Oh! Hi! Oh!

Todd and Amy shared their good news while they were visiting in Utah. They are going to be parents again. The wonderful new addition to the family is due in December. As time goes, that is not too far away. Amy had been wondering why she was so tired and had attributed it to the move and all the work that went into leaving one place and settling in another. However, when she didn’t get feeling better she consulted a doctor and learned, for certain, the good news.

Todd spent his time in June traveling back and forth between Utah and Ohio. He, Amy and the kids camped out with the Trauntvein side of the family in Ponderosa Campground, not too far from Nephi. Most of the family took time to come for dinner on Father’s Day and then stay overnight. 

The next Sunday, Michael was ordained a Deacon at the Gordon’s home in Lake Shore. The ordination took place just after church. The TNT family now has two who hold the priesthood.

Todd then returned to Ohio and work. Amy and children visited family in Nephi, Lake Shore and other spots nearby. It was the Lake Shore community celebration while they were visiting and so they were able to enjoy that event. The kids even, or course, got to be in the parade. Amy’s brother and family from Texas came to visit and the cousins were able to spend lots of time getting to know each other better and traveling around to places they wanted to visit. Todd returned to Utah. The family spent July 4 attending the parade in Provo and then traveling to Nephi for a barbeque and fireworks. Todd had purchased a large package to share before and after the community fireworks were over.

On Tuesday, the TNT family and the Gordon grandparents set out for a visit to Yellowstone. The Gordons then returned home and the TNT family continued on to Ohio. They will return in September for Tyler’s baptism, which will be held in Nephi on September 24, just days after Tyler’s birthday. Grandpa T will baptize him and Grandpa Gordon will confirm him.

Boltons and Waites En Mass

Melanie and Kirsten and families spent the last two weeks together touring Massachusetts, Main, New York and anywhere else they could think of that was nearby. They even visited Uncle Don and Aunt Thelma in their trailer home away from home. They were treated to rice crispy treats and punch. Uncle Don and Aunt Thelma are seeing more of the extended LHT family than they do when they are in Utah. 

Braden is the one exception to the touring company. He is in Utah visiting his Grandparents (Who are glad to have him and his cheerful personality in their house!), taking in EFY (Especially for Youth) at BYU. He helped Grandpa one afternoon as he worked to get the house ready for paint, visited with cousins and Aunts and Uncles. His hope is that the fishing trip he and Gramps are planning doesn’t get rained out. He will also go to the Ute Stampede on Saturday as Grammy’s helper.

Howard is the other exception to the Waite and Bolton tour. He is in Singapore.

Siovhan is working for her father’s company and is raking in the big bucks (that’s dollars and not deer or guys). It will, all too soon, be time for school to start and then it is back to Utah.

So, our ex-Stake President gave a talk today in Sacrament Meeting. It was of course on the subject of Father's Day. During his talk he made the mention of how sometimes in parenting that one spouse teaches in a different way than the other. He told us of a young woman who went to her mother and asked her mother, "What qualities should I look for in a spouse." To which the mother then replied, "Go ask you father, he did a better job at it than I did."

Kirsten and Jared are planning to visit Utah in August. Kirsten wants to be in Utah when AnnMarie has her baby. Lucky for her, Jared has a conference in Provo at that time.

The Bolton family is finally in the age of high speed Internet instead of dial-up. We have two new addresses: Bolton family information can be sent to: hbolton20@comcast.net; cellmel@comcast.net Hope to hear from you soon. We will have the AOL account open for a few more weeks, but after that, it will only be Comcast.

The only day that the airline could offer us for Braden’s flight was the 4th. He will be at EFY from the 11th to the 16th. On the 16th he will need someone to pick him up at BYU, then he will be with you until the 28th. He hates being in Massachusetts, and I figure that he will be okay being back here after he has been away for a little while--absence makes the heart grow fonder. Braden graduated from the eighth grade. It was an interesting program. It was in the eighties, and we had the ceremony in the gymnasium at the Middle School. For some reason, they turned the fans off when the ceremony started.

Braden’s flight information.

