2 Little Fishies!

Today, Cooper and Savannah had swimming lessons. Katie has some kind of nasty flu bug and was just too sick to take them, so I got to go! I took some pictures of them as they were having their lessons. I was very impressed with their skills!

Savannah is waiting with her teacher for the other kids to get there.

Cooper is very happy as he floats on his back.

Savannah swims to hear teacher, making a big splash!

2 Little Fishies all done, and they smile for Grammy!

When the Family Gets Together...

Day 2 of our vacation in Utah. (day one is posted on my other blog.) We went to the park behind my sister's house and had a wonderful bar-b-que with all the trimmings. Most of my siblings, their children and their grandchildren were there. It is always fun when the cousins can see each other. Many will be moving to different parts of the country this summer as they start the careers. There are two new babies on the way. My dad will have a total of 27 great-grandchildren after Kori and Krista have their babies. Kori and Krista are sisters. They are due about 3 weeks apart. Kori is scheduled for a c-section on June 30 and Krista will just have to wait it out. This will be Kori's 3 baby, and Krista's first. It is fun for these two to share their pregnancies together! Delayne and Katie have been "good cousins" forever. It is always nice when they can see each other. I love when I can see my sister, LaRue. She is holding my youngest grandbaby, Luka. He always has a smile for everyone. He is such a sweet baby.

LaRue's husband, and my brother, Dave, are cooking up a storm.

My dear old dad is the patriarch of quite a large family.

It was fun to see my nieces and nephews. I have tried to keep in touch with them this year by viewing and commenting on their blogs. It is a great way to stay in touch. I love them each so much. They are amazing men and women, and are doing a great job with their children. It was also good to see my dad. Each visit is a gift that I treasure.

Just ONE word!

Idea came from Katie, who borrowed it from Debbie.

One Word.

That's all you can write as your answer.

Not as easy as you might think!!!

1. Where is your cell phone? ..... dresser
2. Your significant other? ..... relaxing
3. Your hair? ..................................... reddish
4. Your mother? .................................. deceased
5. Your father? ......................................aging
6. Your favorite thing? ..........................grandkids
7. Your dream last night? .............................none
8. Your favorite drink .............................. water
9. Your dream/goal? ............................... mission
10. The room you're in? .............................family
11. Your ex? ......................................... past
12. Your fear? .................................... heights
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years.................Utah
14. Where were you last night?........................ Mesa
15. What you're not? ................................ timid
16. Muffins ......................................... lemon
17. One of your wish list items?.................... Hawaii
18. Where you grew up? .......................... Bountiful
19. What are you wearing? ....................... sunscreen
20. Your TV? ........................................... games
21. Your pets? ....................................... Roxy
22. Your computer? ......................communication
23. Your life? ................................... fabulous
24. Your mood? ...................................... happy
25. Missing someone? ................................ girls
26. Your car? ......................................... new
27. Something you're not wearing?.... makeup
28. Favorite Store? .............................. clothing
29. Your summer? .................................... relax
30. Like someone? ................................ everyone
31. Your favorite color? ........................... nature
32. Last time you laughed ........................... today
33. Last time you cried? ........................... Friday

Well, I think I did it, but it was hard! I like to use lots of words - adjectives especially.

Jubilations for my Joyful Jewels

I don't know why I use alliteration in my titles. I just like it, I guess! Julie sent me a fun email with a goofy picture of her last week after her visit for Becca's 8th grade promotion. She learned how to use the "photo booth" feature on her laptop from Becca while she was here visiting. She snapped this lovely shot of herself and sent it to me. Isn't she funny!

We all sat and played with Becca's computer doing these wild shots of ourselves and just laughed so hard! I sure love my girls. They bring so much joy to me. I am so glad that we can play together and be silly! This is something we have always done, and I cherish every minute I can spend with my wonderful daughters. If we had to be serious all the time, life sure would not be much fun.

Jewels called me last night to catch me up on her social life. Good things are happening there. She is so determined to have a temple marriage and said she would never sacrifice that for anything. Too many little folks have their eye on her and she does not want to let them down. Not only Ava, but her niece Savannah, and her nephews Cooper and Luka. Also her sister, Becca. I appreciate that she also wants to make the right choices for herself, because she knows that is where she will find true joy and satisfaction in life.

I am so excited about the path that Julie is on in her life. She just had a great semester at the University of Utah where she plans on getting a degree in Sociology; she is the MIA Maid advisor in her ward; and she is planning on going to the temple in June. I am so happy for her and the decisions she is making. Julie is such a wonderful mom-daughter-sister-friend-person. She works so hard at all of her responsibilities in life and is totally being blessed by her good choices. I love you, Julie! Keep up the good work.

