Nativity

Every year growing up.

Before we could open presents from each other on Christmas Eve.

We reenacted the nativity.

My mom asked us to do it again this year.

I personally think we were a lot cuter when we were little.

But Look at those angels,  they are stinkin adorable!

And Joseph and Mary were marvelous parents.

And as per tradition, Nik was Caeser Augustus and the Donkey!

It was great fun!  So glad we did it

Oma Christel got her Christmas wish

Christel Auguste Flurer, 87, returned to her heavenly home on December 11th, 2011. Christel was, born December 13th, 1923 in Fischhausen Germany. She was the youngest of 5 children. She married the love of her life, Rolf Flurer in Germany.

They started their family in Germany, but decided to come to the United States to provide a better future for their children. Christel and her family moved to the United States in 1959. She was sealed to her family in the Salt Lake City Temple shortly after arriving in the U.S. Christel and Rolf raised three children; two sons and one daughter.
Christel remains a brilliant example of faith, personal strength and charity. She served in various callings in the L.D.S church and opened her home to everyone. Christel never hesitated to help those in need.

Christel is preceded in death by her parents and her husband. She is survived by her children; Heinz (Monika) Flurer, Joseph (Deanne) Flurer, Judith (Larry) Wilkins and her 9 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday December 16th at the Kenwood 2nd Ward, 3080 South 1765 East S.L.C., UT. A viewing will precede Funeral Services from 9:00 AM to 9:45 AM.

Lights on Temple Square

Every year the day after Thanksgiving

We have a marvelous party downtown

with my husbands fam.

We eat amazing food 

hang at the Plaza

And see the glorious lights on Temple Square

In Salt Lake City.

bundled up family

 It is always crowded.

This year a bit bitter cold.

Magical.

This is one of my very favorite traditions ever.

I look forward to it every year.

Sofia by the pink lights

 Sofia is at the age where everything is 

wonderful,

magical,

and extra special.

She loved every minute of it.

She saw the Christus through the window of the visitors center

and insisted we go up there.

It was so packed we barely got up there.

The look on her face as she gazed at the statue of Jesus

made the crowds and hassle totally worth it.

At least for me

Noah under the "Red Tree" we got engaged by

Noah is older and it getting into stories of our little families history.

It was a big deal to him that this is the tree, we got engaged by.

They both wanted to walk around to see the nativities from around the world

just to see the cute baby Jesus'.

This was a marvelous night.

A Bit of Summer

 We miss you Ginny

So glad we got to see you a bit in june and july.

I love this pic of Sofia and Oma Christel

 Swimming lessons.

Mark and Virginia's Wedding

My favorite pic of Ginny that I took

What a stud, my Noah is

So beautiful

Cutest kids on the planet. Sofia loved her basket.  She was the flower girl

With her purple cape

What a glorious day!

We sure miss her though.  

Opa Rolf

Rolf Gunther Flurer

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, Rolf Gunther Flurer returned to his heavenly home on Friday, December 17th, 2010.  Rolf was born in Köln, Germany on March 12th, 1930 to Josef Friedrich Flurer and Lydia Klein.  He was sealed to his sweetheart, Christel Auguste Flurer in the Salt Lake Temple.  Rolf filled his life with laughter and love for his family.  He was immensely generous with his time, resources and support.  Rolf enjoyed spending time with his family, spoiling his grandkids and great grandkids, gardening, swimming, cooking and camping.

Rolf is survived by his bride, Christel Flurer, his children; Heinz Flurer (Monika), Joe Flurer (Deanne), Judith Wilkins (Larry), Tim Orton (Ruth), 18 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.



His death was unexpected in that he was not very ill but he was getting older. When I first told Noah about what happened his reaction was "Who killed my Opa?  I will get him".  I kept explaining that no one killed him until finally exasperated he exclaimed "Mom,  I'm playing a game."  He guarded the coffin, patroling back and forth looking for bad guys.  He even checked for bombs around the perimeter and underneath the coffin.  He also helped remind me of what it was about.  I told him that he could talk to Opa and he would still hear him.  And he said "Mom,  I am still talking to him all the time.  He is just in heaven."  