Date: 28JUL - THURSDAY

Flight : AMERICAN AIRLINES 1980

Departure: SALT LAKE CITY 11:55 AM

Arrival: DALLAS FT WORTH 3:29 PM

Flight: AMERICAN AIRLINES 690

Departure: DALLAS FT WORTH 5:02 PM

Arrival: BOSTON 9:35 PM

In response to a lesson that I was trying to teach the children in the car yesterday, I learned that wisdom comes in many different guises. I had told the children that Jesus had told us that we should have Him etched in the fleshy tables of our heart, because He had us etched in his flesh. Mikaela responded: "I don't just have Him on the table, but He is on the shelf, on my bed and all over in my room in my heart." I couldn't top that.

The Runnin’ Utes

Sorina

Maybe her mom’s fear of spiders is rubbing off on Sorina. She recently handed her Dad a baseball bat to “get” the two spiders crawling on our ceiling. Which is actually better than Toren’s no fear of spiders. He liked to catch them (like his Dad), and only when a red spider attached itself to his finger was a rethink in order. Then he told everyone he had “Spidey powers.” Potty training is not going so well. I was so hopeful, but I keep having to run out and get more diapers. I say every time, “this is the last bag”, but maybe it’s just wishful thinking. Late June update, we have potty training success—most of the time. Dad also hung a couple of new swings from the front tree, one from a fairly high branch. Sorina loves to swing. If no one will push her, she simply lays in the swing and pushes herself. 

Toren

Toren’s fascination with bugs is sometimes not a good thing. He has been catching bees this spring/summer in jars. I tried to tell him it was not a good idea.! But what does Mom know?! Only that bee’s have stingers and sometimes they sting. (I’m pretty sure that Jim will back me up on this one.) He found that out today as he was trying to be so helpful to the bee and get it out of the water. Let’s just say the bee was not thankful, he died anyway, and Toren is on the couch in a benedryl-induced sleep. Toren is still waiting for his two front teeth go grow back in—maybe for Christmas! Toren played t-ball, which he found somewhat boring. They use

some 16-20 players, so unless you get the infield, there is not much action. At least he enjoys hitting, but prefers to go to the batting cages and try to hit moving balls instead. 

Dane

The questions are always coming, and sometimes interesting theories. Have you ever wondered how (or why for that matter) wedding favors are made and put into that netting material? After we went to a reception recently, Dane’s theory was that some unused netting material left over from the bride’s wedding dress was used for wedding favor netting (cashews and butter-mints in this case). His Dad suggested they had possibly used old nylons (unused or washed, of course). Dane seemed to feel that the little treats lost some of their sentimentality when his Dad said they had actually just bought the netting to make the favors. Dane finished the baseball season with a 7 and 3 record, not quite in the playoffs, but a great season nonetheless. !Dane, Dane, Dane.! When I have Cub Scouts at our house, it is not a good time to use a magnifying glass to catch the flower blossoms on fire (successfully). Mom was not happy; however, the Scouts thought it was great!! Dane participated in his first piano recital and did a great job. Dane also enjoyed staying overnight for his Webelo’s camp, at Camp Kiesel.

Brigitta

Brigitta headed off to Girl’s Camp this week. I am going to miss her a lot. She helps out a bunch with kids and errands. Brigitta just got home from Camp. Unfortunately, she was sick a lot of the time. We were afraid she went sick, as Toren and Mom caught some sort of virus while she was gone and she wasn’t feeling great when she left. All of the leaders and her friends thought she was quite a “camper” to stick it out and participate and put in an effort consistently (but no one said she was a “happy camper”). Brigitta did a great job at her piano recital, hardly seemed nervous at all.  I  (Brigitta) just became the Beehive President in Young Women’s! How exciting! Of course Dad said that since I am President of the Beehives, maybe Jim could use me to oversee his queens – lame huh.

Shawn and Kimberly

Shawn spent our anniversary with the Deacons and I spent it with Wolfs and Bears. I think we need a night out. Well, we finally went on a date tonight!! We went to Batman Begins. (Shawn has seen more movies in the last month, then he has seen in the last year—Star Wars, Cinderella Man, Madagascar (unfortunately) and Batman Begins.)! Our little Mazda was quite happy to be treated as the “Batmobile” on the way home. I was hoping that everyone had just come from the movie, so they would understand why my man exceeded the speed limit, swerved in and out of traffic and came to a shuddering halt at red lights. (Kimberly is exaggerating, I had bought some gas and it must have been higher octane because the car was a little more peppy than usual). And this is not justification for anyone, as I still did not go more than 8 mph over the speed limit.