Sunday Ramblings

Life goes by so fast and furious sometimes. The last two weeks have really been a blur. I have had a few 10-12 hour days at work with getting ready for graduation. On top of that, I have had church duties, family events to hostess, an emergency dentist appointment for Nick, shopping for girl's camp, and a job interview earlier in the process. I am so thankful for this 3-day weekend. Thanks to the brave Veterans who died at war, and made this possible without even know how badly this 21st century woman would need this long weekend at this time in her life! I have posted several pictures here and put a notation under each to explain their importance in my life. I am so blessed with myriads of events, a huge variety of people and numerous tasks that help me enjoy each and every moment of my existence!

We saw McKaela, Becca's good friend, at the Cheesecake Factory when we went there for her celebration dinner for making it through the 8th grade.

Nick ordered the "ultimate," huge hamburger at the Cheesecake Factory. It was so tall that he could not even fit his mouth around it. This is the first time I have seen him leave food on his plate. I think I owe someone or some thing a big thanks for filling up his hollow leg just this once.

Life is always more fun when Julie is around. Even though they were here for just a few hours, Katie, Julie, Becca and I made the most of it and laughed until our sides hurt! Thanks for coming, girls, and staying with us.

I am so glad that Katie brought Luka. He is the best natured baby I have ever encountered. (Except for maybe Julie and Katie.)

Julie is just plain hilarious! What else can I say?

Dear Opal Bee, a sweet lady in my ward. I saw her Thursday at our enrichment night, Friday at the Ice Cream Social, and again at church on Sunday. I love her so much!

I have adopted her as my "Auntie Opal."

Beautiful Bethany - she and I love to play piano/flute duets. Even though I am old enough to be her mother, she is a dear friend. She also has a darling son that fills my aching arms whenever I have a hankering for my grandbabies who live so far away. She is one of Becca's Young Women leaders and is such a great example of what a faithful and obedient daughter of God should be.

This is an Ironwood tree. They were dotting the valley near Thunderbird Park in all their their pink glory when Rod and I went hiking later on Saturday morning. The sky was still very cloudy, so we actually had cool temperatures. It was perfect. And the rain made the desert smell delicious!

The view from the summit was so beautiful - the air was clear because the rain washed away all the pollution. I think we will do some more hiking on Monday, for sure! The sky got darker and darker as we finished up our hike. We did hurry back to the car so we wouldn't get rained on.

I am Pocahantas

You Are Pocahantas!

Free-spirited and wise. You have a strong passionate spirit that touches and changes all who know you. The wisdom and common sense that you have is really what guides you through life. Even so, you also have a very playful side that loves adventure and excitement.

Which Disney Princess Are You? Thanks for this cute idea, Jewels.

20 things to remember

I usually don't post things that are sent via email, but this one I really like.

1. Faith is the ability to not panic.

2. If you worry, you didn't pray. If you prayed, don't worry.

3. As a child of God, prayer is kinda like calling home every day.

4. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.

5. When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knot.

6. Do the math. Count your blessings.

7. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.

8. Dear God: I have a problem. It's me.

9. Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.

10. Laugh every day -- it's like inner jogging.

11. The most important things in your home are the people.

12. Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.

13. There is no key to happiness. The door is always open. Come on in.

14. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.

15. He who dies with the most toys is still dead. (I guess that applies to fabric, too!)

16. We do not remember days, but moments. Life moves too fast, so enjoy your precious moments.

17. Nothing is real to you until you experience it; otherwise it's just hearsay.

18. Its all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.

19. Surviving and living your life successfully requires courage. The goals and dreams you're seeking require courage and risk-taking. Learn from the turtle, it only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.

20. Be more concerned with your character than your reputation:

Your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.

No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.

Leave gentle fingerprints on the soul of another for the angels to read.

I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it.

I want to have lived the width of it as well.

A New Trail...

Last Saturday, Rod and I took a hike into the White Tanks on a new Trail. The entire distance traveled was about 6.2 miles. Yes, I know. It's hot, but I must protect myself from the sun with sun screen, a hat, long pants (I haven't been able to fit into my microfiber hiking pants for a while!) and a long sleeved shirt. I actually stay cooler by covering up, as the sun does not directly heat up my skin.

After about a mile on a fairly easy, sandy, and wide trail we got to these warning signs. We also saw a snake right off the side of the trail here. We decided we would go on ahead as we wanted to find the abandoned dam we had read about located on this particular trail. It was a perfect day for hiking. The sky was somewhat overcast, which gave us relief from the direct sun.

