Spring Has Sprung (Maybe)

Went to the Valley for Easter. It was fun to spend time down there in the nice weather. Helped Jenna paint Gunnar's room and get him moved into it. He is excited to get a "ladder" bed (bunk) but Jenna doesn't want him to have one. I say he gets one just because.

Bailey and Gunnar are two funny little toots. They are constantly on the go and Bailey is quite quirky. Quite the dresser too, and she does it all by herself. Black and Orange flowered skirt, purple and pink flowered leggings, a pink t shirt, yellow cinderella high heels, and a pink bling purse. Weston had to take her into the bank in that outfit and I think he might have been a little embarrased. While Jenna and I were sorting piles of baby clothes in her room, she puts on a pink bomber style winter hat and a pink pair of mittens and adds to the outfit along with some necklaces or whatever. You NEVER know what she will wear. She said "mo mo sadie do you want to see my owie?" and I said "yes". Off comes the underwear then the flowered skirt and I'm looking at Weston and said "she's making me a little nervous, where is that owie?" we watch in amazement as she sits on the kitchen floor and shows me the scratch on her KNEE. Weston said, "she stripped for that?"

Quite the talker, too...as we were coming out of Lowe's on Monday morning with paint, Jenna is telling Bailey something and Bailey says very matter of factly "yeah right" - I just about busted a gut. WHERE did she hear that?

Gunnar is quite competitive (we didn't realize that) and on Easter morning while they are doing their first Easter egg hunt and starting to realize that it is kind of fun you can see him wanting to get more than Bailey. They hunt for eggs three or four times and the last time we go into the living room and I'm sitting on the little couch watching everybody. No one is paying attention (he thinks) and while they are all looking at something else, Gunnar reaches in Bailey's basket and takes an egg. The look on his face was unforgetable and I just started cracking up. Jenna and Weston literally thought I was cracking up and then I quietly told them what just happened. If I hadn't seen it, no one would have ever known, it was so sly, so smooth and so sneaky and he did it with a smile!

I'm loving watching these kids grow up. The new baby (girl) will be here in August and we are excited. Trentin and Kamryn had Easter in Eagar and I was sad they didn't get to go to the Valley but they can't always go when I go :o( Kamryn got the pink jump rope she was asking for so she thought the Easter bunny is an alright guy.

There are so many things to be doing (house work, painting, yard work, scrapping) that I feel somewhat overwhelmed and end up doing nothing.

We spent Saturday evening at Laurie's with she and Lauren while the guys went to Priesthood meeting. On Sunday we went over for Easter dinner. Neal and Laurie are so good to Jenna and I love them for that. She is truly blessed to be a part of their family.

We taped Conference since it's really hard to concentrate on the talks when you have toddlers running around so I'll be glad to watch it in the evenings. Gunnar is getting to where he will talk more on the phone but he doesn't hold a candle toKamryn...she will talk your leg OFF. Sorry to anyone that calls my house and she answers.

Mostly meanderings about the weekend, there were just a couple of cute, priceless moments that I will cherish just because I was there when they happened. My family is my life and I hope they know that.

I Think She Broke My Freakin' Nose...

Well last month Kamryn gave me a black eye. The night before last she was sleeping with me, plopped her head backwards and hit my nose dead on. Before I can sit up blood is GUSHING from both nostrils. I can't breathe and I hit the bathroom on a dead run. Blood is running everywhere, I get the water on in the sink and after a few minutes I finally get the bleeding to slow then stop. I look in the mirror and I have a cut on the outside of my nose (bridge) and I swear I thought my nose looked crooked. I still can't breathe out the right nostril and Kamryn is nowhere to be found. I think when I yelled SHIT< SHIT...she hid out. It hurt like a son-of-a gun and yes, I was pretty vocal about the hurt. I clean up all of the blood and start a load of towels and bath rugs and find Kamryn hiding in the floor of my room. We crawl into bed and she is careful to stay away from me and falls asleep. Before I fall asleep, I think, "how am I gonna explain another black eye from the same kid?" Hopefully it won't turn black but who knows. Kamryn tells her mother this morning, "you're gonna be so happy... I didn't hurt your mother last night". Ok...Elder abuse is alive and well here in my house. Hopefully not in yours.

