Technology.....

....and that's what I want to start with today. Yes, I am hooked to my phone....too much so and I'm trying to cut back a bit but when I'm in California and my family is in Utah, I have to check my phone to see if any of them have posted anything.  It used to be that I'd just pick up the phone and call them and ask what's happening but it seems like phone calls are a "no no" nowadays unless you text first with "call when you can" or "can I call you".....or use the text to check in and say "what are you up to?".  I have some children that don't like to text though so I'm pretty sensitive to that and don't text that particular child much and that child also doesn't like to call so you can see why I rely on the other family members in that family to post on media what is happening....and they do from time to time and I'm actually able to text the spouse of this particular child and get an update when it's been a month since I've heard from this family. And then there are those that are not on social media and it's good that I can communicate with a text to them or their kids.  Then I have some that post regularly and it makes me really happy to see them. I particularly love FaceTime. Then I get to see them and talk to them and it's about as good as being there. "About" being a polite term for "not even as good as being there but it's the best I can do for now"......but there was a time that all you had was an expensive long distant phone call or a letter that would take a week to get there so technology is good.....if not over-done.

There's a bit of technology that I've come to love.  Seth, McKay and Jack play in baseball tournaments every week-end and most of the time I can get to some of Seth's and Jack's games and if McKay's team plays in St. George I can get to those but when I'm in California with Randy, which I like to be once in a while because he is my husband and I like being with him, I don't get to see the games. I just have to rely on "technology" to find out how the games are going.  There is an APP now called "GameChanger" and one of the father's on Seth's team has a webcam and is willing to use this app to broadcast the game to anyone that wants to tune in. It's live but not with real time action. It's play by play that he does and it's amazing how fun it is to watch.  I just wish it would catch on somehow with all the teams.  This is what Seth's first home run looked like and I was watching it.

Seth pitched 5 innings of this game and it showed each pitch and what happened in each inning. I could quietly watch the game while Randy and I watched a movie. There would be an outbreak of cheering once in a while but it was pretty much just quiet anxiety and joy.  I had to miss track meets, soccer games and the other boy's baseball games but this was one game I didn't miss. They won the championship and now days, instead of trophies, they get rings. Seth has had a couple of Silvers but this one was Gold. Jack's team has won their share of championships and so had McKay's.  I think why I like baseball is that it is total teamwork. Not that other sports are not, they are but these guys spend most of their time hanging out in the dugout together and they get to know each other off the field really well. After a lot of years of being together, they really "gel" as friends and I've always said......"when they lose they build character" but I find when they work as hard as they do, they mostly win and that builds confidence, not only in themselves but in trusting each other to make the plays. I'm happy that each one of my grandchildren are finding their "niche" and I love to watch each and everyone of them succeed. Now that I'm blogging again, I'm looking forward to posting their successes. The baseball thing started with my husband and his boys a long time ago. He knew if he wanted them to have a good experience, he would have to be their coach. He and some other fathers took it upon themselves to help them have learn and love the game.

Kyle and Spencer were on this team and Mason was the bat boy. He always got a matching shirt. such good times. Scott, Jim McArthur and Keith Reber coaches. Now it's Aaron and Spencer coaching Team Thunder. 

McKay started with his dad coaching with Spencer and Aaron but has now moved up north and has some really good coaches and friends there.  They are The Bombers and they won their championship as well. What is really bad is when they play each other. Oh, that hurts but it is really fun too. Before I leave baseball, here's one of Jack's teams championship pics coached by Spencer and Aaron.

They are all playing Little League too (not sure I can keep up) even Evan so I will post those pics as I get to the games.  

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Right here I wish I had some throw-back pics of my boys rappelling but I don't....however, I'm glad Kyle finally took his kids out and taught them the sport. The boys loved it when they were kids and I've been surprised they haven't introduced it to their kids but now Kyle has. He took them out this past week-end and posted some cute pictures. This is one sport they did that I didn't really care to watch. I always went by the old adage that I learned once when I was told the way to raise boys is "don't watch".  

 I just love this picture with the city as the back drop. They both took to it like champs.

Since this post is about technology, I'll just insert here that I'm glad the kids are off their screens and out doing stuff like this but I'm glad there are the screens so we can capture these cute pictures. If you have figured it out yet, I love these 20 grand kids of mine and I will spotlight each of them as I continue to interact with them. I love them all and I'm so proud of each of them and the things they are participating in.  When I can't be there, they could turn their technology on "live" and invite me to come, right?

