OLD PHOTOS

I'm taking another break from our trip posts to place some old pictures on here. (I know, you're wondering when my trip will end. Don't worry - it's almlost done I promise!) While at my Granddad Carroll's he showed me some pictures he had of my Grandma Organ. (She was his first wife & my Mom's Mom.) Anyway, I've been getting into geneology lately & have always LOVED older pictures. So, for kicks here's some fun ones...

First, let me explain that in 1950 a movie was made called "Rio Grande". It starred John Wayne & Maureen O'Hara. My grandparents were in that movie as extras. It was filmed in Moab where they lived at the time. My mom was a baby when it was filmed. My Grandma Organ was picked to take some pictures with John Wayne for some extra publicity shots & this is what they looked like...

My Granddad was one of the soldiers. Here's a group shot of them. He's the one in the back row in the middle. Which looks a lot like my brother Michael to me.

I just thought this was hilarious. I don't remember ever hearing about these pictures. I knew they were in the movie, but this was a fun find to me. I owe a huge thank you to my Granddad for scanning all of these photos (I have a bunch more) & giving me copies. I love them! By the way, if you ever see the movie for some reason..... My Grandma is at the beginning of the movie & quite noticeable. That's as far as I've made it into the movie. I guess when they're doing a roll call of the soldiers later on you here them call "Carroll" - which is my Granddad & he says "here". I'll have to find this gem & watch it again!

June 7th

Ah, Sunday! We went to Provo to go to church with my Uncle James & his family. Afterwards we came back to my Granddad's & just hung out all day. It was great to listen to his stories & play with little Samuel. This is my darling little cousin Samuel with my girls....


Here's a picture of my girls with my Aunt Heidi & Samuel...


We laugh that this is my Aunt & Uncle. In fact, James was trying to tell my girls I was his cousin for a second. He's a whopping 4 months older than me, but he's my Uncle! Here's a pic with James, Me & my Granddad...

Along with telling stories, reviewing pictures & geneology stuff we spent a lot of time trying to figure out the Rubix Cube. This was something my brother Michael could whip out in no time. I never figured it out. It bugged Erik to no end & he wanted to know how to do it. (The answer to that one will come in a few days.) In the mean time, here's some other fun pics...

After the girls were in bed we spent over 2 hours with my Granddad explaining how to complete it to us. It was a lot of information in a short period of time. Most of that information was lost by morning. Neither of us are good at retaining info.

This picture was actually taken on Monday, but I'm placing it here. This is a picture of my Granddad, me & my Uncle Doug. He's my Granddad's brother that I haven't seen since I was 5. He comes for cancer treatments & stays with my Granddad. I was glad I got to see him - even if it was only for a minute!

This was our last day with my Granddad & I was sad to leave him. This was our first visit without my Grandma Gwen being their. Her presence was greatly missed! I worry about my dear Granddad without her around. I am so thankful I've been able to see him more the past couple of years, though. He's such an amazing man. I love to hear about his adventures. We were able to hear about a lot of his traveling adventures this trip. I wish I could stay for a month & just hear everything! He's had quite the life. I hope to see him again really soon!

June 6th

The morning of the 6th we woke up & drove to Sandy to visit Erik's Aunt Barbara. We were able to visit with most of their family. We have so much fun talking with them & laughing at things. His cousin Aubrey was their with her little guy Calvin. He's so cute & my girls loved him. They followed him around his play area in the backyard & we even caught Jadyn carrying him a couple of times. Here's a picture of them........


I didn't get a picture of the rest of the family. :( After that visit we trekked back to the Highland area & made a stop at Cabella's. My Granddad Carroll took the girls & I their last summer during our trip & my girls loved it. They talk about it & begged to go their again. While driving their I called my Granddad to let him know we were their & to see if he wanted to meet us. He said he was working on his computer, but would see if he could get away. He was their shortly. I knew he couldn't pass up a trip to Cabella's. It's his favorite store. We love looking around at all the animals & checking things out.


My Granddad got a cart to push around. He says it makes it easier to walk around since his back surgery. Well, with my girls an open cart means jump in & push me. He was nice enough to take turns pushing them around....

The highlight, however, was the shooting range. They give you tokens as you walk in & you can buy more if needed. Which we ended up needing. Kylie was focusing really hard on her aim, after Erik showed her how to do it. You can notice her squint in this picture. I was quite proud of myself. Once I got the hang of it I could hit something everytime. Erik now thinks we need a gun to go shooting. Hmmm.....

Gwen Lenore Mecham Carroll

This is my Grandma Gwen...

