Thursday, June 12, 2014

Happy Birthday Ian!

"The spirit of Elijah as Elder Russell M. Nelson has taught, is 'a manifestation of the Holy Ghost bearing witness of the divine nature of the family.'"

A raised planter I found at DSO.  I wonder

if James would build me one.

Adam needs a job.  He no longer works at Gamestop.  He called James and asked him for a job last night so James picked him up on his way in to Chandler.  

Max brought his Cookie Crisp cereal with him but he refuses to use my skim milk so I went to Fry's to get him some 2% milk.  On the way back to the condo a coyote crossed the street right in front of me.  This is on Hayden road north of the 202.  He looked a little lost. 

When I got back to the condo the dozen donuts I bought yesterday were all gone.  That means these boys ate 11 donuts in less than 24 hours.  Yes, I had one.  While I was shopping at Fry's I got some things for James: a Bass Pro shop card, Nutella, Chunky Monkey ice cream and cranberry celebration.  I must really love him!

As soon as I get back the boys want to go swimming but first Max has some cereal.  We went to the big pool but the waterfall wasn't on yet.  Max said he was pretty sure it came on at 10:00 so the boys kept asking me what time it was.  Right at ten they were standing under it waiting for it to come on and sure enough it did!  We went to the little pool afterwards but there were some older people there so I told the boys they had to be quiet so we didn't stay long.  Before going back to our room they played on the playground for a short time.  I bribed them to go in by saying that I would take them to lunch at Peter Piper Pizza.  I got 40 tokens so we each got ten.  I used all of mine on skee ball.  

I know it's a bad picture but it's all I've got.

When we got back to the condo James and Adam were there.  They had just got back from working on our bathroom, taking old tile out and putting in a new shower head.  I was so grateful to Adam.  He took the boys swimming.  

 When the boys return from swimming we all sit down and watch the movie Frozen.  Sheri picks everyone up before 6pm, including Adam.  I am exhausted and veg out on the couch and watch Foodnetwork while James works on the computer.  They extended the deadline for his hunt and so he was quite happy about that.

 Rowan, Addy, Kilee, Kayla, Kreed and Ruby

Addy surfing

 

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

"A soft answer turneth away wrath;

but grievous words stir up anger."

I left Scottsdale a little after 7 this morning.  I dropped checks off for James and then went to Sams Club to get gas and to wash my car.  I was at Dr. Cullimore's by 8am for my consultation.  I have been feeling apprehensive about having this abscess in my gum area removed but after talking to Dr. Cullimore again today I decided that I am going to go ahead with the proceedure.  I am scheduled for Tuesday, June 24th at 8am.  

My next stop was the Chase Bank in Chandler to get money for birthdays: Ian, Brian, Dallin and Tricia all have birthdays within the next week or so.  So does Ruby but I didn't get money for her.  I also got 25 ones so while the boys are at the timeshare this week I can encourage them to learn some Articles of Faith.  Yes, I am bribing them with money.  I did some shopping at Walmart and Kohl's.  I got shoes and clothes for James at Kohl's for father's day.  I saved $142 by opening a Kohl's charge account.  I got to see Kim while I was there.  She is getting ready for Brian's birthday, father's day, and their trip to San Diego on Saturday.  It was so nice to see her.

Next I had an appointment at Dr. Douglas's to get my new crown put on.  Afterwards I met James for lunch at Elmer's.  

After lunch I picked up Joshua, Evan and Max and dropped birthday cards off for Dallin, Brian and Ian.  Evan and Max were hungry so we may a drive through In-n-Out Burger for lunch.  They really do have the best burgers and fries although this time I didn't eat any.  Oh I also dropped my computer off at Joe Johnston's and told him about my problem.  He was pretty sure he could fix it.

It is almost exactly 30 miles from our house in Chandler to the timeshare in Scottsdale but it is freeway the entire distance.  

I put the groceries away that I bought at Walmart and the boys got ready to go swimming.  They were excited that I bought them a dozen donuts. 

 Such a fun time!

While the boys were at the pool I told them I would pay them a dollar a piece for each Article of Faith they could recite.  Joshua earned $2, Max $3, and Evan $4.  Way to go Evan!  He is very motivated by money.

 They used their money to buy snacks.

For dinner we got pizza and garlic knots from NYPD pizza.  After dinner the boys wanted to go swimming in the small pool.  It was fun to have the entire pool to themselves as they swam after dark.

