Kody's Dessert at Garcia's

I found the picture of the dessert!!!

Kody's 6th Birthday

On the 3rd of March I headed up to Utah for Kody's 6th birthday. Here are a few of the pictures from that trip. Well, just Kody's pictures, I'll save the others for later.
One of the first things we had to do was get Kody's hair cut. Darcy said I couldn't take any pictures of him until he got his hair cut. I didn't see anything wrong with it but then that's why I'm not his mom!!

He seemed to enjoy every minute of it. He was watching her and talking away. He made sure she put gel in it when she was done. "It is better that way!"

Darcy, Kody and I headed out to the Children's Museum in downtown Salt Lake City. http://www.discoverygateway.org/


They have lots of fun things for the kids to play with and on.

Kody loved the horse.


And the helicopter. Which was outside on the roof. It looks sunny there but I'll tell you it was Not!! I was cold the whole trip!!

After the museum we headed across the street to the Imax theater http://www.clarkplanetarium.org/
to see Under The Sea 3D. That was fun!! The fish looked they were right beside you. Don't they look cute in their 3D glasses??

"Birthday Cake" making. Kody wanted Brownies again this year. He loves Brownies!! As you can see they are Gluten Free Brownies so everyone could eat them. They are pretty good too!!

Kody's new obsession is Monkey Bars. Here he is at his school showing us how well he can do them. We were on our way up to have his birthday dinner.

And here is the Family at the birthday dinner. The gave him a dessert but of course he couldn't eat it. It was fun anyway!! Think he ate the ice cream off it. I thought I had a picture of the dessert (large!) but can't find it so guess not.

When we got back to the house he was thinking about having his brownies and walked right by his new bike, twice!! He had one thing on his mind and everything else be "darned"! Here he is after he finally figured out what we wanted him to see!! He was a happy camper then! Still wanted the Brownies though!

Here he is opening his new video game. See the happy face??

Opening up his underwear...... where did the happy face go???????

Oh, there it is!!! Brownies and wishes!!!

The next day he had his kids birthday party at a Jump Zone play room. Here is the best picture I could get of all the kids together. It was like taking pictures of bees buzzing around! They never stayed still!!

One of the presents he got from Grandpa and I was a trip to Southern California. More on that in the next blog!!

A Poem: The Loon

Does your day every feel like this?????

The Loon
by James Tate

A loon woke me this morning. It was like waking up
in another world. I had no idea what was expected of me.
I waited for instructions. Someone called and asked me
if I wanted a free trip to Florida. I said, "Sure. Can
I go today?" A man in a uniform picked me up in a limousine,
and the next thing I know I'm being chased by an alligator
across a parking lot. A crowd gathers and cheers me on.
Of course, none of this really happened. I'm still sleeping.
I don't want to go to work. I want to know what the loon is
saying. It sounds like ecstasy tinged with unfathomable
terror. One thing is certain: at least they are not speaking of
tax shelters. The phone rings. It's my boss.
She says,"Where are you?" I say, "I don't know. I don't recognize
my surroundings. I think I've been kidnapped. If they make
demands of you, don't give in. That's my professional advice."
Just then, the loon let out a tremendous looping,
soaring, swirling, quadruple whoop. "My god, are you alright?" my
boss said. "In case we do not meet again, I want you to know
that I've always loved you, Agnes," I said. "What?" she said.
"What are you saying?" "Good-bye, my darling. Try to remember
me
as your ever loyal servant," I said. "Did you say you loved
me?" she said. I said, "Yes," and hung up. I tried
to go back to sleep, but the idea of being kidnapped had me
quite worked up. I looked in the mirror for signs of torture.
Every time the loon cried, I screamed and contorted my face
in agony. They were going to cut off my head and place it on
a stake. I overheard them talking. They seemed like very
reasonable men, even, one might say, likeable.

I Bet They Wish This Was An April Fool's Joke!!

April 1st in Salt Lake City Area!!!

Beardsley's 3rd Birthday

It is hard to believe we have had Mr. B for almost 3 years now. When we got him he was only 4 months old and here he is now a 'big boy' of 3 years old!! We have gone through a lot with him, lots of walks, lots of food, lots of worry, lots and lots of love. He is bigger and a different color (lots lighter) than when we got him but still the same mellow, momma loving dog.

Isn't he a handsome boy?

