Catching Up!!!

Where did October go????? I can't believe that it's been 30 days since my last entry!! This past month has been a struggle for me. On a physical and emotional level anyway. I was presented with several challenges regarding my Crohn's. Nothing new, just more aggressive. It hit pretty quickly effecting my right eye and was pretty scary. After several sessions with the doctors, lots of drops and spending 2 weeks with it dilated. It was decided that the retina is OK and not affected. However, I have not regained total sight back, the jury is still out on how much will come back. I wanted Brent to take a picture for me to post, but he wouldn't. Anyway, enough of that. I'm blessed and things could have been worse.

Halloween was really fun this year. It's one of my favorite holidays, but was topped this year with parties and the grandkids. Everyone came over and we had a night of making cookies. Even Harrison got into it.

October 24th with a little carnival at Sammy's dance studio. All the students came in costume and they did some really cute dances to some fun Halloween music. She was the cutest witch there!! When she got out there to dance, she was so intrigued with the other dancers that she mostly watched them dance. We enjoyed some chilli and games. We were sitting by ones of the games, but no one was "manning" it, so when the kid's came to play it, I punted. It was really fun. Erica really likes to watch the dancing and she LOVED the cookies!!!

Jake & Whitney had a fun party on the 25th. We got there in time to watch one of the funniest couple games I've ever seen. And I didn't have my camera!! It was great blackmail material! They've been working hard on their house and it's really shaping up!

Cameron gets into the spirit big time with his yard. He works pretty hard at it. Last year he decorated and everything got stolen, so this year Patrick loaned him his invisible fence that he used for the horses and nothing was missing!! He and ReyAn had a party on Halloween. Even my parents came in costume! It was great! Jackson and Harrison were Jedi's, Sammy was a witch and Erica was an elephant. All the adults were dressed up, too. Even with masks on, Erica new who her Dad, Papa (Brent) and Pop (my dad) were. ReyAn's family was there, too. Everyone looked great! Everyone got into playing "Rock Band", including Sammy. Patrick and Whitney sang and played, ReyAn played, I sang and Sammy took her turn on the drums and did pretty darn good!

I love October!!!!

So it begins......

We woke up this morning to 2 inches of the season's first snow and it kept coming. Ultimately ending up with 5 inches before the sun came out and started to melt it. We also woke to the clocks flashing the time, so apparently the power was off at some point as well. (I am not ready for this.) Watching the news tonight, it looks like there is more on the way. With Deer Season opening next Saturday, this is good news. But, since that doesn't involve us, not so good.

Brent went out around 10:00 am to knock the snow out of the trees. It was heavy and was bending them down. Mushu loved playing in it as it fell. He was running about 100 mph around the yard and he had little snow balls stuck to his legs, belly & chin. He didn't want to come in until Brent did. It was hilarious. He'd stay in for a while and then want back out again.

First thing this morning. Not much under the trees, but it was stacking up on the porch railings.

And October Begins......

We started out the month by welcoming new additions to the Jake & Whitney household. They adopted 2 pygmy goats!!! They're cute, but these are 2 grandkids I will not babysit!! (lol)

We headed down to Elsinore on Thursday night the 2nd to see Grandpa D and celebrate his 92nd birthday. Jennie and the boys went with us. We arrived VERY late, got her all set up in the trailer for the night and then set the 5th wheel up for us. Jake & Whitney came down on Friday night (late) and spent the weekend as well.

Brent rented a little tractor and spent all day Friday digging. We put in a grey-water dump and he added another yard hydrant closer to the trailer that we leave down there. He seemed to enjoy the digging at first. New adventure for him. But, it was a long process and when he was done filling it all back in (about 11:00 p.m.), he seemed to be bored. The weather was great on Friday, but turned cold, windy and rained on Saturday. Wasn't much for us to do but hang out, play games and watch movies. We managed to unload the 4-wheelers only to load them up again with no added miles to them. (eye roll). We all went out for Chinese food Saturday night in Richfield and then thankfully, the weather was better on Sunday so that we could pack up to come home. The boys loved spending time with Grandpa and he enjoys them. Harrison has decided to walk and he even tried to run to keep up with Jackson and Mushu. Not successfully though. However, since returning home, he has perfected it. He is very intrigued with his Grandpa's mustache!

We have enjoyed beautiful weather until today here at home. Today we saw the first of the snow fall. Didn't stick, but wet and cold. I don't know that I'm ready for it. Cameron took his family out camping last night and got snowed on. It was their first trip in their new trailer and didn't last the whole weekend. They came home tonight but had a great time.

Bye Summer 2008!