I will never forget Opa's mischievous smile,  his claim that he was always "miserable",  His hilarious comments and jokes.  His flirty ways.  His generous nature and the love and interest he had for all those around him.  We will miss you greatly.  The greatest tribute today at his funeral was after the graveside service all the grandkids did the chicken dance.  I know you approved.  And you are laughing, joking and enjoying the celebration of your arrival on the other side.  I am so grateful for the knowledge that our family relationships go beyond this earth.  We will be together again

Busy Summer

Here is a sampling of what we have been doing the last couple weeks.
Warning: this might be a bit long

It has been super fun but busy and we Love it.

Wheeler Farm

July 21

with my 3 beautiful cousins from TX

and some of my nieces and nephews.

I love how in this picture the 3 youngest kids are playing

and the older kids are standing together like we asked.

We fed the ducks and one of them had 5 babies following her around.

The kids were entranced.  Even the older ones.

Thank goodness for Amy who brought 3 loafs of bread

We looked at all the animals. 

Reveled in the pigs, petted the bunnies and ahhed at the baby calfs.

And sat on a tractor.

We ate a yummy collective picnic by the stream.

Laugh, talked and played in the water.

We gathered and piled rocks.

Jumped over the stream and got scolded for it

It really was a very love afternoon.

It was good to be with 2 of my sisters. 

Love Wheeler Farm.

Primary Parade and Carnival

Evening July 21

 

Noah rode his bike that same evening in the Primary Parade.

This was a big moment.

He struggles with pedaling.

He rode it all the way to church and in the parade.

He admitted for the first time this summer 

that bike riding is fun.

(On his job chart, he has to practice on his bike everyday

I know I am the meanest mom)

Afterwards, our ward has a tradition of having a big carnival.

It was awesome and everyone in our neighborhood is involved.

They had pony rides.

Noah had so much fun riding his bike 

He had to wear his helmet all night.

 

First time Sofia has ridden a pony.

She loved it and wanted to do it again and again. 

 A big slide,  cotton candy, snow cones, a dunk tank,

hot dogs, pot luck,  a fishing pond, beanbag games, duck pond.

Sofia actually fell in the duck pond and got soaking wet.

So Kersten took her home so Noah could play longer.

It seriously was super fun.

I really really love our ward.

Swimming Lessons

Noah is rock'n it this year.

And Sofia it has to be her idea.

  If the teacher changes than no way.

Camping over the 4th in Pictures

Lots of Happenings around Here

We have had some big things going on in our family and beyond.

Last Sunday, my father in law Heinz became Bishop of his ward.  The funny thing is that he joked about a month before that he wanted us all to show up on the day they called the bishop so they would think it was him.  When he told us in all seriousness that he was called as Bishop,  we did not believe in.  It took a couple of minutes for him to convince us that it was true. I could tell he was humbled and I know this will be an amazing experience for him and our family.  The ward will be blessed with him as their bishop.  He is one of the most genuinely concerned and generous people that I know.  It was an amazing experience seeing him set apart as bishop.  After he was sustained,  the mantle of bishop was laid out on his shoulders.  The entire family was there to support him.  A couple of the neighbors laughed and figured out what was happening.  The counselors were wise and inspired by the Lord.  I enjoyed visiting our old ward for a week and it confirmed to me that we really are in the right place for us right now.  Already I have seen many changes in Heinz and I know this will be an amazing experience for them.

