Katelyn's Blessing

On October 7th, 2011 we flew to Colorado to see our newest grandchild and attend her blessing. She is such a sweet baby. Heidi had such a rough pregnancy so we feel very blessed that Katelyn arrived so wonderful and perfect. She has the sweetest spirit to match her perfect little body.

The day we arrived we had planned on taking the kids to the pumpkin patch but it was so cold and windy that we thought we shouldn't take the littles out that long. Zach and Tyler both had soccor games but they were at the same time in two different places so Duane went to Tyler's game with Heidi and Gavin and Grandma Great and I went to Zach's game with Garry and Lexi. Both boys made a goal in their respective games.

Grandpa held Katelyn to keep her warm, or was it the other way around?

Grandma Great, Lexi and I bundled up at our game to keep warm as well.

Back home we all enjoyed holding Kate. You just can't get enough holding and looking at their sweet face.

Saturday morning we looked out and this is what we saw. Wow, we weren't expecting snow. It snowed all day long so we just hung out at home and enjoyed playing with the kids and watching it snow.

My buddy Gavin is such a sweetheart.

Lexi is too.

Lexi had to model her frog costume for us.

Gavin also had to model his Halloween costume. They were pretty cute.

We colored,

skated,

and played the piano to name a few things.

Sunday was the special blessing day. Garry gave her a beautiful name and a blessing. What a special occasion. Garry, Gavin and Lexi all bore their testimonies after that.

What a precious little girl. We love her dearly.

Charles Howard Bartle

On September 6, 2011 we received word that Duane's brother Charles Howard Bartle passed into his next life. Today, September 12, 2011, his funeral service was held. It was a very beautiful service and we felt as if his memory had really been honored.

Chuck was a retired fire fighter and so the fire department came to honor him. There was a honor guard ceremony which was very moving. They presented the colors and then two of the fire fighters took the flag off the coffin, folded it and presented it to his wife, Dyanne.

Then a group of bagpipers played. That was also very moving.

Here are some of the fire fighters who attended. Duane conducted the service and also spoke. Heidi gave the opening prayer and I gave the closing prayer. His son Karl, gave the eulogy.

After the service, we all drove to Boulder City to the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery where he was laid to rest.

Duane's sister Darla, and her daughter Katherine flew out from Wisconsin.

Once we were at the cemetery, another tribute by an honor guard was done but this time from the Navy since Chuck served in the Navy. It was also very moving.

They also took another flag from the coffin

and folded it

and presented it to Dyanne. He said quietly to her, something like this, "In behalf of the President of the United States, we present this flag to you for the service your husband rendered to his country."

There were lots of beautiful flowers.

Duane then dedicated the grave.

After they lowered it, Dyanne threw a flower in and each of us in turn threw another flower in to join hers. We want Dyanne and her son Karl to know that they are in our prayers at this difficult time. We, along with them, are proud of the good man that Chuck was and are pleased with such a beautiful service to honor him.

Get ready, Get set, Go!

Well every August is busy for teachers going back to school, but this year is even busier. As you probably already know, our school is being remodeled. I went to school last Monday and they told me that they would have my furniture and boxes in my room by Tuesday. So early Tuesday morning, I went to face this enormous job. I walked into my room piled high with boxes and the furniture everywhere. I had to move all the boxes because they were piled where the furniture had to go. I finally got the furniture in place and that much took up most of my day. I unpacked a few boxes but not many.

Just having the furniture kind of where it needed to go helped a lot.

I ended up moving the furniture (at least some of it) about 3 or 4 times.

Then on Wednesday, I started unpacking boxes. I unpacked about 50 boxes on Wednesday and put the things away where they should go. Since I have a completely different room, I had to think where to put things because there was no prior place so I had to make a place for everything.

It seems so nice to have a clean, fresh room and brand new clean carpet. We have some cool new technology items in our rooms now. Now all I have to do is learn how to run it all.

Wednesday, I also got my bulletin boards put up.

I got my computers back into my room but they're not hooked up yet.

I have lots of books so my principal promised me lots of bookcases. I got 8 brand new ones. It took me a while to go through and organize the books and put them in a logical place.

Thursday, I spent all day there as well putting 50 more boxes of stuff away. Now I have all the boxes opened and most put away.

Some things I'm getting rid of so I'm just holding the boxes in my room until I can get rid of them and I'm storing some stuff in our grade level closet.

I feel so much more organized and unburdened now that I'm almost all unpacked and put away. It's a great feeling! Now next week will be finishing the room and planning and getting ready for the children. August 29th, here they come.

Flowers, Flowers, Everywhere!

Fo
This past weekend has been a busy one at our house. Heidi did the flowers for a wedding yesterday.
We drove into Vegas on Friday to pick up the flowers at a floral warehouse. When we got there we found out that we had a flat tire. Luckily there was a Goodyear tire store across the street. I went over there and they found a screw in my tire. To make a long story short, we got it fixed and then went back to pick up the flowers.

There were buckets and buckets of beautiful flowers all over my kitchen. When people came to our door, they said our house smelled so good.

The bride picked hot pink, bright orange and green for the flowers. They looked so summery.

This is where it all came together.

I loved the colors.

Heidi made 10 table centerpieces, one guest book arrangement and a large centerpiece for the food table. She also made all the corsages, boutineers, bridesmaid bouquets and the bridal bouquet plus a throw bouquet.

Here is the bridal bouquet.

It's pretty in the pictures but not nearly as pretty as in person. She stayed up until 3:30 Saturday morning finishing everything. Everyone thought they were gorgeous. The bride even commented that she got more compliments on her bouquet than on her dress. Way to go Heidi. You did a fantastic job!

Announcing Katelyn Joy

Yesterday, August 20 at 11:50 AM we welcomed our newest grandchild, Katelyn Joy Bartle, to the world.

She weighed 6 lbs. 9 oz. and was 20 inches long.

Heidi has had an extremely hard pregnancy, but now she's here it makes it all seem worth it. Thanks Heidi for your long endurance.

Garry is a proud papa!