Thanksgiving Weekend

 My posts aren't in the right order, but I wanted to post the Thanksgiving weekend photos.  My brother Allen and his wife Joyce drove down from Salt Lake City to spend Thanksgiving with us.  I was so happy that Joyce felt like traveling this year. My cousins Lorri and Josh drove from St. George to be with us too.  Bret, Laura and Sierra came and also my daughter Sherry.  After dinner Allen, Sherry, Lorri, and Bret gathered in my little living room.  Allen played the piano and the rest sang.  They had to hunt for songs that they knew in an old 80's song book.  My neighbors across the street could hear the music, and I am sure they were wondering what kind of party was going on at the old folks home. The pictures are a little fuzzy, but worth a thousand words.  They had so much fun, and it was fun to watch them.  I should have taken more pictures.  Frank and Josh were in the family room, and every now and then Josh would join in with them singing from a distance.  He had knee surgery a few days before, and was such a good sport to make the trip from St. George with his Mom.  It was so much fun to have them with us.  My special cousins from St. George.

 The piano is over 100 years old and was bought for me.  My Dad told me I had to learn the clarinet, before he would get me a piano.I hated that old silver thing, and felt like I had to blow my brains out to play it.  I wanted a nice Licorice (black) one.  I was a Jr. in high school when the piano was finally purchased.  So instead of me learning on it, Allen learned to play.  He taught himself.  He plays by ear, and can read music too. He also composes music. He is so talented and I am jealous as I have always wanted to play the piano.  The only time the old piano gets played is when Allen comes to visit.  I started to take lessons as an adult after a surgery I had.  I was told it was really good for the nerves.  I had been busy with kids, church responsibilities, etc. So I had taken some time off to heal.  I was just really learning to play a few songs, and enjoying practicing everyday.  I took lessons from the same teacher my girls took from.  She told me that it was too bad that I hadn't taken lessons when I was younger as I would have done well.  Then I had to go back to my busy schedule and couldn't keep up with the lessons, or maybe just didn't make time for me.  Now I can't remember anything and old Arther lets me know that my hands won't cooperate.

Another cute one of the family

 We were tired of turkey and went to Mesquite to Los Lupies for Mexican food the night before Allen and Joyce left.  We had fun eating, and visiting.

My sweet granddaughter Sierra, Bret and Laura.  We are waiting for our dinner.  We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year.  It is all about having family around, and I am looking forward to getting together on Christmas Eve for another fun family evening.

Christmas Decorations - Memories

There are some special Christmas decorations that I put up every year that have special memories attached to them.

 This one reminds me of our Elk Meadows Condo. I bought the showman with skis for the condo.  It was fun having a Christmas tree and decorating the condo.  We loved to ski back in the day when we could, and we loved taking walks at night with snow glittering in the snow drifts.  It was fun to have a fire going, and watching the snow flakes fall in the light of a lamp post in front of our condo.  We miss our condo days, but there is a time and place for everything and our time at Elk Meadows came to an end because of aging and approaching retirement.

I made these Elves when I used to take care of my grandsons Shiloh and Shannon.  I wanted the house to look festive for them.  Now Shiloh and Shannon are grown young men and I miss those days of playing ball, putting the tent up, going to the park and many other fun times together.  I tell them that I was the one who taught them how to play base ball. One day when Mark, their Father, came to get them, I told Shiloh  "lets show your Dad how good you can hit the ball."  I had bought a plastic bat and ball and we played out in the front yard all the time.  So dummy me thought that since it was a plastic ball and bat no harm could be done, and well I wanted Dad to see how good Shiloh could hit the ball.  He hit it so hard that it hit a big vase with flowers that was by my front door.  Yep! smash went the ball right into the vase and broke it.

When Larry was still alive and we were a very young couple, I bought my first Christmas scene. It consisted of little cardboard, glitter covered houses. I put that scene up for many years. Then when Frank and I were married, he bought me a little porcelain set.  I added things to it for several years.  I loved to make my little snow village scene for a long time, but now I just don't have the energy to do it.  So last year will more than likely be the last year for the scenes.  The above picture was taken last year and the Christmas scene was very small compared to other years.

