Family Pictures

We decided that since everyone would be here we should have family pictures take again. Especially since Rod and his family were not in the last ones. Thank goodness it wasn't a replay of the last family photo experience!! Rebecca's sister was going to take the pictures for us. She is a photographer and has really taken some nice pictures. We decided first of all to take them on Saturday but then decided that wouldn't be a good idea since everyone would be wet from the water games so we planned it for Sunday evening. I asked Rebecca if she thought Debra would mind taking pictures for us on the 24th of July since that was a holiday? I had a feeling I should get a back up and I'm glad I did because it ended up that her sister did have plans. I had a place in mind that I really wanted because there were flowers and an old brick wall and I've seen a lot of photos lately with the old brick walls or brightly colored walls. Anyway I had the photographers which happened to have been our neighbor and her friend who had also been in our ward go over and scoop it out to see if it might work. They told me they could make it work if that's what I really wanted, but they didn't think it would be a very good place. They had another place in mind. I'm not crazy about the back ground since it's summer I wanted flowers and trees or mountains, something colorful, but I'm so happy to have the photos.I think they turned out well with that many people in the photo. Teresa, Doug's daughter wrote me and said just think gram if me and my family and Josh and his family would have been there as well. I really wish they could have been it would have been great! Maybe some day. Samantha and Aubrey did a good job with everyone. They did one of the whole group and then did family groups and individuals.
The kids always want to take a silly picture. They think that's great!!! Another silly ones with the grand kids and us as well. The last time my kids had a picture of just them was at Ashlyn and Dave's wedding.
The four girls wanted their picture taken together. What beautiful girls!!! Although I wish I would have had one taken of just the boys also.
Even though this is a silly one of Jer and Bec and their family I love it because it is so them!!! Just always having fun together and being wild and crazy:-)
I think Aubrey and Samantha did a great job. If you looking for a photographer I highly recommend them. If you go on the internet you can find them under everylittlemomentphotography.

Home Coming!!

A few months ago Jeramy and Rebecca called to say that they were going to make a summer trip to Utah for a visit. It had only been THREE YEARS!!! Rebecca got some cheap flights from Charlotte North Carolina to Utah. So she says cheap, I know it had to be a sacrifice on their part to make the trip. They arrived on the 4th of July. We all went to Ash and Dave's for a barbecue and then off to the Pleasant Grove Junior High for some 4th of July fireworks. The cousins reuniting. They were all so excite, Jake, Keagan and Lily could hardly wait for them to get here. Isn't it amazing how they can not see each other for years but as soon as their together again it's as if they had never been apart. Rebecca and the kids were here for about three weeks and Jeramy got here the last week of July. Rebecca and the kids traveled a lot of Utah as well as Idaho while they we're here. I've never meet anyone with so many friends as Rebecca and Jeramy! I mostly have pictures of them after Jeramy arrived. While they were here Rebecca attended a wedding dinner for some friends of hers, she was actually their match maker and responsible for their getting together. They gave her a very LARGE trophy which had to be carried back on the plane. Must have made for a great conversation piece! I will have to leave the rest of the story for another blog because it is quite a lengthy and detailed story!!!
One of the first things Jeramy wanted to do with the kids after he got here was take them hiking up where he use to hike as a kid, just up above our house to what we called the falls and Tarzan's bath tub. It has been a lot of years since I hiked up to the falls but I decided it would be fun to tag along. Isaac is a fun 9 year old. He has grown up so much in the last year since we had seen them. The gang chillen in Tarzan's bath tub:-) Brynlee and Jaron.

One of the falls. We couldn't go all the way and see all the falls because you have to cross over some logs going across the water to get to the opposite side. There was more water then usual this year. The water was washing over the logs and with the little kids we didn't want to chance it. Well, if truthful be known I think it was because they had Nana who already had bift it and almost gone into the water. Jeramy had to grab me or I probably would have.
Another day while Rebecca was off to lunch with her friends, Jer, the kids, Lily, Keagan, and I took off for some fun in the sun and COLD water to the Alpine splash pad. Hayden

Lily and Brynlee.
Our crazy fun loving Jaron! Their last Saturday here we had a family barbecue and water games at our place. We started off with a squirt gun fight.

