The summer of "ROCK N ROLL..." (or the Bishop really likes to rock)

(Kenny Loggins)

If anyone has been paying attention, we are starting to look like concert groupies. Except for the fact that the acts have been so diverse that it was a virtual potpourri of talent!

This late summer and fall we have been to see-

Brad Paisley

Martina McBride

The Charley Daniels Band

Randy Travis (ok, he looked REALLY OLD)

Cheap Trick (Dad let me off the hook for one night)

Chicago (mom's personal fav)

Kenny Loggins (it was about 40' with the wind blowing)

and not to be left out, WEIRD AL (thankfully Don took Neil)

Most of these acts were associated with county and state fairs so they were relatively cheap tickets and we had excellent seats thanks to Don. (no further back than the 6th row.)

And I think my hearing is still intact..HUH? DID YOU SAY SOMETHING?

Suffice it to say that even though we are getting gray....rock and roll still sounds pretty good to us...even if I can't seem to get the knack of taking our pic together.

"Feeling and wearing Bluish-greenish, and glazed over"

So, I guess Dad SHOULD be a little afraid when he goes out of town. For some reason, I get the urge to go to the paint dept. at Lowes and haul some home. This week it was for the tv room that used to be the living room. And I wanted to do it "artsy". So when I went to Lowes and the paint guy said..."oh, that's too hard and really expensive", I just looked at him. RIGHT.

Just hand over the paint and BACK UP.

SO, I painted for 3 days straight and didn't cook or clean and made a really big mess. It felt REALLY ARTSY...

I got the first coat on and then headed back to the PAINT DEPT. for the second more artistic coating...different paint guy that was much more enthusiastic and helpful.

This entailed

"rub on, rub off and then roll over"

(have I mentioned that my right biceps are really buff now?). But it also took about a hundred trips up and down the ladder to tip my head too and fro seeing if I liked it. And a late night phone call to my friend to come and tell me if I should forget the 3 coat thingy. But I toiled and went up and down that ladder many times.

I hated it. AND then I finished it and I LOVED IT. That is until I noticed on the upper end of the tall wall there was a little edge I missed. Kinda ruined the whole thing for me....so, I went back up the ladder for one more swipe.

So, it was my goal get it all done and put back together before Don got home and see if he noticed. He did. I think he likes it. And I asked him when he is going out of town again. Cause I have been looking at the bathroom and it needs a new coat or two.

Summer's fleeting ways....

I know it was around here somewhere....what did I do with it? That is how I feel about how fast summer goes by. One day you know it is here, and then it is missing. Everyone is back into school and it is like a dream I had during my Sunday nap. Boo. Back to work.

So here are some real high lights of the few days of summer.

Taking the goof troop to SL for Brians recital. Yea, it was GREAT!!

Ok, so there is the cute wife of the guest organist....ahem, our daughter. Picture taker extradordinaire! It was a wonderful time.

Then there was Rachers sixteenth birthday! And she got her drivers license the same week

The the highlight of the summer came when we all met up at Park city for some real to-gether ness...ah, the joys of family.

What cute girls we have in our family.

Now lets go have some fun! Bowling in the ole Wilk.

Then it was back to SL for the tabernacle broadcast. It was warm but fun to be together..

ok, some of us had more fun than others! She just wanted to go for a dip.

We ended up seeing both hometowns and lots of family. Whew, good thing we like each other so much. We will have to do this again next year.

"the TREK of death"

The "Trek" talk started right after Christmas. Plenty of time to get all excited over making pioneer dresses and being outdoorsy and all. So the last week before launch time, found me sewing my brains out and worrying about which skirt matched which bandana. Ok, sue me, I have a "outfit" disease. I REALLY need to coordinate and accessorize. It is in my blood.

So by the time the actual trail time came, I had sewed 16 pieces. Three dresses, four skirts, three sets of bloomers, a slip, 3 aprons, and on and on. We were going in STYLE.

And we were honoring our great great grandma that went across the plains in handcart company number 5 after travelling from Wales. She was only 9 years old and the history said that she and her sisters cried at night from hunger.

Now I felt like crying at night, but it was not from HUNGER....

This was a hard trek. Rachel and Stacey and I worked hard. We pushed and pulled and ate buffalo stew (ok, it was BEEF.) And Stacey caught a fish with her bare hands. I killed it with a rock and then cleaned 25 other fish for squeamish city kids.

I went along as the "illustrator" and sketched a little and walked a lot.
I was proud of my girls and their effort.

I think their grandma would have been too.

New Wheels for Mama

WAHOO!!! New "used" wheels for me! We shopped online, bargained online and moved money around online and then went and picked it up. FUN STUFF. I am over the moon having a new set of wheels with all the glitz of a LIMITED...ok- I have no clue what that is, but it means I get neat stuff like a backing up beeping sound and 6 cd changer and sunroof. And it matches my hair real nice.

