Eleventh Hour

Sometimes the greatest ideas come at the 11th hour.  I’m not a big fan of the 11th hour; I prefer the 1st hour and I’m even happy with the 6th hour.  But when a great idea comes along there is nothing to do but run with it.  So I did!

Of course I couldn’t have done it with out the wonderful artist ability of D2!

Did It Happen?

I could hardly wait for the summer to begin and it seems as if it went by so fast I’m wondering now if it really happened. Well rest assured it did happen and as I’ve let days and now weeks go by I’m realizing I’ve forgotten some important moments! I hate when that happens but I shall try to recreate the last 8+ weeks…..hang on!

• On June 19th Val’s dad died.  It had been a long time coming, it was a blessing but even so it is an emotional time.  We left for Idaho as soon as we were able that day; going to Utah first.  We only got as far as Fernley inasmuch as there were no vacancy in Winnemucca (go figure).
• The funeral was on Saturday, June 22nd.  All of our children and grandchildren came; just missing one SIL and Gran#1.  It was amazing to all be together to honor the life of Val’s dad.

• Monday, June 23rd I left Utah with DIL2.  Val flew home.  We drove to Reno; ending at her grandparent’s home.
• Tuesday, D1 and D2 and kids left Utah for California driving the Suburban; they picked me up in Reno and we headed home.
• On June 29th DIL 2 came to our house after having visited with various family and friends in Reno and the Sacramento area.
• At this point we had 9 grans and 3 mothers at the house.  It was heaven.
• July 2nd we celebrated Gran#10’s 5th birthday.  It was a Mickey Mouse Event!
• On July 3rd after much wonderment if it was really going to happen due to work commitments S2 was able to fly in and join us.
• On the 4th of July brought SIL1 and our annual pancake breakfast.  This year we had our smallest turn out.  But we had the most family members.  A happy trade off.
• July 5th we were up and out early for a trip to Six Flags. A fun time was had by all.

 Well most of us….

• On Sunday, July 7th D1 and her family left for home.  Well most of them.  We convinced them to leave Gran2 here until D2 traveled back to Utah on the 21st!
• During the sweltering and I mean surface of the sun-like July temperatures we made the best of our time together.  Melting at the zoo and Fairytale Town in Sacramento.  I appreciate my grans and their parents indulging me in sharing my childhood memories of Fairytale Town and William Land Park. Days were spent at our little beach in the community we live in.  And just a lot of together time.  Late nights in the hot tub or just simply hours of laugher.  Lots of water, laundry and food.  It was the best of the best!
• On July 11th S2 and his family left for home. 
• We were down to four grans, it was piece of cake.
• D2 stayed as I mentioned until July 21st.  She drove back to Utah with her three children, D1’s daughter and my brother’s three children.  Yes, your math is correct, seven children!!
• She wasn’t gone 24 hours and I was already pining for them and concerned for her and the last leg of her trip……..home to Kansas.
• So I did what anyone would do right?  I hitched a ride to Utah on Thursday, the 25th with my brother.  He was going to pick up his kids she had taken to Utah on Sunday, the 21st.  We had a great trip together.
• The morning of Friday, July 26th I headed to Kansas with D2 and her three children and a very very very packed car.  In my mind the trip would take about 16 hours.  On paper the trip should take about 14 hours.  But in reality it took us 21 hours.  We did not get lost.  I don’t know why it took us so long.  I just know angels were with us every step of the way.
• On Saturday, July 27th, Happy Anniversary to D2 and her very patient husband who lived without her and their three children for 6 weeks.  They took me to the airport in Kansas City and then were off for a fun weekend.  I flew home and was home by 9:00 I think.  By that point I had no concept of time.

That is a wrap for July.  It was an amazing month of goodness.  I know I have pictures somewhere.  They will have to be added later.  I can’t thank my family enough for making our July more than fabulous.

No Service No Time - Part One

Growing up camping was the vacation of choice for my parents. Tahoe was the camping spot destination. I remember we went a lot. However, how much a lot was I don't remember. We were tent campers. The going waned when food was stolen from our cooler; by hippies according to my dad. And as I got older the desire to camp was less than a cool thing to do in my finite teenage brain. So between teenage brain and hippies it became a less desirable experience for my parents and in time we stopped going. As a youth I was encouraged to attend Girl’s Camp; I went for four years. I'm not sure why I HATED it and swore after the first year I would NEVER go back. Guess that goes to show the power of peer pressure. My dislike was really rooted in one thing; bathrooms. I simply abhor gross bathrooms. I just can't can't can't do them. I'm fine with limited showers. I can live with the dirt. Even the bugs I’m okay with; for the most part!! But it is those pesky bathrooms that just undo me.

Two years ago we purchased a camper. A requirement of course was a bathroom; which it had. It is perfect for us. It is like a tiny and I mean tiny apartment. And so Mother Nature and I have come to terms with each other and have learned to co-habitat beautifully. Stay tuned for Part Two of No Service No Time!

Lingering Longer

This past weekend we spent in New Mexico celebrating the eighth birthday of gran number four.  His birthday was Saturday and he was also baptized that day.  It was a wonderful day in every way.

Each time we visit our grans and their amazing parents I find myself lingering longer when it is time to go.  Studying each face and trying to memorizing each feature of their precious faces.  Listening intently to their voices so I can replay our conversations over and over again in my mind.  Remembering their words and the funny things they say.

