Easter In California

This year I spent my first Easter in a long time away from Grumpy. Our March and April were pretty far flung this year, but enjoyable nonetheless. After our Dune Trip with RB & Stacies family, and Robert, Grumpy had to return to TX. That work thing really gets in the way sometimes, but the things it provides is great! I stayed in AZ and did stuff. Grumpy would say I mostly shopped at JoAnn's Fabric Store but that's not really true. I can do a lot of damage in very little time there. I went to "The Hunger Games" with Tawna, Jade, Summer, Stacie and RB, Austin, Megan, Rylee, Faith, Taylor(?) and lots of Tracy's family too. A friend of Tawna's rented a theater and we got advance showing tickets. So nice. They did a good job with the movie, I was glad there wasn't too much gore. I don't think it would have been quite as coherent if you hadn't read the trilogy though. Good times to be there with so much family.

On to California to stay with Taya and Kevin's kids while they went to play in Utah. Kevin did the snowmobiling and Taya did the relax in the hotel and read. They had fun and so did I. Easter was the weekend they got home, so we got to spend it together. Before leaving for Utah, Taya and I spent some time shopping "on the way home from the airport" and got some fun things. Went to "So Good" jewelry shop and had a lot of fun there! Taya bought me a couple of great necklaces for Mother's Day and I got some other things as well. I don't do that very often, so it was doubly fun to play in the jewelry store. While Taya was gone I got out the sewing machine and set it up in the vanity. It was funny to be sewing in the bathroom, but it worked just fine. I made Easter pillowcases for Lauren and Emersyn since they were probably the only ones who really cared about Easter pillowcases. They loved having bunnies and chicks on their beds.

Easter dinner was a group effort this year. Kaitlin was trying to pass off a YW goal, so she was doing a lot things new to her. I made a potato salad, Taya made a ham and broccoli salad. Kaitlin wanted to make some cute deviled eggs she saw on Pinterest. They were supposed to look like chicks coming out of their shells. She did a good job, but I think she learned a lot too. Planning ahead as to presentation, and really researching the recipe and how-to's are important steps. They were a fun learning experience and they tasted just fine.

Madison was in charge of the table setting. She did an awesome job creating her own centerpiece from peeps and skewers, and setting the place settings up complete with notes of affirmation for all of us. She is a hostess in training for sure.

I got a pic of the family on their way in from church. I only got a snap or two and then they scattered like chickens. I nabbed Kaitlin and Daron for a shot with Taya before they ran away. She doesn't get many shots of her with any of the kids. She is usually holding the camera.

The whole group.

Daron Schmoozing.

Kaitlin and Taya.

It was a great time. I went to my favorite little quilt shop there and got a couple more books for holiday projects. I spent some time with kids I don't see as often as I would like (although that is true of all the kids now) and hopefully made some good memories for them too.
Grumpy spent Easter in Midland and that was the down-side to my holiday. I missed him so much. He is a good sport to be so pleasant about our time away from each other. Have I said before what a good man I married?

The Dunes

We finally made it back to the dunes this year. It's been awhile. Grumpy took some time off and we headed to the Imperial Sand Dunes with RB & Stacie's family.  Robert got to go to, so even better when more can come. The weather cooperated and it was really nice. Megan had a friend with her so she wasn't so outnumbered by the boys. She was a fun, cute girl and it was nice to have her along.

 

I don't have a shot of Rylan alone. He rode the most, so was probably out on his quad when I took these.

Here we are getting ready to go the "Wall".

Of course there is lots of refueling. Especially when we go back to "The Wall". It's a nice tall wall for the riders to go up. Scares me to death, but they seem to love it. It's taller than it looks in pics, and the kids seem to like to climb it as well as ride up the face. Crazy.

Grumpy at the top of the Wall watching Megan and her buddy climb up.

R.B. going over the bigger "whups" at the base of the Wall.

Robert and R.B. playing on the "whups". They love to jump them and catch a little air. I'm not good at catching the airtime with my camera though.

Robert going up the Wall.

