other pictures

See, not much snow left! Ya-hoo!
This is what I need to remove----

back to yard

Now that the snow is melting I can get back to yard work--a never ending chore. This is the area I cleared out last fall. I want to put in a stone patio. I also plan on clearing out the other side of the porch to put patio there also. I took a picture of that---but for some reason I can't get the link to open any more to add a picture. I am having fits with my lap top and haven't had internet access since my last post. Today I decided to try my desktop--it is soooo slow. It took about 10 minutes to download this one picture but since I am watching a movie (Coach Carter) I didn't mind the wait. I actually planned on adding two more pictures (one of all the stuff I need to clear on the other side of my porch and the snow that is still left on the lawn---not much. I can't believe all the melting we have had this last week or so. Anyway, yesterday was my day off and I spent the morning trimming back my rose bushes. One bush I need to remove so I cut it way back. Next time I work on it I will cut more, until I can start digging it out. The ground, of course, is way too muddy now to be digging anything!

I can't even come close to keeping up on housework and the yard work takes away from time inside, but I have learned to really enjoy working in the yard. Maybe because it is a break from laundry and dishes! What I do like about it is that what I do in a day last for awhile. Unlike the housework. It doesn't matter how clean I get the house, it doesn't seem to last 1/2 day! It gets very frustrating. I am looking forward to spring so I can start seeing something for my efforts! I planted a bunch of bulbs (about 75) last fall so I am hopeful that all the moisture in the ground drains well and they survive. If so I should start seeing some come up in a few weeks. I look forward to that. I love flowers.

Happy Birthday Eric!

My older brother is having his birthday soon--and it is a big one. He will be 50.

We surprised him by all meeting at Red Lobster in Provo. He walked in and was overwhelmed with emotion. Anyway, I thought I loaded the pictures in order but did not. So here is a scrambled version of our evening. Below is T and C playing Wii after dinner. Since the cousins don't get to see each other very often they were glad to get a chance to play together.

L was sitting on her uncle's lap and he decided to make it more "comfortable" for her to see how long she could last. L was having fun---

A decided to join in and though it was awkward seating for a bit (until they fell) there were lots of giggles.

So below is the immediate family at the Red Lobster. When S asked E how it felt being surprised, he responded "it made my eyes fill with water and it choked me up". S and her family came from Vegas just for the dinner and G came from California ---so our 1 1/2 hour drive was nothing! Uncle Rick was also at the dinner. E really was happy to have everyone there.

Here we are with dad and all 5 of his kids at dinner. Thanks dad for picking up the tab! That was greatly appreciated!

E was so shy and nervous as the waiters sang to him that he couldn't take his eyes off the crap leg---but he grinned and said "thank you" when they were done.

E opening his presents back at J's. J made her great carrot cake which is E's favorite (and mine!) Thanks for hosting J and V and thanks S, R, G for coming from out of state to celebrate. We enjoyed our visit---it was great seeing you! And of course, Happy 50th Birthday Eric!

Ghana School Bags

Sewing School Bags for children in Ghana

So the PTSA at the High School is doing a service project collect school supplies and other health bags (soaps, toothbrushes etc.) also eye glasses to take to Ghana this summer. J is a PTSA leader and supposedly is going to help take the supplies---although I haven't heard too much about that part of it, so who knows. That would be a great experience though! Our Relief Society in our ward is helping out with the high school collecting items and also sewing the bags needed for the school supplies. I cut out and serged about 12 bags.

It has been a while since I blogged, I don't know why I get so busy. Today was my day off work (and it's not like I work a lot, 3 hours a day 4 days a week is all) and it was my first Wednesday to have free in several weeks (the last three have been filled with L wisdom teeth appointments and T dentist) I planned on cleaning and organizing my room---all I got done there was 2 bags filled for DI and dropped off---yeah! Plans were changed this late last night when my mom-in-law called and asked me to go to Clifton's 1/2 off 1/2 price sale and look for a dress for me for my birthday. I couldn't argue that---then this morning I remembered that I volunteered to bag groceries at the local store for an hour and our school receives 5% of the sales for the day--I was supposed to be there from 12-1 but the 1 o'clock shift didn't show up so I was there until the 2 o'clock shift came ---then I found out at 11:00 that it was parent-teacher conferences at the high school so as soon as I left the store I picked up my kids and went to the HS and met with teachers. CD had tumbling at 4 and CE had basketball at 5---

