An Early Memorial Day

 A beautiful, peaceful area

My brother Chris, me and the kiddoes at the the grave site.

Last night we had a little pre-Memorial Day family activity.  We went to visit the graves of My great-Grandparents, Susan Virginia Burton and Edward Steven Kimber.  We go there every year to put some flowers on their graves and clean up their headstones a little bit.  

My paternal Grandmother, Genevieve Kimber was their only living child.  About fourteen years ago, when I was a student at BYU, my grandma's health made it too hard for her to made the trip down to Provo from Ogden for Memorial Day.  She gave me a few dollars and asked me if I would get some flowers and take the to the graves for her.  I went that first year, and a tradition was born.  I think she made it down one more time before she passed away, but from that year until she passed away, five years ago, Grandma would send me a check and I would go get some flowers and visit the graves.  Since my Grandma had no siblings and my cousins live in Idaho, I was pretty sure until recently that I was the only one who brought some flowers.  However, I later found out that my Grandma's cousin, Fawn, who lives kind of nearby, sometimes visits there as well.  Sometimes I stop and stay for a while.  Sometimes I park the car and jump out, leaving new babies in the car and do a quick cleanup.  Sometimes I am joined by siblings who are attending BYU.  Last year, my mom came with me for the first time after being out of the country for the past six years.  Last night we stayed for a while.  The kids thought it was cool, except Zack prefers the word Cemetery because he thinks graveyard is spooky.  I may or may not have said, "Graveyard," a few times in a spooky voice because I am sweet like that.  We tried to teach respect as the children took off like wild hooligans through the gravestones....aghhh....Syndey chased birds everywhere.  That was actually very cute.  I really love to go down there and it always makes me appreciate the sacrifices of my ancestors.  Here are a few things about my Great Grandparents

Susan Virgina Burton:

Grew up in Mt. Pleasant

loved to tease

Her father was a member of the Martin handcart company and lost his toes due to the harsh conditions.

She lost two babies, I believe and was thrilled to have a daughter, Genevieve.  

She became a widow when her daughter was only three years old.

She and her daughter lived with her parents for many years.

She never remarried.

Later in life, she adored her two grandchildren, LeAnn and Steve, and later her great-grand daughter, Jennalee.  

She died just a few months before I was born.  

My dad has great memories of her and lots of funny stories.

Edward Stephen Kimber:

was funny

worked on the railroad

loved to spoil his little girl (he would always save his dessert from his lunch pail and bring it home to her)

died in a railroad accident in his early thirties (in 1921, I believe)

I have some photos and life histories of them, but they are currently at my parent's house, so  I will have to dig those up to find some more info.  I think it is awesome to be able to share these stories with my kids.  I love my family (even the ones I have never met!)

Family History: Grandma and Grandpa Boothe

I have been going through boxes of family history items that my aunt sent to me after my Grandma Peterson passed away several years ago.  I haven't done too much with them besides sort them and pull them out everyone once in a while to look at the old photos.  It has been fun to go through them again recently and I decided I wanted to write down some of the stories of ancestors.  I am going to start today with my Grandma and Grandpa Boothe, who are my only living Grandparents.   They are my maternal grandparents.

 (from left to right:  aunt Susan, Uncle Todd, Grandma, Uncle Greg, Grandpa, my mom, Uncle Leslie, Aunt Christine was missing)

Let's start with Grandpa:
Leslie James Boothe was born in Idaho.  He was the third oldest of six children.  He is the kindest, friendliest person I know.  He served in the Navy around the close of WWII in the Pacific.  He also served a mission and met my Grandma while in college.  He is always so sweet and loving toward my Grandma.  Grandpa was an institute teacher at Weber State.  He was and still is, a fantastic teacher.  I remember visiting him in his office when I was a little girl.  He always had a yummy treat hidden away that he shared with me.  He also worked at Sears in the shoe department.  I remember going to see him there as a really little girl and he would always give me a quarter.  After retirement, he and my Grandma served a mission to BYU Hawaii, where he continued to teach.  Some of my favorite things about Grandpa Boothe:

His kind heart
He loves people and loves talking with them
He is a friend to everyone
He calls his grandchildren regularly to check on us
He makes everyone feel like a million bucks

Now, Grandma:
LuElla Velda Johnson was also born in Idaho, in a little valley of the Teton Mountains.  She grew up on a farm, the sixth of twelve children.  She was the fifth girl before five little brothers.  She was the second mommy to all those little boys and the all adored her.  She taught herself how to play the piano, started a gang that stood up to a bully and lost her Christmas ring down the hole in the outhouse.  (Those are just a few of my favorite stories.)  She went to college and became a teacher.  She and my Grandpa were married and they had seven children.  Her first child died a few months after birth and that story always breaks my heart.  Grandma ran a preschool in her home for many years and also taught piano lessons.  She is loved by all those kids she taught.  Grandma loves a good party and she has had some great ones over the years.  Between the annual Christmas Eve party/talent show and all the cousin sleepovers she hosted, I can't believe she never got sick of us.....and if she did, she never let us know!  Grandma and Grandpa have 19 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren.  Some of my favorite things about Grandma Boothe:

She is very generous
She makes delicious food and shares is with everyone
She is fun to talk to
She is funny
She has great style

That is all for now....I am so grateful that I have been blesses with such great Grandparents.  They are such amazing examples and I look up to them so much.  I am grateful that my kids get to know them and love them as well.  They are pretty awesome.