Coyote

We've all seen a cat jump up on a wall. Right? They face the wall and give a big jump and sort of scamper up to the top. Then they nonchalantly stroll along the top for whatever reason. Well yesterday we saw a variation on that.


We were at the Acoma Building (right across from Centennial High School) and we saw a coyote in the gravel area. He saw us walking to our car and turned to start walking away from us. He walked toward a fence. When we were still facing his direction and he was at the fence he jumped right on top of the fence. It looked effortless - his technique looked just a cat would do it. The fence was no baby fence either - it was at least 8 feet tall. Once on top of the fence it continued walking along. It glanced at us and we were still facing that direction and making progress toward our car. So it continued along the fence. Finally it just jumped into a yard on the other side of the fence. YIKES! I wouldn't want that in my yard.

Anyway it was an unusual sight to see. It was unusual to see a coyote so close to civilization. I mean we were right in a neighborhood. So anyway that is our "Jacques Cousteau" moment in the desert we know as Phoenix.

Loose Ends

Tying up some loose ends with a variety of topics.

Mom, don't ever get rid of your golf cart. You know it is the best entertainment you have - besides you. It is perfect for filling up your water jug, how could we maneuver through your community yard sale any other way, Billie loves to take rides - and well look at this group who enjoyed a ride at Christmas time. So don't be getting rid of it.

We have seen some very cold days this winter. Wouldn't you know it - the winter I'm trying to get a garden to grow. So it has taken a very long time to see some progress. These pictures document the plants, cold, and current growing phase. I might add that I do see a couple of pea pods trying to fill up with delicious peas. The spinach is trying to grow as well. The bad news is that we have to have our tomatoes planted by next month in order to get some fruit before they burn up in the summer heat. So what am I supposed to do? What a dilemma!

After Christmas we loaded up and drove to Utah and then Idaho. We had a particular person we had to deliver up to Rexburg for school. That was a productive trip for me. Look at the projects I finished during the trip - 6 burp cloths and 2 blanket/burp cloth sets. And yes I did take some turns driving.

We had saved some large boxes and Sadie and Lindsey did some marvelous things with them. They created a multi-room "house" to play in. They created connections and "halls" to connect them together. They also made a stand alone mailbox and Christmas tree as added features. They colored and ate and read in that house - we even had some battery lamps they took inside so they could see better. It was a real hit!

And several years ago now my mom noticed an Applebee's "sale"? They were remodeling and she stopped by and bought a stained glass hanging lamp. She knew I liked stained glass. I know we hadn't yet bought this house so I'm not sure where I thought I could put it but when she asked if I wanted it I said "You bet!" She stored it for me for a couple of years. Then I stored it for a couple of years. I'm sure she thought I forgot about it and would never use it. But we finally managed to get it installed here in our new house. It looks perfect! Thanks mom for the lamp. And thanks Doug for the install.

There are still some loose ends to tie up but they will have to wait for another day - another post.

Royal Flush

Had a healthy visitor early this morning - a scorpion. He got the "royal flush" treatment - if you know what I mean.

Yikes! It must be the start of scorpion season - if there is such a thing. I guess it's time to start watching for his friends and family. We just don't allow their kind inside the house.

And then . . .

Sometimes deciding on something for dinner is the hardest part of my day. I mean after being married for 29 bliss filled years (that's over 10,000 dinners) it just gets old. So that was in the back of my mind today. All day.

I had a busy day. I marked and hemstitched 1 baby blanket and 2 burpers this morning - before I played tennis. So now you know I also played tennis at 9 this morning. What am I going to make for dinner? After that I made 2 quick stops at grocery stores. I came home and ate lunch (left-overs from last night's dinner). But wht is for tonight's dinner? I also got a good news email. I found out that one of the teachers at GCC will let me attend her class so that I can make up the one I will be missing each week - because of my Tuesday morning tennis. Yes!! That made my day. But no great ideas for dinner.

Then a few things did not make my day. I found out yesterday that we have 2 RS sisters in the hospital. Hopefully one is out now but I haven't heard. No one answered when I called her house earlier. I had another passing thought about figuring out dinner. Then I went to the hospital to visit the other sister. On the way I stopped and bought a card and some Bert's Bees Lip Balm - I can't go empty handed. Anyway, she is in a wheelchair and has been feeling lowsy for several months. And when she got in the hospital on Sunday night her temperature was so low that it wouldn't register on any of the thermometers. It turns out it was about 86 degrees. That isn't good folks. Help! What's for dinner? So when I visited her today she said that - get this - the doctors don't know what is going on with her. That is comforting! Dinner. Dinner. Only 2 more hours. What's for dinner?! She has some sort of infection that they are treating but an infection usually causes a high fever. So who knows. I left and walked out to my car to head home. A good time for racking my brains for about an idea for dinner.

And then . . . . finish it folks.

And then . . . . I found ten dollars. And that is the truth!

I didn't have my camera (and didn't think about using my cell phone OR iPod touch DUH!). So I re-created the finding when I got home.

Why have I spent so much time blogging about finding ten dollars? Well first, "and then I found $5" is a well used saying in our family which gives a great ending to any joke, story, confession, scolding, etc. And second, it solved my dinner dilemma. We took the money and bought a bag full of tacos from Del Taco and we came home with more than five dollars change.