This summer has been a quick one! Seems like we didn't get out camping as often as we have in past summers. We purchased my grandparents property in Elsinore, Utah about 3 1/2 years ago and have a trailer down there so we spend at least 1 weekend every month if not 2 there with them. The kids have joined us on a few occasions to make it a real family affair. Everyone loves to go to Grandma D's house!!! The summer started Memorial weekend, but not with the weather cooperating. Brent & I took Jennie & her boys to camp on the San Rafeal (sp) Swell, but got hailed & snowed on the first couple of days there. So, we packed it up & went to Elsinore. The weather was a bit warmer there & it was fun for Jackson to be outside instead of traped in the 5th wheel with his crazy grandma!

In June, Elsinore celebrates "Danish Days" - the settling of the town by the Mormon Pioneers. There are fireworks on Friday night followed by a parade on Saturday (the only one Brent will go to because it's 15 minutes long!) & activities on the park. This year, Grandma & Grandpa D were the Grand Marshalls over the festivities. Brent, the kids & our grandkids were all there to watch them in the parade. Ahhhhh, little towns. Nothing like them. Only place you see tractors as floats!!!

The 4th of July was a holiday spent at home. We went to the Layton parade to watch Patrick ride his BMW bike (doing his figure 8's quite nicely) & then went back to my house to play in the pool, B-B-Q & do fireworks! It was relaxing & a lot of fun. No traffic or crowds!!! Great!!! Everyone came over to eat & play kickball.

The 24th of July has become a tradition in Elsinore! The whole family went down & camped out on our property. We planned a huge 4-wheeling trip up to Monroe Peak (elev. 11,226 ft.). A day trip up some of the most beautiful mountain trails. And of course, we got almost to the top & again it hailed!! Weather is not our best thing this year. Brent being always prepared, had tarps, raingear & matches. We soon had cover & a fire. Everyone had packed a lunch, so we parked ourselves there until it cleared enough to head down the mountain. Not the best weather, but a great day & a lot of fun!!

We went on our annual trip to the Palisades mountains above Manti, Utah in August. Not the whole family could go this year. Jake & Whitney and Whitney's sister, nephew & brother went with us. Cameron was off on his annual training and Jennie & Patrick were home working on their house. (They are getting it ready to sell.) It was 4 days of 4-wheeling, good weather & great fun!! I love riding my quad, especially through puddles. In the past years the weather hasn't been the best (imagine that), but this year it was great!!! We put 80+ miles on our machines seeing some great landscape, wildlife & riding through rivers!

The weekend of August 22nd, I spent with my grandparents in Elsinore. Upon arriving, I knew that it would be the last time I would see my grandma. Her health has been failing rapidly over the past few months. We talked, laughed & shared many cherished and private thoughts. She has been my lifelong friend & confidant. A great woman with a very special countenance & enormous inner strength. It was a beautiful weekend & even though it was hard to leave her, we had said all we needed to & our life together on this earth was complete. No regrets, no "wish-I-hads". Over the Labor Day weekend on August 30th, she passed away quietly in her home. I will miss her more than I can say. She understood me so well & loved us all so much. It was a holiday weekend filled with mixed emotions but a lot of great memories. Not wanting to tackle the holiday traffic, we opted to camp at Cherry Hill with Cameron & his family. Jennie brought the boys over to play. (Patrick was working.) We miniture golfed, swam & then the whole flam damily rode the FrontRunner train to Salt Lake for dinner (& back again). It was fun and helped to soften the news of Grandma's passing for all of us.

It has been an amazing summer!! Even with accidents (Patrick got hit by a car while on duty, Jackson fell out of their Durango on his head, Harrison took a trip out of our 5th wheel door, Erica fell on her face while walking with her hands in her pockets) & Mushu (our shitzu) lost his tail, it has been a summer to remember. Brent's business is soaring, I started a new job, Sammy began Kindergarten & life is good. We enjoy spending time with our kids, grandkids & most of all with my grandparents. I am probably one of the few at my age who still has them around. And I am so grateful for that. They have lived to see 5 generations follow them & been able to spend time quality time with them all. Nights of dutchoven dinners in the driveway of their home, playing Phase 10 & building bon fires in the dirt are memories that not only I cherish, but my whole family. My grandkids love Grandma and Grandpa D & get really excited when we are going down there. Grandpa will be 92 next week! We are heading down to celebrate with him.

How's this for a photo to remember!!! Grandma and her first great-grandkids!!! Aren't they cute!!! :)

Our Blog is Born!!!!!

Today is the first day of the rest of our blog!!!! We have decided to join the rest of the 21st century and begin blogging. As our family grows and spreads around the U.S. of A. this is probably the best way to keep everyone up on us, our adventures and link you to our family. We're beginners, so no judging!!!! Enjoy and we'll try to keep up on this.