Larry and I loved Christmas and we always had an all blue light flocked tree.  He did all the work, putting the lights on first and then covering each one with tin foil, and then would flock it covering all the light cords.  I will never forget the year that Bret was watching Larry put the lights on our tree on the Patio.  Bret was talking to his Dad the whole time it took Larry to put the lights on the tree. Larry would nod his head and say things back to Bret.  That would be our last Christmas together.

Every year when I put this cute decoration up, I think of my dear friends Kay and Allen Lewis. Allen was our Bishop for several years. He was one of the influences of Bret going on a mission.  He died of a heart attack while attending General Conference in Salt Lake City.  Such a shock.  He was loved by all who knew him.  Kay has remarried and is now serving her third mission with her husband. Kay gave me this decoration a long time ago.

 The snow man and lady remind me of my good friend Kathy. We used to go shopping together all the time, and we spent a lot of time together in our younger days of raising kids.  One year a long time ago, when shopping at Christmas time, we saw the kits to make these cute snow people and decided we had to have them. We had a fun afternoon making these decorations together. Kathy got me through some real tough times, and I will always consider her a special friend. We had so many fun times together, going to basketball games, shopping, serving in primary, and later on both being Primary Presidents in different wards. We were always on the phone or at each other's homes.

My grand kids Merritt and Sierra gave this cute little tree to me.  There are little cards on the tree and each one has a special message to me from one or the other. When I put this little tree up, it is so much fun to read the messages and smile. I have many fond memories of time spent with them.  Sierra helped me decorate my home a couple of years.  I almost called her to come and help me this year.

The below Santa Claus is also a decoration that I bought for our Elk Meadows Condo, but the real memories of this one are the two stuffed characters Kermit, and whoops can't think of the other's name. A long time ago I was taking care of my grandsons Larry, Cortney, and Riley at their home in Kingman, Arizona.  I took them to McDonald's and bought them the kids meals.  These little stuffed characters were in the meal as it was Christmas time.  Cortney and Larry both gave me their gifts.  I am pretty sure they felt they were too old for them.  I remember so may fun times with them.  I miss them a lot. Wish I could go back in time and play with them again, and can't help but wish they were in my life now, so I could play with my great grand kids.  Oh how I wish things were different.

Catching up - November 2013

Here are some more random pictures taken in November.  I thought the picture of Rozlynn and me was cute.  Even though I need a hair cut. I love it when Rozlynn cuddles up to me.

A cute photo of Rozlynn & Me

 I went to Jamie's birthday party and it was a lot of fun visiting with her family and friends.  Renee and Roz dropped by for a while and surprised Jamie.  They don't get to see each other very often.

Oct. 1st Jamie's Birthday party.  I had a lot of fun visiting everyone

 Grandpa bought an early birthday present for Roz, a bike with training wheels.  He bribed her for a hug.  He told her if she gave him a big hug he would buy her one.  She loves to play games with him by ignoring him and won't give him good by hugs.  Yet, the first thing she says when she comes into our home is "Where is Grandpa?"  He is usually in the office at his computer, and she goes running in there to see him.

Rozlynn getting ready to bike ride

 We bought Roz a pair of gloves as she was holding the handle bar grips too tight, and it was hurting her hands.  Now they are keeping her hands warm.

 Grandpa is giving her instructions about going to the side of the road if a car comes by.  He goes bike riding with her.  The last time they rode Rozlynn was singing the whole time.  If she sees any kids, she wants to stop and play with them.  She loves to play with kids.

Grandpa and Rozlynn heading out for a bike ride

Rozlynn's 4th year Birthday Party, November 18th.  I can't believe that she is four she is growing up so fast

Catching up Again October Post

I have been a blog slacker for quite a while.  I just haven't felt like blogging, guess it is lack of energy.  So I want to post some pictures starting with Halloween 2013 and Grandparents Day at Bowler Elementary.

