Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Let I Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

We actually had a dusting of snow the day after Christmas (Gary's birthday). Since we almost never get any, it was fun for us. Mia loved it (Trooper, with his short hair, didn't)!





Yea For Christmas!!!

This was our first Christmas in our new house, and I enjoyed figuring out where to put the decorations. We were happy to hear from friend far and near! Thnaks for the cards and pictures! This was also the first Christmas my mom has hosted since dad passed away. It was good to gather the family at mom's. There was too much food, as usual, and lots of love and laughter. Everyone was there except for my sister Joni who called from Denver, Angela's husband, Jon, who is serving in Iraq, and Nathan, Sarah, and the kids who are all in Germany where Nathan is serving in the Army Dental Corps. Most of the pictures came out too dark, but here are a few.


Nicole and Jenna


Angela and Tyler



Aiden and Adam


Adam playing with Tyler (bow on his bottom)
and Don playing with Aiden


Gary and Carol


Mom and Gary


Nicole and Susie

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Friends, Furry Things, and Faith

We started this week by going to a combined Family Home Evening at the Wilkes home with others from our old ward. It was so good to see old friends again, sing carols around the fire, and be in the midst of so much musical talent! Thanks for hosting, Wilkes family!





On the critter front, we gave a skunk a new home this week. They are basically docile little animals, and this little guy was no exception. Here he is finding his way around his new habitat.
We also rescued a ringtail cat that had crawled into someone's car engine. They were driving around hoping to scare it out (!!!!) and finally decided to call us to talk about their problem. They were driving nearby, so Don had them come over so that he could get the little guy out. When freed, Mr. Ringtail quickly scampered up the nearest tree. They are such cute and curious little animals! Here's a couple of pictures:





We also enjoyed seeing both of the girls this week. It's nice to know that no matter how old they get, they still appreciate having us nearby and the security that comes from knowing that we love them.

At this season of Christmas, may all of you have the security of family love and feel the love of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind, whose birth we celebrate at this time of year. Joy to all of you!

Monday, December 15, 2008

Another Day, Another Dollar

At some point I am going to have to get in the habit of taking pictures! I don't seem to remember to grab the camera until Saturday. Oh well. Better luck this coming week.
This week Don took care of bees, a packrat, and sealing off places where bats could roost in the spring. We also answered questions about skunks, ringtail cats, and ducks (Q.: Can you come and remove these 150 ducks from our little lake and take them to another lake so that they can stay there? A.: Wild ducks are not exactly obedient, and they do fly for hundreds of miles and are not prone to "staying" where you put them. Could we give you some ideas on how to live with them and keep them out of the places where you don't want them?) Here's a picture of Ms. Packrat getting a new home.


I wish I had taken pictures the day Jenna was over. I enjoy having her here--she enjoys getting her laundry done and raiding the food storage...oh I mean, she loves visiting me, too. lol We have a fun time and she's welcome to to the washer and dryer and the pantry any time.
We also had the ward party this week...Don went and had a good time...I stayed home trying to keep this head cold from getting worse. He had a good time. Yesterday one of the families Don home teaches came over for dinner and games. We had a great time. Their two teenagers are a lot of fun. It's been raining all weekend, so we put a fire in the fireplace. The Jenkins kids wanted to roast marshmallows (Trooper stayed close to that action hoping for a handout) in the fire place (de ja vous) and James and Don were doing pull ups on the stairs. We played the train game...congratulations Nicole on beating your brother and the rest of us.




Monday, December 8, 2008

'Tis the Season!

Another busy week...and we love it!
On Monday we started a raccoon job and had to do Family Truck Evening instead of Family Home Evening. Tuesday night found Don working with the Boy Scouts (which he will probably be doing every Tuesday night from here on out). Wednesday night was family soccer night for our ward family at the middle school up the road. Thursday night was the Relief Society Christmas dinner and program where I sang a duet with Mercy and lead the music. We also did a service project for The Giving Tree (a local Christian charity for homeless children and families that can't get any state funding because they won't take the picture of Christ off of their wall and they won't stop praying...so they run on faith and private donations). Friday Don and I took the dogs out for an afternoon hike in the hills just east of us. It's beautiful. I'll have to take pictures sometime. Sometime during the week we managed to get the Christmas tree, lighting, and decorations done inside and out. We also became the collection point for the Cub Scout food drive for the community food bank and will get all of that turned in as soon as it stops raining so that we can fill the back of the truck. On Saturday the Stevens family came over--YEA! We haven't seen them in months! The only one who didn't make it was Ashley. It was a fun day of soccer and horseshoes and other games. We planned a kid friendly meal of burgers and dogs on the grill with chips, etc. and roasted marshmallows for s'mores for dessert (thank you Bethany for providing the fixings--good idea!) Below are some pictures.






