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!

Yesterday was a red letter day for me. I hiked/climbed/scrambled up Picket Post Mountain with my two girls and two of their friends. I've always wanted to hike that mountain so when I drive by it I can say "I've climbed to the top and left my name in the mail box"
WOW! what a crazy thing to do. We went up the side that was the hardest.....of course, Tevia pretty much chose the way. I'm glad her and Anna went faster cuz Risa and I went up a less difficult route but still pretty intense. Going up wasn't nearly as hard or scary as going down....yikes! I'm so glad the seat of my jeans didn't get worn out too bad. I scooted on my backside several times. I told Risa I'm not proud to scoot if I feel safer doing that. Risa assured me that she didn't think any less of me for doing that. hehe
My body is now feeling the after shocks of it but it's one of those I feel alive soreness. Getting a head ache was worse so I've been taking something for that so I can revel in my sore muscles and not be annoyed by my head hurting.
When I called Thad after we got down he said "WOW you're already done?! I'm so proud of you" cuz he's climbed that mountain several times so he knows what I went through. Thanks for being proud and happy for me Thad, you're such a good support.
Risa was so good and encouraging for me the whole way. She's a great comfort and hiking companion. Don't feel bad Tev I know I slow you down but if Risa wasn't there I know you would have stayed by me. I'm just glad you had Anna as your hiking partner.
Thanks to my girls for including me and always wanting me around to participate in their many adventures. I love you two soooooo very much and I thank the Lord all the time for blessing my life with two great daughters. Don't even want to think how hard life would have been if it wasn't for you girls.
I'm really looking forward to "Arches", Risa told me I will totally enjoy that place cuz after picket post hiking around Arches will by like a walk in the park. Yaaaaay!

This morning I remembered a dream! I don't remember my dreams like I use to and like Tevia does, but this one I remembered, maybe because it was so nostalgic.
I was in the cultural hall in our old church building. I really loved that building, had a lot of good memories. (more on that later). Well I must have been about 15 or 16 years old and we were having a dance. Side note: Back in the day YW was called M. I. A. ( mutual improvement association), not sure why the church changes the name of organizations, probably to make the members feel like we're keeping up with the times but not really. Back to my dream, there was this guy that I had a crush on and he had asked me to dance the first dance and of course I said yes, which by the way never happened in real life except if you lived in the early nineteenth century where you were asked in advance. I had on this long dress cuz back then that was the fashion and this other guy came up and pulled on my tie in the back and lured me away from the group. We started playing that "trust" game where you fall back and someone catches you. It felt really cool to fall back and be caught like that, over and over again. My hair was really long and I could feel it drop back as I fell backwards. I started to worry about the other guy cuz the music was starting but I just kept wanting to spend time with this guy. That was the end, weird huh?
Back to the old church building. That was the coolest place ever. It had a basement and a room under the stage, lots of grass and yard and bushes and trees. Every 5th Wednesday for MIA we could have a dance and even the scouts and beehives were invited to practice for the stake dance which I thought was a good idea and don't understand why they don't do that anymore. We also could roller skate in the cultural hall to records, my favorite song was "hitchin' a ride", or if the weather was nice we would go outside and play group games, like flying dutchman or steal the flag or two deep. All the youth would play from the laurels and priests to the scouts and beehives. My favorite was flying dutchman. We had a lot of non-members come on Wednesday nights to participate, it was kind of the place to be.
I remember this one guy named Mark (can't remember his last name) he would hide in the bushes and jump out at me and try to kiss me almost every Wednesday. He never did accomplish that , WHAT! WHAT! What was I thinking? I think because he was shorter than me and couldn't quite reach, but that didn't stop Lawrence Pacheco. Hmmmm Mark was blond and short and Lawrence was dark and short. That's funny now that I think of that.
I sometimes feel sorry for the youth now a days because they don't seem to have that same type of experience I had and the church has quit doing some of the activities that brought us all together a little more....or so I think. Maybe with name changes come other changes. The youth now are a lot stronger and more noble than I think we were, so that could be it. Anyway just a jaunt down memory lane, that dream triggered a lot of food for thought. Good Times!