So yesterday I had another cortizon shot in my knee. It used to be that they told me to wait until I was 50 for my knee replacement surgery---now they think I should get it sooner than later. Yesterday the Dr. said, so what is your plan? Just keep getting the shots until you can't stand it any longer? Yep, that's it. The shot definately helps time pass. I used to just wait for the okay, but now that I have it, I know there is no way I could afford it, even with insurance so I really have no choice but to wait. The doctor showed me a model of 4 knees that had normal, mild, moderate and severe. He said this moderate is what I think you meniscus is like, although that is going off of a 4 year old MRI----and this severe probably doesn't come close to what we see the damage being behind you patela. There is no sense in suffering. I told him that I would feel guilty getting my knee fixed when I know they can't do anything for J's and his is as bad or worse than mine and he is only 15. Truthfully, I would feel terrible if we accured a huge medical bill and had a long time to pay on it when suddenly they come up with a fix for his knee and we were stuck paying for mine! I suppose there might come a point that I think different---like I can't stand it any longer---but for now----I can't wait for the pool to open back up though since that is about the only exercise I can do any more. That is what stinks the most.

Scrappin'

J and I have been going every year to the Epilepsy Foundation Scrapbooking Day. It is a fundraiser for a good cause and we enjoy scrapping! There are usually between 250 and 300 people. J usually gets a lot more done than I do, but it is still productive for me. Our favorite part of the day is the raffle. We always buy tickets (like I said, it is for a good cause!) and we usually go home with something.
So they did this contest giving everyone the layout design and had those who wanted to make a page following the design. I did one "adoption" that I entered but still had some time and since my pictures fit, I hurried and did "for the team" and also entered it. I liked the first the best, but for some reason they liked the second and I was one of three winners. (I won a package with papers, stickers, embellishments, etc.) I think it was the story they liked on this page...I was glad I hurried and did it because it is always fun to win a contest!
This is the raffle basket of gifts that I won in the raffle.
J hit the jackpot this year (not her first time) and one two items in the raffle. The one on the right is full of kits and the one on the left is all glitter---about 50 glitter papers, glitter stickers, glitter flowers, paint, rub-ons etc. Everything is a glitter! One year we hope to have one of us with the grand prize of a weekend away with friends scrapbooking (snacks and dinner included!) Wouldn't that be fun!

It seems like I am always shoveliing... I hurt my shoulder playing Wii awhile back and the snow is making it impossible to heal! It doesn't help that the snow blower died Sunday--thank goodness it was after the first 8 inches. The second 8 we did by hand.
C and D shovel a path to the tramp and attemp to shovel off some of the tramp...notice C is standing on packed snow almost level with the top of the tramp! Notice the dog's eyes --she like hiding under the tramp---the only place around with no snow! It is like a cave under there.
CE playing catch with Missy

We had a lot of snow on Sunday. Our church is from 9:30-12:30 but at 11:30 they sent everyone home and the 1:00 and 1:30 wards that meet in our building were canceled. I don't ever remember having a snow day from church before!

Peacocks crossing...

So last week I had to stop the car and let these three peacocks cross the road.

I remembered that I had a camera in the back seat and stopped to take a picture...the white one fascinated me. The took off after hearing my door close, but I still managed to get a few shots. Click on the picture to see them enlarged.

Meandering...
I thought the white peacock was beautiful...the first time I've seen an all white peacock!

Snow at dad's house

Dad wanted to share some pictures of the snow at his home. Note that these were taken before the last 18inches or so that he received. This is the chair on dad's back porch

Dad's round about with the clock sticking out

Dad's home

Taken from his front porch.

Puffy Cheeks

L had her wisdom teeth pulled last Wednesday--

I had to catch her puffy cheeks!

Oh-and P.S. J went back to school today! Yahoo!