Julie Coward

Mitchell's Homecoming 14th October 2009

2008-10-16T11:47:00.009+11:00

Mitchell arrived home at 3.55 at the Salt Lake airport 14th October. We well all there waiting for him (Paul, Spenser, Ashleigh, Whitney and I) an hour before he arrived. We were there with red, white and, blue helium filled, welcome home balloons. The pictures tell it all. We were all very excited and it was a wonderful emotional reunion.

On our arrival home Paul accidentally let the balloons go and they floated off way into the bright blue sky.
Elder Coward under the banner the kids (whitney, spenser and ashleigh) made for him.

First arrival hug.

Dinosaurs

2008-06-05T05:25:00.002+10:00

Ashleigh's Dance Concert

2008-06-05T05:18:00.000+10:00

Bountiful Temple Grounds

2008-06-05T05:15:00.001+10:00

Mothers Day Pie

2008-06-05T04:56:00.002+10:00

Sunday Nights

2008-06-05T04:47:00.000+10:00

Conference.

2008-06-05T04:43:00.000+10:00

Muffins for Missionary Reunion

2008-06-05T04:41:00.000+10:00

My Birthday

2008-06-05T04:38:00.000+10:00

Salt Lake Cemetary

2008-06-05T04:25:00.001+10:00

January 2008

2008-02-25T11:59:00.004+11:00

Hannah started school on Thursday the 31st of January at Beaumont Hills Public School.( the same school Auntie Ashleigh and Uncle Spenser attended) She was so excited to finally start her first day, and so were we all. This is how Hannah described her uniform: "Its, just skirt, but sort of shorts and you put your legs through the holes." (culottes)
When saying her morning prayers, she prayed that, "Mummy won't cry and won't forget to come and pick me up." We have so enjoyed hearing all the details of her first few weeks. Sometimes she takes 30 cents to buy an ice block at recess. One day she came home and wanted to take "a money note" as all the other kids took notes to school! When talking on Skype we got to see the art work she had done , and many awards she had received. One, was for waiting the quietest, while standing in the canteen line. Well done Hannah! What a delightful experience it is to enjoy all these details as a Nana. How we love you Hannah!
One of the things I have loved about having a large family, is seeing the "joy" multiply. For example when one of the younger children did something unusual or funny everyone enjoyed the experience, and the more involved the greater the experience. I had not anticipated this same joy being a Nana, but it is even sweeter!

2008-01-14T12:21:00.001+11:00

As a late Christmas present Mitchell sent us a CD of photos of his mission. He is doing really well and exceeding all our expectations. We are very proud of him.

2008-01-14T12:12:00.001+11:00

Well today (Sunday 13th) Ashleigh, Spenser and Whitney decided to take some 'happy snaps'. They went around with the camera taking funny 'in the moment' photos. These are some that they took.

2008-01-12T07:36:00.001+11:00

2007-12-23T12:51:00.000+11:00

Thanks to pictures and recipe's in a Woman's Day of Snow Flake Cookies Whitney and I were motivated to action. I don't think I will ever make this recipe again, as it was very time consuming, but, they turned out great and looked very much like the pictures in the magazine. I have had very few cooking experiences in my life that looked good enough to take photo's of , so this was a milestone! The icing was made with lime juice, so had a bit of a zing to it.

Julie in the snow!

2007-12-23T12:48:00.000+11:00

At Whitney's request, we ventured outside so that she could take photographs of our yard covered in snow. She gave instructions and I posed! (Not one of my greatest talents!) Nevertheless.....this is what a mother does to keep a daughter happy. I might add, that Whitney, the photographer, wore no shoes!!!!!! The snow was at least 1 to 2 feet deep. Throughout the whole Photo shoot she kept crying out. "My feet are numb! Mum, my feet are numb I can't feel anything!!!!!!!!" Then she would say, "Mum run ... run!.......I want an action shot!!!!!!!!"

Do you know how hard it is to run in the snow and look happy?
Well it was fun! I can say that now, that we are warm and snug inside. I am grateful Whitney did not get frostbite and have to have her toes amputated! How hard did the pioneers have it!

Corn Snow

2007-12-21T11:11:00.000+11:00

All of a sudden we heard loud wind sounds and noises from outside. We opened the front door and pellet-like snowflakes were thundering down. Whitney and Ashleigh ran out and started dancing in the snow which we later found out was called 'Corn snow.'

The Final Product

2007-12-21T11:10:00.001+11:00

We delivered the cookies wrapped up like this.

Kissables Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies.

2007-12-21T10:18:00.000+11:00

I found this recipe for "Kissables Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies" in a Woman's Day, Christmas ideas magazine. Our efforts were a perfect combination of skills and talents. I made the dough, baked, cleaned up, and packaged for neighbours and friends. Whitney shaped the dough, decorated, took the photo's, gave instructions, and test tasted! They tasted beautiful and now we can't wait to make the Lime Snowflakes & Christmas Ornaments.

Once there was a Snowman!

2007-12-21T09:58:00.000+11:00

Whitney and Ashleigh have been relentlessly working on this snowman, which they have now named 'Frank'.

They have not yet finished it but they have been working hard at it, even threatening me saying that they are not going to eat dinner until he is finished. That threat didn't materialize as it got too cold for them to continue. Poor Frank, remains an unfinished work in the back yard?? .....time will tell.... Will he melt or will he get a complete body?

March 2007

2007-03-13T11:43:00.000+11:00

March has found us trying to soak up as much as possible from our wonderful assignment here in Melbourne. Our three year term, will end July 1st. When we arrived in June of 2004 we had one grandaughter, Hannah. In September of this year we will have SEVEN grandchildren.
We certainly have been blessed.
Mitchell has been serving in the California Arcadia Mission for quite a few months, in fact he has now been away a total of five months. He is enjoying the experience, even though he is a little frustrated at not yet being fluent in Spanish. He is hoping to serve in a Spanish speaking ward in the future, although he has mixed feelings about that as he worries his Spanish might not be good enough. What a miracle that he has been blessed to progress as fast as he has in just 5 short months.
I hope to post some of his photos here, with the help of my very clever daughter-in-law, Toni.
We have just enjoyed the last few days with Jaron , Toni and Oscar (17 months) visiting. Yesterday we had fun at Phillip Island. We visited the Nobbies and walked around the board walk, which was on the cliff edge. Enticed by our curiosity, we followed the lead of some Japanese students, who were lying on the walk peering underneath. When we did the same we were delighted to discover dozens of fairy penguins cuddled up together!! Wished so much, that Oscar ( who was asleep in the car), and Hannah, Bubby Lew, Seth, and Charli could have seen them. They were so beautiful! Reminded us of Happy Feet.