Apple Hill Pumpkin Money Holders

Each year we go to Apple Hill I give the grandkids money to buy their pumpkin. This year, I made each of them a little Money Holder and then filled it with money for their pumpkin. My daughters say that I have set a tradition to do every year.

Life Happens...Let's get caught up!

Ok - I know I haven't been good at publishing to my blog! Life happens with kids, grandkids, and life in general.

Let's see... a lot has happened since I last wrote. Rob and I celebrated our 29th Wedding anniversary! We took the grandkids for our maiden voyage in the RV to Walker River Resort and had a great time. It was a perfect place to go for our first time out.

All the family came out and visited too! Our friends Jake and Cindy were out there camping too! Sean and Katie came out with their boys. Caesar loved his time in the RV and loved all the exploring. We had fun in the sun, swimming, and smores! Who could ask for anything more?

After we had been home for a bit, I decided I would get some exercise and go out and do intervals. That is where you run for a bit and then walk until you catch your breath and then run again. You do this until you have conquered 4 miles a day. So I was doing real well and each morning I would get up and do this until one morning I wasn't doing real well. I went to work and continued walking on my leg and then we went to some friends house and it had swollen up like a balloon. I knew I had done something, but figured if I elevated it and iced it I would be fine. Well, I went a couple more days and then went to the doctor where he let me know that I had a Fibular Stress Fracture. Who would have thought that exercising would do that. So I was in a "boot" or walking cast for 8 or so weeks. It was a bummer but in the meantime, we discovered I had Osteopenia of the Spine. So in some respects it was a good thing! Now I know to watch it and to take better care of myself. The irony is that they want you to exercise! Oh well, I will have to walk, swim or ride my bike. Much to Rob's disappointment, I won't be skiing this year either!

The grandkids and the Primary kids are so familiar with Transformers that they kept asking me when I would get my foot put back on. Pretty funny nonetheless. I'm glad that is behind me and I am hoping for a complete healed leg.

Let's see the next thing is all the politics and such to elect a new president. Boy am I happy that is over with. It will be interesting in the next year to see what happens. No matter who the president was going to be, it would be historic and challenging no matter what. Obama and Biden have their work cut out for them.

We had the annual day at the Candy Dance and our traditional trip to Apple Hill. We had fun on both accounts. It is always fun to spend time with family. I had my cast on for both events and got a lot of exercise both times.

Olympic Medals in China

I have been so excited for the Olympics. I was able to watch the Opening Ceremonies and love watching all the competitions.

Olympic Medal winners at NBC Olympics.com!

Where did July go?

WOW!!! What a month that July was and now we are in August. I can’t believe it went by so fast.
First, we bought a new truck for Rob and what a pretty thing it is. It has all the bells and whistles and will be able to hall the 5th wheel. Then Grandpa Hutchings passed away and we headed for Ely. It was nice to see family and know that Grandpa is with Grandma now. We came back home for the 4th of July and Becky, David, Lil’ Roy and twins Dallas and Dakota came along. We celebrated by going to the train museum and then to Stake Center to watch the fireworks there. We were able to show Becky and David why we love it here so much. We took a drive by the lake and through Genoa where we met up which Samantha, Daniel and Diego for some fun at Mormon Station. They had been taking care of Caesar for us so we got to bring him back home.






When we got back Rob and I got all my thing ready for camp. It sure was fun to reminisce on my other adventures to camp and I was really excited to go again. There were tarps, buckets, sleeping bags to get ready along with all the other things that you need while you’re there. My two requirements where to have s’mores and sleep outside. I was able to accomplish both once was all said and done. Before I left, Rob and I were given tickets to see Cheap Trick, Heart and Journey! What a great concert outside at Lake Tahoe.

So on that Monday we headed to camp. It was a great week of spiritual moments, great food, the polar bear swim, devotionals, campfires and the list goes on. It felt awesome to be there and it was hard to come back into the “real” world. We came back the following Saturday and once I got reception on my phone I was able to talk to Rob. I think he and Caesar missed me!



