Jenny's and another project

For Memorial Day we went down to Dupont next to Fort Lewis where Jenny and Bryant built their new home. Bryant is deployed to Iraq for 6 months so we enjoyed Jenny and the kids and talked to Bryant thanks to Skype. I forgot to take out my camera until we were about ready to leave and the kids were off to other activities. We went down on Sunday afternoon and stayed all day Monday. We had a wonderful time!
I was so impressed with Jenny's dishes and took these next pictures for Tera. While Jenny and her family were in Korea there was a factory that made dishes and Jenny said whenever someone came to visit or someone new was transfered that is where she would take them. She started buying these dishes and would add to her set every time she went back.
They had so many types and sizes of dishes and she just added and added.
These are only part of the types she has. There are also serving dishes, butter dishes and probably pitchers. Anyway now that they are in their new home these are what they use and she loves them! Anyway Tera I thought that might give you a good idea with that beautiful German pottery! I would do it in a second if I had the chance!!

Now on to another subject! Grandma and I did another little project!

This rusty table was given to mom by Wendy (her grandaughter) when they moved to Nevada. She had gotten it from her grandma Jones years before that. We decided to use it and make a fun place for our summer dinners.

So we primed it then painted it black....

Isn't it cute? We also found the chairs and the cute umbrella to match it at Costco. The rocking bench next to it is the guys Fathers Day present from mom and I. We found it and stained and varnished it.... but wait... it isn't Fathers Day yet so don't notice it yet! So who is going to come and enjoy the patio with us? Jenny says she and her kids will, Doris and Graham will in July, Jack and Delores will in July... any one else?

Mom's Mothers Day

For Mothers Day Dave and I decided to give mom another place to sit and enjoy her yard. We pulled out some overgrown Juniper along the driveway last fall and so there were 2 large places of dirt that needed flowers and fixing up.
We put in a park bench so when pops gets the paper or mom gets the mail they have a resting place on the way back. The doctor told us to do this all over the yard but we have only done a few. He told us again this week to have lots of resting places so we better get busy!!
They seem to really like it! We have planted lots of flowers this year and the yard is looking really nice. Now keep on reading to my next blog about our adventure to the rain forest.

Our little adventure

Dave and I and Mom and Pops decided to go on a little overnight trip a couple of weeks ago! We went over to the Olympic Peninsula to the Pacific Ocean and to the rain forest. You can see by this picture that it was a bit rainy but that is how it is supposed to be in the rain forest... right? Here on the beach people were clam digging.

We took 2 Ferry's on our trip and really enjoyed them.

On the second one we just sat in the car and had the best view straight out the window!

Out on deck... some guy asked if he could take our picture... it really was fun. The pictures make it look cold all bundled up in our coats but it was actually really pleasant. We spent the night in Forks Washington.

The rain forest was so cool. Moss everywhere... pictures don't do it justice.
This is mom in front of a big blown over tree. We loved the ferns growing everywhere.
This is supposed to be the worlds largest spruce. It is as tall as 2 football fields and you can see how fat it is. We have decided to take a few day trips and see this beautiful country we live in.

Grandmas 90th birthday!

Grandma Dickson was so excited for her 90th birthday party. We invited so many people and knew so many were planning to come. The night before she couldn't hardly go to sleep. She looked radiant all night as you will see in these pictures!
3 of moms sisters came to support her. (Ron and Alice Brownell, Bessie Zeller, and Cathern Harston) Others are planning to come to the April Conference party.
Aunt Bessie flew in from Lovell Wyoming and spent a week with us. Mom was so happy and we had a lot of fun with her! Aunt Alice and Aunt Cathern came up from Enumclaw and spent the whole day on Saturday so there would be time to visit before the party.
The real surprise was my little brother Roy and his wife Karen. They didn't tell anyone they were coming and just drove in from Orem Utah the day of the party. It was so cool and couldn't have been a nicer birthday gift for mom.
Now I am just going to put in a lot of random pictures from the party of family and friends. This is Ron Reid from our ward.

The tables all had 3 primroses on a mirror and 3 pictures frames with old pictures of grandma. It actually looked a lot cooler than you could tell in the picture.

Uncle Roy made the geneology chart that everyone loved!

We all had family tables. This one is moms.

Roys family

Doris' table

Jack and Delores' family did a fun slide show that re-played over and over all evening. It was really nice.

Meledie and her niece Samantha (who is here from Rexburg helping Meledie recover from her car accident) helped by taking pictures. They and Dave and Aunt Bessie took all the photos.

We had relatives and friends come from all over. This is my cousin Ruth Karlinsey and her daughter-in-law from Tacoma talking to Roy.

Uncle Ron and Aunt Alice with Dave and I.

These next 2 photos show the real heros of the party. Janice and Sherilyn are so amazing! They did the decorating and worrying. I sat down with them one day to help plan and they already had so many wonderful ideas. They worked so hard I owe them and their husbands big time!!! Because of them it all turned out so perfect.

Lynns table

Vivs Table

The food table was so cool. There were all kinds of cakes, nut cups, candy and punch for people to choose from.
Gina and her kids drove from Stansbury Park, Utah to be there. Mom and Pops felt bad that after all that traveling they didn't hardly have time to visit. There were so many people! It was so fun to have Gina, Andrea, Jenny and Emily all come together.
Pops was so happy to have such a nice party for mom. It is just what he hoped for.

So many cousins! This is Terry Baird and Ann talking to Andrea.

Grandson in-laws

My cousin Lyle and Anna Brownell (are putting in their mission papers!) & Aunt Cathern.

More relatives!

Mitch and Jane Zeller with Aunt Bessie amd Ann Bairds grandaughter Madison.

It was a great party! I'm so blessed to get to spend this time with our parents. They are the best.

Working on the park

I have heard that this is what you call "MAN TOYS". Dave has been playing all day long! He rented this thing for the day and doesn't want to miss a second of fun. He keeps pulling out roots and rocks and moving dirt. It doesn't look at all fun to me.

Pops has been feeling really good and he can't stand to sit around and not help too so he started up the mower and has been picking up stuff to throw on the fire.

Yes it is raining lightly but that doesn't even phase them!

I can't even watch this but he seems to be enjoying himself.

Looks like lots of grass to plant.

I can't even tell you how much tangled brush, blackberries and stuff they took out of here. They even had 2 big wind fall trees they pulled out and cut up into firewood. There is still a fire going back there past where you can see in the picture where they are burning the ugly tangled roots. Dave will have a big job cleaning out and grooming back in the trees but there are beautiful ferns and cool quiet spots. Pretty nice park! (for the neighbor.)