Visiting AZ

Kirk and Dylan have been so sad because they haven't seen Alexis and Seth and Gramma and Poppie for a long long time... So we decided to take a little trip down during Veterans Day vacation. 

Here we are.  Al is with and John stayed home to take care of the dogs... Thank you John, knowing that Rusty and Toby are safe and taken care of makes things so much better... No worries with you at the helm...

We got into Tempe around 7:30 p.m. Thursday and called Kirk.  Told him we were in and Al was going to come over after we had dinner to sleep there.

Dylan had a short day at school Friday so we would get together after school tomorrow...


Friday, Cindy, Kai and Tay came over for a visit.. The boys were wonderful.  Seth played very well with them too... They swam and played in the hot tub and we all had lunch out by the pool.  It was great.  Lex had gone off with Jessica for a few hours until Dylan got off and then we all hooked up again.

Miss Lexi had just done her hair... Woot Woot

Dylan spent the night with us and we were going along ok for the morning...

Seth and Dylan... BOYS!!

Dylan, Kirk and Seth watching t.v. ... so intent!!

The many feet of Kirk's Family

Things kinda went south quickly in the p.m. and Dylan went home early.  I didn't get pictures of Lex with Dylan or with Kirk and his 3 kids... Oh well... missed memories can't be fixed now.  Maybe the next time things will be better all the way around.  If there is a next time that is!!

Kirk and Al brought along Kirk's friend Serena... We all had a great time at the pool.

Seth tossed for 200 pts. Alexis and Kirk wanting the points

Kirk and Lexi

Connie, Kirk and Seth

Seth and Kirk

The weather was just right... Not cold or to hot... The pool was heated (good thing) but the water was just right!!
 

Seth and Lexi

Seth and Kirk

 










Then Kirk and friend went home after eating at In and Out... We got things ready for an early start to Sunday... 3:30 a.m. start at that... ugh!


Things always go to quickly when you only have 4 days and 2 of those are spent driving...
Mike drove all the way home...

We unpacked the van in Spanish Fork around 3 pm., and packed up Lex and Seth.  John and I took them to meet up with their mom and Belle in Magna at Zack's house.

I don't know when they got home, but John and I got home around 7:30 p.m. in wet snow/rain and cold... burrrrrrrr

I do so love my own bed tho... sigh

Almost through the front door!!

Ok Ok

Part of me wanted the inside done first... But living in Utah and winter just around the corner, that would have been a mistake.

Looking out the door into a space to fit one car

So.....  We got the garage in order... Didn't want Mike breaking anything this winter so this had to take priority.  Getting his car into the garage so he can get to work.

We used every space available... even the ceiling

and the yard done and winterized...

We used our bricks and planted bulbs 

 

We brought our bricks from Wild Oak to Holly's and then hauled them the 55 miles down here to use making a flower bed they had laid out already.  We have the patio that Chris did the summer he passed away... Yes, that came with...

We rocked the side area cuz it's clay.   It's kind of odd due to 2 sprinklers in that space.  hence the breakdown and the run off from the drain spouts.  We hope in Spring we can rock this area same as the rock on the side of the house.. 

The weeds were over 3 feet high... we would love to rock it!

Now I am working on getting the inside together...  Which is difficult cuz we have to many things from our BIG kitchen and 3 car garage and not enough room in our little kitchen, no basement and a 2 car garage... Not complaining just trying to figure out what is really needed and what is just fluff... If you have time and want to help me figure that out... let me know... I never turn down help (well not much anyway)..

Pantry

This is our pantry.  Yup and that includes the part that opens to the crawl space.  So... now where do I put my spices?? hm  Sigh 

I don't think I will be buying many spices or mixes until we have this under control... Meaning what is used and what is not used... So I ask myself this question, "Why do I have it to store if we don't use it?"  Hm..  Good question don't you think!!

Laundry room with pantry opposite the w/d

The main issue we have with this house is no basement to hide our junk... (the water table in this part of Spanish Fork is to high as noted in the crawl space under the house which is wet and has water marks on the cement).  The other odd thing here is no 1/2 bath on the main floor.  We have 2 bathrooms, both upstairs... hm  So I can't put anything off... (noted for an old woman) must act quickly and just a pain in the .........

