Now that spring is coming we thought we better get some projects done. We finished the bay window bench awhile ago...


then built some planter boxes so we can actually do some gardening this year.


The backyard is starting to come together. Can't wait for some greenery!

We Miss You Grandma!

Nedra Burt Quinton MacKay 1910 ~ 2010 Our beloved mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend, Nedra Burt Quinton MacKay, 100, passed away peacefully in Surprise, AZ on Feb. 16, 2011 of causes incident to age.She was born on August 16, 1910 in Cardston, Alberta, Canada; the fourth of 10 children born to William Willden and Edith Wynder Burt. She married Virgil Quinton in the Cardston Alberta Temple and later divorced. In 1965, she married Art MacKay in the Salt Lake Temple. Nedra and Virgil had seven children: Dorrel (Gail), Constance, Bryce (May), Deloy (Shirley), Judy Rigby, Linda (Gary) Hawkins, Tracy (Karen) and have many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Nedra moved from Cardston to Greenacres, WA in 1947, to Salt Lake City, UT in 1965 and Surprise, AZ in 2008. She was a devoted mother and enjoyed being surrounded by her family. She also enjoyed playing the piano, singing, gardening, knitting, crocheting and her many Church callings. Nedra was a hard worker and did many acts of love and service throughout her life. She was a lifelong active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and lived a life of full of faith and devotion. Nedra graduated from Cardston High School and attended LDS Business College (living at the Beehive House) before marrying and beginning her family. She was preceded in death by her husband, daughter, Constance, parents and all of her siblings with the exception of her brother, Kent, who resides in Holladay, UT. A celebration of her life will be held on Thursday, February 24, 2011, at the Cottonwood 4th Ward Chapel located at 5565 Neighbor Lane (5600 South 1600 East), Salt Lake City, Utah at 2:00 p.m. where friends may attend a viewing one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Murray City Cemetery, 5490 South Vine Street, Murray, UT.

Published in Deseret News on February 23, 2011

Racin' Uncle Jason

Thanks Uncle Jason for staying a few days after the funeral and visting. I think Bronwynn was a bit heartbroken to see you go. For anyone else that may read this, Uncle Jason is an uncle-extraordinaire! He was able to get Bronwynn to do things her parents pull their hair out with--brushing teeth, cleaning up, etc. We coined the phrase "Racin' Uncle Jason" because Bronwynn had so much fun racing him to get stuff done.

We had a fun time together and were sad to see him go. Bronwynn had her first bowling experience...I think she beat her dad and uncle both in one game. And Elijah has a pretty fancy bowling serve with a nice spin and everything.

Bay Window Bench

Bay Window Bench

It would be so much easier if Gretchen would come up with plans for her ideas, but this one worked out just great!

The Spider and the Still Small Voice

The Friend just published one of Josh's stories called the Spider and the Still Small Voice! He likes to use the names of his nieces and nephews so Britton this one is for you!

To read the whole story go to:

http://lds.org/friend/2011/02/the-spider-and-the-still-small-voice?lang=eng

or read it in the February 2011 Friend.

2010 Year in Review

I was just checking on our blogs and thought I would see what Josh put up for his blog recently and was shocked to find that he hasn't added anything since January of last year!!!!! Sorry Hawkins family. Stac if I haven't told you lately I really miss the family newsletter. It at least gave us a deadline a couple of times a year to let you guys know what we are up to.

Here is a small sampling of what we were up to in 2010.

St. Patrick's Day is our kids 2nd favorite Holiday. They set traps every year and are rewarded by little treasures from the leprechauns. This year they left cauldron's with gold in them. The Leprechaun's have a tradition of trashing the kids rooms and leaving their footprints (construction paper sticks when it is licked) all over the house!

Soccer Season! Elijah is a great soccer player and was asked if he wanted to be in a more serious league for the 2011 season. That league would take us all over the state of Utah! Yikes! Not sure we are ready for that, but we will see.

My younger brother got married in Mexico in May and invited the family to join them! We spent almost a week there and were able to see a of the few sites.

This was B's first time out of the country and especially on a long flight. We had to explain that not everyone enjoys flying and might not thing she was funny when we hit turbulence and she began shouting "We're crash landing! We're crash landing!" She thought she was so funny!

Tulum Ruins

Josh and I have never been in such warm and clear ocean water before. It was very strange for me to actually see what I was swimming with...but I'm not sure I can go back to the California waters I grew up with.

Xel ha living aquarium

Dance after the wedding. B was pretty tired by this point but it was so fun to see her dance with Josh and Elijah!

We discovered that Elijah has got some moves on the dance floor! We had no idea but that boy can dance! He does these black-somersault things and looks like he should be in a competition! He was great to dance with B and even dipped her a few times!

B with the other flower girls and the Bride & Groom

Elijah as the ring bearer

Josh and I created a 5 year plan for our yard and so far we are a head of ourselves! Here are some before and after pictures.

Before

After...well at least in progress. We ripped out a ton of grass, since it wouldn't grow, and put in a rock patio under the deck.

Then we turned around and ripped out even more grass, the garden, and the apple tree and put in a BBQ area, a trampoline, and some grow boxes.

Here is the BBQ area. It is still a work in progress but it is coming along.

The end of July Alta has a wild flower festival we try and hit ever year. It is so pretty!

It is kind of hard to see but there are tons of flowers behind us.

This is a hike to Donut Falls

October took us camping in Green River where we were close to Goblin Valley and Arches!

I love those jumping legs!!!!!

Josh has discovered a fantastic way to save on raking the leaves...he vacuums them off the tree!

Elijah's Baptism!

Elijah also started Scout's this year! Hooray! He has earned his Bobcat, the Leave No Trace Behind patch, and some other stuff that was only being offered during the 100th anniversary of scouting. He is also well on his way to getting his Wolf patch.

Hopefully we will be better about posting things on the blog so it isn't so much to read all at once.