Photos from the Funeral

Just a few photos I took the day of Norma's funeral and I thought people might like to see them. Sorry I couldn't have been there later to take more pictures when everyone was there.

Mary Jade, looking very cute!

A bunch of Denny, Ostler, Stouffer kids. (Sorry Jake, but Amanda was making a face in the other one and I thought she might care more than you do.)

Another cute smile from M.J.

Does this look like anyone you can think of?

Finally, another picture of the handsome marine!

The Stouffer Birthdays Continue!

It's a pretty rare two days when I can use the same photo and just move the little lighting effect to a different face. But, today is a rare day: It's the day Carl was born (and boy are we glad you were!). We hope the Stouffer birthday celebrating just continues in full force! We love you Carl. Have a great day.

AMANDA!

Amanda! We need another picture of you! Help us out! In fact, send me your email address so I can add you as an author. We need updates. We need pictures. We need news from your world. In the meantime, have a WONDERFUL birthday. We love you.

Guess what Lar? You're STILL older than me!

Just TRY going to the disk of family pictures that Laurel expertly assembled and then pick a picture of Laurel...it's VERY difficult. Why? There are so many absolutely DARLING pictures. If you haven't looked at them recently, today is good day to do just that. But for today, I decided on this one. That is one serious Fisherwoman. I'm guessing she'll be a little less serious today as it IS her birthday. I'm guessing today will be singing, laughing, blowing out candles, and just chilling. We hope you have a wonderful birthday Laurel. And many, many more. We love you!

Timbo!

See that kid down there in the corner of the photo? It's his birthday. Yup. He's older. Wiser. Taller. Today. (Actually he's probably a LOT taller, as that's a pretty cute but pretty old picture.) We'd LOVE to see a recent shot Tim. I bet we'd hardly recognize you. Have a wonderful birthday. We love you.

Well look who's getting older.

Ahhhhh. Look at her. And while she doesn't quite look like this anymore she is equally gorgeous! Besides that, I believe she has some news for all of us. Isn't a little sharing in order? That and a pizza bomb with a candle in it. Happy birthday Elizabeth. We love you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARLETON

Carl we all hope you have a wonderful birthday!!
Nothing creative here, just a
HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

You are an important part of our family and we love you.

Let the Birthdays continue!

Unfortunately I'm not at home so I don't have access to any of the darling baby pictures of Miss Amanda...but we can't let that stop us from wishing her a WONDERFUL birthday. In fact, it's been too long since we've heard from you Amanda...how about an update on you and your family? How were your holidays? Did any of you get the dreaded coldfluitis? How's school? And are you having any more ice storms? Give us an update, and have a FABULOUS birthday. (And about 100 more!) We love you.

You can stop praying for rain now!!

We have had a few inquiries, so thought we should give you all a look. Here is a peek at the aftermath in Bartlesville. We are fine and dry, but some we know have damage or came very close.

As you can see from the top 2 photos, we won't be playing soccer or at the park anytime soon. The white bars that you can see in one of the photos are the soccer goals!!



The bottom two pictures are just accross the street from the home of one of the sisters that I visit teach. The water did not reach her home. :) The river actually crested at 22.5 feet and flood stage is 13 feet, so we have a lot of extra water all over Bartlesville. This was a 100 year flood -- the problem is that we already had the 100 year flood back in 1986 (only 21 years ago).



Can you say MOSQUITOES!! I hate to even think about how many of those little creatures we will soon have!!


Today Carl and Liz did not have work, because the roads across town (the river goes right through the center of town) were totally flooded over.


Inspite of it all, we're well -- We hope you're all dry and well too.

FOR ANGEE: How to organize your photos.

Since Ang was kind enough to ask how I organize my photos I thought I'd share the secret with all of you. Here it is: Be lucky enough to be born into a family with an older sister named Laurel (yes, that is her in the picture). Let Laurel gather up ALL the family slides and photos and magically (after hundreds of hours of work no doubt) put them all on incredibly organized CD's, each labled with the exact contents of the CD. Lar even organized them by sibling, year, family etc. It's an unbelievable CD collection and one that I reach to almost every time a birthday rolls around. I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the work that went into that project. I LOVE it. In fact, yesterday I spent a few hours putting an old old picture of each of my siblings into my iPhone so that when I call (or get a call) from any of them their photo pops on. Very cool. Thanks for making me look very organized Lar. I just absolutely LOVE that collection. PS: other than that Ang, for me with the pictures I take, I organize them into albums on iPhoto. You have a Mac don't you? It makes it SIMPLE.

Happy Birthday Tim(othy).

