Durfee Adventures

Jamboree

2010-08-09T00:48:00.000-07:00

Alden went to the National Jamboree with cousins and Uncles, and His Grandpa. He had great adventures and saw many historics sites. He really enjoyed the fishing station where he caught 12 fish, kept 4, and then they cleaned and fried the fish for him to eat!

More Summer doings

2010-08-09T00:42:00.000-07:00

The older kids went on a survival adventure with cousins. "Anacuzi" Here they are preparing.

Summertime

2010-08-09T00:33:00.000-07:00

I grew a sucessful lovely hollyhock! Notice the nice boys peeking over the fence. (They had just mowed the lawn.)

A glimpse of Summer!

2010-08-09T00:27:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed the kittens and found good homes for them.

We grew nice squash to eat. We even had some to share. :)

New Grandparents and cute grandaughter!

2010-02-03T21:48:00.000-08:00

She is perfect and fresh from Heaven. We thank God for this new member of our family. Birth is truly a miracle.

Congratulations Casey & Celeste!

2010-02-03T21:45:00.000-08:00

The proud parents with adorable baby Adria. Notice how wonderful she is! :)

Welcome Baby Adria Chalynn!!

2010-02-03T21:20:00.000-08:00

We rejoice! Our sweet Celeste is a new mother! Baby Adria is here and very adored.

Life is good

2009-11-07T13:34:00.000-08:00

Halloween

2009-10-31T13:13:00.000-07:00

Cat Lovers!

Indiana Jones and Jane (from tarzan)

Alex the Adventurer (from his book)

Davy Crockett

Prince Caspian (Narnia)

Black Bart (a villian)

Joycelyn learns to water ski!

2009-08-03T14:41:00.000-07:00

Joycelyn got to go to Lake Powell for a week of fun in the water and sun. She learned to water ski and was the champion at staying on the big tube they pulled behind the speed boat. She came home very tanned and bubbling with fun stories to tell us. We were glad to see her for a bit before she then left again for girls camp.

Horseshoe Lake Fun!

2009-08-01T21:19:00.000-07:00

We went to our favorite camping spot! The mountains were cool, green, and we had a marvelous time together. This is our Jaydon happily fishing in the creek. He did not get a fish with his trusty pole, but he and Izaak caught a minnow with a little net! What a great adventure. Thanks family for enjoying the beautiful world with us. We Kayaked, hiked, biked, and loved being outside in the great outdoors!

PS. This was a great year for wild strawberries.(yummy)

Happy News

2009-06-25T22:02:00.000-07:00

We have wonderful news! Our Sweet Celeste and her good husband Casey are expecting a baby!!! Celeste is due in February. We are all very excited and happy. The boys are ready to be uncles and the girls are looking forward to being aunts. Katie said that she has been praying for them to have a baby. We are thrilled and Dale and I are amazed that we are grownup enough to be grandparents. Didn't we just get married ourselves? Wow what a wonderful event to look forward too! A new little person to meet. We have missed having a baby around our home. Celeste is glowingly happy. We are blessed.

Personal Best Record

2009-06-08T22:31:00.000-07:00

Oh before I go. I need to let you know that I hit a personal record last week. I went kayaking 4 times down the salt river! It was wonderful. I had a great week. I still feel happy and refreshed. I saw grey herons, buzzards, fish, muskrats, lots of birds, wild horses and great sunsets and mountains. Two trips were family trips, us and another family. One trip was with Joycelyn and her friends (river guide duties). One was a morning trip with my sisters Sean A'lee and Nancy. This was a very deluxe trip from the Saguaro Lake Ranch. We put in at their beach and got a longer very scenic run with not much kayak carrying!) Very fun!

2009-06-08T22:24:00.000-07:00

This is one of our sunflowers that I wanted to put by my great summer weather post but I am not sure how to change it. So oh well, I am learning and getting better at being high tech and Celeste will be so proud of me for posting something! :)

Welcome Elder Durfee to the MTC

2009-06-08T21:55:00.000-07:00

This is a proud mom putting
Elder Durfee's name tag on at the
MTC. What an honor to officially
welcome Kenton to Missionary Service. I am glad we had the
opportunity to take him there and
share a special memory with him and
Dale. Elder Durfee is now in Colorado and we are enjoying his letters. He is working hard and doing well. I made a batch of bread and instead of lasting for a day, it lasted for a week! We do miss our Kenton. Dale took a leaf out of the table and I cried. We are adjusting to such a small family. Only 6 kids at home. One person gone leaves a big hole. I decided that we are truly sacrificing by sending off a missionary when we were kayaking last week and we were carrying all of the heavy kayaks down to the river without Kenton's big muscles! Ha Ha! Honestly we know he is where the Lord expects him to be and we rejoice in this happy day. We are blessed to have a missionary in the field.

Heavenly Summer Weather

2009-06-08T21:41:00.000-07:00

Dale & I just returned from a lovely refreshing bike ride. The last couple of weeks have been delightful. The evenings are refreshing and lovely, the days are not overly hot and we are very thankful. We feel blessed. This is how summer was ment to be! We can swim and still enjoy playing and being outside. We have a tandem bike and have really enjoyed visiting with each other as we ride. We give thanks for the beautiful weather.