The trail really was rough. Very rocky and steep in places. I was glad to have my trekking poles, especially on the way down. They really save my knees! With my short legs it is hard for me to step up some of these rocky and steep places. I scraped my elbow on one of the rocks. If you don't leave behind some blood, sweat, and tears it's not a REAL hike! On our way back, we actually ran into some 11 & 12 year old scouts going up the trail. One of the chubby little guys was running too fast and fell. He gashed open his hand, scraped his knee good, and was cut on the back of his leg (Achilles tendon). It looked like he was bleeding all over! He was bawling and his buddies were trying to help him out. We stopped and offered to help. "I'm okay, he sniffled," but I could tell that he was NOT okay. I cleaned his hand and put a band aid on it. I checked out his shoes and he was wearing his DC skater shoes, with the laces all loose. We told him he would do a little better if he would tighten up his shoes and slow down a little. Then the dad that was at the end of the line came up the trail. He also told Chubby to tie up his shoes and slow down. The boys ran off. We hope they made it without any further mishap. They only had one bottle of water each, which is not enough on a hot day like that! And the trail was really quite treacherous, with a very deep ravine on one side, lots of rock and prickly bushes everywhere. This was such a beautiful resting spot. We had shade, flowers, and the pungent scent of the creosote bushes. I just love the smell of the White Tanks! Especially after a rain... We found several small pools of water. They were ALIVE with tadpoles (the black spots), and other pond life. Here is the first glimpse of the little dam. It was much smaller than I had expected! As you can see from this closer shot, it was just constructed of stones and concrete. It is full of sand behind it, and it is just part of the trail around a bigger loop around the mountain. I found it quite interesting, however, and enjoyed examining the dam up close. This is a good illustration of why these particular mountains are called the White Tanks. When you hike back in far enough, there are huge mounds of white rock, like this, and there are small holding "tanks" full of water. It is really beautiful! I found this ocotillo in bloom particularly beautiful. It was one of the tallest I have encountered, so I zoomed in on the bloom with the beautiful cloudy sky in the background. Here I wanted to show how HUGE the thorns on the ocotillo are. Just look at those suckers! When you are on the desert, every thing either stings, sticks, or scratches you. That's for sure! This was a welcome sight in the trunk when we finished our hike! I drowned myself in Gatorade and enjoyed my sun dried tomato turkey wrap! I could not have asked for a more perfect day. Can't wait for the next hike. The desert has really grown on me and I have come to love the unusual beauty, the earthy smells and the unique landscape.

A Blog Meme

Rachell tagged me on the 17th and I filled out all this stuff, but did not have time to edit and post, so here it is a few days late!

First, the rules: Each blogger answers the questions about themselves (5 answers each question). Then tag five people. Make sure to let them know! :)

What I was doing 10 years ago - 1998:

1. Helping to run the NRCHA horse shows
2. Playing "Hotel" every morning to get Becca to eat her breakfast
3. Playing "Penny and Medusa" to get Becca to get her hair fixed every morning
4. Trying to figure out how to get Becca to sleep in her own room
5. Enjoying having Julie and her friends home for lunch every Friday

Five things on my "to do" list:

1. Work on Graduation stuff for Sunnyslope
2. Mail Cooper's birthday box so it gets there in time for his b-day next week
3. Take Nick to get his Driver's license
4. Help Becca with more 8th grade homework
5. Make 3 visits to sisters in my ward that have a special need

Snacks I enjoy:

1. Chips and salsa
2. Grape tomatoes (now that I am on Weight Watchers)
3. Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches
4. Baby carrots (I love crunch stuff)
5. Mint chocolate (especially Andes - these are NOT on Weight Watchers recommended list)

Five things I would do if I were a billionaire:

1. Give a HUGE chunk to each of our siblings
2. Pay off our debt (house and car)
3. Give a HUGE chunk to each of our children to insure a secure future for them
4. Pay for Julie's college
5. Pay for Rachell's college

Five of my bad habits:

1. Eating too much
2. Procrastinating things I don't really WANT to do, but HAVE to do
3. Too quick to answer without know all the facts
4. Reading when I should be doing other things :o)
5. Sometimes I think I laugh too much (is that possible?)

Five places I have lived:

1. Rose Park, UT
2. Smithfield, UT
3. Fayetteville, ARK
4. Corcoran, CA
5. Johnson City, TN

Five jobs I've had:

1. Grocery checker at Winegar's
2. Motel Maid at Rawlins, WY Holiday Inn
3. Babysitter
4. Piano Teacher
5. And my favorite: being the MOM!

What I'd like to be doing in 25 years: (I will be 77) (Holy Cow!)

1. Playing with great grandkids
2. Walking without any kind of aid - like walkers and canes
3. going to the bathroom by myself
4. Hopefully NOT being a greeter at WalMart
5. Living closer to kids, grandkids, and great grandkids, so I can play with them

Now I must tag 5 people:

Kim, Sarah, Becca, Karli, and my friend Patty A (in CA!)

