Tevor & Cole

Ranting!

 

It's Bush's Fault

Ok--We haven't ranted in awhile about our current Prez~ Just watched a video on symbols/advertising that I found really interesting! So, thought I'd post this for everyone to see. Many many years ago I studied advertising & journalism--and have done a lot of research on subliminal messages in advertising--Anyway, so very clever, they are!!

Karter & Bailee

I've been missing Karter & Bailee, as well as my other grand kids! I just hate living so far away from them. I know they have their own lives, and could care less about their old Grandma in AZ---It's just so nice to have Storie, Kora, Trevor & Cole around, and be able to have a relationship with them. I keep feeling like I just don't really know my other grandkids~I look at pictures, and can't believe how big they're all getting.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KARTER!

Today is Karter's birthday! He's 12 years old, and will receive the priesthood, and be able to pass the Sacrament! I can't believe he's already this age. When he turned 8, we were in NC for his baptism, and it seems like only yesterday! I bought him a suit for his baptism, and he was so excited to have a suit! I thought this was so sweet, that he wanted a suit & wanted to look like a little missionary! Then, when we got home he had to try it on, again, I though this was so cute~ When he came down to model the suit, he opened his jacket, and had a toy gun inside. He was 007/James Bond!! I loved it!! I feel badly sometimes, because I don't know Karter as well as some of my other grand children~ It's hard having them so far away~ But whenever I send him things, he's always on the phone thanking me right away! He has a sweet spirit, and thinks of things that other kids don't even consider. I love him, and wish him a wonderful birthday! Wish we could be there for his special day!!

Trenton Pictures

I found these pictures on facebook, actually on Jeremy's sister's wedding pictures~ did that make sense? Anyway, I miss Trenton so much, and thought these were cute of him~

Jake

Ok--I'm picking Ali, after watching tonight. I think she's cute, not necessarily pretty, but the right look for him! Who does everyone else pick? Some of the girls were so annoying.

My song

Everyone keeps asking about this song on my playlist (MacArthurs Park)!  Have you noticed who sings it?? I was surprised, I had no idea that Richard Harris sang! I've always liked this song, although it's been made fun of a lot through the years~ Who knows what it means? I guess something different for everyone~ Also another bit of trivia, Richard Harris was cremated, and his ashes were dumped/spread in The Bahamas!! So now you all know a little bit about Dumbledore! Over the holidays, Kevin brought all of the Harry Potter movies, so we had a marathon, and I watched them all~ I'd seen bits and pieces, but not the whole thing before. It really helped having Kevin here to answer any questions, and watch with me. So, now we're ready for the next two movies!

Starting the Year off Right!

The good news is that everyone made it home safely. No snowy roads, or fog~ However Kevin and Helen drove up to their house, and water was pouring out of their garage! Broken pipe in the garage ceiling. We had to have our house treated today for termites! I had no idea it was such a process. The bug man worked on it for several hours. He had to drill holes every ft. and put poison in it, then fill the hole with concrete. Now, Myrle is painting the garage and getting everything all put back in it's place!! Hope this isn't any indication of what the year will bring to our families! 
I'm ready to plan a trip~ The gypsy in me says I've been home  long enough. Kodi is wanting us to come to OR, and Taryn says it's time to go South! However both places still sound a little cold for us! Why can't I just be happy in AZ, and not get these feelings to travel??

January 2010

Misha and the twins left today for Idaho. They'll just drive half the way, and spend the night at a hotel, then drive on home tomorrow. Hopefully, they'll have good weather! That's the hardest part for me, worrying about them driving in the weather! You just never know what they'll have. Coming down she ran into a lot of fog from her home to Salt Lake City. In fact she was all the way past Salt Lake City, before she really realized where she was! Now, that's the kind of thing that scares mothers!! So, I'm cleaning today, and trying to forget that it's just Myrle and I alone in this house now! Children just shouldn't be able to move away from their parents! I like the idea of the extended family, in other cultures where they just all live together, grandparents help with grand kids etc. The men work, the women cook etc. Ok---I'm off to my bed to be depressed!

December 31st 2009

Well, it's the end of a year! I can't believe 2009 is over! The older I get the faster the time flies. It's been a good year for our family. 
It was a wonderful Christmas. We enjoyed Kevin, Helen & Anabeth, and Misha, Jeremy & twins! It was so fun having them all home. Wish my other children could have been here also. I've decided I need a bigger house. With all my kids cooking, there are too many cooks in the kitchen. We had a delicious Christmas Eve Dinner. My Father, and his sister Harriet, and her daughter, Kay and Husband, Ed were here with us, as well as Helen's Dad, Billy.  We had ham, turkey, dressing, salads, potatoes, monkey bread, green beans, butter nut soup, and for deserts, Misha's famous Chocolate Mousse, Kilee's Banana cream pie, and Christtinas, pumpkin roll.  Back to our diets tomorrow~
We went to the temple to see the beautiful lights, and out to dinner at Cafe Rio~ Shopping, and more shopping! Jeremy put knobs/handles on my cabinets in kitchen and bath rooms, I love them! Kevin stayed up until 3:30 am putting together Myrle's new BBQ grill~Watched lots of movies! Went to see "The Princess and the Frog", "The Chipmunks, the Squeakuel" (spelling??? help Carie) Julie & Julia, The Blind Side, It's Complicated~ 
I'm posting a variety of pictures. It's so hard to get the little ones still long enough for good pictures! 