He even LOOKS like a missionary!

2009-05-06T17:00:00.000-07:00

Kenton reported to the MTC today. He is going to be a great missionary. It finally hit me that he was leaving last week when he gave his farewell talk. He did such a great job, he looked like a missionary and everything. We will all miss him a ton, but know this is where he is supposed to be.

Kenton and Ryan ... I mean Elder Durfee and Elder Durfee

The Big 12

2009-04-30T18:02:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday! Alden turned twelve today! He is so grown up. I was wracking my brain trying to think of something wonderful to get him. thankfully inspiration from mom hit! He wanted a book...I had the perfect one in mind. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen was the perfect adventure story for a young boy. Alden loved it and read it in 24 hours. He has become an avid reader and told me he read four books in the time it took me to read one I borrowed from him.

Happy Smile :)

We are enjoying holding the kittens!

Can you spy two kittens in this picture?

Hint: check the pocket

YEA! He liked the book

He was excited to open presents

The coolest experience for Alden was on Sunday when he was ordained a deacon. Grandma and Grandpa Bevell, Casey and me, Brother Asay (home teacher/scout leader) Kenton and all of the Dale Durfee family were able to attend the joyful event. Alden bore a sweet testimony and everyone could feel the spirit. It was so special! Then Kenton and Alden went together and did fast offerings. It was Alden's first time and Kenton's last time--as he was getting ordained an Elder a few hours later. What a neat thing :)

Junior Prom

2009-04-25T16:58:00.000-07:00

Joycelyn was ravishing for prom! I did her hair and Mom made the flowers. She looked gorgeous! We had a great time taking pictures of her.

Sisters

2009-04-12T12:46:00.000-07:00

Sisters Picture!!!

For Easter Mom gave each of us girls shirts and flower clips she made.

We absolutely loved them!

Happy Easter!

2009-04-11T16:17:00.000-07:00

Dyeing easter eggs is fun to do, fun to do, to do to do!!!

Grandma Bevell's Easter Egg Hunt

Saturday Morning Grandma Bevell held her famous egg hunt. This is the BEST Hunt Ever!!!! There were about 4,000 plastic eggs, hard boiled eggs, and other candy hidden all over their three acre lot. Its all about quantity not quality. the eggs are filled with things such as: jelly beans, skittles, suckers, sweethearts, peanuts, fishy crakers, little toys, and the ocational chocolate. Kenton go the award for the most eggs with 354 (he wins every year-we never learned his strategy). Most kids got atleast 100 and even Jaydon got 67. It is so fun to watch the kids get all excited and race around picking up eggs.

Here are the kids patiently waiting inside for the egg hunt to start.

Katie(making a great face), Breck, Alden, and Tori

Dustin, Dayson, Izzak and Jaydon

Kenton, Jared, Joycelyn and Justin

Chelsey and Celeste

Aunt Judy and Mom

Jaydon hunting for eggs!

Jaydon chowing down! Dad helping Dustin cound his eggs

Now it is the adults turn to hunt for eggs. Grandma saved some eggs and the older children have hidden them in the front yard. (Joycelyn did a gret job taking the pictures here!)

Celeste and Mom looking very wet

Grandma Bevell watching the hunt

Dad climbing the palm tree!

Easter Pageant

2009-04-07T15:29:00.000-07:00

We love the Mesa, Arizona Easter Pageant!
This year Kenton was an angel and it made it even more special.

Mom and Dad went several times to support him.

Kenton did a great job and we all enjoyed using the binoculars to see him.

We love to see the Easter Pageant and remember the life of Christ.

This year Dad and Mom took Kirt and April (our non-member friends).

It was neat to share this experience with them.

Stone Soup!

2009-04-03T19:42:00.000-07:00

Dayson, Alden, and Dustin

My brothers had their school play today. Casey and I went and enjoyed watching the two minute production. They also provided Stone Soup aka tortilla soup (which I was thrilled I could eat!). The boys were so cute all dressed up. They all did a great job. Dustin had on this cute had and shoulder bag. He was the farmer's son and added salt to the soup. Dayson was a strong man, he wore these awesome overalls and he put stones in the soup. Alden was Senior and wore a big sombrero and a bright red shirt. Him and his wife added carrots to the soup. He was such a good sport, the narrator girls messed up their lines and skipped his part. He had practised it for me the day before and had it all memorized. We had a great time at the play and were really proud of the kids.

Cant forget the silly picture!

AND the wonderful audience members

(Casey didn't smile well in the first picture so he tried really hard in the second one :)

Happy Birthday!

2009-03-27T19:51:00.000-07:00

Kenton is officially nineteen today. Kenton is an avid book collector and we all agreed that, along with missionary stuff, books would be the best for him because they would last a long time. For birthday dinner he requested Shepherds Pie and for cake he wanted Fruit Pizza. Mom and I worked hard to make everything possible and it all turned out great! Happy Birthday Kenton :)

Singing happy birthday
He was excited to get Fablehaven number four and the book Pilage.