Celebrate! (And Then Watch Out)

Nick got his AZ Driver's License today! He is so excited. But consider yourselves warned, he is now out on the streets. (Actually he is a very good driver. You really don't need to worry!)

This is one very happy young man.

Congratulations, Nick. We are very proud of you! Enjoy your new found freedom, but not too much...

10 Things I Love About Losing 10 Lbs...

One month ago I decided I needed to get a grip and do something about my physical health. Katie and Julie motivated me to join Weight Watchers Online and I have loved it! I have always imagined the extra weight I carried around as 10 pound bags of sugar . . . 4 of them! I can now celebrate that I am no longer packing this one around! Here are 10 things I love about losing 10 pounds:

1. I can bend over to buckle the straps on my shoes and still breathe.
2. I can now wear my navy blue skirt again.
3. I no longer have to use lotion to take my rings off.
4. My "big pants" are now baggy!
5. My face and neck look thinner to me.
6. Most of it came off my "tummy."
7. My heart does not have to work as hard when I walk or hike.
8. My watch band is no longer so snug that it makes a mark around my arm.
9. I have to fasten my bra on the tightest hook so it won't slide up!
10. I do not dread weighing myself.

Analogies and Metaphors

Those who know me well, know how much I love words. My friend emailed this to me today and I thought it was just great! I picked out my favorites. Which is your favorite?

Every year, English teachers from across the USA can submit their collections of actual analogies and metaphors found in high school essays in order to have them published and sent out for the amusement of other teachers across the country. Recent winners:

Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a Thigh Master.

His thoughts tumbled around inside his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free.

He spoke with the kind of wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who goes blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it.

She grew on him like she was a colony of E. Coli, and he was room-temperature Canadian beef.

She had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like the sound a dog makes just before it throws up.

Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.

He was as tall as a six-foot, three-inch tree.

The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had disintegrated because of his wife's infidelity came as a rude shock, like a surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM machine.

The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn't.

From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you're on vacation in another city and Jeopardy comes on at 7:00 p.m. instead of 7:30.

Her hair glistened in the rain like a nose hair after a sneeze.

Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling west at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. traveling east at a speed of 35 mph.

They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan's teeth.

John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.

He fell for her like his heart was a mob informant, and she was the East River.

Even in his last years, Granddad had a mind like a steel trap, only one that had been left out so long, it had rusted shut.

The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.

The young fighter had a hungry look, the kind you get from not eating for a while.

He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck, either, but a real duck that was actually lame, maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.

He was deeply in love. When she spoke, he thought he heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up.

Even thought my Ecuadoran son-in-law is fluent in English, he translates some figures of speech too literally. When I commented that he and my daughter are about the same age, but she looks much younger, he agreed. "Yes," he said. "Some people think I stole the crib."

Missin' the guys!

It has been a month since Katie and the kids were here, add another week and it's been 5 weeks since Julie and Ava were here. I miss them all so much! I can't wait for summer to come so I can see them all again.

I could just get lost in Ava's big brown eyes. And no one hugs like Julie does. I could sure use one of those hugs right now! Becca is gone to Utah, Rod is sick in bed, Nick doesn't feel good either. Guess I am just plain lonely tonight!

I just know this little guy has changed so much in the last month! Sure wish I could give him a hug and a kiss on those sweet cheeks!

What radiant smiles!

We had such a fun time at the spring training game.

More Desert Beauty

We had such a great afternoon today! the Desert Botanical Gardens was a whole new place for us. I have come to love the desert the last three years we have been here. The spring is especially wondrous as the cactus bloom. We saw so many beautiful thing! This is a Palo Verde - green barked - tree. They are actually all over. I was so shocked the first time I saw these and their stunning green bark.

Wild flowers are rampant in the desert right now. We saw meadows of them as we drove to CA last week.

This is called a creeping devil cactus. The send runners out all over the ground and climb and creep on whatever is there.

These are sculpted willows. Aren't they neat!

Sweet tiny pink blooms in this stickily little plant.

Gigantic plants with huge blooms on top reaching into the sky.

A halo of pink on the prickles.

This one is hilarious! It looks all furry - Old Man of the Andes!

It is fascinating how the little bulbs grow on the end of the rounded pedals of the cactus, and then burst in the brilliance when the bloom.

Ocotillo reaching skyward. These have really beautiful, bright orange flowers on the ends. I took tons of pictures, and it was hard to decide which ones to post. There is so much beauty, and each plant unique. We will certainly return to this amazing place. And I hope to do a hike in the wild in the next couple of weeks when the cactus will really be putting on a show!