Bountiful Burn Out!

Tonight we attended the Bountiful Rotary Coats For Kids Burnout!  It was fun to see cars and trucks attempt to lay down the rubber on the road.  

I even remembered to get a photo of me and my hubby!

 Some gave it a good try but were only marginally successful.

Others, like Scott Bradshaw, made a moderate amount of smoke.

Then there was the Utah Highway Patrol car--complete with Magnaflow exhaust and cold air intake!  It was a crowd favorite!

But my favorite was the red smokin truck!  I think they spray painted their tires to get the red smoke.  It was awesome!  After the burnout we caught up with Katie, Taylor, and Mark.  Mark was sporting his attractive vest and ID--doesn't he look official?  This was the first year Katie was allowed "behind the lines".  Guess Daddy gave in to his little princess, Taylor!  Zac was much too busy with Uncle Scott to be bothered with a picture.

Katie, Taylor, Mark Bradshaw

Tina was able to get the night off and join in the fun with her family!  

The Everett's
Tina, Alex, Rick
Ashton and Shyann

After the burnout Kevin and I walked down Main Street and admired all the cool looking cars.  Can't wait for the car show at the park tomorrow!

South Africa Tour Lesson

Today Kevin and I traveled south to Provo to listen to Brad and his roommate, Spencer Park, teach a joint Priesthood/Relief Society lesson.  They were asked to share their experiences on their recent tour to South Africa, Swaziland, and Botswana.  They took turns sharing experiences, photos, and video clips from their tour.  They stressed that Young Ambassadors is not so much about the performing of the show but rather has a much greater mission:  service, example, and testimony.

Brad and his roommate, Spencer Park

They bore powerful testimony of how the Lord puts people in the right place at the right time if we but submit to his will and get out of our comfort zones to be instruments in his hands.  At the conclusion of their remarks, Spencer played and Brad sang the solo that he sang in the YA fireside.  It is a powerful testimony of the power of  the Atonement to heal us.  It was a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Continuing My Quest

Today Tina and I set out for the Aultorest Mausoleum in Ogden, Utah to find Dennis Robins crypt.  I called the cemetery office and was given the code (1,3,5)--so obvious yet we didn't try that combination on Sunday--and basic directions to the baby crypts.

I have to admit I found the mausoleum a bit sobering and a little bit scary.  I can see why it is accessible only by code.  Too many dark hallways and if it were open to the general public could be an unsafe place to come alone!  We entered the main mausoleum doors and went up the stairs into the main room which I believe is referred to as the "chapel" area.   There were numerous hallways of crypts off the main room.  As we were exploring them, Tina noticed that the markers all indicated adult lifespans.  We explored all the hallways off the chapel--no success in finding a baby area.

We were about to abandon our search when I came upon a back staircase and went down it.  Success!  On the landing at the bottom of the staircase was a wall of baby crypts and there at the bottom left (as you face the wall) was the crypt of Dennis!

Dennis Robins' Crypt

Dennis Robins' Crypt Marker

As the story was told to me:

Dennis Robins was stillborn, the first child of Eloise Flint and Lee Watt Robins in Ogden, Utah.  Lee was working as a mortician's assistant at the mortuary.  Upon the birth of Dennis he took the baby and buried him in the crypt.  Eloise did not ever see or hold her baby.  I am unsure when they officially named him as the crypt does not bear a name.

It was really special to locate this tiny grave and to do it with Tina.  I feel like at least the next generation will be aware of where tiny Dennis' burial spot is located!

On the way home we stopped in Layton, Utah to locate and document the grave site of Kevin's aunt and uncle, Reed Flint and Kaye Henderson Flint.

I knew they were buried in the Lindquist Memorial Park near the Layton mortuary.  They are interred on a raised area in front of the mortuary saved for veterans near the flagpole.

I walked right to the marker!  Tina was impressed!  I took photos with both my camera and with my iphone app so that the images were preserved online as well as usable in my personal database.  It was a productive trip!

My Cemetery Quest

In keeping with my Memorial Day resolve, Kevin and I set out to locate and photograph the grave of Dennis Robins,Kevin's older brother who died at birth in 1953.  We knew he was buried in a Mausoleum in Ogden, Utah and that LeeAnn knew where the crypt was but none of the rest of the family did. So today we took a road trip to Ogden.  We located the mausoleum but discovered that it was only accessible by code and the code had to be obtained from the cemetery office during regular business hours.  We spent some time looking for anyone who might be able to help us on a Sunday but to no avail.  We were disappointed but at least I took photos of the mausoleum and the cemetery sign.

While our road trip was not as successful as we had hoped at least I have a location and a starting point!

