Eight is Enough!

After Class Reunion/Mink Creek Party 2009

2011-05-21T11:58:00.000-06:00

Highlights & Happenings of 2009

2010-01-01T01:39:00.003-07:00

This year has been pretty crazy, fast and furious. In March I lost my job in St.George and soon decided to see if there was an opening at my previous job in Salt Lake. There wasn't right at the moment, but about a week later my supervisor called and said she had to let the temp go and wanted to know how soon I could get there. It took me until the first part of May to get things squared away so I could start moving back. I stayed with Shane and Tiffaney until I could get my own place in September. I did a little commuting back and forth to make sure things were okay in St. George and also to rehearse with the choir so I could make the China trip.

I was fortunate enough to find a place back in the ward I left from and the ward that Austin would be returning to, and moved in during September. I barely got settled in and it was time for the China trip in October. That was a great experience! I hope to return some day. The air was so thick you could cut it with a knife, but what a great time. The choir performed three concerts and a couple of songs at the opening ceremony of the International Music Festival which was our first concert. The Chinese people were very gracious and welcoming at our concerts. The rest of the time we were usually on a bus watching the interesting sights from the window. The varied methods of transportation there was quite interesting. From bikes to three-wheeled trikes to three-wheeled cars to buses to trucks to funny-looking taxi's. The buildings were very interesting too.

We were able to visit some neat historic places. We went to Tienanmen Square, The Museum of the Terra Cotta Warriors, the Forbidden City and the last day we got to walk the Great Wall. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and wished I could find a job there painting vases so I could stay longer. However, I'm sure it would have only paid about $3 and hour, and then of course, I couldn't leave my family for very long.

I had been back for a month when I took off again for my next adventure. I went to England, by myself no less, to pick up my missionary son. Wow! That was intense the first day. I debated about renting a GPS. They gave me a good discount so I did, and I guess even though it got us lost as much as it got us found, it was a good thing we had it. Birmingham is the biggest city in England which is where we stayed. There are lots of roundabouts to confuse things. Getting out of the airport was the biggest challenge. The rental car, besides having the steering wheel on the wrong side and having to drive on the wrong side of the road in a strange country, they gave me a stick shift to complicate matters....and the gear shift was on the left side of me so I had to operate it with my left hand. Then there were lots of one-way roads and roundabouts and dead-ends in the airport too. I was unable to turn around or back up because there was a car behind me leaving the rental car lot and I was on a one-way street so I just sat there. I rolled down my window and tried to ask two women that were standing nearby how to get out of the airport. I could tell that one of them was going to respond until the other one shook her head "no" and looked on as if she didn't see me. Luckily I saw a maintenance man not too far away that helped me out. After I picked up Austin the next day I let him do all of the driving. Even though he never served in Birmingham, he did know how to work the GPS which I was really having trouble with, but it was still a piece of junk for the most part.

Then returning a week later and getting Austin settled in was a busy time and Christmas came right on top of that. Sounds like a kind of whirl wind year. That's how you stay busy so the time goes by quickly while waiting for a missionary to return. Things still haven't slowed down much. I won't say too much about all the commuting back and forth to St. George during all this, and getting there one weekend to find the basement flooded and moldy - backed up sewer. Yuck! Luckily all my furniture was out, but still had some damage to some books and little stuff. Still trying to get that all sorted out so I can file a final claim on my things. Hopefully the new year will take a new direction. I'm not exactly sure what that is right now, but I'll figure it out. Right now I'm just tired and hungry so.....good night!

2010-01-01T01:05:00.001-07:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Dustin & Cash

2009-06-21T23:40:00.002-06:00

Make a Smilebox postcard

Kimbie's Family

2009-06-21T23:31:00.002-06:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Angie's Family

2009-06-21T23:26:00.002-06:00

Make a Smilebox postcard

Braden's Family

2009-06-21T22:44:00.001-06:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Shane's Family

2009-06-21T22:26:00.001-06:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

I'm A Slacker

2009-01-25T02:52:00.007-07:00

Wow! I can't believe how long it's been since I blogged. I just barely found some comments that needed managing. Sorry guys it has taken me so long. Life has been a little crazy lately. Here it is almost 3:00 A.M. and I have decided to take up blogging again. My site is really busy. I need to clean it up a bit and make it look a little nicer, but don't hold your breath. I'm learning some new things at work about websites so maybe I'll know better what I am doing now. That doesn't mean I will be more regular in my postings, but maybe. Debbie, what is your blog address? or can I access it from Kimbie's blog? I haven't looked at anybody's lately either. I didn't know you had one. I am kind of addicted to Facebook now so that's where I spend some of my time. Probably too much. I will keep this short just because it is so late and I really want to go to bed. The new job keeps me pretty busy now, along with Relief Society stuff and the other stuff I do here, you know the Granny Nanny thing. The Heritage Choir is planning a trip to China in October so I'm trying to make/save enough money to go with them, also I want to go pick up Austin in November or December, whenever he will be coming home. It depends on when his transfers are. I've got my work cut out for me if I want to do all that. I'm pretty excited about a new arrival next week--a new granddaughter and another one (we don't know if it is a boy or girl yet) in July. That will be 18. What a clan! One of these days I'm going to monetize my Food Storage blog too.