Kevin, Helen & Anabeth go back to CA tomorrow, and Misha & the twins will leave on Saturday, unless there's a blizzard (We're praying for one!) It will be a lonely time again for me---I plan to go to bed, and sleep until I'm over the loss and depression!

My Very Best Christmas

Someone asked me recently what was the best Christmas I've ever had?? Well at my age (Just had a birthday, so it's on my mind a lot!) I've had lots of memorable Christmases--But the one that comes to mind is when my Misha was born. She was born on December 13th, and I remember thinking after her birth that my life was absolutely perfect!! I had always wanted a son, and then two daughters--So I had exactly what I'd always wanted~Giving birth in December is wonderful to me, because it really made me think of the Saviors birth--How Mary must have felt to hold a sweet baby in her arms, and just the joy that your body feels after giving birth! I was lucky enough to have two December babies~ Of course all my babies were wonderful, as are all my children, but there was just something extra special about giving birth in December.
Now, here the challenge for all my blogger friends: What was your most memorable Christmas??
All my shopping is done/wrapped, shipped ( I spent 95.00 this year to ship to NC & OR!!) and under the tree. Now to start the baking, and candy making for my children getting in this weekend! I can hardly wait!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas~ and Santa brings you everything you want! XXXOOO to all my blogging friends!

Counting the Days Till Christmas!!

My Shopping is almost finished, and I'm counting the days till Misha, twins, Kevin, Helen & Anabeth come. Misha and the twins will drive down, weather permitting on the 20th, then Jeremy will fly down on the 22nd~Kevin will also be here the same day. My Dad will come to AZ also, as will his sister from OK, and my cousin and her husband! We're excited to have a house full~It gets pretty lonely sometimes, with just Myrle and I. Of course we wish all our kids could be here~ It's really hard this time of year, not to have everyone closer. I usually went home (Colorado) for Christmas, after we married, and had children--So even though we had a "home" of our own---Going "home" for Christmas, always meant being with our parents~Life is sad sometimes. I miss those happy times. Today I was listening to John Denver, Rocky Mountain Christmas, and thinking of my little ones, so many years ago. That is probably our families favorite Christmas Album. Nothing better than JD!!
Hope everyone has a wonderful, Merry Christmas~ It's been so much fun to read and get to know all my blogging buddies! Love you all!

Anabeth @ the park

Helen, Anabeth,Kevin & Chef Thomas Keller

Cole & Daddy

Miss Kora

Key Largo

We drove down to Key Largo, and looked around. Stopped at a sandal store--I have never in my life seen so many sandals! And most were really cute! However my high instep/fat foot didn't work with any of them! We ate dinner at a little place on the shore- Called The Sundowner, and watched the sun go down from the deck. It was beautiful. We had a bird watching us eat~

Atlantis

Atlantis was beautiful, and huge! It would be a fun place to stay. It has a private beach which would eliminate the peddlers we had to put up with~ It was also dead--Couldn't believe all the little foo foo shops inside that had no shoppers! We guessed everyone was at the straw market instead, where you can buy just about anything. Fake purses of all brands, fake watches, sunglasses and all sorts of local crafts, which I didn't need. Also newly released movies, which most of my blogging friends have been to see recently!

Taryn & Derik

NCL Cruise/Bahamas

We're in Miami checking it out now~ Yesterday we went to Key Largo--Ate dinner at a wonderful place there, with a beautiful view.It was wonderful cruising with Taryn, kids and Derik's family. Perfect way to do our first cruise! Of course we didn't get to see enough of them, and hated to leave them!

As pretty as it was, it just isn't Hawaii. I guess I really loved the people of the islands more. The water was beautiful in The Bahamas, but it was dirty elsewhere! On the beach there were tons of peddlers, selling every thing from jewelry, hair braiding to green (we're assuming that is pot?) The cruise ship was great~ The food was wonderful, and since this was free style cruising we could eat anytime, and anywhere we wanted to. We had our favorite restrauant we ate at everyday, and got excellent service from the staff. The first day we took off it was windy, and the ship was rocking some, it was a little hard to get the hang of standing, but didn't make us sick at all. It was great going to bed, and being rocked to sleep. We didn't have the rocking any other night, and I missed it. I would definitely do a longer cruise next time.