Sleeping late on Saturday...

grandsons!

2009-08-06T19:10:00.001-07:00

Here are my only two grandsons as of this time.... they are my oldest and younest grandchildren (there are 4 girls in between these two cute boys: Philip and Seth) This is the only time that the two of them have ever been together, and so this combined pic of them may be a rare thing. Too bad we didn't catch the little one smiling at the moment we shot--because he does have a charming smile, just like his cousin.

The Jan 2009 Family group

2009-06-12T10:41:00.000-07:00

Okay-- I KNOW it's JUNE already... but, hey, I have been really busy! And I decided that I wanted to post this family group shot, because now I know how unique it will be--there probably won't be a shot of this group together ever again. But we did have a good time gathering in January '09 when this was taken; well, at least I did...

Grandma's Girls!!!

2009-01-31T19:57:00.000-08:00

Are they cute or what??? We probably took about 100 pictures trying to get some of all four of them looking generally in the same direction AND smiling!!! But it was big fun...:)
(Note: The two oldest girls--in pink and black--were the babies in arms in the picture below.)

christmas past...

2008-11-11T17:47:00.000-08:00

We are talking about gathering for christmas this year... or rather for New Year's- when we might all be able to come! This photo was taken the last time we were all together for christmas (except for Ryan, who was in Iraq). It was 2005 in Utah. I just found this one while I was sorting through some things today, and thought I would post it (before I lose track of it again!!!)

The gift that keeps on giving....

2008-11-08T21:43:00.000-08:00

Sooner or later this story will probably find it's way back to my friend, Rhonda, who spent a night at my house not too long ago- and then she will probably NEVER come and see me again! But this is kind of funny, from a certain point of view.

Some time ago my husband, who was raised in the wilds of Idaho, was at work when his coworkers (sissy Californians) began to yell and fuss about a HUGE snake by the door of the shop. Being a curious soul, my husband went over to check out the HUGE snake... and then proceeded to make fun of the coworkers regarding their feelings about a 2 ft. gopher snake, curled up in the corner. The coworkers were ready to kill it, but my husband said that he would catch it- and when asked what he planned to DO with it- he replied that he wanted to take it home to his wife. That elicited comments regarding his tender thoughtfulness and gifts for his wife (me)- and then he explained to them that his wife is a biology teacher, and the snake would be useful in the classroom. That satisfied the crowd, somewhat, and they watched him do his best snake wrangling (who knew brooms were so multipurpose?) ... until he caught it and put it in a cardboard box, which he put in his work truck.
When he and I had both arrived home that evening, he brought in a box and told me he had a surprise for me. As a seasoned veteran of such 'surprises' (I still live with him, and we had 4 children, all of whom would have done something like this!)- I did NOT rush to open the box, and instead I began to inquire about it's contents.... eventually we opened the box, and - viola! ???? it was empty! oops, he said- it must still be in my truck! (great, he's been driving around all day with a loose snake in his truck....???!) Anyway- this news should have been my warning, but... alas, no- I did not heed it!
So, he located the snake, brought it in, and we installed it-hissing and striking- into a medium sized glass aquarium- with a screen lid (which we tied securely to shut!) Over the course of the next couple of weeks, my son in law and I made friends with the snake and we could pick him up without him striking at us... although he would still strike at my husband whenever the opportunity presented itself.
When ever we took the snake out to hold him, he always seemed determined to get back into his aquarium, and he seemed to like it there. So one day, after putting him back, the lid was only tied down in 4 places, instead of the usual 6.... and shortly there after my husband came to find me and say there was some bad news.... had I seen the snake?
uh oh.
And since then, we haven't seen the snake... we assumed that he had crawled under the fridge (because that is where we found son and daughter in law's python that had been missing for months!) (in THEIR house, not ours!)- but eventually we cleaned out under the fridge... and- no snake! I suppose he might still be hanging around loose somewhere in my house- and that is an eerie feeling! Especially when I get up in the night to go do something in another room of the house.... yes, this really is the gift that KEEPS ON giving!

I only wish I had taken him to school a little sooner- so I would just have to worry about him popping up unexpectedly in my classroom, instead of my home!! We had just covered emergency drills and proceedures at school about that time- and I had to give the person in charge of writing up those proceedures a bad time about not having included a contingency plan for loose snakes in the classroom. But- basically he told me that I was on my own with that one. I told him I would just call him. What are friends for anyway?

Now, Rhonda, aren't you GLAD you didn't KNOW this when you were sleeping at my house??? We debated about telling you, but decided ignorance was bliss! And that you weren't really all that likely to run into the snake anyway- since we hadn't. But of course, you never know..... (yes, it keeps on giving!)

states my son-in-law has visited

2008-10-11T21:28:00.001-07:00

visited 45 states (90%)
He's a well traveled guy!

places my son-in-law has been

2008-10-11T21:24:00.000-07:00

visited 17 countries (7.55%)

my world visits

2008-10-11T21:20:00.000-07:00

visited 4 countries (1.77%)<

states I have visited

2008-10-11T21:12:00.000-07:00

visited 33 states

Summer is over, and my soul is not saved....

