Jim 'n Janene's Place

The Great Painting Adventure

2011-10-03T15:11:00.000-07:00

Jacob invited us to New York to help him paint his apartment. We surprised him by taking him up on his offer! Getting there was quite an experience. Our plane sat on the tarmac in Chicago for over half an hour before we were able to disembark. We raced to make our connection which ended up being delayed. The New York LaGuardia airport was closed as a result of a severe thunderstorm! The bad news: We had to wait for four hours before getting seated on a plane. The good news: We were among the few from our flight that got out that day. The remaining passengers didn't depart until the next morning!

We arrived at our lodgings only to discover that there was no one there to let us in. It was dark and we were in Harlem...a little unsettling. Remembering that we were supposed to get an email with late arrival instructions, Jim pulled out his laptop and accessed the information. We had to use the light from the laptop to locate the lock box and input the access code. Thankfully, we found the key and got in! However our room was locked. After a few more harrowing moments, Jim was able to get in touch with the manager and discover that we were trying to get into the wrong room. We located the correct room and soon welcomed Jacob and the meal he had picked up for us. What a welcome sight!

After a leisurely morning the next day, we met Jacob for brunch at a French restaurant near his work. The mashed potatoes were heavenly! Jacob took us on a tour of a few of his favorite shops. This "Jetson" chair in a unique, upscale home furnishings store caught my eye. I sat in it before realizing that it matched my top! We also found the perfect couch for Jacob's apartment in the same store. Unfortunately the $10,000 price tag put it a bit out of the budget.

We visited the small, friendly ceramics studio where Jacob spends most of his free time creating beautiful works of art.

A frozen yogurt sundae was a most welcome treat before we headed to Jacob's apartment to assess the painting project.

After a trip to Home Depot for supplies and a fantastic dinner at a nearby Italian restaurant (the key lime pie was amazing!), we got to work.

By 10:00 pm the following day, we had painted the whole apartment! Words can't express the incredible joy we felt as we completed that project. We felt Jacob's love and appreciation for our help through his constant expressions of gratitude. At the same time, our love and appreciation for Jacob and his many wonderful qualities was strengthened. What a blessed experience!
Jacob, you are a kind, hard working and fantastically creative son. Thanks for the best New York trip ever!

Fantastic Friday

2011-08-10T05:14:00.000-07:00

Friday, August 5, found me at a kid's fun center with Elly, Nathan, Matthew, Maggie, Becca and some friends to celebrate Maggie's sixth birthday. Most of the celebration took place at the small, kid-friendly water park on the premises.

Nathan immediately tried out the big slides. He loved them! He tried talking Matthew into joining him but Matthew fearfully refused. They played together on the shark slide for a while but Nathan soon made his way back to the big slide for the big thrills.

The smaller whale slide was just right for Becca, Maggie and friends.

Becca joined the dance competition in her swim vest. She could not be persuaded to take it off! Eventually, Maggie was rocking away, too.

After much cajoling, Matthew finally got brave enough to try the big slide. One run and he was hooked! Soon Maggie and her friends were hitching rides with Nathan to careen down the slide as well.

Becca was perfectly happy to flit back and forth between kiddie pool and whale slide.

Party time! Who could resist the smiley-face-with-sunglasses cake (made by Elly)....

...or the shark's teeth, ice cream and lemonade or root beer provided by the fun center.

After the party and as part of the entertainment, we watched Maggie catch handfuls of real money in the wind tube and then "fish" for a prize. She caught a colorful light rod.

The planned two hour party turned into a four hour one, The kids were having too much fun. What a wonderful birthday party for Maggie! I'm so glad I got to help out.

I left the party at the originally scheduled departing time so that Jim and I could make the drive to Morgan to join some of my family for dinner and the rodeo.

We enjoyed having the chance to spend time with family! The rodeo was an interesting cultural experience. It was especially fun watching the kids chase after the bunnies and ride the frisky sheep.

What a super fantastic Friday!

The End of July Found Us In Adventure Mode

2011-08-04T19:33:00.000-07:00

Last Friday night we were in the mood for a date night adventure. We considered going on a bicycle ride but decided hiking to Doughnut Falls would be the perfect activity for a hot summer day. As we drove up Big Cottonwood Canyon, we were struck by the beauty of the towering cliffs and the lush green vegetation. The well-traveled trail to the falls meandered through meadows covered with wild flowers, quaking aspen groves....

...and evergreen forests alongside a turbulent stream.

Because of the excess amounts of water cascading down Doughnut Falls, getting close was almost impossible. Jim bravely clambered over some rocks, soaking his feet in the process, to get a better view and a photo or two.

After several attempts, we finally got some pretty good photos of ourselves.

Meadows filled with yellow wild flowers caught our eye as we drove from the trailhead parking lot. What beauty and serenity!

We continued the drive up the canyon to the ski resort Solitude, hoping to find a place to have dinner. The first restaurant we encountered was packed. Even the appetizers at the second were out of our budget. We explored Solitude for a few minutes, in spite of our rumbling tummies, and found ourselves enchanted by the place. It's already on Jim's list of favorite places to ski! We ended up stopping at our favorite Mexican restaurant for dinner as we made our way home.

Early the next morning, we loaded our bicycles in the truck and drove to the Jordan River Parkway for a bicycle ride along the river trail. We rode for about eleven miles along a paved trail through cow pastures, natural areas and developed parks. The sights and smells brought back memories of my childhood and the farm, located in an area a few miles north, where I spent about nine years of my youth. It was a fantastic ride!

What We Loved About Watchman Campground In Zion Park--Spring Vacation Continued

2011-05-24T17:19:00.000-07:00

Our campsites with the electrical hookups and stunning views.

Bicycling on the beautiful Pa'rus Trail at 7 am. The scenery was spectacular!

The evening ranger programs were fascinating! We learned about mountain lions the first night and natural arches the next.

The tent caterpillars which were everywhere. Actually, it was the kids who liked these little critters. In fact, they made a huge collection of them on the last evening as we were eating dinner.

What We Discovered in Scenic Kolob Canyon--Day 2 of Our Spring Vacation

2011-05-23T15:23:00.001-07:00

1. There were magnificent breathtaking views around every bend!

2. Granddaughter, Becca, is a great traveling companion--as long as she has plenty of snacks and exercise to calm her tummy when it's hurting. Naps don't hurt either.

