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| Before flying out to Utah I drove up to Chicago to see my cousin Emily. All the kids are enjoying the delicious dinner that she prepared. Baby Stuart, Elijah, Helena, Thula, Kaia, and Lela. |
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| At the airport ready to board the plane. The girls were great, but baby Stuart was a tad trying. Thula was so helpful to me though, I don't know what I would have done without her. |
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| Yeah, we made it to grandma's house! Exercising on the tramp. |
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| All of grandma's treasured knick-knacks. One can't think of grandma's house without them. |
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| Grandma's fun backyard. |
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| This was my favorite rock seat as a kid. |
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| One of my favorite things about Utah are the mountains. They are so close and beautiful. |
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| All three of my kids have enjoyed this swing. |
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| I love grandma's apricot and cherry trees. |
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| Drawing with grandpa. Aunt Rosie gave her this art kit. |
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| Saying 'night night' to great-grandma Elaine. Thula was timid of her great-grandmother because she was sick, but Lela was as loving as ever. After she died she kept saying, "Now my grandma is in Heaven." |
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| Looking out grandma's windows. |
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| Grandma's living room |
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| taking a rest |
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| General conference center |
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| View of temple square. |
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| Little creek by the conference center that Thula fell into. |
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| The Christus. Lela really loved this. |
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| Inside the visitor's center with the Salt Lake City temple in the background. |
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| Beautiful temple square in SLC. |
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| visitor center fountain |
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| Touching the temple doors, "I'll go inside someday." |
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| Salt Lake temple and reflecting pool. There were a lot of weddings going on that day and the girls loved looking at all the brides. Ten sweet years ago that was me! |
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| LDS church headquarters on temple square. |
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| Keira and Lela at "This is the place" gift shop. The girls love having cousins. |
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| One of Brigham Young's former homes. My kids and Cortney's kids. Thula, Lela, Keira, Regan, Chloe, Bryan, and Katherine. I also loved this house and wish I could live in it. |
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| At the spray park at This is the Place park. |
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| Aunt Rosie yucking it up with all the kids. |
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| Drying off in the warm sun. |
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| Learning about pioneer life and enjoying some blueberry pie. |
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| Walking around This is the Place park/village. It is so pretty up there. |
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| Panning for gold. Thula said this was her favorite part. |
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| Lela and Keira |
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| I love this Scottish breed of cattle. |
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| Learning to milk a cow. |
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| Group photo at This is the Place. |
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| Statue of Brigham Young and group marking where Brigham Young declared that 'this is the place' and the end of the Saints long exodus. Under his leadership the saints truly made the 'desert blossom as a rose.'' |
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| Instant friends, Lela and Keira. |
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| Katherine and Thula enjoying some frozen yogurt. |
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Keira, Lela, and Bryan. Jumping on the trampoline with all the cousins. |
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| Eating a bowl of cereal at Grandma's. |
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| Lela and cousin John. |
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| Dad and his mother (Elaine Cullimore Ely) talking a few brief hours before she passed on into the next life. Sunday, August 11, 2013. She was surrounded by her three children, 6 of her 8 grandchildren, and 10 of her 13 great-grandchildren. She told me the day before she died that she was so proud of her posterity. |
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| Baby Stuart and twins. |
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| Baby Stuart and cousin Jack. They are only two months apart. |
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| Grandma's house the night she died. Her wonderful neighbor Jeff Stowe placed the flag out front. |
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| Veiw of Ben Lomand mountain from the canal path above my grandma's house. Ever since I was a little girl that mountain has reminded me of an owl-just like granny. |
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| View of the valley below North Ogden. |
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| My other favorite mountain that you can see from grandma's living room window. It always reminded me of a gorilla's face. Can you see it? |
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| Grandpa and baby making the same face. |
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| There's my smiley boy! |
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| At the train staion in Orem, Utah. I went to pick up the girls from my cousin Cortney's house after they had spent a few days there and we took the train back to grandma's. It was about a two hour ride. It was nice. |
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| train |
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| Waiting at the train station for grandpa to pick us up. |
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| Baby Stuart and Jack (Justin's boy). |
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| Baby Stuart and cousin Megan (Jack's older sister). |
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| Visiting Grandma Elaine and Grandpa Jack's grave site in North Ogden. I have a testimony of the resurrection and believe that my grandmother lives on with all of her loved ones who have passed before her and I know that I will one day see her again in her perfected state. I am grateful of the knowledge I have that families can be together forever. My grandmother was a faithful Mormon and her legacy of faith is one I will cherish my entire life. |
