Friday, June 5, 2015

It rained today and made it a gorgeous day!

We have not had measureable rain here in June since 2002!

Sad news today.  Our friend Thomas Gale was taken in a

motorcycle accident last night.  Thomas's mother Ruth is in Utah attending her brother's funeral.  Thomas was our neighbor for awhile.  He's a little younger than Darrel.  One morning he came down early, around 6 or 7 and said: "I want to play with anybody."

 

Today was Elder L. Tom Perry's funeral.

His booming voice and radiant smile will be missed.

 

Paul and a van full of teenagers left this morning for the Southwest track meet in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Here they are stopping for lunch at the Golden Corral in Gallup.



They look happy.  I hope that food helps them race faster tomorrow.

 

With Paul and Michael gone, to keep from getting lonely Joshua had a play date with his friend Bryce.

Taking it easy with Skittles.

Watching a movie with Bryce and his sister Brooklyn

at Bryce's house.

 

I had a doctor's appointment with Tiffany and Dr. Caldron today regarding what to do about my arthritis pain.  I can either go on another drug called Actemra or be part of a research study to test a new drug.  I am going to go with whichever one I can do the quickest.  Tiffany is going to contact Medicare regarding Actemra.  Hopefully it won't take too long to get it approved. 

 

After my appointment James took Lexy to Sears to have the oil changed and the tires rotated.  He dropped me off at the mall and then he joined me and we had lunch at Kona Grill.  I had the macadamian crusted chicken salad with honey mustard dressing.  It was delicious!  I could hardly walk so I took three aspirins while I was there and after finishing lunch we made our way to Barnes & Noble for brownies.  Their triple chocolate brownies are my favorite.  James carried my purse all through the mall for me so I could walk easier.  What a guy!

 

When we got home Stacy said her friend Elska, (Bryce's mom), was interested in buying our house and would look at it next week.  That would be wonderful if she bought it and we didn't have to put it on the market.

 

Seth opened his mission call this evening.  I was hurting so I didn't go, but James did went because Seth told him he wanted him there.

He's going to Bogota, Colombia

and reports on October 21st!

Congratulations Seth!

 

Evan came down this evening and we had a nice chat.  He came to see Joshua but Joshua was still at Bryce's.  He showed me what Lego set he wanted and then asked me if I had any work for him.  I told him I bet grandpa could find something for him to do.  He is coming down in the morning to help plant new flowers by the mail box.



 

 









Thursday, June 4, 2015

Happy 10th Birthday Emmy!

I love this girl!

 

I worked a little this morning packing up our things from the kitchen to take home to Vernon.  We have way too many spices!

 

James got us Jersey Mike's for lunch and then we made a trip to 108th Avenue and Indian School.  We read from our book: "The Heiress of Winterwood."  It's one of our favorites so far. 

 

My knees hurt so badly this evening that I couldn't get up to come to the table for dinner.  I ate on the loveseat in the family room and took some aspirin.  Thirty minutes after taking the aspirin I was able to get up and move. 

 

Alexis and Michael went swimming in our pool this evening.  Michael leaves tomorrow morning for New Mexico and won't be back until Sunday evening.  I think Alexis is going to miss him.  There was a little lightening and thunder this evening.  Joshua was swimming and immediately got out of the pool and came in.

 

I am pretty happy with how well the kitchen turned out.  Michael and Paul helped James with the grouting.

 

I am grateful for a husband who is so good at doing remodeling jobs around the house.

 





Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Boy, that's the truth!

Although I must say I think James is a wonderful grandpa to our grandchildren.  He truly does love them and wants what is best for them.

 

Grady, one of the boys on the High Adventure with the Teachers and Priests fell down a 40 foot enbankment and landed on his backpack.  Because of this his parents came to Show Low to pick him up and the rest of the group moved from the Blue wilderness area to Sheep's Crossing.  Alex is fine with that because he knows there is good fishing there. 

 

James and Michael finished the backsplash except for the grouting.  They have to wait over 24 hours before putting the grout in.



Now we have to do the lights

 

James and I went to the Verizon store this afternoon so I could get a new phone.  I was sure I had had my phone for over two years, but I was wrong, it's only been one year.  I just need more storage and I was so excited to go from 16GB to 64GB.  The soonest I will be eligible for an upgrade is in February.  I can buy the new phone I want but it costs $850.  I think I will wait!

 

James called the arthritis center today and told them how miserable I have been.  They scheduled an appointment for me this Friday.

 

Michael was taking Alexis home this evening and ran into the Ford Focus.  He hit it pretty hard.  Stacy had told him he needed to move it before leaving, but he forgot.  Oh dear, their deductible is $500.

 







Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Lola and her cousin Ivy

 

I am miserable as I have been the last two Tuesdays and spent the day in bed.  I think it's because I take my 8 Methotrexate on Monday.  It feels like a string is running through me and someone is pulling it so tight that I can't move. 

