Happy Birthday Abby!

Happy Birthday to my baby! I can't believe that Abby is 9 already! Abby has been the perfect addition to our family. She is the silliest of the bunch. She loves to cuddle, and loves to make people laugh. Whenever you are with her, you are the most important person to her. At her birthday party she received 3 different best friends necklaces, because she really is best friends with everyone! She is a great reader, but doesn't like to read. She is starting to learn multiplication and division, which I think she will grasp fairly easily. She is on the level three gymnastics team at Jump Gym Gymnastics and is doing really well. Her personality is a lot like her Daddy's. I am so grateful that I was chosen to be the mother of this very special spirit.

Love you miss Abigail Louise!

Local Hike

One nice thing about living in the middle of nowhere is that there are lost of fun things to do and explore. On Labor Day I took the kids and Kirby on a little hike up Lake Mountain. We didn't go too far, but it was fun to get up high and take a took at our beautiful city. I really need to take more advantage of these amazing things around us!

Edwin Caldwell Skeen

Edwin (Ted) Caldwell Skeen died peacefully at home in Bountiful, UT, on August 25, 2015. The son of Edwin J. Skeen and Hazel Caldwell, Ted was born and raised in Salt Lake City. He graduated from East High School and later the University of Utah School of Architecture. After his LDS mission to Argentina, he married Miriam Smith on September 13, 1956, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Together they raised 9 children.

His family remembers him most for his love for Miriam, for his example of kindness and faith, and for his sense of humor. He would use his artistic talent to draw a personalized card for Christmas and each family member’s birthday. He loved children, and children loved him.

Working as an international architect for the LDS church, he traveled most of the world. During his career, he also worked for the Utah State Building Board, the University of Utah, and had his own firm.

Ted served his community and church in many capacities, including as a First Lieutenant for U.S. Army Intelligence, as a Little League baseball coach (his team never lost a championship), and as a Bountiful Temple ordinance worker and many other church callings throughout his life.

Ted is survived by his wife Miriam; daughter Teri (Tim) Sullivan, sons Bob (Sue), Jim (Desire), Joe (Paula), Gary (Sylvia), Scott (Gwen), son-in-law Bob McCullough, and daughter-in-law Meltche; 27 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sons Jed and Tom, his daughter Cindy, and his brother Richard.

Services will be Saturday, September 5, 11 a.m. with a viewing from 9:45-10:45 a.m. at the Mueller Park 8th Ward, 2050 S 1285 E, in Bountiful and interment following at Sunset Lawn. Friends may also call Friday, Sept. 4, from 6-8 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 E 1300 S, Salt Lake City.

Two Years

It's been two years. Two birthdays, two Christmases, two Thanksgivings, two of everything without her here. I miss her, a lot. I wish I could talk to her one more time. I wish I could hug her. I wish she was sitting by me in the stands as I watch my children perform. I hope she is proud of me. I hope she is proud of her grandchildren. I hope she is around more often than I feel her. I am so grateful that families can be together forever. I am so glad that I know what it is that I need to do to be with her forever. As much as I miss her, I am glad that I am still here, and I hope that I am here for at least 60 more years! I am thankful for all that she taught me, through words and through example.

Interestingly she came and got her father on the same day that she died, two years later. I am glad that they are together. I miss them both...

Virginia Trip

I was able to travel to Virginia with Grandma McCullough, Heather, BJ and Jenni in August to be there for Dad's Naval Retirement Ceremony. It was really neat to be able to be a part of such an important moment in his life. Most of my growing up time he was in the navy. He was deployed to Desert Storm while I was in 6th grade. He was gone one weekend a month and then two weeks out of the year. He missed out on a lot of family time, but I know how important his military career was to him. I am proud of him and all the times he left to help protect us and our freedoms.

After the ceremony we had a few days to have fun before heading back home. We spent a day in D.C. walking around the National Mall. I love that place. I don't think I could ever get tired of going there!

We drove up to Annie's house in Pennsylvania to spend some time with her. We went to the Hershey factory, and we went to Gettysburg. The one thing I think I would like the most if I lived back east was all the history that surrounds you.

I had such a great time traveling with Heather and Grandma!

The First Day of School 2015

First Day of school for these cute kids was on August 19th!
Cameron started a day earlier than the others for 7th grade day. I can't believe he is in middle school!

Abby started 3rd grade. It is still hard to think that I only have one in elementary school.

McKenzie is a Freshman this year. Thankfully they still have 9th grade in the middle school.

Busy week at the Stoddart's

We had a very busy first week of August. Our niece Kelsey was married on August 6 to Derrick Kueser. I LOVE temple weddings! There is nothing quite like sitting together as a family and watching another eternal family start! Here are a few pictures of that wonderful day.

The next day, Friday, we left for Boise, Idaho to see another niece, Kimber, give her mission farewell address. She is serving in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania mission. She is such a wonderful person and will be a great missionary! This picture of Kimber just cracks me up! She is such a fun loving person to be with!