 

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

"It would be wonderful to have a desire deep in our hearts to keep the commandments without anyone constantly reminding us and to have a firm conviction that if we follow the right path, we will have the blessings promised in the scriptures."

-Elder Zivic, "Let's Not Take the Wrong Way"

Serenity now

Today is the anniversary of Carly Elmer's drowning in our community pool in Chandler.  I believe it was 19 years ago.  Such a sad day.

James left early so I had the morning to myself.  I prayed, read my Book of Mormon, Conference talks, from the Old Testament and posted on my blog.  I am in Scottsdale and he went to Chandler to work.  He was back by 11:30 and brought me a sandwich from Jersey Mike's for lunch and a bag of Almond Hershey Kisses.  I am afraid that they are a binge food for me.  After eating I took a nap, watched Food Network and listened to the Old Testament on my phone.  First Chronicles is so far mainly a genealogy.  

James spent the afternoon trying to register for a hunt on the Arizona Game & Fish website for him and Alex.  He struggled for over two hours and was never successful.  Today was the last day to register.  Both he and Alex are quite disappointed.  Finally around 7:30 we headed out for dinner.  I had seen a Pei Wei when we were out and about last night.  We finally found it on the corner of 87th and Raintree.  We ordered lettuce wraps which we shared, I had a spicky chicken salad and James had the chopped chicken salad but decided he liked mine better.  I also had a diet cherry coke.  Every thing was delicious!!

Back to the condo to fall asleep watching Chopped.

Sad story

 

Monday, June 9, 2014

The Case family on their annual trip to the beach.

" To become a significant influence of righteousness in someone's life I must sincerely love them so they can devehualop confidence in

God's love." -Richard G. Scott

I spent over two hours on the phone with tech's from the Apple Support team who were not able to help me with my problem.  They also had me uninstall Adobe Reader, Malware bytes, and Norton which now need to be reinstalled.  They think it may be a Windows 7 operating system problem.  Windows is not recognizing the iphone device and won't allow it to install.  I found out later that I was charged $40 for their services. 

On a happier note, Sheri and Ian brought Ben, Max, and Max's friend Jack, Evan and Joshua over to swim.  Alex is still at the cabin with Michael and friends.  Ian took the kids to the pool while Sheri and I went to Target and to NYPD to get pizza.  Stacy was so worried about Joshua that we called Ian.  He said not to worry that Joshua could stand in the pool without the water being over his head. 

 James came home from work and had lunch with us.  He is discouraged because he doesn't have enough workers and now Steve Brown is going back to Wyoming.  Steve is Jessica Lambson's boyfriend.  He is also discouraged because his laringitis is worse and Dr. Moffat won't give him a steroid shot and James says that's the only thing that helps him.  

The boys had a fun time swimming and just "hanging out" in the condo.

Joshua and Evan in our whirlpool tub.

For dinner this evening James and I went to Rubio's for fish tacos.  Afterwards James worked on his talk and I fell asleep watching Cut Throat Kitchen on Foodnetwork.  

Sunday, June 8, 2014

"Am I securely tied to God so that my faith shows, or am I actually tied to something else?"

 The water went off during the night.  I noticed when I got up around 2 to go to the bathroom.  James went outside and pushed the reset button but when I got up again at 3:30 it was still off so he got up again.  The last time it worked!  Thank goodness!  What a disaster it would be with a houseful of people to not have any water.

Alex and Michael did not bring church clothes and I was quite upset because I had talked to Michael before he came and made it clear that I wanted them to go to sacrament meeting and then I would bring them home.  James had also spoke to Alex.  I let them know how I felt in a kind but firm way.  We improvised and they came to sacrament meeting with us and then James brought them home.  

The speakers in sacrament meeting were Jordyn Applegate, Judy Hunter, and Rick Lauritzen.  Jordyn spoke on morality and Judy and Rick on Christlike love.  It was a good meeting.  

James missed Sunday School.  We learned about Deborah, Gideon and Samson.  

In Young Women's Randa Covert gave the lesson on the differences between the Melchizedek and Aaronic priesthoods.  The girls took candy to the young men and thanked them for honoring their priesthood.  We got new class presidencies, Alice is the Beehive president and Heaven the secretary, Kilee is the Mia Maid class president and Maddie the secretary, and Trenda is the Laurel president with Jordyn as the secretary.  Alice, Heaven, and Jordyn were set apart today.  The others will have to be done later as they were not here today.  