Family

We attended Michael’s Deacon ordination on Sunday. It was fun to spend time with family. We are so excited for Todd’s Family and new the addition expected in December. We also spent the 12th with Kimberly’s family in Kaysville for her Dad’s birthday/Father’s Day.! We got to play on the new deck, admire the beautiful yard that is coming along—thanks to Sandy, Dad’s sister, and play in the new Jacuzzi. Dane and Toren have asked every day if we can go back up to play in the Jacuzzi.! We also have a pool pass at the new Clearfield Pool this year and the kids are having a great time at the pool. Any of you who still have phobias concerning Salt Lake City will find vindication in the next story. Shawn met me at work to bring Toren and Sorina home while I met with my 9th new manger in 6 years. Toren talked Shawn into stopping at a park on the way home. The nearest “safe” one being in the Avenues. In a few minutes Toren brought Shawn a lighter and then Shawn saw Sorina pick up something else by the slide.

A good friend of Kimberly’s family died this morning, Ed Tostanoski.! Brigitta was going to go so San Francisco this weekend with Wilson Grandparents to visit, as Ed has not been doing well, but plans were changed. You may all remember them from our wedding reception in their SF home. Mary is suffering from the first stages of Alzheimer’s; your prayers would be much appreciated. They had been married over sixty years.

The Butcher, The Baker, and the Mammograph Taker

Well, what to say. We are still plugging away a day at a time. Life is somewhat crazy with everyone out of school. Needless to say, the house is messier and I’m “ruining their life” if I ask them to do anything “not fun.” Aren’t they just so picked on?

Jason is already complaining of being bored, but he is enjoying his time down in Nephi playing with cousins. He also has read several books (we try to make it to the library pretty often).

David seems to be happier these days. He continues to be a terrific big brother to AJ. He’s also good with Maddie as long as the other two aren’t around. He enjoys just playing for endless hours outside. He and Jason have planted their own garden in the Jr. High baseball dirt, which is just on the other side of the fence (it’s the dirt that they use at the end of the season to repair the diamond). “I’m not sure if anything will grow, but they are having a great time.

All of the kids have been having good time swimming. Maddie is working on floating, but she has a hard time relaxing enough. Jason enjoys jumping off the diving board. David is just happy to play and splash everyone around him. He and Jason also like to pretend to be sharks and sneak up on the rest of us. AJ loves to be dunked under the water, but doesn’t like to jump off the edge into the water.

AJ continues to delight us with the cute things that he says and does. When we went to the dentist he wanted to have his teeth cleaned and do everything that the older kids did even though they don’t normally do that on 3 year olds because they don’t want to scare them. He opened wide for them so that they could look at the damage that he’s done from sucking his thumb (his palate is collapsing and one of his teeth is discolored from narrowing of the nerve), the little stinker. Well, we can’t help but love him. He truly is a sweetheart.

As for Eric and I, we just celebrated our 12-year anniversary. I can hardly believe that it’s really been 12 years since I joined your family. I feel so fortunate to have such wonderful in-laws. I listen to those at work that have less than Ideal situations with their in-laws and I realized how very blessed I am. Thanks everyone!

David will be baptized on Aug. 6 at 12:40 p.m. in the stake center. Dinner will follow.

The Old Folks at Home, July

We have our two-week vacation from the temple. We were thinking about going to visit family but we have decided that since the family will be visiting us, we will stay home. That works out with Braden’s visit just fine. We will make a fishing trip while he is here, something he said he would like to do. We have also invited Grandpa Pitts and will take the boat. The plans are to go to Ferron over the 24th if any of you would like to come.

Gramps is painting the house. It is called almond and, we think, matches some of the brick in the house. Braden helped him get ready to paint one afternoon, which took about four hours, but it was not his favorite thing to do. Eric helped Dad get the scaffolding from the high school and get it in place for the back of the house. The front of the house, unfortunately, is all ladder work. I keep worrying about it because the doctor told Dad “No climbing, no mountain trails and no un-even terrain.” It is going to look nice, though. The trim is a creamy white. The brown will be gone forever (or at least, for now).