Isn't she lovely? She passed away this week. Again, this gives us all the opportunity to reflect on how lucky we are to have the gospel. I just can't say it enough how thankful I am to know that I will be able to be graced with her beautiful presence again. Here's her obituary that tells some wonderful things about her.....
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"Gwen Lenore Mecham Carroll, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and cherished friend, lost a courageous and a long-lasting struggle with breast cancer and passed away peacefully on April 15, 2009 at LDS hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was born June 17, 1936 in Springville, Utah, the oldest child of Emil Lemond and Erma Fullmer Mecham. She attended school in the Springville and Provo areas, graduating from Provo High School in 1954. She worked at the Social Security Office and the BYU Employment Office to support her University experience. Gwen interrupted her BYU studies to serve an LDS mission in South Africa from 1959 to 1961. Upon returning from her mission, she began working as a flight attendant for United Airlines. She worked as a flight attendant for over 25 years, and was based in Chicago, San Francisco, and Denver. It was while she was living in the San Francisco area that she met and married the love of her life, Jimmy Lee Carroll, on March 17, 1964. Their marriage was solemnized in the Manti Temple in 1980.

Gwen’s greatest joy in life came from being a mother to her son, James Lamond Carroll. She was also a wonderful step mother to Terry Carroll and Linda Strebeck. She was a master gardener, and year after year she produced yards that were some of the most beautiful in the valley. She also enjoyed dancing, playing the piano and singing with her ward choirs. Gwen loved history, genealogy, family history work, and reading and learning about her ancestor’s lives. Gwen was a life-long member of the LDS church in which she served diligently in numerous callings. She loved and was loved by her family, her extended family, her church associates, and a myriad of wonderful friends. She was indeed one of God’s choicest daughters.

Gwen is survived by her husband of 45 years, Jimmy L. Carroll, her son, James L. (Heidi) Carroll, her step-children Terry Lee (Vi) Carroll, and Linda Joyce (Alan) Strebeck, one grandchild and fifteen step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her four sisters Shirlene (Ron) Day, Karen (Rod) Marshall, Kay (Jim) Graff, Elaine Butler, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Emil Lemond Mecham, Erma Fullmer Mecham Nelson, her step-father, William H. Nelson and a brother, Emil Lemond Mecham.

A viewing will be held on Sunday April 19th from 6 until 8 pm at Berg Mortuary, 185 E. Center Street Provo Utah. Funeral services will be held on Monday April 20st at 11 am, at the LDS Church, at 10494 N. 4720 W, Highland Utah, with a viewing one hour prior to services. Internment will be in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery."

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Now, the part that talks about her being a master gardner is NO JOKE!! I loved going to their house in the spring & summer just to hang out in the backyard. It was just breathtaking! I was always amazed at her talent. Here's a few shots of PART of the grounds. And, I'm sad to say, that these pictures just don't do it any justice.

She would always put on quite the spread for meals whenever we would visit. She was always asking if we were hungry, if we needed more food, etc. She was just the sweetest person you'll ever meet. She also made the best "hot cakes" & I'm not even a fan of those. But, I could never pass up hers. She will be GREATLY missed!!

P.S. - I have to tell my Uncle James thank you. I took the obituary & pictures from his blog & I hope he doesn't mind. :) Our prayers are with you!

UTAH

We just got back from a week in Utah. Here's a breakdown of what we did... (Sorry - this will be long.)

We drove up to St. George via Las Vegas on Wednesday to stay with my Mom in Dammeron Valley. Nothing too exciting. Except for the fact that I read almost the whole time to Erik. I started to read "Twilight" to him.

On Thursday I went shopping with my Mom to buy LOTS of stuff. We were having a "mini reunion" at my Mom's house & the girls had planned to do some canning. So, we spent almost 4 hours in St. George shopping & literally filled my Mom's 2-door BMW to the brim with stuff. Then, started to prepare some of the food to save some time. Which included washing & cutting 12 pounds of strawberries. Fun times!! Then, we took a little hike with the girls in my Mom's backyard.





















Friday we went to the lake! Allison, Jackson & Steph got into town at 3am & were ready to go to the lake with us by 7am. We did a little wakeboarding & a little kayaking. We were all pretty soar the next day from kayaking. It is quite the workout.Saturday the girls woke up & canned away while the boys went to the lake again. I enjoyed canning & could really get into it. I even bought a steamer so I'm ready to go! I was in charge of the salsa, so I spent 2 1/2 hours straight making 12 batches of salsa. It was a little long, but fun! We headed to Veyo for lunch at the local cafe. (That sounds so "small-townish" & let me tell ya - it is!)
Then, we came home to prepare for family pictures even though almost half the family was not able to come. Check out this lovely group. I love how my sisters get ready & within minutes look like they're ready for the runway & no matter what I do I still look the same. Yeah, they STINK!!

