here's the happy little couple now...

Just what you want for Valentine Day, his and her canes! (so prec)...

the photo shoot...day 4 (grandpa)

So anyway Grandpa thinks he looks kinda cute half black.




The swelling is going down. The eye has a lot less blood in it and he is seeing things. Albeit he sees things double. He said, "Look there are two lamps". I replied, "Shall I turn one of them off?" He's thinking he can save big bucks.

This just screams normal.

Work with me on this one. In the outside world he wears his dark glasses so as not to scare the masses. However to be able to see in the grocery store or what he's eating, etc. he needs 2 pair. (Yes Burke, that really is a coconut chocolate chip cookie from Paradise).

A male Grammy.

The face still sleeps well.

A Day in the Life of Dad........

If you start from the bottom up, it makes a little sense.

These are just some of the things you can do in Mesa.

so I have no idea how to put this in any order....

So Burke was having his 'normal' cataract surgery but it was taking twice as long as 2 weeks ago...oops! (Brynn, I need help please) They hit a blood vessel and you can see what happened. It doesn't hurt him, but he will scare little children.

and another thing......

Here's the problem...I finally have a good camera, the ability to get pictures onto my computer but alassssss, no can figure out how to get them to my blog. I've seriously worn out my brain trying though.

You may have heard my parents are here and I'm loving it. I'm just a little more busy than normal life. Gpa has had multiple problems while he has been in AZ. I hope he gets a good week or two to enjoy himself. They do keep saying that they are so happy not to fight the snow. Heck, we had a freaking 82 last week for their outside enjoyment.

Bill is having a nap in the hammock now. He does this on a real regular basis. Most of my friends are totally ticked w the 70's we are in. It means the dreaded S*U*M*M*E*R is about here. I always have my AC on by March each year. The fans are already back in full time use. Do you think 2 months of fall, winter and spring is enough??????????????? NOT EVEN!

There, I feel better now and thanks for the rant! Oh btw, Happy Valentines Day.

A tall table (or tale)

WooHoo! We finally got a new kitchen table and chairs. It is counter height and I love the height so much I want to marry it. What we had was an antique table that was used by Bill when he was a very little guy. I'm thinking it's 60/70 years old. We had 6 different chairs around it that were collected from times in our lives.

We are still using the old stuff in different areas. Who knew I would finally be able to see messes on the table---all the better to wash it w my dear. It's closer to my face and I'm not flying blind.

There is just a whole lot of bending no one on my team has to do . Of course some of my little gkids are falling off the chairs but it seems to be taking an average of one drop and they're good.

It's the configuration of 2 chairs to a side. A dumpload of space in the middle lets us lay Lucy there, sit around her and be entertained. (yeah, she is fulfilling her purpose in life).

President Hinckley

I was thinking about Pres. Hinckley's death. I wondered if you guys knew or remembered that about 1966ish, the Phx North Stake was to be divided. It was a Saturday and my sisters and I had cleaned the house all morning...(only good enough to eat off the floor though). Right after lunch (I was 18 and Keri 1) I had gone to take a shower and as I was getting into the shower my mom called to me. She told me not to take one and to get dressed because Elder Hinckley and Elder Longdon were coming over to talk to our family.

Do you remember the teenage years? It's all about yourself. I was ticked because the only thing I could do w my dirty hair was to put big rollers into it and a huge cap to cover the whole thing. I knew I looked stupid and besides this would mess up my plan to spend the ENTIRE afternoon on myself, getting ready for the Sat. Nite dance. (Mom said I had to act nice to the G. A.'s too).

They rang the bell and then came into our home. We met them in the foyer and I remember that Pres. Hinckley had a hat and I was pretty impressed w that moment. They talked to our family and explained that our dad was going to be the new S.P. and would we support him, etc. We couldn't use the phone the rest of the day. I can't remember what my restrictions were for the dance but I WAS obedient.

The next day was Sunday and the conference meeting. I remember a discussion that ensued before the mtg. In my mind I had thought, 'cool we get to sit in the reserved section of the pews and wouldn't have to go so early'. This is what the then Stake Presidency did. (How wrong can a teenager be). The parents told the stake people NOT to reserve any seats for us. If we wanted to sit in front we would go early like the rest of the people. Great! We either got there 2 hours early or 1 1/2 hours early because everybody comes when the stake is reorganized.

I instantly liked Pres. Hinckley and met him multiple times (8-10) over the years. The older I got the more I liked him. I'm so happy that he is reunited w his wife and others. I loved him and he made quite an impact on me. I'll miss him.

24 hour yakfest...

34 years ago a group of women started a monthly meeting called "mom's meetings". We helped, guided and sustained each other to the present. About 29 years ago we started having slumber parties/sleepovers/PJ nights/whatever and we still love it. Our shortest overniter just took place this past weekend. We got together @ 6 pm on Friday, 1-25-08 and except for a short night of sleeping, we talked until 1-26 @ 6pm.



We ordered in (1st time), kept drinking water and tried to eat as much chocolate and junk food as we did in our 20's....good try by all!



Men will die because what on earth could you talk about for that long and women will go..."cool". We didn't go anywhere. We stayed @ a members home and walked and talked and ate in the kitchen and family room for the entire time. No TV, no outdoors, no reading, no crafts, no men, no kids, just great conversation.



Mom always wanted us to maybe get some other groups going in the U.S. It wasn't too doable. We would come home tired in body but strong in mind and spirit. I highly recommend it.

---this just in: as of 4:38 pm Sunday nite, "the parents" are still breathing. Man, being in charge of people is a big time operation! They are pretty cute...and short.