I hope I didn't wait too long to post my April blog, meaning I might not remember it very well. Here goes, I was privileged to attend Jarek's honor band concert. I was down in Phoenix for something and was able to be there for that. Tev and her family came up for Easter which was the best Easter in a long time for many reasons which I won't go into but it was awesome. Heidi had her baby and everything went very well for her thanks to many prayers and fasting. Congrats again Heidi.
I attended a funeral of the mom of a good friend of mine from high school. It was sooooo good to see her and catch up. The sad thing is we'll probably not keep in contact just because that's the way life happens. We don't have much in common anymore but we were happy to see one another again and then move on.
I think one of the high lights of the month was when I got to go to Utah to visit Jacob and his family. I caught a ride with a friend of mine and we had a great time traveling. It felt like it took only 3 hours instead of 10 to go there and back. I had a great time visiting, we hiked up to the Y, which was pretty awesome, Jacob took me and the girls to the dinosaur museum while Millie slept since she had to work. We flew kites and went to the library and helped Jacob with his lawn oh and I also played skip-bo with Jacob while we stayed up waiting for Katie and Brandon to pick up Esme. Ellery told me I needed to come up again in the summer so I could go to 7 peaks with her cuz "I would LOVE it so much". She cracks me up. I am so grateful for being able to go see them and have such an enjoyable time and I'm looking forward to going back up in July.
Near the end of the month we went back down to Phoenix.with Quentin and Yesenia so Thad and Quentin could do some name strip sales at some of the fire depts. down there. I felt bad for Yesenia cuz the twins were not happy about traveling and sleeping in a different place. She did not get much sleep, it will be nice when they get a little older and traveling won't be such a problem for them....all of them.
This month of April went by very fast, OR it could be I'm getting old faster and so time seems to fly by at an atomic rate, either way it stinks that time is like a super hero...faster than a speeding bullet. I get made fun of  cuz I wake up so early in the morning because that's suppose to be a sign of getting old, I see why...... a person it grateful for each day you wake up and you're on the down side of your life so you want to take advantage of each light of day. Anyways May will be even busier and shorter since we will be getting ready for Risa's wedding on June 1st. I'm not complaining per say but I feel out of breath sometimes when I try to keep up with "life". I love being with my family and spending time with any of them for any reason. TTFN until next month.

Well third times a charm cuz I've never blogged that many times in a row, ( I know it's months in a row but I'm baby stepping ). So here goes....the beginning of the month I had the delightful chance to go the opera with my two daughters. We saw Aida, sappy story but the costumes and the set on stage was faaaaabUlous! Just going out with my girls is fun no matter what I do with them. Risa and I traveled to Mesa to have breakfast with some friends of hers and then to visit my niece Heidi and then we were suppose to go shopping for a wedding dress but Risa didn't want to. She said she dreaded having to do that...weird, most women love to shop for that special dress. Tevia suggested she wear her dress with a few alterations so instead of me making Risa a dress I get to alter one, not sure I like that cuz it's gonna be a challenge. ( the things we do for love). Also that weekend I had the privilege of attending an All State Band concert that Jarek was in. This kid amazes me, he was one of two band students chosen to participate. Yes the word J-Rock fits!
The following week was my turn to host bunco, for those who don't know what that is, it's a dippy dice game that 12 silly women get together to eat and play....LOVE IT!
Sometime in the month Yesenia made these gyros with homemade naan bread etc....they were soooo yummy! I want to grow up and cook like her.
The next week was spring break for Tevs kids so we had planned on going down there to spend time with them. First we met them at granny's house for lunch (potato soup, one of the boys favorite) and then we just chatted and finally went outside to do some yard work. After that we continued to Phoenix. Originally we were going to go camping but Tevia was finally committing to do some construction work on her house. She's pretty wishy washy about that. It was hilarious....She said I change my mind about the kitchen door and window so we're not going to do anything...The HECK!! So I 'strongly' suggested that we go ahead and put in the sliding doors and then she will think different about the kitchen door. After going from a light tan in her face to ghost white she sucked it up and we got her done. When it was finished she was beyond silly excited, it was kind of fun to witness the transformation.....from about to pass out to jubilation, gotta love those mood swings  :-}. So now she's ready to continue with more projects including the kitchen door and window. All in all it was a fun week to spend with them.
 SIDE NOTE: I was thinking when I was walking today that if we hadn't gone down so many times to Phoenix we would be a little better off financially and then I thought Huh? What the? How can I put a price on the time I spend with my kids and grandkids, any of them! Isn't that why we have money so we can spend it all on our loved ones by spending time with them? YES! I say YES! Oh how I love my children and grand children. Nothing better than my little family.
I know I'm forgetting a bunch of stuff but my head is still spinning from all the things we did, for one, hiking, hiking and more hiking, trying to get in shape for Havasupai in September. Oh yeah crocheting a gob of baby booties and giving some to my niece, very therapeutic crocheting. My uncle was in the hospital again and my sister Dona visited from Utah for a bit.
One of my all time favorites, general conference started at the end of the month. Also going with Yesenia to the park to help her with the kids while they gathered Easter eggs and oh surprise, surprise, headed back down to Phoenix on the first of April but that's for next month....if I don't forget. Whew! Month three is done!!

