Holidays are here!

We decided this year that we would have a party for the adults only. A special time to play games and not have the confusion of the little kids. So on Saturday the 13TH we got all the big kids together. We ate, and visited. Dari and Christian had left Baylie in charge so they couldn't stay long. Part of the reason to get them here was so that we could give every one a Nativity set that we had gotten them. As Christmas 2007 ended I really hated to see the spirit of the season die. So I tried to keep it alive through the year and hope that with reminders of the Savior we can do that. After Dari left we played games and had a good time. We now will look forward to our family get together with every one on Christmas Eve.





Twas the night before Christmas.

And all through the house every one is stirring especially the mice. And all the kids and all the big kids. We had a great meal to start of the night. We visited and eat some more. Then we went to the church for a Christmas Eve mass. The first in our ward. We came home and drew names to preform service for through the coming year. Then the games began. We played games and ended the night with every one playing old and young. We had a story and kissed all good night. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. I pray we can remember the Savior all year through.

Thanksgiving

My turn to cook! I had a great idea this year, let's explain. I thought since the best part of Thanksgiving is the part where every one gets together and visits and we enjoy the family thing of celebrating the season together that maybe the food thing could be different. It meal is so much work the cooking the preparing and the clean up seem endless. And all for half an hour of dinner. Which includes a nap for everyone except mom who is still cleaning up long after every one else is napping. I suggested that we have a smorgas board where every one could do their favorite dish. Any thing, any thing that they like. Not well received...... Jack can't eat turkey, neither one of us should eat the dark meat at all. I didn't think JC and Emily liked turkey. So it all sounded like a good idea. Not so. I got over ruled. Traditional Thanksgiving dinner it was. Much to my surprise it was great. I bought paper plates, ( not exactly the traditional table setting, but saved much time and work.) Emily did the potatoes, they were great and in great abundance. JC went down and got Grandpa for us. Dari did the sweet potatoes. I did the turkey, dressing, gravy and relishes with rolls. We each did a couple of pies. There was plenty, we got to visit some of us got to nap, clean up was a breeze only 2 loads of dishes, ( can't imagine if we would have used real plates.) Em was my best help and each of the boys got to make a garbage run. We have much to be grateful for. Family, fun, health, and most of all we know what will bring us the most happiness. With gratitude I am thankful this year for all that I have.

Just 17

Happy Birthday Michael. Michael's birthday is on Sunday this year, but since Sunday is already a special day we can't celebrate his birthday today. We must have a special day just for Michael. So we will wish Michael HAPPY-BDAY on Monday the 17th of November. 17 on the 17th. Buy the way his real birthday is on the 16th, every year exec pt the years it falls on a Sunday. Happy 17 Michael!

History in the making

At my age it seems weird to say that I've seen alot of history. That's reserved for my parents. Any way I remember gas for a Quarter. Now it's $3.89 a gallon. I remember penny candy. There's nothing to compare that to. We could walk to the store with a dime and come home with a sack full of candy. Bread for .25. The first Astronaut on the moon. "One small step for man one giant leap for man kind.' There's more, but on election day this year history will forever be changed again. I repeat, One small step for man and I hope a giant leap for man kind. As I now have 3 grown children that take the freedom to vote seriously, I am proud that they don't take their freedom for granted. I was so excited on the first Presidential election that I was able to vote. Grateful that I had the right to do so. Thankful for those who fought for the right so that I could have it with out having to fight. In some elections we have commented just make a decision on the lesser of two evils. I believe that those that choose to run for an elected post either have their own interests at heart or really believe passionately that they have some thing to offer. I hope that passion will turn our country into the country that our founding fathers set it up to be. One of freedom for all. One where we all can be successful. And most of all safe and
Happy.