Front Door

a half wall between the front room and my office

We got the mirror hung and hoping to get the clock hung this weekend.  I have over 30 house plants, so a big issue is where do they live in this house? 

To understand the piles... they were over 4 ft tall when we moved in... So I have made headway.  We are down to about 2 feet tall and still working...

trying to find places to put things has been interesting

I love Spanish Fork... You have the slower paced life of the country... and we are only 15 min from Provo University exit... nice.  I've lived in areas that you have to drive 4 hrs north or south to find a KMart... haha... in the 'olden days'  to only being a few minutes away from just about anything you want or need.

standing at the stove in kit looking into my office area

I am working on getting things organized in my office (the downstairs family room) so I can start sorting genealogy, photos and the many things I have had to keep and store for my brother (my dad's totes add up to 4 or more)....

Collage of my Office Oct 2010

Yes it feels that cluttered right now.  I just keep chipping away at it. 

 I have 2 more boxes to go in the kitchen...  Will probably be moving the microwave to a counter instead of the short cart.  Unless Mike will buy (haha probably not) a new cart at IKEA.  A nice cart can be purchased for about $150 and we have a spot for it (well almost).  Keep posted for any upgrades...

hutch in alcove, front room note closet door

My first thing to do was go through the 3 drawer file cabinet and organize that... Then John and I shredded 2 boxes full of items 06 and before... my oldest paper was from 1994!! haha 

But I am working on getting things in order.  We will be here at least a year and maybe two and I want to have it all done and gone through before we make another move.  I know it's a big project... but other than dishes and laundry and mopping the kitchen floor... what else do I need to do... No much!!

We are officially moving to Spanish Fork, Utah...

We have an address and now Mike will only be 20 minutes from work...

I on the other hand will be an hour plus away from my grandkids and a very pregnant daughter...

So... I plan on making a weekly trip to West Jordan to help out and visit... It will probably be around her errands and appointments so I can spend the day (will need a nap for sure).

I am almost 3 hours away from Lex and Seth... Day Trippin'... haha

Lucy Lu is going to live with my granddaughter, Audree... Hoping all will work out with that and she will have a lovely fixed kitty...

We have the movers coming on Tuesday and hope to be packed and ready to go by then.   Not everyone in the house has been compliant... but today is a new day.

Yee Haw!!

Connie is still struggling...

With Sleep

Ady bugging Rach... She is studying.. Really??

With Stability

boys playing a game on the computer

With Pain

I am finally growing an Ivy...

My Fica Tree, Rubber Tree and Umbrella Tree...

But today was an okay day...
The weather was wonderful...
Almost a perfect day :)

Aunt Mae for the 24th of July 2010

Then I have grandkids come and visit and they energize me and wear me out all at the same time. 

I feel bad for not getting up to Idaho to visit with Mae... and Irma and Velola... They are not getting any younger and I will feel really bad if I don't visit with them before they pass on.

I add to my own stress with feelings of guilt over things I am not able to change at the present.  Not knowing where we will be going is hard for me... I still have tons of 'crap' in Holly's garage and our garage... Working on it...but not fast enough or good enough.

Seems like that is the story of my life... not enough... time, energy or money... but I can pick away at it and that is what I'm doing... a little here, a little there... and I will make it... I don't want to move the next time with so much... I want to share it or sell it... and it seems to grow everyday.... the accumulation of stuff... Oh My!!! 

OK
I'm rambling... overflowing with nothings... that is what is inside my head and needs to get out in order for me to process life better ... Hopefully this will work...

Kinda funny way to go...

Rachael got a new car...  PT Cruiser...  and she hasn't put her photos up yet...

So I will blog them for her and she can get a round toit... when she can.

She has put on a new tire and gotten a few items fixed and ready to get it registered as soon as the paperwork comes in...

It's a fun ride... Rusty and Toby both liked the trip they took to the grocery store.
So way to go R... it's gonna be a busy time and a car to get you here and there is a great idea.  And all for only $110 a month. 