3. Hiking with Becca is an unforgettable experience. She'll entertain you with stories about everything she sees. I got to hear the one about the round pine cones that got turned into Easter eggs.

4. The snowstorm we encountered at the end of our hike, although certainly uncomfortable, only added to the scenic drama.

Unforgettable!

Our Spring Vacation Got Off to a Great Start at Minersville Lake Park

2011-05-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, our daughter, Elly, and her husband, Brian, invited us to join them on their spring break trip to Zion National Park. We excitedly accepted. On May 9, Elly, Brian and family in their Cruise America RV and me and Jim in our trusty camper (both RVs filled to the brim) departed on our grand adventure. We spent the first night at Minersville Lake Park where I learned the following:

1. For being in the middle of a desert, the park was surprisingly beautiful. I'm not sure what it looks like in summer but with all the recent moisture it was a veritable wonderland . We awoke to a mostly overcast sky but the morning was thankfully mostly devoid of rain and warmer than we had expected.

2. Rumor has it that the showers were the best ever. Mine was not at all wonderful which just goes to show that not all showers in the park are created equal and you'd better test out the shower first before you commit or you might be sorry.

3. It really was, in the immortal words of Grandpa George, "a lot of fun herding kids like these around."

4. "Look, the fitheth are thwimming" spoken by three year old Becca as she pointed to the sky (and repeated three times because I couldn't understand what she was saying) translated means, "Look, the fishes are swimming!" (And no, silly grandma, they aren't swimming in the sky but on the sign ahead of us.)

What a great way to start a vacation!

Celebrating Mother's Day

2011-05-16T19:37:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, May 7, my sister, Margy, and I took Mom to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point. Thankfully, it was a beautiful sunny day. The flowers were spectacular!

The Secret Garden was one of our favorites.

We also loved the brilliant Italian and butterfly-shaped gardens.

The next day, Mother's Day, my Jim, Elly's Brian, and Sariah's Brett cooked a delicious dinner for us girls (and the kids) while we relaxed and visited. It was the best Mother's Day present of all!

At Long Last....

2011-05-07T06:31:00.001-07:00

...spring has arrived! After a long cold winter, we've enjoyed watching spring come alive in our new backyard.

The apple trees are blossoming! Jim spread a deep layer of mulch in the orchard to keep out the weeds. What a dedicated gardener.

Our little chicks are growing by leaps and bounds.

Thanks to Jim's hard work (along with a few assistants), we have a wood pile to beat all others.

I'm just hoping spring lasts for more than just a week!

What's So Great About Florida?

2011-05-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

1. Sunshine and warm temperatures! This is particularly welcome at the end of April when it has been no warmer than 50 degrees in your hometown with occasional snowstorms.

2. Our really cute grandsons, Owen (3) and Miles (7 mos.) who kept me well entertained during my visit last week.

Miles figured out how to crawl during my visit.

There was a birthday party with farms animals!

Owen refused to float on his back at swim lessons. Every time the teacher would let go to let him float, he would flip over on his tummy.:)

3. My daughter, Tori, and her husband Ryan. Tori fed me delicious meals, took me on some fun adventures and made me feel right at home. Ryan, a dentist, checked out my teeth!

4. Really cool playgrounds. The red one is my favorite!

5. You can rent chicks for two weeks at Easter! Owen loved the ones his mom brought home.

6. There's soccer for three year old kids. Owen's buddy, Logan, was in the class. They were quite the pair and often got so carried away with entertaining each other that they forgot to listen to instructions.

7. There are pools everywhere! Owen loved practicing his swimming with his dad and mom in their neighborhood pool.

That sunshine felt great!

8. We can't forget the beach. Miles loved that sand so much he ate it!

9. The beautiful Leu Gardens in Orlando. On our tour, we discovered....

...a plant with leaves as big as Owen,

a butterfly garden, a rose garden with a horseshoe shaped fountain which was perfect for cooling tired feet,

a brightly colored flower garden,

fantastic views of Lake Rowena and downtown Orlando,

a turtle discovered by Owen in some murky water, and a tropical stream.

10. My cousin Becky and her family live near my daughter's family. I enjoyed visiting with them and taking the boys to their son's first birthday party.

11. Small world experiences even happen there! I met a couple at my cousin's house whose son is
on the London study abroad program with Cami. He also served a mission in Boise!

I love my Florida visits and the last one was no exception.

Monday on the Western Shore

2011-04-16T08:16:00.000-07:00

Day two, Monday, in Kauai was spent in exploring the comparatively arid western shore. It was a beautiful sunny day! We drove past fields of coffee plants along the Coffee Highway and stopped at the Hanapepe Valley Lookout. Amazingly this beautiful serene place was the location of the bloodiest battle known to have taken place on Kauai.

We drove through Hanapepe which once had the reputation of being Kauai's wildest town after being settled by opium smoking Chinese rice farmers in the mid 1800s. Our exploration took us to the mouth of the Waimea River and the spot where Captain Cook set foot on Hawaii in January 1778.

In the distance we could just make out the private island of Ni'ihau.

After much searching, we finally found the overgrown remains of a Russian fort built in 1816....

...before making our way to the impressive Menehune Ditch, a smooth, lined irrigation ditch built by the original "native Hawaiians" around 300 AD.

The stones which came from a quarry more than six miles away were cut to fit smoothly together.

We crossed the Waimea Swinging Bridge....

...lingering to view the Wiamea River. The river is full of sediment that dyes the water red.

These children weren't too happy to see us trying to photograph their warm up exercises prior to their river play. They were such cute kids we couldn't resist snapping a picture.

We took the steep Waimea Canyon Drive from Waimea, a 4,000-foot elevation rise to the summit.

The views were incredible!

Waimea Canyon

Waipo'o Falls

Our pet dragon.:)

Disappointingly, dense clouds blocked the views at Kalalau and Pu'u Kils Lookouts. The latter was supposedly one of the greatest views in the Pacific. I guess we'll have to go back.:)

We traveled back down the mountain and headed to the beaches of Polihale State Park. The muddy, potholed road we followed for the last four miles was not particularly pleasant but we made it!

