Wednesday, January 6, 2016

We had over 76 elk in our yard this morning.  James was so happy!

 Two out of the 76

It started snowing and the elk started leaving.  We had snow, and then sunshine.

James cleaned out the hall storage closet.  Thanks Honey!  It looks great!  (I think he was looking for a dead mouse, but no luck.)

We were going to leave for the valley today but the water is still leaking in our basement, so we postpone until tomorrow.  

I a slowly getting Christmas things put away but I've decided to leave the tree up until next weekend when Kim and Brian come so they can see it.  Yes, it is that beautiful!

I made a fresh salad to go with dinner tonight.  I think James was grateful to have some fresh veggies. 

We watched the new Garage Sale Mystery movie starring Lori Laughlin on the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel.  It was a good one.

Our friends, Collin and Wendy DeWitt sent a greeting from their mission in the Carribean.

Nice apron, Collin! 

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

The Heyman family

 There was no snow here in Vernon, but we did get a little rain.  

I am worried about going over on our internet gigabytes.  James was online most of the morning categorizing expenses on our cred card.  I also had to go online to finish paying some bills.  We are now at 87% of our allotment and we have to go until January 13th.  If we go over Verizon charges us $15 for each gigabyte.  We are already paying $130 for 30 GB.  I feel like Verizon is very unfair.  For several months we were way under on our monthly sage.  Wouldn't it be fair to give us a discount or forward what we didn't use to the next month?  Not many companies serve our area and most of them require you to have a phone line.  Mud and internet, the two things I don't like about living here.  

I worked on putting Christmas decorations away.  Today it was my large nativity and Christmas knicknacks.  Our basement still has a slow leak.  

I worked on my blog today.  I am now three weeks behind.  

Here is something to cheer me up:

 Looks like Lola made a visit to Chandler Eye today.

We are still finishing up our Christmas movies.  Tonight we watched "Santa for Christmas", and "The Christmas Claus".  

Monday, January 4, 2016

Our good friend Ruth Gale and six of her seven children.

Val her husband passed away and so did her son Thomas, both

in motorcycle accidents.

It was cloudy today and was supposed to rain but it never did.  James and I read two chapters fro the Book of Mormon.  James fixed the leaky water valve, but there is still water in the basement.  He also worked on taxes.  I start putting the Disney tree away and pay some bills.  I like quiet days when I can putter around the house getting things done.  

We had one Christmas casualty.  Cinderella, one of the ornaments on the Disney tree was beheaded and her body is missing.  I sent out a group text and got this response from Stacy:

"Joshua said it was Emmy that broke it mom.  It was at night so he forgot to tell you.  Evan and Emmy were light saber fighting and Evan went to get a drink.  Emmy was doing cool stunts with the darth maul light saber and she accidentally hit the tree and a couple of the ornaments flew off and Cinderella broke.

He said Emmy looked at him scared and he walked away.  You were in the kitchen.  He thought she was going to tell you  He said they both saw the head and that was it.  Neither one of them stuck around.  he said that light saber is hard to use and she was doing awesome stunts but he warned her she was too close.  He also said please don't be mad at her cuz she looked scared and that means she is sorry."

Maybe she was afraid of getting in trouble so she took it?  He only ever saw the head and didn't stick around.

I am sad Emmy was afraid to tell me about it.  I would not have been angry with her.  Anyway, Carmen, James's sister is giving me one that she bought after Christmas.  Here is a picture.

 I think this one is nicer than the original.

R.I.P. Cinderella

We watched two more Up Christmas movies this evening:

"Silver Bells"

"The Christmas Bunny"

We both loved The Christmas Bunny.

Sunday, January 3, 2016

The blessing of baby Ander Hoose

Happy Birthday Cathi!

One of my most favorite people in the world!

Today I gave my first lesson on the Book of Mormon.  We got to church early so I could set up my room, something I never did last year.  I am so glad I did!  Things ran much more smoothly.  We sat by Jared and his kids and Paula Johnson during sacrament meeting.  

None of the Miller's were at church today.  Debbie, the bishop's mother, is in the hospital.  She has a weakened immune system because of her chemo therapy treatments.  