So take your CNA test when you get back from Florida... and get a job... haha

You know I love you...Right!!!

Tired but not depleated...

I am like a "cat on a hot tin roof"... bouncing off the walls of my body...

I hate change, yet that is what life is every day... change.  It requires of me more that I want to give away right now.  I am into the hidey hole of life and want to do nothing.

Yet... my legs won't quit moving... I can't sit still for more than 3 minutes... Nothing is working to get me some sleep... except sheer exhaustion at 3 a.m. for about 5 - 6 hours and then I'm up and have no focus... can't stay on track... can't remember what I was saying or doing...

So... what is the diagnosis??

I found that flip flops will flip and flop when you are sitting down if you cross your legs and wiggle your foot... click... click.. click... it does nothing to settle me down...

Where do I send my adrenaline when I have to much inside my body and don't feel good enough to use it properly or at all????  So where do I send it??? hm

Talked to my sister yesterday, who by the way is in Florida... (rub it in) Did you know that you can spend days in Orlando going from amusement park to amusement park and the only thing you run out of is $$$$... ?????  I think I will need to visit this state now... when the humidity is low and the gators are asleep!!!

Can you tell I can't concentrate... welcome to my world!!!  I keep bouncing from subject to subject and can't even finish a thought....  UGH...

Missy's Weekend Sleep Over...

Hurrah!!!  We finally connected for a sleep over and play date with Audree...  It's been since late April or early May since we've gotten together. 

Gramma and Poppie hadn't gotten her birthday gift yet... from June 22... so we went shopping and got her a few tops and a sweater for school.  Oh yeah and can't forget the sparkly nail polish...  can we?? 

We met up with her cousins, Adylin, Matthew and Bennett and played at the park across the street from our house.  Then when it got to hot... we all jumped in cars and went to McDonald's to eat lunch and play where it is cool...  Happy Meals and orange soda later... and a pinch from another kid ... and we left after a good couple of hours of play. 

We got home to Gramma's just in time to make beaded bracelets and have a snack... before Ady, Matt and Benno needed to leave and go home. 


Audree was lucky to take 2 nice baths in our garden tub with lots of fun toys.  Then she got dressed and we went to the mall for shampoo for Gramma and time to meet up with Erik.

Over all it was a good time...  Audree has sure grown up and is really trying hard to be a good listener.  Which helps me while she is here.  She got along well with her cousins... was really sweet with Bennett who is a month older than her baby sister.

This is a Mark and Gramma sitting position...crossed legs hm..

Maybe next months visit we can go fishing on Saturday morning... That would be a fun thing to do... Especially if she can catch them... Then she can take them home for dinner... Yippee  it's a plan!!!

It's a new day!! Still August, but a new day!!

OK

It's come and gone... And I survived...  Hurrah!!!

August 10, 2003...

So... Now I move onto the new day... I am ok... I've been a brute for the past 10 days.  The brute is gone... and I'm doing ok... Trying not to feel guilt for not hurting and to say it's a good day. 

September is coming... Things will cool down... The clocks will rotate to the good time once again.  Then I will complain about it being to cold.  I can't get it right... it's either to hot or to cold.  Wish I could find a happy medium and just go with the flow.  not the ice flow or the heat flow... but a nice flow. 

]I was thrilled to get a phone call from my sis... She sure has gone through the mill this past year.  RS camp was a bust... I'm sorry honey!!  Glad your pix's are up and the cactus is home once again.  It will be your place soon...

I will soon be getting a new car... Just a small used one... Guess it's the way things are right now.  I refuse to worry about items I have no personal control over...

I've not had much to photo or otherwise care about. 

When it cools down do you think it will be any different??  Maybe?? Probably?? Not??  haha

How do you spell...

D E P R E S S I O N !!!

Today just seems to be that kind of day... 

It shouldn't be... but it is.

Dark days...even with the hot sun shining down on my head...

It is usually darkest just before dawn... so I am guessing dawn is coming...

It's pretty hot... but July usually is.  