This is what it looks like when we get close to camp (above). It's a nice ride, not too far for the wimps in the group (me) and fun to watch when no one crashes or rolls down the wall with the quad rolling on top of them (Grumpy). That was hard to watch.

Our Friends, Leigh and Farrell Pettit came down for a night and a day for their first time at the dunes. I hope they had good time. It was fun to have them there. We flattened our truck tires and put a flag on it and went with the group to the AZ/Mexico Border to see the iron fencing defining the border. Quite the sight. I was indescribably glad we made it back to camp without getting the truck stuck in the sand.

We had quite a group at the border fence. I think the kids had fun going out there too. It's not all that far from where we camp at Buttercup. Stacie made great meals, we had fun around the campfire at night and we got to spend some quality time with each other. No one was hurt, all the toys worked until the very end of the trip and no one got stuck. All in all, a good trip! Thanks R.B & Stacie for hosting and making this a fun time.

Can't wait to do it again.

Braving the Snowy Roads

Brave is not the word I would use to describe myself at all when it comes to snowy roads. I went with Grumpy to Cortez for a week, (week ending Friday, March 2nd.) It is Cortez, and it is in Colorado, so snow is just life up there. It snowed almost all night Thursday night so Friday morning as we set out it was in Winter Wonderland. Not so Wonderful. We could barely see and the white was the same everywhere. white sky, white road. No distinction at all. So very glad we had opted for the 4 wheel drive Suburban in the rental car lot coming out of Albuquerque. Knowing how crazy I get in bad conditions, I should have gone in the "way back" seat and just gone to sleep. That would have been the better part of reason. But no. I stayed up front and got so stressed I couldn't even talk. That part was a blessing for Grumpy I'm sure. We slid through our turn-offs (thank heaven there was no one else crazy enough to be out on that stretch of road) and creeped our way toward Albuquerque. Once past Cuba, NM the conditions improved and we made some pretty good time. We did get there in time to make our flight to Dallas, and from there back to Midland. Pretty glad to see home again. I think I will not go to Cortez again til the snow is gone. I don't like driving in the pretty white stuff.

Crazy.

Look What the Rain Blew In…

Visitors in January and now again in February. I could get used to this. Papa K. and Tracy drove to see us on the 16th. I was so excited for them to come here. Like a kid at Christmas. I love it when people come to see us. They got here about 5:00 our time and Grumpy started cooking up some Chicken Stir Fry for dinner. We figured they wouldn't want to get back in the car and go out to eat after spending the day driving. We had a nice dinner and just kicked back and relaxed. Some good conversation, a little T.V. and then the sheets were calling our names.

Friday Grumpy got home around 1:00 so we went to Texas Burger for a Jalapeno/Cheese Hamburger. Oh, and can I just say they have a great ice cream station there too! After those jalapenos it was time for a little ice cream. Good Stuff. Tracy and I went back to the apt. to turn into the computer addicts we are while Papa and Grumpy headed to the Commemorative Air Force Museum for awhile. My computer is on a built-in desk in the master bdrm and hers was on the dining room table. After yelling back and forth for awhile, I just brought mine in to the dining room so we could sit and compute next to each other. That worked out well. She helped me with all kinds of things. I wish I was as smart as she is when it comes to computers. I had to laugh at our 3 ipads sitting around the apt. All with the same covers on them. Too funny!

Yes, we spent lots of time in our jammies. I can't think of a better way to spend most of a day than in my jammies working on the computer. Crazy, I know. Friday night we ate at home, BLT's plus avocado on croissants. I love sandwiches. Saturday I finally finished cutting the fringe on a quilt I was making for a friend's new baby. My first rag quilt. Everyone I talked to said not to wash and dry it at home for the first time, to go to a laundromat where the commercial machines are built to take the "fall out" from all the fraying that takes place that first time laundered. So I decided to take the advice. Tracy and I headed to a laundromat while Grumpy and Papa went to tour Midland. They were done long before we were! Got that accomplished and went home to get some rest before going to our favorite (so far) restaurant here. Sho-Gun. It is a tepenyaki venue and I think a very good one. We ate there and stuffed ourselves beyond the comfort zone. Of course.