 

Alex left on our wards high adventure today for the Priests and Teachers.  I am not sure why Ben didn't go.  They are headed for the Blue wilderness area in New Mexico.  As I predicted, Seth didn't show up for work. 

 

The new counters are corian, not granite, but I really like them because they are a light color.  Now we have to pick the pattern for the backsplash.  Michael helped us pick between the two that James brought home.  Michael also helped James put in the backsplash.

Somebody has to get back in that corner.



 

We had a flood in the laundry room today.  Someone pulled the hose out of the back of the washing machine while they were working and forgot to put it back in.  Stacy did a load of wash and didn't notice the hose was pulled out so the water went all over the floor.  Thankfully Paul caught it before it was too bad.

 

James brought me a meat toastado from Senor Tacos for lunch.  It was quite yummy. 

 

Amanda, Joe, and Michael had a jam session today as they did yesterday too.  Joe and Michael have written two new songs.  They harmonize very well together.

Amanda records them on her computer.  Alexus was here too.  She was studying for the SAT in the other room. 

 

All I accomplished today was doing a couple of loads of laundry.  I felt too miserable to do anything else.





Monday, June 1, 2015

Happy 47th Anniversary!

 

How do we celebrate?

Eating of course.  Breakfast at IHOP.

We love their harvest nut and grain pancakes!

 

James, who never posts on Facebook, posted this morning:

"Today is my 47th wedding anniversary, June 1st, 1968, in the Mesa, Arizona temple, with no one from either family inside the temple.  I married the most beautiful girl in the world and she has blessed my life every single day since.

18 grandchildren later and still going strong.  It makes all the difference who you spend your life with.  She has directed me back on the path so often by the little things she says and does. 

I love you Karen, more than words can describe."

 

How could I not love him after that post.

 

James spent most of the day working in the kitchen with Alex and Seth.  They took the old countertops off and the backsplash.  We had quite a mess all day but by the end of the day we had new countertops.  Tomorrow it will be the backsplash.

Joshua helping grandpa re-connect the faucet



 

We had Pei Wei for dinner and watched an Ezra Taft Benson talk entitled: "Prepare for the Day of the Lord" that Paul showed on Chromecast. 

 

By the end of the day I usually feel pretty miserable and today was no different.

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Liam on the floor doing our prayer reminder puzzle

 

Malachi was the best at figuring out the puzzles.  We were impressed and his dad said: "Oh, he does puzzles all the time"!

 

A young couple, newlyweds, Brittany and Dan Leavitt were the speakers in sacrament meeting today.  James talked to Dan afterwards and we decided we were probably related because we both have Leavitts in our family history.

 

After church I fixed bacon, eggs, and potatoes O'Brien for lunch/dinner.  We barely had time for a short nap before going over to Brian and Kim's for Joseph's graduation party. 

Contemplating his future

Joe with his "baby" and

Alex with Lola

We didn't stay long, because I felt so miserable.  Kim had lots of goodies but I didn't eat a thing.  You know I must not have felt well to pass up food. 

 

I went home and went to bed.



 





Saturday, May 30, 2015

I may have posted this before, but it

bears repeating.

 

While James was cleaning outside he made a discovery when he saw a cord hanging down from the roof of the house.  He went up on the roof and discovered someone had a pillow and blanket in what I am calling an "upstairs bedroom."  Hmm, I wonder who could have done this?  Any guesses?

 

 

I made James some scrambled eggs this morning using a technique I learned on Facebook.  He said they were the best scrambled eggs he has ever eaten.  Why thank you honey, I think so too!  I am going to challenge Stacy to an egg duel because she says that scrambled eggs are her specialty. 

 

Speaking of food, we had Elmer's for lunch.  I love their strips with grated cheese and sauce.  Yumm!

 

At 2pm I made my way to the Emerald Bay building in Gilbert to attend Addy's guitar and Rowan's piano recital.  There were 45 students and it last 2 hours, but I stayed until the end to see the kids get their awards which included baby marachas and a recorder.  I am sure all the parents are going to appreciate that!

Addy played Malaguena, one of Stacy's recital

pieces back when she took piano lessons.

Rowan played "Mango" on the piano.

Ruby kept teasing Rowan that he forgot to

bring his instrument.  She is their biggest fan!

I tried to get a picture of all the students but

there were just too many!

 

This little girl was so good!

 

 

After the recital I was going to go grocery shopping, but I felt so miserable that I went home and went to bed instead.  I also worked on our Primary lesson for tomorrow which is on prayer.

 

Michael had a bad fall while he was out running tonight.  He hurt his elbow and got a good dose of road rash.  Hopefully it won't affect him running in Albequerque next week.