Pesky prarie dogs...

Jim and I have decided that we would like to pass on some family traditions that our fathers taught. We are going to teach Benjamin how to hunt, and use a gun with safety. We take Ben target practicing, shooting at the pesky prarie dog! I like to use the 22 pistol because it doesn't have a lot of kick back and so we started Ben off with learning to use this gun.

Next we went to Cabella's and bought him a pellet and BB gun. He uses his goggles that came with the gun and we are making progress. He can hit the pesky prarie dog and is becoming better and better with practice.

Bastianntje Dykgraaf Leeflang

Bastianntje, better known as Sijaan, Jeanne, or Jean Leeflang , in the presence of family, passed on April 7. She was grateful for everything---even the smallest, simplest things. Gratitude always graced her life. Her faith gave her an optimism that others could gather strength from. She grew old gracefully and effused happiness in her old age. She constantly talked about how pleased she was with her very large family. She is now reunited with her husband Arie, son Pieter, a loving grandfather Bartus Looren deJong, a nephew Pieter Haller and many others in the extension of this earthly life. All family members would like to express a special thanks to the staff at Canyon Creek Memory Care Center and Hospice for the exceptional loving care given to our mother. Bastianntje "Jeanne" is survived by her sons, Bertus "Bert" (Debbie), Willam "Bill" (Kathy), Bartus "Bart" (Sue), Joseph; daughters, Jeanne (Dave) McDonald, Rebecka (Randy) Memmott, Pamela (David) Kramer, Patricia (Paul) Milbury, Otillia "Lia" (Greg) Peterson; 40 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren; her sister Johanna "Ann" Bennett, and nephew James (Sherie) Haller. Bastianntje and Johanna immigrated to the United States of America from Rotterdam, Holland. Both were so grateful to become citizens of the United States. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 14, 2012 at 12 Noon at the East Mill Creek 9th Ward, 3750 South Hillside Lane (2600 East), where friends and family can visit from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. prior to the service. Interment at the Redwood Memorial Estates Cemetery. Jim, Benjamin and I attended the funeral of his Aunt Jeanne. Aunt Jeanne was like a mother to Jim and his brother Piet. Their mother and father got divorced and their mother left. Jim and his brother and dad went to the Leeflang's home every year for Thanksgiving. Aunt Jeanne would always help Jim and Piet get school clothes during their visit. She was an amazing woman, she raised 9 kids and was constantly busy. She loved to sew and make clothes. Back in Holland after World War II she managed a group of women that worked in a factory that sewed clothes. She made many of her grandaughters wedding dresses. Some of these dresses were on display at her funeral and they were amazing. She made sweaters and knitted all kinds of scarves and clothing. Jim remembers getting sweaters from her. She had a good life and worked hard and has a lot to be proud of. She is now resting in peace with her husband Arie.

"Lady" as they call her...

This last weekend we attended my nieces baptism. Aladya Rain Westcott was baptised by her dad Bryce Westcott. The program was great, it was so good to hear another niece speak, Ashley Anderson, and my other brother, Todd Westcott. What a fantastic job both did! I am so thankful for my family. We had a nice luncheon in Bryce's backyard. It was fun to see all the other cousins. We had a very large group of family there, a lot of Nycole's family was there. Both the Westcotts and Lymans have large families and so the crowd was pretty big. We also stayed at a motel with a pool and went swimming. Benjamin got to go to an easter egg hunt with his cousin, Isley Singer. Saturday night we went to Chili's restaurant and enjoyed each others company. We did miss the dinner at Kristin and Jan's new house because we were just so tired we needed to get home on Sunday. I really enjoyed the whole weekend and look forward to seeing the family again for our family reunion.

CRAzY DaYZieS

At the beginning of this year it was my new year's resolution to update my blog every week. I was thinking I would have time on Sunday. This blog is my family journal, this is where I keep track of the things we have done during the year. I make a year book at the beginning of the new year for the past year so that we have a copy of all of the things we did...kind of like an ugly scrapbook. I would love to have time to scrapbook but at this time in my life, I don't have time to make things pretty! So I do what I can do and be happy with that! Lately I have been really busy at work. The winter time is always the busy time for the hospital and clinics because people are sick! This year we moved twice into a new lab space and that was like having a new job. I had to re-learn where everything was located! We were short staffed because we thought that it would be good idea to not replace one of our techs that left in an effort to save some money...NOT A GOOD CHOICE! We did get to hire another tech this month and I am so grateful for her. We have an excellent staff in the lab and all get along well, that is a huge blessing for me. Sickness always creeps in during the winter and Jim, myself and Benjamin have all been sick. Jim and Benjamin usually rebound quickly, I always get run down in the winter with so much work and then it takes me months to recover from illness. I am hoping that as Spring approaches I can get a little better caught up with work and my home. Spring cleaning her I come!!!!!!!!