Back to Oregon!

We had plans to go camping with Joey's family near Baker City, Oregon. Why Oregon? Well Joey's brother and his extended family live in Washington, so we planned to meet halfway. We did this last year on Memorial Day weekend so we thought we'd make it a tradition! Being that we were planning to turn around the very next weekend and basically pass through Nyssa, my Mom offered to keep the kids for the week! I was a little hesitant not knowing how they would do with out us (okay really just me not knowing how i would do without them!) for a week...but the kids really wanted to stay. So, we let them. They don't get to see them very often because they live so far away, so it was fun for them all! It did make the trip home and up there without them a little easier...and then we didn't have to drive up both our vehicles to pull the trailer. So it was a win win situation i guess.

Here are some pictures from our camping trip...

The camping was great! Getting 2 ticks...not so great! I freaked out...they were seriously everywhere! I think I was the most careful...and I was the only one who got them...most likely from my 3 grubby children...yes I said 3...that includes Joey! :) But thanks to my loving hubby...he got them out of me quick! And let me just say that it is not as sexy as Brad Paisley's song makes it out to be to check someone for ticks!!

We had so much fun...I didn't totally suck at badmitton this year! Riley and I totally kicked butt...and I forgive him for pouting when he found out that I was his partner! Who can really blame him tho?! Joey and his Dad were the champs this year! It was really good to see everyone again and the kids had so much fun playing with their cousins! I can't wait to do it again next year!

Michelle

Shortly after we got home from our trip we got the sad news that our friend Michelle had passed away at the age of 28 from cancer. I can't even begin to imagine the things this family has had to go through. Knowing what was coming and never giving up hope. We were able to go see Justin and Michelle a couple weeks before she passed away, and it was tough to see her so fragile. It's hard to describe the feeling of being there while she is just a couple years older than we are. She was so optimistic about everything, and it was fun to see her still telling Justin what to do (or what not to do)! If it were me I hope I'd be the same way! It was an emotional heartbreaking funeral, but bittersweet at the same time. Knowing that she is in a better place and not having to fight such a horrible disease anymore. I don't think there was a dry eye in the entire church...it was a little surreal to be surrounded by a bunch of big tough Marines with tears in there eyes. Thank goodness our goodbyes are not really goodbyes. I'm so thankful for the knowledge of the Gospel. I know that families are forever! I could go on and on but I'm already crying again just thinking about it all!

Also, this is such a sweet song that they played at her funeral...it fit so perfectly for Michelle.


Here are the lyrics...

Artist: Alan Jackson
Song: Sissy's Song
Album: Good Time

Why did she have to go
So young I just don't know why
Things happen half the time
Without reason without rhyme
Lovely, sweet young woman
Daughter, wife and mother
Makes no sense to me
I just have to believe

She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels
By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees
And she walks with Jesus and her loved ones waiting
And I know she's smiling saying
Don't worry 'bout me

Loved ones she left behind
Just trying to survive
And understand the why
Feeling so lost inside
Anger shot straight at God
Then asking for His love
Empty with disbelief
Just hoping that maybe

She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels
By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees
And she walks with Jesus and her loved ones waiting
And I know she's smiling saying
Don't worry 'bout me

It's hard to say goodbye
Her picture in my mind
Will always be of times I'll cherish
And I won't cry 'cause

She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels
By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees
And she walks with jesus and her loved ones waiting
And I know she's smiling saying
Don't worry 'bout me
Don't worry 'bout me
Don`t worry 'bout me


Oh and 3 funerals in one month is enough for me thank you very much...i don't think i can afford to buy more tissues or waterproof mascara!

Grampa Jerry and Gramma Kaye's house...

My Grampa Jerry and Kaye live just on the other side of the Snake River from Nyssa in Parma, Idaho. These pictures were all taken from his backyard! They have an amazing view!

On this island there is so much wildlife! We saw like 15 deer...if you look closely you can see them!

Is this not seriously gorgeous?! This is a view from the deck of the Sugar Factory in Nyssa... Joey and Mark using the "take a looks" on the deck

Pretty Sunset!