James bore his testimony today about Stacy giving a Book of Mormon to Cindy Ganado and the fruits of that effort.  

Tyler Hunsaker bore his testimony.  He will be leaving on his mission on January 13th.

Emmy was in my class today along with Braylin Chaffin, Curtis and Zemira Wilhelm.  There are five other children on my roll but the only one I have ever seen is Kacey Westbrook.  She is Wade and Jackie Butler's granddaughter and is a sweetheart.  I wish she would come more often.

Our lesson was: "The Book of Mormon, a Gift from a Loving Heavenly Father."  The kids were so good!

I had a coughing attack during sharing time and had to leave.  Molly came looking for me.  

After church Jared and the kids get ready and leave for home. 

Great memories!

Come back soon!

 James and I break our fast a little early because we both have headaches.  We had burgers for dinner and then watched some movies on the Up channel.  We watched: "Three Days of Christmas", "The Nativitiy", and "Christmas Snow".  Christmas Snow is one of my favorites.  

I forgot to mention that the kids enjoyed playing with my Calico Critters while they were here.  Surprisingly none of them got lost.

 Calico Critter community

I am grateful my nativity set survived the Christmas chaos.

Saturday, January 2, 2016

Anna and Amanda

Jared, Anna, and Amanda went to the Snowflake temple this morning to do baptisms.  It was Amanda's first time.

James and I took James, Emmy, and Molly to town with us to buy ink.  With three kids in the backseat it gets a little crowded.  Molly got upset and was fighting with Emmy most of the way.  I made her stay in the car with me a few minutes so I could talk to her when we got to Walmart.  I wanted her to know that I love her and I want her to be happy.  I talked to her calmly and in a kind voice.  I told her it didn't seem like she loved her family because she gets so angry over such little things.  I know it is hard to be the youngest and I know Emmy does things to upset her so I tried to take all of those things into consideration.  Finally I told her we could go in the store if she could be happy and kind.  We looked at games and toys and she was very good.  On the way home we got Little Caesars pizza and breadsticks.  Molly became angry with Emmy over some little thing.  I know Emmy is part of the problem but I wanted to try to help Molly learn to control her anger.  I told her I was grounding her when we got home and she told me I couldn't.  I told her I could ground her from my food.  She said if she didn't eat, she would die.  I told her she could eat her dad's food while the rest of us had pizza and breadsticks.  

While everyone else was eating pizza, Molly and I went in the bedroom.  She was crying.  I said: "Molly, I just want you to be happy and be kind to your family and not get so angry.  I said I was going to have some pizza.  She said if I left she was coming  I said that was fine as long as she could be happy.  She came out, ate pizza, and was happy.  I know she does what she does because she wants to be heard.  

When Jared got home he took Emmy and Molly sledding.  The older kids stayed home to watch TV and play computer games.  They watched my "Man From Uncle" movie and really liked it.

The girls were really cold when they get home but they said they had fun.  

Jared fixed spaghetti for dinner.  Afterwards he watched part of the ASU game.  They played in the Cactus Bowl against West Virginia and ASU wins!

We have a slow leak in our basement  right now.  James goes down everyday and vacuums water out.

I hate the mud.  Our road is terrible.  Poor Lexy!

Back in Chandler Paul took this picture of Joshua eating a taco at Elmer's.

Deep thoughts

Friday, January1, 2016

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Trezise's and Joshua left a little while after breakfast.

Michael, Alex, Connor, and Daniel left before James was finished with the steak and gravy.  Alex was a little disappointed because he loves steak and gravy but I guess someone needed to get home.  Connor told us: "Thank you for your hospitality."  I really like him, he is a nice kid.

Joshua slept in until almost 10.  I guess he was very comfortable on our recliner.  For those who didn't want steak and gravy, I made cinnamon rolls, and Sheri made pancakes.  We were all "well fed", except for Trina who had a banana for breakfast.  

Sheri, Ben, James Hayden, and I played a game of Five Crowns before the Trezise's left for home.  Ben won!  