Being stuffed didn't keep us from going to the local HEB market for some ice cream on the way home. We ended up with mostly Ben & Jerry's with a little HaagenDas thrown in. There's always room for ice cream right? Tracy found a nice dutch oven there and bought it for home. I think I may be going back to get one too. I've been eyeing them for awhile, and I think I must have one. HEB is a fun place to shop. Kind of a cross between a grocery store and a Costco. I miss Costco. I love that HEB has a huge produce section and they carry really good meat too. They have great stuff and manage to keep the prices pretty reasonable.

When we were at the apt. we looked like the pics above. Good thing Papa likes to read on his ipad. We were all staring at a computer screen of some kind a lot. Got a lot done to get me set up and refining some of my skills. (yet to be proven). I am determined to learn new things.

We really enjoyed visiting and hanging out with family. It was fun to have family at church with us. We had a fried chicken dinner Sunday night and watched "Courageous". Good movie. Highly recommend it. We aren't hard to entertain, because we just like to be together. Thanks Papa and Tracy for driving to see us. They set out about 5 am on Monday morning. Grumpy went to work and I went back to bed. I still think morning should start about 10.

Good Times.

Suprised!

Regular friday night at home. Went to a movie that afternoon with Grumpy and saw Red Tails. Good movie. Tried a new restaurant, Dona Anitas that was the best one so far in regard to the kind of Mexican food we like. Not much to look at, but the food was pretty good. Got home. Jammies on, blankie out, iPad on and TV on. Quiet night at our apt. Grumpy went to bed about 10 since he had to teach more Aviation Merit Badges to about 30 scouts on Sat. It's 10:30 and I'm Pinning away and there is a knock on our door. No one ever knocks on our door. Especially not at 10:30. I'm thinking someone is lost looking for an apt. I look out the peep-hole and see a thumb. I say "Who it is?" and the thumb disappears. I see R.B. and Stacie. My mind thinks "What?" I open the door and it is R.B. and Stacie. Beyond Surprised. I don't get all animated, but I can tell you I am plenty animated on the inside! They flew in and got a Taxi (didn't know we even had a Taxi service here), R.B. said there were 2 taxi's at the airport. Got to our gate at the apts. and just started pushing buttons. Eventually they hit on a combo that worked (real secure gates) and found our door. No small task as this is a big complex. Of course I woke Grumpy up. He was surprised too! They kept telling us our Christmas present would be delivered in January. Now we know what they were talking about!

Saturday Grumpy went to the Merit Badge Academy, Stacie slept in and R.B. and I went to breakfast. We did some shopping at Best Buy for Grumpy's computer and went to see if Stacie was up yet. She was. We went shopping again with Stacie this time and I saw the inside of Kohl's for the first time since we moved here. Then they went to the bag and jewelry store and I went to Hobby Lobby next door. I needed to find an implement that would cut circles. I had made some baby shower invitations for someone in our ward and I needed to cut them out. Hand done wasn't working very well.

Found one. (I ruined about 3 of them, and then caught on. It worked really well. R.B. cut the last few for me.)
We went to the Shoe Carnival so Stacie could hopefully find some boots. One thing we have a lot of here is boots. She did. I sat in the car as we all know how much I love to shop, but she said the shoe store was really a good one. Nice to know when I do need to go sometime.

Later Saturday we went to see Man on a Ledge and then to a teppinyaki restaurant called Shogun. They have really good food there and it is an entertaining show as well. We were all so miserably full afterwards, all we could to was go home and put on our jammies and hang out. (literally for some of us). Sunday morning Grumpy made blueberry muffins for us since we don't have and pancake/waffle stuff on hand. They were good. Stacie was being shy in the pic above since she had just gotten up. After snarfing a muffin, I started cutting my invites and just visiting. We all got ready for church and headed out.