This is my Fia,  one of my favorite pics of her

Virginia (my sister in law) is engaged to a cute boy named Mark.  He surprised Ginny this last Monday and came to visit her and get baptized.  It has been so so hard keeping this secret from her.  And she really had no idea that he was coming.  So it has been a really fun week.  Sofia has fallen a bit in love with "Her cute Monkey Mark" as she calls him.  He gave her a monkey for Christmas that has become her favorite. Ginny has a bit of competition.  We visited him on Tuesday to say hello and they watched Sofia for me as I went to an appt.  She  was super shy with him at first and love him by the end.  On thursday morn,  Sofia was so so sad.  When I asked her what was wrong she say "my see, my mark".  I was a nice mom and after we took Noah to school we stopped by to see "her Mark".  And when she saw him she hugged him with her head on his shoulder for a good 10 min.  I know she made Grandma Monika a bit jealous.

Yesterday afternoon we got to experience Mark's baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  He glowed with the spirit and it was a beautiful event.  The spirit was very strong.  I was coerced into leading the music and it had been so long since I had done it that I led wrong on the first song and by the closing song I had my groove back.  Kersten gave an amazing talk on Baptism.  It amazes me still to see my husbands talents.  He is a great speaker and had some beautiful insights.  Justin gave a talk about the Holy Ghost,  he is a convert and his perspective on the Holy Ghost was refreshing.  It was a beautiful program.  I know that Mark made a choice that will bring him eternal joy and happiness.  The spirit was amazing and strong during the entire day.  Afterwards the food was divine and it was so so fun to visit and be with each other.

Noah had his Kindergarten program on thursday.  All week Noah was so anxious for us to come.  And kept checking to make sure that both Mom and Dad were coming.  He told me numerous times that his program was going to be really cool and extra special.  I told him numerous times how excited I was to go. They had them do a workbook to show us what they had be learning.  The had a story they had written hanging up.  And afterwards they sang some songs for us.  They sang God Bless America with the sign language, they did the Pledge of Allegiance,  they sang a song about the days of the week and the months of the year,  a song about Peter the Penguin, the song You are my Sunshine and they did the Chicken Dance and then had to teach it to their parents.  It was really fun.  Noah may not have known all the words to every song but he was definitely the most enthusiastic of all the kids.  He kept looking for us and grinning. It was really special.  And just like the good mom that I am when I took out the camera the battery was dead.  Made me so sad.

Today we are celebrating Kersten's Grandpa F or Opa Rolf's 80 birthday.  We are having dinner at Kerst's Aunt Judith's house and Noah excitedly exclaims that we are having a Family ReUnion because all of us will be there and Daddy's cousin's too.  He has been expressing a desire to go to a family reunion where he can play with lots and lots of cousins.  So he is super excited.

My Grandma's Hands

I love these beautiful hands.  These are the hands of a woman who has lived a long, fulfulling life.  She has worked hard and cared for the ones she loved. I love the feel of her hands in mine, still so soft and a bit knarled with age.  Her simple words of love and the reminder to never forget, will forever be edged in my mind. These last couple days I have been blessed to be able to care for her a bit.  She fractured her hip and fell and has been in the hospital.  This happened Sunday morning right before my cousin's farewell talk.  It was a crazy emotional day.  I really have enjoyed sitting with her, feeding, caring, hugging, kissing her and just being by her side in the hospital.  It was so nice being the one on the other side for a change.  The nice thing is that I knew what I could get her and what I could demand.  I believe my biggest triumph was being her cran-raspberry juice supplier and getting her a bowl of fruit.  That brought her so much joy.  I love spending some peaceful moments with her.  It sad that I had to have an excuse to make the time.  She told one of the therapist that she was at the bowling alley and it would be better than being in this hospital and another time she told them her name was "Billie Goat".  I thought that was hilarious.  I loved spending time with my sister Amy we were able to be there together a lot.  Sometimes your soul needs the quiet and the companionship of a sister.  My beautiful 90 year old grandma is being moved today to a rehab facility to strenghten her brand new hip.  We had some of the nurses say what a delight she was to care for.  I love this woman and want to emulate her in so many ways

Here is a picture taken a couple months ago with 4 generations

My mother Jeanne,  my Grandmother Blanche,  My daughter Sofia and Me Laurie