You don't know Jack....

.....so I'm introducing him to you...I've been tending him since yesterday and got a wicked case of food poisoning but there couldn't be a better kid to help me get through it. He's so good and while I lay dieing (sp?) he just wandered around and allowed me a few hours to re-coup (sp?) and what a joy he has been. I always love to have my grand-kids one-on-one once in a while. It's good to have them play with each other but I like this. It forces me to play and sing with them and get to know them better. I've enjoyed getting to know Jack.....I think I can now say that "I do know Jack".....

Another day of so much to blog........6 days to go Spence...

When the cousins are in town, everyone wants to be where the action is and today it was at Mason and Mandy's and oh, my!!!What action there was. I will post these fun pictures for all to see and you will know what a time we had. We started with fun on the Cyclone then Happy Meals, then a trip to the dentist for George and Emily and ended up at the ball park watching Kyle and Mason play ball. Cousins Eric and Clint on the team too....so lots of family togetherness. McKay was not to be left out. We did the best we could to keep his little cast dry but he'd pull himself up to the top and slide right down into the water, plastic-covered leg and all. It really did stay pretty dry. Oh, he looks so sad dragging that thing around. Kyle made him a little crutch and we call him "Tiny Tim". He says, "I'm not tiny" so we just call him Tim. I also added some pictures of the kids herding the ducks back to the pond. This has been a very full day.

A few pictures of some summer fun.....

Roadtrip!!!!!! We did it.......

Yep, we did it without stopping....28 hours!!!! We left Kentucky at 1:30 Saturday and arrived here at 3:00. The kids were soooooo good. The only near miss was when Seth said he had to go....we found a sack and he was giggling, ready to let it go into a sack when I found a quick stop by the side of the road, one of the "gas only" kind of scary stops, smelled a little like the outhouses in the campground at Pine Valley but it served it's purpose. We got through Kansas and into Colorado by daylight and little Jack actually went 12 straight hours without as much as closing his eyes. The kids busied themselves with movies, treats, nintendos, leapsters, more treats, little naps, and whatever kids do in cars for 28 hours and it was just fine. We're glad it's over but it wasn't that bad at all.....but I'm the grandma. Now Shana would probably have a whole different take on it. We, or rather, I was going to take pictures at all the state signs but Shana wouldn't have it....she forged on stopping for nothiiiing.......I did snag a few pictures from the window as we drove by just to show that we really did it. We did stop for a really good meal at Denny's and I included a cute picture of Seth getting his Mac and Cheese and grapes. Anyway, there' s no place like home. When Drew was sittin' up to the bar this morning eating breakfast and watching my little t.v., he said...."...this is the life". Now that's what a grandma likes to hear.

Non-stop socks.....enter my contest!

I'm pretty much into making socks and once in a while someone will ask me how long it takes to make a pair. So....on my trip to Kentucky, I thought I was on a non-stop flight but found out I had to make a stop in Chicago. (a 3 hour stint) So....I decided to see how much of a sock I could get done by the time I landed in Chicago. So as we took off from Vegas,I began knitting and only stopped for a quick o.j. and crackers which probably took up about 5 min. then on with the knitting. I figured it would be a pretty fair 3 hours of knitting. This is how much of a sock I got done....About half. This really wouldn't be a fair assessment of how long it takes me as I usually use a finer sock yarn and needles but for this particular pair, I figured 6 hours per sock, 12 hours per pair. The yarn costs me about $6.00 a skein, each pair taking 2 skeins (of this particular type) so approximately $12.00 worth of yarn. If I pay myself a mere $12.00 per hour to make them, I figure this particular pair of socks costs approximately $156.00. You could win a pair of these socks. Go to my knitting blog and see how!!!!! http://knitnpurls.blogspot.com/

Kentucky Kids......

A trip to Target, Texas Roadhouse and catchin' fireflies are the order of the day when I come to Kentucky. All is well here a few days before we hit the road to head to home......My second road trip across Kansas this summer! I haven't posted my Kentucky family for a while. Laynee, Drewby and Seth on the Target ball and Jack at Roadhouse. Cute kids!!!!!

Just a couple of things here.....