Elder Sleight

It's big news around here....and I've been pretty slow to report it. But we have a new elder in our midst. Neil was called to be a service missionary at the local storehouse. It is a wonderful opportunity for him and our family. He goes two or three times a week and restocks shelves and remembers math things. He also has endeared himself to them over there and they love him already. They even take him to DQ and Granny's Buffet! That's love.

Of course, he is the head of the goof troop still around here and frankly, we are glad he can serve and still be home with us. WE THINK.....

A few changes around here.

We did it. We are still married. I think. Dad did leave for Brazil the day after it was done. It really does change our life around here. And my garage is full of furniture. But we think we like it. We will let you know for sure.

There were lots of princesses here last Saturday. Emma commented one night at supper that she wanted a birthday party with her friends and family. I suggested that she had lots of family around...(maybe that would be party enough?!) HAAA, ha, funny mother. She tipped her head and said.."ok then I want to have my friends!" So the planning began. Lots of pink stuff, and lots of glitter. ANd lots of giggling. It was great fun.

She turned seven. Unbelieveable.

Easter candy is now extinct around here except for a few lousy jelly beans. This bunch has no problem scarfing down anything chocolate or chocolate. Hmm, wonder whose gene pool that

comes from.

Happy Easter from the Goof troop.

Did I mention my favorite color is RED?

This has been a long month. The sky has been gray forever. Now that Don is back in the good old USA we are scheming how to better use our floor space. It will mean some major furniture relocation and painting. YEAH. But the good news is that Mama gets a new chair. I think my last one was a rocker about 25 years ago....so it's time!

And we got a DEAL!! It's Don's favorite word. Whatever.

So until I get the laundry folded..., wait that might be NEVER.

It's stuck in the living room.

But I look great in red, right?

Being "Knifty"

Yea, that's right. I am Knifty. If that can mean that you can wind yarn around a plastic thingy and make a hat...then that's me. As you can see from this picture, I think it is already quite fashionable to wear even when it isn't finished. A little painful, but we pretty girls have to suffer a bit for beauty all the time.

Wild and windy in Washington

With the weather being pretty cold outside seems like we are a bit trapped in this house. That would be the 6 humans and the assorted creatures that live here too. (That doesn't include the stupid little fruit flies everywhere!).

It starts with Kitka who is really the neighbors cat but lives here 24-7 because of an incident with a pesky magpie a few years back. Occasionally the neighbors call out her name and I just grin to myself cause she's upstairs on my bed having a little nap.

Then there is the "Golden Retriever" Belle who is a teenager in dog years but has the body of moose when we are all together in the kitchen. She follows me everywhere and I mean everywhere, and sticks her nose along side the cuboard in case some morsel might drop her way.

She mostly chews everything and loves to go through the trash many times daily. It is her lifes work. Belle would also like to be pals with Kitka but the old lady cat has very little tolerance for the pushy blonde and waits until she has had enough and lands her one on the kisser.

Then our lastest arrival was at Christmas. I had Stacey's name and decided it was time she had her own kitty. Rachel and I went on the hunt and found this little calico 2 days before Christmas. Rachel kept her in her room and we succeeded in telling enough fibs to Stacey to keep it secret. It was a great surprise for her.

She got "fixed" last week and now is back to her bouncy, playful self. Better watch out...she is wild kitty- launching out when you aren't aware.

It's going to be a long winter.

The reception catered by riff raff....

Thankfully the weather held and we were able to travel to Boise to Andy and Saramarie's wedding reception. I was so grateful to be able to see mom and dad for myself. Dad looks pretty rough.

But it was a party mood so we strung the lights, stirred the punch, and set out the pretty red cakes. The bride was beautiful and the groom as handsome as ever. Wes and his family came and it was great to be there together for a little while.

It was very very Merry...

Hooray! I have jumped back into the cyberspace! With Alicias help, I am back in to blog our "cheekies" life. This of course doesn't mean I will be faithful but I have taken note that I really love to read my children's blogs so I need to be much better at this.
We had a wonderful Christmas holiday. Dad and I got gussied up for the annual Farm Christmas party- as usual, I was over dressed.
It was a great evening until I heard of mom and dad's car wreck and spent the rest of the evening trying to get some news.
Thanks heavens they were still in one piece-although dad was in more than his share.
Meredith, Steven and Ella were challenged by snow and storm to get here but we were blessed with their persistence and travelled to Portland to get them on Christmas eve. But before we headed to the airport, we called Alicia and Brian and dad read Twas the night before...to a homesick daughter.

