Twin Falls

Last Weekend we took a trip to Twin Falls to see Asa & Paula, Brad & Katie Family.
They took really good care of me because it was my birthday.
And, we did some fun things.
Eating Out, Golfing, Shoshone Falls, Moving a Piano, Watching Base Jumpers.

Jude Michael Betts

Hi! I wanted to share the newest member of our family with you all:


Jude Michael Betts
Born 4/15/2010; 5:52 PM; 8 lbs. 4oz.; 20" long--his feet are normal!!

And he is just as precious as can be--so cute and cuddly. Mom and Dad are doing great.
Today his bilirubin was very high, so he has to stay the rest of today--possibly overnight--he's under the lights.
Jesse is up and moving, which is pretty good considering doing labor and then having the c-section on top of that. She was a little puffy because of all the fluids, but that is subsiding also.
They have had a variety of nursing staff (some should have picked another profession!!) and physicians, etc., but all in all, this has been a positive experience. Justin has spent each night and then I come in the morning to give him a chance to shower and get food.

They are going to be great parents--Jude and Justin watched basketball together already, and he has been a big help during feedings. Jesse is a natural--this kid has it pretty good.

Love you all and talk to you later.
Brenda

Mt. Fuji

So you might wonder how I could be in Tokyo for almost 2 weeks and be suprised to find out that Mt. Fuji was right outside the window?  After all, it is a pretty big mountain. 

This first picture is what I saw every other day that I was in Tokyo.  Quite a contrast, isn't it?

Tokyo, Japan

TOKYO — A strong earthquake with a preliminary 6.6 magnitude struck off of Japan's eastern coast Sunday, the country's meteorological agency said. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
The 5:10 p.m. quake (Tokyo Time), which occurred off the coast of Fukushima prefecture about 150 miles northeast of Tokyo, was followed by several aftershocks.
The quake, which struck about six miles below the ocean's surface, shook buildings as far away as Tokyo.   ---Fox News

It really did shake buildings in Tokyo.  I was sitting in my hotel room on the 24th floor next to the window when my room began to sway back and forth. 

It wasn't super dramatic but I could definitely feel it moving and hear it grinding and creaking.  The drapes on the window, and the clothes hanging in the closet began to swing back and forth.  It gives you that strange feeling that you're not on solid ground after all and it went on for a while (30 - 60 seconds) so I began to wonder.

A couple of days ago the air cleared up enough that I finally got a glimpse of Mt. Fuji.  I had been here two different times for about 12 -14 days and had never even been able to see that there was a mountain anywhere near Tokyo.  Then one morning, there it was as big as life.

I'm heading home on Thursday and can't wait to get there.  Love Ya'll.

Zions Vacation

We enjoyed a really nice couple of days in Zions Park last week right after we dropped Keshia off at the MTC.  The weather cooperated with sunny and 60 degrees Thursday and Friday and then started raining the day we left.  Good timing, huh?  Justin and Jesse came over, went to dinner with us and we played games and had a lot of fun on Friday Night. 

Thanks for coming kids, we enjoyed it a lot.

Now we're back in Idaho Falls:  2 foot of snow on the ground, 30 degree highs and -10 last night. 

Why did we leave southwest Utah?  I don't know!

Emerald Pool (Upper) in Zions National Park

Parenting

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Michael & Keshia!

January 25, 2010

ALL of my kids are now OFFICIALLY adults!
Man, that makes me feel old. :))

I am sooo PROUD of all of you, and LOVE you!!
Dad

More Snow !

We've started out the New Year with two straight days of snow.  Probably 4 - 5 inches each day.

My snowperson looks a wee bit chilled after standing out all night.

Someone should be kind enough to make some hot chocolate and take it to him.

Happy New Year!!!

We want to wish you all a Happy New Year and yes, it is going to be just that.  We already have some very exciting things to look foward to.  Keshia will be home a week from tomorrow--we miss you and are looking forward to having you here, even if it is for a short time.  And then you will be off on your next adventure--and we have heard many good things about Croatia.

We've got new additions coming--baby boy Betts and a new little Richards.  AND somehow - sometime we will be spending time with our little South Carolina cutie!! and the other four wonderful grandkids we adore!! and of course, our adult children as well--can't leave you out :)!

And then Michael will come home May 27th--YEAH!!  Aren't we all a little excited about that??

We want to try and explore our area a little more this year--we want to drive a loop through Jackson, Teton National Park, and go into Yellowstone through the south entrance.  I think we have really only seen a small area of that park.  Maybe go to Sun Valley...Hell's Canyon...white-water rafting...huh dear?  Who knows? 

So many blessings--it's time we started thinking about having another Val Laws Family reunion.  Let us know if you have ideas--when, where, what, etc.  But for now, just enjoy the beginning of this great, new year.  Love you all 

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

It has been snowing since last night--at least 4 inches--and we have been snug as bugs.  Except when your dad decided to go out and clean off the sidewalks and driveway with the snow blower.  That thing works so good.  Anybody else get snow?

Then he came through the house and went out the back door and said he thought it was snowman making snow--you know, enough to make one and wet enough to hold together.  So.....

Austin & Nyah--does the hat look familiar?  He let the snowman use it for a minute and then he took it back.

And we found another one for him or her or whatever...