John, Susan & Tyler

Cold Winter Morning...

2011-01-17T09:32:00.000-08:00

Tyler took this picture of John and me as we were getting ready to go to church....and it was a collllllld Olathe morning! We are so thankful for each other and for our wonderful family! We know our Heavenly Father has blessed us with each of you...and for that we are eternally grateful.

2011-01-17T09:27:00.000-08:00

I have to catch Tyler off guard to get his picture lately...he's kind of camera shy. So I got him here after church, before he escaped into the house. SOOO handsome....love you, Tyler!

Ethan's Big Day....

2011-01-17T09:16:00.000-08:00

On January 1, 2011 we celebrated Ethan's Baptism Day. Congratulations Ethan, on being the newest member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in our family!! We are all so proud of you for making this great choice in your life!! And how blessed you are to be part of such a wonderful family...and how blessed we all are to have you in it!

I was so lucky to get to fly out to Surprise to be with you all. We made some great memories, didn't we!?!

So Ethan, here you are with your wonderful family...from left: Allie, Daddy (Brent), you, Kaleb, Grammy Sue, Mommy (Jaime) and Rylie. I love you all SOOOO much!

2011-01-17T09:12:00.000-08:00

Beautiful Jaymi, handsome son, Mark and lovely granddaughters, Kaytlyn, Kayley and Kensley with Grammy Sue at Ethan's baptism. Kaytlyn, you are almost as tall as me!

2011-01-17T09:08:00.000-08:00

This is Brooke and Wayne and their beautiful and awesome family. What an absolute joy it was to be with you all...I love Chase's smile in this one...but caught Landon blinking (it's okay we all know how handsome you are, Landon) and of course, Ella is a beauty just like her mother.

Bicyle fun at the McLaws house...

2011-01-17T09:05:00.000-08:00

Brooke got a new bike for Christmas. Love your basket, Brooke....love you, too!

2011-01-17T09:03:00.000-08:00

Ella and Chase loved being pulled in the trailer by their daddy, Wayne...who also got a great new cruiser.

2011-01-17T09:02:00.000-08:00

Brooke even let me ride her new bike :)

Lizeth and Spencer...

2011-01-17T08:58:00.000-08:00

I loved being in my children's homes. Not only are there wonderful and happy families that reside there...but they are full of love and warmth.

New Addition on the way....

2011-01-17T08:53:00.000-08:00

Spencer and Lizeth are expecting their first baby, a son, in April....We couldn't be more excited for them. Love you so much Spencer and Lizeth!!

Self Portrait

2011-01-17T08:51:00.000-08:00

Kaytlyn took this self-portrait of us because Grammy Sue couldn't get it right. You are a living doll, Kaytlyn, and I love you to pieces!

What a miracle!

2011-01-17T08:49:00.000-08:00

Me and Kayley...just a week and a half out of major spinal surgery....you are not only gorgeous, Kayley...you are a miracle!

Kensley and Grammy Sue

2011-01-17T08:47:00.000-08:00

Kenny and me...you are beautiful, Kensley :)

Cute cousins...

2011-01-17T08:45:00.000-08:00

Here's Chase, Kaytlyn and Allie at Ethan's birthday celebration. That's Kensley in the background...all enjoying being together at Spencer's and Lizeth's lovely home.

Love my grandkids...

2011-01-17T08:38:00.000-08:00

It was great fun to be at each of my children's homes. We really get to have a ton of together time...eating together, playing games together, watching movies together...along with lots of hugs and kisses....absolute heaven!

This is me with Ella, Chase and Landon. Love you all with all my heart!!

Handsome grandsons...

2011-01-17T08:35:00.000-08:00

I adore my handsome and wonderful grandsons...Chase, Kaleb, Landon and Ethan...and we have another grandson coming in April....can't wait!!

Loving cousins...

2011-01-17T08:20:00.000-08:00

I love the way our family loves each other!! I asked the kids to pose for one quick picture for Grammy Sue and this is what they did! They just naturally embraced in one sweet, loving picture...

