March 2022

We are now witnessing history in the making so we want to document what is happening . . . .

 On February 24th Russia began a military invasion of Ukraine.  What began as a "conflict" has escalated into a full blown war.

President Putin of Russia & President Zelenskyy of Ukraine

It is the largest military conflict in Europe since WW2.  The invasion has caused Europe's largest refugee crisis with over 3.2 million Ukrainians fleeing to surrounding countries, many to Poland. Russia's President Putin announced a "special military operation" to "demilitarize and denazify" Ukraine.  Minutes later, missiles and airstrikes struck throughout Ukraine followed by a large ground invasion from multiple directions. The Ukrainian President Zelenskyy says they will not give up their country without a fight, so the war goes on.  Their country is being destroyed and Russia is being accused of multiple war crimes against civilians. It is a sad and scary situation for the whole world with concerns that if  Putin continues his pursuit towards control of Ukraine, we may be looking at WW3 which would certainly include nuclear weapons and biological warfare. 

We continually prayer for a pathway to peace throughout the world.

Wednesday 3/2

Today we left to go visit the Lansford's in Las Vegas. 

 On our way to the airport, we saw people like this at all the freeway overpasses.  We figured out that the Trucker's convoy for Freedom was scheduled to pass through Boise, from Portland, this morning and people were coming out to support them.

Our flights to SLC and Las Vegas didn't go quite as planned (delays and relisting were involved) but we managed to complete our trip and arrive at Trudi's by 6:30.

We had a wonderful, fun-filled week with the Lansford's

We had ONE warm day with highs near 80 degrees in Las Vegas! What else could we do but . . . .

heat up the hot tub . . . .

and the pool . . . 

(yes, that is Steve diving)

then enjoy the beautiful, summer-like, weather together.

Friday is "Project Day" in the Lansford's Home School sooo . . . .

Wyatt has been working on assembling this ukulele and was able to finish it up this afternoon. Linda got it all tuned up for him so now it's ready to play !

Linda helped Charlotte with her dream catcher craft project.  It was a little bit complicated but together they managed to figure it out.  

She had so much fun with the first project that tonight she ask if we could do another one.  This one, "Throw Kindness Around like Confetti" frame, was not nearly as complicated, but turned out just as cute.

They both look very cute hanging up on her bedroom wall.

The kids weren't the only ones with a "Project" . . . .

George's project was to "smoke" a pork shoulder for dinner tonight

(It was delicious!)

Saturday we celebrated Wyatt's 16th birthday !

Besides a few Cards containing $$$, He got these fun gifts from his mom, dad & siblings.

Of course there was a brightly decorated birthday cake and . . . . 

the blowing out of candles on this yummy Ice Cream cake !

Morgan is a "PRO" at manipulating his Hover Board and speeds around the house at alarming rates !  Occasionally he looses control and seems to have a permanent "bump" on his forehead.

Wyatt likes to play magnetic darts in his bedroom and . . . . 

entertain his Bearded Dragon lizard.

Cora LOVES to play with all of her 

"Wild Animals"

She spends hours lining them all up just the way she likes them.

(and you'd better not try to rearrange them!)

Charlotte wants to take horseback riding lessons sooo . . . .

She now has new riding boots !

Sunday morning Linda curled Charlotte's hair - 

Doesn't it look cute ?

After Church we took a minute and snapped this picture

Trudi, Charlotte 11, Morgan 7, Cora 9, Wyatt 16, George

No better way to nap than with . . . .

your best buddy !

It's Monday, and back to school at the Lansford house.

They all do their lessons in their Home School classroom.

More "projects"

George changing the fish tank water

Wyatt assembling a lantern

Completed  2 in 1 lantern/flashlight project

Cora playing in her sensory box

Charlotte & Linda working on a Jigsaw puzzle

Trudi & George ready for a fun night out.  They are on their way to the Academy of Country Music Awards,  hosted by Dolly Pardon, at the Allegiant Stadium, in downtown Las Vegas.

Tuesday 3/8

Today we headed for home. 

Las Vegas to Seattle to Boise

Flights were good - no delays - home for dinner !

Thursday 3/10

 Today was our Stake Humanitarian Meeting.  Linda was asked to take pictures of all the activities for our March Stake RS Newsletter so that kept her busy during the meeting.

There were nearly 100 sisters in attendance

In addition to our regular "projects" . . . 

Today they were asking for donations for Ukrainian women & children.  The response was AMAZING ! bags and bags of coats, shoes, boots, gloves and clothing will be shipped tomorrow.  

A man from Star, whose family lives in Ukraine and had their house bombed, will be flying to Poland to meet the shipment and see that those in need receive these donations.

Saturday 3/12

Tonight we had a Ward RS/PH game night.

Stack and unstack 21 cups as fast as you can,

Stack 10 dice on the end of a tongue depressor secured in the mouth of a teammate. Our team got 1st place with 9 dice in place before number 10 caused them to tumble.

flip 8 cups from upside down to right side up and . . . .

slide an Oreo cookie from your forehead to your mouth

These were just a few of the many games they had planned for us to do. Some of the games were just not possible for us "OLD" folks to do but we had fun watching the "youngsters".  

Sunday 3/13

15 years ago today Debbi graduated from Flight Attendant School. Lani & us attended her graduation.

Debbi said  . . . .

"I feel lucky to have a job that has allowed me to see the world and have experiences I never would have dreamed of.  It was only supposed to be something fun to do for a couple of years but has grown into a career where I can't really imagine doing anything else!"

Don't you think she looks good sitting in the cockpit ?

CONGRATULATIONS DEBBI - LOVE YOU !

Friday 3/20

A while back we washed our bathroom rugs and all the backing came off so we have been in the market for new ones.

We finally found some and they were delivered today!  We bought two, one is 40" and goes in front of the shower and this one is 72" and fits just right in front of the vanity. 

Saturday 3/26

It must be spring . . . .

Our Crocus are blooming . . . .

Tulips are growing and . . . .

our ducks have returned !

Thursday 3/31

Every year we have our blog made into a book, becoming our journal.

 This year, the company we have used for the last eight years ran into some problems that prevented them from making our book. Linda searched for another company and was only able to find one - "Into Real Pages" owned and run by two brothers in the Netherlands. 

We received our new book today!

It is about the same size and cost about the same. The pages are a heavier weight of paper and we like their format much better.

the one-column page layout in the old book

the two-column page layout in the new book. We also like that the pictures are much larger. We are happy with our new found resource for printing our blog.

Receiving our blog book was a nice way to end our March Blog. We have been enjoying some beautiful spring weather and look forward to more of the same in April.