We had a good fast Sunday. We started our day by talking to the grandkids which is always a highlight. Nathan is happy and enjoying his work, and they are all well. Church was great, as usual. We have a wonderful ward. The full time elders came over for dinner which is always a joy. Then two of the families that Don home teaches came over to watch the 1st Presidency Devotional with us and drink hot chocolate. What a great day...what a fun week! And the coming week is just as full. Ah, yes, 'tis the season! :-)

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Thanks For Families

This last week we celebrated Thanksgiving for two solid days, and I had intended to take many pictures while doing so. But between the demands in the kitchen and fun with the family, it didn't happen. So I'll just summarize by saying that we spent Thursday at Gary and Carol's (my brother and sister-in-law) doing Thanksgiving with my side of the family and Carol's family. On Friday we had Thanksgiving over here with the Carter clan. The food, of course, was wonderful and plentiful. The conversation was joyful. Both days were a lot of fun. And in it all I was struck by the generations on either side of me. I watched my nieces with their little ones and smiled at my own memories and all that lies in front of them. And I watched my widowed mother and mother-in-law and thought of how happy and content they seemed surrounded by family, and how gracefully they are moving through this last season of their lives. I'm grateful for those who came before me and those who come after me. Families are forever.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Make New Friends, But Keep the Old...

Another musical title for those of you who who know THAT one...

This week found us busily rounding up some ringtail cats (cousins to raccoons and coatis) from the attic of a young mom, her two little girls, and her parents (who are from India). We so much enjoyed meeting them and their neighbors, and eating a traditional Indian dinner with them. YUM! She's a high school math teacher, so we spent a lot of time "talking shop" We hope to stay in touch with them.

Don got the fire pit finished this week and we broke it in at the Elder's Quorum party that was held here last night. The grass served as a wonderful play area for the kids, and the guys enjoyed pitching horseshoes outside of the fenced area. We grilled on the back porch and ate both inside and out. The weather was perfect. Then we made a bonfire and roasted marshmallows when it got dark. Good food, good desserts, good friends, good times!

This week also officially ended "the teenage years" for us as Jennifer turned 20 on Friday. UGH--I am now officially old!

Below is a shot from the front porch taken during the party last night. To the right is the fire pit complete with a sitting area. To the left is the grass area where we set up the badminton net.






Sunday, November 16, 2008

"...This Land Is My Land"

The title is for those of you who know that song. Anyway...
This week we spent a few days on our land in northeastern AZ. I love it up there because it's beautiful and peaceful. I love my snug little cabin and the wood burning stove in the corner. I love being out in nature. It does my heart good and reminds me of Heavenly Father's love for beauty that shows in all of His creations. I always think of the scripture, "Be still, and know that I am God." And when I am there away from the busyness of life, I can be still...and with all my heart, I know.

The first picture I took was at sunset. The second is right after sunset when only Venus and Jupiter can be seen in the sky. The third is the moon overhead and our campfire below. The fourth is of a sunrise.






Sunday, November 9, 2008

It's a...it's a...?

OK! This one's for all the nature lovers out there.

Don took this picture (by the garden) of what appears to be bird poop on a leaf. Only it's not--it's a caterpillar! We went out on the web and looked under "bird poop caterpillar" and found several links. Here's one of them
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/02/080221-caterpillar-picture.html








Win-Win

This week was a series of win-wins for us. On the elections front, we saw AZ, CA, and FL pass marriage amendments. I guess that's more like a win, win, win! The rest of the political scene leaves me uninspired...'nuff said.

On the business front, the county park that Don is working on developing is coming along well, and the critter gitter-ing has kept us busy which is a good thing (this week has been all about bats and rats and pigeons). So on the two work fronts, it's another win-win!