Ok I know I want to post something for February but for the life of me I can't remember much of what happened this last month. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna get a lecture from Tev that I should post every week but I think I'm doing good trying for once a month, baby steps on posting.
I remember eating some very delicious food at Quentin and Yesenia's, man that girl can cook! I took care of the twins off and on and Jhade came over a few times, except she was grounded from me for awhile cuz she threw such a fit every time we would leave her house or she had to leave ours so Quentin decided she couldn't come over until she behaved. (quick update, she got to spend the night this last Sunday).
Oh I remembered something, Aubrey and her hubby and cute, cute baby came and had dinner with us earlier in the month. I made navajo tacos which I know she loves and Quentin and his family came too. We had a great time visiting. I so miss those nieces of mine.
The last weekend of February we went down to Phoenix so we could see Aubrey's baby be blessed and it was Malik's birthday on Sunday, (Oh yeah I spent quite a bit of time sewing a quilt for him)  and Tev's was on Tuesday so we spent time with them. This time of year makes me want to move down there, it was wonderful to see and feel the sun. We got a lot of snow the week before Christmas and some of it is still on the ground so yeah, it's been cold here. Thad and I were fortunate to spend some time with Don and Drinette Ellison, we had lunch at their place in San Tan Valley, NOW there's a place I wouldn't mind moving to. It's surrounded by farm land and is just beautiful out there, it's probably not gonna stay that way for long. I remember my dad's sister moved to Tempe out on southern and McClintock and I would be doing dishes and looking out the window at the cotton fields wondering why would anyone want to live so far out and by a cotton field. 'weird'.  After visiting the Ellison's we left to my mom's and stayed the night there and helped her with some yard work and various and sundry things. Tevia had the 'privilege' of driving out there and had lunch with us..hehe
Well that's about it, can't remember more. Sorry if I forgot some major something about someone but this last month went by so fast I can't grab it, unlike January that seemed to drag by. I think I will write little notes on the calendar this next month, pfft! as if..... :-D

January is almost over and it's been about five months since I last blogged. A lot has been going on but I'm not gonna rack my brain to remember all of it. This month Millie ran the PF Chang marathon, for the second time, I can't believe people do that and enjoy it but it impresses me that they do. Good job Millie. We also got to spend time with Ellery and Aayla and the boys of course. Oh how I love being with my grandchildren. I made all of them hats that I crocheted. I need to do a different one for Ellery...I knew better but I couldn't help myself by making her a 'girly' one. She cracks me up. Her and Jhade both like boy stuff better.
For our anniversary this month ( 37 years), we stayed at the Heritage Inn B&B in Snowflake. I love that place it's so quaint and just lovely. The breakfast they serve is awesome and the rooms are so old fashioned and cute. We went and visited my Uncle Manuel (my mom's brother) and he didn't look to good. His speech was slurred and his eyes hurt and he looked like he had lost a lot of weight. My mom had said he hadn't been feeling good but I just thought he had the flu or something. Anyways he ended up in the hospital and then flown to Tucson and was diagnosed with myasthemia gravis. He will have to take meds from now on. Makes me sad to see my family get old....of course I'm one to talk, I'm getting older too. Then to top all that off we went to Aunt Marion's funeral, (Thad's aunt, married to his dad's brother). It was a nice funeral, the best part is getting to see a bunch of family that we don't get see otherwise so kind of like a mini reunion. Speaking of which Tevia and I decided to plan a V. June Webb family reunion in July and everyone I talked to are excited and happy that one is being planned and  already put it in their phone calendars. Thank goodness for technology.
Also today is Risa's birthday, she was the prettiest little baby and the hardest one to have but well worth it. She had very black eyes and hair and the most hair of all the kids and dark skin. Now she has the lightest hair and her eyes and skin are lighter too, weird how that happens. She's been a joy and a blessing in our lives. We are so happy for her and her up coming wedding and glad to have Mark join are family. 
Last but not least Andrew would have been 28 this month on the 7th. I wonder how his life would have panned out and who he would have married etc....I can't believe how fast time goes by and how we can heal from the trials that we are faced with through out our lives. I can honestly say God is good and I'm thankful for the lessons I've learned from those trials, believe it or not they are blessings, just takes some time to see them, if one is willing.
WEATHER NOTE:  It's been pretty darn cold this month, the snow that fell in December is still on the ground and all we've had is a dusting now and again.