I got a text from Joe this morning asking if it would be okay for him, Amanda, and their friend Justin to come up today.  I told him that would be fine. 

Here are some of the things we did today:

James took Addy and Emmy on the Razr and then pulled them on sleds.  Addy was so cold when she returned.  James H. told her to sit down and he would get her some macaroni and cheese. (So thoughtful!).  Rowan went the second time with them and had a blast!  I was sad for him because all of his friends left.

I had him make Jenga Fett for me.

Anna and Amanda went on a Razr ride by themselves.

Molly insists she and Ruby get to go for a ride because Emmy and Addy got to go so Jared takes the before Ruby leaves for home.

 Love that smile!

A couple of cute smiles!

Darrel, Addy, and Rowan brought up their bows and did some target practicing.  Darrel's is a powerful crossbow and I saw him out looking for arrows a couple of times.

Emmy played the piano.

We watched a little TV.

We took a Lambson cousin picture before Darrel's

family left.  I don't think Lola wanted her picture taken.

Joe, Amanda, and Justin came for a while.  They went on a Razr ride and then spent most of their time upstairs playing Rockband.

They went into town for dinner and when they returned they found out Justin had to be to work very early tomorrow, so they left for home.

Jared fixed burgers for dinner.  After dinner Emmy said she was still hungry, so she had a bowl of cereal.  

I am either trying to watch or erase all of my Christmas movies.

   

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Happy Birthday Kimmy!

 2014 at Christmas time.

Brian and Kim were going to come up and celebrate her birthday at the cabin but they were both too sick.  Stacy and Paul are sick too.  Stacy has bronchitis.  

Jared took James, Emmy and Molly skiing today.  Anna and Amanda preferred to sleep in.  The kids had a blast skiing  Jared said Emmy was a natural. 

  Jared, James, Emmy, and Molly

Sheri and I watched "The Christmas Kiss", and then I made cherry chiffon desert.  Sheri made ham and rolls for everyone.

Ian takes charge.

Darrel and Trina joined us this afternoon.  Trina made seven layer dip to go with out ham and rolls, etc.  

After dinner James and I drove Anna and Amanda to the youth New Year's dance at the Show Low stake center.  

James got a ticket coming down the hill to the Y.  We were still in Apache county.  He was going 64 in a 55 zone.  The officer said he was wasting finite resources. (The worse excuse I've ever heard for giving someone a ticket.)

.Anna and Amanda had a blast at the dance.  James took them in and introduced them to some of the kids from Vernon.  Tamara and Jimmy Applegate said they would bring them home.  I am grateful to the boys who ask these two out of town girls to dance!

Back at the house we played games, had snacks, and made smores in the fireplace.  We sat talking by the Christmas tree until it was time for the fireworks.  

Molly didn't quite make it until midnight.

The kids loved playing chess

The Lambson cousins and Amanda

Headbanz is always a popular game

 

After the fireworks it was past midnight so most of us went to bed.  Joshua slept on our recliner.  I counted.  There were 24 people who stayed here tonight.  Addy said she looked for a bed but couldn't find one so she and Emmy slept on the couch.

Happy New Year!

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Carol Ray, her husband Roger Decker, and Carol's boys with their wives and children.

James and I had a nice visit with Molly this morning before anyone else was up.  When everyone else was up they opened their Christmas presents. 

A birds eye view of the Christmas tree and fireplace.  When Molly opened her singing Elsa doll she said: "Oh, another one of these."  Nice.  She did like the big Frozen coloring book and Frozen blanket I got her.  

I gave James $50, General Grievous Lego set, and a polar bear blanket.  Anna got an adult coloring book like mine, markers, colored pencils,  a bracelet, and a Batman blanket.  Emmy got a complete set of Harry Potter books, which she seemed very excited about, a blanket, yoyo, game and a bracelet.  Molly also got a bracelet.  I gave Amanda a blanket so she would have something to open.  Jared got the Ninja blender I got for Dawn until I found out she already had one.

Alex, Michael, Daniel, and Connor arrived this morning.  They came in Daniel's SUV.  Daniel's grandparents have a place up here so he has been to Vernon before.

