NEWS FLASH!!! NEW BABY GIRL ARRIVES

Laurissa Wiles was born 06.02.09 at 8:56 am (EST).
She weighted 8 lb 4 oz, 20 in. long.

Shane & Katie to have Baby Girl!

Shane & Katie are scheduled for a c-section on Tuesday, June 2nd!
Everyone please keep them in your prayers. We're so excited for them!

Kayo Ray McLaughlin!

Kayo Ray McLaughlin!

Looking for the Illusive Big One!

Marty loves to go down and fish for a while! He goes just about every night. He's looking to catch one of the big ones! They swirl all around where his line is but they haven't tasted what he has for them...a great big hook!

Canadian Geese - 2009

Once again the Canadian Geese are here having their new family! This year there are seven new goslings! They have grown sooo fast. Their parents are very attentive to the movement of people and other animals around the pond and keep their babies close by. With a quick kink of mom & dad's head the entire family can be gone and back in the water. Some years not all of the goslings have survived. The cats get them or we have heard that the big fish in the pond pull them under. So far this year all sever have made it!

Cool Windmills!

At the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon we have watched as they delivered, assembled and began using these hugh fans! The blades were longer than a semi-truck flatbed and the big box is as large as a school bus up there...the blades flex with the wind. There is always wind coming down the canyon at two different times of the day. The power is being sold to California for 20 years then Utah will get it.

Getting Away For Some R&R

We took the trailer and went camping up Diamond Fork for a few days...we parked in the sun as the weather is still cool up there...had a wonderful time.

The spring run off is in full swing now. We've had a very long winter and a wet spring so far. The water isn't as pretty as it usually is - sort of muddy right now.

We sure love our "home away from home."

Digger really gives his nose a workout when we go camping...however, he has so many allergies that he sneezes all the time! He is nearly 11 yrs old now and a bit slower then he used to be.

Didn't bother with makeup or dressing up!

Just lots of relaxing.

We camped in an area where we would be in the sun as the weather was still cool. We had a great time. We had a great view from our campsite and could watch the deer and elk with binoculars.

Morganne Adele Strong is Blessed!

Joe & Holly had Morganne blessed in January and these are some of the pictures we took that day. She is a sweet little girl! Joe & Holly come down about once a month and we have dinner together. It has really helped us keep in touch.

I WAIT TOO LONG!

I have waited too long to work on my blog and now I don't remember how to do anything!
I'll have to get some "tech support" from Katie again & relearn how to post pictures, etc.

Will try to work on it this weekend...I was going to paint the shutters on the house - but I hear
it is going to rain...love to you all - Mom & Dad

The sisters go to breakfast!

We have a great time eating, laughing and catching up
on each other's lives. We try to do something together
whenever we can arrange our schedules - we all have
busy lives but we love getting together. I love my sisters.


Kathy must think if she closes her eyes
we can't see her!

Ellen & Esther

Elayne & Kathy in "deep" conversation...they may need thier hip waders!

Ellen - again.

Elayne just loves having her picture taken.

This is Alexi our granddaughter.
I love this picture of her... Lexi will be 5 years old this August
and a big sister in June too!

I think Morganne looks like Zach!
Once in a while she looks like Katelyn too.
I love this picture.

These pictures were taken when Morganne
was just home from the hospital. I've been a
bit slow getting them posted.

This beautiful picture was taken by a man who
works at the church office building in Salt Lake City.
The spires of the temple look like they are in heaven! Wow!

Our 25th Wedding Anniversary Ride

After having a lovely late lunch at Red Lobster we rode up Provo Canyon to Vivian Park. I have always wondered about this park and why it is named what it is. Thereis a small community of homes there and on past themyou find a beautiful landscape. I found online later that a man named William Ferguson owned much of the property at this place in the canyon that had been there since the early history of the state. It was originally called "Bill's Place." A little girl named Vivian McBride lived there with her mother and helped run the post office. Mr. Fergusen thought Vivian was such a beautiful little girl he changed the name of the little town to "Vivian Park." We had such a nice timeriding and taking pictures. We found a couple of nice parks where we might have the Strong Family Reunionthis next spring - as it is our turn to do it.

All in all; it was a great day.

Elk Watching

About this same time each year elk come down from the

mountain and winter in pastures in the valley.

We've been watching for them and they

arrived yesterday! We counted 13 big bulls with

huge racks of antlers along with 30 cows.

The bulls are magnificent and majestic.

We love to watch them throughout the winter.

Needless to say, we love nature…the mountains,

the wildlife and the peace of the outdoors.

The View...

The view to the west of our home.

On a clear day we can see all the way to the freeway.

Ducks On Ice!

When Marty stands on the deck and calls the ducks

that are by the small opeing in the ice...they come

arunnin'! He'll quake like a duck over and over until

they are up on the yard and he frisbee's slices of bread

out to them. They come back two or three times a day

for him to feed them. Sometimes they just sit out

snow waiting for some food to be thrown to them.

Several families around the pond feed the ducks and

seagulls throughout the winter months.

It's a morning ritual for Marty and the ducks.