Alex's concert

Von, Deb and I had a good time this last week going to Alexandria's concert at her school. She did such a great job and it was so fun to see her do this fun thing. She is one of the few that tried out for this singing group to make it. She seems to enjoy it alot. Christmas Concerts are great, We loved it!!! Thanks Alex!!.

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! The smallest we have ever had. Dan and Angie, Deb, Mom and Dad. Yes, just the five of us, but don't let the small number fool you into thinking it was not exciting....... It was awesome!!!!!! We not only had a fab dinner, but we decided to check out some of the ancient American history in our beautiful state. Friday we drove down to Nine Mile Canyon by Price and we had a wonderful time seeking out the Indian rock art and finding interesting relics we (Dan) are sure were left behind by them. It was a real pretty day and we only wish that we could have spent more time there. Alex joined us Friday evening for games and movies. Then Saturday we (Deb, Alex, Maureen and Von) drove to Delta for the big family party there. It was at IPP again this year and was so much more fun then the gatherings have been in past years. There were 75 people there and it was sooo nice to visit with everyone. Grandma is still looking good and seemed to enjoy herself. Good times. Hope you all had a great time with family and friends this Thanksgiving. Love you all!!

Empty Nest

This is a short entry, but wanted to put in a few new pictures and let you all know that we are still alive. We have done a few things since the close of the Snoasis and family have all gone back home. Von had some business in Cedar City and St George plus we had tickets at Tuacan for "Les Miserable", thanks to Uncle Robert warner. We had a great time with some of my cousins, and visited Grandpa in Venice and Grandma in Delta. We hiked from one end of Snow Canyon to the the other and was it beautiful!!!!

Summer Hikes

A good part of my summer has been spent up in the beautiful mountains behind our home. We are so blessed!!! Apart from the time that family have been visiting, this has been the highlight of my summer. I go on a hike at least once, but usually twice a week. Have seen an old (1870) steam engine on the top of a mountain, incredible flowers, a moose, mountain sheep, lakes, old mine shaft, and views that are breathtaking. Angie, Dan and Von have shared in many of these fine experiences. I love the smells, the sounds, the sights and the feel of the mountain air. Next to the Temple, it is the most spiritual place I know. mom

Celebrate August

Dates to remember in August. August 17th .. Mom's (Maureen) Birthday
18th .. Josh and Deena's Anniversary
22nd .. Annie's Birthday
22nd .. Rachel and Derid's Anniversary
28th .. Gabriel Moss's 4th Birthday
Happiness to all who celebrate this month. We love you!!!!

Good times in June

The month of June was a great one for us!!! We had Annie here with us working for about 3 weeks. Rachel and kids were here visiting for about the same time. Derid's time with us was shorter because he had to get back to school. Jake was here for a few days as well. We had good times hiking, working, playing, working and Oh yea, sometimes we worked at the Snoasis. As you all know, the Snoasis takes up a lot of our time each summer. Dan and Angie are great to take charge and help with that. IT is a little more quiet and less exciting with most of the visitors gone. Looking forward to Aug. and more visitors. Caleb had stitches on his mouth and wanted to make sure that Eli and Adam saw this picture. We wish Andrew a Happy Birthday on the 9th of July, and Jake and Annie a Happy Anniversary on the 23rd. Love you all!!

June Celebrations

We wish Happy Birthday to: David - June 3
Daniel- June 6
Jacob - June 12
We Love You Guys!!!!