Logan

2008-08-10T02:14:00.000-06:00

Make a Smilebox greeting

Little Bundle

2008-07-13T01:26:00.002-06:00

Make a Smilebox photobook

Blog Sabotage

2008-07-05T14:57:00.002-06:00

Let me just say this about the "10 hotties". Two of my daughters have my password. Well, that explains it doesn't it? Some of these guys I don't even know. I'll admit there are maybe 2 or 3 that I would have picked, but definitely NOT a bald Bruce Willis. I'll keep the guy from Grey's Anatomy (sp?) and that's a great pic of Sean connery. However, I'll have to find some pictures of my own, like Tom Selleck, Paul Newman, Clint Eastwood, you know, some of "those" hotties, but don't hold your breath. I don't get to posting as often as I would like to. Just wanted to clarify for the time being that I ESPECIALLY DON'T think Simon Cowell is good looking--just for the record.

Newest Addition

2008-07-05T13:28:00.009-06:00

This little guy just didn't want to get here. Poor Mom was in labor for 35 hours, 30 or so of them without an epideral as she wanted to deliver naturally. Well, Jesse just wasn't going to stand for that. He was posterior and wouldn't drop. Carly pushed for two hours before getting the epideral, but no go. After forceps and a lot of pushing he finally graced us with his presence on June 30th at 9 lbs. 1 oz and 21 inches long. He had some respiratory problems at first, but within a few hours was going great guns. He sure let everyone know his displeasure which let us know he was doing good. Anyway, we're just glad he's here, especially his Mom & Dad, Carly and Braden.

Isn't he a cutie? This was taken the second day so some of his battle scars from the forceps and trying to turn him are faded a little. Some of these marks are actually birthmarks. He was eight days over due, and I really wanted to wait around until he was born before traveling back to my hot town. I mean temperature wise. It's been hitting 90's and 100's before noon. Welcome Baby!

TAG- YOU'RE IT!!

2008-06-16T22:23:00.040-06:00

I got tagged by my daughter (a twisted sister) back in march. I guess I let time get away from me. Well I'm gonna change it up a bit.

Here's what you do: Google image your answer and post the first picture that comes up!! Its that easy.

1. Favorite treat- Cherry chocolates

2. Place I would like to live- Up north, closer to my kids

3. Place I'd like to visit- Leicester England. That's where my baby is currently on his mission!

4. Pets name- Marge. She's kind of like a pet?

5. Middle Name (Maiden) Hart

6. Age 57

7. Major- Um yeah

8. Favorite Vacation- Disneyland, I've been there the most!

9. Worst habit- pulling out gray hair on my head. Fran is that you?

10. Who are you gonna tag-

Maysen

Trista

& Amberli

My Top Ten Hotties!

2008-06-05T21:53:00.012-06:00

Ms

2008-06-04T01:28:00.012-06:00

I know, It's been a while. I'm still getting the hang of this whole blogging thing. But I just wanted to post pictures of my grandchildren.

I have 2 grandchildren who live up in WA. This is Alex & Jaysen and their dog Sheba, who Belong to Trista & Peter.

Mckoy

Sawyer...holding Keydran. & London

Mckoy, Sawyer & London belong to Shane & Tiffany

Layla Cash

Savoy

These three belong to Dustin

Logan, Maysen, & Trey

These boys belong to Ang & Brad

The proud parents of the newest grandchild Jesse West, who finally arrived on June 30th.

Carly & Braden & Jesse

Kaiyenna Keydran

These two belong to my youngest daughter and her Husband. Joey & Kimbie.

Some Great Firsts!

2008-04-22T16:39:00.000-06:00

I CAN'T BELIEVE I ATE
THE WHOLE THING.

YO, CHOCOLATE!

GIMME SOME MORE.

I PROBABLY JUST
GAINED 10 POUNDS.

2008-03-02T18:28:00.000-07:00

2008-02-28T01:32:00.000-07:00