Saying goodbye to one friend, and hello to another!

I'll give the sad news first!

About a hundred years ago,

well, maybe less than 40 and more than 30,

my mom did an activity at the women's Homemaking

Meeting in our church. She traced pictures for everyone

family from a Peanuts coloring book, and then

they were sent off to be put onto plates!
Here is mine!

For those of you who know me now,

my hair has not always been curly- it was straight as a stick!

Hence the joke!

But yesterday brought the end of an era...It was

dropped on the floor and split! I was sad because I

have had it for so long - actually I guess my mom kept it for so long,

and then gave it back to me several years ago- I still have my dad's plate too!

Who knows how many meals I've had on that plate?

So long, farewell, good friend!

And to my new friend!

Well, not exactly a new friend, but an

old friend/boyfriend from college

(I'm not sure if he considered himself that, but I did!)

My friends convinced me to finally start a facebook page,

and I've been able to reconnect with him -

I think I blogged about him once !

( I'll have to see what I wrote about him before I give him my blog address..)

Anyway, I am SOOOO glad I got on Facebook to connect

with him, he was a major part of my life, and has been absent

from it for 18-19 years! So

Yeay for Facebook!

Chocolate, almonds, caramel, repeat...

Yum.. these are my favorites, in almost any combinations!

Someone sent in chocolate covered almonds to work, and I just
happened to see them.. I think I ate more than I should have... ugh.

Then, Mark bought me Almond M & M's (well, I convinced him to buy them)
for my stocking, and I have definitely made a dent in the bag. Good thing I
am going to work today, away from the M&M's . (the almonds at work are GONE!)

We got a box of See's chocolate - variety - from his mom , but the kids aren't too
happy that any caramels in the box.. are MINE!

Thankfully, checking the scale this morning, all these almonds have not
been too detrimental to the weight loss...

What are your favorite Christmas candies or cookies? I know mine are available most of the
time...

I didn't even make my favorite cookies this year - only made gingersnaps (soft ones!)

We are having a game night with neighbors on Friday, so maybe I'll make them for that.
My family hasn't complained much that there weren't any cookies this year - I made banana
bread and chocolate zucchini bread this year for neighbors.

Apparently the zucc bread was a hit! And you can eat it with butter if you like, Sassy!

Happy New Year Everyone!

So says my son...

"Mom, have you ever heard of the group Journey?"

Oh, please - yes, I was a 70's 80's child... I've heard it all.

Just cracked me up.

He is getting interested in some of that older music,
"Another One Bites the Dust" is one of his favorites.
I think HE is having more fun searching for music
on my Zune marketplace than I am!

If I don't get back here soon,

Merry Christmas everyone!

Four Wheelin' !!!

VACATION!!

Although it is difficult to tell, that is ME in the

driver's seat! This is the first time that I have

ever driven a go-cart or anything similar!

I didn't drive one of the quads, but I had a BLAST!

My BIL owns some property that's a bit hilly, so the day

before Thanksgiving, we met up with them,

as well as the BIL we were staying with,

and drove quads & go-carts all over, had a cookout

- roasted marshmallows, hot dogs & had hot chocolate!

The temperature was in the 40's that day - for a high!

It was chilly driving up and down and around!

We didn't get to have any snow, but we did have lots of fun!

We left for UT the Friday before Thanksgiving,

stayed overnight in Kanab, then drove the rest of the way

on Saturday to Bluffdale, to Marcy's house.

We visited with her and played with the kids,

John & Annie, who are growing up fast!

Sunday night I droveMark to the airport,

so he could be back for work on Monday for meetings.

Monday morning the kids and I headed to WYOMING!!

I went to High School in Evanston,

and my best friend, Tami, lives in Lyman, about 30 miles away.

I get to see her only once a year - when we head north.

She fixed us lunch and we had a nice visit!

I wish I had some pics of us from HS -

we were trying to remember when we became friends!

We knew each other in band,and we shared

a locker my senior year (she is a year younger!)

She is an awesome friend - always sending me

cute cards and letters when I was away from home,

on my mission and at school! Thanks Tami!!

(my dad called her mom "the mother of my other daughter.- it was awesome to have her as a friend!)

After leaving Tami's we headed back to Ogden,

to pick up some HoneyBaked Ham,

and then up to Hyrum!

We arrived at Fon & Sally's early evening,

and the kids commenced playing with their cousins -

on the Wii, and the Guitar Hero.