Live, Laugh, Love

Well I Guess 3's the charm. We usually don't get one weekend away by ourselves, but this year we have gotten 3. Parker wanted to go with JC and Emily to the Ute game in New Mexico and Michael is in the finales with Alta football. So we find ourselves on this Halloween being able to choose what we do with our time. So...........once again we have gotten on the motorcycle. We want to head toward the Canyons again. Knowing that rain is on it's way we carefully choose our route. We head toward Price, into Emery and under I70. Back side of Fishlake, beautiful day but chilly, the canyon is beautiful, lost all it's leaves but still pretty. We end up in Torrey. The west side of Capitol Reef. Saturday we travel through Capitol Reef and on to Canyon Lands and stop in Moab. It's hard to describe the way the beauty of this canyon makes me feel. I'm sure that there aren't many places that have this kind of beauty. I love it here. This is where the trip would end if I had my way. But being fearful that the rain will find us tomorrow Jack decides that we should move on to Green River. So on we go. I have lived most of my life walking on the safe side. Not looking for the excitement that makes me feel as if I'm walking on the dangerous side. Keeping my kids held back so as not to let them get into dangerous situations. being fearful that one of us will leave or get hurt. So spending this much time on a motorcycle is far from the safe side of life. (Where's the seat belt?) And now there's rain coming. Sure that it will hold off till later we get up and head out early. I hate Price canyon and just know that Soldier Summit is the worst place to be in a storm cause it always snows, we take I70 toward Salina. What a beautiful piece of road, that's what I'm on the back of that bike thinking. See I was right, and then comes the rain. To late to turn around and go the other way so on we go. Jack's only thought as we travel through all that rain is, why? Why, are we traveling further away from home. It's cold, we are getting wetter and wetter and Jack can't see. So every so often he has to blow the rain off his face shield. Wow, what a trip. From Salina to Nephi pretty uneventful. And here we are home again. The four of us once again under one roof again. Back to work, and school and all the activities that we each do, I want my family to know how much I have loved the life we have and have had together. Some have moved on and have lives of their own. I choose safety so that I could have one more day with each of them. So to Dari, (and her family), JC, (and Emily), Spencer, Michael, and Parker I cherish the life I've been blessed with, never wishing for more, just wanting time, time to spend with each of you. Loving you and making memories that can be what we build on tomorrow. So here's to the safe side. AND TO YOUR DAD, JACK WHO TAKES ME ON THE WILD SIDE! You have been my life I love each of you.

Happy 19th Spencer

October 30 what a great day to have a Birthday! It was always fun for me to celebrate Spencer's birthday. You got to dress up and act crazy if you wanted and know body thought a thing of it. The decorations were always easy and cute, who can argue with Frankenstein and ghosts. He always asked for the grave yard cake. Except this year, no cake, "no cake for me he said. I always get the grave yard cake." So no cake it is, specially since he is away at school. First birthday away from home. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPENCER!

9 to 5

Does any one agree that Monday is only the worst day of the week because it's the day we all return to work? So if your Monday was Tuesday would it hold the same dislike? Well I can tell you that no matter what the day, the return to work is hard no matter what the day of the week. I have a great job! I set my own hours (pretty much), I can call it off at any time (with in reason) and I really do love what I'm doing. I work in the water all day long, or not. I swim, I exercise, who gets paid to exercise, I do. I get to work with great people when they are feeling their best and recreating. I also can work with the cutest kids (for the most part, as kids go). I teach swim lessons to kids and adults, and I teach Water Aerobics. As a young person it was thought that I would be a secretary, book keeper or the like. Hated it, but I did it for awhile. Too many skirt chasers.

But my true love is my home and my family! So I put my all into it. I cleaned, I cooked (including desert every night) I sew, arrange flowers, learned to paint, crochet and knit. I groomed the yard and mowed lawns, planted flowers and vegetables. I can and prepared a storage,tried to do it all and do it at home. And I loved it. Then every one grew up, and I found that I had lots of time on my hands. I had no problem filling the hours, but, I felt guilty that I loved what I was doing and For so many years Jack had worked so hard to care for us. Now granted, now and then I did hold a few jobs. Usually long enough to get us out of debit, pay off the Dr. bills or buy transportation. But as soon as we could see daylight I was done and back to the job I loved.

The problem is now I really do have a job that I like, exec pt that it so physically demanding that there's no way I can do it full time. So for now I will do what I can and help bring in the bacon. And still have the advantage of being home also.