Invading Nate on his birthday

The weekend was a busy one. We hosted a grand kids sleepover. More about that in a later post. We decided that we would make Nate cookies and deliver them along with some balloons in honor of his birthday. When one arrives with 5 grand kids, a crazy grandpa, and a helium tank; things can get a bit crazy. We hope that Nichelle, Nate, and Oscar have forgiven us. The cookies were really good, right?!!

All the kids wanted some bonding time with their new cousin. Ruby and Sadie had already met Oscar at the hospital, but TJ, Heather, and Toby were meeting him for the first time.

Thankfully, Nichelle was pretty generous with her sleeping baby boy.




Meanwhile, Grandpa Glen and crew were busy with their balloon bouquet. There was a loud POP! or two.

The grand kids took time to sing Nate the birthday song they had practiced in the car on the way over.

Later that evening, we returned for Nate's birthday dinner (thanks to Nichelle's family, friend Lezlie, and friend & SIL Sally) and helped him blow out his birthday candles.

Nichelle's mom, Denise, had made her the "diaper cake" in the foreground. She had arrived that afternoon from San Diego with her parents, Evelyn and Augie. Oscar is Denise's first grandchild and Evelyn's and Augie's first great grandchild. They thought that Oscar was a most handsome boy! They plan on staying next week and helping out.

Happy Birthday Nate!
You have had quite a week
with the best present ever,
Oscar's birth day!

Oscar and his room (for Janae)

Oscar's new room was the first room repainted in his parents "new to them" home. The room was mostly put together before he was born.

Here are some photos going clockwise from the door and dresser on the east wall. The existing cabinets and counters made for a great changing station.

Unfortunately, his room has the only west facing window in the whole house. His parents may be shopping for a sun screen for this window.

I installed the crib bumper pads just before taking these pictures. Nichelle and I started work on them on Monday as she had regular contractions. I finished the sewing while they were checking out of the hospital yesterday.

Nichelle couldn't find the exact kind of plaid she was looking for, but she likes this one well enough. It made it really easy to cut out the pieces. We just measured and then cut along the lines. We used almost every bit of the 3 yards Nichelle had purchased. It's so convenient that bumper pad inserts can be purchased at JoAnn's.

And now for Oscar. Here he is meeting his Grandpa Glen for the first time.

Grandma Laurel also had some more bonding time the day after his birth.

Isn't he the sweetest, chunky little thing!

Don't you just love his hair?!

My baby has a baby

It's been a very good day. Nichelle & Nate welcomed a beautiful baby boy to the world at 10:00 pm.

His name is Oscar and he is a BIG baby boy.

His mother is crying for joy, I am certain, even though he weighed 9 lbs. 9 oz. and was 22 inches long. Grandpa Glen loves numbers and I'm sure he will be so thrilled that grandchild #9 was 9-9.

It's in his genes. His mother was a 9 lb. + baby and his father was a 22 inch baby. He was destined to be a beautiful, big baby boy.

His parents (and his grandmother) are in love with Oscar already. Nate was so proud of his wife. Well done Nichelle!

What a difference altitude (not attitude) makes

Glen and I ventured forth to Utah once again last week. Yes, that's three times in three months. I see a habit developing! A low front was moving in so there was lots of wind as we drove north. Once in Flagstaff, we were glad to not be traveling Interstate 40 because it had been shut down due to the wind.


As we headed to Jacob's Lake from the Vermilion Cliffs we could tell there was snow up ahead. Wow, a snowstorm in May!


The sign said that the road to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon was to open on May 15. I wonder if it happened. As you will soon see, we traveled home a different way.

What a difference a little altitude makes! It continued to snow or rain off and on again all the way to Provo. Higher altitudes usually make my ankles swell up like an unopened bag of chips, but I tried something new this trip. Lynette had sent me some compression socks for my birthday so I wore them ALL day (and this trip takes a full day.) It helped!

The next morning, Glen dropped me off at the BYU campus on his way to Salt Lake City. I wandered from the BYU Bookstore (most comprehensive children's' lit section around) and up and down the Harold B. Lee Library floors until I felt hungry. I remembered the Art Museum Cafe and meandered that way. That is where I discovered what you can do with old farm crop sprinklers and pipe.