Grammy and Gramps like summer because we like having the grandkids around. They are a lot of fun and each one is unique. Time is going by so quickly. Soon they will all be grown up and will have their own families. I suppose they will no longer have much time for the old folks. So we are going to enjoy them while we can. Thanks to all of you for sharing. The only thing we wish is that we had just a bit more money so we could go places, like Disneyland, together. Oh, well, making cookies in the kitchen isn’t all bad. It is the memories that count.

My friend from high school, Sharlett Hamilton Wells, works at the temple with me. We always had a lot in common during high school—art, poetry writing, newspaper, yearbook—and we still do. She likes her grandkids as much as I like mine. They have costume days, which sounds like something I should start. (By-the-way, she says I haven’t changed at all from the girl I was except for a few wrinkles and gray hairs.)

At the Jones family reunion they had a kitchen band. That sounds fun. In addition, Grandpa Jones bought fish (trout) from the fishery and put them in a wading pond for the little kids. They caught them with their bare hands. They had a fish fry that evening I think that sounds fun and maybe we should try it. What do you all think? Is there something wrong with keeping up with the Joneses?

The garden is growing, the plants are growing and so are the weeds. Come and visit and see for yourselves.

Joke of the month

A man owned a small farm in Iowa. The Iowa Wage and Hour Department claimed he was not paying proper!wages to his help and sent an agent out to interview him.

"I need a list of your employees and how much you pay them,"!demanded the agent.

"Well, there's my hired hand who's been with me for 3 years. I pay him $600 a week plus free room and board. The cook has been here for 18 months, and I pay her $500 a month plus free room and board. Then there's the half-wit that works here about18 hours a day. He makes $10 a week and I buy him a bottle of bourbon every week," replied the farmer.

"That's the guy I want to talk to; the halfwit," says the agent."

"That would be me,” the farmer said.

Treats and fun for Family Home Evening!

No-Bake Brownies

Makes about 4 doz. brownies

1-cup evaporated milk

2 cups miniature marshmallows

1 pkg. (6 oz.) semisweet chocolate bits

1/2-cup sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1 Tbsp. butter or margarine

1 tsp. vanilla

3-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1-cup nutmeats cut up

Combine milk, marshmallows, chocolate bits, sugar and salt in a 3 qt. saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat to a full boil. Boil and stir 5 min. more. Take off heat. Stir in butter, vanilla, graham cracker crumbs and nutmeats. Spread mixture in buttered 9" square pan. Chill one hour or until set. The brownies taste best if allowed to sit overnight before use. Cut into squares.

Graham Cracker Chewies

Crust

1 1/3 cups graham cracker crumbs

1-tablespoon sugar

1/2-cup butter, at room temperature

2 tablespoons all purpose flour

Topping

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/3-cup graham cracker crumbs

1/2-teaspoon salt

1/4-teaspoon baking powder

1-teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs beaten

Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare the crust: Mix the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, butter and flour in a mixing bowl until moist and crumbly. Press the mixture firmly and evenly in the bottom of a 9-inch square-baking pan. Bake until lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Prepare topping: Stir all the ingredients together until blended. Spread the topping over the baked crust and bake for 20

minutes. Let cool completely, and then cut into 16 squares.

Easy Pizza

Kids' Cooking Skills: This recipe lets kids experiment with pizza combinations and teaches them how to prepare a lunch food.

Ingredients

One loaf white bread (like Wonder bread)

1 3/4 cups bottled marinara sauce

2 cups grated cheese

2 cups sliced precooked sausage or 1 pkg

lunchmeat or 1 pkg Canadian bacon

1 can sliced olives

1 can crushed pineapple

Give the kids a rolling pin and roll the bread so it is somewhat flat. Now your child can spoon sauce across each slice. Then he/she should sprinkle on the cheese, followed by pieces of sausage or meat and other toppings as desired. Bake on the center oven rack at 300 for a few minutes, until the cheese melts. Have Mom use a spatula to slide the pizzas onto a plate and let them cool slightly before eating. Serves 6.