Damned wind is blowing and I am just about half cranky - others are in full swing. I'm holding back some till tomorrow when the snow flies AGAIN. Typical Round Valley Spring. Sunshine, wind, snow, calm and that's just in fifteen minutes!

Here Comes Peter Cotton Tail

I can't believe that next weekend will be Easter. Where is the time going? My life has been so crazy since January. I'm hardly ever home and I miss being home. I'm more comfortable being a "barista" because the drinks don't freak me out quite so much. At first I wasn't sure I had what it took to work at Starbucks.

The kids are all busy with their lives. Loriel is in school in Tucson, Adam works in California. Weston and Jenna are raising their little family in Gilbert and he works so hard to provide for his family. I am so proud of him. Tad is living and working in Morenci - the mine is getting ready to crank up the 1st of April. He was home last weekend to get his mine stuff, his fishing gear and his golf clubs. I guess he's prepared for anything.

Troy got a job with MM Sundt in St. Johns and they are back in their house. He too, works hard to provide for his family and I am proud of him.

I love being a grandma and love to see and hear what the kids are up to. They absolutely melt my heart. Being "grandma", "momo sadie" or "mamaw" is the thrill of my life.

I have the day off and I should be accomplishing stuff but the *#&$( wind is blowing (you know the Round Valley springs) and I just want to sit in my chair and watch a good movie and you know what? That's just what I might do!

Black Eye

Well the other day Kamryn wanted me to lay down by her and watch a movie. She got up for something then when she laid back down she just plopped her head back and hit me on the brow bone...OUCH! I saw white lights and got a huge knot. In a few days the knot went down and left this colorful reminder of our little bump. I'm sure a few people have wondered what happened, but none have asked.

I'm doing the Census making Job #4. I work part-time at Starbucks, Census, helping with the newspaper for the Jamboree and Elections. I should really be rolling in the dough LOL, but alas I think all I'm doing is getting too pooped to pop.

Bailey had her 2nd birthday in January during the big storm so I didn't venture out. Maggie and I took the kids and went down for Gunnar's birthday in February. The kids had a ball playing together. The weather was perfect and they played outside from morning till dark.

I am getting a new car soon, so I will be making the trip again and I can hardly wait. Miss those babies.

Other than being tired, I really don't have a clue what is happening around town - hope all is well. Love Mo Mo Sadie

Birthday Season Begins

Officially birthday season begins on January 2nd with MY birthday. Then we move on to the 17th for Weston, the 22nd for Bailey and fast forward into February with Tad's on the 4th and Gunnar's on the 11th. Moving right along - Trentin has a birthday on March 8th, Loriel on March 14th, my dad on March 19th and then we take a little break until May for Kamryn on the 26th and Grandma Mary on the 28th.

We take June off - Ed has a birthday on July 25th, Jenna's new baby will have an August birthday, September 18th is Maggie's birthday; Grandma Doris is October 16th - Don is November 1, Troy is December 3 and Jenna is December 9.

Scattered in there is Valentine's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day and anniversaries. Basically there is something going on every month of the year. Some months are like "oh crap..."
But I do have to say I have it easier than Velda...all of her's are March, April and May, except for Cord who showed up in August.

Getting excited about going to the Valley this weekend to have a combined birthday party for Bailey and Gunnar. Her birthday was during the big storm and I was working so I didn't get to go to the Valley. I'm excited that Maggie and the kids will be going too - Gunnar and Kamryn really love each other and they will be fun to watch.

Hope this week is good for all.

And They're Back!

Maggie called last week and said that Troy might be laid off as the job was starting to wind down. Last hired, he would be one of the first to be let go. If he made it through the lay off that week he definitely would be let go on the 9th of February. On Thursday Maggie called with the news that Troy was laid off and could work through Saturday and then they would head home. As sad as I was for them to be laid off, I was so excited to know they would be home soon. Sunday at 5:45 p.m. they walked through the door and I was so excited to see them. Kamryn was first through the door and the rest is history. Trentin changed the most in the three months they were gone - he has gotten a little taller, seems more like a toddler and less like a baby. He will be 2 in March.