Everyone and everything can indeed enjoy a second life or maybe even several lives.

It kind of made me dizzy.

As you can see, not a sprinkler part was left out.

The cafe was pretty quiet with only three tables in use. It helps me understand why the help gets a little cranky during BYU Education Week. They are used to almost no one during Spring and Summer terms.

I managed to figure out which bus to take to get back to the townhouse after heading back to the bookstore to make my purchases. I didn't want to lug books all over campus. Like in my student days, I was in need of a nap once I made my way home. Or should I say, I laid down and read one of my new books before Glen returned.

The next morning, we worked on the basement replacing light bulbs and cleaning up. I managed to get the stove looking almost like new. I also got air beds, bedding, towels, and some dishes moved from the up upstairs to the basement for summer guests. It was a working trip for both of us.

That afternoon, I went with Glen to SLC and he dropped me off at Borders to spend my Mother's Day gift card while he went on an appointment. (Thank you "E" Jensens!) One can never have too many books!

Friday morning we headed home. It was a beautiful drive with wonderful cloud formations. We have decided that we need to make a list of short hikes or walks we can take to break up our drive. This time we stopped south of Page and walked out to see Horseshoe Bend south of the dam on the Colorado River. Who knew that one could view this just 1/2 mile from Highway 89?

I took the pictures because this man found himself standing on shaky legs! This is as close to the edge as he got. I didn't know that he had a fear of heights, but it got him this time. I had to take the last few steps by myself to get the great shot of the river.

But he was color coordinated with the sky!

There were a few plants in bloom.

And a thunderstorm rolling in from off the Paria Plateau. I wanted to get a shot of the lightening, but I'm not talented enough.

Walking up hill in sand is hard work. I finally figured out that if I walked behind Glen in his exact same footprints, it was much better going. I think that there is a parable in that somewhere.

Of course, it also meant that he beat me back to the car. Most of those vehicles were driven there by people speaking a language other than English. Good for them making this walk a part of their once in a lifetime trip! The mile walk up and down the sand hill was definitely worth it. I can't even begin to count the number of times we have driven right on by.

We arrived home. . .


to Asiatic lilies finally in bloom. . .


and ripe tomatoes! BLTs anyone?!?!

(Thanks to Nate and Nichelle for keeping the water flowing at home!)

Thoughtful gift from my sister

I received a most thoughtful Mother's Day gift from my sister, Jolene. She came across a little yellow book, with a beautiful gardenia on the cover, entitled simply "Mother" amongst my parents' books in her possession. Inside she found a card including a note from my father, Gary, to his mother, Georgianna. The book and card had been sent home from Alabama to his mother while he served as a missionary in the Spring of 1949. Jolene sent each of her siblings a packet for Mother's Day including copies of the card, note, and book including the poems by Edgar A. Guest which my father had marked as special to him. How appropriate on this day when mothers all over the world receive the gift of a telephone call from their missionary sons.

Elder Gary 'R' Ostler

Georgianna Ricks Ostler

Jolene also included a sweet letter to us expressing gratitude for the experience of finding this note which provided a glimpse into the heart of our father expressing his special feelings for his mother. When you lose your father at a far too young age, it is indeed a gift to receive some insight into his personality and his tender feelings. Thank you Jolene for your special gift!

April showers bring sunflowers

Glen planned ahead so that he might brighten up the corner. His March planting of seeds followed by a shower or two in April (but mostly his faithful watering) have resulted in these beautiful sunflowers in May.


I like this shot of the sun shining behind them in late afternoon.


As you can see the sunflowers were planted in clay pots just behind the decorative fence. Dan and Rachel helped Glen with this project. He originally got a bid on a planter to be built behind the fence which was pretty pricey, so this was his solution. It worked!

Captain Glen

Glen treated his siblings and spouses to a vacation trip on the "Powell Pride." I understand that they had a laughing good time until it was time to bring the houseboat back in on a very windy morning. They went far enough north on the lake to visit Rainbow Bridge.

(Thanks for the picture Cory.)
To see more of Cory's pictures, go here.