I have been tagged!!!

I guess I have been tagged by Stacy.  I don't really understand how this "tag" thing works but I will give it a try.  

Insignificant six (Candice's)

Six insignificant things about me:

1. I like to mow the lawn.  And I don't mean with the riding mower.  I like to use the regular gas mower that you push (or at least follow) around the yard. There is something therapeutic for me about pushing the lawn mower around. I don't know if it is the fact that it feels like you are getting some exercise or the feeling of accomplishment as you see the freshly cut grass, but I like it if I have the time to do it.

2.  I love animals and I quite often get teased about it. I grew up with animals all around me.  We always had pets when I was growing up.  At different times we had dogs, we had cats, we raised lambs, we had chipmunks and ground squirrels that we had caught (and occasionally even a mouse or a lizard or snake).  We always had horses, sheep and cows.  I love the smell of horses.  We recently bought two horses (which was a crazy thing to do considering the cost of feeding them) but I love them and I love to hug them and bury my nose in their fur and smell them.  They have a very distinct, musky smell.

3. I have learned to love watching basketball, football and volleyball.  I like to watch sports live or on TV.  It can be professional, college or high school.   I haven't always enjoyed sports.  It has been something that Jed kind of taught me after we were married.  Now I am the one that keeps track of the upcoming games on TV, etc. 

4.  I get impatient with irresponsible people.  I try to be responsible myself, but sometimes I feel like I don't live up to my own standard as life is so busy.

5.  I am not picky about very many things but I am picky about the laundry detergent and softener that I use to do my laundry.  I insist on buying Tide and Downy.  It isn't so much the way they clean and soften as much as the way they smell.  I really dislike the smell of most other detergents and softeners.

6.  This isn't really insignificant, but I will mention it anyway because it is important.  The Gospel and my family are the most important things in my life.  I have a very special place in my heart for my family especially my own spouse, my kids & their spouses and grandkids but also including siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, parents, etc., etc., etc.  I am hurt if anyone does anything to hurt any of them & I can't stand to have anyone think badly of me or of my family.

Bread Class at Noelle's, Deco's & Kera's party

The weekend once again found us in Utah Valley. Our family has set a goal to have a time set aside once a month to work on our food storage, 72 hr kits, etc.  On Saturday morning we met at Noelle's house.  She had recently attended some bread making classes and she taught us how to make some of the yummy recipes that she had learned there.  

From the basic bread recipe she did: Cream cheese braid, Stuffed crust pizza, and breadsticks.  All were super fast and super yummy. You can use the same recipe to make many things.  It was so informative and we all learned so much. 

That night we had a big party at Deco's and Kera's to celebrate their marriage.  Deco's sisters and sister-in-law's had planned it for them. A lot of family and friends that lived in the area came.  The evening started off with "show and tell" of the new puppies.  Then good food and visiting with friends and family.

They loved the quilt that Grandma Black made for them!  And how fun is the "Wedding Cake" that Marilyn made for them out of towels?

Josh's Mission Call

The mission call finally came!!!!  Wouldn't you think that if the online status of the mission paper process said "the call was in the mail" on the weekend that the call would arrive in a couple of days?  How long can it take for an envelope to make it from Salt Lake City to Blanding?  After Monday passed by and then Tuesday and then Wednesday and no call appeared in the mail, Josh's mom was a nervous wreck!!!  On Thursday when the call did come, that all seemed silly.  You just have to have patience.  Scott Meyer called from the post office and said "We have something here for Josh".  Friends were notified, plans were made for a time to open the call and it was decided that Josh's dad could be here by 11:00 AM.   

And so friends and family gathered.  Josh opened the call and very slowly read it.  

The room exploded with cheering and clapping.  Josh was excited. He went around and shared his news with Mr. Nielson, his grandpa and grandma and other friends and teachers.

He goes into the MTC on January 28th, 2009.  

Oh, and if you don't know where he is going, you can go to the end of this post and figure it out!!!

Family, family, family

"When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses. (Joyce Brothers)

I made another quick trip to Payson and Cedar Hills.  The girls were having a Baby shower for Noelle.  I made several stops as I arrived in Utah Valley to visit family.  

The first stop was at Deco's and Kera's to visit Sadie and her new puppies.  Cute, cute!!!!

Then, on to Marilyn's and Matt's.  

The kids helped me unload food storage out of the trunk of my car.

Next, I went to Ryan's and Laura's and had a good visit with Mike and Linda.

Mike is doing well.  

They are hoping to be able to come home to Blanding sometime within the next month!!!

I finally made it to Noelle's, Trent's & Maxon's house that night.

Saturday morning, I went by for a short visit with Livvy, Cohen, 

Jeremy and Heather.  

Heather was busy making cute baby bracelets and binky holders!!!

And finally, the baby shower.  It was a lot of fun!!!!!

How many squares of toilet paper will it take to go around Noelley's belly????

Back to the Colorado Cabin!!!!

A return trip to the Colorado cabin was necessary to fix some plumbing problems.  We, along with Kristi and Jeremy and their kids and a couple of their kids friends, were the logical ones to do it because we live so much closer.  We weren't unhappy at all about having to go back to that gorgeous place.

It didn't take long before the horses had been caught and saddled.  Camryn and her friend Ryan Shumway climbed right on Panda.  Kristi rode Cody along with them.

Logan loves the horses!

Carter and his friend, Trek DeWitt, took their turn.

Once again, the 4-wheelers were used and enjoyed.

Imagine our surprise when we drove up to the Ivins' cabin on the 4-wheeler and found this on their front lawn.  After creeping up on it, we did verify that it was dead.  Calvin Black had shot it that morning.  It was bear hunt season in Colorado.

The kids had to all check it out.

That night we cranked up the grill and roasted marshmallows!!

The kids were told that they could play by the water but "do not get wet or muddy"!

Woops!!

We had to be reminded that the reason we were there was to work on the cabin.  The logs needed to be sprayed to preserve them.  The plumbing did need to be fixed.

A trip down to the corral.

Whitney on Charlie

Megan on Chavez

We saddled up Panda and Camryn rode around with Megan and Whitney

There was a big crew of Ivins' and Grovers working on the corral.

Camryn was excited to ride down the road with Justin, Ladd, Whitney and Megan Grover to gather up some cows!!