Dustin, Alden, Kenton, Dayson, Jaydon, and cousins Bradley & Stewart Judd

Fruit Pizza made by Mom and Celeste

Michaud Cabin

2009-03-20T13:48:00.000-07:00

This week was the kids spring break. We had been wanting to get away to the cabin for a while and Thursday we decided it was time to go! Dad was a trooper and drove up that night. Joycelyn and Celeste came up Friday morning.

We had many great adventures! Dad and the boys went fishing and have a marvelous time. Aunt Judy, Mom and us older girls helped clean up the Farm House. Dad did him part of making a fire and getting the tv to work. Joycelyn even found a bat while vacuuming! She immediately called for Katie to come get it. We dusted, swept vacuumed and clean that place from top to bottom.

Then we went to a next door mountain that is full of crystals. We all had a great time playing in the dirt and searching for treasure.

It was surprisingly fun and entertained us for hours. We dug in the dirt with a hammer and a screwdriver (found in my car emergency kit!).

Celeste's Jewels!

Dads treasures

Jaydon with a cute smile

Mom hunting in the rocks

Dayson's Rocks!
Breck, Katie, and Tori Dustin and his crystalsAlden scored a Shovel!
Cute Boys! Dustin, Dayson, Jaydon

Dayson found a horny toad!
Mom, Dad, Dustin, Dayson, and Celeste went on a walk along the creek

Dustin carried this stick the whole time. He loved to creek!

The creek was so pretty
We walked along a big fallen free to get up the mountain

The photographer gets her picture too!

The lighting her was awesome and my camera doesn't do it justice
SLIDE ROCK!!!

Carefully jumping across the creek. The water was freezing so we didn't swim this timeIts a good size waterfall.

Also on this trip he family went up to Eager for Jesse Adam's farewell. We stayed at Johnny and Karri's cabin along with several other families. It was so nice to visit around the fire and reminisce.

Wonders of Grandma's Garden

2009-03-11T12:36:00.001-07:00

Grandma Bevell always grows the most amazing things in her garden.

These are a few of the treasures :)

Dustin and some carrots

Valarie, Tori, and Katie

Sadies Dance

2009-03-11T12:34:00.001-07:00

Kenton and Joycelyn were in the same group for the school dance. They were so excited!

CHICKS!!!

2009-03-10T13:25:00.000-07:00

Spring is in the air and baby chicks have come our way.

Day in the Desert

2009-03-09T12:49:00.000-07:00

The kids are on spring break for the next two weeks. We celebrated by going to the desert for the day. It was so beautiful and refreashing to be out in nature.

Dayson and Dustin

Grandma Bevell
Dancing DaysonJaydon and Dad KatieMom, Dad, Dayson, Dustin, and JaydonRichard and Nancy
Dustin doing Kempo Nancy, Grandma and KatieSuper Alden Grandma, Nancy and Kathy Lots of BUGS!

Lehi Day Rodeo!!!

2009-03-07T12:08:00.000-08:00

Dayson won third place in the calf riding contest.

Dustin and Alden watching the rodeo

Jaydon got a baby chick and he loves it!

Joycelyn and Uncle Jim goat dressing

They both threw their hands in the air when they won.

Dad and Katie

Kenton and Alden goat dressing

Dad and Dayson goat dressing

Katie and Izaak goat wrestling

Kenton's Mission Call

2009-03-05T16:13:00.000-08:00

The call has finally come! Kenton was so excited and couldn't wait to open the papers. We had to hide the envelope under the map so he wouldn't open it before the family could come home. We all made bets as to where he would be called. Kenton guessed state side, Dayson guessed the United States, Grandma Bevell guessed Texas. They were the winners. Kenton has been called to the Colorado Denver North Misson and he reports May 6. This is the same day as his cousin Ryan Durfee but Ryan is reporting to the Brazil MTC.

The family around supporting him

Kenton we are so excited for you! You will be a wonderful missonary. Only TWO months to go!!!

The big 14!

2009-02-26T20:16:00.000-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE!!! I cant believe you are fourteen years old! You are so grown up and we are very proud of you. We love you and were thinking about you today.

Beautiful Flowers

2009-02-06T15:59:00.000-08:00

The flowers are so pretty today! Celeste and I were really enjoying them.

Winter Formal

2009-01-31T18:06:00.000-08:00

Mom and Celeste did Joycelyns hair for Winter formal. She looked so beautiful!

The Lion King

2009-01-31T17:56:00.000-08:00

Thursday night we had the wonderful opportunity to go see The Lion King at Gammage auditorium. We had a full party with Dale, Kathy, Katie, Casey, Celeste, and Aunt Linda along with the Jon Curtis family. The show was amazing! We loved the costumes, short scene changes, music, and the company.

Trip to the desert

2009-01-23T10:00:00.001-08:00

Monday we went to the desert for an adventure. We found water in a wash, caught a fish, the kids had fun playing in the water and building dams. When we tried to go home we realized the car was very stuck in the sand. Uncle Rick came and saved us and we made it home safe.

Adventures of the Durfees

2009-01-17T14:56:00.000-08:00

The Dale and Kathy family have so many adventures, activities, parties, plays, and more that we wanted to record some of it.