FAMILY HAPPENINGS:
Biggest news for March was the birth of Joe and Nicia Esplin’s new baby boy. Logan Whittle Esplin was born March 17th, 2010 two weeks before his due date, but he was a healthy, dark-haired darling weighing in at 6 lbs. 6oz. Both mother and baby are doing fine. In fact, they were doing well enough that Nicia and Joe and Alyssa and Logan visited Utah in April and gave Grandma and Grandpa Whittle and the rest of Nicia’s family (and the great-grandparents) the opportunity to get acquainted with that sweet baby. Here are a few pictures of the happy family with our newest great grandbaby!
It is quite the experience to talk about your grandchildren as parents and your own children as GRANDPARENTS! That has been OUR title for so many years (and, of course, still is to 31 grandchildren) it is amazing to think of my CHILDREN as grandparents and US as GREAT-GRANDPARENTS!!! But actually it is interesting how quickly we adjust to the new title! When you are young, you think you will be young forever, almost unaware that time is moving forward and that before you know it you will be old enough to have great grandchildren. The fact that we are still here to enjoy these newest precious spirits who are an extension of ourselves and our children is a great gift and I truly am grateful for the gift of 76 (Gary 77) years we have had to enjoy our children, grandchildren and now our great-grandchildren. Hopefully, Gary and I will have many more years to enjoy them all!
Dave and Kathy have done some traveling since we last wrote. They went to Boise in March for Kathy’s father’s 80th birthday celebration, and then to Joe and Nicia’s in Wyoming when the new baby came. They were able to paint the nursery and help with lots of other things while they were there. Then after they returned home, first Dave was sick with a really bad cold, and then Kathy got it. Emily lucked out and has been fine, and they were all well by the time Nicia and Joe visited in April.
Caitlin Ritter celebrated her March 12th birthday Sunday the14th with a family birthday party hosted by her Mom at the Whittle residence with Jared and Becky Whittle, Justin and Stephanie Ritter, Cousins--Taylene and Adam McCament, Andrew and Starrie Whittle and baby Jocelyn and Grandma and Grandpa Bascom as guests. Kathy served a luscious pasta dinner, and Caitlin opened gifts before she had to hurry off to work at the hospital.
Kathy Whittle has volunteered to get us together for Family Temple Excursions, and she organized the first one which was held Saturday, March 27th at the Jordan River Temple. We gathered afterwards at Rob’s new home in Riverton…
Here is the group after we had enjoyed some great refreshments, and fun time together. Thanks, Rob for hosting us.
Jana Tuttle was released from her Young Women’s calling in March, and sustained the same month as 2nd Counselor in the Relief Society. The week we visited her ward with her, the lst Counselor was supposed to conduct the R.S. meeting, and had to leave after Sacrament Meeting with a sick child, and asked Jana to conduct. Jana did a great job conducting her first meeting (and on the spur of the moment), and will be a wonderful asset to their Relief Society. She is sad to leave Young Women’s because she was enjoying that calling, but as we all do when asked to do something hard, she is adjusting and doing her best in her new calling.
Ron Tuttle continues to work at losing weight and inches and is looking good and making progress. We are proud of you, Ron! Keep up the good work. Ron took Connor ice fishing at Mantua Reservoir in March. They caught three large fish and a number of small ones they threw back, and they came home with sunburns from the reflection of the sun on the ice. We were there that week-end, so that’s how I know! McKay has been sustained as the leader in his Priest Quorum… Congrats, McKay. We know you will set a good example for your quorum.
The Dyson family had a sad and traumatic event during March when they had to say goodbye to their faithful dog, Karl when he died of causes incident to his age. They have not yet replaced him, and the whole family is missing him. Julie Dyson was released from her Young Women’s calling the same week Jana was, but hasn’t got a new calling yet. Todd Dyson is the Sunday School teacher for the 11yr. old Scouts and also has Wednesday night Scout meetings with the same boys.
Blake Dyson was able to get off his crutches and graduate to a walking cast (boot) in March, but now he is out of it and his foot is doing good, and so is he!
Alex played point guard in Jr. Jazz Basketball from Jan. through March and they only lost one game. He has started competition soccer now.
Brad Williams applied for a job as a mid-air refueler at Hill Air Base, but when that didn’t work out he is presently applying for the same kind of a job in Seattle. Brad went to Hawaii in April on vacation where he went to visit some friends who live in Hawaii (and of course to enjoy Hawaii!)
Kassie Bennett tried out to be a cheerleader at her school next year and worked her little heart out, and was successful and will be cheering her team on when school starts next year. Congratulations, Kassie.