Clayton was having tons of fun playing in the dirt and the rocks...and scaring me to death thinking he was going to roll down the mountain into the river!My Grampa Jerry (my Mom's Dad) I wish this didn't turn out so blurry!! This is a classic Mark-ie face!

Me, Mo and Mark

Goofing around... Wow...we are HOT!!So Kaye is this seriously awesome talented lady...she's a musician and an ARTIST! She has this whole room with all her art and these were some of our favorites...

This by far was our favorite! So cool!
And this one is all painted out of tiny colored squares! And I just thought this one was so pretty!
We had a really fun night just hanging out at their house and looking at old and new pictures! Joey went on the Tiger Cruise last year with my Grampa so they get along really well...being that they have a lot in common! And it was so good to see Kaye again! I hope that we'll be able to make more trips up to see them!

A white trash carnival...and hanging out at Gramma's house

While we were in Oregon we tried to find something fun to do...Nyssa isn't exactly a huge city so we headed out of town to a carnival about 20 minutes away. Well let's just say we have never seen so many white trash people in our lives!! We had a death grip on both of the kids the entire time...afraid that because they were so cute...someone might want to try and trade them for their own! But the kids had fun...and that is all that matters...right?!

Okay, so Clayton doesn't look very happy here...he was pissed that he had to ride in the back!
My Mom and Mike moved a few months back to Gramma Lucille's home...I have so many memories of this tiny little house! It was fun to come back to it...some things still being the same!Grampa Read always had fun little trinkets in this flower bed...there used to be a rock painted like a watermelon, petrified wood, and the old cowboy boot caught in a trap is still there!Auntie Am and ClaytonMo and Pete playing Duck, Duck, Goose with the kids!I love this one! Posing for the camera!
Baby RachelRiding bikes at Gramma Julie's house

Gramma's funeral...

I know these are a little strange, but we wanted to get some photo's from the grave site at my great gramma's funeral. It was a family reunion of some sorts, being that it had literally been like 15 years since my brother, sister, and I had seen some of our extended family (cousins, uncle, aunts). And Joey got to finally meet some of my crazy family! Uncle Doug, and Gramma's younger brothers and sisters. My G-Uncle Melvin is the 2nd in from the right...he lives in Deweyville, Utah and was always a favorite!!My Mom with the kids/grandkids...

Amber, Rachel, Mark, Joey, Clayton, Aspen, Mom, Mo and Pete

Me with my brother and sister

Me, Melissa, G-Jerry, Katie, and Cody (cousins)...can you tell we are a close family?!

The Cousin picture!!

Cody and Katie are my mom's brother Jim's kids...missing Kathi and Casey

It really was nice to see everyone again! It makes me sad that it takes something like a funeral to bring people/family back together. I honestly hope that my kids grow up really knowing there Aunts/Uncles/Grandparents and are able to be best friends with there cousins! I know it's hard when you live far away...but I really admire Joey's family for being so close to each other!

Anyways, another post down...it seems like so many more to go!

Pics from our 1st trip to Oregon...

I think this was one of our first road trips with both the kids...lets just say they made things interesting. I personally didn't care for the "Stop touching me Clayton...", "Put your foot on your own side!", "You're a baby...No you're a baby..." the ENTIRE 6 hours!! Thank goodness they slept a little on the way!

Here we go...

I think this is against the law?!?She's so goofy...but we love her!Our little glamour girl!Cute little boy...even with his messy face! He's getting soooo big!

Great Gramma Lucille

My sweet great- gramma passed away on Mother's Day. Here is a copy of her obituary...
Lucille Coburn Gyllenskog
March 5, 1917-May 10, 2009