We made it to Eugene

We had such a good time in Oregon with Jake and Annie and Moby. Dan ,Angie, Deb, and Mom and Dad traveled up to the green state and saw some very beautiful country. we hit a few thrift stores and went to Silver Falls NP, to the ocean, and just relaxed and played Mormon rook at J&A's. We had good food, good company and it was just plain great!!! NOw we have to get back to work....and try to get the Snoasis started. Good Times. Thanks to Jake and Annie

Our Trip To Venice (Utah)

We took a little trip to Venice to see Grandpa this last weekend and had an enjoyable time with him. we took Margaret with us this time and was fun to spend a little bit of time with her as well. She is doing OK, but finds it very hard to get up any stairs with out a lot of pain. But we did a lot of talking and was good to be with her again. We also visited with uncle Robert for a short while. Kent and family were there as well. Haven't seen him for a long time. He looked real good and told me to tell Jacob that he is still waiting for his lokalgrown T-shirt :). Grandpa is doing well enough and seems to be healthy. He doesn't do much ( we think he is depressed) and his hearing in one ear is real bad, but he is still sharp and is fun to talk to. I had him give us a tour of Richfield and show me where the family lived when I was born. The picture is of that house. It was in much better shape he said 56 (wow) years ago. The Owl is a resident of the big pine tree in the front yard in Venice. Dad saw it spread it's wings and fly to the shade tree, also in our yard. We know he lives there from all the pellet droppings in the yard under the pine tree. Do you remember dissecting owl pellets as a cubscout Josh? Pretty interesting stuff. He is awesome isn't he? It was a good time

Caleb's Birthday

We all want to wish Caleb a happy Birthday on the 3rd of May!!!!
We love you Caleb. He will be 7 years old.

Birthdays

we want to wish a HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all the family APRIL birthdays:
Little Mia turned 1 year old on the 16th
Joshua got older on the 18th
and Eli turns 9 years on the 21st
We love you all!!!!!

Just Me

OK, so I thought I would join the gang and write a few things about me:

I hate writting... so you see very few things from me that require writting, like letters, e-mails, journals ect.

I can't spell!!! ...so you see very few things from me that require writting, like letters, e-mails, journals ect.

I love the seasons of the year, and can find beauty in them all (thanks to snowshoeing)

I love snowshoeing ( thanks to my kids)

I love Von! He is the best, and puts up with a lot of crape (from me)

I love a beautiful yard

I don't know how to make a beautiful yard

I love to do crafty projects and will sometimes give them away.

I love to go camping

I don't like to travel

My dream trip is to be someplace with family and no traffic!

My favorite place to visit is So. Utah and the red rock canyons. I feel a sense of piece there more than anywhere else.

I don't want to move

I don't need to have lots of friends.

I am gratful for the Snoasis

I am very tired of the Snoasis

I love my children!!!!!

I am blessed to love dearly my sons and daughters-law. I can enjoy one on one time with each one of them.

My children all married up :) And that is hard to do!

My grandchildren are the cutest, and the smartest, and the best of any on this earth.

I like to go for a hike in the mountains

I don't enjoy shopping

I wear old clothes, and love hand-me-downs.

I love to go to thrift stores and garage sells (especially in Eugene)

I don't wear much jewlery

my hair is gray and I like it

I always want to loose 5-10lbs

I love candy and chocolate (dark)

I accept church callings even when I don't want to

I avoid going to the dentist

I chew lots of gum

I love old books...and collect them

I love to read, but don't as much as I used to????

I like historical novels and non-fiction as well

I love to watch movies and documetries from the library

I don't clean my house like I should

I like to do puzzles...but do them on the internet now

I check my e-mail everyday I am home

My favorite foods are breads and veggies

I am afraid of dogs

I try to walk every day (if I write that then maybe it will happen)

I will never be able to keep up with Von...he says he will slow down for me.

My fantasy world is to have all my children live around me.

My real world is that I travel and see the sights of the world to visit them.

I am terrified to drive on the freeway with Von. (Jacob is a bit scary too)

I do not like to drive

I don't like to go out to eat. (I know that is weird)

I don't remember people's names....really bad at that

I am a small town girl by nature. But have always lived in a big city.

I love scary movies...not horror ones

I love happy endings

I love limes in my water

I don't mind eating on paper plates

I could never use any body else's toothbrush!!!!!

I wish I had home schooled my kids at least a few years

I believe that wisdom is more important than knowledge...but not many people care.

I believe that the most important thing you can teach your children is that they matter... to God, to you, to themselves. Everything else will just work out.