At one point on Tuesday,I had to prohibit Brennan

from playing Guitar Hero - he had bloodshot eyes!!

(they play on a big projection TV in the basement!

Miss Kris was my 2nd grade teacher - My class was the first one that she ever taught - she doesn't teach anymore, but is involved in education and training with the State of Utah. I suppose that she is my oldest friend, not in age, but in length of time I have known her! She live only about 5 miles from Fon & Sally, so we try to visit her whenever we go to UT.

We had a great Thanksgiving dinner,

and I think we got tired of dinner rolls,

after teaching Josh how to make them! (I think he'll be a pro!)

We made Mark's yummy creamy mushroom gravy

to go with the Turkey (leaving the plain stuff for the kids!)

On Friday, Annika and her hubby Bret came over

(fun for me, Bret lived in Vernal,

as I did for some of my growing up years -

got to talk about some of the old places!)

and also her brother Casey came

and we played games, and ate, of course!

Our trip home was pretty anti-climactic -

driving, driving, driving.

We were sad that the Three Bears Creamery

was not open in Kanab -

we were looking forward to getting Ice Cream Cones there!

We were happy to get home to our dog, Milo,

and were VERY thankful to the Estrada's for keeping

the Rent-A-Dog while we were gone!

(Really, really thankful!)

So, that was our vacation for the year -

it was nice to get out of town, even though

we didn't get to go play in the lake, or in the snow!
Many thanks to Fon and Sally

for putting up with us each time we visit!

They are awesome!

Gratitude - everyone is doing it!

I have seen many blogs of late where people describe the things they are grateful for! I hadn't really thought about doing that, and I just don't have the time each day to do so. However, I have been thinking about it a little more this week.

We are in Utah visiting my in-laws this week - on Saturday evening, we asked Mark's sister what time her church meetings were. She suggested that we go into Salt Lake City to see the broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word. It was an AWESOME suggestion.

We had to get up fairly early and brave the cold (it was in the 20's and 30's that morning), and drove into SLC and parked near the Conference Center. We were seated in the Tabernacle by about 9:00 and the choir and orchestar were finishing their rehearsal. It was the Thanksgiving program by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square. The songs they were doing were ones that am familiar with after years of singing in church and in choirs.
For the Beauty of the Earth arranged by John Rutter is one of my favorites, and also Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, arranged by Mack Wilberg. The latter was the last number - Just WOW! It was incredible and brought me to tears. I don't recall ever seeing/hearing the Choir in person as a child, but after checking with my dad, he said we'd probably gone at some point in our Utah years.

Most amazing of all - after the broadcast was finished, Lloyd Newell came to the front of the Tabernacle and spoke for a moment. Afterwards, he, the Choir, the Orchestra members, and all technicians sang God Be With You Til We Meet Again - acapella. That was amazing!!

I am thankful for the sound of music... I'm thankful for the influence it has had in my life, and for the opportunity I have had to share it with others, including my family. (Of course there are MANY other things I am thankful for, but this is an important one for me this week.)

Here is the message that was presented in the broadcast on Sunday (and others).

Daily Gratitude and Thanksgiving
Delivered By: Lloyd D. Newell

A few years ago, two researchers conducted what they called the Research Project on Gratitude and Thankfulness. They found through science what most of us know intuitively: gratitude makes people happy.

For the study, several hundred people were divided into three groups and asked to keep diaries. The first group listed the day’s events in their diaries, the second group recorded any unpleasant experiences they had during the day, and the last group made a daily list of things they were grateful for.

The researchers found that the simple act of taking time each day to count your blessings makes a person more enthusiastic, determined, optimistic, and energetic. Those who expressed gratitude experienced less depression and stress, exercised more regularly, and made more progress toward personal goals. Researchers even noted a relationship between feeling grateful and feeling loved, and they observed how gratitude inspires acts of kindness and compassion.1
Remarkable, isn’t it? All this from daily gratitude and thanksgiving.

Of course, the best way to discover the benefits of gratitude is not by observing them in an academic study but by experiencing the miracle for ourselves: When we daily count our blessings, we feel better about life, even in the midst of adversity; we garner a strength of character and largeness of soul that will help us through hard times; and we see life as basically good, despite its challenges and heartaches.

Gratitude does not need to be reserved for holidays and special events. Every day is filled with miracles and blessings. If we open our hearts and look, we’ll find reasons for gratitude and thanksgiving each day, all around us.