Here he in his normal spot when I am on the computer or gone from the house. Sitting at the front window looking out at all the cars and people walking by. When I leave the house he sits there watching and waiting for me to come home. As I write this I am in Utah and I'm sure he is sitting there right now wondering if I am ever coming home!! Paul said he is very, very unhappy this time. He really misses me and I must say I miss him too!!

After a hard day at work, guarding the house and chasing squirrels what is better than a nap with Papa? Nothing, that is what!!

There was about 4 months after he hurt his back in September that I didn't take him over to the dog park. He was on restricted movement for awhile and then I was just plain worried that something would happen. I finally decided I would just have to chance it and see what happened. That first day back I think he was the happiest dog in the world!! We have been going at least 4 days a week for a month now and he will never get tired of it. He is better natured at home, not so weird when he gets to go out and mix with the other dogs and run, run, run. I didn't say he wasn't weird anymore, just not so weird. After all he is a dog!! He loves everything about it, the dogs, the smells and.......

All the new places to "mark"


Here is with his long haircut. Okay, here he is when I don't get around to taking him to the groomers!!

" Hi Papa, don't I look sad?

I have my teddy bear and you are sitting on the couch but I can't jump up there so could you please pick me up?"

Two of my favorite men!!! I love you both!

Happy Birthday, Mr. B

Lazy Dog Video

In honor of his birthday here is a video I took the other night of the lazy dog. Isn't he just the cutest little dog?

"Momma, could you turn that off? I'm trying to sleep! I've only had 5 naps today, okay maybe 6 but not nearly enough!!"

Jake's First Birthday!

Jake has turned one year old already!!! How fast this year has gone. On February 16th, one day before his "real" birthday we had his birthday party at our home. It was a festive, fun party full of BBQ, and cake and ice cream. We had a full house with his three sets of grandparents, his Aunt Janet, Uncle Jim and friends.

Jake using Daddy as a pull up station. He is getting real good at getting around now. Wasn't quite walking but crawling everywhere and getting into lots of great stuff. Ah, what a fun life!!

Yup, you build them up and I will knock them down!! Fun times. (Mr. B in the back staying safely on the couch!! He likes to watch Jake but isn't too sure about him!!)

No blog about Jake would be complete with out a food picture!! Here he is just waiting for more! Isn't he just so cute you could eat him up??



Lisa found a cake company in Newbury Park on the Internet. What did we do before Google? The cake was great looking and I heard great tasting.


What party is complete without Balloons?


Guinness checking out the seating arrangements before the party. Was he wondering were the most food would be dropped?

The beautiful punch bowl. Lisa thought of everything.

Steve and Lisa ordered the food from one of their favorite local restaurants, Bandits. There was quite a spread of BBQ and salads.

Jake holding court over the dinner.

Jake "walking" over to mommy.

Chelsea with baby Zane. He slept most of the party. So little, so cute.

Oh boy, presents! Opening Jim's present. He didn't get very far with the opening part of it but he loved all the attention he was getting.

"I don't know what is going on but I have one my personal servants doing the work. That is who those two people that live with me are aren't they?"

"What do you think mom? Is it me?"

"Oh yes, Life Is Good!!"

Blocks to build with and to eat.

The cake and candles.

Make a wish and blow them out.

Our wish to you Jake is years and years of happiness and love.

Cake all gone!! Where is more?

The weather was Rain, Rain, Rain. It must have rained more that day then any other day this year. The birds were everywhere, filling all the feeders. That is until the Cooper's Hawk flew through in the late afternoon looking for lunch. After that we didn't see a bird for a long time.

All in all it was a magical day. Good food, good company and a wonderful reason to get together!!

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Happy Birthday, Jake

and

Many, Many more!! We love you!!

Happy Birthday to one of my Favorite Story Tellers

It's the birthday of Theodor Geisel, (books by this author) better known as Dr. Seuss, born in Springfield, Massachusetts (1904).

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(More on special birthdays coming soon!!!!!)

February - Poem

February

The cold grows colder, even as the days
grow longer, February's mercury vapor light
buffing but not defrosting the bone-white
ground, crusty and treacherous underfoot.
This is the time of year that's apt to put
a hammerlock on a healthy appetite,
old anxieties back into the night,
insomnia and nightmares into play;
when things in need of doing go undone
and things that can't be undone come to call,
muttering recriminations at the door,
and buried ambitions rise up through the floor
and pin your wriggling shoulders to the wall;
and hope's a reptile waiting for the sun.

by Bill Christophersen

A Belated Chinese New Year Wish

Happy Year of the Ox

A couple of pictures of Jake to make your year Bright!!!