Rylie and Kayley weren't outside on this day. Kayley was recuperating from spinal surgery and Rylie was very sick in bed.

Ethan's trick birthday candles

2011-01-17T08:17:00.000-08:00

We celebrated Ethan's 8th birthday while I was there. Those trick candles threw him for a second...then it became a challenge, and he conquered them in no time!

Family Photo Op

2011-01-17T08:11:00.000-08:00

Darrel, Susan, Mother and David....we're missing Janet, who is in Burundi, Africa on a mission with husband, Craig.....and of course, our sweet Father.

Love and miss you always, Dad.

2011-01-17T07:42:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, I got to attend Sacrament Meeting in Mother's Ward. David, Darrel, Sandy, Sidney, Justin and Jesse with children Megan, Kyla, Maximus, Hailey and Sidney came to visit me while I was there. It was SOOO good to see them all!

Our Trip to the Winter Quarters Temple

2010-09-26T18:37:00.000-07:00

To celebrate our 10th Temple Anniversary, John and I went to Omaha, Nebraska to the Winter Quarters Temple. It is one of the smaller temples, but absolutely beautiful. The sessions can only accomodate about 20 people each, so you have to call ahead and schedule a time. The stained-glass windows you see right in the center are beautiful pictures of Brigham Young and the pioneers. It is a beautiful and meaningful part of our LDS history. You cannot visit here without feeling a renewed appreciation of our pioneer heritage.

2010-09-26T18:35:00.000-07:00

John in front of the Winters Quarters Temple. It was such a gorgeous day.

2010-09-26T18:32:00.000-07:00

This is John enjoying the beautiful sculptures and the amazing feeling of peace and strength we felt on these lovely and hallowed grounds.

2010-09-26T18:30:00.000-07:00

This is the beautiful Winter Quarters Temple, and if you follow the steps to the right it leads you right into the cemetery.

2010-09-26T18:21:00.000-07:00

This is a beautiful sculpture in the Winter Quarters Cemetery which is connected to the Temple Grounds. Over 600 Latter-Day Saints lost their lives during the course of that winter when they were forced to flee from Nauvoo and cross the Mississippi River into Iowa. And over the course of the next few months they made their way to Council Bluffs. When Pres. Hinckley came to view the property where this temple would be built, the saints were told that this ground would not have to be dedicated since it was already sacred ground. It is the only temple site ever that did not have to have the grounds dedicated.

2010-09-26T18:18:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken in front of the Winter Quarters Visitors Center across a tiny little street from the Temple and Cemetery. This is an amazing sculpture of a handcart pioneer family.

Thanks for all the Birthday Wishes!

2010-08-01T21:31:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all my wonderful family and friends for remembering my birthday. You are all so dear to me and I'm grateful for your love and thoughtfulness. It's almost worth turning 55 to get to hear from so many of you at once.... almost.

Tyler's 18!!

2010-07-25T18:33:00.001-07:00

Well, it's official. Tyler is an adult. Wow, that was hard to type. And on his birthday yesterday, we were all at the St. Louis temple because it was our Ward Temple Day. While the adults were doing a morning session, the youth in the ward babysat 30...yes 30...children at the nearby ward building and Tyler helped. He grew very close to a cute little 5-month-old punkin named Eli, who only wanted to go to Tyler. The Young Women showed me pictures of Tyler holding Eli that they had taken on their cell phones because they thought it was so cute. And then the youth did Baptisms in the afternoon. Tyler was quite a bit taller than the baptizer, but it all worked out. Anyway that's how we spent Tyler's birthday. It really was a great day. So anyway, here's a picture of Tyler with his favorite kind of cake (strawberry jello cake) just before he blew out the candles. Sure love you, Tyler.

Tyler and great friends, the Jones family

2010-07-25T18:28:00.000-07:00

Our great friends, the Jones family, from our ward joined us to celebrate Tyler's big night. It was awesome!