What we could see of the fifteen miles of uninterrupted beach was spectacular--from the 100 foot high dunes to the magnificent Na Pali cliffs. The Hawaiians believed that the cliffs at the end of Polihale Beach were the jumping off point for spirits leaving this world.

The surf was wild.

On the way back to the B&B, we stopped at Jo-Jo's shack in Waimea for shave ice. It was deliciously refreshing!

By the time we got cleaned up it was late and we were hungry! We ordered takeout at No. 1 Chinese Food in Kaleheo. The Chinese woman who took our order didn't speak English very clearly. We understood her to say that macaroni salad and rice came with each entree. Macaroni salad with Chinese food? We turned down the macaroni salad but she insisted on replacing it with extra rice. We tried to explain that we didn't want extra rice either but to no avail. When we opened the boxes of food at the B&B, we discovered enough rice for nine of us! The food tasted great, however.

Sunday in Kauai

2011-04-09T18:54:00.000-07:00

Our second day on Kauai was fantastic! As we were leaving the B&B to attend church, I noticed the giant plant growing up the tree by our front door and had to take a picture. Where we come from, those are much smaller house plants!

Stake conference held in the Lihue Convention Center was a spiritually uplifting experience. I'm so glad we were able to attend. After lunch in our little kitchen, we headed to Koloa to explore! We discovered the remnants of an old sugar mill built over 170 years ago.

We saw some interesting vegetation including a huge banyan tree,

some sugarcane....

...and a monkey-pod tree with long meandering branches.

Original plantation buildings have been renovated and are now quaint shops and a history museum in Old Koloa Town. Some of the oldest buildings in Hawaii are located here.

We drove south to find the Makahu'ena Arch. Watching the ocean waves crash through the lava arch and rage against the lava cliffs was awe inspiring!

We also discovered a not-very-impressive light beacon,

interesting greenery growing among the rocks, a pathway along the tops of the cliffs which we followed to....

... a tiny cove filled with giant sea turtles.

On our walk back along the path we were surprised to see some prickly cactus among the beautiful flowers . Apparently, it was imported in the 1800s because it made a great natural cattle fence.

The secret path to and from the lava arch.

Next stop was the Spouting Horn, a popular tourist attraction.

In our quest for dinner, we discovered an orchid garden.

The first restaurant we found was much too nice (and expensive) for our hot and sweaty selves. We ended up eating at Brick Oven Pizza in Kalaheo near our B&B. The food was good but not as great as the previous night.

Goodby Winter. Aloha!

2011-03-18T16:14:00.000-07:00

We didn't mind the snowstorm that hit us on March 8 because three days later....

...we were flying to Kauai, Hawaii! It was a long journey. We left our house at about 5:30 am after waking up to the news that a tsunami had just hit Japan and didn't cross the threshold of our little Hawaiian bungalow until about 22 hours later! It all began with mechanical problems which delayed our departing flight by almost three hours which caused us to miss our connection in San Francisco (and two first class upgrades) to Kauai . Luckily, we were able to immediately board a plane headed to Honolulu (with only one upgrade). Sweet Jim let me fly in first class which was a little bit of heaven on that crazy day. We waited in the Honolulu airport for about six hours before finally flying out to Kauai, a result of the closure of Hawaiian airports that morning due to the tsunami warnings. In spite of the delays, we were grateful to arrive safely and learn that the tsunami impact on Hawaii and the mainland was minimal.

We discovered paradise in the Honolulu airport--a peaceful garden--where we were able to relax and soak up the warmth while waiting for our flight to Kauai. Jim surprised me with the beautiful lei!

We arrived in Kauai at 9 pm and took a taxi to pick up our rental car. We found the address on a dark street. No lights lit the small lot crowded with cars. As we got closer, we discovered a couple of young men waiting for our arrival. A deeply tanned older man with tattoos and ponytail arrived, turned on the light in the dirty, dilapidated shop and conducted the business of getting us our car. Our budget economy car was definitely a treasure complete with dents and oxidized paint. I climbed into the passenger side and discovered my door handle was hanging by a wire! The back doors didn't have any handles at all but the car started right up.

Here's our gem of a car!

Our wonderful little garden retreat presented no such surprises. The basket full of tropical fruits and local foods was a welcome treat. We also loved the tropical bird/rooster chorus that serenaded us each morning as we prepared for the day.

This was our view, with the ocean in the distance, from our "garden room" which was located on the bottom level of the bed and breakfast pictured on the right.

First Day Highlights: We returned to the rental car agency to see if we could get an upgrade but were given the new-door-handle-in-fifteen-minutes treatment before being sent on our way. We dropped in Walmart to buy a few supplies. Then stopped at Lihue Park to get our bearings and make a plan for the rest of the days activities. There we discovered lots of chickens (they are everywhere in Kauai). and a Japanese memorial.

We stepped into the Kauai museum and browsed the gift shop but didn't feel like paying the $10 entrance fee to see the rest of the displays.

Lunch at Dukes on the Kalapaki Beach was fabulous! We had fish tacos and a fresh green salad topped off by a delicious tropical fruit sorbet. We noticed lots of "p" words in the Hawaiian language that we thought our 9 year old grandson would enjoy--even on the menu!

The view of the beach and bay from the restaurant was incredible!

A curious rooster begged for food as we watched the paddle boarders in the bay.

We noticed that our car was just a little out of place in the Marriott parking lot.

Revived by lunch, we drove to Wailua Falls. With it's 173 foot height,
it is taller than Niagara Falls!

The falls and surrounding views were breathtaking.

We got a little lost in our search for Ho'opi'i Falls, our next stop. When we stopped to get directions, a local boy volunteered to escort us. Thanks to his help,
we found the trail head and followed the mostly muddy trail to the falls.

The falls was not as spectacular as expected....

...but the river and surrounding forest were beautiful!

A brief stop at a farmer's market was unproductive. The tantilizing smell of BBQ chicken reminded us that it was time for a snack. Not hungry enough for a meal, we drove to the nearest restaurant offering shave ice, a favorite island treat. We each got one and, although they did quench our thirst, were disappointed to discover that these particular ices were more like giant snow cones and not impressive. However, slurping them on the Waipouli Beach made them unforgettable. After a quick stop for groceries, we headed back to the bed and breakfast to freshen up.

