In the Pink

Abby created this picture for an art class in junior high school.

She definately went through a "flamingo" phase!

P.S. Don't you wish that blogger had a better pink?

Grandpa Boot

Our Grandpa Boot passed away at 4:40 pm on Tuesday November 24.

He was with Grandma and his four children after spending the day with most of his grandchildren and many other extended family members.

He died as a result of a bad fall outside the ward building on Sunday while on his way to church. On Monday evening he seemed to be fine as he said goodnight to Grandma right before his bedtime prayers. Sadly, he fell again during the night and never regained consciousness.

Grandma and Grandpa lived next door to our family for over eight years. He was our Bishop for five of those years. He was a faithful and true grandpa as he support us and our many family events.

We love you Grandpa. We will miss you.

Black Canyon Lake Campsite: Then and Now

In 1991, we went on a family campout to Black Canyon Lake.

Believe it or not, this was one of only three actual family campouts we ever made happen.
Please note that over the years we all camped separately with other groups-- scouts, girl's camp, hunting--but rarely with just our own family.

This camping spot was once a beautiful, hidden paradise filled with ferns and other lush foliage--a far cry from the dirt camping typically found in Arizona.

Many a scout camp has taken place in our favorite spot. It is now fenced off to protect it from man and beast. Sadly, the Rodeo fire burned much of the area in 2002.

Below is a picture of 53rd Ward Scout Camp in 1983.

A short hike--a mile or two--away is a small gravesite of 19th century supposed cattle rustlers who were hanged by other supposed cattle rustlers. Historians say the events were part of the renown Pleasant Valley War.

Some of our family visited this spot again while camping last July.

The fire destruction is evident.

We were a rag, tag bunch of campers doing the best we could during tough economic times back in 1991.

Read the blog entry following this one for more camping pictures 18 years later. Somehow we are still a rag, tag bunch of campers--just more of us!!

Hogle Family Scout Outing

Summer camp 2009 was a huge success.

We had a wonderful outing in Forest Lakes with the entire family—all 21+ of us. (Natalie and David announced that they would be adding to the family in February!)

We laughed, played, ate too much, sang songs and enjoyed the weather and the love.

We had quite the conglomeration of tents and trailers---note each family’s patrol sites in the pictures. Grandpa planned and cooked all of the meals.

The family reunion signs were posted to keep other campers away. That did not stop us from having a couple of visitors for dinner on Friday night.

Grandma and Grandpa set up on Tuesday; Evan and girls along with the Hawkins came on Wednesday; T.C. and his girls came on Wednesday evening; Lisa, Abby and Jeff showed up on Thursday afternoon; Jesse and the Beverly Hillbillies pulled in late Thursday night; and Lanny and Katie arrived on Friday.

Fearless leaders

E Patrol

J Patrol

N Patrol

T Patrol

L Patrol

A Patrol

Grandpa's kitchen

Playtime with the favorite cousins and CRAZY aunts and uncles:

Grandpa and his co-pilots:

...and those who were left behind.

Campfire programs and more:

We really did have a WONDERFUL TIME and we can hardly wait until next year!!

My Amazing Parents!!

I think that anyone who knows my parents, Jesse and Ann Udall, will agree that they are two amazing people. At 83 and 75 years of age, they manage to run circles around the rest of us. They continually serve, love and pray for us and we will always be grateful for their many sacrifices in our behalf.

Last week they went off on a trip to Kirtland and Palmyra for a week. My mother called me on Sunday afternoon and said she was sitting outside the Smith family home in Palmyra and enjoying the lovely afternoon and setting. "My dad," she reported, "was prowling around in the Sacred Grove." No surprise there!!

When I offered to pick them up at the airport she said that they wanted to ride the light rail and to meet them at the last stop. I think you get the idea of what kind of people they are. I just wish I had half their energy.

Back in March our family met at ASU for a memory tour with my mom and dad.
While students at Arizona State College, they met each other at the LDS Institute which was then located on the north side of University. My dad graduated in 1953, they were married in 1954, I was born in 1955, my mom graduated in 1956 and the rest is history!! They had many wonderful friends and experiences during those years.

My mother lived in West Hall which is located just west of the current library. She said that the girls had to be in by a certain time in the evening. The guys and gals would all hang out in front and wait around until the last minute to say goodnight. Smooch!!

My mom is in the 2nd row and she is the first girl on the left. My Aunt Pauli Perkinson is the third girl from the left. My aunt may have helped set my parents up since she was friends with my mom first.

My dad was very involved in student government on campus and at the LDS Institute.

Don't you love that smile!!

I think this is a sing-a-long at the institute building. My mom is the girl on the left.

Below is a picture of campus as it was then. Click to make it larger.

The east/west street at the bottom of the picture is Apache. The north/south street in the center is College and is labeled on the map as Cady Mall. Hayden Library is located today in the center of the picture about where the clump of trees are. The MU is now where the empty space is in the center. The football stadium pictured is has been replaced with a large parking garage often used for Gammage events.

In the picture below, my mother is on the back row and is third from the right. She is identified as Shirley Udall. I have always been proud that my mother pushed forward and graduated from college even after she was married and especially after she had a baby.

She said that she took a sewing class while she was pregnant and made maternity clothes. At the end of the semester they had a fashion show and all modeled their projects.

The picture on the left is from the 1954 ASU yearbook. It is a delightful picture of Shirley Ann Evans and Pauli Udall-- two young, single, Arizona girls-- obviously thrilled to be able to enjoy a rainy school day. Who would have thought that they would go on to be the wonderful aunts and moms that they are to all of us. Thanks Aunt Pauli for getting my parents together.

A great big thanks to my amazing mom and dad!!

We love you!!

Pink Pink Pink Pink Pink

After reading Natalie's blog (click to see) and her need to find Lexi a

pink hot wheels car.

I realized that we have a lot of pink happening all around us.

Pink flowers of the bougainvillea kind...

(I love that word!!)

Pink flowers of the fake metal kind...Pink baby tongue in a pink polka dot outfit on a pink patched baby quilt...



Pink swim noodle waiting for swimming season...

(Green pool not included.)


Pink flowers planted by the landscapers...




Pink flowers over my neighbor's fence...



Pink scar on a blue chin...



Pink clad gogurt-eating-helper and her friend who is finally

feeling better sort of...



Pink flowers of the desert plant variety...

Soon to be pink zinnia flowers that I planted...

Pink flowers of the no-water-fake-geranium variety...

Pink broken arm cast, pink bow and pink debris covered face on a cute little grandaughter...

Pink homesewn Relief Society bags...
I love the color pink.
Did you know that our master bedroom was the color pink for many years.
When my husband went off on Scout outings he would always have me change his pink pillowcase to a more Boy Scout friendly color. Ha!!

She's official...

Do you think this little girl stands a chance of surviving her parents??