Then we played Beach Ball Volley Ball, even the little kids could play this.
This is Tandy sliding home. We played water base ball. First base was a kiddie pool. Second base was an ordinary base. Third base was another kiddie pool and home was a slip and slide. At first some of the older kids thought it wouldn't be cool to get wet but it didn't take them long to warm up to the idea. I think two of the biggest kids enjoyed it the most and made it more enjoyable and fun for the rest of us...that was Jeramy and Rodney.
I think this was Rod sliding in home after Keagan trying to get her out. But it turns out she was SAFE!!!! Last but not least to top off the day we ended with a shaving cream fight!!! Yep you read it right ...a shaving cream fight.
Lily...Let the fun begin!!!!! We had the shaving cream fight years ago when Lily was to little to really get involved. First thing she said when we were planning what we would do when the cousins got here was, "Can we have a shaving cream fight? This time I'm old enough to play. (I'll have to post some of the first pictures as well.)

Uncle Rod...Oh yeah!
All is fair in love and WAR!!!The group shot after. Papa wanted to make sure that the kids had some fun games to play so that hopefully they would have some wonderful memories of our time together as a family.

The Robb Family has a new addition to their family!!!

Meet Sadie!!! She has captured the hearts of everyone in her family...especially Lily!

Weather Smeather!!! We need SUNSHINE!!!

Yep this is what we woke up to this morning and I'm really getting sick of it!!! Do you see how far down the mountain side that snow is!!! Mother Nature, I'm really starting to dislike you big time!!! Rain and Snow go away, come again this fall!!!!

What's Up...with the weather that is?????

I know the last time I wrote anything on my blog was the last of March after I had my surgery. The foot/toe thing is really healing well and I am better then when I had the surgery, Yahoo! I really haven't felt like writing anything because this crazy weather depresses me!!! Many of my family and friends haven't blogged for MONTHS now and I kind of get blog withdrawals. Nothing fun and crazy to read and laugh about. Which brings me to laughter. Nothing makes me feel better then a good laugh and lately I have been trying to find more things to laugh about. The older I get the more I find to laugh about and it is usually myself:-) Just today I called my daughter in-law Rebecca and told her Yikes!!! How could I have forgotten Jaron's Birthday!!!! She paused for a moment and said, "A....you didn't it's still 3 weeks away, his birthday is the 9th of JUNE...How could I have gotten so mixed up. I think it's because it's May and it's my birthday month and Medicare told me I'm old now. I think to myself...how could that have happened so fast when years ago I waited and waited to be 21 because that would mean I was a adult. My twenties were good but I'd really just like to forget a lot about them. My thirties were much better, 40's were good, 50's were hard I couldn't even bring myself to say I was in my 50's. Now the 60's, they should be better because I really loved the 1960's!!! That's when Rock N Roll hit the scene and the music and the dancing were so fun!!! I loved that era, going to the Record Hops, singing to the radio or to records on my little 45 record player with my sisters and friends, that's when the transistor radio was a must have because you could take your music with you. I'm just going to think of my 60's as that era and I like the 70's just as well. Hopefully by the time I'm in my 70's I can still remember the 60's and 70's if you know what I mean:-) I was just thinking about all the great groups that came out of my era...The Shirells, Rob Orbinson, Chubby Checker, The Everly Brothers, Gary U.S. Bonds, Bobby Rydell, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, Peter and Gordon, Peter, Paul and Mary, and I could go on and on and on. The music was so great. Those really were the good ole days.

