Pre fourth of July post

Well I woke up early today (used to always hear about 'old people' getting up early and thought that's just crazy!) and decided to check email etc....aaaaand decided I would post something. I'm hoping to get the rest of our camping stuff packed so we can leave when Thad gets off shift. I have been looking so forward to this campout, even though the majority of the people who were coming have pooped out on us. I told Thad "God willing and the creek don't rise" we are still going. I just love to cook in the dutch ovens and sit by the fire, play horseshoes, ride bikes and just hang out. I'm really looking forward to Tev and her fam coming. Quentin informed me that he and his little fam might come out on Thursday and spend some time....yaaaaaaay! SOMEDAY all or most of our fam wil be able to camp together like old times. Just want all you kids to know that I miss all of you and look forward to seeing ya'll whenever I can. Have a wonderful fourth of July in this great and blessed land that we live in, well except Risa and Nephi since they're out of the country but they can still have a good time regardless. Love to all!!! MOM

A Post From Nephi

Hey, this is finally Nephi again. I just want to clear a couple of things up to start with. Tev didn't have to pry the pictures from my greedy hands. I most willingly sent them to her. It's just that I really don't have a whole lot of free time to do stuff like blogging and such. I figure if I have the time to blog, I could be creating new worksheets or whatever for work. But, I realise that it's not a very good excuse.


I am doing extremely well, as far a I can tell. Naomi and I are having fun being together (of course). Our school is doing really well, all the classes are full and we just had a few new students join the past couple of weeks (which is why we now have all the classes full).
Jacob let me know the other day that they are expecting again, and am so happy for them. I hope all goes well with the pregnancy.

I see the kids (my kids of course) every weekend for a few minutes while they do thier swimming and ballet. Elijah is still being big and Alisha is still being cute. Her face healed up almost perfectly. It is hard to tell there were even any scrapes there. She loves ballet and dancing and is so excited every time I go and see her. Elijah seems to enjoy swimming too. They love coming over to our place and spending the night whenever their mother lets them. (which unfortunately is not very often). But when they do come, they always remember to thank their mother for letting them come. They are both really well behaved children and Elijah is also a wonderful brother to his little sister.
Well, I guess I've rambled long enough, and I need to get going anyway.
I love and miss you all!

Have a great time being you

Love,
Neefee

here are some pics of the kids playing dress-up just before Naomi and my reception.

Life in my "fast lane"

I've been meaning to post about this but have not done so for various and sundry reasons. I was asked to be in a book club by one of my former co-workers (Char, in case anyone knows her). It was decided that we would pick a different book to read and report on it. It had to be a Newberry winner. Fortunately for me Tev had me listen to the book The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. It was the winner for this year. ( Highly recommend it especially on disc). We met at Show Low park and had yummies to eat and discussed each of our books. I really like the other 'girls' in the group. I'm the oldie, they're all under the age of 30. We had a lively conversation about the books. Our next book will be the Scarlet Pimpernel, none of us has read it and then we will compare it to the movie. We decide to change up the way most book clubs run. Next time different books again....maybe. We are going to have brunch on a Saturday and then discuss away!
Next item in my life...I was rehired VERY part time at my old job. I'm happy about it, nice change of pace and get to see my old friends again. I will be on an on-call basis, so if I have plans already then it's ok I'll just go in the next time if available, very flexible.
Changing subject....I have Allysa staying with me this week. What a cute girl (Valerie's youngest), been making Barbie clothes today, we got to be buddies when I was taking care of granny down in Patagonia. Hopefully this will be a recuring event. She will be going to Indian Christian Camp this next week. I remember going to Vacation Bible School with the Swensons at the Baptist church when I was a kid, it was fun.
We spent time with Tev for a few days and had a blast. Went boating at Canyon Lake ate at an Indian Bistro, played in the pool, went shopping...woe so dif with little girls and generally had a good time.
Well I can't recall what else I was going to post but maybe another time. TTFN!!

Nephi's Kids

I keep trying to pry some pictures of Nephi's kids from his greedy little hands. One night I got him to send me some via google talk. The kids happened to be over there for the weekend so here a couple that he sent me. Alisha's face is all jacked up because she got in a fight with a boy. I don't remember the whole story, but I am pretty sure she won. She is a tough little girl.

Elijah is getting big too. I was able to chat with them the other night as well. Nephi had figured out how to do the video chat from google talk so I got to see all of them! They were driving the kids back to Misaki's place. Naomi was driving so she didn't get to say hi too well. It was fun seeing them in real time even though I don't think they understood much of what I was saying. We all wish that Nephi and Naomi could bring the kids to visit, but that would be hard to convince Misaki.

Anyhow, just wanted to share a little about Nephi and his family. He seems very happy with his job and with Naomi. We all love Naomi and are so glad she is part of our family.

