I YI YI YI - Happy Birthday Lem

Mel had a birthday and we went to find a GOOD authentic Mexican food place.  Our waiter had asked for Mel's name so when we were through eating our not too impressive meal, Mel was presented with festive fried ice cream and got to wear a sombero while they sang Happy Birthday to him.  They sang in English so that we could understand, but they sang to "Lem." Little mix up in translation.  Still looking for a restaurant with great salsa and some flavor.

My mom and dad let me go to Salt Lake with them one of the days that they visited earlier this month. Look, I'm almost as tall as my dad now.  It was very important to Dad to get in front of a beautiful flower bed.  Please don't notice the garbage dumpster and liquid fertilizer cart in the background.  My folks and I have the same talent for not being able to take pictures. The end on that subject. 

I think they are so cute anyway, and the nicest folks around.

 Mel and Chris have an annual vacation or staycation at about this time every year.  It usually involves planning an amazing motorcycle vacation that has turned into a build a porch project instead a couple of times.  Well, this morning they took off for the BMW rally in Colorado.  Maybe Beth and I will have to build the porch this year.  "Have fun boys and don't do anything I wouldn't do!" ~quote Jane

Blue

Wonder why her middle name is Blue?

DeRay! Could ya just come over here?

This is getting out of hand and I need you to broaden your horizons. Can you help me out? Please!

Fun Time Had By All - Most of the Time

Memorable Memorial Day weekend for us, to say the least.  We loved having our little buddies visit.  It turned out to be kinda cold, but Reese especially liked the trains at the Treehouse Museum and would have stayed all day right there had he been making the decisions. 

  Nate enjoyed varied exhibits, and may consider being a bull rider.

 We chanced going to the Alpine Slide in Park City the first day of the season. Nice that it was cool so that not many were there for compitition on the rides.  Jason, Sara, Mel and Oakley rode the ski lift up, then came down the slide with no mishaps.

 Reese and Nate did the kiddie rides. Reese did NOT appreciate flying his own plane.

 but Nate loved it.  Needless to say, Nate used the rest of the kiddie ride tickets by himself.

 The boys loved Crown Burger.  If you eat there for very many meals you obviously have GREAT potential.

 Saturday we attended the air show.  I should have stayed home with the little boys so that everyone could have enjoyed the spectacular airplane stunts, but you can never tell who's going to like it.

 Apparently, Nate would rather be the pilot. He hated the air show and cried the whole time.  He pulled his cap over his head and wouldn't let anyone pull it up.  The crying wasn't muffled in the least by the hat.  It started raining before we got back to the truck and they had to pause the show events, so it was just as well that we had a head start.

So the boys were happy as soon as they got home on the porch, even though it was poring rain.

 Sunday we visited Uncle Wayne and Aunt Delana after church.  The boys liked baby Mary, but especially liked Seth and the amazing toys he has even more.  Monday we took a walk around the neighborhood before hitting Salt Lake City.  The Church History Museum has an interactive area at the back that was a hit.

 In front of the temple picture

 So glad they came picture

Because it was Memorial Day, the boys stopped at every flag along the street and Oakley led them in the pledge of Alligence.  Thank you Miss Janet, for teaching him. 

So, a fun time was had by all, most of the time.  Let the summer begin!

Mama

My mama is the best! Last Sunday in our Sunday School class, each class member told about someone who had sacrificed for them.  Since we are the teachers, there wasn't time for us to share and I probably would have bawled anyway.  Over and over I have thought about how many times my mom has sacrificed for me.  Who can count the ways or the times a mother sacrifices for her children?  Mama continues to show a true example of Christlike love and concern for everyone.  She is always making a meal, or doing something for someone else.

 For many of the years that I've been married, she didn't say anything about equal time as we spent every Sunday evening at the Jones' grandma's.  She just made the most of every time that we were together.  By doing so she has set an example of how to be a better mother and mother-in-law, by allowing family to celebrate occasions without the drama of equal time expectations.  She moved far away from her mom when she was first married and spent many holidays with her in-laws, always providing the meal and the party.  She has carried me on her back in the rain, down the muddy canal road when I was in 1st grade.

She has sacrificed in more ways than I can say, she's cried with me, patted me to sleep, and been a perfect example of charity.  I love every second that I get to be with her.  My sisters are so much like her as they go about doing good to all.  They already have it figured out. I hope someday to be half as good as her and them. I am truly blessed!

Mysteries

I have loved Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy Mystery books for a long time, but we've had a couple of mysteries lately that I could use some help with. 
Mystery # 1: The deadbolt on one of our doors wouldn't lock.  We haven't used this door so it hasn't been a big deal, but I had a huge surprise when I found the culprit. AAAAHHHHHHH!!! This huge spider has built some kind of baricade AAAAHHHHHH!!!! I just am completely freaked out by it.  Usually I'm okay with spiders, but yikes, I'm terrified.  Mystery # 1 is no longer  'why won't the deadbolt lock?' but who is going to clean this out for me? Give me a scorpion any day!

 Mystery #2: Even though I delete all of the pictures from the memory card every time I download, Dennis Brandon is the first picture on each and every file.  I like Dennis, don't get me wrong, but why is he haunting my computer?   Can anyone help me figure out this mystery? 
                                    
Just so that I can stop obsessing about the mysteries, the apple blossoms are beautifully fragrant, just so you know.  Can somebody help me with Mystery # 1?  I don't even care about Mystery # 2, which someone probably knows more about.  Thanks!

Carbo Load Week

Our friends, Ray and Arlene invited us to their grandson's party.  It was a full on party with all the good stuff, including a jumper and all the Thomas the Train stuff you can imagine.  Delicious hotdogs!  I got to hold Steve and Rachel's cute baby and it was a fun time.  Who knew there were more than one Glendale in AZ, CA, and UT? Apparently Utah has two, one in Southern Utah and one right in Salt Lake City. Hunh?!

 Today, Mel finished the Frontrunner metric century ride in flying colors.  Even though we carbo loaded on spagetti and bread last night, quite frankly, I was worried about him being able to complete the ride.  It was from Salt Lake to Ogden, for Pete's sake! 

 He did a spectacular job.  Here he is at the finish just after receiving his medal. Woo Hoo!

Before I mail it

I made a quilt for some people I don't know who are having a 50th wedding anniversary.  I'm mailing it off today and just thought you might want to see it before I send it.  It cost me $103. to make using coupons and stuff I already had and it took me 57 hours, as close as I can calculate.  I hope it keeps them warm and happy for another 50 years, because it is made with love.  I sure wish someone would help me learn how to quilt without making holes in my thumb.

April's Winners

So glad March Mustache month is gone so that Mel can look more like a winner. 

 Sophia at the farm...before she got new chicks Sparkle, Twinkle, and Flower.  Want to know what to get Beth?  A baby piglet.  She thinks they are adorable.  They actually were reeeeeally cute.

 Spices in alphabetical order...what I should have entered in the HFF.

 Enjoying AZ afternoon at a winning ball game.

 Winner's birthday breakfast

 Winning hostess

 Red eye award winner

 maybe because Jake wore her sunglasses upside down, then threw them in the gutter.

 Bike race winner, along with Nicole also doing a spectacular winning job.

 Winning speller

 Huber Family Fair performers...not sure what was going on in the staging area, but it must have been great.

 Hugs and shout outs for winners!

 Park for winners.  We loved every second in AZ.  Wish it could a.....never mind.
                                    
 Our winning yard when we got home from AZ---what a fun surprize.