A while back, I was elated to hear from my old neighbors, Wendy and Kyle.  They were moving back to Logandale from Arizona.  Actually back into our subdivision.  They used to live next door to me, and were the best neighbors we have ever had.  The first thing that happened was that Frank and I were invited to Grandparents Day at Bowler Elementary.  Of course we said a big YES!!! It was so much fun to be with Allie.

They served breakfast and then we browsed the book fair that they have and Allie picked out a book.  The last time I saw her she told me she had just about finished the book.

 Then at the end the children's chorus sang, and it was so cute.  There was one song that I really liked.  I should have taken a video of it.  All in all it was a really fun day with Allie.  The only problem is, I want them to be back next door as we still don't get to seem them very often.  Maybe at church on Sundays and then not all the time.  I really miss them being next door.  At least we would just about get to see them every day, if nothing else just to say a quick Hi, and maybe chat for a few minutes.

 Frank helped me put up the Halloween decorations. We put some orange lights around the window, and added a few other new decorations.  Frank wasn't up to putting his old man mask on as his back was hurting, so it wasn't as much fun as it was last year.  Bret and Laura came over and helped give out the candy.  We took turns while trying to eat dinner. I had bought three big bags of candy, and Frank bought some more at our local store.  We only had a few pieces left, and had to turn the lights out. Luckily, I think most of the kids had come, except for some older kids.

Another view of the decorations.  I didn't get a picture of our big bat.  We have been putting him on the opposite end of the house, as he kind of scares the little ones.

Allie came by with a group of kids, and I had her come into the house as she was so cute in her costume.  I think Allie looks more and more like her Mom.  We sure love her.  All in all it was a fun Halloween night, and thanks Bret and Laura for coming over and helping out.

UFO, Farewell to Lisa in St. George

I keep forgetting to post about a UFO we saw a few months ago.  One night we were driving home from Mesquite, NV.  We had gone to dinner and a movie.  We were somewhere in the middle of the Mormon Mesa, when all of a sudden this bright light turned on and lite up the whole area.  It lasted only a few seconds and went out as fast as it had turned on.  My husband, Frank was driving but also got a quick look at it.  We both couldn't believe our eyes as it seemed so dangerously close.  Frank said oops!!! they must have accidentally turned on those lights.  It was an oblong shape, with a whole bunch of bright red, blue, and white lights.  That is all I could see was just this bar looking thing with the bright lights.  It was huge!!! and seemed way to close to us.  I watched to see if I could see anything else hoping it would light up again, but it didn't.  I am sure anyone else driving close to us, would have seen it too.

Since this is an area where UFOs have been seen before, and also is where the Nellis Air Force does a lot of flying, Frank and I decided that maybe it was an Area 51 test of something?  It definitely wasn't an airplane form Nellis. It was just too big and looked like a big bar not wings of an airplane, and it seemed to be close to the land. There was no jet engine noise.  If anyone reads this and saw it, let me know.

Farewell and Birthday Party for Lisa

 We went to St. George last Saturday for a farewell and early birthday party for Lisa.  She and her husband are moving to North Dakota.  Her husband has been working there as a truck driver for almost a year.  They were getting tired of a long distance marriage.  Chris missed his family.  Lisa's daughters did a good job of the surprise party.  We got there early enough that we helped with the decorations.

 This is Chris and Lisa's little girl, Cienna.  she is a firecracker.  It is sad for the family that she, Mommy and Daddy will be so far away.  When Cienna found out that her big sisters weren't going, she had a real melt down.  Poor little girl.

Chris giving his married daughter a big hug with Cienna looking on.  I am sitting on the couch, and a friend of Chris's Mother is sitting in the chair.  Chris and Lisa will be leaving a lot of family and friends in St. George.  We have enjoyed going to so many family functions in St. George.  We are going to miss the fun times.  Things are changing with the family.  No more plays at the Tuachan High School as Josh graduated.  One of Lisa's daughters moved to Richfield, where her husband is going to diesel mechanic school. Gina and Gaven are the only kids of Lisa that still live and work in St. George.  The party was at Gina and Gavin's home.  I am kind of sad that there won't be any more fun family outings in St. George. Time has a way of changing things.  I do have a lot of fun memories with Lisa's family, and I am grateful for that.

