Sneak peak at family photos, and we have nothing left

Here’s a sneak peak at some shots from our photo session a bit ago. It was a perfect fall day and we just walked around Pleasant Grove. Kelly McCaleb took the pictures. She really worked with the girls (including Julie) and is a new favorite of Julie’s. She’s the sister of one of Natalie Kidd’s friends out in Surprise. Thanks for the tip.

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These are the only ones we’ve seen as well. We hope to get the rest soon.

Meanwhile, we have finally begun packing. Though it seems like we have less and less to pack. Craigs List has been wonderful up here. It’s like the greatest garage sale in the world. And we’re doing the selling!

Oh the drama

For the 3 or 4 loyal readers, this will hardly come as a surprise. There’s always some self-imposed drama happening in my life. And I secretly love it. Of course even at my most dramatic I can’t compete with what Lucy, Abby, Grace, and Gwen seem to come up with regularly. It’s quite amusing really. Today Julie got these shoes for Gwenyth that squeak every time she takes a step. It’s kind of like those uber-nerdy spiderman shoes that light up when you take a step. So you see little boys nerding around, clomping their feet with every step, showing off the lights. These aren’t quite that annoying, but it’s only been one day. We’ll see what comes of it in a few weeks. But they are pretty cute.

The reason for my reference to the drama is because we’re going to be moving back to Arizona in a few weeks. We’ve got the trucks all lined up, some reliable drivers ready (thanks, Mid), this house is now leased out to someone else starting next month, and we’re ready to go. Except for the fact that we haven’t packed a single thing yet. Maybe it’s our ever-present sense of denial, hoping that something will happen to change the course. Or maybe it’s because we’re so good at it by now. Either way, the next few weeks are going to be interesting.

We’ve had a great time up here. The girls have done so well in their various classes and activities. While we’re certainly disappointed to have to be moving again, I think we both agree that the circumstances are pretty good, all things considered. Lessons learned and all that.

We should be down there by November 3rd. Then the fun begins. I’m most excited about being able to setup the hot tub, instead of seeing it up on its side every morning when I go to work.

October Sky

I never have anything quite so profound to share with the world like Julie does. I find that people react more by rolling their eyes than by wiping tears from their eyes. Such is life. And that’s why I have Julie, to balance my cruft a little bit. Right now I’m home watching Gwenyth destroy the house in no time flat. Tuesday mornings Lucy has her music class, so I get to sit home and be with Ms Destructo. It’s fun.

Lucy’s class had a field trip last week that Julie and Gwen were able to go on. They went to a farm and met a large 1300 pound pumpkin-eating hog name LeRoy. Gwenyth, of course, calls everything a “goggie” and acts interested in and scared of everything at the same time. We’ve sure been fortunate to have these girls in their classes. 

eating lunch

1300 pound hog named LeRoy

Last Friday night was to be the start of the tournament for our softball team. Our first few games of the season were interesting, but we got pretty good toward the end. Unfortunately it was freezing cold and pouring down rain that night, so we weren’t able to play. We almost did, though. The games that were scheduled an hour before ours were just ending, and the umpires said that they weren’t going to call the next games. But when the temperature dropped 10 degrees in 5 minutes and the rain *really* started picking up, they thought better of it. We’ll see if it gets rescheduled or not.

We had a great, relaxing weekend. We listened to some great messages that have (hopefully) inspired us to do and be better. Julie made some awesome brocolli cheese soup and clam chowder. Late Sunday afternoon, we decided to head up to Sundance again. I was thinking that there would be some snow for the girls to play in, but there wasn’t any at all. I was kind of surprised. There was some sort of dog show up there, so all the hoity toities were parading around with their mutts. We didn’t really dress for the occasion. We looked sort of homeless. But it was as beautiful as ever.

hoards of color

bridal veil falls

bright happy trees

love this one

http://www.flickr.com/photos/midder/

She’s amazing and. . . she’s my mother!