Each visit is a gift, a blessing.  But the parting brings me such great sorrow.

Time

Eight short years ago we attended the blessing of this boy, Saturday I attended his baptism.  Really!

I know the idea of time is overly talked about but really it is crazy to me how fast eight years flies by even when we are having fun!  But oh the memories are the best!!

Silly Sil

Our Sil left his keys, wallet, and phone on top of their car; silly Sil!

Then his lovely bride drove their car to town.

Together they looked and looked for his keys, wallet and phone.

They found the keys, but alas the phone and wallet are no more.

Our Sil mentions to his mother that he needs to teach his lovely bride to do a 17-point inspection of the car before she drives away.  

To which his mother replied,  

"or you could put your things where they belong!"

I love his mother!

Triple Crown

Seems like we barely get home from one trip when I'm cooking up plans for another one.  I just can't help myself.  Besides it gives me something to look forward to.  The last stop in the Triple Crown.  Baptism number three.  Look out Kansas here we come!

The Train, The Train

Although we had a some what rocky beginning.  The train was six hours late, yicks!  Which caused for an over-worked and probably underpaid staff.  Over all despite those few missteps we loved trained travel.  The view at times was breath taking.  The motion of the train was rhythmic and so restful!

Train pulling into the station in SLC

Donner Lake view

Ocean view

Creative Trickery

My Dad use to always say, "It's not nice to tell a lie!"  Truth be told it isn't nice.  In fact quite honestly I don't know how people have the mind to tell lies; seriously how do they keep up with one untruth after another.  I don't get it.  But sometimes at least in our family we do use creative trickery.  It is not lying in the sense of the definition:
"a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive; an intentional untruth; a falsehood"  We do it when a surprise is going to take place.  But oh sometimes even with creative trickery my head spins out of control just trying to cover all the bases.  But then again the surprise is oh so worth it.........

Freely Speaking

I'm here to say that it doesn't get any better than this for me!  During the past six days I've enjoyed this:

Dinner with S1 and his wife (they were in the City for a weekend get away)

Phone calls with S2

Texting and phone calls with Dil2

Phone calls and texting with D1 and D2

Phone call with Sil2

For some this might not seem big but I love it when I hear their voices, sharing with them their day and just talk about whatever.  Some weeks are busier than others and this much conversation doesn't always get to happen place. But this week was special. I love it and love them!

Free to Move About the Country

Friday we packed up the camper and headed to the coast.  The cool, foggy coast.  It didn't disappoint it was glorious.  And even better sharing the experience with friends.  Good food, good conservation, fun games, leisurely walk, beautiful surroundings and no technology.  Well that's not totally true we were able to listen to the Giants on KNBR.  After we got home and cleaned up (camping can be dirty) we got back in the car and headed to Novato for dinner with S1 and his wife and their friends!  It was the perfect finale to a perfect weekend!

(I'd like to show you pictures; but my camera is MIA!)

Drive By

Thanks for stopping by, it was great to have you!

Father Knows Best

Happy Father's Day to my best Dads!

Love you so...............

Dance Party

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.....

But who is imitating who?



These People

I couldn't go through the month of love without saying how much I love these people.  They are my rock, they are my foundation, they are my world, they are my everything!  Love you all!  Love you most!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here We Go..................

GIANTS

 2010 World Series Champions

Giants 3 - Rangers 1

Humm Baby!

Two Words

Humm Baby!

10/28/2010: San Francisco Giants 9  - Texas Rangers 0

Series Standings: San Francisco Giants 2 - Texas Rangers 0

For the Love of the Game

Some of my earliest and fondest memories of my Dad are of him listening to Giants baseball. He loved the Giants and because he loved the Giants I loved the Giants too. 

Candlestick was the park of my youth and many memories were made there.  I took Mr. Man there to see his first professional baseball game and the Idaho boy thought he was going to freeze to death.  He didn't believe me when I told him you are going to need a coat!  But it is 100 degrees he says to me in protest; he didn't realize that Candlestick was its own weather zone of freezing cold even on the hottest summer day. 

Mr. Man wasn't always a Giants fan; that of course has changed.  Today we are a family of Giants lovers.  The tradition lives on and as I spoke to each of the kids tonight each one, yes even the girls were enjoying the Giants do what they do best....................

provide drama!

Humm Baby!

Sleepless in Saratoga Springs

Coming off another grand September three day-weekend in Utah.  Lots of laughter, lots of good food, lots of fun……….not so much sleep.  Thank you ladies for your goodness, I had a fantastic time!  Missed you "dil2"…….looking forward to November and December when we will lose sleep again!

Conversations

During the month of July I had many fun and fascinating conversations with G6.  This one was a personal favorite. 

G6: "Why don't you have kids?"

Me: "Ah, I do have kids."

G6: "What's their name?"

Me: "D1 & D2."

G6: "Where are they?"

Me: "On a trip."

G6: "Do you have boys?"

Me: "Yes."

G6: "What's their name?"

Me: "S1 & S2."

G6: "How old are they."

Me.: "They are 34, 32, 29, and 27."

 G6: "Do you have any more kids?"

Me: "Do you want a fruit snack?"

Conversation over........for the moment!

It is so hard for little kids to understand the age thing in families and who belongs to who sometimes.....I love how their minds work.