Park City Vacation

We finally were able to leave this hot hole Nevada and go to Park City, UT for a ten day vacation.  The first day there we found it to be a little on the warm side.  The condo was uncomfortably hot, but once we opened it up and the sun went down it cooled right down.  We put fans in the windows of every room and it didn't take long to cool down.  After that the clouds formed and it rained everyday we were there.  It was wonderful as it was a cool rain and it smelled so good.  There was a fire about 10 miles away from Park City but the smoke didn't affect Park City at all.  The rain helped the fire fighters put the fire out.  

This is where we stayed while in Park City.  My cousin was so nice to let us stay here.  We used to stay here a lot several years ago when my Aunt and Uncle owned it.  When they passed away, Lorri inherited it.  She remodeled it several years ago and it sure is nice.  We were very lucky to have such a nice place to stay in.  There is no way we could have afford the prices they charge for places like this.  It was so nice to just get away from the horrible heat we were having in Nevada.

As you can see the condo was very nice

Frank found some Choke Cherries at the entrance of the condo area

On our way down Parleys Canyon to visit family 

Lots of sunflowers in the area

We had a nice visit with my Niece Madeline and her husband Paul

Madeline and Paul's grand baby

We had a nice visit with my brother Allen and his family at a family baseball game

Frank and I enjoyed our Park City vacation.  We really needed to get away.  It was so nice to visit family.  We were able to have dinner with my cousin John and his wife Rosie, my brother Allen and his wife  Joyce.  I forgot to take some pictures and was mad at myself that I didn't.  John was wearing a heart monitor as he has been having fainting spells.  I need to check with him and see if they found out what was wrong.  

I doubt we will ever be able to stay in the Park City Condo again as it was so hard on Frank to go up and down the stairs with luggage, groceries, etc.  Especially the last day lugging our heavy luggage and all that we had bought down the stairs and loading up the truck to go home.  He was hurting a lot and once again thanks to our Chiropractor son Bret, who was able to adjust Frank and make the leg pain go away. 

Blog Slacker - A Few Thoughts

I have started to get pictures off from my camera several times, and I just haven't had the energy to do it.  So I thought I would just go without pictures on this post.  I have never seen a hotter summer here in our area.  As much as I hate the heat, I often wonder why did I end up staying here?  Then when the winter months come, I know why.  Especially when cooler climates are having long winters with snow.  Our intentions were to leave for the summers with our fifth wheel, and then Frank's knee surgery and two back surgeries kind of put a stop to that.  I am so grateful that we didn't take off with our fifth wheel for the Oregon coast this summer.  It would have been a disaster for me with Frank having heart problems and ending up with two more stents. Somebody was watching over us.

We now have our fifth wheel on the market as Frank and I both feel that it is just too hard on him to load and unload it every time we stop at a campgrounds, and not to mention how nervous I get when on the road towing it.  I am a nervous driver, and passenger.  Now thinking back on things, I wish we would have invested in a condo on the Oregon Coast and could have spent our summers there.  Hind sight is such a good thing, but a little late in life for us. We do get to go to Park City and spend a week at my cousins condo, and we are looking forward to that.  I have cabin fever as it is just too hot to do much around here.

Between Frank and I, we have been on the run going to doctors appointments.  Frank has one next Friday with his cardiologist, and hopefully that will be the last one for a while. My blood pressure has gone up so I was put on an extra blood pressure pill, and it has made me feel so exhausted.  My doctor has me cutting the pills in half and taking them every other day.  He thinks that my body will eventually get used to it.  I asked him why my upper number was going up, and he said I had TMB.  I said "What is that?"  He said "Too many birthdays."  Old age really does suck!  Use to be I went to the doctor to see what was wrong, now it is hoping that nothing new is wrong.