Ok, it's been a while since I've blogged anything so I figured I should say something, especially since Tevia keeps encouraging me to do so. Bless her heart for not giving up.
Any hoo....I can't believe how fast this summer has gone by. We were suppose to go boating with the Wood family but every time we try to plan a day or a weekend there's always something else going on. I know the summer isn't over yet so there's some hope.
I've been really busy making stuff for all the new babies being born this summer, ( must have been some kind of cold or boring winter) I'm just about done with everything. It's been fun to keep busy with all the crocheting, knitting and sewing. I probably should insert a picture or two about now but hey I don't have any and I don't know how to post pictures so.....moving on.
I totally enjoyed having Tev's boys here for a week while she was gone on a trek. They are so much fun and are just good kids. I look forward to them coming each summer. Also Tev came up for my birthday to do some camping, her, the boys and Brandt. Can't get a better b-day than that. I just LOVE to do outdoor cooking in the dutch ovens. Made some pretty awesome food if I may say so myself.
Just prior to the camp out Quentin and Yesenia had their twins on the 18th of July. The little stinkers came 5 weeks early but thank the Lord they are safe and sound and doing very well. They're so tiny and precious and I'm so happy they're here. Boy do those two( meaning Q and Y) have their hands full. We took Jhade down to the valley with us for that week and she had a blast playing with "Neenok" and swimming, going to the library with Tev and Enok and just playing with her cousins but by the end of the week she was missing her parents.
So the piece de resistance (sp) is the garden that Thad has so lovingly and patiently been growing this summer, oh and the flowers in the front yard. I have enjoyed cooking all the good veggies that have been growing this summer. For instance I just roasted some anaheim green chilies this morning, there were 14 big meaty ones. Oh the aroma....aaaahhhh, smells like my childhood and reminds me of my granny. I've made pans of zucchini bars and green bean soup (another dish I ate a lot of growing up), other zucchini dishes, fresh cucumbers and tomatoes for salads, cupcakes, muffins etc....... and there are still some veggies that aren't done growing like corn on the cob and potatoes, oh mustn't forget basil, green onions, jalapenos and cilantro, we've also had some pretty good carrots, I'm sure I'm forgetting something but that's some of the bounty. I feel so blessed to have all of this fresh wonderful food at my fingertips.
Now I'm looking so forward to going to Disney Land with Tevia and Enok at the end of this month and then right after that seeing Jacob and Millie and the girls when they come down and then that pretty much will be the end of summer....whew! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE summer, it's my favorite time of year. Other than all the patriotic stuff maybe that's why Independence Day is my favorite holiday, cuz it's in the summer. Them founding fathers were pretty smart having the country's b-day at this time of year. USA! USA! USA!

