della

Jordan enjoying candy for breakfast

Easter morning surprise

 

Cookie Pizza

Spring Break with Trissa in Denver

I flew to Denver on Wednesday morning. I arrived in the afternoon and Trissa picked me up. We went shopping and had fun playing with Gavin. Trissa had Achievement days that night so I went and took care of Gavin at the church. We played in the gym and enjoyed the other kids in the building.

Thursday we went to the Butterfly Pavilion and enjoyed several hours there. They had bugs, fish, and butterflies. I read a book last week and the characters went to this same place and saw "Rosie" the tarantula.
Trissa made chicken fajitas for dinner and we had banana split ice cream with added bananas.
Friday we went shopping and got Gavin curtains for his room. We installed them before I left for the airport. I flew to Spokane that night and then drove the rest of the way home. I got home at 12:30 am Saturday morning.

Another trip to Spokane

Friday April 1st Jim got off work early and we drove to Spokane to get insulation for the walls in the new addition.  Jeff and Kathy met us there and we parked the old Subaru and  trailer and went with Jeff and Kathy to visit our sons.  We first stopped at Jordan's and I gave Mariah a cocoon sack I had made for Della. One of my knitting projects. We then went to James' and I played with James Micheal, Makayla and Evan in the toy room.  We had fun playing with trains.

Visit to Spokane

Wednesday March 23rd after Seminary, Jim came home early and said we were going to Spokane.  He got a substitute for my seminary class and we left.  We bought supplies for the building of our house and then went up to Jordan's.  Jim took pictures of Della and I got to hold her.  We spent the night at James' and the next morning.  Then we went back to help Mariah.  Jim took her to the store while I stayed home with Della.  I took Jim to the airport at 5:00 pm and he flew to Seattle for a meeting.  I spent the night at Jordan's and then got up early and went to James'.  Evan went to the hospital for a MRI with his parents and I stayed and took care of James Micheal, Makayla and Sadie.  They returned home just after noon.  Evan slept for several hours after they returned home.  I went back to Jordan's in the late afternoon and help her take the down mattress topper off their bed.  They are getting a new mattress on Saturday.  They are so excited.  Jim called and had gotten on an earlier flight so I was able to pick him up at 8:00 pm instead of 9:00. We returned home Friday night.

 Grandma and Della

 Daddy and Della

Jordan Mariah and Della

Della Jane has arrived

Della Jane arrived at 10:49 pm March 18, 2011.  Mariah survived an entire day of labor and finally delivered after pushing for 2 1/2 hours.  They are both doing well.

We left for Spokane right after seminary Tuesday morning.  We did some last minute shopping and then went to James' to say good bye.  Mariah and Jodi came by also just before we left.  We stopped by Subway on the way to the airport and to our surprise Tori Divis was there. We knew she manages a Subway store but didn't know which one.  She bought him a sandwich which was really nice.  William was excited and eager to be on his own and off on his mission.  Somehow he lost his phone at the airport but he found Laura in Salt Lake without any problem.  Trissa and Gavin flew in later that afternoon they enjoyed their last day together. William will enter the MTC on his birthday, Mar 9th, at 12:45pm.

Jodi and William

Kendra, Laura, William, Trissa

William ready to go on his mission

William leaves tomorrow afternoon on a 1:05 flight to Salt Lake City.  His sister Laura will pick him up from the airport.  His other sister,Trissa, is flying in later that afternoon so she can send him off.  They will all go to Orem, Utah on Wednesday to visit Grandma and Grandpa Chipman and then on to the MTC at 12:45pm.

William's Birthday Party

William celebrated his birthday a little early this year.  We had a party for him on Saturday.  His friend Dillon came home for the weekend from collage and came to his party. Tabby, Travis, Sophie, Isaac, Jeff, Kathy, Jaimie, Grandma and Grandpa all came to celebrate.

 

 

James Micheal and Gavin come to visit for a week

Wednesday Trissa and Gavin flew to Spokane late and I took them to James' for the night. We were up early and left for the airport at 6am. James Micheal was up and ready to go so we all left to take Trissa to the airport. She flew to Phoenix and spent the day with my brother, Daryl and his family. She flew on to Mexico Friday morning. After making sure she made her flight the boys and I drove to Colville. We have been having fun with William. He has been a great help. Trissa will return Wednesday and we will go to the airport to pick her up.

Playing with the marble works

James Micheal spent the first night in this tent.

 

Gavin playing with a lego train.  He loves trains and was excited to find one in the lego tub.

James Micheal making his own train

Trissa comes for Mariah's Baby Shower

Wednesday morning Trissa and Gavin flew into Spokane. It snowed last night and the roads are snowpacked and the plows were out. William and I headed out right after seminary and we got to the airport at 9:55, a little late but we made it. We shopped for the baby shower in Spokane and then met Laura, Craig and Kendra at Olive Garden for lunch. They came to Spokane Wednesday so they could see Trissa, Gavin, William and I before their move to Utah. They stayed with James and visited with Jordan and Mariah. Thursday night they picked up Craig's parents at the airport and drove back to Richland. They packed up and headed to Boise Friday and on to Salt Lake on Saturday. They are now in their new apartment and Craig starts work Monday.
Trissa and Gavin came home with William and I and we began our preparations for Mariah's baby shower. Trissa worked all day Thursday and Friday morning before returning to Spokane for the shower. Audra hosted it at her house and made a wonderful cake and served yummy punch. We had a great turnout of 20 people and had a wonderful time. Trissa's decorations and games and prizes were great. She is a great party planner.
Trissa and Gavin spent the night at Jordan's and Mariah took them to the airport early Saturday morning.
Meanwhile Jeff has been working hard and he has finished putting the drywall on the ceiling.

Trissa working on the shower gifts. 

Gavin playing in the snow on Thursday morning.

 

Jeff working on the drywall way up high on the ceiling

 

The big picture

Bring in the New Year

The week after Christmas Jeff worked on putting the 2" foam in the ceiling and sealing it. Jordan and Jeffrey helped put in the fiberglass insulation in the ceiling. The weather has been really cold. We are very grateful the insulation is in the ceiling. The temperature on Thursday and Friday were below 0 and the new part of the house stayed just above freezing.
We enjoyed playing video games and eating yummy food. The women crocheted booties, hats, dresses and purses.

Jordan and Jeffrey putting in the insulation

Winter wonderland, a scene out the window of the new addition.

Playing William's video game.

New Years Eve brunch

Mariah serving her Ebleskivrs

Grandma learning how to cook Ebleskivrs

Mariah's booties and hat

Christmas at James'

We spent the day at James.  We had plenty of food and enjoyed playing video games and playing with James Micheal's new Christmas toys.  Dustin called James' at 2:15pm and we got to talk to him for an hour.  We called Trissa and Laura and they got to talk to him via a conference call.  Jordan and Mariah came just before he called and then they went back to Mariah family.

Sadie Belle

The food table

Jordan and Mariah

Makayla

William and James Micheal playing William's new game

Audra and Sadie