Best Friends

2010-07-25T18:24:00.001-07:00

Tyler and one of his great friends, Nick, shared this milestone together....glad to get graduation behind them and prepare to move on.

Tyler's Graduation Night

2010-07-25T18:14:00.000-07:00

I know I'm a little late in posting this, but better late than never I say. Tyler graduated from Olathe Northwest on May 16th, 2010 and it was a day to celebrate. It is such a rite of passage for a young man to graduate from High School, but it was also a rite of passage for us because he's our last child to graduate from High School!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, Family and Friends!!

2010-01-03T11:58:00.000-08:00

Guess who got to be chaperones for the Stake Youth New Year's Eve Party? Oh well, it gave us a chance to dress up! Do you recognize the dress? Mark and Jaymi, you should know this one....yes, it's the dress I wore at your wedding reception....and this is the first time I've had it on since that lovely and memorable night. And doesn't John look dashing in his festive red shirt. I tried to get a picture of Tyler, he looked great, but he ran away from the camera screaming, "Enough pictures already!" Anyway, it was a fun and verrrry icy night with temps at below zero....brrrrrrrrrrr.

Our Ward Ice Skating Party at Crowne Center

2010-01-03T11:54:00.000-08:00

Every year our ward has their ice skating party at Crowne Center. This is not a night for the faint-hearted...it is COLD!! And since the ice-skating rink is outside, we bundle up, and take lots of HOT CHOCOLATE!!

2010-01-03T11:52:00.000-08:00

Tyler talking to some friends. The lady on the right is Sis. Tietjen...her husband is in the stake presidency.

2010-01-03T11:51:00.000-08:00

Tyler and his friend, Preston, at the Ice Skating Party.

2010-01-03T11:49:00.000-08:00

I did it...I survived a night of ice skating after not having done it for at least 30 years!!

2010-01-03T11:48:00.000-08:00

I needed a little assistance at first, but then I got it.

2010-01-03T11:46:00.000-08:00

Here's Tyler with a couple of his friends. That's our Bishop,

Bishop Wilkes, on the right.

2010-01-03T11:44:00.000-08:00

It's really a beautiful place...a great backdrop for an amazing night of memories.

2010-01-03T11:39:00.000-08:00

Our annual Ward Ice Skating party is held at Crowne Center in Kansas City each year. It was really an awesome night.

Christmas 2009 - Reflections

2010-01-03T11:36:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share a few pictures that John took...they're beautiful.

2010-01-03T11:33:00.000-08:00

2010-01-03T11:31:00.000-08:00

Well, our dream of a White Christmas came true this year. This was taken on Christmas Eve...

2010-01-03T11:27:00.000-08:00

Our dining room table full of light blocks...reminding us of the light our Savior brought into the world.

2010-01-03T11:25:00.000-08:00

Looking out our front door sometimes seems like another world...a very snowy, white one. But I love it!! I think it's just beautiful!

2010-01-03T11:18:00.000-08:00

This was our beautiful tree this year. I used gold ribbon to decorate it this year because Brooke made fun of my tree full of red bows...okay, okay, I guess it was time to update. Brooke has always been great at attempting to keep me current.

Choosing a Christmas Card photo....not an easy task!

2010-01-03T11:04:00.000-08:00

For our Christmas card this year, we asked one of my Laurels, who loves photography and has started a small business of her own, to take our portrait. She did a wonderful job...well, considering her

subjects. She was so patient with us, but no matter how hard we tried, we were a little awkward....not knowing where to put our hands, or when to smile...and so she took a ton of pictures and we'll share a few with you. Needless to say, the one we chose is the one you got in the mail. But just for fun here's a few of our attempts...

We tried a black and white portrait....but someone forgot to smile...we won't name any names :)

2010-01-03T11:01:00.000-08:00

We tried for that outdoorsy festive look while standing outside in front of the Christmas wreath...just didn't feel right...