So.....as most of you know, Quentin and Yesenia are expecting twins. I am so very excited about this even though I know I will need to work my booty off cuz I told her I would help her, even if I have to spend the night the first few months. Not important right now...about my dad.
Quentin is so much like my dad. His attitude, his body shape, his opinions etc.....everything except Q has a stronger testimony than my dad and sincerely tries to live the gospel to the best of his ability, better than my dad.
Since they are expecting twins they have to double their efforts and stuff, pun intended, so Quentin and his little family stopped by last night and I could tell by Q's face something big happened. He finally spilled and said look outside. He just bought a new van (2008)! Originally they were gonna go down to the valley and look for one but just like my dad Q couldn't wait and got ants in his pants and just did it. ( Yesenia said you know how he is) The thing is, he got such a smoking deal on this vehicle just like my dad always did. He researched all the small vans like my dad would do, and decided on the one he got. It's a dodge, which he made fun of me for getting my Durango (he apologized later for making fun of me) but he said this particular van for what he was looking for had the best rating for the price range he was looking at. Can't remember what type of van it is. Anyways it has the seats that swivel and a table you can put up and two dvd players, a screen for backing up so you can see what's behind you and storage in the floor in front of the seats. He really made out like a bandit! I told him how glad I was for them and he comes by it honestly, getting good deals like my dad did. I won't tell how much he paid for it but he got a smoking deal on the trade in of his car, waaaaay more than he thought he would be given. Also Yesenia is a wheeler, dealer, she started to walk out a few times and said we're gonna go to Phx and look for a better deal. Quentin was so proud and beaming for his wife.
Jhade was so funny cuz she didn't want to get out of the car when we went out to look at it. Usually she cries to not want to go home but last night she was crying to get back in the van and go driving. She's such a funny little girl.
Side note: My grandpa was the same way so my dad came by it honestly. I guess it skipped me or maybe it's just a guy thing.

Weeelllll.......I love watching dance movies. They are generally very cheesy and have a love story in them etc... but I like them non the less. This last year for Christmas Tevia and Risa went in together and bought us a Roku and a year subscription to netflix. So I've been surfing it and requested some movies that have to do with dancing. Now my all time favorite dance movie still is 'Strictly Ballroom' very, very cheesy but fun! I just watched one called 'Marilyn Hotchkiss's Ballroom dancing and charm school'. It was a little melancholy but a good story, Thad even liked it. The movie did a lot of moving back and forth between different time frames, kind of like the movie 'The Hours' but better, cuz it has dancing in it.
I now even down loaded a dance exercise video and it's so much fun to do. I'm really uncoordinated but slowly I've been able to pick up on the steps. I've just told myself to be patient because I remember that I used to pick up on dance steps fairly quickly when I was younger and once I start practicing I should be able to do it again. I chose an easy hip-hop type routine....weird huh? but it looked really fun and I thought if I could catch on to that, then I could catch on to all the other stuff that I use to do. Just so you all know I probably won't ever perform for any of you, not a pretty sight and maybe too comical for my fragile ego. hehe (I've also been know to eat many of my words, *gag, choke cough, cough*)
Anyways just felt like blithering about that. Thanks again Tevia and Risa for the gift of dance through video. TTFN

Mom has had quite the quilting bug recently, and i should have taken a shot of the beaut she made for Jarek before he took it home a few days ago, but maybe i'll remember to do that when we visit at month's end.
Here is a view of the completed work of art that took a full day to complete, start to finish, sun-up to way after sundown. I consider myself a truly fortunate bloke to be recipient of such a symbol. Not often does one recieve a gift of such beauty, practicality and meaning. Just this last week i was thinking that i would soon need to find a blankie to take to work, thanks to all those hot-blooded firefighters i labor with who like to sleep in meat locker environs. Now all I will have to worry about is that someone might entertain thoughts of annexing it in my absence. Fortunately, this is truly a one-of-a-kind item so it will be easy to identify and reclaim.
It's been rather fun watching mom all busily engaged in her domestic pursuits these last few weeks. Aprons and hot pads and quilts...OH MY!
She has also expressed a desire to re-enter the world of tole painting. If only she had a decent place to store all the supplies and produce the projects. Hmmm, maybe i should be doing that instead of sitting here. Good idea! Anyway, just thought i'd share this and give a public thanks for the lady of my life. Thanks!

Now it's my turn.....I've been in this crazy quilt making phase. As Thad said I made a quilt for Jarek, a rather late happy you were born quilt. Weird that I didn't make him one since he's my first grandchild but better late than never. The look and smile on his face made it all worth waiting this long. So now I shall get busy and get the quilt I told Risa I would make for her birthay.
I had been wanting to make a quilt with fire fighter designs for quite some time and so yesterday I decided to sew this one for Thad for our anniversary. I was determined to finish it on that day and so I did, much to Scruffy's dismay. Too bad I was too pooped to take it to Thad that night at the station but I surprised him when he came home.
Well I better get busy and start cutting and sewing. Tootles!