1 See Robert A. Emmons and Michael E. McCullough, “Highlights from the Research Project on Gratitude and Thankfulness,” http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/labs/emmons; see also “Gratitude Theory,” http://www.acfnewsource.org/religion/gratitude_theory.html.

Since I won't be here..

I would like for those of you who know my neighbor Sassy to wish her a Happy Birthday on the 29th! I somehow manage to forget until the day after or so... and now this year I will be out of town, enjoying the snow!..

Sassy, you made an impression on me the day we moved in 10+ years ago! It was a hot July day, and you brought a half gallon of ice cream over for my bored and hot wee ones! You are a kind and loving person, and although you have been thru many trials, you always somehow manage a laugh and a smile, sometimes much later..

I love ya, and Happy Birthday Sassy!

Randoms...

(but then aren't I ALWAYS random?)

1. I went to the dentist today for a cleaning. I think it's been a couple of years.
Still, she said my teeth were great. I think she forgot to give me flouride (oopss!) Yeay for me!

2. It's finally autumn, I think. We had to close the front door last night... too chilly for me!
(yes, we have a security door on it!) Mark was ready for the lovely cool air... Sorry dear!

3. Sleepwalking - Jessica came out while we were watching tv the other night -asked if we'd called for her.. Um, no?! In the morning I found her top sheet and blanket on the kitchen table, and she had a smaller blanket on top of her, trying to keep warm. Weird.

4. Sleeptalking -well, since I'm on the topic... do you do it? Mark tries to talk to me when I am really sleepy, and sometimes he gets lovely responses. He always teases me saying "fuzzy wallpaper" - something I said a long time ago.

5. "I'm shrinking" (a la "I'm melting" - the wicked witch.) - As of Wednesday, I have lost
40 stinking pounds! Yahoo!!

Craziness..

One holiday skips another...

One day after Halloween,

I go to the grocery $tore, and

they are setting up the

Christmas trees

at the front of the store!!

Yikes!

I guess I am one to talk, because I've

been finding Christmas music for my Zune!!

It's not as bad as it sounds..

Yup, Gamma Knife surgery sounds bad.. it isn't so bad, really.

http://www.irsa.org/gamma_knife.html

There is a website if you are interested in getting into detail.

Gamma Knife® surgery is recognized worldwide as the preferred treatment for brain tumors, arteriovenous malformations and brain dysfunctions such as trigeminal neuralgia. the Gamma Knife® allows noninvasive cerebral surgery to be performed in one session and with extreme precision. Based on preoperative radiological examinations, such as CT scans, MR scans and angiography, the unit provides highly accurate irradiation of deep-seated targets, using a multitude of collimated beams of ionizing radiation with scalpel-like precision. The "blades" of the Gamma Knife® are the beams of gamma radiation programmed to target the lesion (in my case, the nerve and blood vessel) at the point where they intersect. In a single treatment session, 201 beams of gamma radiation focus precisely on the lesion.

That is probably more than you all wanted to know. I've had TN pains for about 14 years, before Brennan was born. Only in the last 5 or so years has it gotten much worse. I've been managing the pain lately with medication, so it's been good.

I went in for pre-op at *yawn * 5:30 am on Thurs. My veins were not very cooperative for giving blood or getting an IV started. When we went to the Gamma knife (also called cyberknife) area, we waited for the Dr's, one neurosurgeon, and the other deals with radiation. The anesthesiologist sedated me completely while I was sitting up, and then they put the frame on my head, yes, screwed into my skull. (yes, glad I was put out!!)

Don't I look really happy? Two points on the front, and two points on the back. Then I went for an MRI. When I came back from MRI, the point on my back left side was really starting to hurt, I felt the pressure. So Dr Ashman came and gave me three SHOTS!!! YOWWWEEE!!! in the back of my head.. OH>MY>LANTA! That was the worst part of the whole day!

We waited in the waiting room for an hour or so while the docs mapped out where they were going to aim/focus the gamma rays on my nerve. It was a quiet procedure - I actually fell asleep during the 39 minute procedure.

When I came out, they immediately unscrewed the frame- that was wierd... Then, you know how your lip feels after being numbed at the dentist? My whole top and back of my head was numb!! I was touching my head, but my head couldn't feel it! I came home with two tiny circle bandaids on my forehead. That's all the evidence. I've had evidence, I think, that it has worked. I go back to see the Doc in weeks, and should be able to start decreasing my medication. That is what it is all about now!