Christianne Bennett flew to Michigan to visit Bill and Karyn and the boys during a break from school the last week of March and says she had a ball. Loree and Kassie also were able to join her there for a few days, but they stayed for several days after Christianne had to leave to get back to school.
Bill stayed home and got a lot of work done on the new leadership book he is working on. Loree and Bill and Kassie also traveled to Florida during Easter break to see Bill’s parents. They were there for 10 days, and Christianne and Bryan joined them there for Easter week-end.
Rob Whittle had a busy March traveling on business to China, California, and Washington DC, at the same time trying to keep the home fires burning and spend time with his kids. Also, in April he went on a 10 day cruise.
Tom and Holly Brandner and family went to St. George for Riley’s playoff basketball games in March, and they all had a good time--Brittney and Ritchie were also able to go with them. Brittney Brandner and Ritchie Orton are making good progress with their wedding preparations. Brittney had her Bridal pictures taken in April, and most of the arrangements are made.
Brandner’s had 3 new additions to their family in April !! Their cute dog, Sadie had puppies, April 23rd , 2 girls and 1 boy. Riley named the boy Sport, Kade named one girl Sassie, and Chase named the other one Sophie. They are trying not to get too attached to the puppies, since they are an investment and will be sold when they are old enough to leave their mother.
ENGAGEMENT NEWS:
Thursday April 29th Rob Whittle gave Kathryn Cox a ring and made their engagement official. They have not yet determined their wedding date, but Kathryn and her two girls, Ellie and Katie, have agreed to move to Riverton to Rob’s home, so we assume this will all take place after school is out. Congratulations, Rob and Kathryn..we look forward to welcoming Kathryn, Ellie and Katie to our big extended family!
On Saturday April 24th we attended a baptism that was really special. Loree Bennett was instrumental in the baptism of her Spanish cleaning lady and her husband. This day was a spiritual highlight for Loree and her family.
APRIL SPECIAL NEWS:
Andrew and Starrie Whittle had their baby girl, Jocelyn blessed in their ward Sunday April 11th and hosted a lovely get-together afterwards at Starrie’s grandfather’s club house. Since it was spring break week-end none of our family except the Whittles were able to be there, and Grandpa Bascom was sick with a cold that week-end so I represented our family at the event. Starrie made Jocelyn’s blessing dress and the dress and the baby were beautiful. I got to hold her for a few minutes and she is so adorable!
Biggest news for March was the birth of Joe and Nicia Esplin’s new baby boy. Logan Whittle Esplin was born March 17th, 2010 two weeks before his due date, but he was a healthy, dark-haired darling weighing in at 6 lbs. 6oz. Both mother and baby are doing fine. In fact, they were doing well enough that Nicia and Joe and Alyssa and Logan visited Utah in April and gave Grandma and Grandpa Whittle and the rest of Nicia’s family (and the great-grandparents) the opportunity to get acquainted with that sweet baby. Here are a few pictures of the happy family with our newest great grandbaby!
It is quite the experience to talk about your grandchildren as parents and your own children as GRANDPARENTS! That has been OUR title for so many years (and, of course, still is to 31 grandchildren) it is amazing to think of my CHILDREN as grandparents and US as GREAT-GRANDPARENTS!!! But actually it is interesting how quickly we adjust to the new title! When you are young, you think you will be young forever, almost unaware that time is moving forward and that before you know it you will be old enough to have great grandchildren. The fact that we are still here to enjoy these newest precious spirits who are an extension of ourselves and our children is a great gift and I truly am grateful for the gift of 76 (Gary 77) years we have had to enjoy our children, grandchildren and now our great-grandchildren. Hopefully, Gary and I will have many more years to enjoy them all!
Dave and Kathy have done some traveling since we last wrote. They went to Boise in March for Kathy’s father’s 80th birthday celebration, and then to Joe and Nicia’s in Wyoming when the new baby came. They were able to paint the nursery and help with lots of other things while they were there. Then after they returned home, first Dave was sick with a really bad cold, and then Kathy got it. Emily lucked out and has been fine, and they were all well by the time Nicia and Joe visited in April.
Caitlin Ritter celebrated her March 12th birthday Sunday the14th with a family birthday party hosted by her Mom at the Whittle residence with Jared and Becky Whittle, Justin and Stephanie Ritter, Cousins--Taylene and Adam McCament, Andrew and Starrie Whittle and baby Jocelyn and Grandma and Grandpa Bascom as guests. Kathy served a luscious pasta dinner, and Caitlin opened gifts before she had to hurry off to work at the hospital.