We are within the temps for normal.  

100 degrees F. means it's summer... 

And I do love summer (not).

Guess I will take a nap and hope that it improves my mood somewhat.  

If not, then I feel sorry for those that I live with... 

cuz' Oscar the Grouch has nothing on me when I'm out of sorts.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Camping July 10

We decided to go camping with Holly and family and Davis' cousin Mike Anderson and his family.  Then we decided to just go up for the day.  Do some fishing and eating and enjoy the kids a bit and then come home and sleep in our own beds...

Holly and Davis asked if we could be ready at 7 a.m. to leave... They had a few mishaps the night before and were running a bit later than that.  After running the last of the errands and getting gas... we were ready to go.  We were not quiet sure where we were headed... so we stayed fairly close to them on the road.  We ended up Ogden Canyon along the North Fork out of Liberty, UT.  

Mike and Mindy have the cutest kids.  Kaitlyn is about 3 and Josh is about 10 months.  Linda, Mike's sister was staying with them for the week so she got to come along.  They also brought up the best looking firewood I've seen in a long time.  Reminded me of the wood we used in Bishop to keep us warm at night all winter long.  Pretty and split and nice...

The 2 babies... Bennett and Joshy...  Bennett played with Josh very well... Hopefully this means he will be a good big brother this winter...


Mike, Al, Davis, Tanner, Matt, Ady and I went fishing for a while.  Tanner got to see what the bottom of the lake looked like while we were at South Fork.  He fell into the water fully clothed and wasn't sure if he should drop his pole and tackle box or swim... While he was thinking about it...Davis took a quick dive into the water to pull him out and save his other shoe which came off during the dip.  

 I missed all the excitement trying to figure out what I wanted to carry from the van to the fishing spot they picked out.  It was straight down the side of a hill with only a 2 foot lip to fish from... After Tanner's quick swim... the thought of Ady and Matt going in was a bit to much for me... So I took them to the van and we watched a movie and went potty a few times.  About 4 p.m. we took off for camp hoping that the guys were soon to follow... NOT... they showed up at 7 p.m. with a few more fish and tired out... Both Davis and Tanner were dry by then and all were hungry.

 

Big mistake asking Ady to say, "Cheese"... haha... she wanted to take an adventure with me and needed to have her picture taken with the pretty yellow flower...
Good choice chickie girl!!

 

Linda was very cute.  Helping with the fire and food... Filling in with kids as needed... and just a good all around helper!!  She played with Tanner or was that teasing??  Took a small walk with the girls... and at one point the 3 girls were in the hammock... telling a story about the ladybug that needed to go home to it's family... But we were not quick enough to grab that shot... but it was a very sweet moment.

 

Didn't I tell you about Bennett and the table???  Well... here he is again on the top of it.. I think he fell a few times and was caught a few times before taking a dangerous dive... or two!!

Meanwhile back at camp, Holly, Mike, Mindy, and the 3 kids including Bennett... took naps and played some games.  We got back just in time to help with dinner.  I being the super Gramma that I am, took the little buggars into the van for a few adventures and another movie or two.  Matt was the driver, while Bennett just ran around dumping soda and eating bits and pieces of candy floating around.  We were in the magic van for an adventure.  It took us flying all over. 

Did you know you could ride a tent??  Well, this little 20 month old tried just about everything he could on this trip to have fun... even if it was of his own making.  Cute too!!

The chicken was frying in a dutch oven... the baked beans were started... had to wait for Davis to come back with the dough for the cheese rolls...  No I didn't take any photos of the food... dang it... but it was yummy... no rolls left... a few pieces of chicken and we ate most of the beans. 

Kaitlyn and Bennett (Davis holding one end and me holding the other) play napping in the hammock...  They all played with this, a few bruises later...

Ady, Matt, Bennett and Kaitlyn playing in the hammock... it was a good toy to take... 

Holly and Mindy... and a few smiles... Lunch was cooking and we were chillin...