Made Swiss Steak for them after church as that is one of R.B.'s favs. Me too. I love that stuff. We had Girl Scout Thin Mints (found some sellers in front of the shoe store and R.B. bought a couple boxes) for snacks and spooned down some Mint & Chip ice cream for dessert. Grumpy had Ben & Jerry's (he doesn't like mint). How can anyone not like mint? Watched Courageous Sunday night. Good movie.

R.B. got Grumpy's sound working on his computer and got him better connected to the internet. He and Grumpy hung our T.V. on the wall for me. I like it much better on the wall and now the other components can go underneath it on the mantel. Thanks R.B. and Grumpy!

Took a pic of them in front of my Grandkid wall of frame to prove they really were here! I love it when I can be with family. They were so sweet to come and see us. I know even with discounted tickets, it is expensive to travel.

It was certainly one of our most memorable Christmas presents ever.
Thanks for coming and making January a better month.
Love you guys. Lots.

In Search of Steve's (the Elk) Dad...

The boys and I had a great time Elk Hunting together this year. Arrived in Alpine well after dark Thanksgiving evening and hit the sack early in anticipation of the hunt. Jeff's dad, Heber, graciously allowed us to use his home so we were warm and comfy (and definitely spoiled)! Got up at 0500 Friday and were out the door by 0530...still dark, but we had a 30 minute drive ahead. Jeff acted as our guide and R.B., Robert and I hunted hard for five days.



Just before noon on Friday Jeff spotted a couple of bulls up the mountainside above us and signalled me. I saw one bull move into heavier brush and then spotted what I thought were the upper tines of his right antler sticking out above the brush. Estimating where his right shoulder should be (I couldn't see his body for the thick brush), I fired a shot. He promptly made a turn and ran. We didn't find any blood so we assumed (never a good thing) that I missed and didn't spend too much time looking for him before continuing to hunt.

Saw a few more bulls and some cows on Saturday. Stayed in Sunday while the boys went out...they came back without seeing anything (something I've learned about hunting on the Sabbath!). Monday morning we were out before first light again and I spotted a 4x5 bull coming down a mountain across the meadow from us. I told Robert he might come right to us...but he stopped on his side of the meadow and stood facing us for quite a while. I told Robert to get into a prone position so as to be steady and shoot! It was about a 350 yard shot and Robert, who was on his very first hunt, hit him! We found good blood and Jeff, Robert and I tracked it for a long ways before losing his trail. We never found him so the coyotes had a good meal! I felt bad for Robert, but he took it quite well.



Tuesday afternoon we were hunting the same area that we did the first day (Friday) and Jeff spotted a bull lying dead that someone had shot and not found. It was a good sized 5x6 that was just starting to sprout a 7th point on the left side. We could tell by the smell and bloating that it had been killed a few days earlier. We continued hunting and got nothing that day. That night as I lay in bed, my mind kept going back to that elk Jeff found and I began thinking that it wasn't too very far from where I had shot at that elk on opening day. When Jeff found it, it never occurred to me that it might be the one I shot at, but the more I thought about it, it seemed a very real possibility. As we drove out to our hunting area the next morning, I asked Jeff to jog my memory as to where exactly I had taken that shot. He said it couldn't have been more than a couple of hundred yards away from where he found the dead one and that he had had similar thoughts about it being mine. We discussed it further and decided that is must have been the one I shot- the single bullet hole was where I had estimated to be shooting at, the antlers were right and it was less than 200 yards from where it had stood when I shot it. I was happy to know I had made a good shot, but very disappointed to have lost the opportunity to harvest that good elk meat...probably lost at least 300 pounds worth! You can bet the coyotes, crows and all the other predators and scavengers were thrilled with my loss.




The boys left Tuesday after lunch to return home, but I stayed one more night because I had to drive to Cortez, CO the next day for work. Robert tagged my elk so that I could hunt some more that evening and the next day and maybe get us some meat. But I hunted both that afternoon and evening plus the next morning and didn't see anything. But we had a very enjoyable trip- it was great to be able to spend almost a whole week with my boys. They have grown into fine men and I am very proud of each of them. Hopefully I will have many more opportunities to enjoy such times with both them and their sons.



