A New Adventure

So here we are in St. George, Utah. Our friend, Cathy Wilson, is the event photographer for the Huntsman World Senior Games. We are helping her with the logistics and the "business" part of the adventure.

The sky is beautiful, the clouds fluffy, the weather is great! The people are friendly and so helpful - hmmm, a little different than So Ca??

Well, off to do some more stuff - by the way, the Wilson's are a great family! Cathy and I have known each other since we were 12/13 , you know just a few years! Here's to good friends

My Bookends

I have been very, very blessed by Heavenly Father. Along with so many joys of life, He has sent me a wonderful set of "bookends"- the oldest and the youngest of all our children.

They make me laugh, cry, wonder, worry, and enjoy life. They have taught me how important prayer is and how our prayers really are answered. They make me smile!

We were able to meet up in June for a few short days in Utah and attended the dedication of the Oquirrh Mountain temple, ate at Cafe Rio and Sonic (cherry limeades - yay!) and just spent time visiting, playing games and visiting some more.

I love being a mother! I really do have the greatest children - and the most fantastic, darling, amazing grandchildren.

Viva Las Vegas!

Cordell and I went to Las Vegas for a tax and trust seminar - I know sounds pretty exciting!!!

One of our highlights was meeting up with Ryan, Stephanie, Todd and Ben for dinner at Cafe Rio (yummy, yummy, yummy!). I love these guys!

And Happy Birthday this week, Ryan!

Blogger Slacker?

Okay, so I have been properly "reminded" that I have not updated my blog for, oh, 3 months. So Sorry :(



So to start the update, I will share this darling picture of my dog, Miya. She was told to go and get her toy for bedtime and she brought back her destuffed, gutted, pheasant, cuddled up with it and feel sound asleep. So cute!






(My children will be rolling their eyes right about now.)



She is now 5 years old and we adore her and spoil her rotten! She has the funniest expressions and she is the sweetest little thing.



Yes, I know, she is the child we never had...

You Just Need A Hug, Katey!

On Tuesday, February 24, Katey had been given some bad news and was having a really rough time when she called me that morning in tears. I asked her if she needed a hug from her mommy and she, in a very teary voice, assured me that she really, really needed a hug from me. Well, I told her that I had a surprise for her and maybe that would make her feel better. Then I suggested she go and get a pedicure, since that is The cure for so many things.

Bonnie and I decided that for our road trip. THE person we needed to cheer up was Katey. We left Tuesday about 11 am, stopped at Leilani’s to visit, stopped at the store, stopped at Barstow to go potty, stopped at, stopped at, stopped at - you get the picture. It took us quite a bit of time to make it to St. George.

We (make that I) then drove like the wind to make it up to Provo by noon. We had arranged with Daniel for him to call Katey and tell her to meet him at J. Dawg’s for lunch on Wednesday.

(Cue Mission Impossible theme music now!) With precise coordination via cell phone we were ready to play. Daniel brought Katey over to the south side of the hut with her eyes closed with the pretense of a surprise he had waiting for her. By the way, in the photos, notice the grin on Daniel's face!

When she opened her eyes and saw us, she was shocked and then burst into tears. As I held my sweet daughter in my arms she sobbed. Mom did, too! As she was crying on my shoulder, she said, “Oh, Mom! I needed you so much! I really wanted a hug from you today! This is just what I need!” She earned lots of brownie points that day!

On The Road Again with Bonnie and Janette

Bonnie and Janette (or as Cordell and the Border Patrol Guy called us, “Thelma and Louise”) went on another road trip. Last time we did this we ended up in Nashville!

We wanted to “make someone’s day” and we knew just where to head. But that will be for the next post…..

We had a wonderful time as we went to Salt Lake City and attended a session at the temple.

We stayed at Blair and Sylvia Andersen’s home in Sandy, Utah and had a great time visiting with them. I love them so much! No one could ever have better friends than I do!

We went to J. Dawg’s in Provo – muy delicioso! And I even tried the sauerkraut. This place is the bomb!

On our way home we were in St. George where we met up with one of our great friends from Riverside, Cathy Coles Wilson. We have all known each other for almost 40 years. It was fun to get out the old Girls Camp photos and try to remember everyone. Please note there IS EVIDENCE that I was once young, skinny and had hair (without any gray) down to my waist!

We visited the Brigham Young Winter Home and then went to some of the hiking areas and natural wonders of St. George.

We decided to take a jaunt out to Colorado City since I had never seen a polygamist compound. Oh, my! I had no idea that it was like this. No one had any finished homes (that way they don’t pay taxes) or landscaped yards – it was all red dirt- and the properties were filled with bikes and cars and junk. Nothing looked like it was taken care of or appreciated. I don’t understand it.

The children were beautiful, clean and polite. The women’s hair amazed me. The braiding and plaiting was so intricate. There were so many different ways for them to express themselves with their hair and stay within the community’s restrictions.
Mostly, I just don’t understand why a woman would settle for that lifestyle. And why a husband would want so many wives – Cordell, for some reason, has assured me that he would NEVER take more than one wife, since he can’t handle the one he has!!!

Road trips with a girlfriend - they are GGGRRRREEEAAATTT!!

Spaghetti, Chocolate Cake and Grandchildren…Oh My!

Leilani and the urchins came over for dinner the other night. We were having spaghetti and since Jake doesn’t like it and he was at work…well, you get the picture!

And speaking of pictures, these say it all. As evidence shows, Landon loved, loved his food and our little Miss Kira was such a grown up lady and ate so neatly. She is such an angel!