So.. i'm good... no after effects! It was outpatient, and other than the few sore spots where the screws were, I'm good. Thanks for being concerned, my great friends!!

Well, I did it.

I had the Gamma Knife procedure done yesterday for my Trigeminal Neuralgia.

All went well, but it will be a few weeks before we'll know if it took effect on my
silly nerve.

For those of you who don't know about it, I'll try to come back with some links
tomorrow, and maybe a fun picture of me in the hospital with a frame on my head!

(Loads of fun, that!)

Another First...

Kind of in the same as the first.. well it was in the same town , anyway.

Webster Elementary, Magna, Utah

This was my first school - it was straight down the street from the aforementioned house. My big brother (2yrs older) and I walked each day - passing plenty of bars , the firestation , and the Rexall drug store. The bar doors were open during our walk home, so when we peered in, all we saw was neon beer signs, and darkness, and the occasional bearded man sitting on a stool.

When I started Kindergarten with my teacher , Mrs. Hiatt, (if I really tried, I could find a class picture) there were portable buildings in front of the school on the blacktop (to the left of the picture. ) Mrs Hiatt was fairly old, with grey hair and glasses.

First grade was on the bottom floor, with Miss James, who was tall and young, with brown hair and a lovely smile.

2nd grade was on the 2nd floor, in the corner room on the right. She had an aide that taught us Spanish sometimes. (My kids learn some Spanish now, but just going to school, they have friends whose parents don't speak any English at all.) We had opportunity to earn "Webster money" or something like that. Miss Dobson would keep track of it, and occasionally we'd get to up to the 3rd floor to spend it. The 6th (and maybe 5th) graders built Websterville up there - complete with a store, a beauty shop, a post office, and other fun places. Our incentive in class was to do well to earn money to go spend it in Websterville. The money was actually washers with their currency printed on it - believe they were "cm's".

When we moved in the middle of 2nd grade to the other side of the state, I was sad to leave my teacher. She and I started corresponding - and I am happy to say I am still in touch with her now. My kids have met "Miss Kris" and she frequently sends them little gifts for the holidays, maybe m&m's or advent calendars for Christmas. She lives near my in-laws in Cache Valley, whom we visit yearly, so we try to put in a visit to her as well. She even has some of my schoolwork saved, and some letters I wrote her way back when.

Honestly, I enjoyed school.. I think Miss Kris had something to do with it also!

Tell me if YOU had a favorite teacher or remember your first school!

I've been away because our computer is being eaten by viruses... time to get a new one!!

I must be getting old...

Here, I'll type in larger print!!!

I bought myself a new music player, so I'll have something to listen to when I go to the gym or ride my bike, and I need to have my teenager there with me to explain it all as I set it up.

Maybe I'll just tell him what songs I want, and let him do it all. He was more anxious to get
it out of the box than I was! (surprise, surprise...)

I'll show you my first...

If you'll show me yours!!

No, not like that!!

I just thought it would be fun to see some "firsts", or

hear about them if you don't have pictures!

This is my first house... well the first one I remember living in anyway.

We moved here at Christmas 1971- I was 4 years old. I remember starting school while living here. I learned to rollerskate down the driveway, but there was a gate at the end so I didn't go rolling into the street. This picture was taken within the last 10 years or so, when I went back to Magna, of course it's not quite the same... the trees are much bigger.

Up the driveway to the right is the detached double car garage - at the front of which was a sort of root cellar. We stored potatoes and carrots there in the sandbox, and pulled them out when we needed. Behind the house is an enormous garden.. well it was a garden when we were there. My dad has home video of my mom out there in curlers - hollering at him for sure, for taking her picture up to her ankles in mud. We got irrigation water for it, so we kids often played there in the concrete ditches, more home video of that..

I remember having chicken pox here, and missing the Halloween festivities at school, that was a bummer! My mom made a quilt for me while we lived here - I remember it being set up on quilt frames in the front room, and crawling around underneath it.

Also in the same room, there was a big flourescent light fixture, with a glass cover, not like the plastic ones today. My little brother, Nathan, came in with a flat basketball one day. Since it wouldn't bounce, he decided to throw it up! Well, of course it hit the glass light cover and down it came. He shielded his face with his arm, and got a lovely gash on it, which he still might have the scar from today! It may have been the first for my accident prone brother.

