SWEET 16

16 Grandkids!  All together at Grammy's house!
.I couldn't get a good picture to save me and the kids would not do another set without protest. I found out--and I did get protest from the biggest kids.

Highway 89

Saturday we loaded up the 4 wheeler in the pickup and headed up the Hurricane Hill.  The ride was so pretty.  We stopped in Kanab for lunch then rode to edge of town to see the colored sand caves.

The varied colors of sandstone were so exciting. 

We didn't carve our names--we just saved the memory digitally.

Continuing North we turned off the highway at Alton.
Snow has melted and the fields are green.
We unloaded the ATV's and headed up the mountain.

Dutch oven supper---it was so good!!

Traveling on the road the guys made last summer. 
These boys do play with big sized Tonka Toys.

 

ALTON

Our fun buddies this trip:
Laron & Linda
Clair & Betty
DeMar & Helen
Bill & Merry Dawn

Mother's Day Breakfast

Beautiful day.  Beautiful Kids!  I can say that---it's my  prerogative.

Sunday morning we enjoyed the backyard for  a wonderful brunch. Waffles with whipped cream and strawberries, sausage and eggs.

Little Finland for Geezers On Vacation

Chuck and I took a spur of the moment (well, we had an hours notice) trip through Utah, Arizona and into Nevada.  We traveled with Laron & Linda with 2 Rhinos on the trailer.  It doesn't take long to get to Whitney Pockets, where we met up with Lee & Klea and Karl & Terrie and Howard.
We went over a dirt road and through a wash to see a new site.  It is called Little Finland.
We hiked and climbed around natural formations of red sandstone.  We ate "bottle stopper" wild plants and dug a Sego Lily--saw a few cactus flowers--Desert Marigolds and other wild flowers.
Enjoyed fresh air and friendship.

 We've got to get the rest of the Geezers to join us and go somewhere again soon. 

It was back to work this morning.

Easter Week

The Larsen's and the Easter Bunny have come and gone again.

These are some of the pictures I took during a wild party.

 All of the Grandkids's except for Isaac (he's hiding behind the door) 

and Powell (he's the newest and inside with his Mom).

Larsen's Are Coming!!!

We are excited to have Emily and Nick 

and Isaac and Savannah and Sophia 

coming next week.  

It will be a party week for sure!

Pix taken in Dec when we had the last family week.

Sowing Oats

Friday Chuck talked me into going to the ranch at Lund to help him plant a few acres of seeds before the expected Saturday rain.  He thought that if he told me I could drive the little Ford tractor that I would jump at the chance.  I didn't jump, but I did go with him.  We stopped at Overson's Farm Store in Cedar to get 5 bags of mixed oats and barley seed.

I pulled the disk all day long.  It had been so long since I had driven a tractor that I honestly had forgotten how.
Chuck gave me a refresher course on the way to the field.  He loaded the seed bags on the back and he sat on the fender.  He was pretty brave because the tractor kept raring up off the front tires through the muddy road. It scared me but by the end of the day it didn't phase me when I was putting the disk up and down and going into reverse with the wiley little old tractor.

Charles spent most of the day walking and broadcasting the bags of seed.  He threw 8 big bags of seed.

It will be exciting to see if a crop comes up. 

It is a project to prove up on his water.

The cows on the range and the antelope will be so happy for anything more than sagebrush.

Charles clearing some of the ground.  He loves his Tonka Toys.

This is the main road back the 40 miles to Cedar City. 

Then it's onto the freeway & home.

When we got into bed that night I could still feel the tractor and every time I closed my eyes I could see the front of the tractor going down the rows. 

Chuck's arms and legs are still sore, but I am sure he will want to go to Lund again soon.

I really had a good time driving the tractor.
I keep looking at the nice tractor in our back yard and thinking that I should give it a try.
Anyone need a field worked on? 

