Oregon Turkey Leg

We made it over the Oregon Trail segway up to Silverton for Turkey Day. We had a snowy experience over the Blue Mountains, but Pa was at the helm and we slid on into Pendleton to camp over for the night. It was wonderful to see the grandchildren and spend some time with their parents too. Matt as usal put on the feast with me being the assistant, that is cleaning up as fast as I could to leave some counter space, he is a great cook. He gets pretty hyper as he gets going, but is not intimidated by anything. First time I have watched someone make the green bean casserole with onions rings on top!

He was also the one out shopping on Black Friday early enough to get a new TV, blue ray, and movie. He even got back home and had it all installed and working before the rest of us even got out of bed. As grandpa went downstairs and Eli says how do you like the new TV, poor grandpa didnt even notice it was new! We did enjoy Friday movie night and watching UP with camel popcorn freshly made.

Matt also worked grandpa into the clinic and gave his back a work over, he is almost back to normal. Normal being he doesnt like Christmas and all the commercialism, after 38 years of marriage he is still trying to tolerate the rest of us. Well bah humbug, we love it and will carry on anyway. (he does say to me on Christmas Eve about 3:00 pm well I guess we better go to the mall and get you something) It will be a different Christmas this year without Grandma Dorothy, she did love Christmas and has passed that onto her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Thanks for all the great memories Mom, I hope to journal a bit more and record some of them. In the mean time I will enjoy the earring Christmas tree and Blinky the snowman each day!

Once a Month

I have decided to do a post at least once a month, so I don't forget my password. (I know you are laughing at me girls). Last December 2008 I put a post on about being thankful and expressing thanks in my prayers. Since that time I have been thankful for the breath of life in each prayer and expressed it. Little did I know this would become a literal thing in my life the past month. I have had pneumonia for the past month and I truly am grateful for each breath I am able to take. I have taken my health for granite for most of my life, the past few years have been a challenge with several surgeries and lots of stress. A good friend and co-worker said to me on Friday, "I am not surprised you are sick, you burn the candle at both ends!" So I am hereby giving myself permission to blow out the candle on at least one end! Yes, I enjoy being a gypsy and traveling at least once a month. (I cant give that one up) I love being a grandma and playing with my grandchildren. (I cant give that one up either). So I decided it has to be sex! (yes, grandma nut has found something to give up). At least for the rest of this month!

Not My Idea!

Someone has told me before they dont like it when I put things on my blog that I have read somewhere else. But, I like this advise at this time of life!

" Focus on all that you have! There will always be people that are richer than you...there are also people that have less than you have. Focus on appreciating what you have and don't let advertisers, blogs, magazines or TV shows influence you into buying things you can't afford and most likely don't really need anyway! You are not what you own or don't own!"

Back in the 70's we had a recession and I was into recycling before it was Chic to do so. I loved getting hand me down clothes for myself or my children. I even cut up old clothing and made it into something new for us. I do love all of the ideas out their on blogs about shabby chic and living on a shoestring, I have been doing it for years. My navy knife in my silverware drawer has got to be 60 years old now, it was a hand me down from my Dad when he worked at the Naval Supply Depot back in 1946.

Saturday Conference & Sunday Cupcakes

Emily and I started out for early diner at Z/Tejas at the Gateway. I wanted to take her to the Do Do, but it has closed up. We walked end to end of the Gateway because of parking, but we enjoyed it.

Lisa (Em's mother-in-law) scored us some sweet RS conference seats, 35 row left front of the stage. It was so great seeing the prophet close up and seeing all the twinkling eyes of those who spoke. The messages were so wonderful and the music made us cry. Wish all of you could have been with us. We walked through the plaza at the Church office building and the flowers were just beautiful. They have already started putting up Christmas lights on the trees, it will be here before we know it.

Sunday Mindy invited us down for an after party with key lime cupcakes she made herself. I love that she party's all week long, even if she makes her own treats.

I AM BACK!

After many months of no posts, I finally remembered my password. It is like Christmas morning and dreaming you didnt get any presents and then you wake up and you do have some.
I know my children will say it's my age! Well I am proud of my age, just dont ask, and as my husband says "it's better than being six feet under"!

What I love about blogging, no pressure. If I cant remember my password for a few months, I can just start up again. I also love reading family blogs, so those of you who are participating in this medium, keep it up.

It is Fall season and the leaves are turning up here in the valley, it has been a great summer with lots of family events and side trips here and there. I will do some more individual memo's in the next few weeks.

Rough Weather

Well it says June on the calendar, but we have had lots of thunderstorms each night. Hubby keeps reminding me it's not snowing so quit complaining! I really think it's going to be a wet June and a blazing hot summer in July. Wedding plans with Emily are coming along and we are having lots of fun. Glad she is having an indoor wedding, so we wont have to worry about bugs or the heat.

Just Breathe

"Breathe deeper. Enjoy more. Worry less. I can't change where I am, only how I react to it."

I know I stole this off someone else's blog! I dont care, it's my mode for surviving the winds of March 2009. It truly came in like a lion with sickness, hospital visits, and no sleep. I look foward to it going out like a lamb. One more snow storm and then the spring flowers will be here. Thanks to all of you for love and prayers sent my way, I truly do feel them each and every day.

Red Beard Returns

It doesnt matter how old they are (32) it is still wonderful when my boy comes home for a visit. He was sporting a great bushy bright red beard, he says there is no grey in it like his siblings because he doesnt have children yet. My three sons look very much alike as they have aged into man hood, I think they are all very handsome. Jake was able to hookup with some old neighborhood friends from the Nalder house and go snow boarding. It is great to have life long friendships even when you dont see each other for four years and you just pick up where you left off. Jake has always been able to meet new people and get along with most everyone, he has a special gift for doing that. It was a great morale boost to me and the hubby to have him home. We took off for a few days to Southern Utah, but returned to spend another day with him. We missed the dog Mellow, but he was in good hands back in Montana.

Wet Socks on the Bedpost Overnight!

I was lucky enough to get the family cold virus that was running through the family this week. So I also used my favorite son-in-laws remedy to get the head unplugged. It really works! This is the first time I have tried it, you wear a pair of wet socks covered with a pair of dry socks to bed overnight. It cleared out my head, but now it has dropped into my chest. Oops, my chest really dropped a few years ago, but the congestion is what I was referring to.

Crazy January is almost over, this is my difficult time at work with all of my application deadlines due. My sweet husband has been sick too the first few weeks of the month, and I pretty much ignored him when I came home from work from mental fatigue. Now he has been spoiling me the last few days with cleaning the stove and oven and fixing meals for me too. I am really blessed to have him in my life.

Snow, Snow, Snow

We have been told by people who live in the valley, that we will not have bad back to back winters! We are having another bad winter. We were snowed in on Christmas Day until 6:00 Pm, we left for two hours and had to return home as more snow was falling. It is beautiful when the sun is out on the mountains, but has been very cold for the past week. I guess you cant live in the mountains and not expect snow. We did enjoy the holidays with all of the family in town, except my Montana boy. He was fortunate enough to get away on a cruise to Mexico a few days after Christmas, but we did miss him being with all of us.
It was great to have all of the grandchildren here and take some new pictures of them together. Some of us were sick too, but over all it was a great time.

My brother was born 60 years ago today in the middle of a winter storm. My mom had to remain in the hospital for two weeks, before they could make it back home. I cant believe I now have two brother's in there sixties! I guess it beats the alternative, as my husband says, six feet under! I hope one day we can all have great health, happiness, and a sound mind when we are in our eighties!