Isn't he just the cutiest???? Check out the ear! He makes me smile.

Happy Groundhog Day

Happy Birthday, Steve. My little Groundhog!!!

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I'm glad you didn't wait another six weeks to come out!!

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On Gobbler's Knob this glorious Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2009
Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of all Prognosticators

Said:

"A bright sky above me
Showed my shadow beside me.
So 6 more weeks of winter it will be"

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There was a tradition in many European countries of watching animals — especially badgers — to see how they acted on this day. If they returned to their dens, it meant that there was still a long winter ahead.
German immigrants in Pennsylvania found that there weren't a lot of badgers in America, but there were a lot of groundhogs, so the holiday evolved into Groundhog Day. The first reference to Groundhog Day is from 1841, in the diary of a storekeeper in Morgantown, Pennsylvania. He wrote: "Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks' nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate."

Happy Groundhog Day

(Click to read)

Praise Song for the Day - The Inagural Poem

Praise song for the day

Each day we go about our business, walking past each other,

catching each others' eyes or not,

about to speak or speaking.

All about us is noise. All about us is noise and bramble, thorn and din,

each one of our ancestors on our tongues.

Someone is stitching up a hem, darning a hole in a uniform,

patching a tire, repairing the things in need of repair.
Someone is trying to make music somewhere with a pair of wooden spoons

on an oil drum with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice.
A woman and her son wait for the bus.
A farmer considers the changing sky;

a teacher says, "Take out your pencils. Begin."
We encounter each other in words, words spiny or smooth,

whispered or declaimed; words to consider, reconsider.

We cross dirt roads and highways that mark

the will of someone and then others who said,

"I need to see what's on the other side;

I know there's something better down the road."
We need to find a place where we are safe;

we walk into that which we cannot yet see.
Say it plain, that many have died for this day.

Sing the names of the dead who brought us here,

who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce,

built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of.

Praise song for struggle; praise song for the day.

Praise song for every hand-lettered sign; The figuring it out at kitchen tables.
Some live by "Love thy neighbor as thy self."
Others by first do no harm, or take no more than you need.

What if the mightiest word is love, love beyond marital, filial, national.

Love that casts a widening pool of light. Love with no need to preempt grievance.

In today's sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made, any sentence begun.
On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp -- praise song for walking forward in that light.

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by Elizabeth Alexander

Read at the Inauguration on January 20, 2009

Mike & Debbie's Babies

I thought I would share a picture I just received from Debbie & Mike of their "little babies"!! Debbie wrote "Finally something to keep up with Mike when he runs."

Guinness & Riley - 8 Months Old

Rhodesian Ridgeback

The Rhodesian Ridgeback, sometimes referred to as the African Lion Hound, is a native of South Africa bred by the Boer farmers to fill their specific need for a serviceable hunting dog in the wilds.

The Ridgeback represents a strong, muscular and active dog, symmetrical and balanced in outline. A mature Ridgeback is a handsome, upstanding and athletic dog, capable of great endurance with a fair (good) amount of speed.

Of even, dignified temperament, the Ridgeback is devoted and affectionate to his master, reserved with strangers.

The peculiarity of this breed is the ridge on the back.

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Nice looking Babies!!!

Xmas 2008

Christmas has come and gone so guess it is time to get some pictures up!! If I don't do it soon it will be time for Xmas 2009's pictures!! I hope everyone had a great holiday season, I know we did.

Even if all three of my kids couldn't be with us (two out of three isn't bad though) I had the memories of all three with me!! From left to right: Jim, Darcy & Steve. Aren't they just the cutest little kids ever???

The kitchen was all done for Xmas. That was the biggest gift ever! Here is a picture of the hutch in the dining room.

Xmas dinner. Poor kids, it was their 4th big dinner in a week!! I think all four of them were burned out on Turkey and "stuff"!
Steve & Lisa in the front.


Grandpa, Tammy, Jim and Lisa

Lisa, Jake & Steve
One person that didn't seem to be "tired" of eating was Jake!! He couldn't get it in fast enough!!
He is eating a lot of "big people" food now.

"Mattie, stop taking pictures so I can get back to eating!!"

Grandpa getting his new heart monitor watch to wear on his walks.

Tammy & Jim

Jake & Steve reading some of Jake's new books.

Hi Daddy!! I love you!!

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Wishing everyone the Best Year Ever!! Happy 2009!!