Sheri, Ian, Ben, Max, Evan, and Joshua arrived later this afternoon.  I am very grateful to Sheri for bringing Josh.  Paul and Stacy are both sick and it wouldn't have been very fun for him at home.  

Sheri opened the food processor I got her.  She was excited to try it out making salsa but Ian accidentally broke off one of the buttons so we couldn't get it to work.  I told her I would take it back and get her another one.

Jared took his kids to the movies and then out for pizza.  Alex and friends went out and played in the snow.  The rest of us just hung out here at home.  This evening Sheri and I watched a movie.

Molly with the doll that "cowboy"

grandpa gave her.  Cowboy grandpa is

Tricia's grandpa.

  

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

The Wilhelm family

John and baby George, Sandra, Trenda, Talon, Alice

Johnny, Ruthie, Curtis, Zemira, and Andy

We love the Wilhelm's!

It's snowing!  It snowed off and on most of the day, but we only accumulated a couple of inches.  

This morning James and I read Revelations 20 and Moroni 5-7.  I also read Jeffrey R. Holland's talk, "Behold Thy Mother", and "it's Never Too Early and It's Never Too Late", by Elder Bradley D. Foster.

James worked on taxes, hooked the upstairs TV up (no small miracle!) and hung the Gilbert temple picture that Jared gave us for Christmas.  He also went to Stanford store and got bread, milk, and eggs.  I went with him and read from Wuthering Heights.  At this point we just want to finish this book so we can go on to something else.

Alex, Michael, and their friends Daniel and Connor were going to come up late tonight but because it has been snowing we didn't know how clear the roads would be so we convinced them to wait and come in the morning.

 Not much snow, but the trees are frosty

Jared and his kids got here at midnight.  I was already in bed but James went out to say hello.

 James, Molly, Anna, Emmy, and Amanda

Monday, December 28, 2015

The Hunsakers:
Holly, Kilee, LeeAnn, Stephanie, Tyler, and Sean.
Tyler leaves on his mission in a couple of weeks.

James saw lots of wildlife today.  He saw a coyote, a tree squirrel, cottontails, two bluejays, two bald eagles, and 27 elk all in our yard.  On our way to town we saw 6 deer less than a 1/2 mile from our house.

Some of our elk

 On our trip to town we went to the bank, Grumpy Jake's for lunch, Walmart, and Sonic for a drink.  I read to James from Wuthering Heights.  Neither one of us is enjoying this book very much.

I bought Sheri a food processor at Walmart to help cheer her up.  She makes homemade salsa and I know it will come in handy. 

We watched two Hayley Duff Christmas movies this evening.

James gave all the kids a letter on Christmas day.  Sheri and Ian read it to their kids tonight for F.H.E.  Sheri said it was really neat.

 

  

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Jared's Facebook post

 Almost a foot of snow in El Paso

Since they have no snow plows most of the roads are closed and so church was cancelled.  Tricia and the kids are stuck in Albequerque.

I love seeing the mountains in the background.

I was up early this morning to prepare for my Primary lesson and prepare the stockings for my kids for Christmas since I wasn't here last week.  

The Star says Immanuel.  The ornament has a picture of Christ

in it and says, "Come Unto Christ."  I also had a packet of hot chocolate in the mug.  The scriptures are the mini-editions of all the standard works.

This is our last lesson on the New Testament.  Next week we start the Book of Mormon.  All of the girls in my class will be moving on to Sister Hall's class, except Kacey.  The boys, Zemira and Braylin will stay in my class and I will also have Curtis Wilhelm.

 Elmer passed away this week

The family wants everyone to know that

Elmer's Tacos is not closing!

James went home teaching this afternoon and we also had tithing settlement.  We really do love and appreciate Bishop Miller!

I have a new visiting teaching companion, Corrina Westbrook.  I will still visit the sisters I have been visiting along with Claire Mercado who is inactive.  The good news is she is Amy Reynolds daughter and I love Amy!

When Harold and Vickie were here the other night working on the satellite they brought our Christmas gift.

Homemade gifts are the best!