Home Evening Hint

Make a "Busy Bee Work Chart" Make a large beehive. Make a spot on the hive for each job in the family. Color as desired. Glue the beehive to a piece of cardstock. Then make a "Busy Bee" on cardstock for each member of the family. Write the names of your family members on the bees. Let each person color his or her bee as he or she desire. (After Family Home Evening you may want to take the chart and bees and have them laminated.) Attach the bees to the hive with tape. Change them around as job assignments

change. The children will think it is fun to see where their "Busy Bees" are every day.

Grandpa Pitts' Party

I am not sure how we are going to swing it. We have three soccer games, two  overlapping and ending around 12:30 p.m. and the boys have the Primary Practice at 1 p.m. for Sunday's Program. If we don't make it for his party--what do you suggest we do to make it up to him? 

Love, Kimberly 

PS Have you heard from Amy? Does she have your camera bag?

Who knew there would be three alike in one family?

From Kimberly--July 10 and 11 are important dates for the Tostanoski family.‏

Edward Nicholas Tostanoski, Sr.

December 10, 1920 - July 2, 2005

Edward "Skee" Tostanoski, age 84, loving husband and father, died at Seton Medical Centeron Saturday, July 2, 2005, following a courageous battle with cancer.

He was born in Corning, NY, to the late Nicholas and Mary Tostanoski. Ed served in the U.S. Navy during WW II, in both the Atlantic and Pacific campaigns.

On February 7, 1942 he was united in marriage to Mary Ann Cielepala in Bradford, NY. They were an inseparable couple and recently celebrated their 63^rd anniversary, still in love.

Skee was a rod buster foreman who worked on many Bay Area buildings.

He was a loyal union member of Ironworkers Local 377.

Ed was a member of the Catholic Church of the Visitacion.

Skee was a Scout leader, a volunteer aboard the Liberty Ship Jeremiah O’Brien,

and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Ed is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; his sons, Ed Jr. and John Skee and John’s wife Andrita; six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren (with one more on the way); and one brother, Nicholas. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by two brothers, Stanley and Leonard, and one sister, Clara.

Relatives and friends are welcome at Valente Marini Perata & Co. Funeral Home, 4840 Mission St., San Francisco, Sunday, July 10^th. Viewing will be from 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm with the Rosary Vigil at 4:30 pm. Funeral Mass for Edward "Skee" Tostanoski will be held at 10:00 am, Monday, July 11th, at Church of the Visitacion, 655 Sunnyvale Ave., Rev. Zachary J. Shore, pastor, will preside. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: USS Emmons Memorial Fund in honor of Edward Tostanoski, c/o Edwin Hoffman, Correspondent for USS Emmons, 133 Brambleton Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27127-9119.

We would like to thank all of the staff of Seton Medical Center for their help and support.

Regarding our relative

The lady I met at the temple is Peggy Ann Self Olsen. Her father was Theodore Robert Self and his grandmother was Virgie Mae Trauntvein.

Peggy's address is 926 West 800 North, Mapleton, Utah, 84664. He phone number is 801-489-4335. Her e-mail is: peggyaolsen@yahoo.com.

If you have any genealogy information about her family, she would appreciate receiving it. I told her I thought her Grandmother Self had a lot of family information. I am not certain what would have happened to it.

My love to all of you, Myrna


Eva wrote: Dear Myrna, Thanks for clarifying this for me. Her grandmother is
Geraldine Self Gerrard. Gerrie and I have worked together on genealogy for
many years. She is the one who opened up my research on the Gigangack line.
She gave me our Gr. great grandmother's name and I started from there in
doing all the research on that line. Lots, and lots of work I have been
able to get done. Gerrie and I are very close. Unfortunately, she has been
battling cancer for over a year but keeps on trying to do more research. In
fact, I got Helen to pick her up some weeks and take her to the library when
she is coming up here to help me. Seeral years ago Gerrie and I went and
stayed at a B&B in Manti and did a lot of research at the court houses and
cemetaries. We found the headstone for Gr. grandfather and grandmother
Jens Herman and Julie Marie. We took pictures of it, but I put them away so
well I can't fiind therm. Maybe someday. God blesss you and yours.
Much love. Eva