Trey Matthew DeBauch

Steve and I just returned from St. Louis after spending a week there with Heather and her family.  The main purpose in our visit was to get acquainted with our newest grandson who was born on September 26, 2012.  Trey was blessed during Sacrament Meeting on October 28th.  When we came home from church, we had a family baby shower.  It was lots of fun!

Time to leave for church
and the baby blessing

Dressed and ready to go

Dane, Chad, Heather, Trey, Kyra, and Skye

The cool weather didn't stop us from
having a spectacular day.

Trey sleeps most of the time!

Proud Mommy
and contented baby

Home for church and ready
for the baby shower to begin
"THE ROYAL ENTRANCE"

Kyra, Skye, Steve, and I planned and prepared
for the baby shower on Saturday.  We're ready
for the festivities which included tacos
for lunch.

All of us got a candy bar that said
"IT'S A BOY."

What's a baby shower without
games and gifts?

Steve, Kyra and I made a diaper cake for the centerpiece.
It turned out very, very cute!
Kyra requested lemon cupcakes; total hit!

Primary

In April I was called to be the Primary President in my ward.  It had been years since I had a calling to serve in the Primary organization.  In fact, the last time I served in Primary was probably about 1986-1987.  The reason I remember the year is because it was at that time I started teaching school.  Julie was five, and Natalie was three. I was the Laurelwood Primary President when I began my teaching career.  I found myself very busy juggling all my responsibilities.  I managed to serve as president for about a year after I started teaching school and then was released.

Now, close to 27 years later, I find myself back in Primary.  It has been busy as one would expect and somewhat complicated trying to manage my emotions when I think about my own grandchildren and the significant part I hoped Primary would play in all of their lives.

Today was the annual Sacrament Meeting presentation.  Although I did not think it was going to go well, I was wrong.  All of the teachers showed up as well as all the children that I expected.  We had a great turnout as far as the audience goes as well.  The theme of this year's sharing time and presentation was Choose The Right.  It turned out as well as I could have hoped inspite of my obvious lack of experience and my less-than-soaring spirit.  In preparation for the program, we had a Friday afternoon practice.  After the practice we had pizza, Capri Suns, and sugar cookies.  Many thanks to all who had anything to do with making this year a success. I know it was definitely a team effort.

Our Program

Nursery

Sister Daza
The Sunbeams

Sister Gressmen
CTR 4

Brother and Sister Simpson
CTR 5

Sister Clark
CTR 6

Sister Dymon
CTR 7

Sister Jenkins
Valiant 8/9

Brother and Sister Graven
Valiant 10/11

Remembering Sheldon

Friday after school Julie, Steve, and I drove to SLC for the purpose of celebrating Sheldon's life on what would have been his 32nd birthday.  We stayed at the Hilton Hotel near Temple Square.  We arrived at 3 am Saturday morning, so we spent most of Saturday in the hotel room sleeping and watching conference.  Eventually that afternoon it was time to pick up balloons, cupcakes, and flowers.  As soon as our errands were complete, we headed to the SLC Cemetery where we were joined with Sheldon's family.  We placed our flowers as well as a can of Mountain Dew and a package of red licorce on his grave which, of course, were things Sheldon loved.  Afterwards we all shared our favorite memories of Sheldon.  Some things made me cry; others made me laugh.  Steve said a beautiful prayer, and we ended our remembrance at the cemetery.  We then all drove to Famous Dave's where we enjoyed Sheldon's favorite meal.  For dessert we enjoyed strawberry cupcakes which was a favorite of Sheldon's. 

Sunday morning Julie, Steve, and I attended the morning session of General Conference.  It was an excellent meeting, and I thoroughly felt uplifted and edified as I left the conference center.  There were many messages shared in conference this past weekend that seemed especially for us as we try to come to terms with what happened in our family six months ago.

SLC Cemetery

Carol and Julie

Julie with her nieces and nephews
on Sheldon's side of the family

We all wrote message on our balloons before
letting them float away into the sky.

Here's Julie right after she finished
writing her message to Sheldon.

There's something very sweet in watching
balloons float away into the heavens.

Everything looked very pretty with all the
fall colors.  I'm sure Sheldon was smiling
down from above!

Famous Dave's was one of Sheldon's favorite
restaurants.  We've eaten here a few times before.
Being in SLC this weekend brought back
many memories of times we've shared
with Julie and Sheldon in Utah.

It was quite a large gathering.  I think there were
17 of us altogether.  Dinner was yummy.

We had tons of cupcakes.  I think most of us
enjoyed several different kinds.  Sheldon
had a sweet tooth, so I'm pretty sure he was happy
that we ended his remembrance celebration
with one of his favorites.

So sweet!