I could go on for a long time....but won't


Maureen

Oregon Bound....

Not to put any undo pressure on the prospective Callister clan pioneers heading to the Oregon Country in mid-may (prospectively) by making it public knowledge..... but I thought I would provide some insights on those who have paved the way for you in decades and centuries past.

Lewis and Clark: 1804-1806

Jedediah Smith: 1820's

Oregon Trail Pioneers: 1839-1860's

Logger's: Mid 1800's to mid 1980's

many have struggled to make their way to this country. This trail is long, and fraught with danger, but you have chosen a favorable season and they who have marked the trail with their blood, sacrifice and loved ones, have made your journey more pleasant... Make ready pioneers!!!

Jake

Dan in Real Life

So, Derid and I really loved this movie. It was funny and charming- touching and quirky. It was pretty darn clean too ( a couple sexual references). Check it out! and if you have seen it- comment your thoughts

There was an old woman

I almost cried when i opened the package that contained this book "There Was An Old Woman" retold by Steven Kellogg. I have been casually looking for this book for a long time. I found it for a steal on amazon. I have seen other versions of this story but the Steven Kellogg one is the one that i adored as a child. Reading through it again i remembered why. It is so funny. There is something endlessly hilarious about a crazy old woman who is giddy one moment and filled with wriggles the next. I think there will be a reprint of this book in the next few years- but i couldn't wait. Enjoy the pictures and the memories.-rach

Italy

We have returned from Italy and we sure had a great time and sure do appreciate Becky and David for taking such good care of us. We saw some amazing things, and did not travel far from their home. I am fasinated by history and Midevil times, and that kind of stuff is all over the area that Becky lives. Dan and Angie traveled a little further to Rome and Venice, and they will show pictures on their blog I am sure. We went to the oldest public library in Italy (maybe all of Europe) 1400's right in Cesena. The books were all chained to the reading benches. Sounds weird, but it was way cool!!. We also went to the Republic of San Marino which is a very small country on a mountain within Italy. You can see it from the Mosses home. I am very impressed with Eli and Adam's ability to speak Italian. Gabriel is mister friendly, and little Isaac is sooo cute and doing well. We would love to tell you all more about our trip and share more pictures with you anytime.

CHeck it out

I have been playing in photoshop. I think these type of simple images are cool. i think this one of dan and angie would look really cool on a stretched canvas huge on the wall. I am trying to find a way to copy an image onto clear plastic and then project the image onto a solid color canvas. i then could draw in the areas that i needed to paint. ( i got this idea from something the elementary teachers did for some of us. they projected a black and white picture of us onto butcher paper and used a marker to create a huge portrait.) if you want me to try one of you and your honey then take some pictures and send them along. it works best with a simple background and your heads close together. i have seen kissing shots like this and it's cool. 

fun in snow

we have had some good snow fall in the last couple of days. The kids are having fun with the snow plow piled up snow that we always get each winter in the circle. Dad and kids have made a slide, and caleb is busy making a cave. Sound familier? Great fun. We got 15 inches in one day (Monday).

Random

Three random pictures----- one is us with our new addition, finally!!! one is of the little Callisters and the box castle they built. We have them here with us for the next week while Josh and Deena are on their cruise. And one is of an old map (replica of) that I found in the storage room a long with so much other stuff that has been buried for years. Does it belong to some one? It is a 1673 map of the world.

printer ink

Hey this is just to let you guys know that we have some HP inkjet print cartridges that we are trying to get rid of. We have two 56 (black) and one 57 (color). We had to get a new printer and need different kind. Daniel has the old printer and I don't know if he would like the ink or is just able to use it for scanning---- let me know anyone. I will look else where for some one to use it if you guys don't want it. Any takers?

Winter Wondeland

Here is a picture that I dug up. It is a fun one of Mom and Dad doing something they have started really enjoying to do.... lying around...just kidding I mean snow shoeing of course. This was a trip we took up Donut Falls... A completely different place in Winter. Good times. Enjoy!!

Jake