While we lived here, I also got to take dance lessons... (the only time in my life!) I took tap and ballet, ( more home movies...) and took part in a recital, dressed up with Mickey Mouse ears, orange shorts with suspenders and black pom pom trim on them. Too funny!

Anyhow... I've had fun reminiscing.. I'll tag anyone who'd like to do it.. tell me about the first house you lived in, and things you remember while living there! Leave me a comment telling me when you've posted! Have fun!

Note to self... Watch your step...

Friday night we had dinner as a family at Nello's in Ahwatukee ( for you non-locals.. try that on for size...). Afterwards, Mark took the girls home, and Bren and I headed off for the Desert Mountain vs Mesa High game. My cute neighbor's handsome son is Qback for Mesa so we went to support him!

After getting stuck in some stoopid loop... for 15 minutes.. we finally got to the game around halftime - crowded parking lot, but found a space. We went and found Sassy, and some other friends and watched the 2nd half.

Going up the steps, I nearly tripped, but managed to get up with no problem.
We thought we'd leave with two minutes left to beat the traffic (the Jackrabbits were getting creamed..)

Bren went down first and wanted to go say hi to his friends in the band. I started down, with my waterbottle in hand.

Let's just say the next minute was a blur... I went down a few steps, and somehow missed one, and down I went... like slow motion, I couldn't grab the railing because my waterbottle was in my hand. I somehow twisted my whole body around and landed flat on my back at the bottom of the stairs! Bren came back to ask if I was okay.. I was, thankfully, with no twisted ankle.
My ego may have been bruised a little..
Next day I ended up with a HUGE bruise on my hip, almost my thigh.. gosh it was beautiful! It is a lovely shade of purple now, about 4 inches across, by 2 inches high!
I will spare you a photo...

The silver lining to this purple cloud is... I think if I'd fallen 3 months ago and 25 pounds heavier, I wouldn't have survived it so well..
I'm grateful that I've been able to get some weight off and feel alot better!

Snorker

Did you know that dogs snore? This is what I see when I turn to my right, whilst sitting at my computer. When I have a day off, like today, he follows me around the house, and must be in the same room that I am. I'm sure it messes him up when I am all over the place cleaning house!
Anyhow... he lays there on the floor... and snores.

At least he is not pooting.. right now, anyway.

What do you see when you turn to the right...

What to post, what to post??

I'm feeling way less than brilliant today! Glad that it is Friday.

Oh.. I suppose I should post my Peep Meet picture.

For those of my local bloggy friends, I visit an online group

regarding Reality TV shows, but they also have an Off Topic group.

People (peeps) from there who travel often arrange a peep meet with someone

from the board who lives in that area. My friend Paul came to Phx with his Lovely Wife Sandy for a family function, and I met up with them for lunch! We dined at The Spaghetti Factory in Phoenix and talked about all sorts! They are moving to Reno soon, so maybe I'll see them again! Thanks for taking time out to visit me, Paul and Sandy!

It's my blog and I'll brag if I want to, brag if I want to...

And that would be because...

I've lost 25 pounds!!

Woo Hoo!!

12 weeks of Weight Watchers, and I've done it..
I've signed up for another 10 weeks, so we'll see where it goes from here..

"But Mom, there's no more water in the bottle"...

Which was said after this child was asked if he/she fed and watered the dog.

Not to mention the fact that the child was standing right next to (or in?) the bathroom.

Not to mention the fact that the child was right around the corner from the kitchen.

Well, gosh, where do you think you might get the poor dog some water?
I usually think of this child as smart, but thought that was a pretty silly statement.

(give me a break...)

What crazy thing has YOUR child said lately?

Memories, Memories

♥Here are the directions:
♥ 1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together
It doesn't matter if you knew/know me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
♥ 2. Next repost these instructions on your blog and see how many people have a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see their responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you are playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Anyone? Anyone?

Yippee!!

First of all.. School has started, we are thankfully getting back into a routine.
*whew*

Secondly, I went to my 10th Weight Watchers meeting last night and got a pleasant
surprise!! I'd lost 4.something pounds, for a total of 22 lbs! Hooray!
I was totally excited!
I had been hoping to reach 20 by the end of the session, so was rather pleased
to make it OVER that!
I initially started WW since my company will rebate me 1/2 of the
session price (ka-ching) if I lost 5 lbs over the session! I did it!