We drove to Koloa, the first sugar plantation town in all the islands, for dinner. Our dinner of vegetarian pizza and fresh garden salad couldn't be beat. The town was so charming with its old style buildings strung with lights that we planned to return the next day to explore it some more.

A Day at the Museum

2011-03-07T16:30:00.001-08:00

What do you do when it's cold outside (not unusual for February), the kids have been off-track for a week and a half and you're all going stir crazy? You pack everyone up and head to the Children's Museum. Thank goodness for that two-for-the-price-of-one coupon! We originally planned to stay for about three hours but there was so much to experience....

...a giant pin ball maze, a cool growth chart,

a weird machine that took your money,

a circular xylophone,

crazy blocks for building the biggest towers ever,

adjustable magnetic tubes for making amazing chutes, unusual drawing tools,

an alphabet puzzle that couldn't be beat,

a grocery store with food AND a cash register,

an indoor stream with waterfalls and fantastic water toys,

a pretend gas station, kid-sized houses with all the comforts of home,

mini cars that were perfect for delivering "mail" to all the mail boxes,

a construction zone with blocks and a crane, a real life helicopter and so much more....

...that we stayed all day! And what a great day it was!

Spendover

2011-03-03T18:28:00.000-08:00

Elly and Brian left their kids in our care for a couple of days while they escaped to California. Brett was out-of-town and so Sariah joined us too. We had a wild time! We played games, drew pictures, read stories, watched movies and built forts. The boys went on a bicycle ride with Grandpa. We had a great time...at least until bedtime rolled around. Getting the kids settled down was nearly impossible (Becca was the worst)! The popcorn and strawberry with Cool Whip snack distracted us from getting to bed the first night. By the time we finished our snack, brushed teeth, had tuck-ins, etc. everyone finally got settled down about midnight.

The second night wasn't much better. I laid in bed with Becca for about an hour tickling her back, arms and legs. She talked and sang, wiggled and giggled, everything but go to sleep! I'm afraid we delivered a bunch of cranky kids to their other Grandma for the final two days.

Things I Have Learned From My Grandchildren Already This Year

2011-02-21T12:00:00.000-08:00

1. Grandma's old sweatshirt works just fine to keep little girls warm when Mom
forgets to leave a coat.

2. The old playhouse in Grandma's backyard is perfect for making sand pies for dinner.

3. From two year old Becca after whining because Grandma just can't do the arm rub right, "You have to go adagio." For those of you who aren't familiar with Italian or music, adagio means slowly. Thank you, "Little Einsteins". Maybe next time I'll have better luck getting Becca to sleep!
4. It's time to stop the car when Becca keeps gagging on a french fry that she has chewed up, decided she doesn't like and refuses to swallow, even though Maggie's kindergarten class is about to start without her.
5. Becca does not like french fries even though she insists that she does.

6. Kids like to play outdoors even in winter!

7. It's okay to skate on the ice rink without skates.

8. Libraries are great places to play (and so is the mall but playing on the merry-go-round, the little cars and the train costs a lot more money).

9. An empty room with a few accessories can provide entertainment for hours!

10. Even a 55 year old train can be highly entertaining....or a Lego one.

12. Five year old Maggie is a very creative speller (harbrgrr is hamburger) and artist.

Her quickly drawn valentine (not pictured) and presented to me melted my heart.

Other little tidbits:

Maggie's favorite movie is "Follow Me Boys" because of the song. She especially likes all the boys marching along and singing it.

Becca seems to think that she will be "starting preschool in 30 minutes" which will be interesting as she hasn't (at 2) even been signed up for it yet.

Becca loves her "glov-ez"!

Strollers do not go down escalators. They get caught at the bottom and knock those following on their behinds. Don't ask me how I know.:(

Birthday Saturday

2011-02-07T06:12:00.000-08:00

Our birthday date with Matthew at the bowling alley last Saturday got the day off to a great start--in spite of Matthew's concerns about spending a morning with Grandma and Grandpa ALONE. Matthew's curve balls were amazing. Thank goodness for bumpers!

Grandpa ended up winning both games which wasn't much of a surprise.

The surprise came with each of Grandma's three strikes!

Matthew was ecstatic to learn that he could play his "favorite" arcade game, Laser Dodge, after our bowling session ended. When he seemed hesitant to actually play, we discovered that Matthew had never really played the game. He had only watched others play it. After struggling to maneuver his body through the maze of light rays without touching any of them, I think Matthew dropped the game from his list of favorites.

We concluded our morning outing at Arctic Circle where we gobbled up some lunch. Those thick creamy milkshakes were delicious!

We celebrated Elly's birthday at our house Saturday evening with a dinner of chicken noodle soup, Grandma Bev's homemade bread, green salad and fruit....

...with a little chocolate mint cake and homemade vanilla ice cream on the side. Elly, with the help of all of her children, blew out the 28 candles that decorated the cake.
I think that means her wish comes true (unless she was wishing that she was only 28)!

Grandpa Gary's bean bag toss game and Cami's marriage book for kids provided great entertainment.
We were thankful for another opportunity to visit and interact with family!

Grandma Dates

2011-01-23T13:35:00.000-08:00

Thursday mornings have become activity time with Grandma. Whatever grandchildren happen to be available get to embark on a grand adventure with me. So far, because Nathan and Matthew have had to go to school, the adventures have been exclusively with Maggie and Becca. I must admit that the activities have been much more adventurous than expected!

The first week, the plan was to take in story time at the library. By the time, we got kids bundled in coats, mittens and boots and buckled safely into car seats, we were running late. A couple of wrong turns set us even further behind. We finally arrived at the library, sure that we had missed out on story time, only to discover that it was the wrong library! Not the end of the world. There was plenty to keep us busy for the next hour especially since both girls ran in opposite directions! We never did find that butterfly book that Becca was looking for but we found plenty of other interesting books. I think Becca could have spent the whole day looking at "I Spy" books. The newts in the water tank were intriguing. Maggie found a pile of Pokeman and Bakugan books to check out. Her brothers were surely impressed! A reminder that it was lunch time and, yes, we could have lunch at Grandma's (even though I was sure we'd be late getting Maggie to kindergarten if we did) got the girls out the door. Lunch was great fun but just as I feared, we were late getting Maggie to school. Becca stayed behind with Grandpa which was a good thing because when we got to school, Maggie decided she needed an escort to class. I parked the car (not realizing that it was the furthest from her classroom that we could get) and took her to class where she suddenly realized she had forgotten her backpack. Clinging to me, Maggie refused to go to class without it. Her kind substitute teacher, a neighbor, let her go home with me to get it. Maggie did finally get to school about a half hour late! By the time Elly came by to pick up Becca, I was exhausted!