my favorite

One of the greatest things hands down of moving to Utah has been living close to my parents. My mom turned 79 years old today and we celebrated this morning by taking some quick pictures. Here are 79 reasons why I love her so…

  1. She makes the best rolls ever,
  2. she is an amazing artist,
  3. best waffle maker,
  4. comes from Holbrook AZ,
  5. a lady of great great faith,
  6. gardener,
  7. good at watercolor,
  8. amazing school teacher,
  9. loves to read,
  10. has a beautiful soprano voice,
  11. made the lead in a play in St. George after having baby number five (you go girl),
  12. she wears red lipstick,
  13. has beautiful silver hair,
  14. has a crazy-fun sense of humor,
  15. she says double damn (inherited it from Grandma Gibbons),
  16. has worked with the BYU alumni for years,
  17. taught me how to sew, crochet & quilt,
  18. can put food away & stay rail thin,
  19. aren't they cute

  20. has the cutest little bird legs,
  21. would practice herkie jumps with me when I was trying out for cheerleader in high school (she was in her 60’s people),
  22. used to play make me laugh with my girlfriends until we would cry with laughter from her famous gorilla face that she could make,
  23. makes the best German Chocolate cake,
  24. shares her birthday with her older sister Sandi and Michael Elcock,
  25. she had 9 children (God bless her that she didn’t stop with 8),
  26. she has a crazy fun sense of humor,
  27. she can work like a work horse,
  28. she’s effortlessly beautiful,
  29. she’s part of the “Greatest Generation”,
  30. lived through the depression,
  31. just a peck on the cheek

  32. is thrifty and frugal,
  33. can make a meal out of anything,
  34. has held numerous callings within the church all while raising a great family,
  35. is a sweet companion to my father,
  36. taught us to be honest always,
  37. played the piccolo in jr. high and was a majorette,
  38. didn’t know how to make a sandwich when she got married,
  39. killed a rattle snake with a shovel,
  40. taught me to love tomatoes, mashed potatoes, and squash,
  41. found her on her knees many a time,
  42. is politically knowledgeable and not “apathetic”,
  43. wants to jump hurdles and play basketball in the hereafter,
  44. her eyes sparkle,
  45. crazy BYU fan,
  46. never told me I couldn’t do something,
  47. has volumes of journals,
  48. always believed in me and expected great things,
  49. best foot massager in the world (sorry Brian),
  50. she is loved by many,
  51. wants to make everything better for everyone,
  52. I remember her rocking me in the rocker when I was little and she still tries to rock me on occasion,
  53. has 42 and counting grandchildren,
  54. she loves the ocean and jumping waves,
  55. taught me how girls should behave,
  56. let me wallpaper my room and pick out my own carpet when I was in high school (wow),
  57. was girls camp director @ age 67 and made it so much fun!,
  58. lucy in her element

  59. truly makes the best raspberry jam in the world (Brian will vouch),
  60. I was her do-it-yourself grandchild,
  61. I watched her care for her mother with a horrible bout of cancer,
  62. she chased my brother, Jim, in a foot race several years back & caught him,
  63. has amazing arm muscles,
  64. is spontaneous (like jumping in the hot tub with all her clothes on just for kicks),
  65. always had FHE & daily scripture study,
  66. is a genealogy nut,
  67. loves animals,
  68. loves to camp,
  69. has a tender heart,
  70. can clean like a hurricane running through a house,
  71. makes awesome potato salad,
  72. put up with me as a teenager,
  73. used to play Candyland over and over with me when I was 5,
  74. she would wake me early in the summer and make me work in the garden,
  75. devoted and unwavering in her faith in God,
  76. loves this great country,
  77. can calm Lucy Ann like no on else can,
  78. served a mission in Thailand,
  79. saw 9 kids through CLOTH diapers,
  80. she comes from a musical family and she loves music,
  81. she makes a mean taco,
  82. I love her because she’s true blue one of a kind and she’s mine—my mother!

How lucky am I?!! I love you Mom!

making them laugh

Happy Birthday, Michael–we love you and miss you mucho! For more photos of my mama:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/midder/