Lucille Gyllenskog passed away on Sunday, May 10, 2009, at Nyssa Gardens at the age of 92 years. Her two sons were present at the time of her passing. Lucille was born March 5, 1917, in Wellsville, Utah, to parents Fred Leatham Coburn and Celia Hill Coburn. She was the oldest daughter of nine children. At the age of 17, Lucille married James Read Gyllenskog on Jan. 21, 1935, in Preston, Idaho. Read passed away on Nov. 29, 1991, at home in Nyssa, Ore. Lucille is survived by her two sons, Jerry Read Gyllensog, of Parma, Idaho, and Douglas Coburn Gyllenskog, of Salem, Ore.; two brothers, Seth Coburn, of Mendon, Utah, and Melvin Coburn, of Deweyville, Utah; two sisters, Colleen Sorensen, of Rigby, Idaho, and Marie Blauer, of Logan, Utah. She has six grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren. Lucille was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served for many years in the Nyssa 1st Ward Relief Society presidency. She honored her family with many quilts and afghans that they treasure. She was a great cook who often liked to share with friends and family. Her family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to the staff at Nyssa Gardens for the loving care given to Grandma Lucille during the past three years, and Diana McGhee, XL Hospice, for her assistance during the last days. Viewing will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 16, 2009, at the Nyssa LDS Stake House, 1309 Park Ave., Nyssa, Ore. Services will be at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Hilltop Memorial Cemetery, Nyssa.We were able to go up to Nyssa, OR for her funeral. It was definitely sad, but also sort of a blessing. She was away from Great Grampa Read for about 19 years and I'm sure it was a sweet reunion for them both! It was really nice to see some of my extended family that I hadn't seen in years (like 15!!) And it was nice for Joey to finally meet some of my crazy family!! We had a great time and I was so happy that my brother and sister were able to make the trip with us!

More pictures from our trip later...

Mother's Day

I've been treated pretty well on Mother's Day even before I officially became a Mom! I remember my first Mother's Day pretty well! I was about 9 months pregnant and Joey was out of town. I wasn't expecting anything at all 1. because i wasn't technically a 'Mom' yet; and 2. because Joey was busy working in another state. But to my surprise I came home to the most beautiful bouquet of flowers sitting on my kitchen table...I still don't know if I ever figured out who snuck into the house while I was at work?? And I guess I need to also thank George (Joey's co-worker) for telling Joey that he needed to do something!! Anyways, Joey always has a way of making me feel special even if I don't always deserve it and this year was no exception...on Saturday Joey took me out to Inkley's to pick out a new 'toy' that I've been eyeing for some time now. He told me I needed to have an expensive hobby too so that he didn't always get into trouble every time he wanted to buy a new gun...or bow...or other hunting accessory! Say hello to my new Digital SLR...I think I need to name her...Well, I've been in love with photography for as long as I can remember! I've always been an avid scrapbooker, but over the years I've figured out it was the photos that I loved and not the rest of the junk (okay so i still love all the other junk too!). I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to decide to actually learn more about photography...but I guess you are never too old to learn something new! So I've got my new 'toy' and i can't wait to learn everything I can about it! And I'm mostly excited to have a new hobby that I Love!

My family is starting to get annoyed with my snappy fingers...so if any of you out there wants to give up your kids or your family for some free practice shots...just let me know!! Just don't expect crazy fabulous photos yet because I'm still learning and I'm also waiting to get a better Photo shop! But...they will be free!

I had a really nice Mother's Day this year... I was able to take the kids to church and felt so proud to be a Momma while I listened to my little girl sing in Sacrament. I was showered with cute primary/nursery gifts and a pretty flower! Although church is sometimes frustrating with the kids and the chaos, I'm happy when I'm able to go and feel of the Spirit. I'm so blessed to have such beautiful kids and such a loving husband! I'm thankful for the knowledge of the Gospel and the plan our Father has in store for me. I can't think of a more fulfilling job than being a Mom...I sometimes don't feel i deserve it and I know i take it for granted far too often! I'm also so grateful for my Mom, Mother-in-law and step-Mom! I love you all and learn so much from your examples! We spent the rest of the afternoon with Joey's family and then with my family. Here are some pics from our day!

Hope all you M0mma's had a fantastic day!

Posts to come...

I promise I have posts coming...tonight!

I received something new and exciting for Mother's Day and it's held me up a bit getting my pictures uploaded to my computer. And...I have a hard time posting something with out pictures!! So stay tuned...

Any guesses on what my present was??

P.S. I figured if I posted something saying that I was going to post something...that i'd actually DO it!!

Love to all!