Monday, May 31, 2010

Catch Up!

The Dude loves his Grandpa.  I loving watching how patient my
father is with him.  This snake was the topic of their 
conversation the other day.  The Dude kept telling Grandpa
that it was made of "mint" and Grandpa kept telling him it
was plastic.  Guess who won?


Sunday we took pictures after church and I got this great one of my sister 
Gretchen with her little boy Dylan.

And this one of MomE and my sister Erika.
I love it.

And of course with us sisters.
I really love them and am grateful 
we have
developed a sisterhood.

Check out the Dude?  He was a menace!

I love that Miss Boo was posing in all the pictures I took of them.
And the Dude...well, he was just laid back.

We tried to get cousin Dylan in the pictures, but he couldn't hold
still for anything and ended up in the light everytime.
This is the first trip that I have been able to spend so much time just visiting
with my family.  We have had fun laughing and sharing.

We are off to Mesa tomorrow to visit with friends.  Back on Thursday
evening and then off to Nyoka's again for a week.

Mr. Finn assures me he is doing fine and is surviving.  His 
daughter misses him terribly.  We will be glad to see him
when we return from our adventure.

Thanks for being such a trooper.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

And down she goes...again

I'm tired!

The kids have been sick since
we got here to RV.

Maybe it's the water?!?

I feel for Miss Boo.  

She has had the worst of it.

Maybe tomorrow they will
be back to playing with 
all the fun toys at
Grandma and Grandpa's house.

They just lay around.

Sad...

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Yard Sale

I believe a careful choice of words is important in advertising.

If you want a big crowd for a sale, you need to put it 
out there in words that people love to see.

YARD SALE

Don't tell me your heart doesn't skip a beat when you see those 
words on a poster board on the corner?

What is waiting for you?

What do you need?

What do you want?

These questions are answered when you 
stop at a Yard Sale. 

I am always looking for some bargain that will
make me feel like I have gotten away with 
something...because I know its true value.

(wallpaper sold 3 rolls for $1.00)

This time, the yard sale was for the benefit of my parents.  The
business closed after 30 some odd years.  It's all I remember
my Dad doing after his mechanic days.  I spent many 
hours visiting the worksites where his installers 
were laying carpeting so I could visit my Dad.

Well, not exactly, more like to watch his cute installers
lay carpeting.  But it was a great excuse to be 
there and they couldn't make me leave
because, well, you know who the 
boss was!!!

I am proud of my Dad for who he is.  He worked hard all
my life and we had a good life growing up.
We didn't go without and even though we
weren't spoiled, we had what we needed
to survive and I knew where that came from

I have great memories of Wally's Carpets.  I worked there in high school.
I was given the responsibility of manning the store after school until
it closed.  I was proud of the fact that he taught me to figure out 
how much carpet was needed and to measure and cut it for
the customer.  It was a lot of responsibility or at least 
I felt it was.  But I am glad I had the opportunity
to be part of his business and memories.

I love you Dad!


I love a Parade

This trip has been so much fun.  The kids are big into parades. 
Actually, Miss Boo is into parades and brings anyone
along she can to be in it.

How else can you be the Parade Master if you
don't have participants?

Unfortunately for her brother, he is always selected to
be second chair in the parade.
But, I really don't think he minds on little bit.
Notice Grandma in the background.
Has anyone ever been more entertained?

We are loving this leg of our trip and because
of a nasty little flu bug, we are extending our
time in RV for another week.

I couldn't be happier.  I love spending 
time with my parents and watching
them play with the children.

The children adore them.


Girls...Girls...Girls

Miss Boo loves these girls, who happen to be her nieces.

I spent the good part of an hour helping her understand the 
connection to these beautiful little girls.

She was so excited to KNOW that she is an Aunt.

It was the first thing she told Grandma when she got here.

What a revelation for a 6 year old.


Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Meet Westin

This is my latest grandchild.

Isn't he sweet?



Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Busy...Busy

I always try to bring something special to the 
Grandkids when I visit.
This time I wanted something homemade
from Nana.


I also made one for Miss Boo for her room.  (below)
I did one for the Dude too a while back.
His is the blue stripe with the orange background.

And some for a few special other girls.

Thanks Laurie for all your help getting them ready to go 
because I would be going empty handed without
your set of hands and energy.

She was also instrumental in the artwork.  I have
much to learn about photo shop.

That is my next project...to learn the 
ins and outs of that program.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Another Road Trip


The children and I are headed out tomorrow morning for a trip to 
Arizona.  We are stopping in Colorado to see Nyoka and 
the family for a couple of days and a lot longer 
on the back end of the trip.  

It will be nice to spend some time with the folks relaxing
and helping them out.  The kids are so excited
to be with Grandma and Grandpa.
That is all they talk about.

To Everyone!

I will post as I go and will have
some photos by then...

I hope!

I went to the temple last weekend and will post
those as well from another state.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

I love being a Mommy/Mom/Mother/Younameit

I love the gifts the children bring me from school.

It was a very special day from the moment the Dude woke up and
asked me if it was "Happy Mothers Day".

To the very proud Miss Boo of her letter, card and coupons.

How could a Mom ask for more. 

I love my kids.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Lewis and Clark were here...

And there...and here...and yes, over there.  The one thing we know for 
sure is that they wandered aimlessly across this 
country and there are signs everywhere.

Even Here!
The Dude is in his pajama period

Those two front teeth are going to fall out soon.

It was a nice idea for a walk on a Monday night.

Thanks Mr. Finn for taking us out.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Happy MomE Day!

When I was going through my divorce almost ten years ago, I traveled up to the mountains to talk to my Dad.  I didn't know how to tell him that I wanted
to leave my marriage.  I didn't know what he would say.  Would I be 
letting him down?  It took me a long time to begin speaking the words
that would form into the dilemma I was now in.  I cried a lot and he listened
and waited patiently until I composed myself.

And then he offered two bits of wisdom to me.
One is relevant to this Mother's day.

He said: 
"Enid is a special woman that I love with all my heart.  
She brings me peace and loves me.  
She helps me to be better than 
I am and loves me when I am not.
She is a GOOD woman."

As he was talking about her he was choked up with emotion
and I realized that this is what I wanted in my life.

She is so kind and loving.  I know first hand
what it feels like to be loved by her and
am grateful that I can call her MomE.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Warning Label

I have a genetic defect that prevents me from reading
the warning labels on things.  I never read a form
before I start filling it out either.

I just don't pre-read anything!

This time I should have.


That is my little girl's hair wrapped around 
her new Zhu Zhu Pets wheel.

She has two bald spots.

As she said...
"You should have read that to me first Mom!"