But Santa waited until we got home and then all were up with a whoop! A grand time was had by all.

But perhaps the best present of all is something that is pink and dimpled and is not much impressed with all the hoopla! Ella was a joy to have in our home.
She grinned and we grinned and everyone took turns holding her.

She even took a trip to Idaho(she and her mom's first time in the SPUD STATE), with us to Andy's reception. She was the cutest baby there. More to follow.

pic

Summer slippage

Hello All,

This is the "mother Bear" of this establishment speaking. It will be brief tonight cause I got a paper cut on my finger and it's a real pain.

We are glad to be home once again after a very busy month for all. It was wonderful to get to go to Steven's and Meredith's home and help out with our newest member of the family. Gabriella is a sweet little thing and her new grandma and grandpa are head over heels for her.

It was fun to cook old favorites for Steven and sit and visit with my favorite daughter-in-law! I was so proud of Meredith as she learns all about and loves her new baby. She turned to me more than once and just grinned- "she is addictive" she would say and I told her to hold her all she wanted. We are so happy that she is gaining and doing so well even though she has her days and nights mixed up still. It was a real joy for me to see my child holding his.

So, I jumped from Denver, to making cookies for Redfish. My box of cookies were beckoned almost as soon as I was! But I was too tired Sunday night but by Mon. Morning decided I needed to go. So we started baking and packed the car so tight with stuff and kids that I told them all not to sneeze lest the trunk and doors would pop open. It was great to see everyone and lay by the lake. (As opposed to laying all night in the tent on a flat air mattress Yeowich!!)
But Rach got lots of great pictures and Stacey won the nerd award for skimming for guppies in her dog hat.! Emma puttered around and loved bossing Boone around. Neil worked on a super sunburn and sudoku and then rode the mighty innertube under the watchful eye of Wes the driver and Roger ever the sentinel. Hey wasn't he there when I used to ski off the tube? Stacey got a long ride also with Uncle Wes and came back grinning. What a great birthday party that Breya and Dax put on for Alivia and we were so lucky to get invited! It was even more fun when MOM and DAD got there and then Stephanie and Rick and fam. Some highlights for me....
Star gazing with Debra and Phillip Thurs evening. Standing on the beach the first night and yaking it up with Debra. Having Diane take out my splinter on my foot...Doing crafts with the kids all being silly and creative. Watching Dad on his bike...always young. Walking with Mom up to camp together. Seeing Wes on his boys motorbike...always young. Cooking with Debra-rolling lots of spring rolls and being amazed at all the food and preparation she goes through. Walking with Blaine and Nick down to the lake and seeing what great pals they are. Smelling Jenny's clean hair and remembering caring enough to wash mine when I was young. Standing on the side of the lake at dusk with Stephanie and remembering swimming in that cold water and loving it. Looking at the flat lake and remembering younger bodies with stronger legs and arms and seeing the ghosts of "redfish" past waterskiing across the wake, back and forth. Remember that Dad?

I so enjoyed looking at the new DVD's Wes and Debra made for us and feeling very grateful to be part of this bunch. It was great standing with Wes and Debra and Stephanie and Blaine and mom and dad and laughing so hard at ourselves and well, anyone else that wasn't there....Thanks for all your hard work so we could have these wonderful memories.
And then Sunday morning seeing all the churchy ones that made me proud too.
Hey and as a side note...thanks to all of you that made us feel welcome to come. Sometimes, I feel a bit like the island of mis-fit toys. Thanks for always making me feel so loved in spite of our warts.

So, we came home on Sunday and headed to SL for meetings. I think everyone that has been in the woods for a bit ought to go to a nice hotel and let them cook and clean for you! Wow, what a contrast. This was a bitter sweet time. The Inn at Temple Square where we have been staying for the past 22 years will close this fall. Ah, progress.

We ate at the Roof on Tues. and I dined in the Lion house. Came home a size larger and ready for some down time. So I guess that means with my head down in the washer....cause that is where I will be for some time to come. That sounds a bit like a country song....la, la.
So then to add to the drama-I had a call on my cell Thurs from Alicia that Brian had been driving her to work and had just dropped her off and then was hit in the intersection there.
He is fine but the Neon will never be the same. We are deciding if that is bad or good. Say a prayer for the words TOTALLED! We are so grateful that Brian is ok. In that instant as Alicia was telling me, I realized how much we love that boy and not just because he loves our daughter, but because of all he is. There is a much more entertaining report on Alicia's blog Mathias-life.blogspot.com. Check it out.

The Bishop and I remarked today at what a crazy summer this has been. I also heard myself remark that maybe things will settle down when school starts! Ha, who am I kidding.
Well, my poor finger has had it for tonight.

Love Mom, Alane Sis and aunty and grammar