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.

'Snow kiddin'.......

.......this is what I woke up to this morning and what accumulated all day as evening came. It was beautiful. Rain was predicted but this was truly amazing. I loved having one last time to enjoy this passing season. The snow pack is good for all of us as well.

I have been enjoying watching a little bird build a nest in this quaint little bird house that I always thought was just for decoration.

The bird would fly down to the ground, pick up a stick and bring it to the little quarter-sized opening and most of the time, the stick would go in easily but once in a while, the stick was just too big. On the medium sized twigs, she would turn sideways and slip it in but a lot of the time the stick was just too big for the little bird to handle. It was fascinating to watch and it really did get me in the mood to "nest".....(fix up my house a little). I did get a huge closet project done....really wore me out but that little bird just keeps going and going and going and the humming birds keep coming and coming....as do the turkeys.

Out wandering checking things out. We are all mesmerized by the change of seasons and looking around in awe as we watch the transformation....(I guess that's why the snow was so captivating. We were just getting used to the color....then everything turns white. Hopefully, the snow will make everything more vibrant, that which doesn't freeze).

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I look forward to the end of each month. Randy and I seem to be getting into a pattern where he works really hard in California for the first 3 weeks of the month then comes and works really hard here in Pine Valley for a week or so then I drive back with him and spend a week in Cali and then fly back and start over again. We like to travel up Highway 50 (Loneliest Highway in America) and it usually takes us about 12 hours to get home. However, we left a couple of days early so decided to make a road trip out of it. This was the Urban Definition I found on line. (Road Trip: When a bunch of kids get in a car (most likely a VW Bus, most likely with tons of drugs, and drive to an exotic destination (like Vegas or New Jersey). We were old people in our Kia Sorento with lots of snacks and our exotic destination was Cameron Park, California. The fact that we stretched a one day trip into three, made it a road trip to me....first night being in Ely staying at the Four Sevens Motel (that's pretty exotic I would say). 

But before that we would go through Austen and make a quick stop at one of our favorite spots, a little "hole in the wall" that serves the best soft serve ice cream.

We always enjoy the sites of this quaint little town. These are places we usually just drive through and never really stop to enjoy. Same as the shoe tree. Seen it many times but this time we stopped and took in an "up close"  look. If we could have gotten to them, there were some pretty nice shoes hanging off that tree.

We took a detour to the Hickison Petroglyphs Recreation Area  Clicke HERE to learn more.  We snapped a quick selfie, took a small hike, and did a geocache. What's a road trip without a geocache, right? 

We saw a bunch of recreational vehicles taking a turn off the main road so we followed them to this huge sand dune. Snapped a selfie, watched for a minute then went on our way. 

We made it to Tahoe and spent the night there. This truly is one of our favorite spots to vacation and we took in all of our favorite things, including wings at the pizza place. (don't even know the name of it but we always go there. Best wings ever.)

Headed on down the hill to our favorite lunch spot, Sweetie Pies in Placerville. We took in our favorite antique store and hardware store and made it home fairly early, able to catch a couple of sessions of conference. 

I guess Randy was in charge of food for Conference Sunday. We got these in the morning (left) and this yummy spaghetti squash dish for dinner. What a chef. He's amazing. I stayed a few days.....

...enjoying my days at Cameron Park Lake and evenings with Randy. Then it's always time to come home. I often wonder why but I'm grateful that we have this Pine Valley home that needs care and I need to be with my family so for now, our arrangement is working out. It's always fun to anticipate the time we can be together again. We talk every day and FaceTime every night so we're not really too far apart. While here in Pine Valley, I fill my days with "nesting" (I'll be doing that for the rest of my life, so much to clean out and put away).

I also love leisure reading, watching the birds and often I'll take in a ball game and do some baking. I also love any time I can spend with my family. I try to see mom at the Meadows but it has become hard lately as she is still struggling and I'm feeling guilty. A few issues with staff and aids and mom's paranoia but for the most part, it's good. I had a good visit with her last week and I still feel really sad that she's there. I pray daily for her comfort and contentment (and mine). I got a chance to spend some time with Mason and his kids while Mandy went to Boston to run the marathon. I drove up with Lauri and James and kids and they dropped me off at Mason's. 

I got to have my much needed dental appointment, cleaning and cavity fillings from the best dentist in the world. As always, no pain whatsoever. He's at Jordan River Dental and it's pretty nice digs for him. I was there to shuttle the kids to their activities but it rained Friday so we went to Scheels....

So the only games were Saturday. I skipped out for one of them and had a fun dinner with Russ, Traci and family and Lauri and James and family. Then Traci and Mae (bottom right) took me back up to Layton to finish the tournament.

McKay's team "Skull Candy Crushers" played and won four games and got these pretty sweet rings instead of trophies. Just comparing......

...Mason's two state-championship rings to McKay's one day tournament ring. Interesting. It's so fun for these boys though and I've loved watching them improve with each year of the sport. I try to get to what I can but they are all so very busy.  I did get to take in a track meet in which Laynee and George participated. They are both very good at this and it was fun to watch them compete and do well.

All of my grandkids are busy with extracurricular activities and I do love to make it to their activities whenever I can. I've been able to spend time with Maycee and Jack for their birthdays and a lot of time with Lauri and James and kids. Love having them at Lexington Drive. They came up and spent Saturday with me (can't believe we didn't take any pictures. They are all so cute).  I got to one of Evan's baseball games and I'm looking forward to spending time this week with the Staheli kids while Russ and Traci head to Chicago for a little getaway.  One last note before I leave this epistle; once a D-Day Queen, always a D-Day Queen.... I attended the annual honor activity where all of the former queens are invited during D-Week.

I was queen in 1970. Cathy Lundin (right) was queen in 1969.  She came from Seattle to be there and it was so good to see her. The only part I don't like is going up on stage during the pageant. I always feel like I make a fool of myself but I'm proud to represent my class and the great college that has been a part of my life for so very long. Proud to be a Trailblazer now (I'll always be a Rebel) and proud that Kyle is a part of the evolving process of this great school. Dixie State University forever. So I bid adieu to this month of April, grateful for my heritage and my five children and their children that make my life so rich and especially for a husband who is willing to work with my need to be close to them. He's such a great support to me and I'm so glad we found each other in this stage of our lives.