If you turned your head for one minute this is where you found Bennett... Sitting on the table snacking on food.  This is lunch... hot dogs cooked over an open fire, fresh off the stick LOL

The big tent... fits many!!!  Not a pop up like the Williams tent... that is on the wish list I think... maybe after the dutch oven wish list is completed..

Mike, Al and I left before the apple crisp was done... We had almost a 2 hr drive home and didn't want it to be pitch black when we left. 






Matt was into using his staff... then Kaitlyn got into the fray... along with Ady... I on the other hand used my walking stick.  Yes, that is a point, but we were careful to watch them as they were walking with their staffs... someone in the movies has one??? Avatar?? or the last airbender or something?? Hm...





















I think a good time was had by all... Here are a few of the pictures I got... Enjoy!!

The 4th is over... Getting ready for camp or is that going camping??

I am home resting up from a long weekend.  Didn't have the energy to get up today to go fishing with the guys and kids.  They went out to Vernon again and that is good cuz the kids are getting very comfortable there.

Mike, Al and I met up with Louise, John, Kristy and her family, and Holly and her family out at Louise's new house that has a community pool for our 4th celebration and BBQ.  The wind was up and the temps were down... but we all had a great time visiting and eating.  Things we all do well. 

John got me a small set up going so I can water and not use the system that seems to have something broken... So now I can water the lawn and not have to reset the small rainbird on the hose and keep moving it.  I am happy about that!!  Saves me time and hopefully saves us some money too.

I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with the house right now.  I can't seem to get a handle on the dishes and dirt and mess.  I am working on getting our renters (we now have 3) to keep themselves up and their messes...  ugh... If it isn't the boys, it's the boy dogs!!  Sigh!!

The zone for this week is the kitchen... Maybe this is what I need... listen to the flylady and see if I can get the amounts under control.  I still have to much in the kitchen cupboards and to much on the counters.  Sigh!

We can't eat at the table due to the amounts of items not in anyplace yet.  So, does this mean I still have to much or just no storage??  I'm thinking to much!!  my stuff, Mike's stuff, fishing stuff, dog stuff, others stuff... ok... to much stuff...  Oh man!!! 

Fishin' with Holly's Crew

Mike and I thought it would be a good idea to take the grandkids fishing...

Davis and Al went along as our support system...

The last time the kids went... they didn't want to touch the fish...

This time we couldn't keep them away... Of course we got a new net (that was the big bonus for the day).  Sharing isn't a concept Adylin or Matthew have a true understanding of...

 Superman and Capt. America??? Together on a fishing trip... Cool....

I took a bag of kid friendly toys, a blanket, and shade tent...  We weren't out long enough to even use the shade tent... Better left for more than 3 1/2 hours to get our limit.

  Pure contentment root beer and cheeto's... YUM

Yes Matt, this is a big one... Job well done!!!

The net...Quick, get the net... Where is the net, Ady???  Hm...

 We used a pretty good amount of tackle and floating bait...  We crossed lines more than once... And had more than my share of poor casts... The wind only blows when I go out with the guys.  So that means casting is more difficult.

 I look very macho... but the sun kills the eyes and t's are my fav...

 Reel it in, Ady... I've got the net... keep the tip up... keep reeling... nice and steady... That a way!!!  Good Job!!!

This is about 14... We ended up using almost every stringer the 3 tackle boxes had, plus the new one we just bought... (the white rope tied to the rock)

We caught 28 fish (4 each) and limited out before it got to hot.  The treats went over well, chips and ham sandwiches and some candy with pop... all before 11 a.m.  the kids thought they had gone to heaven.

Cleaning the fish is another problem...  Did you know if you push on the fish it poops??  Well it does, unless it's a girl with eggs and then it poops out eggs... But our fish only had poop!!!  OH MY!!!  Now if you hand the cleaner one fish at a time he can clean them...

 Tanner is learning how to gut them... Notice what an 8 1/2 yr old does with fish guts...

We took along the practice pole and only Al and Poppie got hit by children practicing their casting.  They cried but I would have cried louder, so they gave up and got down to business of manning their poles...

We have our own fish whisperer... Al... he catches and helps and just does it all...

Remember it's not 10:30 a.m. yet!!!