I am feeling a little frustrated as my doctor is going out on his own and not going to take insurance any more. He is limiting the number of patients he will take. He will charge a monthly fee and his patients will be able to have a much better relationship with him as far as getting in on the same day, being able to call him, e-mail him and getting more immediate attention. In other words, he will be there for his patients. It sounds wonderful, but when we only pay a $15 co-pay and I see him every three to four months, it just isn't cost wise for us.

Then a few days ago when I was going back to him on a follow up visit, we were discussing my blood pressure pills, etc.  He said to me, "I have known you for five years, and I detect something going on with you."  The word depression came up.  He just wanted to plant the seed for me to think about.  Yes, I am depressed, but who wouldn't be when you have to force yourself to do everything you do, and too tired to enjoy the things I use to.  I have been in tears more than once, but I am blaming the new blood pressure pills, Diabetes, and I think the heat gets to me. I feel like we are hibernating in our home.  Who wants to go out in this kind of hot weather. Now I am really feeling bad about my doctor situation.  Especially after my last appointment.  Who wouldn't want a doctor that knows you so well and senses something is not quite right with you and spends quality time with you?  I may have to think twice about that monthly fee.  It is going to be a pain to have to start all over with a new doctor.

Then my estranged son's family weighs heavily on my mind.  Not a day goes by that I don't think about them.  I don't think I will ever fully understand what has happened.  My grand kids think that I don't like them, and that is so wrong.  I love them and miss them terribly and wish I knew what I have done to make them think that way.  I am missing out on Great grand kids, and I have only seen one.  I don't even know all of their names.  This alone is enough to make me depressed.  Could it be that maybe too much was expected of me?  It is a little late now as when grand kids grow up and are married with their own kids, Grandma is a distant thought.  I know that when I got married, even though I loved my Grandfather very much, I didn't get to see him as he was so far away in Idaho; and Larry and I were so busy having children and raising them.  I only had one Grandfather that was close to me.  The other grandfather lived in North Carolina and I only saw him once when he came out to visit us in Salt Lake. Both of my blood grandmothers died so young before I was born. Well, enough of my depressed moods.  Hopefully the next post will be more positive with some pictures of Utah.

Stressful Week

On  Tuesday, June 19th, Frank and I went to Saint George to have our car serviced, and to shop for a new love seat or recliner.  We had lunch at the Cracker Barrel and then headed out to window shop at a couple of furniture stores.  We went to Ashley Furniture store first and found one we liked, but we wanted to shop around and be sure that we would be comfortable in what ever we bought.

Frank trying out the recliner  I look at this picture and notice that Frank is pale

We found another one we liked at Boulevard Furniture and of course it was a much more expensive set.  We are going to have to buy the whole sectional as we will never be able to match our sectional that we have now.  The love seat is twisted on Frank's side as he is always trying to get away from his back pain and twists in his chair and after so long the chair is crooked.

We were both exhausted and headed home.  After a long nap, Frank came into the office, where I was working on my computer, and fessed up that he had been having chest pain and he was sure it wasn't heart burn.  We decided to head to Vegas to the ER  at St. Rose Dominican, Siena Hospital in Henderson as that is close to Sherry's condo and if Frank had to stay in the hospital I would be able to stay with her and not have too far to go to the hospital.

After several hours of testing, the ER doctor wanted to admit Frank for further testing the next day.  After talking with Frank and the doctor telling Frank that all the tests done so far showed that he had not had a heart attack and his blood work was good.  Frank talked the doctor into releasing him after one more blood ensign test.  It was good so Frank told the doctor that he wanted to go to his own heart doctor.  They released him with Frank promising he would see his heart doctor as soon as possible.  BIG MISTAKE!!!!