One sad note- R.B. had such bad head, neck and back pain from some issues he is experiencing that he had to sit out two of the days we hunted and stay back at the house. When I questioned him more directly about those issues, he confided to me that he had a growth surrounding his spinal cord up in his neck area that was putting tremendous pressure on the area of his spine/neck. He had spoken to his doctor and was told that no good doctor would try to operate and remove it since one slight nick of the spinal cord could paralyze him. I told him that he needed a special Priesthood Blessing and he agreed. We will give him one in a couple of weeks when Sherry and I return to Mesa for Christmas. I pray the Lord will bless him to overcome this problem so he can better enjoy life and serve the Lord, his family and others.

I love Jets!

I love the sound of the jet engines as they fire up. I love the roar that shakes the stands as they fly over. I love hearing the team leader as they take off. I love it all. Seeing the pilots and their families come in and know that's what it must have been like for Papa and Nana. I love the spectator reactions, especially when it is a first time experience for them. My brother Bob calls a particular maneuver they do the "baby waker". They did variations of it about 3 times this airshow and I never tire of it. I love the skill of the pilots, the beautiful paint jobs on the planes and raw power they embody. I love being in Vegas at historic Nellis Air Force base, Home of the Thunderbirds with my family and friends. It was quite a group this year. Lots of in-law families there and it was fun to get to know them a little better. I never got us all together for a group shot. I wish I had, but alas, it was not to be. We all took the buses from the hotel this year. Lots easier for the transportation, but a little harder to meet up and find each other at the airshow. I love that Pop got to talk to a few people he knew from the old days. I love that he could still go with us and be part of such a wonderful legacy.



Above is the six man formation as their fly by exposed the beautiful Thunderbirds on the underbelly of their F-16s. Below is the classic diamond formation they are so famous for.



Below is the very difficult Low and Slow maneuver one of the solo pilots performs. It looks like they are just hanging in the sky as they go across the field.





Above is the race upward to perform the show closer, the famous "bomb burst". Below is the smoke as they split and roll in four directions. They then come across the field from the four compass points and cross each other just feet apart. Difficult to do with such precision and beautiful to watch. The best team is always the current team and each time this alumni show is performed it is the team leader's last flight with his team. Needless to say, they are all doing the most perfect airshow possible.




Summer and Jamie, JT and Taylor were with us this year. It was fun to watch Jamie and JT as they saw their first Thunderbird performance. Summer looked like the rest of us as we tried to catch the perfect shot of this amazing airshow. Camera's just can't to justice to the skill and precision of the planes and pilots.

We spent some time with Papa, but had to share him with the rest of our entourage. The Reunion Hotel this year was the Southpoint, and it was great. They have a 16 theater movie theater, so many of us went to "Breaking Dawn" of the Twilight Saga on it's opening night. No long lines or hard to find parking spots. We just went up the escalator, bought our tickets and waited for the show to begin. Awesome. I flew in from Texas for this airshow, so bummed a ride home to Arizona with Summer and Jamie. Grumpy was driving from Texas to Arizona for Thanksgiving, so I would meet him there.

So happy I was able to go to this Thunderbird Reunion. I especially love all the memories it makes to be there.

Autumn in Cortez

About once a month Grumpy has to go to Cortez, Co. for work. I sometimes go along, just to see the pretty country. I knew there would be wonderful fall leaves this time of year so I was game to go. Gramma and Papa H. along with Aunt Kay were coming from Mesa to meet us there, so it was a good plan. On our way there we stopped at a little hole-in-the-wall for breakfast in Red Mesa. The breakfast was a disaster, but across the street was an LDS chapel with the most gorgeous golden tree out front. I had to snap a pic it was so pretty.