Memorial Day Memories

Memorial Day is the perfect opportunity to do some family history with the family!  We traditionally visit the grave sites of our grandparents to decorate them with flags (for the veterans) and flowers.  Bountiful sets up a field of crosses to remember all the veterans buried in that cemetery.  We took a flag and put it at the cross of Kevin's dad, Lee Watt Robins.

Lee Watt Robins - Veteran Memory Marker

Since we were going to be at the cemetery I decided to take my cell phone and use the GPS feature and the Billion Graves app to take photos of family graves, upload them to the internet and then transcribe them into the Billion Graves database making them searchable for anyone, anytime, any where in the world!  Plus it is amazing technology and a lot of fun!  By the way did I mention that the Billion Graves app is FREE?

Kevin's Parents Marker

The east side of Kevin's parents marker

Kevin's sister Susan is buried just east of his parents.

The other cool thing about this app is that you simply point and shoot the picture.  You then upload to the website at your convenience and the photos are placed in a file where you can either transcribe and edit them or simply turn them over to the general public and someone else will do that for you.  The app, using the GPS feature in your smartphone determines the latitude and longitude of the grave, the name of the cemetery you took the photo in and maps the gravesite for you!  Love it!

The cemetery where my paternal grandparents and Uncle Joe are buried.

 I also take a photo of the cemetery sign--two reasons for this:  First I have a poor memory and it helps me remember who is buried where, and secondly it is nice in my genealogy file to have this information for others.  I am amazed how many cemeteries are listed under several names and having the sign as a starting point really helps.

My dad's brother and my uncle.

My paternal grandparents

I took my camera along to take photos just in case the phone thing didn't work out I had a backup for my own use.  It is always nice to have a photo in case I want to upload to other online sites such as Find A Grave or to blog or digitally scrapbook with them.

 Kaysville City Cemetery is the resting place of choice of many of Kevin's ancestors.  Both of his grandparents are buried here as is his baby sister and many others--including ancestors who came here from Nauvoo!  We love to go and roam around looking for new descendants!

Kevin's paternal grandparents

Kevin's maternal grandparents

Kevin's baby sister, Kristine

I hope to add this tradition to my vacation list and as we travel to take the time to stop and seek out the burial spots of other ancestors to add to my family history database.  It helps these relatives become real individuals for me.  P.S.:  as we reflected over memories at the graveside of Kevin's parents with his sisters I was quietly compiling a list of places I need to visit and document!  Happy Memorial Day family and to our ancestors--thanks for the legacy of love you left us!

A Letter to My Daughter's on Mother's Day

 "My dear girl, the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don’t interrupt to say: “You said the same thing a minute ago”... Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep. When I don’t want to take a bath, don't be mad and don’t embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl? When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that way... remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life’s issues every day... the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If I occasionaly lose track of what we’re talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous, impatient or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you. And when my old, tired legs don’t let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked. When those days come, don’t feel sad... just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I’ve always had for you, I just want to say, I love you... my darling daughter. "

Happy Mother's Day!

The Blessing of Taylor Lyn Bradshaw

Today, Sunday, May 6, 2012, was a crisp, clear beautiful sunny day.  A perfect day to bless a beautiful baby girl!  Taylor Lyn Bradshaw was blessed by her father Mark today.  The circle of Priesthood holders present for this special occasion was so large I wondered if every man would actually be able to participate. It is such a wonderful problem to have!


This event was weeks in the planning.  First was the finding of the dress!  A princess needs a proper gown.  It was long, white, and very lacy.  Then there was the bow, "ruffle bum", and satin slippers.  Finally there was the bracelet, blinkie with bling and the matching binkie clip.  Katie and I spent several days compiling this ensemble!  Then there was the photo shoot!  Every event needs its pictures to secure it in your memory! What a beautiful little girl Taylor is!

Taylor's Blessing Dress

You can't have a party without cake--so what better for a blessing day than a diaper cake complete with all the essentials needed for a princess!

Since we would be celebrating in the backyard we made tissue pom poms to decorate the area!

And we spent several days trying new food ideas.  Here are the cake pops we made--they disappeared quickly and were a real party hit!

We even had a fruit baby!  It was darling and delicious on a warm spring day!

After sharing a delicious meal with family and friends it was time for the photos to be taken!  Everyone protests a bit but when all is said and done--the photos are what make the events a memory!

Taylor and Katie with Great-grandpa and Great-grandma Olsen

The Bradshaw Clan

Posing with Dad, the great-grandparents Groen,and  Bradshaw and Papa Bradshaw

The men in Taylor's life!

Three generations:  Papa, Dad, Taylor

A photo with Grandma and Grandpa Robins

The Robins' Relatives

Kirk Tidwell family

Four Generations:  Grandma Robins, Great-grandma and Great-grandpa Olsen, Mom and Taylor

The Everett Family

The Bradshaw family with Oma and Papa Bradshaw

Two sisters, two babies, two cousins!

It was a picture perfect blessing day!