The pain got worse and by Saturday Frank was in sever pain and I told him we needed to get him back to Vegas to the ER.  I don't drive in Vegas so I had to hunt my son down and found him running his errands.  I told him what was going on and he hopped into my car and we picked up Frank and headed to the ER at UMC.  As we were told by our heart doctor that they had the best cardiology center and that is where I had my angiogram

It took forever for them to admit Frank and get him into a room.  It was one frustration after another, as they scheduled an angioplasty for the next morning only for Frank to be told he wasn't on the schedule. Long story short finally on Monday morning the 24th Frank had the angioplasty and ended up with two more stents, so he now has six stents in his heart.  It was so stressful as we had been told a long time ago that if Frank had any more problems, it would have to be open heart surgery.  Prayers were answered, and the doctor was able to put stents in.  Frank's vein was plugged up at 95%.  He was a heart attack about to happen.

Frank was released Tuesday the 25th, and we are so happy to be home.  I was very disappointed in the hospital as it was dirty, the public bathrooms were filthy dirty and to me the right hand didn't know what the left hand was doing. The room Frank was in had been a private room turned into a double bed room.  The nurses didn't have enough room to bring there testing equipment in.  There wasn't a chair for me to sit in, and the room was dirty. Made me worry about germs.  Hind sight is that we should have never left St. Rose the first trip to ER.  

Good News

My friend Paula had a doctor's appointment last Wednesday to find out her course of treatment for breast cancer.  I was so elated to hear that the test showed they had removed all the cancer cells in her last surgery, and that she would not need chemo therapy. They will be scheduling her for follow up radiation treatments.

I was doing the happy dance along with Paula and both us agreed that we would have to have a celebration day of fun along with Peggy our other close friend.

Paula and I go way back raising our families together.  We shared many ups and downs in our lives and helped each other go through them.  I have always told Paula that she was more like a sister to me and she feels the same way about me. All I can say is that Prayers are answered.

I had some more good news the other day.  My niece Megann is pregnant with her first baby.  She has struggled with health problems that made it hard for her to get pregnant.  So once again the happy dance for Megann.

Rozlynn's Pony Ride.....Charmer

Getting ready to go.  Rozlynn helps get Charmer out, brushes her and helps get her ready to go

Smile for the camera

Here we go

Side view of Charmer

Sherry has been taking Rozlynn for a pony ride the past several Mondays.  I decided to go with them and that was a big mistake, as I had the wrong shoes on and ended up with my back hurting.  Thanks Heavens for Bret!!!! even though I got scolded for not wearing the right shoes.  

We went the usual route that Sherry takes in the Overton Wash and it was a beautiful day as the sun was hidden behind a cloud.  There was a cool breeze and it even sprinkled a tiny bit. I was wishing I had taken my camera as there were some beautiful desert flowers. On the way back, we ended up visiting with one of Sherry's long time friends Tonnianne, who was down from Provo area visiting her Dad.  

If you look at the above picture you can see a cool shed with the sunflowers on it.  The owners of Charmer have a really fun place to visit.  They have grand kids, and most of the things they have built are for them to enjoy.  It is kind of an adventure to go and see all the ongoing building.  Every time I go to their place, there is something new and different.  

Easter Sunday with the Family

Rozlynn having fun with Easter surprises from Grandma Sherry can I say spoiled!!!

Grandpa trying on Rozlynns new Easter hat

Rozlynn with her new Easter hat

Beautiful granddaughter Sierra

Mommy taking a self picture

Resting after eating a big dinner

Bret hiding eggs Sierra supervising

We had a wonderful Easter Sunday with the family.  The only disappointing thing was I cooked my turkey breast in my Ninja cooker, and it turned out tough and not moist.  Lesson learned, I will cook turkey breast in my regular crock pot next time.  Bret & Laura brought some fantastic barbecue pork ribs. Mashed potatoes & plenty of gravy to go over the turkey, dressing, all kinds of veggies, etc.  Then later on, hot fudge sundaes.  We were all stuffed.

Then we went out on the patio after dinner to watch Rozlynn hunt for the pretty Easter eggs that she and her mommy made the day before.  We watched Rozlynn draw on the patio with chalk, and Laura helped.  Cute sidewalk art.  The weather was perfect with a cool breeze as we sat around visiting and playing with Roz.