(please let me contain my excitement!)

Anyway.. I will continue to attend.. try to reach my first goal...

Then, I got in the mail today from the Animal Care and Control..
a bill for license fees for our cute beagle!
$16 annually it seems..

Where you live (if you are not in the same town as me) do you have dog license fees like that?

Blasted Beagles, Batman!!

I apparently have to pay penalty fees of $46 for not having him registered!

I don't know if the previous owners said anything to us or not,

it was two years ago, and I still was an emotional wreck from

my mom passing away.

So, it pays to have your pet licensed (blah, blah, blah..)

or else YOU'LL have to pay.

(and I want to know why they didn't send me a late notice

a YEAR AGO!!)

And They're Off!!!!

FINALLY!! They're Back to School!!
If a 7 year old is ready at 6:20 in the morning, do you think she is excited to go back
to school??

If a 6th grader fusses with her hair and changes clothes a couple of times,

do you think SHE is ready to go back to school??

Um yeah.. I think so!

We went to Meet the Teacher last week, and I think the girls will

have a good year. They both have a friend or two in their class, and

some don't have students in their class that I'm GLAD are not in their

class (is that bad for me to say??)

Anyway, I can relax at work today, not waiting for a phone call

saying someone is being mean to me.

Whew...

Last one... off to 8th grade.. with his stylin' plaid shorts.

They are all the rage.

What happens when...

You give a 13 year old boy a camera and send him to the mountains??

(I have no idea how these are going to be laid out.. but I thought they were funny... I especially like the pic of the knee...)

I'm just not feeling it..

I have nothing to say, except..
I am SOOO ready for school to start!!

Anyone want an 11 YO & 13 YO? ?

Really.. I"ll give them to you cheap!

A funny thing happened on the way to Mt Graham...

It Rained!!

We climbed and we climbed! I know that we hit 10,000 ft at some point, but we never saw the sign! It was a beautiful drive! It was so nice to be out- the temp got down in the 50's on our way up. I had the windshield wipers going full blast at one point. We thought we might be the last ones there to get boys, and we were.

Janet kept an eye out for her husband to come down the mountain, as he had been one of the directors there. We did see him, and she could have jumped in and went home with him, but she stayed with me, thankfully, to the top! Since it had rained on us going up (and then we were ABOVE the clouds, ) we figured the boys would have gotten some rain. We were a quite welcome sight to them! They were all sopping wet, as they'd been stuck OUT in the rain. They were not allowed to go back in the dining hall, since it had already been mopped and cleaned.

Janet and I walked up to the main camp while the boys got their things loaded in the Suburban. There was an extra young man who'd gotten left behind, so we gathered him up as well. It was beautiful up there, although we couldn't see OFF the top of the mountain. The boys were NOT too stinky, because they were wet!

We had a good trip! Only one fell asleep on the ride home - Since everything was wet, we rolled down the windows for part of the way- beautiful fresh air! We stopped at the Sonic in Thatcher to get some lunch, then loaded up for the drive home. Janet wanted to hear what everyone thought of the training, and they were eager to share, and many wanted to come back and serve on the staff next year, so she was happy! We were gone from 7:30am to 4:00 pm, so it was a long day on the road, but an enjoyable trip overall!

ROAD TRIP!!!

Well, I haven't actually taken it yet, but I'm leaving in an hour or so...
It unexpectedly, turned out that I need to drive to Safford/Mt Graham today!
My son has been gone all week to Silver Axe Scout camp, an NYLT program up on Mount Graham. The gentleman that was going up to get him and 3 other boys was having problems with his vehicle, so I offered to go instead. I have never been to that part of Arizona, so it will be a little bit of an adventure for me.

However, I won't be going alone. Janet, a lady my husband works with and who was partly responsible for getting my son and his cousin going to the camp, is going with me. She works with the regional scout council here, and her husband is also at the camp. She is going to be my navigator, since I've never been there. It will be interesting because she doesn't like heights, and it is 11,000 feet or so at the camp! Also, I've never spent this much time with her, (it is about a 3 hour drive) other than seeing her at work, and occasionally we gave her a ride home. So, we'll see how it goes.

I'll be bringing home 4 stinking tired, make that stinking, and tired, teenage boys in my Suburban, for three hours...

Should I invest in a nose plug?

Happy Fourth of July!!

Oh Wait, that was last week, wasn't it?