We had an early birthday party for Tad (his birthday will be Thursday and he will be in Morenci) so that was fun. He grilled steak and shrimp while we made baked potatoes, broccoli (my kids have always loved broccoli) and a salad. I went all out and let Safeway do the cake :o(

Tad, his boss Brian and his mine boss, Gary left this morning to go back to Morenci. I've watched over the years and he makes good friends.

Troy is looking for work, hope he finds something soon and that they can stay home. Maggie is cleaning up their house so that they can move back in and I am playing grandma today with Kamryn and Trentin. Our agenda includes (in no particular order) bath, shower, making cookies, making punch, tea party, naps, lunch, snacks, hugs and kisses and naps and resting and...I'm looking forward to the day.

Changes

Well on the 6th of January I applied on-line to work part-time at Starbucks in Safeway; on the 8th of January I tested with the Census to be a Census worker. On the 11th I interviewed at Starbucks; the 13th I went in for training and the rest is history. I am now a "barista" at Starbucks (20 hours a week) and so intimidated I can't stand it. Doesn't anyone just drink coffee? What the heck is a Caramel Machiato? What's a Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte? These and other questions just about did me in. I really wasn't sure I would be able to learn but alas, it is coming slowly but surely. I didn't just wake up one morning and say "I'm bored...I guess I'll look for work". I got notice from the State of Arizona that because I turned 55 on the 2nd of January and my combined years of service with the School District, they were transitioning me from disability to retirement. I'm thinking why? Made a phone call and got the rest of the story...no pay check until March while they get their system updated (or whatever) so I HAD to find work and in this economy it's a crap shoot. I have pursued every avenue available to me - I even thought I might end up as the roller skating car hop at Sonic :o( I'm also thinking I could go to work for the State Retirement System - I KNOW I could figure out a way to speed things up down there - after all I am NOT new to the system and WHAT does it take to switch from disability to retirement - come on, I've been with you guys for 30 years now - I'm not a new comer.

Some mornings I am up at 4 and to work at 5 to sell coffee - other days I am mid-day and still others I am 12:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. LONG hours on my feet, no breaks, no food and once-in-awhile samples of drinks so that when I get home I am one tired poopsy.

Tad went to Morenci for an interview on the 19th and I called him and told him to not come home...I had a combined total of 13 inches of snow at my house last week and then it snowed again this week. I like the snow, I know we need the moisture, but...

Troy was laid off yesterday and will work through Saturday and then they are on their way home. I'm sorry the lay off came so soon but the selfish part of me is so excited that they are coming home that I can't stand it.

The neighbor dogs are outside the fence driving Sadie and Allie nuts and I'm about ready to load the shotgun with rock salt and let Sparky and Jackass (not their real names) have something to yip about. Then I'm gonna knock the poop out of Sadie and Allie for barking and carrying on with them.

Did I tell you that Jenna is expecting? August 17 and we are so excited. She wants a girl to be close to Bailey and Weston wants a boy. Doesn't matter - it's gonna have to live with me because I can tell you know that Bailey WILL NOT LIKE IT! Weston took Gunnar Javalina hunting and left Bailey at home and she was mad ALL DAY long and let him know about it when he got home.

Oh...Weston had a birthday on the 17th and Bailey turned 2 on the 22nd. I didn't get to go to the Valley for her birthday. I hope to go in February so maybe we can celebrate both Bailey and Gunnar's birtdays. He turns 4 on the 11th of February. I can't believe how fast they grow up. Trentin will be 2 in March and Kamryn will be 4 in May...yikes!

Anything else? Gosh...this month has flown and so much going on but we are doing well. Tad got a new truck (used and no payments) and is looking forward to his move to Morenci. Life moves forward - life is good. Hope all of you are well.