Saturday morning we were barely awake when my mom called and told me they were burning down the Maggard home on the corner of my old neighborhood, would I like to come watch. Well, I had the kids for a sleep over and figured it would be too bothersome but after a minute or two thought, "How often would a kid get to see a house burn down (or up as my dad would wonder) so I ran through the house shouting "Hurry, get your shoes on, let's go watch a house burn down!" I didn't even give them time to find shoes, (one would have thought my house was burning down the way we got out of there) but as you can see by the pictures (I'm glad I'm not in any of them) that I pretty much snatched those littles ones out of bed and as I drove up there trying to explain what we were going to do, I could all of a sudden see the fear in their eyes.....I can only imagine what each of them must have been thinking by now as we pulled up and ran to our "front row" seats of a house burning. Much better than Saturday morning cartoons...wouldn't you say? It turned out to be pretty much a drill for some new firemen and never got any more than a bit of smoke coming out of the windows as each of them donned their masks and ran in to see if their equipment was working. It made for an hour of excitement and a close-up view of a "fireman and his equipment". I love this picture of McKay. It looks like he's asking George so I won't notice, you know kinda like talking out the side of your mouth inconspicuously, "What in the *^&%* are we doing here?"

So here's another thing I want to blog about. I've been fascinated with these lavender fields up somewhere around Mona. A few weeks ago I saw a sign as I was traveling north advertising a Lavender Festival and when I went back about a week later, I really wanted to go to the Lavender Festival but couldn't figure out where the exit was. But yesterday as I was heading up north to Jake's blessing, the fields were totally purple like I've never seen before. Then today, on the way back, I snapped a picture as I was driving by (doesn't even begin to capture the color but maybe you will get the idea). Anyway, I was just really in awe to think that we grow lavender in Utah and I want to learn more about it. If there's anyone out there in "Blog Land" that knows anything about lavender, especially the Utah variety, please fill me in. Where have I been all these years? Did I know we have these really cool lavender fields in Utah? I think not....but I do now and I'm going to start doing my research and see if I can grow some lavender.

After I finished this post, I found this link http://www.younglivingfarms.com/ Cool!!!!!

Remembering a good man......

Seven years ago this month a good man was taken from this family and I’d like to pay tribute to him today as I’m finding myself a bit melancholy lately. July comes with a bang as we celebrate the anniversary of our independence but leaves me somber remembering where we were just seven years ago. I won’t be lengthy in my tribute but want to pay honor to a common man who taught us so much. He led by quiet example, never wanting any glory or honor, always wanting to be found doing good. He would never force us to read the scriptures but was seen himself doing it daily, making it a goal the last few years of his life to read the Book of Mormon at least once a year. He didn’t waste time nor money and always lived by the motto……”There is no dignity so impressive and no independence quite so important as living within one’s means.” I think he made it up but it was “his” philosophy and he never forced it on anyone but lived it himself in hopes that his wife would follow. She never did, sad to say and is struggling to do it today. I’m grateful for the “means” he did leave behind and I’m truly trying to follow his example. He was always found reading good materials, watching good movies and mingling hard work with his “mountain time” relaxing in Pine Valley. He taught the value of education, left behind a legacy of church service and was a loving father and family man. We all miss him but are ever grateful for the extra years we got to have him. We're all better having known him.......

It was a happy 4th of July......

We had a great time enjoying the fresh air of Pine Valley....We fished at Gardner's pond then headed up to Mark's cabin and reunioned with the Wells side of the family; then headed back down the road to hook up with the Sullivan's for the traditional pizza, pop and fireworks. Traditions are good...something constant in an ever-changing world. Thanks, Mom for putting up with the chaos for a few hours. I don't have pictures of that part of the evening as my camera ran out of battery but will post them as I get them. Below are the pictures of PineValley. We got a new carpet on the porch and the trees have grown...each year brings a bit of change but it always feels the same...it was good being there for a few hours. We love our "mountain time".

Dr. Wells is open for business......

Just sing along with me, this little ditty from Sesame Street days....

Oh, a dentist is a person in your neighborhood, in your neighborhood, in your neighborhood, oh, a dentist is a person in your neighborhood, a person that you meet each day.


