2008-08-11T18:10:00.000-07:00

Every teacher I have ever known has some version of "the summer list" -- some things they plan to do or accomplish or whatever - during the summer (even if it's a trip, not a project list!) Anyway, I have just had my 20th such summer... and I don't recall that it has EVER come to an end SOOOO early!!! And did I get my list done??? eeek! Don't ask!!

I do have some friends (one of whom is a teacher, of course) that are under the impression that the teacher spouse has a list (the all year kind, not just the whimpy summer list) that is so long- that she will never die! (Something about how she will have to be left here on earth until she finishes her list....)

But for myself -- I wasn't really aiming for immortality! I just wanted to get my list done....

(Maybe NEXT year!!) (another thing teachers are prone to say.... !)

Finish These 5 meme

2008-07-31T10:29:00.000-07:00

I have never published one of these- but here it is!

Finish These 5 meme

Finish These Five
Rules:Each player answers the questions themselves. At the end of the post the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment letting them know that they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answers.

The Five-

Ten years ago…
I was serving as a counselor in a ward Young Women's presidency. That was a BUSY time, but fun- many fond memories.
My youngest two children were about to start their junior year in high school.
My oldest daughter was headed off to college in Hawaii- and that was her launch into independence- she was never 'home for the summer' again after that.
My oldest son had just moved to Utah, where he has lived ever since.
My oldest grandchild was still less than a year old, and I had recently lost my last survivng parent.

Five things on today’s “to do” list…
Go to work.
Visit a friend who is moving out of state today. (I will miss you, Kit!)
Laundry.
Shopping ~ (I am OUT of GARLIC in any form, so life as we know it stops today until I get some more!!!) (Oh, and I'm almost out of milk, too...)
Mow my back lawn. (ick)

Five Things I would do if I was a millionaire…
Hire some one to mow the back lawn!! (and the front ones, too!) Fix my '63 Imperial. (my mother lived in terror that the car would never last- but it has outlived her for 36 years now, and-yes, it still runs. It gives me great pleasure to drive it.... So much for childhood trauma.) Retire- myself and my spouse, and then we would go on a mission. Travel. Set up provisions for children, grandchildren, etc... help with homes, education, or??

Five Places I have lived… CALIFORNIA (Fresno, Hemet, Redway, Shelter Cove, Willits, Morro Bay, Hollister, Reedley), OREGON (Salem), WASHINGTON (Woodland), UTAH (Provo), and.... oh, wait: I haven't lived in 5 states, just four! I guess the towns will have to count, then!

I’m tagging… um...?
Julie? at http://www.julies-jabbers.blogspot.com/
and I don't know who else!!! ???
because I don't blog very often at all, and I think everyone whose blog I read has long since already seen this activity and done it!

Book Tag

2008-04-13T08:56:00.000-07:00

This is a short, fun little tag that doesn't take too much thought. In this tag you find the closest book to you, turn to page 123 and tell us the fifth sentence.

So, Julie- the book closest to me is A Heart Like His by Virginia Pearce, and it has been a delight to read!!

hmmm... but as I look through, I see it doesn't HAVE 123 pages!! (short read- good for my life at the moment!!) so, from page 23, line 5:

She had come in just as weary as I but was leaving with an extra spring in her step.

Virginia Pearce was talking here about how her mother, Sister Hinckley, had such a kind and open hearted way with people around her that it would give her and others around her more energy and happiness. She was telling how she and her mother were tired and had gone to the store to get her mother a coat, and how her mother had engaged the alterations lady in conversation and how they both perked up from that, while Virginia sat there watching and realizing how that connection had made her mother and the seamstress feel better, while she sat there still feeling weary.

I'm all for a little more energy, happiness, etc...!

Tag? this is not a well read blog, since I don't add to it often enough...so, consider yourself tagged if you're reading this and feel free to respond by comment. I love books, and I love to hear about what people are reading!

cute girls

2008-01-02T22:55:00.000-08:00

look at those curls!

2008-01-02T22:49:00.000-08:00

Age ONE!

2008-01-02T22:30:00.000-08:00

There she is-at one year old! Isn't she gorgeous? Check out that hair!!

sisters!

2008-01-02T22:27:00.000-08:00

Here they are, taken in October 07...

Christmas!

2008-01-02T22:25:00.000-08:00

Is this a cute girl or what?

new granddaughter

2007-03-04T19:52:00.000-08:00

We are a granddaughter behind on posting pictures- Here is E and J's first when she was brand new (born in October) and wearing her first Halloween costume. Isn't she a cutie?

just hanging out...

2007-03-04T07:24:00.000-08:00

Getting the burps out... check out those cheeks!

Inspecting for fingers & toes!

2007-03-04T07:08:00.000-08:00

Mom gets to hold her new baby girl for the first time!

Daddy-daughter Hair!

2007-03-04T06:39:00.000-08:00

Dad holding his new baby girl- and admiring that HAIR - that looks almost like HIS!

new grand daughter!