A Moment of Reflection

Well it's Sunday and Toast has some elevator music going (he says it's his Sunday listening music) and surprise he's asleep on the couch.
I just wanted to express my appreciation for all those young men and women who serve in our armed forces. I pray for them every day and thank the Lord that there are people willing to do that job. I'm proud to say my dad was in the Air Force and that he too served his country. Also my baby brother Ben who I miss very much (dang him for living in Alaska) he is also in the Air Force and my nephew Jessie Cool. Bless them all for their service. We are so blessed to live in such a wonderful country even with it's problems it's still the best place to live. I hope everyone takes a moment to ask God to bless our soldiers and their families at sometime while we are all out having picnics or cookouts. Everyone have wonderful and safe holiday!!

Mother's Day

I've been meaning to post about M-Day. So here it is. I had a great Day! I am one happy 'Mutha'. Thank you all my children for making my day so great. I appreciate that you appreciate that I'm your mom. I hope all of you who are mom's had a great day too! Hang in there and keep up the good work you are doing, it is "totally" worth it! Take it from someone who's been through the mill a few years. Love you all!!!! MOM

Adventures in babysitting

I know it's been a while since I've slogged through a blogg. Just thought I would post my thoughts about this last week spending time here with Tev and trying to pitch in with this whole Enok thing. What a character! I have enjoyed my stay here as always and glad I could be of some help to Tev while she's been so diligently taking care of Enok and trying to keep tabs of the goings on at home. I got to witness a miracle on Monday with Malik......he was already up and dressed for school before I even got up to get them up. THEN he even got his own breakfast, put his shoes on with out being told (I just had to tie them), brushed his teeth with only being told once Ummmmm....oh and sang pretty much all the way to school. Don't get me wrong he generally does pretty good but that day was exceptional. Alas it was a one day thing but hey it was great!
I'm a big girl now cuz I drove into the heart of the city which I don't do very well, makes me very nervous, but you know us moms, we suck it up and do what ever needs to be done for our children and yes grandchildren. I'm still such a country girl (you know....turn at the big pine tree and broken down truck kind of directions).
I stayed the night on Tuesday night so Tev could have a break. I don't know how she did it all those nights and days....very tedious trying to keep an active two entertained with limited resources, thank goodness he's so stinkin' cute and loveable. He basically melted the hearts of all the nurses there and Tev and I are like OH BROTHER! I was thinking, stop....... you're embarrasing yourselves you silly nurses, but I guess it was to his advantage cuz he could be a hand full.
I see better now the wisdom of having kids while young, as I've gotten older I get worn out a bit quicker but being reminded of the 'joys' of motherhood has been good too. Especially when the kids are so good like Jarek, Malik and yes even Enie. I always look forward to spending time with the fam regardless of the situation every moment is precious. I apologize if I wasn't too informative, not too good about 'writing' like my daughters but there you go.

sprong?

durned prognosticating rodent, anyway. I truly hoped he might get it wrong this year and we could begin in earnest with the garden prep activities, but all in vain. Seems like almost every year we get an abundance of lilac buds and then one last murderous snow storm. When the weather channel indicated a pretty strong possibility of snow and freezing temperatures, i figured i would try to cheat the global warming whoha and cover the bush with a big grey tarp and put a non-green incandescent light under it to burn all night long and contribute my share of co2 and excess warming to the planet. It looks like the buds made it through the night still kicking. I left the tent in place the next couple of days, relying on the forecaster's assurance that the frost potential still esixted. The same low pressure system that destroyed Bret and Tev's fence brought some pretty fierce winds to the mountain through the night so i was gald to see the tent still standing in the morning. We supposedly have a few more nights of below freezing temps, so i will deprive the lilac of direct sunlight till we head for the valley after my last day of rotation for this tour.(which will be wed. 1 april) can't hardly wait for the luscious smell of fresh lilac blossom. (think positive)

whooooosh! blowing off the dust

Well since it's been a long time since I've written I guess I better dust off the Ol fingers and get typing.
Granny is now back in her casita, snug as a bug in a rug. She's so happy to be there.....finally. I know she's missed her home. I've been taking care of her for about 5 weeks. Two at Val's and three here at my house. I've really enjoyed spoiling her and taking care of whatever she's needed. This whole service thing has been really good for me. Yesterday I took her to her last appointment in Tucson and now she will be going back to her original doc. She's doing really good and hopefully will behave herself and do the things she needs to, to be able to stay home. She received a thumbs up from the doctor and we are all grateful. Thanks for all the prayers in her behalf and in mine, especially when I've had to do a lot of traveling. Also, thank you Thad for being so generous with money and car and time in helping to take care of mom.
We also took some time to visit with Kathy and the boys. Bless their hearts they are always so sweet and gracious everytime I've had the chance to see them. Please keep them in your prayers. Kathy is doing much better battling her graves disease. She's been reading up on healing herself nutritionally and it seems to be working for her.
I thought I would have more to say but I don't. Sorry for taking so long to post but I just haven't taken the time to do so. Thank goodness for second chances. I'm not saying I'm completely repenting for not posting but I will do better.

Getting Dusty

This blog is getting dusty mother. I know you have been busy, but we would still like to hear from you on occasion. Tell us what crazy shenanigans you and granny have been up to.