Deja vu

I was just looking back over my blog for the last two years and felt a sudden rush of deja vu. Haven't I been here before? And the answer is yes. I find myself pretty much confined to my bed or the recliner with my foot elevated AGAIN!!! It will be two years ago that I underwent this same surgery. The implant that was put into the knuckle of my big toe wasn't working out the way it was expected to. Before the surgery was performed I had a spur that had grown up over the top knuckle on my right big toe, causing it to be very painful to walk or move that toe. If fact it had become almost immovable. I know it's pretty gross looking at people's feet but can you see the difference in the right foot??? Can you see the lump? I should have had a peddy before posting this photo I know.

This is how the toe ended up after the surgery. The scar really faded but can you now see the bulge on the left side of my toe and the swelling in the middle of my foot? That is because the implant they put into my foot was to large. The implants only come in three sizes small, medium, and large. The Dr. said they usually use the smalls for children so he used the medium. And how do you like the looks of my toes? Pretty snazzy, Jer, Bec and kids gave me a peddy for my birthday.

This is the old implant after it was removed from my foot! Ouch! No wonder it hurt! And guess the cost of this baby? Almost $4,000.00! That little jagged stem would fit inside the bone of my big toe and the flat part would go between the foot and the toe to make the toe move. But because it was to large the bone grew up over the top of the implant kind of like the spur did making it immoveable.

With the penny next to the implant you get an idea of the actual size. No wonder that sucker hurt to walk on. The sides of the implant hung over the sides of the bone.

Here's the foot today after having the stitches removed two days ago. It's doing so much better. The swelling is much better then last time and I have much more range of motion. It still hurts like heck to move the toe which I have to do on and off through out the day to maintain that movement as well as other exercises but I'm on the road to recovery! YOORAY!!!! I'll tell you it's terrible to be stuck in bed or on the couch and not being able to get around or drive or get out of the house. I was really having cabin fever!!! There really is light at the end of the tunnel.

SIGNS OF SPRING!!!!

The sun is shining and it's warm outside. Probably in the 50's! I am so excited because it is starting to feel like spring. It is also starting to look like spring!!! Look at the picture of the buds on the trees infront of my house. They will soon have little leaves shooting through:-) As I walked outside it was so great to hear the birds singing. Their happy too.
The daffodiles are starting to come through as well...


And the Tulips are peeking through, I went out yesterday and bought some Deer be gone to keep those peskie little guys and gals out of my tulips. I rarely get to enjoy them because the deer love them so much. I saw this Deer be gone last summer and decided it's worth a try. I'll let you know if it works. Doesn't it just put a smile on your face and make you feel so happy inside just thinking that spring is almost here!!!! It's like I just got a new lease on life:-)

Getting Flowers Makes My Day!!

Don't you just love getting flowers!!!! There is something about that surprise knock at the door and when you answer it finding someone with a bouquet of flowers FOR YOU!!!!:-) Every year for quite sometime I can pretty much count on getting flowers once a year. On February 12th I receive a bouquet of flowers from Jeramy and Rebecca on Jeramy's birthday. The card always says... "Happy "BIRTH" day. We love you." I know that it is more from Rebecca then Jeramy because women are just like that. In Rebecca's own words, "Many years ago I read about a man that always make sure that he and/or each of his children always gave their mother flowers on their birthday. After all, who really deserves the celebration? mom is the one that went through all the toil to get you here and is still enjoying the stretch marks you gave her! I loved the concept and each year since then I have tried to follow that tradition by sending flowers to our moms on our birthdays." I love that concept too. And I know it is not the best time of the year to give your mom flowers when it's so close to Valentines day and a time that you pay a premium for flowers. Thanks Jer and Bec I really do appreciate being remembered:-)

I got a second surprise this year because I got a bouquet from Les also. He said, "Well, I know how happy it makes you when you get flowers from Jeramy and I decided I should give you some as well." Ahhh, then he says, "I was at Costco with Steve Buckwalter (his friend at work) and he told me I should get them for you." Oh wasn't that just the most romantic thing to say!!! So Les gave me roses for Valentines Day because Steve told him he should. Thanks Steve:-)

