Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Christmas Fun 08

Kaylie and Josh had a blast Christmas morning...actually, Kaylie and James did. Josh slept while Kaylie, James and I opened our presents from "Santa." So, we opened all his stuff late that night when we finally got home from all the festivities. Funny. Kaylie loved her easel, and wanted to paint all day, still does, every day...she also loved the fact that "Santa" brought her the same watch that she gave her cousin, and she really wanted one just like it, so last minute, "Santa" saved the day and got her one JUST like Jacie's!
As you can see in the top pics, Josh loved all the books and toys he got, he grabbed them all and made sure they were close enough for him to read/eat, whatever... :) He also has this new tongue sticking out obsession, so we got lots of shots of his pointy little tongue! Ha! The very top pics with that adorable hat, yeah, that was one of the hats from his cousin Christian (nice work picking them out Kelly...love them all!!!)
All in all, it was actually a pretty chill couple of days, we looooove having our whole little family together, now that James is out of school...yeeehaw...okay, so only for a couple more days, but we are lovin havin him home...
Hope everyone had a great Christmas, we sure did!!!

Monday, December 22, 2008

Alice Thornley Evans 1910-2008



Alice Thornley Evans 1910 ~ 2008 Alice Ruth Thornley Evans passed away December 16, 2008, from causes incident to age.She was born August 14, 1910, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the daughter of John Watt Thornley and Nora Nelson (Bonnemort) Thornley. Her father was a respected sheep and cattle rancher, who served as Kaysville City Mayor and also as a Utah State Legislator. Alice grew up in Kaysville in a loving and supportive home, and she credited especially her remarkable mother for nurturing in her a deep and abiding faith in God and love and respect for every human being as a child of God. Indeed, Alice lived as she believed and taught, that every person she met, regardless of station in life, needed, and was entitled to, love, kindness and respect. She graduated in 1928 from Davis High School, where, as student body secretary, she coined the school name, Davis "Darts." She attended the McCune School of Music where she studied violin, voice, piano and music theory. When Alice was about 10 years old, her mother, a talented pianist, organized what became known as the Thornley Trio, with Alice playing the violin and her two older sisters playing the violin and cello. For the next 20 years they played frequently throughout Davis, Weber and Salt Lake Counties at concerts, school, civic and church functions. She also attended the University of Utah, and in 1932 she received her B.A. degree with a High School Teaching Certificate. She was a member of Chi Omega, Beta Delta Mu Music sorority, French Club, and Utonian Staff. While at the University, Alice, with her friend and roommate, Hazel Blood, had a weekly radio program on KSL where they sang and played musical solos and duets. After teaching in school one year in Layton, she married Richard Louis Evans on August 9, 1933, in the Salt Lake Temple. This began her most significant life's work of helping to provide a home of love, refinement and spirituality for him and their four sons, and of supporting Richard in his numerous and complex roles as a General Authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announcer for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, civic and education leader, and Rotarian. In 1966-1967 Richard served as president of Rotary International, and during that year, and in the years immediately preceding and following that assignment, he and Alice traveled world wide, visiting most of the states in the U.S. and nearly 100 countries of the 134 countries in which there was a Rotary Club. She is survived by her four sons, Richard L., Jr. (Tamara), John T., Stephen T. (Deanne) and William T. (Jan), 24 grandchildren and 67 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard L. Evans, her siblings: Will Thornley, Mattie Shepherd, Norma Swan, Doris Sill, Donald Thornley, Melba Thornley and a great-grandson James Montgomery Larkins. Funeral services will be held at 12 noon, Tuesday, December 23, 2008, at the Garden Park Ward, 1150 East Yale Avenue. Family and friends may call at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, Monday evening from 6-8 p.m., and at the ward on Tuesday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. Online condolences www.larkincares.com

