Movin right along!

Man I can't believe January is almost over! The next few months are going to be crazy around here! In two weeks Marty and I will be on a cruise to the Southern Caribbean with a group of friends! I'm so excited I can't stand myself!

We got together last night and started planning our excursions......it sounds like I may be in a glass bottom boat off the coast of Aruba in about two weeks, then onto some whale watching in the Dominica..(if I get my way) and Marty is a die-hard para-sailer! His vote is to do that again. The last time we tried that, we went tandum, and he was flailing around 260 feet up in the air and somehow spun me completly around until I was face to face with him! That's a little scary! The dudes on the boat even had a small freak-out session because they couldn't bring us back in until I had turned around! Kind of hard to do when your swinging 260 feet in the air, and your partner is doing all kinds of funky things with his feet, and your kind of freaked out because all you can see is your partner, and you know they are going to "dip" you in the water, because your husband asked them to!

But don't fret! I got turned around in time to see they were "dipping" me into a school of fish! Of all places! Two bad things about that deal. #1. I hate dirty water. #2. I hate fish worse than dirty water...and lets make that three things....#3. the dipping was clear up to my chin! So much for a dip!

We are on the count down until Josh arrives! 39 day! I can't wait! :) Busy, busy.....but I love it!

Happy 2010!

That's going to be weird writing 2010 for the first 6 months!

Marty and I had a fun evening playing games, and EATING with friends from Mona last night. I must not be as old as I feel.....I made it to midnight....and then some!

Jace and Lyndsey had the house to themselves.....sort of. There were approximately 17 teenagers that converged on our house last night for a little New Years Eve get together of their own.

The dudes are still downstairs sleeping....and it's 11:30 a.m.! I still haven't been down there to witness the aftermath. Probably best if I don't!

We got Josh's flight plans this morning. He will be arriving in Salt Lake City on the evening of March 4th after spending over 11 hours in the air! I don't know why the airlines complicate things so, but he has to fly to JFK in New York before heading for his beloved state of Utah. No wonder plane tickets costs so much!

Anyways.....wish me luck when I finally get to go downstairs! And wish Jace luck as well! I'm sure there will be an afternoon of cleaning on his agenda!

Happy 2010! I hope it's a great one! :)

Christmas 2009!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas.....well, we're still celebrating around here. Lyndsey got the barrel racing saddle that she has been wanting for a while. We actually surprised her somehow! She didn't have a clue! Although, she did go Black Friday shopping with Marty and I this year, and Jace milked out all kinds of information from her. We shopped exclusively for him that day!

Jace was less than thrilled with his Christmas presents this year. Marty insisted on getting him TOOLS! He didn't want, or ask for tools. During his routine "shaking of all the presents" that he does everyday until Christmas, he found out he was getting tools.....not just a few tools, but A LOT of them. Needless to say, we had a hard time dragging his butt out of bed this morning. He was less than excited.

We did however get him a gun safe, (that he knew about, but couldn't find....it was 15 feet from his bedroom for over a month!) and a nightstand that he needed. He will be giving the "borrowed" nightstand back. Jace robbed Josh's room immediately after we dropped him off at the MTC to serve a 2 year, full time mission.

Marty gave me some gorgeous Montana Silversmith jewlery, shoes and money......the kids gave us a camera to take on our cruise. I'm glad I got it for Christmas......It's gonna take 6 weeks to learn how to use it!

I'm awaiting 6:00 pm. I get to hear that sweet voice I haven't heard since Mother's Day. We get to call Guyana, and talk to Josh tonight! Then, finally, my Christmas will be complete. I can't hardly stand myself! I've caught myself crying on and off all day waiting for this phone call. It will be his last from the Mission field......unless.....President Gamiette calls and tells us to come and get him immediately............he's went AWOL. Doubt that will happen with two months and six days left! ;) Happy Holidays!!!

Old farts....

Tonight Marty and I are getting a glimpse of what it's going to be like when we get to be old farts, with no kids prowling around the house. Jace is at the high school basketball game...go Juab....Lyndsey is babysitting, and Marty and I are sitting on opposite couches looking at each other.

I suppose we'll have to find a hobby to keep us busy later in life....or else, we could have another baby! NOT! That's not going to happen! Should I take up knitting? boondoggle? chinese checkers? snipe hunting? Any ideas?

12 more days!

As I was sitting here messing around on the computer today, I happened to look at the date on the calendar, December 13, 2009! Only 12 more days until I get to make that twice a year phone call to my missionary who has recently been transferred to Guyana.

I need to be more on top of my game this time. We had put $200 on a phone card for our Mother's Day phone call..... and, well, as International calls would have it, we kept getting disconnected! After getting disconnected the first time I dialed the number direct, without going thru the calling card number. That sweet phone call costed us a whopping $491.90 cents! That wasn't one of my smarter moves! (Mind you we had already spent $200 for the card!) Maybe on Christmas I will let Marty do the dialing! What price we won't pay to hear the voice of someone so far away!

Release date: March 4, 2010!!!!!! Two months, two weeks and 4 days!!!!!!-----and YES....I AM COUNTING!

Bah Humbug!

Okay, so it's the 6th of December.....where's my Christmas spirit?

I finally got my Christmas decorating done, and thanks to Jace and Lyndsey for all the help! I haven't felt like dragging out all the crap knowing that in another month I have to try to smash it all back into the closet under the stairs, and slam the door before it all falls back out. What's happening to me? I've lost the "Peace on Earth Goodwill toward Men" feeling. Yesterday as we were shopping at Costco I felt like running people over with my shopping cart! I was on a "mission" and I wanted to get in and get out....but there were a ton of Holiday Shoppers strolling the isles of the store acting like they had all day to find that perfect gift....and then I come up behind them and want to run them over because I had to shift gears! Holy Hannah! I must be related to Ebenezer Scrooge! Maybe he's my dad!

Hopefully I will get into the spirit of the season, slow down, and enjoy the Holidays. Could this have something to do with my family not being able to be all together yet again? Next year at this time I will have all three kids here with me even if I have to drive to the other side of the country, hog tie them, throw them in the trunk and hold them hostage! We will all be celebrating together!

I got my last email from Trinidad this evening. Josh will be moving to Guyana this week to finish out his mission......or to die, as they say. I'm excited to hear from him on Christmas! Less than 3 months left! Whoo Hoo! Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday!.....yah right.

Thanksgiving 2009

Wow! We have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. My family is healthy, and for the most part we're happy. My missionary is doing great and is due home in about 3 months.

A Senior couple from Arizona is providing some of the missionaries with the traditional Thanksgiving dinner! I'm so appreciative to those who are looking after my son for me. I hope all the missionaries and service men and women have a great Thanksgiving, even though they are far from their loved ones.

My brother-in-law had surgery yesterday, and he seems to be doing amazingly well. Thankful for that! He is a go-getter, and you just can't keep him down!

I hope everyone has a fun and safe weekend. I don't know that I can endure "Black Friday". I value my sleep, so we'll have to see!