2010-01-03T10:49:00.000-08:00

We tried took one on the stairs hoping for that casual, relaxed look...

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We tried a shot in front of the fireplace...

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2010-01-03T10:34:00.000-08:00

We tried a shot in the entryway...

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T15:46:00.000-07:00

Hello wonderful family! As you know, I work as a Kindergarten aide...so here is our class!! Miss M. and I decided to be Dorothy and the Scarecrow...after all this IS Kansas, you know :) This is Miss M's first year of teaching and these are our 21 little charges. They are alot of work...but we have SOOO much fun with them!

Our family reunion in Phoenix...

2009-07-29T10:34:00.000-07:00

The day we arrived was the same day Brent and Jaime were leaving on their cruise...so we went right over to their house to spend some time with them and snapped these pics....

Our day at Nanny's...

2009-07-29T10:30:00.000-07:00

We only got to be with Nanny and Arland for a couple of hours, but we enjoyed every moment. Love you Nanny and Arland.

Our beautiful couples....

2009-07-29T10:26:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm showing off....I think we have beautiful couples in our family....

2009-07-29T10:23:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed our visit with Chris, Rachel, Ruth and Aubrey....got to see all of Ruthie's Hawaiian vacation pictures...gorgeous...

My lovely little ladies and gentlemen...

2009-07-29T10:15:00.000-07:00

Gorgeous grandbabies...

2009-07-29T10:10:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I can't help showing off my grandchildren....so sue me :)

My cute, cute grandkids...

2009-07-29T10:02:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun with our grandkids during our visit...playing games, watching them slip'n slide, singing and dancing, eating, playing more games, going to movies...we just enjoyed every moment!

Fun at Spencer and Lizeth's house

2009-07-29T09:40:00.000-07:00

The family enjoyed being together at Lizeth's and Spencer's house. We were in awe of Spencer's jump-roping abilities...he is amazing! We also celebrated Tyler's 17th birthday!! You can see him blowing out the candles on the Birthday Pie that Brooke made...Thanks, Brooke! And Happy Birthday, Tyler...17 years old...unbelievable!!

Ready for a day a Wet and Wild

2009-07-29T09:30:00.000-07:00

Spencer and Tyler show off their fabulous physiques and fashionable swimwear. I must say, I have some handsome sons!

Guitar Hero Fun

2009-07-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

More Guitar Hero fun...

2009-07-29T09:09:00.000-07:00

Mom's Got A New Do...

2009-07-11T14:44:00.000-07:00

Hi to my fabulous family!

Okay, here's the deal....I cut my hair. Just wanted to prepare everybody so it's not such a shock. And I also wanted Brooke or Spencer (whoever is picking us up at the airport) to be able to recognize me. So anxious to see everybody....the countdown is on...6, 5, 4, 3....Love you all, Mom

4th of July in Olathe...

2009-07-11T14:38:00.000-07:00

Hi to our sweet family in Phoenix!

I'm still getting used to this blog site, so I think I did this backwards....oh well.

There's only one fireworks display in Olathe, so everybody chooses a parking lot at a medical center or mall to enjoy the show. So here's our group setting up at Grin Eye Care clinic.

Hope you all had a great Independence Day!

2009-07-11T14:32:00.000-07:00

More 4th of July in Olathe

2009-07-11T14:23:00.000-07:00

Here's Tyler with his friends. We're on our way to Grin Eye Care parking lot, where our group sets up our camp chairs and gets ready for the show...

4th of July in Olathe

2009-07-11T14:17:00.001-07:00

After having a feast of BBQ Ribs and Bratwurst, we were on our way to the Fireworks Show. Here's Tyler with four of his good friends (from left, standing behind me) Scott, Angel, and Michael. (Scott and Angel are siblings.)

Hello wonderful family!

2009-03-22T18:49:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from our trip this week. It was wonderful and very memorable.

We love you all and wish you had been with us. But we know we'll get to be with you in July and are looking soooo forward to that!