The last words I heard her say were priceless, we asked her at her 98th birthday, this last August, what advice she had for all her posterity, she made sure everyone in the room was quiet, and said simply "Love everyone, because everyone needs love." She is truly a person that practiced what she preached... I didn't know her very well, but I do know that for sure. -Tiff

I miss her so much. I'm almost speechless right now. I don't quite know what to say. She has taught me tons over the years and I truly am a better person for knowing her. As you can tell by looking at her obituary above she was the perfect candidate to have able to talk to thousands of people throughout the world. I can't think of a better person to represent our family and our religion than Alice. I am so happy she is with her Richard now who she hasn't seen for almost 37 years. He died in 1971. I love you, Grandma. Til we meet again, sweetheart. - James

Monday, December 15, 2008

Christmas Card '08

For those of you that haven't seen it yet...some are still waiting to be sent, trying to find addresses, need to goto the Post Office, etc... Merry Christmas everyone! I am really trying to focus on the real meaning and purpose of Christmas, it's so easy to get caught up in all the festivities, but I am loving the real meaning songs lately, James and my favorite is O Holy Night, if you haven't before, stop and pay attention to the lyrics, and imagine living in a world if Christ hadn't come, how dreary the world really would be, without the hope of living again after this life, and without the amazing power of the Atonement to save us all from our sins... How awesome that He came, and what a great time of year to reflect of how much we have to be grateful for!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Catch up...

So, to explain the blogging hiatus...It's simple really...I was burned out...still kinda am...but I think I can get back into it. I just signed up for Facebook too, and I was trying to do both, and get caught up on Digi scrapbooking too, then I had to make my Christmas card, and trying to get everything ready for Christmas, and crazy baby sleep schedules, just made for one burned out mama...so all the computer stuff got put on hold...but I will make some serious effort to do better...sorry for all those that kept checking, waiting for me to do something... :) So, to catch up:
Thanksgiving Pics:

Okay, this one needs a little explanation...On the way to Thanksgiving dinner with James' extended family, I stepped on the end of the rake, and yep, the handle flew right into the side of my face...yep..."just like in the cartoons," or "just like in the movies." as everyone pointed out... Yeah, not only did I feel dumb, but it hurt REALLY bad! And so I walked around and ate dinner holding an ice pack against my eye! Do you also notice the lovely red streak in my bangs...yeah, that's blood, I thought it was a nice fashion statement... It's officially my first "shiner" ever. It's still bruised right now...
Thanksgiving Triplets! Ha! These three little cousins have the exact same onesie, and even the exact same pants...and when we found that out, well, you see what we did! :)
James (11 days younger than Josh), Vincent (8 mons), and Joshy

Setting up the Christmas Tree:
Notice the "star" at the top...It's an E. For Evans. Made by James :)

Rainy days, Snowy days, and Snow Ice Cream:
If you have never had Snow Ice Cream, you should give it a try, there's really no recipe, because anyone who knows snow, knows it's never the same consistency twice...so you just get a big bowl of snow, add milk (we did soy milk, cause I still can't have dairy for Josh's sake, and it was still good...), sugar (of course!), and then any flavoring and food coloring if you want... This time we put vanilla, and put sprinkles on top! This was Kaylie's first experience, and definitely not her last!!!
Helping my lil sis ask to Winter Prom (oh, it was soooo much fun! I miss those good ole days of asking and answering to dances...it was so reminiscent!) P.S. This is a way cute way to ask, so if you have anyone that needs an idea...
My sis's name was the only one in permanent ink, so when the guy washes the shirt, her's is the only one that will be there! Fun huh!?!

And last, but not least, Lights at Temple Square with the Young Women and Young Men: P.S. Word to the wise, don't EVER try to go on a night that there is also a Jazz game...we learned that lesson the hard way...Also, don't think your 2 year old will be fine with walking the whole time...guaranteed she won't be, and you will end up SUPER sore the next day from carrying her the WHOLE time!!!
Um, and here's a couple cute pics of Josh...just cause...they are actually the official 5 month pics, they should've been on the last post...oops!