It's George's birthday tomorrow....

.....and we celebrated today at Pirate Island. George is my 2nd grandchild and is "cute and cool"....those are his exact words (and he is humble). He likes mac and cheese, Pokemon, Bakugan (I don't know what that is), Webkinz, Legos.....he likes to play with friends, play on the computer and the Wii (and he loves Mario Kart) and to learn about things. He loves dragons and lizards and he loves to read Pokemon and Magic Treehouse Books. I've just been tending George, Emily and Evan for 3 days so he is here helping me pay tribute to him on his birthday blog. So I'm gonna tell you what I like about George....everything!!!! Sometimes it's hard to get his attention (and he says that sometimes he gets in trouble) but I'm sure none of us really know what it's like to depend on 2 hearing aids to be able to know what's going on around us. I think he does pretty darn good with that little handicap....he's pretty normal in every other way. He's meticulous and has a great capacity to attend to detail....and has become our "Handwashing Nazi".....he's a good swimmer, loves Beanie Babies and begs me to take him to the skate park. He's fearless......and I love him. Happy Birthday, George!!!! You're absolutely and totally awesome. (oops....George just informed me that he's not really fearless, he's scared of spiders. After these 3 days, he's probably scared of Grandma).!!!!!

S'more about S'mores.....

....and just to give you the "heads up" that national Smore's Day is August 11. Clickity click on the S'mores to learn more about these yummy treats and to find out how girls and boys make them. I got to thinkin' about this delectible little treat, which is really quite gaggy but a must have whenever there's a campfire and was wonderin' if anyone out there in blog land has any thoughts on the subject of S'mores. How do you roast your mallows? I love to wait until the fire has turned to coals and roast it slowly to a golden brown all over and then eat it....and I do like them...usually eat too many. May your summer nights be filled with a few campfires, S'mores if you like them but definitely marshmallows......and some scary stories and campfire songs.

Evan's checkin' it out....yep....I think he likes them How about you?

Happy Birthday to my Captain Scotty....

.....three going on five, or six or seven....bright and creative beyond his years....he keeps us all in stitches with his antics.....hero songs, impromptu and very thoughtful prayers and stories galore. He loves his super heroes and I have to be very careful about where I leave my socks that I'm knitting because my double pointed needles look like little swords and I've found my almost finished socks with stitches hanging as Scotty is wielding his new-found little wonders. Happy Birthday, big guy and be sure and have a super day. You are my hero.

A few pictures from a fantastic Memorial Day. We met at the cemetery to honor our family members that have gone before us and to snap some pictures of the grand-kids with their namesakes.....then on to breakfast at Golden Coral. A quick swim in Mason's pool as they were finishing the last loads out of the U-Haul then on to Pine Valley to finish off the day with the usual fun and games (and S-mores). Hope you had a great day!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Baby Jake....

.....and a beautiful day it is to have a birthday. Oh, how I remember a year ago today. Another baby boy for the Staheli family, knowing full well what your mom and dad were in for. Nothing like raising boys and you are boy through and through. You and Scotty are in for some great times. Those big brown eyes, a mile-wide smile along with at least 7 dimples make you just totally irresistible and I wish I could pick you up and play with you right now. I hope you get to dig into a cake and I'll be waiting for the pictures. Love ya, little guy. See ya real soon.

I'm sure there's never a dull moment with these two little guys, add a mound of dirt and you're good to go until the sun goes down.

Love my new floor.....

....as does Miller. Check out the beautiful molding that Kyle did for me Thursday night. I love it. It's moving day so Miller and I have just been hangin' out....Lauri's had the other kids while JoEllen is helping Mandy get things put away. Yep....Mason's made the move to the city. He'll be the one to commute now. It's all good. Hope you're all havin' a great Saturday.

Another bee...you....tee...ful day in Zion....

...and miracle of miracles. We were walking off the Crying Rock hike when lo and behold, my brother Bruce is the bus driver. He's been there a few years now driving the shuttle and since the first time I went up there and rode the shuttle was last week, whew....it was amazing to see him and he did a great job as a tour guide.