It's a national holiday in Oklahoma. Today is Tim's Birthday! I actually think an update from Tim himself is in order since we don't get to hear from him very often. Here we go: What's your favorite subject in school? What's your least favorite subject in school? If you could spend your birthday eating your favorite food, what would you be eating? What do you want to be when you grow up? What's your current favorite song? Are you a sports fan? If so, what's your favorite? What's one thing you doubt we know about you? Thanks Tim. Happy Birthday. We love you. PS: I love that in the photo Tim and Carl are looking off like they're having a vision and the girls look like they're thinking: Just take the photo already!

Happy Day Elizabeth!

How about a Pizza Bomb with a candle in it? Doesn't that sound like the perfect way for somebody who is in Rexburg, Idaho to celebrate their birthday? Of course, you'd need a little cake and ice-cream after to make it official. And lastly, NO STUDYING today. Your birthday only comes around once a year...studying is FOREVER. Happy Birthday Elizabeth! We love you.

What a Great Family #2 of a Series

I am so tired I can barely play with my balloon.

Looking good.

Look at those beautiful eyes. (Lauren I think.)

More pictures---maybe!

I did something wrong the first time, so here are more pictures:

A Looong drive--Fun get away

Kelly and I had a great vacation this past week. We drove from Bountiful to Denver[1st stop]. Saw a few sights there---but didn't have the camera with us so we don't have any shots there. We tried to see the Mint but missed it too. This is the second time I have tried to see the Mint but didn't get to---I guess it isn't meant to be.
Then we drove to Nicole and Ben's in Kansas City, Mo. We had a nice visit and some KC bbq with them.

We met Carl and Laurel in Independence, Mo. and saw many sights. We went to Liberty and saw Liberty Jail, Far West, Adam-Ondi-Ahmen and many little towns in between. We had so much fun---thanks Carl and Laurel for the fun time. One other highlight was our lunch at the Lunch Bucket!!!{I'll tell you the story another time}

Then we were off to Stouffer's place in Bartlesville. We enjoyed staying a few days with them. Thanks Elizabeth for the use of your bedroom for a few days!! Thanks Stouffers for the fun time while we were in Bartlesville. We didn't swim in their pool so I guess we will have to go back some time and do that!
We saw the Frank Phillips home in Bartlesville---it is beautiful and big.

The next stop was Emily and Brian's house in McPherson, Ks. We enjoyed an hour or so with Emily and her girls showing us their little town. It was so fun to spend some time with them. Emily showed you a picture, but I will also add a picture. Thanks Emily.

The next stop was Prairie Dog Town!! The picture is Kelly with the six-legged cow. The 5th and 6th legs come out the rear end area!! We saw tons of animals here--it was an experience.

Then passed many fields of sunflowers, corn, peaches and many other things our next stop was Canon City, Co. We went to the Royal Gorge. It is beautiful. Kelly crossed the bridge---I went only a little ways across---too scary. We rode a train through the gorge and also down the side of the mountain. It was fun to visit and Kelly has always wanted to go, so he can now check that place off his list.

After more driving---3103 miles driven in all-- we were home. It was great to be home.

I didn't get the pictures in the right places---can't figure out how, but hope you enjoy seeing them. I don't even know if they will all show up.

Pam

Hill Cummorah Pageant was Spectacular!!

We had a fabulous trip to Canada and New York. This photo is with our friends the Longs (from WV) and was taken in front of the Peter Whitmer Farmhouse.

The day of the pageant it poured down rain. The locals said that it always does; however, it always stops for the pageant. We stopped into a little store in Palmyra and lucked out to purchase the last 9 ponchos that they had!! We were still totally soaked, but delighted to be there. About 15 minutes before it was to begin -- the rain completely stopped and about 4-5 minutes before it was over, it began to sprinkle again. Our prayers were certainly answered that day!! We all thoroughly enjoyed it. Timothy said he liked the part "where Christ came down out of the sky and visited the nephites" and his second favorite part "was all the battles".

Imagine our surprise when we were waiting for the pageant to begin and we see Kevan Kjar -- dressed as Orson Hyde!! He and his family were all participants in the pageant. We visited with him and Anita for a few minutes before the show. We were in the same ward with them when we were first married and we grew a garden together!! Many of you remember Kevan -- he grew up in Bountiful and was a good friend and roommate with Rand at BYU.

We are now back into the thick of life. We're trying to enjoy the remainder of the summer, which seems to be flying by. I can't believe that in 1 month school will begin. It will be an adjustment this year as we all adapt to having Laurel teach seminary at 6:00 am each day.

For now, we are trying to relish the summer days -- full of swimming and other summer fun!

Much love,

CLEAT