Yesterday we had a yard sale. We got rid of a lot of stuff AND we made a chunk of money. That's a big win-win!

Don signed up to play on a city-league soccer team as the goalie. Never mind that he hasn't played since he was in the Army (1980's) and has never been a goalie. We started practicing at the school this week. I kicked the ball at him as hard as I could and got some good exercise, and he practiced diving on balls and protecting the goal. We both enjoyed the time; chalk up another win-win!

We had two birthdays this last week: Makayle turned 7 and Carter turned 2! I can't believe how quickly they are growing up! Kids and grandkids...love and joy...win-win!

This week we are headed up to the land for a few days. Trooper has never been on a trip with us, but if he reacts to the land and the space like Mia, his going to experience a few days of doggy heaven. And since we've been pushing pretty hard these last few months and need some down time and the dogs need some adventure, this week is sure to be a win-win for all of us!

Sunday, November 2, 2008

So Much to Say, So Little Time!

We've been so busy the last two weeks that I think I'd better give a few high lights.


Uncle Milford passed away a week ago. The funeral was in Glendale last Thursday. I got to see much of the Slagel side of the family which was good, but I was sorry for the circumstances that brought us together. Funeral are never easy. Aunt Miriam is holding up well; but then, no one would expect anything else. That side of the family is strong and full of faith, and I appreciate their strength.


We finished all of the little odd jobs we wanted to do at the house on Breckinridge...the renters are moving in this week and the house looks great inside and out. We hope they will be happy there!


We had another successful Cub Scout Pack Meeting at our house last week. Don is a great Cub Master. Yesterday he spent all day at a scouting Pow Wow (and I went Christmas shopping!) He's also the Boy Scout Committee Chairman and is busy organizing and putting all of the scouts' information into the computer so that he can keep them on track for their advancements.


Today the 88 States in Arizona had a Regional Conference done as a broadcast from Salt Lake which we enjoyed. It was our first Conference in this stake and we enjoyed seeing a few people that we knew from other wards. We are excited about the three new temples that have been announced for Arizona! They will be in Gilbert, Phoenix, and in the Gila Valley. Maybe Tucson will grow enough to have a temple here one day!


We are anxious for the election on Tuesday not just because of the national political situation, but because Arizona is trying to pass an amendment to our state constitution which says that marriage is between a man and a woman (Prop. 102). There has been a lot of work put into the effort; I'm really hopeful that it will pass! We're hopeful that California will also pass a similar amendment.


We've had several critter calls in the last couple of weeks (raccoons, pack rats, a ring tail cat, bats) which have kept us busy. I actually remembered to take the camera on one of the 'coon calls. Below are pictures of Don relocating a large male raccoon into his park near the pond which is about a mile south of us.


We hope all is well with all of you! Take care!





Sunday, October 19, 2008

Techno Queen (NOT!)

Although my kids all seem to have been born with a "technology gene", I apparently was not. I think they started giving those out in the 1970's...well past my advent into this world. So I always feel like I'm playing catch up.

Take blogging for example. Who'd have thought that I could actually learn how to do this (with wallpaper and accompanying photos to boot)? Not that I'm good at it yet, but at least I feel like I'm learning the game. It's sorta like the rest of you are playing in the world series and I'm playing ladies slow pitch! But hey--at least I'm playing--right?

So in that light, I want you to know that I have become proficient enough at making Power Point presentations every week for our Sunday School class that I can actually put one together all by myself complete with pieces of text flying in or spiraling down when I want them to! How's that for an accomplishment? I even text on occassion! Are you impressed? LOL

Monday, October 13, 2008

Move Over, Johnny Appleseed



This week Don worked hard on getting a winter garden prepared and planted. We hope to have potatoes (sweet and white), onions (green and red), broccoli, radishes, cilantro, lettuce, and carrots.




Don also finished planting fruit trees (1 orange, 1 grapefruit, 2 peaches, 2 apricots, and 2 walnuts). He also fenced off half of the front yard and seeded grass out there. The fence is there to keep the dogs off of the new grass until it gets established. It has just started coming up, and I can't wait to have a lawn! We hope to put a fire pit and more grass on the other half of the front yard in the new future.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

The Two C's: Conference and Candy

This weekend we thoroughly enjoyed watching General Conference. How grateful I am for the Church in these latter-days and for my testimony of the restored gospel! What a spiritual feast!