The Golden Girls at BYU March 2, 2011

This was our performance at BYU Wednesday March 2, 2011 when they played New Mexico and got beat! We had a lot of fun and I was reading someone blog that said she did too, heres what she had to say about our performance... "I just got back from the BYU v New Mexico game...devastating...I think that's the right word. We could not make a shot they made everthing they threw up. I hated it. I yelled, screamed, boo-ed, cheered, and bad mouthed refs. Speaking of the refs, that was the poorest display of officating I have ever laid my eyes on. So ridiculous. I hated it. But I didn't hate ALL of my time at the game. The half time show was off the chain!! You see, there is a group of ladies, ages 50-94 who are called JEAN'S GOLDEN GIRLS... they are the BOMB! And if I am not a crazy cat lady when I am old, my new dream is to join their dance crew. An old lady dance crew. (I don't know how I like being called an old lady dance crew! Couldn't she just have said a more mature group of ladies dance team?) Can life get any better? I submit that it cannot! New life dream: Golden Girl!!! I know you can't find me...I'm on the left side, 1st one on the second row. Even though you can't see me I was there and I was having a ball. One of these times maybe I'll be in a spot where you will recognize me. Maybe it's better that you don't:-)

The REAL Cougarettes! Jean's Golden Girls March 2nd 2011

Derek Redmond Video below is AMAZING!!!

This young man is an inspiration to all of us!!!

Derek Redmond-You raise me up version

The 29th on the 29th.

Last Saturday was our 29th Anniversary making it a special one because it was our 29th on January 29th!!! Pretty cool. Les and I were reminiscing at dinner about that day 29 years ago. It was a cold snowy day but such a great day as we celebrated it with our family and friends. I remember that Les was so scared...well can you blame him?!? Here he was taking on a built in family of 4 kids never having had any children of his own. It was little scary for me as well after having had a pretty dysfunctional first marriage. But we took the plunge and here we are 29 years later. I said to Les, "well would you do it again knowing what you know now?" And his answer was, "ABSOLUTELY!" Smart Man!!! And I feel the same way. We've weathered some storms, raised 3 kids, Doug doesn't could because he was pretty much raised. And have 16 grand kids and 5 great grand kids to show for it. And who knows what lies a head of us. Hopefully lots of good things. The family...Doug and his 1st wife Lisa, Les and I, Rodney, Jeramy and Ashlyn. Now it's Doug who has the mustache and beard as well and Les is clean shaven. Rod and Family aren't in this photo:-(

Rod, Raquel and boys, not a recent photo but this is one of my favorite photos of their family.

Oh no I have nothing to do...Spit in your shoe and watch it come through

I know your all saying, "What is that all about? Where did that come from?" It was a saying that Les's Grandmother Kiki use to say to them when they were kids. This time of the year really starts to get to me. I don't like the cold. I don't like going out in it, I don't like driving in it. I don't like the inversion. The first of the year, my new years resolution was to be more positive, "Come what may and love it." That's from one of Elder Wirthlin's last talks." I can already see that this is a challenge with me. That doesn't mean if the sun shines I'll love life, if I have a fun friend to go visit or do something with I'll be happy, it really means come what may and love it. I'm not one of those people that I've seen on Oprahs new Channel OWN that wakes up curious and knowing where they're going in life. I have got to change that...if I can figure out how.

I should have stayed in bed!!!

Yes, that is my new car that we've only had for 4 months, and NO, IT WAS NOT MY FAULT Thank goodness!!! I was driving down the road minding my own business, on my way over to help take Mom's Christmas tree down when a lady who had pulled over to the side of the road decided to do a good deed. She saw a man walking with a gas can in his hand and because it was so cold she and her mother decided to see if he needed a ride. She looked in her side mirror and didn't see anything...I must have been in her blind spot. She swung around clipping the right rear side of my car. I could have cried. When Ashlyn, the girls and I went to see David Archuleta at Christmas time a rock hit the windshield and made a chip that I had to repair and now this. I was thinking do I have a target painted on my car. Some days it would pay to just stay in bed.