The next week, I planned to take the girls to a puppet show at my library. This time I was running late. Thankfully, we arrived just barely on time and enjoyed a wonderful program. It was exciting to actually see a couple of familiar faces of women from my ward and have the chance to interact with them. Other than the fact that Maggie wanted to sit on my lap making it difficult for me to get up to remind Becca (who was "sitting" in front) to sit down, the show went off without a hitch. We enjoyed a visit from a monster and a cat that turned out to be a "stinky poo" skunk, a story about the boy who cried "wolf" and a song about monkeys in a tree being eaten by a crocodile. After the program came to an end, the girls took off in opposite directions, again, to see what they could find in the library. We didn't find the butterfly book, or a Little Einstein book, or even a Pokeman or Bakugan book. Maggie did find a pile of movies and a CD to check out. Becca found another stack of "I Spy" books. Shortly after sitting down to read our stack of books, Maggie noticed that the room where we had had the puppet show was empty. The large empty space with the colorful carpet was so enticing. The perfect place to run around! Off she went with Becca close behind. My caution to be quiet fell on deaf ears as they chased each other around the room. Soon Becca started dancing as she sang to herself. Her movements were amazingly graceful as she flitted about the room in her new twinkly-toed boots. I couldn't bring myself to stop her. I was thoroughly enjoying the show. A few other children had noticed the fun and were engaged in the chase to catch Maggie. I could tell that things were getting a little out of hand especially when the librarian came to close the door. Time for lunch at Grandmas! We made a quick get-away, checking out our library materials as we headed for the door.

Making face lunches and smoothies was lots of fun. Some of the food even got eaten! We left my house early so we could get Maggie to school in time to watch the movie in the classroom while waiting for classmates to arrive. Again, Maggie wanted an escort to her classroom. We left Becca protesting in her car seat planning to quickly deliver Maggie to her classroom and get back to the car before Becca could get too upset. NO ONE WAS IN THE CLASSROOM! I stopped someone in the hall who had no idea where the class had disappeared to. She told me to check at the office. The office informed me that on nice days the kids could be found in the kindergarten play area outside. First of all, I was surprised that it was considered a nice day. In spite of the fact that the sun was shining, it was about 35 degrees with several inches of snow on the ground. Secondly, I should have asked where the play area was located rather than relying on Maggie to show the way. As we were leaving the office, we encountered Maggie's brother, Matthew, who had a headache and was calling mom to come pick him up. I offered to give him a ride home after delivering Maggie. Maggie and I ran off to find the playground which we finally did find after picking up a very sad Becca along the way. Maggie happily joined her classmates in play while I returned to the office to wait for Matthew. So much for a quick delivery!

The life of a Grandma! But I am learning. I now know the layout and workings of the elementary school (at least as far as kindergarten is concerned). I have been reminded that with each child in tow it takes at least ten times longer to do things; that 15 minutes in the library is plenty of time to get things done before the wiggles set in; and that spending every date in the library is probably not a good idea. I've also learned that hanging out with the grand kids, no matter how trying, is filled with joyful moments!

Our First Family Christmas Bash

2010-12-28T19:37:00.000-08:00

About a month after moving into our new home, we hosted our first ever Christmas Bash for Extended Family. Trying to get ready for it was STRESSFUL with all the unpacking, house organizing, Christmas decorating, cleaning, cooking, and bar chair assembling (Jim and whoever else he could grab started assembling bar chairs about an hour before the event) but it was totally worth all the effort. We enjoyed a fabulous potluck buffet of soup, bread, and salad topped off by homemade cupcakes and Elly's famous ice cream. I'm thankful Jim worked so hard to get those bar chairs assembled as they were all put to good use! We visited,

and opened crazy white elephant gifts.

Taylor got the best gift of all, a picture of Eldon and...a fox? Eldon opened a gift of sweet smelling soap.

Grandma loved the candles she got...and was very disappointed when someone took them away.:(

The kids' favorite gift was the M&M dispenser in spite of the fact that it was filled with stale M&Ms.

We played,

and laughed,

and visited some more!

What fantastic family fun! We're grateful that we get to live so close to family.

We Wish You A Merry Christmas!

2010-12-20T16:14:00.000-08:00

2010 has been a year filled with wonderful blessings for our family.

Jim and Janene had the opportunity to travel to New York, Florida and Utah several times to visit with family and spoil grandchildren. A new grandson and a new son-in-law were added to the family. The most amazing surprise of all, was our move to Utah to live closer to family!

Jim still works for the same high tech company, but with a new broader assignment. Janene is enjoying her roles as a devoted wife, doting grandmother, and dietetic consultant.

Our daughter, Elly, and her husband, Brian, had some amazing growing experiences this year. We are so happy for their family and for our chance to live closer to them.

Elly quit her part time job to do some freelance genealogy research, performed in a stake musical production and floated the Boise river for the first time.

Brian is still putting in a lot of hours as regional sales manager for a CO2 supply company. We appreciate his hard work and the fact that he spends as much time as possible with his family.

Nathan (11) composed his first piano piece and successfully guided his brother through the biggest corn maze ever!

Matthew (8) was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He won the Reflections contest for his photography entry which was inspired by the successful corn maze experience.

Maggie (5) started kindergarten and loves it! Once a very reserved child, she has blossomed to become every one's best friend in kindergarten.

Becca (2) always lights up the room when she flits in with her big happy grin!

Our daughter, Tori, and her husband, Ryan, bought a beautiful new home in Florida.

After a challenging pregnancy, Tori gave birth to Miles in September. She bounced right back after the delivery and was up and running in a week. She managed to pull together a successful birthday party with 30 guests after three weeks!

Ryan loves being a dentist, playing a little football and training for triathlons. We appreciate how much he enjoys spending time with his family.