A lot of the bus drivers just use a recording but he talked over the intercom and gave some great information and interesting info and even quizzed the riders about some of the facts about Zion Canyon (Cash Cab without the cash). What an awesome place we have to visit in our own back yard....and since I got my yearly pass, you can bet I'll be going up there more. We took the little short hike today to view the Court of the Patriarchs and we can't go there without a walk to the Crying Rock (Weeping Rock) and to just do the loop on the shuttle is a lot of fun. A yummy lunch at Oscar's, a little shopping, a witty traveling companion that loves to laugh (man, I'm gonna miss you Lauri) and the BEST weather everrrrr.....what more could one want, I ask you......

After Miller's party last night I gave the kids permanent magic markers and told them to write on my floor. Oh, I hope they don't think they can go home and do the same on their mom's floor or their other grandma's floor....or MY NEW FLOOR!......heaven forbid, but it sure was fun to watch them go crazy. Yep....new floor tomorrow. (Clickity click on the picture for the full effect.)

Happy Birthday, Miller Biller...

.....my little fish-face boy. I'll post more later after he tears into his cake tonight. What a darlin'....he's the mellowest little boy and wants to get up and run with the kids and will sit on your lap and watch them jump on the tramp or play Andy-I-Over for hours. He just wants to be big but is waiting patiently until he can join in. Just one year ago today, I was in Kentucky and Joyce had flown in (boy were her arms tired) to join me and then drive Mason's Maxima home. We had planned to leave on Saturday but Miller hadn't come yet so when he arrived on Sunday morning, we welcomed him to the world, kissed him goodbye and headed cross-country in Mason's car. Love my little Miller boy..... grand-child #11.

We're startin' over with the dance thang.....

...and it's been pretty fun to go see my two little grand-daughters at their dance review. Seems like only yesterday we were sportin' the curlers in the morning so the locks would be "perfect" and "huge" for the special night. I got to do Emily's and I was in heaven fer sure. She was skeptical....and kept telling me it was time to take them out. I should have used spongies but I didn't have any so she got the real "hard core" rods. (It didn't mean anything to her when Lauri would tell her she used to have to sleep on those things.) It turned out pretty cute and really got me remembrin' sittin' my girls in front of the mirror and singin' to keep them distracted as I would very carefully use the HOT curling iron...."See the pretty girl in the mirror there,....who could that exciting girl be.....such a pretty face, such a pretty smile, such a pretty me.......I feel pretty, oh so pretty, I feel pretty and witty and bright and I pitty, any girl who isn't me tonight". I could usually get the curls in by the end of the song, or I should say, what I knew of the song. Sometimes it took a refrain or two to get done but most of the time it got done and their "bangs to heaven" with tons of hairspray were set and they were off to play or go to school....or whatever, but after 3 boys, my two little girls WOULD HAVE CURLY HAIR. I've always loved to do hair and would stand in front of the mirror for hours figuring out styles and ratting it just right. I was introduced to "ratting" or "back combing" on one of our trips to see my aunt and her family in California. My ever-so-cool cousin, ReKay was a teenager and she would rat her pony tail and it grew before my eyes. I was so impressed I started experimenting on my own hair. I always slept in curlers and spent the next day backcombing and primping to get the perfect "no wiglet needed" hair-do.

My yearbook sports some of the "biggest" 60's hair you've ever seen and I hope Steve will forgive me as I told him I would keep this picture to myself (I guess I lied)but I've got to share it. He's ratting Kathy's hair on our 7th grade field trip. Maybe he missed his calling in life!!!!! So....through the years we've had our "bobs", our "shags", our "flips" and our "wiglets".....but as far as I'm concerned.....the big curly bangs and curled tighter than heck hair on little girls....at their dance review....is always in vogue.

Nothin' like a good cause to bring the family together...

....and we had a "long night" of togetherness last night. At the suggestion of one of his teenage patients, who was the chairman of the Hurricane Valley "Relay for Life", Mason not only agreed to give $10 for every exam in the month of April but to sponsor a team in honor of his dad. So....here we are....Team Hurricane Dental. Good for you, Mason.....we had a great time coming out to do our laps (usually an hour to two hour intervals). Scott Wells would be proud.

