Frost Family Faces

October 20 and 21 was Fall Break for us. I wasn't going to sit around and do nothing when I had that much time off, so I grabbed Travis and his two oldest and we headed down to St. George (Cynthia had a baby two weeks before, so she stayed home)
So, with five kids, and two adults packed into my van, we went to st. George for 5 fun filled days!
The kids did really well, except for the last hour when Max, who was sitting in the middle, didn't want anyone to touch him! (he was a little tired by then)

Ella is "doing" the dolls hair, and sitting in a cradle, couldn't pass up that photo opportunity...

The first day, (Thursday) was a busy day... My mom made bread for lunch (Yummy!) then we went to Costco with my mom, and all 5 kids (so Travis could get a well earned nap) then home for dinner, then I ran over to the old neighborhood to say hi to some friends and drop off some toys that accidentally got put in the back of our moving fan, and pick up some toys that got left there (sorry to some friends I never got to see) then ran over to Pine View High, and surprised (literally) my friend Jenny during her lecture to her students for Fiddler on the Roof (she was trying to tell them they needed to be more excited and happy on stage...perfect timing on my part) then to the last home game for Snow Canyon High volleyball...
Whew! It was a busy first day...

The second day was even more busy! We went to the park for lunch...

The shade was perfect, so we got out umbrellas and made our own shade...

Ethan and water, they're never far apart...


Cheese! Grandma and Travis!

Ella and Elora eating lunch...


Ethan and Max swinging..

This is Ella at her "Ice cream stand". She kept yelling for the other kids to come and get their ice cream!



Enjoying the warmth of St. George...

Elora made a little bed in the wood chips...they all played really well together, but I don't remember what they were playing... (Emma and Mya are in there too...in the green shirts)

Then...becuase mom's being saving up her stale, old, yucky bread, we went to feed the ducks...




I thought Ella was going to fall in a a couple of times, she got so close!

The keeper oft he bread...(and a stinkin' cute little girl!)


Feeding the ducks! (Emma and Mya were there too, but I never got any pictures of them.)

Then, we went to the Snow Canyon Football game...the last of the season...against Pine View (my brother, Dustin, coaches the team...)


Grandpa and Ariana...

Mom and Ella and Ethan, all watching intently...

Sadly, Snow Canyon lost, but only by one touchdown, and considering how far behind they were, it was a great comeback!

Then, Saturday morning...
Grandpa made pancakes!

And Elora loved sitting in the chair with Ariana...

Then, Mom and I tied a quilt and then got ready for Derek's birthday!


Everyone came over to have pizza and celebrate Derek's birthday. We got to bed very late that night.

Sunday, we went to church, then left to come home.
It took me a couple of days to get over this vacation, but we sure had fun!

This was probably with worst birthday for me. All my plans for my Birthday "day", as well as for the next couple of days after my birthday were thwarted by a daughter who had the flu, and I felt completely miserable too. So...let's just say that hopefully, next year will be better...Here's to being 32!

Ok, so there was one plus...the Sunday after my birthday my In-laws stopped by and gave me a present...new shirts!

Ariana has finally cut her first tooth! Bottom left has come in! October 11th, I was getting something out of her mouth and felt something strange and poky on her gum...lo and behold!...a tooth!

I can't believe she's getting so big!

Silly girl!

and her gums right next to the new tooth is swollen too...so #2 is on its way!

Love this happy girl!

This is what happens when I leave the camera in an "Ella friendly" location...

Among other things she took lots of pictures of the cereal boxes, up close of Ariana's very runny nose, (I'll spare you those shots though (you're welcome)) Ariana, her feet, the ceiling, the couch, the carpet...anything. These aren't even half, or even a fourth of what she took. Thank goodness for digital cameras!

This is a purple, glittering cloak she uses for dress-up...

Wooo-hooo! Cocoa Puffs!!...



I should turn some of these to black and white and enter them in a photography contest. I'd probably win!

This is going to be a very hard post to post...and there will be a lot of pictures...

My Grandpa Arnell passed away on October 4th. I'm happy I was able to be up here to say good-bye to him...I waited at the hospital with my mom while they took him off life support and let him slip away on his own. It was an amazing and spiritual experience. He lived a full life, totally dedicated to his family and the church. He was an amazing man. It won't be the same without him here, but I know that the reunion between him and my grandma was one of the happiest it could have ever been. He loved her so much, and served her with unconditional love through her years with Alzheimer's. He loved serving in the temple, and loved his family. He had 10 kids, 46 grandchildren and 60 great grand children...and he had all of their names memorized! Even though I was one of 46, he still made me feel special and would give me a hug and a kiss whenever he saw me, and ask how I was doing.
I also got to get to know him a little better when Charles and I were dating, becuase I would stay at his house when I went up to see him. We had a lot of good conversations.
He was an amazing man.
And I'll miss him a lot!

Here are some pictures from the viewing on Sunday night, October 9th...
Grandpa requested that his body be placed in a separate room, and that visiting take place in another room. When I first heard that, I thought it was a strange request, but then, as I went in to see Grandpa, I was grateful for the quiet and solitude of that small room so I could feel his spirit.
Plus, we can get really loud when we're all together...


Sabrina and her son... (a cousin)

Dustin and Scott (a cousin)

Trying to keep the kids quiet and contained was no small feat...

More cousins...


James, Laura and Paul (cousin and aunt and uncle)

Dallas and Taylor and more cousins! (and Aunt Melanie on the end)


Nick...


Trying, once again, to keep the kids entertained...

Jason sat in this chair, and realized he was a little too big...

The funeral on October 10th was a wonderful funeral. (can funerals be wonderful?) The talks that were given were very spiritual and I learned a lot about Grandpa (but, becuase he liked to share stories of his past with us, I knew most of them)

The Pallbearers were the oldest grandsons from each family...

My oldest brother, Dan, is the back left...







Because he served in the military (He was a captain) he was given full military honors...Here's the person playing Taps getting ready...

Saluting...

Folding the flag...





Uncle Jeff, the oldest son, received the flag. At Grandpa's request, all his children were given a responsibility (i.e. Miriam gave the family prayer, Stuart dedicated the grave site, Melanie is in charge of keeping up the grave site) and Jeff was given the flag.

Pallbearers laying their flowers on the casket...







Saying final good-byes...

Grandpa and Elora...

One last picture...The only one missing is Chad.



Then the luncheon, and some silly grandkids... eating rolls....




Silly Kids!

Couldn't resist a couple of cute pictures of my my cute girls (Ethan was running around somewhere)


It was wonderful to be able to see our families again, and that's what Grandpa would want to instill in us, the importance of family, and the Gospel. He left a great legacy!