Miles (3 mos.) has reached the smiley, cooing stage. We're excited to have him join the family. Our biggest complaint is that he and the rest of his family live so far away!

Owen (3) "doesn't like carrots and ice cream and stuff like that". He has recently started knocking on the neighbors doors asking for a Capri Sun to get his juice fix.

Our son, Jacob, just landed his dream job designing home accessories for this company. He moved into his first apartment which is located in a 19th century brownstone with a view of a lush couryard for a steal of a deal. Jacob continues to love his New York City life!

Sariah married James Brett and didn't even change her last name! They currently reside near BYU where they are attending school. Sariah will be graduating in April with a degree in Dietetics. Brett will finish his undergraduate work the following spring with plans to enter medical school. They love their life together!

Cami is thankful to be working fewer hours in the BYU bookstore so she can have more time for homework (in pursuit of her degree in English) and for Boone. We are thankful to be living near Cami and Sariah.

On top of all this, our minds and bodies are still working. As we age, this becomes more of a miracle :-). We love our new home. We miss our Idaho friends but have enjoyed meeting new Utah ones. We appreciate each and every moment spent with family. We're glad you're a part of our life! Thanks for all you do. We hope that 2011 brings you blessings untold!

Graham Cracker Houses

2010-12-18T19:46:00.000-08:00

One box of graham crackers plus several bags of candy plus icing glue equals GRAHAM CRACKER HOUSES! Add some very creative children to the mix and the result is some amazing creations.

Throw in some giant marshmallows and graham cracker houses get really crazy.

This family tradition that takes place just a few days before Christmas has continued in Elly's and Brian's house. I had the privilege of being invited to join in the action this year. It was lots of fun!
Elly and I marveled at how each graham cracker house reflected the personality of it's creator.

Snow for Thanksgiving

2010-11-30T19:34:00.000-08:00

It started snowing the night after we moved into our new home and continued sporadically until Thanksgiving Day, four days later. With all the snow on the ground, we were thankful the drive to Elly's house for our traditional Thanksgiving dinner was a short one. We now live only eight minutes away!

The grand kids proudly showed me the snow fort they had been working on.

Thanksgiving dinner was delicious....

...and so was the chocolate pie!

Jim actually ended up spending a good portion of the day on the road. He drove for an hour and a half to pick up Aunt Maurine so she could join us for dinner. She seemed to enjoy the meal and the company.

The ride to Gordon's house with our grand kids afterwards was more than she could take, however. She became so overwrought with all the commotion that it was evident that she needed to go home shortly after our arrival. Jim didn't get much of a chance to visit with his family. What a sweetheart!

The Move

2010-11-25T20:34:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the help of many friends and family members the overwhelming task of packing up all of our belongings, cleaning both houses and moving into our new home was accomplished. We couldn't have done it without all the help!

After the unexpected quick sale of our home in Idaho, we had about a month to find a new home and prepare to move. By the following weekend, we had bought a house. The task of packing our belongings was a big one, though. We had been in our Idaho home for over twelve years! Men, young and old alike, helped Jim pack and clean up the garage--an especially daunting task. Several women from the ward helped me pack. Others helped me clean as the last of our belongings were being loaded on the truck.

Ann and Patrick hosted a going away party--we loved spending that last night before our move with good friends--and then provided a place for us to rest our weary bones for the night.

It would be another week before we could move into our new home. Many family members shared their homes and meals during that time. Then they appeared on our doorstep anxious to help on the day we moved in. We put them to work and got so much accomplished!

We feel blessed to be associated with so many wonderful people! A million thanks!!!!!

Big Changes

2010-10-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

After following the counsel we received in stake conference a couple of months ago to discover what we could do to bless our family, we received an impression that we should move closer to family. After much discussion, we decided to put our house up for sale to see what would happen. We listed it on a Monday and got an offer the following Saturday! That was the week Jim was in Prague. I was to have joined him there but discovered at the last minute that my passport had expired. That actually turned out to be a blessing as I was home and able to get things going toward the sale of our home. I was also able to spend some time searching for a new house. We have since bought a house in an area much closer to family and will be moving into it in just three weeks! Although we're sad about leaving Idaho and our good friends here. We're getting excited about the new adventure ahead. Here are a few photos of our new home and the things we love best about it.

We're excited about the front porch swing and the big backyard,

the little playground and basketball court for the grandkids,

the three small but full bathrooms, the large laundry/project room,

the outdoor patio and deck,

lots and lots of storage,

the good-sized garden spot,

the fruit trees and outdoor fire pit,

the playhouse and horseshoe pit,

the garage with it's nicely finished floor and storage cabinets,

and especially the large kitchen/dining room/great room for big family gatherings.

Watch out family here we come!

Corn Maze and Chickens

2010-10-20T20:39:00.000-07:00

Watching four of our grandkids for almost an entire week in October was challenging but filled with fun. The biggest challenges involved getting the kids settled down for bed each night, trying to get them out the door and figuring out how to deal with the conflicts. Thankfully we had far more fun than challenges. The fun included two trips to the corn maze....

where we slid and bounced,

put on disguises,

rode the wild cows,

tried out the hay ride and "keep left (or was it right?)" maze,

got buried in the corn box,

and maneuvered our way through corn mazes. The boys even won prizes in the pig race!

More fun was had in our backyard as trees were climbed and decorated,

popsicles were consumed,

chickens became playmates,

and more!

I think we were all a little sad that this would be the last time we'd get to entertain the grandchildren in our Idaho home. We had just sold our home the week before! Consolation came from the fact that we'd be moving closer to these kids and other family members. Who knew what adventures lay around the corner!

Passport Expired!

2010-10-07T04:51:00.000-07:00

I'm supposed to be on the plane headed to Prague today to join my husband who has business meetings in that fair city. My discovery (yesterday) that my passport has expired changed all that. Now Jim will have to explore that amazing city without me while I sit home bottling tomatoes. I'm happy to sit home and bottle tomatoes and work on the million other projects I've placed on the back burner for so long. What I'm sad about is not getting to be with Jim on another grand adventure! I love adventuring with him.

We've Got a New Grandson!

2010-10-04T04:50:00.001-07:00

His name is Miles. He arrived on Thursday, September 23 weighing 9 lbs. 8 oz. and almost 22 inches tall! Tori, Ryan and Owen are excited to have him join their family. He is one incredibly cute baby!