We also had another kind of feast via Germany. Sarah and Nathan sent a variety of German candies to us...none of which I had ever heard of before. It was really fun to have a tasting party while we watched Conference! Makayle and Paige sent along pictures they had drawn...it made me cry! Even Carter "signed" the letter from all of them in green crayon scribbles. I miss those little ones! I'll put their drawings up next to the last one I have that Makayle drew (which is above my computer so that I can see it every day). Good night little ones--sleep tight! I LOVE YOU!

A Lot of Green

This week we saw a lot of green. No, not money--vegetation. Don seeded grass in half of the front yard (about a quarter of an acre) and fenced the dogs out so that it will have a chance to grow. He also brought in some good soil from the pond and spread it on part of the yard on the west side of the house so that we can plant a garden in the next week or so. We also bought a grapefruit tree and an orange tree to go with the two peach trees, two apricot trees, and two walnut trees. The only green I'm not looking forward to is the weeds that will probably come up in the garden. I'll try to get some pictures soon.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

The Branch of the Family Tree Residing in Germany

Nathan, Sarah, and the kids are doing well. It's been a crazy couple of months for them getting Nathan out of officer's training and the family moved to Germany. Sarah has carried her load so well. What a great mom and wife she is! Makayle started second grade on post, and Paige started German kindergarten. Carter is almost 2 years old and loves to sing. The kids are growing up so quickly! We love them SO MUCH and are very proud of them! Below are some pictures of them. We love you, little Thompson family!

The Best Man

Last week was a fun (but very busy) week that we spent with Don's side of the family. His mom came down from Show Low, and his sister Cali came in from Georgia to be here for Jonathon (Don's youngest brother) and Leslie's wedding. Don was the best man. He's not one for wearing a tux, but I have to say that he looked VERY handsome! Below are pictures of Jonathon and Don, Jonathon and Leslie, Don with his mom and sister Cali, and the four of us.


Paul's family was there also, and it was good to see all of them (Paul, his wife Laurie, his son Dale, his daughter Cali, and Cali's daughter (their first grand child), Trinity. Here's a picture of them with Don's mom. The next picture is of the Carter girl cousins: Nicole, Cali and Trinity, and Jenna.


So, it was a very full week, but a fun one. It was nice to have an occassion to get the Carter family together. Congratulations Jonathon and Leslie! May you have a happy and love-filled life together!

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Friday--Fun Day!

Last Friday we had a lot of fun with the Slagel side of the family. My mom, Kathy, and my youngest sister, Susan, came out to visit. So did my niece, Angela Anderson, and her two little boys (Aiden age 2 and Tyler age 4 months). Her husband, Jon, is serving his second tour in Iraq and is due back in the fall of 2009. Jennifer and Nicole both made it over for lunch and an afternoon of fun together. This is a picture of Tyler, Jenna, Nicole, and Angela.

This is Aiden playing the piano. He's a fun little guy. It's a good thing that Aiden and Tyler were there because Don was feeling a little bit overwhelmed by all the women in the house. But don't feel too sorry for him. He got some serious male bonding time that morning with a couple of the guys in the Elder's Quorum. They got up and went mountain bike riding on the hills just east of us (which they've been doing for the last few Saturdays). It's becoming one of Don's favorite pastimes.

This is Susan (whose shoulder is healing from surgery) and I. We were getting food ready, and Mom was talking to us. Notice the green space on the wall with the shelf behind me? That used to be all cupboards. But a couple of years ago people broke into this house and stole AC units, eight feet of the upper kitchen cupboards, the screens off the windows, the ceiling fans, part of the chain link fence out back, and stuff from the shop/dog kennel. Anyway, we are slowly getting things replaced. The cupboards, however, can't be matched, so we decided not to try. Instead, Don made a shelf for me to put my cups on, and I really like it!

And this is Don and Jenna. They were playing with the dogs (Jen brought her dog over, too) in the front yard. I got them to stop long enough to pose for me.















Even though nobody went swimming, we played games and had a great day together!