Kathy Whittle has volunteered to get us together for Family Temple Excursions, and she organized the first one which was held Saturday, March 27th at the Jordan River Temple. We gathered afterwards at Rob’s new home in Riverton…
Here is the group after we had enjoyed some great refreshments, and fun time together. Thanks, Rob for hosting us.
Jana Tuttle was released from her Young Women’s calling in March, and sustained the same month as 2nd Counselor in the Relief Society. The week we visited her ward with her, the lst Counselor was supposed to conduct the R.S. meeting, and had to leave after Sacrament Meeting with a sick child, and asked Jana to conduct. Jana did a great job conducting her first meeting (and on the spur of the moment), and will be a wonderful asset to their Relief Society. She is sad to leave Young Women’s because she was enjoying that calling, but as we all do when asked to do something hard, she is adjusting and doing her best in her new calling.
Ron Tuttle continues to work at losing weight and inches and is looking good and making progress. We are proud of you, Ron! Keep up the good work. Ron took Connor ice fishing at Mantua Reservoir in March. They caught three large fish and a number of small ones they threw back, and they came home with sunburns from the reflection of the sun on the ice. We were there that week-end, so that’s how I know! McKay has been sustained as the leader in his Priest Quorum… Congrats, McKay. We know you will set a good example for your quorum.
The Dyson family had a sad and traumatic event during March when they had to say goodbye to their faithful dog, Karl when he died of causes incident to his age. They have not yet replaced him, and the whole family is missing him. Julie Dyson was released from her Young Women’s calling the same week Jana was, but hasn’t got a new calling yet. Todd Dyson is the Sunday School teacher for the 11yr. old Scouts and also has Wednesday night Scout meetings with the same boys.
Blake Dyson was able to get off his crutches and graduate to a walking cast (boot) in March, but now he is out of it and his foot is doing good, and so is he!
Alex played point guard in Jr. Jazz Basketball from Jan. through March and they only lost one game. He has started competition soccer now.
Brad Williams applied for a job as a mid-air refueler at Hill Air Base, but when that didn’t work out he is presently applying for the same kind of a job in Seattle. Brad went to Hawaii in April on vacation where he went to visit some friends who live in Hawaii (and of course to enjoy Hawaii!)
Kassie Bennett tried out to be a cheerleader at her school next year and worked her little heart out, and was successful and will be cheering her team on when school starts next year. Congratulations, Kassie.
Christianne Bennett flew to Michigan to visit Bill and Karyn and the boys during a break from school the last week of March and says she had a ball. Loree and Kassie also were able to join her there for a few days, but they stayed for several days after Christianne had to leave to get back to school.
Bill stayed home and got a lot of work done on the new leadership book he is working on. Loree and Bill and Kassie also traveled to Florida during Easter break to see Bill’s parents. They were there for 10 days, and Christianne and Bryan joined them there for Easter week-end.
Rob Whittle had a busy March traveling on business to China, California, and Washington DC, at the same time trying to keep the home fires burning and spend time with his kids. Also, in April he went on a 10 day cruise.
Tom and Holly Brandner and family went to St. George for Riley’s playoff basketball games in March, and they all had a good time--Brittney and Ritchie were also able to go with them. Brittney Brandner and Ritchie Orton are making good progress with their wedding preparations. Brittney had her Bridal pictures taken in April, and most of the arrangements are made.
Brandner’s had 3 new additions to their family in April !! Their cute dog, Sadie had puppies, April 23rd , 2 girls and 1 boy. Riley named the boy Sport, Kade named one girl Sassie, and Chase named the other one Sophie. They are trying not to get too attached to the puppies, since they are an investment and will be sold when they are old enough to leave their mother.
ENGAGEMENT NEWS:
Thursday April 29th Rob Whittle gave Kathryn Cox a ring and made their engagement official. They have not yet determined their wedding date, but Kathryn and her two girls, Ellie and Katie, have agreed to move to Riverton to Rob’s home, so we assume this will all take place after school is out. Congratulations, Rob and Kathryn..we look forward to welcoming Kathryn, Ellie and Katie to our big extended family!
On Saturday April 24th we attended a baptism that was really special. Loree Bennett was instrumental in the baptism of her Spanish cleaning lady and her husband. This day was a spiritual highlight for Loree and her family.
APRIL SPECIAL NEWS:
Andrew and Starrie Whittle had their baby girl, Jocelyn blessed in their ward Sunday April 11th and hosted a lovely get-together afterwards at Starrie’s grandfather’s club house. Since it was spring break week-end none of our family except the Whittles were able to be there, and Grandpa Bascom was sick with a cold that week-end so I represented our family at the event. Starrie made Jocelyn’s blessing dress and the dress and the baby were beautiful. I got to hold her for a few minutes and she is so adorable!