On to Cortez. We checked into our hotel and Grumpy went off to work. I watched TV, read a little and worked on the fall leaf table decor I am trying to get done for the girls. I had sewn all the leaves, (all 30 of them) and needed to trim all the excess fabric and batting away, notch and turn them, press them and stitch shut the opening. Then when I got home I could do the machine stitched veins. I have done a total of 44 leaves this season. They take longer than you might think. I also had a whole bunch of YoYo's cut and ready to make in case we did a road trip. Good thinking on my part! Rare for me.

Gramma, Papa and Aunt Kay did indeed arrive on Thursday and we hung out, ate some good food and just did some visiting. I had leaves and YoYo's to work on, so I was good to go. Papa was a good sport and drove me to the local quilt shop, I think it was called the Patchwork Pig, but I am not sure. They had some really nice quilts on display, so I took a couple of pics to remind me later of the designs I'd like to do on a bigger scale.




On Friday, Grumpy got off work a little early, so we decided to drive to Telluride, CO. just to see what we could see. I knew those YoYo's would come in handy. It was a nice drive and I enjoyed seeing the fall leaves along the way. I love the forests in fall with their beautiful colors. It was quite a trip by the time we got back to Cortez. I got lots of YoYo's done.





We hung out at our hotel and had a great time talking. Soon it was time to go to dinner. Grumpy had a good restaurant picked out in Mancos, just east of Cortez. Millcreek Junction. It was very yummy. On the list for go to again. We stayed one more night in the hotel and then it was breakfast before leaving for home. Grumpy picked a winner again, and we enjoyed a sumptuous feast that none of us really needed. It was a good beginning for a day of travel, and we said our goodbyes after our meal and took off for our various homes. Nice to get together someplace so pretty and quiet. I finished my YoYo's on the way to the airport. We were early, so Grumpy was nice and found a JoAnn's Fabric store for me in Albuquerque. I wanted to find one more Thanksgiving print for Chance's pillowcase and they had just the piece I needed there. I found several other pieces more along the lines of Christmas too. Grumpy was sorry he was so accommodating I think. I love fabric.

Our flight was an hour and a half late (no surprise to us), so we ate dinner at the airport. I don't know what it is about airport food. It is never as good as the same restaurants not in the airport. After boarding our plane we waited another 45 minutes while they fixed a broken switch on the radio. We finally got home about 8:30 pm, so it was a long day of travel. Good trip even so, and I look forward to doing it again sometime. Maybe to see the snow in a month or two.

Weekend in Solvang

Well, the weekend between Thanksgiving and December 1st is usually my busiest weekend. Back in the day, I would go to various houses (as well as the office where I worked) and set up and decorate Christmas trees. I don't have so many to do now that I am older and slower. This year Grumpy and I took the weekend off and flew to Solvang to visit Taya and Kevin's family. I fully intended to help her get all the Christmas stuff up so she would be able to enjoy their limited season with the older kids. Did I say I am older and slower? That doesn't begin to cover it. We did get the tree (already up) decorated and I must say it looked very nice. Emmy thought so too. Taya tells me she has since broken several ornaments and no amount of punishment (which isn't too stringent) will deter her from her fascination with the tree this year. She is two after all, and that is the worst year for Christmas trees. She is too funny.

We had a great time with our California family. We went to the year round Christmas store and I didn't even buy anything. Grumpy is still in shock. I found some Ug type boots to buy for cheap and was a happy shopper. We all know how much I love to shop (not)! We ate at our favorite China Panda and it was Goooooooood! We had tasty dinners at home too. It was fun to see the kids and spend some time in their digs. Daron was a gentleman and gave up his room for us. Thanks Daron. He gave a very good talk in Church on Sunday. I don't think he was even nervous.

Kaitlin and Maddie were drawing stuff and reading a lot too. They are such cute girls. Lauren was funny Lauren. She has such a sweet nature.

It was a great weekend.



Grumpy and me with the plane. I'm looking as cute as I usually do these days. (a train wreck). I must say though, I like not wearing make up very often. I guess I'm old enough not to do that for other people. I only wear it when I want to. Maybe I'll learn to want to more often again some day. For now, I am just me.



Grumpy getting comfy in our guest bed.