I'm really glad that I got to travel to Florida the following Saturday to meet him. Big brother Owen was happy to have a new little brother but was in dire need of lots of attention.

Shortly after my arrival, Ryan's family paid us a visit. We were very thankful for the lunch they brought! I had been at church all morning and hadn't been able to prepare anything.

Sweet and hugable Miles!

I got to spend lots of time with Owen during my stay and loved every minute of it! His bag of plastic balls and giant parachute provided entertainment for one whole morning. Our favorite activity was to make "smoothies". We threw the balls which represented fruit into the center of the parachute. Owen would join them in the center. I would pull up the parachute around Owen and the balls and shake it back and forth to make our "smoothie". He also really liked the parachute "tent" and the picnic he had under it.

We played lots of games. We enjoyed story time and computer games at the library. I took him out to lunch and bought him his favorite chicken nugget kids meal. He drank the apple juice and took a couple of bites of waffle fries before heading to the playground. Luckily he was hungry enough to grab an occasional bite during playtime and actually ended up eating the whole meal!

Miles at five days old!

One rainy day we went to my cousin Becky's house (who amazingly happens to live in the same community). Her son Joseph and Owen (both two years old) had a great time playing with the toys while I enjoyed visiting with my cousin. Later that same day, stir-crazy Owen ran outside to play in the rain. Oh, how he loved it!

Some of the neighbor kids came out to join him.

Owen loves his little brother!

After a very hectic, stress-filled Thursday, Friday dawned bright and beautiful. Owen and I took the opportunity to play at the park on the "yellow" playground....

...and visit the zoo.
First stop was the pool where Owen turned into a fish! I soon discovered that
he is quite the swimmer.

After a quick picnic lunch by the pool, Owen led me to the "playground",

then to the water tank where he held the horseshoe crab for about one second. We traveled from there to the petting zoo which held an unusual collection of critters. There were armadillos, alpacas, giant lizards and goats. Owen bravely "petted" each one.

On our way to find the leapords we saw some black swans and stopped to feed the birds.

We never did get to the leapord cage. There were way too many distractions.

The photo booth was actually a rocket ship in Owen's mind. People would walk by, see some feet dangling beneath the strips and hear "5, 4, 3, 2, 1--Blastoff!"

He rode the train, I thought, for the first time (I found out later that he'd ridden it several times). I was a little disappointed in the sites we saw--some camels and a couple of ostriches--but Owen loved riding that train!

I spotted what looked like a convention of vultures in some treetops--a little unnerving.
Miles was in great form Friday evening.

It was hard to leave him and the rest of his family the next morning. I miss that sweet family. I'm really looking forward to seeing them all again in December!

Back on the Road Again for Matthew's Baptism and More

2010-09-25T19:07:00.000-07:00

A trip to Utah in September to watch Matthew play his first soccer game of the season (Maggie and Becca provided the half time entertainment)....

...and participate in his wonderful baptism brought tremendous joy.

During our short stay, Grandpa Jim was excited to have the opportunity to go kayaking with Brian and the boys....

...while Janene enjoyed some one-on-one time with Becca on the playground.

It was on a return trip a week later to attend meetings and watch beautiful, talented Elly participate in a stake play that a seed was planted. That seed was to bring huge change to our lives.

After a visit to Grandma Jacque in the care center, Jim made an innocent comment about feeling like maybe we should move to Utah.

More Fun Than You Could Shake a Stick At

2010-09-20T16:53:00.000-07:00

This was a favorite quote from Grandma W. that I thought would be appropriate to apply to our activities with the rest of the Catmull family when they joined Nathan and Matthew at our home last September. We had a blast!

The brave ones swam in the cool pool.

Maggie demonstrated her amazing roller skating abilities with her new skates.

The big kids went kayaking on the river....

...while the smaller ones kept Grandma company on the bank....

...and at the park.

Some of those who went kayaking had fun trying out the rope swing.

Little Becca kept us all entertained.

We loved watching her play with Grandpa's chickens....

...and share her bread with them.:)

Great times!

Almost Heaven!

2010-09-10T11:00:00.000-07:00

One of my best memories of last summer was the September visit of our grandsons, Nathan and Matthew. It was a grand adventure for them! They got to travel by airplane, without any adults, to spend a few days with us during their final summer break from school.

A bit of hot chocolate warmed them up after their arrival. It was a cool evening!
The next morning they jumped into the pool in spite of the fact that the water was about 70 degrees. They didn't seem to mind much. The sled and air bed we found for them to float on kept them mostly out of the water.

We explored Camel's Back park (after a quick picnic) one afternoon.

Nathan and Matthew hiked up the big steep hump....

...and saw some pretty amazing views.

They climbed a tree and played on the playground.

The boys helped Grandpa trap a raccoon. This little critter had killed and partially eaten one of our chickens a couple of weeks earlier. She growled at Matthew as he closed in for a better look. He was taken by surprise and exclaimed, "I didn't know that girls could growl".

We spent an afternoon at Sandy Point Beach.

The water was too cold for Grandma!

The boys didn't do much swimming.

We talked grandpa into taking us camping at Bruneau Dunes. The raccoon got to ride as far as the river and that's where we set him free.

He didn't waste any time getting out of that cage!

We found a great campsite for the camper in a nearly empty campground just as it was getting dark. Grandpa watched the boys built a roaring fire....

...and we roasted marshmallows. Even Matthew loved those Nutella s'mores.

While I fixed breakfast the next morning, Nathan and Matthew explored a nearby dune and discovered a curious critter--an insect?

Unfortunately, Grandpa had to return home but I remained at the park with the boys for the rest of the day. It was a great day filled with adventuring just right for boys with their grandma. Nathan and Matthew climbed and then rolled down the biggest dune in sight.

The heat drove us to the lake where they discovered some really gooey black mud.

They collected flat rocks and practiced skipping them on the water's surface.

We discovered an island!

I set up a chair in the shade to watch the pair but spent little time sitting in it. There were pictures to take!

We finally pulled ourselves away from the lake to explore the trails. We thought it would be fun to climb the giant dune (the tallest single-structured sand dune in North America rising to 470 feet high above the desert). We found the trail that led to it.