2007-03-04T06:17:00.001-08:00

Thursday, March 1st, at 5:55 by C-section. She was 8#5oz, 20 inches long- and she and her mom are doing well.

nerd-o-meter

2006-11-29T20:54:00.000-08:00

My CAR has a LIFE of its own!

2006-08-05T12:43:00.000-07:00

Really!

I can't believe how much trouble my CAR has managed to get into WITHOUT me!

First, it had an accident. A major accident- something like $5,000 worth of damage type of accident!!
(Which admittedly, isn't nearly as bad as you'd think, but still! The photo above shows some of the damage... Doesn't EVEN look like $5,000 worth, does it??)

It seems that my car was sitting in my driveway, minding its own business, one Sunday evening and then --BOOM!!-- an unlicensed teenage driver whose "UNCLE" was giving her a "driving" lesson (in a car neither one of them owned, don't you love that?) evidently hit the gas instead of the brake and proceeded to jump the curb and wedge their car in between my Envoy and a fairly new tree we had planted. Not satisfied with that level of damage, the car's occupants then decided they must ram their way OUT of being stuck between my tree and my Envoy... doing more damage on the way OUT than they did on the way IN! And THEN they TOOK OFF!

However, my very cool and alert neighbors took matters into their own hands (Did I mention that my neighbors are Superheroes?) and while one of them called the Police, the other one actually chased the offending car and told Police where to find them via cell phone. (The Police arrested the "UNCLE" on the spot and took him off to jail, I hear, and I don't know what happened to every one else -- including the car's lucky owner!)

And you know what? We missed all this fun! Entirely. Slept right through it all. (I told you we don't get enough sleep around here!) We never heard the collision (on our driveway) or the subsequent visits of the (Superhero) neighbors, to let us know what happened. (I guess I'll never convince anyone that I sleep lightly after this!) We didn't realize what had happened until Monday morning when I walked out to get in my car and go to work.... and tried to comprehend what I saw!??!!

Anyway- the Envoy is fixed now!... and so we assumed that it was just a really odd thing that happened, and it was all over... That is, until day before yesterday, when we opened the mail! It seems my car is in trouble AGAIN! This time it got a parking ticket IN LOS ANGELES! (That's a mere 200+ miles from where we live.) And WE were NOOO where NEAR LA on the date in question. So... how did the Envoy manage to get itself a parking ticket (an expensive $45 ticket, no less!) in LA??? hmmmm??? I never said it could go to LA without me!! (And the city of LA is totally impressed with my explanation that the car was NOT there to get a ticket!!!....)(NOT!)

OO KAY! -- That's it. We've had it. We were very understanding and supportive LAST time! We paid the car's deductible and had the damage fixed. But THIS TIME- that Envoy is GROUNDED!! And I think it should pay its OWN ticket, too!

One More

2006-05-07T16:05:00.001-07:00

Just couldn't resist!
This is one of my favortie Iris blossoms- and it's a good thing I took this picture when I did, because shortly after it was taken this Iris decided to lay itself down on my sidewalk so it could get just a little more sunlight! (SOMEbody planted it in too much shade, I guess!)

I love my yard!

2006-05-07T15:17:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my very clever friend, Muum - I have now figured out how to post pictures! And since pictures are definitely worth a thousand words, I might just skip writing anything and post pix of my yard and flowers. Did I mention that I love my yard?

The Secret to Avoiding a Midlife Crisis

2006-04-24T21:56:00.000-07:00

After watching some one I know (who is now in their 5th decade of life and) still trying to negotiate some of the lessons and challenges that come to all of us...

I think I've figured out my friend's secret:

REFUSE TO GROW UP!

That's it- just refuse to learn life's lessons in their day and time.
That way - you will NEVER get to the point of facing a MIDLIFE crisis, not even in your 50s- because you will still be stuck (forever!) on the life lessons of adolescence and early adulthood. ya.

Hmmm- this plan actually appears to be very effective at totally postponing a midlife crisis for SO long that it's a given that you'll never even GET to it, let alone suffer through it!

But, as I observe my friend, I'm not sure that I am willing to pay that price!- For me the lessons of adolescence and early adulthood were difficult enough to live through and learn! And they weren't such lovely times that I would sign up in any way to keep having them over and over again- no matter what else that might help me avoid!

No- I will surrender and get old;
in fact, I think I'm in that line right now!

(Must be time to go by a red convertible! :-)
(Oh wait- I already DID that!)
(And it wasn't nearly as much fun as I thought it would be!!)

What's for dinner Wednesday??

2006-04-02T09:48:00.000-07:00

Ha! I am lucky if I GET dinner on Wednesday! I work from 7:30 or 8:00 AM on Weds to 8:00 or 9:00 (or once in a great while even 10:00 PM) And you would think one would lose weight on this schedule, but- NO- that is not a by product of this nuttiness, either. That said, I do love to cook and this week I am making:
Cherry pie and Chicken a la'range (AKA Orange Chicken)-
at my husband's request, b/c it's almost his b-day.