This was taken after the morning session of
General Conference.  It was a beautiful, fall
day in SLC.  The temperatures were
definitely not what we're accustomed
to coming from LV.

The temple is always breathtaking.

Red Rock Half Marathon

Last night Julie, Natalie, Heather Jones and Jeri Ellsworth ran a half marathon at Red Rock Canyon.  Steve and I rode a bus for spectators to the finish line.  It was a nice, cool evening with a full moon.  It was rather nice feeling a cool breeze compared to the hot temperatures we've experienced all summer long here in Las Vegas. We waited at the finish line for a few hours watching runners come in patiently looking for our group.

I guess our runners stayed together for the first few miles and then each ran at their own pace.  Natalie came in first at about two hours and 35 minutes.  Jeri was behind her a few minutes.  Then Julie came in slightly under three hours.  Steve and I took the bus back to Vegas at 11:00, so I didn't see Heather cross the finish line.  They were all excited to finish.  We were proud of their efforts.  Julie ran a half marathon near Yellowstone National Park a few years back with Sheldon.  She wanted to beat her time which she did.  Julie is planning on running a marathon near Boulder City in December and then the one they've been training for comes up in January in Orlando, Florida.

Natalie

Steve & Natalie

Julie

Natalie and Jeri

Julie

Jeri, Natalie, and Julie

Jeri, Natalie, and Julie

Back to Portland

Julie wanted to go to a wedding in Portland this weekend, so I tagged along. We flew out Friday after work and came home Sunday afternoon.  It was a quick trip but full of memorable moments. I am always amazed at how beautiful everything is in Oregon. Everywhere you look you can see green grass, green trees, green everything! I have often wished that I lived in Oregon, but I'm not sure how I would feel about all the rain which produces all that green.

Hertz had only one car left for us to rent at the airport.
As you can see, it was a red Corvette.  We felt like
we got really lucky at being able to rent
Lightning McQueen's car for the weekend.

We stayed at the coolest hotel.  It was called
Eloft.  Everything looked modern.
I think the lobby could have come right out
of one of Star Trek's episodes. 

This was our hotel room.  The TV was mounted on the wall.
The headboards were padded and mounted to a wall as
well.  Between the two beds on the wall was a
piece of material that looked like a cow's hide. 
The bathroom was behind the beds. It was a totally cool room
and to even make it better when you looked out either window
 you could see millions of beautiful green trees.

Julie and I snapped a shot outside the
Portland Temple after the sealing.

Julie looked gorgeous.  I couldn't
resist taking a picture of her by the
reflection pool outside the temple
while we waited for the bride and groom.

Here's our fancy car rental.  I loved the car
and loved the temple!  I have lots of fond memories
of the Portland Temple.

After the wedding we headed for Beaverton where the
Nike Employee Store is located. One of Julie's friends
arranged for Julie to have a visitor's badge so she could
do some shopping.  Julie was able to buy the rest
of the shirts for everyone who is going to Disneyworld
in January of 2013 for the Florida marathon.

After having lunch, shopping for a
wedding gift, and getting a pedicure
we headed to the wedding reception in
Salem, Oregon. It was a lovely reception;
the cake was beautiful.

I have to show off our pedicures.  Both Julie and I
went for totally different polish colors.  Julie got
purple, and I went bright orange.  I may be a little
ahead of myself for the fall color, but I'm okay
with that.  I am ready for fall weather and all the
holidays that come during the latter part of every year.

Thanks, Julie, for letting me tag along on your weekend
trip to Portland.  It is always fun for me to be with one
of my girls; this weekend was certainly no different!

Proud of Julie

Two weeks ago this Monday Julie applied for a teaching job in the Las Vegas area as well as in the Jordan School District in the Salt Lake City area.  She was offered both positions.  Julie decided to take the job here so she would not have to move again.  Her job is actually in Henderson in the Green Valley area.  It takes about 20 minutes to drive to her school from her home.  I am thrilled that she will be able to stay in her townhouse which is close to us. 

Although this isn't what she thought she would be doing with her life, I am very grateful that she is beginning to reclaim some of herself by taking this teaching position.  She is a wonderful teacher, and I know the 5th graders that she will have in class starting Monday will benefit from her many talents and abilities. 

I'm sending a mother's love and best wishes to her for a successful year of teaching; GO, JULIE, GO!

Coral is a charter school located in Green Valley;
students apply and must maintain good
behavior and good grades.

Julie's room is right behind her in the picture;
I love the green grass and trees!

This is the playground near her room.

Julie is standing in front of Room 9; her home
away from home for the next nine months.

Natalie, Linda, and I all helped Julie at various
times during the last few days
with setting up her room. 

Julie and Natalie standing in the
front of the classroom

Juile and Natalie showing off some of what
we did one day this last week in
preparation for the first day of school.