Some more interesting creatures crossed our path including a porcupine! Unfortunately, by the time I got my camera out of the bag, the porcupine had disappeared into the brush. I did get some shots of some insects.

We made our way to the base of the giant dune but decided as we struggled to climb it in the heat of the afternoon that we were not having a good time. It was too hot! We turned our attention to a new adventure which involved hiking in the lake around the perimeter to get back to the picnic area and our camper. We stayed cool on our journey but I don't even want to think about what we might have been walking on in our bare feet. The slimy places were a little disconcerting. By the time we reached our destination, the boys had developed a new respect for grandma.

I experienced so much joy in watching those two boys have such a great time during their stay. That, combined with the peace and beauty of our surroundings, left me feeling that I was experiencing just a little bit of heaven with each adventure.

Jim's August Adventures

2010-09-01T11:18:00.000-07:00

He kayaked a portion of the Snake River with "Little Brother", Jordan.

While on a business trip in Japan, he explored Odowara Castle on a hot muggy day. The castle was not air conditioned. However, the views were incredible.

The Final Wedding Celebration

2010-08-16T10:51:00.000-07:00

Brett's family threw a fabulous wedding celebration in their backyard. We enjoyed having the chance to get to know Brett's family a little better and meet many of their friends.

We were impressed with the decorations and the wonderful people!

Backyard Picnic Open House

2010-08-15T07:34:00.000-07:00

The picnic theme continued for the Idaho open house celebrating Sariah's and Brett's wedding. It was held in August in our backyard. It was a smashing success thanks to the efforts of many friends and family members. My sister, Margy, and daughters, Cami and Elly, helped with the amazing decorations.

Jim decorated the pool with floating flowers and worked in the yard for hours all summer to create a beautiful setting for the event.

Several wonderful friends spent lots of time in the kitchen keeping food on the table.

The weather couldn't have been better. We'd had evening storms a couple of days before and for several days afterwards. What a blessing! Brett and Sariah seemed pleased.

We enjoyed visiting with each and every one of the about fifty guests.

We parents couldn't be happier.

After the open house, we watched Sariah and Brett open their gifts.

Great gifts for a great couple after one exhausting but totally fulfilling day.

Camp EE-DA-HOW

2010-08-14T14:08:00.000-07:00

We returned home after the wedding festivities on Sunday. I left for Girls Camp the following Tues., July 27, to fulfill my calling as ward camp director. It proved to be a great way to unwind! I loved every minute of my stay with those young women and their leaders at Camp EE-DA-HOW. Our ward young women president, Becky, and I slept and hung out comfortably in the camper. We were responsible for the first year girls who were so well behaved! It was a week filled with activity.

Each level produced and then performed a skit from a bag of objects. Ours was pink.

We had a party on the lake. (I couldn't help but notice the beautiful wildflowers as I made my way to the lake.)

Some danced and some of the brave ones swam. It was a cool evening!

There were crafts.

We participated in a service activity for the camp.

I discovered more flowers in the process that needed to be photographed.

I was awestruck by the beauty of the place!

We ate some delicious meals prepared by our camp cook, Cathy, and friends.

We played,

wrote letters to servicemen,

learned about the gospel and loving one another,

survived a "grueling" obstacle course,

studied scriptures,

and played in the lake to our hearts content.

I will forever hold fond memories of Camp EE-DA- HOW!

After All the Wedding Festivities....

2010-08-12T08:21:00.000-07:00

...it felt great to be able to relax and enjoy family. The grandkids created an amazing tunnel.

Several family members went swimming at the community pool.

The gathering at Uncle Gordon's house was a great way to culminate the wedding festivities.

After attending church with cute little Becca and the rest of her family....

...we headed for home with hearts full of gratitude!

A Picnic On the Roof...

2010-08-11T06:45:00.000-07:00

...was the theme for Sariah's and Brett's wedding reception. It was held in Noah's rooftop reception room with its gorgeous views of the mountains. We actually served brown bag lunches...

...with popsicles and cupcakes for dessert!

We enjoyed every moment of the celebration.

We got a little nervous when the hot blue escape vehicle didn't show up at the end of the reception....

...but not very.

Just as the new couple exited to put into play Plan B (Dad Brian's car) a shiny vintage limo appeared....

...and whisked the happy couple off to their honeymoon.

We're still hoping for happily ever after!

Here Comes the Bride

2010-08-10T20:14:00.000-07:00

On the morning of July 23, 2010, Sariah and Brett were married for time and eternity in a beautiful ceremony in the Draper Temple. What a blessing to be able to experience that sacred event! My words can't adequately describe the feelings of joy.

After the ceremony, Brett's father, Brian, and I exited the temple together after helping the newlyweds prepare to greet the rest of the family. The families awaited their emergence in great anticipation.

What a beautiful couple...and so happy!

While pictures were being taken on the temple grounds, we found plenty to keep us occupied.

Keeping the kids under control was the greatest challenge....

...but they were the cutest (and most handsome) little wild things you could ever find.

Brett's sisters and mom were fabulous in every way.

Just in time, the newlywed's hot blue vintage escape vehicle arrived.

We're hoping for happily ever after.:)

The Day Before the Big Event

2010-08-09T19:52:00.000-07:00

The day before the wedding of Sariah to Brett, I spent the morning watching the grandchildren while their mothers were busy with other activities.

The smudge that can be seen in the following pictures came as a result of little ones trying to take pictures using my camera. I think Owen actually took the shot of Becca above.:) Thankfully, my camera did survive.

Our picnic on the back porch was lots of fun.

Brave grandma even pulled out the play dough!

Brett's family hosted a wonderful gathering for both families in the evening. We did a lot of visiting and enjoyed a delicious dinner. I especially enjoyed having the chance to meet Brett's family for the first time.

The siblings shared memories that portrayed Sariah's and Brett's individual personalities.

Some were touching. Others had us laughing.

The kids were especially excited about the tasty candy and popcorn centerpieces. It wasn't a surprise that they didn't eat much dinner.:)

We learned that Brett has a fear of spiders. Sariah was given a package of stretchy spiders to remind her of the fact. The kids got a hold of those spiders and they were flying around the room!

What a fabulous prelude to Brett's and Sariah's big day!