This is the last time we were all gathered.  Not sure where Miller was and Matty and Annie didn't make it in either and Lucy's mask is covering her cute face but I look forward the next time I can get them together with their numbered shirts as they are growing up so fast and will be moving on soon.  Laynee graduates this year......no telling where she'll be in a year but it's always fun when the older ones still want to join in and especially when they use their technology to stay in touch with their grandmother.  I got this from these girls yesterday as they had a get-to-gether and I wasn't able to attend.

Here they are all grown up. I've spent some fun times with these three through the years.

Here they are in younger years, cute as ever.  Love them, love them........I'll always keep them on my radar.  So let me end this post with a little thing I got off Facebook.....(I do love technology).......

Before I leave for real though, I must acknowledge "Sibling Day" which I wouldn't have known about if not for technology.  

Bruce, Joyce, Me and Clark.....at our finest, don't you think.  Just glad for cameras back then and a mother that would snap a pic or two.  

Almost a year ago.....

....was my last blog post. I have published yet another edition of my blog book and I love these so much that I'm spurred on to keep blogging as this is the only journal of my life that I have right now. I've been doing some chat books and that will fill in for the year I missed but here goes to hopefully get caught up a little as I go and to forge on for posterity. Wonder who will ever read these entries....but it doesn't matter. It helps me to find the good and blog about the positive (sometimes not) but to appreciate all the good parts of my life of which there are many.  Last year about this time, Randy and I took the Highway 50 road trip but we did it in two days and stopped at all the spots we love. We did it again just Tuesday and the only stop was the shoe tree and in Austin for soft-serve ice cream cones.

Such a long road but we love watching the cloud formations, chatting, listening to CD's, music and singing along with the oldies. Always better when there's two of us.

Before we left Pine Valley, we were able to enjoy a quick April snow storm........

 ....and enjoy conference together; so cozy.

I was so glad to attend Women's Conference with Lauri....captured this beautiful temple background....

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On Thursday, March 30 we celebrated Mom's 90th birthday. We decided to have an open house at her home thinking it would be easier than a huge rec hall. Not sure how happy she was about it but we planned on refreshments for over 100 and we didn't have very much left.

She was pleased to see Dr. Booth.....even though he said he represented Maureen, we were glad he came. Mom was very happy.

 I just wish I had taken more pictures. I was busy running around being the hostess. 

So grateful for my family.  Traci came down to enjoy the celebration as well.

I hope I can get some more pictures of the party from Joyce and I will add those later.

Some of my friends and classmates came. Diana and John came down from Bountiful.

My friends are my mom's friends too, Always have been and always will be.  Such a wonderful experience to pay tribute to my mother who is the epitome of compassion and service. She still tries so hard to do for others even when she can hardly "do" for herself.

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I've loved having Randy here for a few days to help me get our place cleaned up after the winter snow. I love watching spring come......

....and the turkeys strutting their stuff......

I do enjoy the winter though and this one hasn't been too bad. I don't mind sitting by the fire on a snowy day and watching the beautiful white miracle fall from the sky.  I especially enjoy it when a grand kid or two wants to come and enjoy it with me.

Evan and his helpers did a pretty nice ice sculpture turtle.....

....and the hot tub is always a hit. This time we added illuminated balloons to the mix......

Jack and Seth admiring the accumulation.

Traci and the kids dropped by on the way to St. George. I always enjoy sharing this beautiful place with my kiddos....... 

....and speaking of beautiful.  Traci shared this picture on Instagram and I just fell in love with it. She tried on her wedding dress and Mae was fascinated with it. They had a "Pretty Dress Party".

But if she isn't wearing her pretty dress,...Mae is at least sporting her fashionable boots......

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When I can, I love attending the kids activities. Baseball games, soccer, track............

....they always make me proud. Even though I can't get there, I like to know how they do.  Such good kids.

I just happened to be to the championship game on this night. They got rings instead of trophies.

I was privileged to see this cutie off on her Prom date. She's a beauty through and through.....

...and I got to watch George be crowned Junior Prom King and I took their dance pics...at the Opera House.  I will get those and add later.

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Randy and I headed back to California on Tuesday and I have enjoyed a couple of good walks around Cameron Park Lake.

 Beautiful flowers abound here.....

Momma ducks are protecting their babies.  This is a "Don't Feed the Ducks" park so they aren't dependent on nor are they afraid of humans so it's easy to get quite close. I just can't get enough of this. I'll go back each day a couple of times and check on these cute families.

These turtles were just lounging on the rocks taking life easy. We need to all try it once in a while. I think I'll go try it right now. There's so much more I could add to this post but when one hasn't blogged for a year, it can be overwhelming to try and get caught up so I won't do that. I'll just take it as is comes.....over and out for now. Life is good.