After my meetings I came home and had lunch and took a nap before getting ready to go to our timeshare in the valley with James.  Actually he drove his truck and I took my car.  He went the Globe way and dropped some equipment off at the Chandler Airport.  We said goodbye to our guests and told them to continue to make themselves at home.  They will return to the valley tomorrow. 

Somebody posted this picture of Harold on Facebook and

I wanted to include it here.

I checked in to Desert Sheraton Oasis rooms 3058 and 3057 which are on the third floor.  Even with a luggage carrier I made three trips.  I locked myself out and had to walk to the lobby barefooted to get another key.  James arrived about an hour later.  The rooms have been redecorated and everything looks brand new.  The beds are comfortable and I love the pillows.

Not the Desert Sheraton Oasis, but

a castle somewhere in Europe.

 

 

Saturday, June 7, 2014

I just finished reading 2 Kings in the

Old Testament.  My favorite chapter

was chapter 19.  Here is the heading:

"Hezekiah seeks counsel from Isaiah to save Jerusalem-- Isaiah prophesies defeat of Assyrians and death of Sennacherib--Hezekiah prays for deliverance--Sennacherib sends a blasphemous letter--Isiah prophesies destruction of Assyrians, and that a remnant of Judah will flourish--An angel slays 185,000 Assyrians--Sennacherib slain by his sons."

James and I left with James Hayden a little after 7 to take him to Silver City where his dad his picking him up to take him home.  Before we left James unloaded the Razr for Michael.  He has been dying to take his friends on a ride.  

James Hayden sleeps most of the way to Silver City.  He is still exhausted.  I guess they did alot of hiking yesterday.  James is pretty miserable and keeps complaining about his arm hurting.  We met Jared and the girls at the Taco Bell in Silver City.  Why didn't I take some pictures?

On the way home James and I stopped at the Basha's in Eagar to get steaks and some other things for dinner.  Their steaks were buy one and get one free so I bought one for Alex and Michael too.  They were very tasty and we decided that's where we should always buy our steaks.  The Nicoll's cooked chicken and corn so we had a nice dinner.

Here are some things going on in the valley today:

Kayla and Addy had their dance recital.

Darrel said he was very proud of Addy and what a great job she did.

Adam got to meet his favorite actor Nathan Fillian,

at Comicon.

Joshua, Evan, Max, and Ian also went to Comicon.

Darth Mall and Max.

The boys had a blast!

Up close and personal with R2D2.

Thanks to Adam and Ian for taking the boys because they had a great time.

 

Friday, June 6, 2014

Love is something more than feelings of the heart; it is also a covenant we keep with soul and mind.

I took a walk this morning.  Thanks to my Tracktivity device I know I walked 3, 610 steps, 1.52 miles and burned 203 calories.  

Jeff Nicoll, the husband of Ann Nicoll, who are the chaperones of the kids staying here this weekend got up early this morning to go out and look for wolves.  I guess he met up with a forest ranger with a tracking device and they tracked one for awhile but never saw it.

Michael and his friend Alexis Nicoll went on a walk this morning too.

After my gospel study I made a trip to town to get my new phone.  I got an iphone 5s, white and silver with a purple case.  I also got a Wifi gadget that will work for up to 10 devices.  I saw Harold and Vickie there at the Verizon store and Vickie reminded me that she told me a long time ago to go Verizon for wifi.  

When I got home I was frustrated because I still can't download pictures from my new phone to the computer.  It must be a problem with the computer.  I am frustrated but I do love the new wifi device.  Now James can bring his computer home on the weekends.

Tomorrow I am going to try to uninstall itunes and then reinstall it.  

Here is a picture of our guests:

Conner, Michael, Alexis, Julia, Ann and

Jeff, Gabby, Jordan and McKenna.

Alex and one of the girls are not pictured. 

I am not sure which girl is missing.

It was after 10 pm when James and the boys finally arrived home from their fishing trip on the Black River.  I was getting a little worried.  Alex caught 64 fish, Grampa James 31, and James Hayden 21.  They are exhausted!  The sad thing is they didn't even bring one fish back with them. Here are some pictures:

James Hayden

 They didn't say they were big fish.  At the Black River
it's not the size, but the amount.

The hike out.

Rugged country.