Our trip back East

2009-03-22T18:36:00.001-07:00

Our trip back East included driving through Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland (Washington, D.C.). So we got to see alot of BEAUTIFUL country. America truly is awesome!

Some more fun pictures

2009-03-22T18:29:00.000-07:00

These are just some pictures we snapped along the way during our travels. The huge valley Tyler's holding his arms out in front of is called Lover's Leap.

Mabry Mill

2009-03-22T18:24:00.000-07:00

This is the beautiful Mabry Mill in Virginia. You might recognize it from pictures in magazines. It's been used in alot of ads. Anyway, it's gorgeous!

Some meaningful sites

2009-03-22T18:18:00.000-07:00

We visited the little cemetery in Woolwine, Virginia where Tyler's Grandpa and Grandma Epperson are buried. (Their names were Jack and Annie Epperson.) And some beautiful sites in the area. Tyler learned where his Epperson roots began.

Some Civil War Sites

2009-03-22T18:08:00.000-07:00

We visited the old Dunkard Church at Antietam where many young American lives were lost on both sides. The church was turned into a field hospital. We also visited Burnside's bridge. Both of these areas were significant center points of battle on Sept. 17th, 1862, the worst single day of combat in American history. Approximately 5,000 lives were lost on that one day.

Our day at Harper's Ferry

2009-03-22T17:54:00.000-07:00

Harper's Ferry is an old, but quaint little town built at the junction of the the Potomac and the Shenandoah Rivers. It was built beginning in the late 1700's and was an important place, particularly in the Civil War Period.

Our day at Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's Home)

2009-03-22T17:45:00.000-07:00

Our day at Monticello was one of my favorites! The weather was cool and crisp and the air was so clear. We could see forever from Jefferson's mountain home. Touring this beautiful structure inside and out made me truly appreciate and admire this great founding father. I wish you could have all been there with us. This is located just above Charlottesville, Virginia where we also visited the University of Virginia which Jefferson founded.

In front of the White House

2009-03-22T17:29:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed our day in Washington D. C. as we visited the Capitol, the Washington Monument, the Vietnam Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and the White House. It was a rainy day, but beautiful and memorable. There was even a St. Patrick's Day parade!

Our Washington D. C. Visit

2009-03-22T17:24:00.000-07:00

Our Washington D.C. Temple Visit

2009-03-22T16:51:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Brooke, we finally have a BLOG!

2008-10-13T14:47:00.000-07:00

Hello, to all our family and friends! We are now official bloggers, thanks to Brooke's patience while walking me through the steps!

We snapped this picture (a self-portrait), well actually Tyler took it...he has the longest arms, right after church yesterday. Brooke said, "I need a picture of the three of you" and we didn't have one, so this is the result. When we get a better one, we'll post it. Or maybe, at our age they don't get better. Good thing Tyler gets more and more handsome each day. He makes up for his old parents!

And actually, Tyler looks pretty great for having his wisdom teeth out on Friday! It's just not right if your cheeks don't swell up like a chipmunk's...but his didn't...lucky dog.

But we're all busy with church callings. John's in the YM Presidency, Tyler is a counselor in his Priest's quorum and I was just made YW President, so my head is still swirling. I just hope I remember everything Zefa taught me! She was a great teacher and friend! I miss her...

Guess you all heard that the Kansas City area is getting a new temple!! We're all beside ourselves around here. Our new temple will be in Shoal Creek just outside of Liberty, MO. It's about 40 minutes from here....and that's alot better than 4 hours (which is how long we travel to the St. Louis Temple.) It will be heavenly, literally...

John loves his job at Farmer's. He's a regular as a Training Instructor. I'm busy being an Early Childhood para and Tyler is doing great in school and thriving...and yes, Brooke and Spencer, he's been practicing his driving every morning to and from seminary. He has to have 10 night driving hours among the 50 required hours before he can get his license. And just as soon as I can figure out how to post his homecoming pictures on here, I will...See ya...