My brother Will, April and kids were in town when I came home. So everyone got together at Samantha and Junier’s for a birthday dinner for me. Then Will and April stayed at a timeshare in Sparks so they ventured out on many great days of fun in the sun. We were able to go to the movies with them, Shakespeare in Lake Tahoe and dinner out. We love spending time with them.

Rob and I celebrated Pioneer Day at the church with Sarah Jane, Bubba, Kaitlynn, Gary, Daniel and Diego. It was a great afternoon. Sarah Jane and I were pretty tired because she had treated me to A Night in the Country featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, Collin Raye and Taylor Wade. We had a great time and loved every minute of it.





Then it was on to Vegas for Rob and me. David and Becky’s Dallas and Dakota were being blessed and Rob was able to stand in the circle with them. Becky and David first we had a Luau on Saturday and then Will and April had a BBQ for everyone on Sunday. It was a quick trip and we were home on Monday night.

It’s good to be back home for a bit and now we are getting ready for our maiden-voyage in the RV for our 29th wedding anniversary on the 18th. We can’t wait for that. Until next time…

Emily's First Triathlon!

What a great trip! We went to support Emily in her first triathlon and ended up having a mini vacation while we were at it.

We were smart this time and drove only half-way to Elko and spent the night there. Then the next morning we headed into Pocatello to see where Emily and John live. Then we continued up to Idaho Falls to check in to our next hotel. We stayed at the Red Lion overlooking the falls with a view of the temple. What an amazing site. We visited with the kids and went to the Olive Garden for dinner.

Then it was lights out so Emily could get up early the next morning. She had to be there before 7:30 to get her packet and such. The race was to start at 9:00 a.m. We got there just in time to find Emily before the race started. It was a bit chilly but she was warming up. Becky Johnson was there to and we all cheered her on. They had cancelled the swim portion due to not enough water in the lake so Emily ran 4 miles, then biked for 25 miles and then ran another 6 miles. She was awesome!!! Not to mention she came in where a smile when she was all done. The weather was ok and then the wind came up just about the time she went out on her bike so she had to bike into the wind. Then there was supposed to be someone to turn her around at the 12.5 mile mark and that person didn’t do that, so Emily actually went further than she was supposed to. Rob and John got a little worried, but were there to help her transition to the next part once she came in. She finished the race and we are very proud of her. It is so motivating to see people of every shape, size and age out there for such an event. After the triathlon we headed over to the North’s for a nice visit and then we all went to Applebee’s for dinner. It was a wonderful day.

We brought our bikes, but the weather didn't allow for them. At least our bikes got a nice vacation too! It rained so hard one day that the water on the road was up over the center dividers and you couldn't see them. Rob estimated it was about 6" of rain on the road.

Monday we headed to Yellowstone National Park (first time for Emily and me). We saw Bison, coyote, elk, pelicans, and a Grizzly Bear. Not to mention all the other little creatures. The Bison would just stand in the middle of the road and not let the cars go by. We also saw “Old Faithful” and other geysers around the park. There was also a cascade and a waterfall that we stopped for. When we went to the lake to look around, there was ice on the lake. It was pretty cold. In one day we went to Montana, Wyoming and back to Idaho. What a day!

Bison in the road with their babies! Yes, that is a Grizzly Bear!!!

The Cascades

The entrance to the Park

Our last day in Pocatello was nice and relaxing. While we were waiting for Emily and John to get off of work we went to the Mall to find Rob’s keys he had lost a few days before. Thankfully, a security officer had turned them in for us. What a relief… at least I had mine. Then when the kids got off of work we went to dinner at the Red Lobster for a great meal and a tour of the ISU Campus. We finished off the night with a swim in the pool and a game of Apples to Apples.

It was a great time and we miss Emily and John already and can’t wait for our next adventure!

Until next time.....

NASCAR

Here is the latest addition to our family. Madison Grace was born on February 4th weighing in at 7lbs. 12 oz. and 19 1/2 " long. What a precious little one!