Well most of you know, which isn't very many who read my blog, that I went to North Carolina with Risa this last week. Her work has sent her there to fill in a job that needed to be filled to put it simply. We flew out on Sunday and I came back on Thursday evening.
Wow! I tell you what wow, what a beautiful place. If I had to live on the East Coast that would be the place I would definitely choose.
We were able to find our way around pretty well even though they have crazy streets that continually change to a different name while you're driving on them but I did have practice with that when I've had to drive around Tucson so...... anyways I had a lovely time there helping Risa to get settled and oriented. Shes become pretty self sufficient over the years finding her way around. When we picked up the car at the rental place the guy highly recommended that we get a GPS but Risa didn't want to spend the extra money and by the way she had printed out some directions and maps. Granted some of those stunk but I think we were better served by having to work at finding our way around cuz we remembered better. There's something about having to physically do something that ingrains stuff into your head. I'm very much a visual learner and yes it would have been much easier to have some mechanical voice tell us turn right, turn left etc....but I feel better about conquering the road ways the old fashioned way. (you can call me that if you want).
I'm so proud of my children and their desire to go out and explore and be family pioneers and travel etc.... My side of the family specifically on my dad's were pretty good about getting out of their comfort zone and seeing what there is to see. I think most of my kids have inherited that wander lust. Very Star Trekie of them. Plus they have made it possible for me to get out there and see the world which I love to do! Thank you all my children for using your wings and helping me grow some too. I look forward to the next adventure that may await me.
P.S. the reason for the title is that I have been gone from my home for one thing or another in the last few months, whether it's been to babysit the grandkidlets or be gone for other things. Not complaining, just saying.....

Today I had the opportunity to help my mother-in-law bathe, get dressed, get a breathing treatment etc...I'm grateful for the chance to serve her and help out Deann and Cara who have taken this on themselves....bless them! I'm so grateful for their sacrifice to give of their time and talents. I have felt bad that I haven't stepped up better to ease their load, I am choosing now to do so. We can always make time for others if we choose to. We make time for other things that aren't as important as our parents or children.
I use to take care of my friend's mom when she would come and live up here for the summer. What a joy that was and a bit different than what I need to do with Thad's mother. I was already 'broken' in so not too uncomfortable this time.
I'm so grateful for Tev for taking care of her granny (my mom) when she got out of the hospital and needed to be showered etc... It's a humbling experience to care for those who once cared for you. The circle of life. I'm glad to have such an awesome daughter well two actually but Tev is so awesome for taking on so many things to help and serve others. I'm pretty sure the Lord will always bless her for each effort she makes to step up and do the right thing.
I hope and pray that I can always step up and do the right thing so when I'm weighed and measured I will not be found 'wanting'.
My belief is this..... if I am always aware of other people's needs and try to care for them and not worry about what I'm not getting or getting I will be farther along my eternal road to salvation and maybe it won't take me as long or be as hard in the hereafter. It's taken me many, many years to finally let go of my proud little self and not let everything be about 'me' and now I don't care as much about myself as I use to. Very liberating to not have or put any expectations on anyone. Easier said than done and I do have my 'me moments' and failings but they are fewer.
When one stops focusing on themselves and quit worrying about how they're not being served or pointing fingers at others for not acting like they think they should then one finds real joy in living their life.
Just my little soap box for the day. I think having to teach the Relief Society lesson on Sunday made me really re-evaluate myself about how charitable "AM I?" Did I just open a door for scrutiny? Oh well..... I'm a big girl, most of the time. I just remind myself to.....like/love myself first (like Christ loves me) and then I have the ability to love and care about others more fully and not feel like I have to be reciprocated. Pretty big talk huh?

Well this last week was spring break for Tev and her kids. We kicked around different things on what to do, where to go etc..... The final decision was for them to come up and just chill...(literally and figuratively), we really didn't do much but just eat and relax, oh wait a minute I did make bread and can some pinto beans.
The boys were totally satisfied with watching unlimited cartoons and playing their DS's and also working with their grandpa on Malik's pinewood derby car. Jarek made a panzer/tank thingy. It was pretty cute. Enok played in the 'fort/treehouse" and just kept us laughing.
We also did out traditional eating at La Casita and ran into a very good friend that we hadn't seen in a long time. That made my day. Oh the great memories of Steve and Marla Jones. She said next time we go down we need to call and visit cuz Steve made an out door oven to cook pizza in. They crack me up! I love it!
We traveled down on Friday stopped and visited my mom and helped her with some yard work and household chores and then on down to Phoenix so we could go to the air show at Luke Air Force base. That was awesome by the way. Then Thad and I left after that and came home.
I always enjoy the time spent with my kids and grandkids and look forward to the next great adventure with them!