If you want your teeth all shiny white...
Or your toothache pain is outta sight...
He'll fix you up, there is no doubt...
Just pay the bill on your way out!!!!

(All kidding aside: Mason just finished his first week of work. Congrats, Mason. It's good to have you home. These picts are from last summer in Peru.)

Welcome home, Lauri......

It was good to welcome Lauri home after a couple of weeks away as she and Becca went to London with detours to Paris, Oxford and Cornwall (and a brief visit to Lands End and Jane Austen territory, Bath). Lots of fun tales to tell. She's now getting ready for her semester to Mexico.....Summer is in full swing around here. All is well....

The past couple of weeks has been adventurous (for some in my family) as Kyle and JoEllen just got back from Prague and various other countries and Lauri is just returning from London with a detour to Paris. I have just completed a tour of duty tending Evan for 8 days and we had a 'swingin' good time. This is a picture at Mark and Marian's on their wonderful, gigantic swing and Lauri is trying out her gear as we bid her farewell. She will return tomorrow night with many tales to tell I'm sure. It's good to have them all return. Mason and Mandy got moved and we'll post more from them later as well. I had a day to check in on Traci as we motored north to try and hurry Mason's liscensing along. Russ is making progress on their home and the baby's getting so big. On the Kentucky side of things, Spencer was able to take Drew to his first ever major league baseball game and it sounds like they are all staying very busy. Maybe I can talk them out of some pictures to post. They'll soon be home for vacation. Will post more later.

Congratulations George.....

My second grandchild, George turned eight and was baptized on May 31. It was a pretty big day and he shared it with his cousin Jake (JoEllen's sister's boy) who was born only 3 days before him 8 years ago. We celebrated with a picnic at the water park. Good times......

So much to blog, so little time......

I just got back from welcoming Russ and Traci's newest edition, Jake Staheli. A couple weeks ago I was in Kentucky graduating Mason on a Friday and welcoming Miller on Sunday. This past week we had to choose amongst many activities.....Saturday comes. Um.....should we move, or go have a baby or go to graduation. (Russ graduated from the U with a degree in Health Science Research, I think that's it). Needless to say, something had to go....We moved and had a baby. I have proof that Russ did actually graduate. He has his regalia to prove it. Anyway, a move to their fixer-upper that wasn't quite fixer-upped on Saturday and the baby on Sunday. It's all good......really it is. Scotty really doesn't like sharing his Mom and Dad with little Jake (or his Grandpa Staheli). When Grandpa Mike came to see the baby and was holding him, Scott pointed to Traci and said "her turn" (well, it wasn't really those exact words but we got the picture.) He wanted that baby out of his grandpa's hands and said "my grandpa" with a great big hug. Check out my "Grandma Chronicles" for more on the grand kids. George turns 8 and gets baptized on Saturday so I'll post more later.Before I get on to something else, let me just say a little bit about Spencer's tomatoes....He's proud of his kids but he's pretty pumped about his tomatoes as well....He had a pretty good crop last year with much ribbing from his neighbors about planting them too close together. This year he had the nerve to plant before Derby....such a no, no....but we shall see. Tune in later for progress on his "big beefies" and "early girls" (or whatever he calls his tomatoes).....I'm finally home....the first of May was Kentucky. The day Miller was born, Joyce and I took off in Mason's Maxima on an adventurous road trip (call us Thelma and Louise without the pistol or Brad Pitt, oh, and no dramatic ending thank goodness and we didn't rob anyone. Pretty low key. So maybe not a good analogy). We made it across Missouri in a day then decided to make Kansas our "real" road trip stopping along the way....at what, you may ask and we look back on it and are astounded that it really took us a whole day to do Kansas but we found some marvelous antique stores. Neither of us are really into antiques but that's about all Kansas had to offer (along with the Wizard of Oz memorabilia) and we met some locals and politely inquired as to why they live in Kansas....Our last day through Colorado was beautiful enough scenery that we didn't really need to stop, just gasp at the beautiful snowcapped mountains and enjoy the winding roads.

My newest grandchild......

A little boy, Miller Wells, born to Mason and Mandy on Sunday morning weighing in at over 8 lbs. Mom and baby doing fine. Can't wait to get them home in a couple of weeks.