Sunday we drove up north to Highland to visit my Grandpa & Grandma Carroll. When we got their we spent time walking around their home in awe of Grandma's gardening abilities. The grounds are beyond gorgeous. These pictures don't do it justice. And my sweet Grandma just kept saying how everything looked horrible. She had everything all picked up & beautiful & then a big storm came through.






Monday morning Erik left for sales meetings in Ogden & the girls & I continued to stay at my Grandpa's along with my Mom who came up with us. I went to visit my friend Melinda in the morning who moved to Cedar Hills a few years ago. It was so fun to see how her kids have grown. Cute, cute, family!! Later that night my Grandpa took us to eat at the Golden Corral in Provo. We met my Uncle James their & his wife Heidi. James is the same age as me & his lovely wife is pregnant with their first. I'm so excited for them! Then, everyone returned to my Grandpa's house for some geneology & family history talk while my girls played in the sprinklers.
Tuesday my Grandpa was so excited to take us to "Cabela's". He was dying to show the girls the GIANT display of animals. He kept telling me about all of these stuffed animals they had everywhere. Well, being the mother of 2 girls I thought of Build-A-Bear workshop type stuffed animals. Never did I ever even think at all that it was real stuffed animals. The displays were amazing! They had 3 large seperate displays. Also, when we walked in to the store a worker handed the girls some tokens saying they were good for the laser shooting upstairs. After looking at all the animals we went upstairs to shoot away. They had a row of about 20 laser guns with a big display of all kinds of objects with targets all over. Jadyn got lessons from my Grandpa & still struggled a bit. The guns were pretty heavy which didn't help. Kylie, however, was pretty good. At one point she hit 3 targets in a row. Not too shabby for some one that's never done anything like this. Her favorite item was a pair of old boots on a porch. When she would hit their target water would shoot out.










I took the girls for a ride after lunch to see the Mt. Timpanogas Temple. It's so beautiful their. Then, Erik returned home from sales meetings in the afternoon & we headed back to my Mom's house in Dammeron Valley.

Wednesday Erik & I took a little hike in my mom's backyard to get some decor for my home. I know that sounds weird, but I'm excited about these giant stalks. Plus, they were free! We watched "Jumper" at night before resting up.



















Thursday we drove home! It was a long drive & we stopped a few more times than we normally do. But, I finished reading "Twilight" to Erik & don't ever believe what He tells you to your face. He loved it! We even tried to stop at a Wal-Mart to buy "New Moon" & they didn't have it. So, don't let him tell you otherwise. He enjoyed it.

Now it's Friday & I spent 6 hours school shopping with my girls & I'm ready to relax. We're watching "DOG" (The Bounty Hunter if you didn't know) & we're so stoked he's back on TV. Erik wishes he could work for him. That would be his dream job I think. And now, I've got only a couple of hours before "Breaking Dawn" comes out so, I might as well stay up & go buy it tonight! WOOHOO!!! Don't call me for the next day because I won't answer - I'll be reading what happens to Bella!!

STANLEY STEAMER

Today my dear sweet Grandpa Julian passed away. He has had bone cancer & it was his time. It's always good for the one suffering (even though he remarkably didn't have the pain that usually goes along with his type of cancer), but sad for those left behind. I just can't imagine not having the knowledge that we do in the gospel. I can't imagine thinking that this was the last we'd ever see of him. I'm so thankful to know that this is just the beginning of another stage of life for him. It brings tears to my eyes to think of the reunion he had. He has lost 3 children & my beautiful Grandma in his lifetime. I'm sure he's having a wonderful homecoming right now.

If you've ever had the pleasure of meeting this awesome man you know how sweet he is. Never a chance went by where he wouldn't greet me as, "there's my precious Melanie". In high school he would always tell me how beautiful I was & that I was sure to be the homecoming queen. (I never had the heart to tell him otherwise.) He always made me feel so special even though I was not his biological grandchild. Not to mention how sweet he always is to my girls. But, that's just the way he was. I think a lot can be learned from him on how to treat others that you care about. I could tell many stories about him & how we called him "taco burger" & all of the lectures we would get on the truths of real life.

He always had the best stories, too. He was a fighter pilot during WWII days & he has some of the most amazing pictures I've ever seen. I loved to hear him tell about his adventures.

He will be greatly missed while we remain here on earth. I can't wait for the day that we can all be reunited. There are so many others I can't wait to see as well. But, for now, I need to wait.

We will miss you greatly Grandpa & we will always love you!!!