Okay, so I am slow in getting things posted..

We went to the Diamondbacks game on Friday night! There was a special half price ticket promotion thru work, so I took advantage of that! After the game, which was very boring and the Dbacks lost to the Padres, there were fireworks! It didn't look like we'd be able to see them from where we were.. so, when they were opening the roof, we went out and crossed the street to the top of the parking garage next door.. It was fabulous! I haven't seen fireworks that close in forever! We had smoke in our eyes and there were still burning ashes coming down! The kids loved it!

I didn't attempt to take pics of the fireworks - not really worth it! But we had a great evening!
I'm glad to live in a free country!

A 24 Hour Vacation!

Tuesday afternoon, my neighbor and I took our total of 6 kids and left town! We finally left the other side of Phoenix about 5, and headed north to cooler country. Trying to make 6 kids happy with dinner would have been impossible, so we made an executive decision and stopped in Cottonwood at Casa Bonita Family restaurant. We got everyone fed and then drove the short distance to the resort. The kids had fun in the pool and then the jacuzzi tubs, we played some games and got everyone to bed.

We kind of lazed around in the morning.. had some breakfast then headed out! Our destination was http://www.pr.state.az.us/Parks/parkhtml/sliderock.html. I haven't been there in probably 17 years, when I went with my brother and 3 other guys! (Woo! What a trip!) I don't know if the state park was established back then.. I just remember hiking down to the creek from the road! We got there by 10 am, and the kids promptly went for the slide!

Brennan was the first to get in - they were too cute with their goggles!

Mallory was a little more hesitant! Overall, she didn't like the slipperiness of it all, and she didn't get in the water too much after her slide!

Jessica just went for it!

And as cold as it was, even I took a trip!

Here we are with the famous red rocks of Sedona as our background!

We went back to the resort, and everyone got cleaned up, we had some lunch, and were headed out of town by 3 pm! Made it back home about 5:15pm - so it was a quick turnaround, but it was really nice to get out of the hot valley, and up where the air was a little bit cooler! We love our neighbors!

Oh, and we made it to the Weight Watchers meeting, and I lost another 5 pounds ! Yeay me!!

Another wedding pic..

It's the only one we have of this - it was tough to scan from the album, but one of my favorites!

Here's where it started..

Tagged by Kaja..

1. WHAT DATE IS YOUR ANNIVERSARY? August 1

2. WHERE DID YOU GET MARRIED? Mesa Arizona Temple

3. WHO PROPOSED AND HOW? Mark originally proposed in January, but due to some extenuating circumstances, we were officially engaged for real, in April.

4. HOW LONG WERE YOU ENGAGED? Around 3 months

5. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR WEDDING DAY? (AND IT CAN'T BE YOUR HUSBAND) . I spent the night at my friend Leisa's house, who lived across the street from the temple. So it was fun spending time with her!

6. WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE IF YOU COULD? I'd make it not in August when it was so stinking hot!

8. REMEMBER ANYTHING SPECIAL ABOUT YOUR WEDDING CEREMONY? Not really, (it's been so long..) ..kissing him!

9. WHERE YOU CLEAN OR MESSY WHEN YOU CUT YOUR CAKE? Clean, if I remember correctly!

10. WHERE DID YOU GO ON YOUR HONEYMOON? Here's where the story is.. We left Phoenix in August in a car with no air conditioning. We drove across the desert to Las Vegas with a gallon of water to drink.. no rest stops. We stayed one night in Vegas, spending only a few dollars on nickel slots, not winning anything. Then drove up to UT and stayed in the basement of his brother's house. We went to Lagoon, an amusement park, and I think mostly visited family and friends the rest of the time! But, hey, we were together!

Anyone else who is willing to share, consider yourself tagged...

My invention would be...

This summer I have decided we need a new invention.
It wouldn't really be much.
Actually two versions...

A towel that talks? or a towel with legs!!

We came home from our trip away with what I think was nearly every towel in the kids bathroom dirty.. .let me rephrase that... WET! They went swimming plenty, and I think that
they used every towel possible, instead of hanging them to dry, and then reusing them.

SO.. I suggest that towels be made with legs, so that they can take themselves to the clothesline, or else to the Laundry basket.. OR.. that they be talking towels, so that when they are dropped on the floor by unsuspecting children, they shout out "PICK ME UP" or "HANG ME UP"! Wouldn't that save ME from doing so??