Team Hurricane Dental was awesome. Thanks everyone for a great event. Mason has the greatest office staff and they came out with their families and supported the cause (and they, too, are family. Jilyn and Kathy are my cousin Beverly's daughters. Karen and her husband Len were there as well and let me tell you this. Karen is truly a gem. These are awesome, awesome gals.... and there are others that I haven't gotten to know yet. Mason is very blessed to have such great employees. Kyle and JoEllen and fam joined in with the festivities and Joel joined us on a 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. 13 mile stint as did other office staff. Beverly and Farrell took a turn this morning as well. To keep the track warm for the whole night took a great effort by all.....and we got er done.

The kids gave out boxes of toothpaste that we had put Mason's labels on for a bit of PR. Taylor from American Idol sang at the lighting of the luminaires and was gracious enough to sign our shirts and let us have this photo op....she's really cute, and very talented and lives in Hurricane. We did a little Cornhole, a little loungin' and a whole lot of socializin'.....George (and Kyle) even got in on some late night Karaoke and speakin' of "oaky"....she was there as well. Hey...it was just a dang good time and we wanna do it again next year only make sure we have a fire pit, a few tents and lots of food. We did grill some dang good burgers......we'll bring that back next year. We could probably make a little money there as people kept comin' by thinkin' we were sellin'.....and of course, we weren't but we gave them one anyway along with a box of toothpaste with Mason's info on it. Advertise, adverstise, advertise.

We'll see ya'll there next year........

Adopt the pace of nature.....

....her secret is her patience." to quote Ralph Waldo Emerson.

We did just that yesterday as Phyllis, her friend and neighbor, Marian and I took some time to visit Zion National Park. It's always amazing to me to know that I live so close to such a natural wonder but it's always a treat to be able to take someone there for the very first time. We all commented at the end of the day how "slow paced" everyone seemed to be, not rushing quickly to get from one place to the other. We enjoyed the shuttles that would take us anywhere we wanted to go but mostly, we just basked in the quiet beauty of the marvelous handiwork of our creator. The crowds were minimal and the weather was perfect. Ann Frank said......and I truly believe it: "The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature."

Mine That Bird.....

....won the Kentucky Derby. Didja watch it? I did and I like to every year but the 8 years my kids have been going to school in Louisville, I've only driven past Churchill Downs but last year we did drive into the parking lot so I did get a closer look. It's pretty fascinating to me because when I was little, my Grandpa Sullivan got into horse racing. (Picture to the left is in Parowan and the horse is "Bubble Pike"). He took my cousin Linda and me to Prescott, Arizona (Picture on the bottom is in Prescott and the horse is "Proud Leigh")to the horse races and we got to ride in his big cadillac and I thought we'd stay in some fancy motel with a pool, but we didn't. He got us a little quaint wood house for a motel....which was pretty fun but nothin' like I thought we'd be stayin' in 'cause I thought my grandpa was real rich.... and he probably was but just "tight" I s'pose.....but we went to the races and it was hot and he bought us pop and treats and stuff (and he let us place a bet) and we ran around a lot then it was time for the races and before I could get over there to watch, it was over. So, I know why they say the Kentucky Derby is the most famous 2 minutes of sports in the United States. It was fun to see an upset today.....the second biggest in the history of the Derby is what they are sayin'. (Wonder what the biggest upset was). I guess if I was really into it, I'd know but I'm not....just for today....and just 'cause my kids live in Louisville. So, there you have it. My 2 cents on horse racin'. I'm actually really afraid of horses....I got thrown when I was a teenager with Laurette on with me (the little 5 year old neighbor girl). I thought she was gonna die when we hit the ground but we made it through and I've never felt the same about horses. That was on Joe....then there was Blaze. (Or maybe Blaze came first....whatever). My dad kept his horse in Pine Valley and we all loved ridin' it but I've always been afraid and probably always will be.....but I try. They say the horse knows when yer scared.....guess that's what's always stuck with me. I can't fool no horse....so I just don't try.