Chilly

The house is a little chilly this morning. It has been every morning for a couple of months. I just can't bring myself to turn the heater on when I know the heat will be horrendous pretty soon. So we just pile on the blankets and wear long sleeves - and ENJOY being chilly while we can.

Just so you know - the inside thermometer reads about 64 degrees.

And that, my friends, is chilly.

Family Pictures

I can't remember for sure - but I don't think our whole family has been together since Evan's wedding. So it was wonderful to be together at Christmas - for sure. And we are glad that we had a photographer who was willing to work - FOR FREE! Isaac's girlfriend, Kristina, was willing to get behind the camera for some family pictures. They turned out great and we owe Kristina a big THANKS! Is that big enough? I hope so. Here are a few.

This was the first shot - not bad - actually one of the best.

Calvin watched everything but the camera.

Not too bad but I'm partially hidden -

that is not supposed to happen.

A fun shot - and look, now Calvin is looking and sort of smiling too.

Some of our shots were near perfect and one particular person was doing a little goofing off.

Evan gave Isaac a little competition - but nobody can upstage a photo like Calvin!

Our first "Line-Up" shot with SIL and DIL and GKs.

Kevan Family with Sadie doing the Champion dance.

Really nice shot of Evan's family -

Calvin is smiling and looking in generally the right direction.

Grandparents with Grandkids (GKs).

Our favorite picture.

Scott doing a little goofing off himself. Maybe a little payback. But the girl with the white and purple circles accenting her face is Kristina - our wonderful photographer AND Isaac's girlfriend. She did a great job! THANKS AGAIN!

Another shot with Scott cropped out.

P.S. I am ordering prints so if anyone wants a particular one please let me know.

Christmas

Christmas is such a fun time with little kiddos around. We sure enjoyed ours with the entire family together. Having all of us together hasn't happened for a long time.

Christmas morning was a lot of fun. We got up and Santa had figured out that Evan and his family was here along with Lindsey and her family. I think Rob may have been sweating a little bit about that because he arrived sort of late on Christmas Eve. Santa is a pretty smart guy.

Anyway, the following pictures document our Christmas morning.

Alphabet Blocks for Calvin

Not too sure about the blocks - but warming up.

Isaac likes to build tall towers with the blocks.

And this is Calvin's response to Isaacs weak-sauce block playing attempts.

Zachary says - give me something to eat - ANYTHING!

Zachary all decked out in his homemade Christmas shirt. CUTE!

Calvin in his home made Christmas shirt - looking cute with Zachary.

Watch out Zac - Isaac's eyeing your new lion toy.

Zac says - back off - it's all mine!

Sadie is in heaven playing with her new

Playdough Cake and Cupcake decorating set.

Even the older kids had a little fun.

They had to solve a riddle and find their green folded treasures.

Shanna - ring Evan - airplane

Isaac - jumping frog

Lindsey - peacock Rob - bow tie

(sorry the picture is blurry)

Bleary eyed Scott finds his elephant.

Parks

The city of Glendale has a lot of neighborhood parks. According to a realtor we talked to once they call them "tot lots". Many of the parks serve as flood control in case of a big rain. There was a nice park for the kids when we played disc golf too.

So when I knew the kids and grandkids would be here at Christmas time I decided we needed to go play at lots of parks. I started noting the locations of the parks as I drove around. And I came up with the activity name: "A Park a Day". Unique, right?

Sadie and Zachary would be here for 2 weeks. Calvin for about a week. I figured they could go to our little neighborhood park in the mornings and then all of us would go to a new park after their naps. The plan would have worked beautifully except the stomach flu came for a visit and knocked us down for about a week. Plus Zachary was NOT sleeping too well for his own reasons.

But we made the best of the situation and did visit several parks. Each one had its own personality. And during the Christmas visits we played on swings, ladders, bumpy slides, curvy slides, circular slides, steps, tunnels, animals on springs to ride on, teeter-totters, picture totem poles, dinosaur bones, soft cushiony ground, rubberized wood chip ground cover, sand, peek-a-boo holes, talking tubes, bars to swing on, bars to hang on, and bars to slide down, and so much more. And boy did they play!

Sadie, of course, was the fearless leader - her favorite thing was playing in the sand. But she did it all.

Calvin hadn't had so much experience but Evan helped him out and he seemed to enjoy the slides pretty well. Then he just liked to walk around and explore the park - usually taking a good amount of time inspecting the benches.

Zachary was not able to enjoy too many park features. But he did get to see lots of fun stuff. His usual activity was sitting by the steps and watching Sadie and Calvin (and Evan too) go racing by. He did love the swings! One day when the DeWitts came over and we went to play sand volleyball he must have played in the sand for 30 minutes or so. Nice.

So for those of you who like parks - come on over. Glendale has lots. They have some nice "splash pads" too for those who might come in the summer months.

P. S. Those of you who have so much snow and cold in the winter that they might want a nice place to go and get away from that - take note that these pictures are right at the end of December AND the kids aren't wearing jackets AND Zachary is without shoes. We have lots of beautiful sunny pleasant days to share with everyone. AND we'd love to share them with YOU!