Or? if they made them both talking and walking? Then they could follow the children around shouting at them UNTIL they picked them up!! Sound good??

Update..!

So, even though I went away for the weekend, through the airport with Cinnabon, Cold Stone Creamery, TCBY, CPK, Burger King, and ate out for 2+ days, I still lost weight!

Yeay Me!!

I actually lost 6.8 lbs! The last time I've lost weight is due to my trigeminal Neuralgia.. when my face is hurting, I can't eat.. so I lose weight. Now that my pain isn't so much, I'd been munching again, and so put much of it back on.

I made a conscious decision to make better choices. But even though I had two (yes.. two) Bear Claws this weekend at St Louis Bread Company (aka Panera) I still lost. And I also had frozen custard from Ted Drewe's. (oh, my, that was good!)

And here are a couple of cool pics (at least I think so..)

We didn't go up into the arch, as the lines were too long... didn't have and hour and a half to wait. So we drove, and drove, and drove! There are so many cool neighborhoods, kinds that we don't see out here in the desert!

Okay... I'm committed.

Weight Watchers.

Stop Dieting.

Start Living.

Or so they say. I'm going to start an At Work program. If I lose 5 lbs over the eight weeks, my company will give me back half of the fees I paid. I figure I can do that.

So, here I go... starting to be healthy.
Aren't I doing great. (after I finish my Dr Pepper on the table.)

YUM!!!

My friend Tara is a graduate of the Scottsdale Culinary Institute, so she knows how to make all kinds of YUMMY stuff! Every now and again we have a little mini class with her, and she teaches us how to make something! On Tuesday we made cream horns!

Wrapping strips of Puff pastry carefully..

Then an egg wash and some chunky sugar..

We can smell them baking...

Fill them with chocolate whipping cream/pudding

mixtures, or strawberry whipping cream..

And VOILA!! Cream Horns!

Tara dolled up the one below- she's good like that!

We had lots of fun! We delivered a few to some friends and

neighbors nearby! Thanks again Tara for an awesome afternoon!

Whew!

Made it through another week. (Guess it's been more than one since I blogged last.)

There were no knock-down drag-out fights between my children while I was gone to work. (thankfully).

I don't want to quit my job - I enjoy the extra income, and the interaction with adults. But.. if the kids can't get it together... I think they did fairly well, but it's not good when a child hangs up the phone on her parent... sheesh. We'll get there.

On a brighter note, I want to challenge you to do something, my loyal readers (hee, hee).

This last week we went to my nephew's first birthday party. It's a family tradition of ours to let the 1 year old have his own piece of cake and let him dig into it! Jessica also had her hair cut to donate to locks of love - it looks really cute!!

Anyway, I pulled her close to me while we were at the party, and had my hubby take a picture of us! She tried to squirm away.. silly girl! Some of you may know how temperamental 11 year olds are. Anyway, I told her that I would give anything to have a more recent picture with my mom! Or even more when I was younger - there aren't many.

So, my challenge to you is to get a picture of you and your mom! You don't have to post it to your blog - but if you live in the same vicinity as your mom, get a picture taken of the two of you!

I used to think that I didn't look much like my mom, but I guess more and more I do..

The Beginning, and The End

Alternative post title... SCHOOL'S OUT!

They started on August 13th - more than ready to get back into the swing of things...

And May 22nd, they are done!! I think Brennan has grown a few inches since then..

And now they are going to have to figure out what to do with themselves two and a half months before school starts August 11th!

Brennan was accepted into National Jr Honor Society - He's had mostly A's this year... now he tells me he got a B.. in English. He went to California with the Symphonic Band to play at Disneyland. He also tried out for the District Honor Band, but didn't make it.

Jessica was her class finalist in the Spelling Bee - did a great job! She also performed in two acts in the School Variety show this last month. She plays the flute in the 5th grade band, and will be attending the Taylor Jr High Band camp in July!

Mallory.. has had a great year in 1st Grade! She's had different "friends that are boys" during the year, but I won't name names! I've enjoyed sharing the Art Masterpiece program in her class this years! It's been fun to hear "Hi, Mallory's Mom" from the kids in her class. I also did AM in her class year - so there are plenty of kids who know me!

I don't have the same flexibility at work as I did last year, so the kids will need to figure out how to get along better than they have.. I think there will be some financial incentive to not call Mom every 15 minutes while she is gone!

Happy Summer Everyone!