Tijuana Taxi

We knew that it would have to end.  We packed most of our things in the car on Friday afternoon.  Fixed one last mexican supper, played 2 games of Hand & Foot, and got to bed earlier than usual.  We pulled through the gate at 7:15 am Friday morning and headed for Tijuana and the Border.
LaRee was reading me the instructions for a quick-sure route .  Everything was fine until I saw the big green San Diego/5 Interstate sign with a big arrow pointing to turn right.  I turned right even though the instructions said to go to Revolucion Av. Don't turn where the sign tells to.  It must only mean "get ready to turn right". This is the second year in a row that I took a tour of the city center while trying to find the way out.  This time I even went a lot of extra miles in the rain and unfamiliar territory.  The line was the longest ever when I finally found it.  We didn't get into California until 9:30 or 10.
The fellow at the border booth asked us if we had any liquor or tobacco. We said no, so he asked why we had gone to Mexico.  It's quite interesting that a guard stands between you and the US and he determines whether you cross peacefully or get searched or worse.
It rained most of the way home with slight fog.
We stopped in Victorville to shop some at 99 Cent Only.  We filled the car with stuff , ate at Jack in the Box and headed to Vegas.
We were trying to get home before it got too late for Susan to drive back to Panguitch so I skipped stopping in Vegas and said we would stop in Mesquite .  Susan and LaRee wanted to get Blink card game for the kids at Walmart.
Never go from Victorville --after drinking a cup of diet coke and drinking another one on the way--and then  bypass all possible restrooms  on the way to Mesquite. It's just too far if anything goes wrong.
After passing Glendale about 15 miles from Mesquite I look ahead and think that the red tail lights ahead of us are not moving very fast.  I slowed way down to make sure I had the lights in focus and found that the traffic on the North bound freeway had indeed come to a standstill. After we stopped I turned on my flashers so that we wouldn't get slammed into. After a while I turned off the motor and so did the cars around us.  We were on the freeway just sitting there for over an hour.
There is more to tell to the story, but I won't tell the whole thing.  One thrilling thing was when a diesel pulling a big low trailer sailed by us between the outside white line and the guardrail.  I didn't know that a big rig would fit there and I think he was going a little fast for the unsuspecting stranded motorists.  I'm sure the truck was going to the front of the line to help with removing accident paraphernalia.  We had our car doors open and heard a big horn honk.  It was the diesel and we scurried to pull things together and get the doors shut so he could pass.
Walmart in Mesquite did not have any of the game anyway--but Hurricane did.
We finally pulled into the garage about 10:30 pm. 
There was too much snow to send Susan home last night.  She stayed until this morning and the sun was out and bright.
We feel blessed to be home safely--we really do.   

 

We did fill the car on the way home.  We didn't want to waste any space.

Jaccuzzi

This is what we have been up to this morning.  

So good for body and soul!!

DENTAL ZAMORA

Several people from San Diego were going in and out of the office while I was there.  I talked to 2 men who said they always come to this office for their dental work.  They were driving a nice pick up so I thought they were credible.

I used my spy camera in the office today as I was waiting.

I know that Emily told me not to get crazy, but it was too late.  I got a recommendation from the Resort office for a dentist.  Monday I went for a consultation and after thinking about it over night, I went in the next morning without an appointment and waited about 45 minutes to get in to start getting my tooth fixed.
I've had a molar--Shella knows the tooth # but I don't---with a broken side.  The outside outside and filling was there but the  inside had been missing for at least a year.  I had gone to Dr. Howard to get it fixed and I can't remember why it didn't happen.  I think I was suppose to be deciding if I wanted anything else done too. Anyway, I have been thinking about trying out the South of the Border Dentists and this seemed like a great time. 
I told Dr. Zamora I thought I needed a crown. He said it would take a root canal---that's loads of fun----and then a rod into the bone (I'm not sure if that's right) and then a cap.  I didn't know I would need a root canal because the tooth was not bothering me.  I think I had been pretty lucky.  I really hate toothaches.
Dr. Fernando Zamora Carrillo told me it would be a total of US $ 420.00.  I found that it would need to be cash or check--who takes a check to Mexico?--.  I didn't know if I had enough money in my stash so I could not get started that day and I needed to say my prayers and think it over.  When I got back to the condo I counted my hidden money and came up with exactly $420.00 .  I thought that was a pretty good sign that it would be all right.
The root canal was great--really, for a root canal.  A women dentist did it. That was Tuesday.  It took from 10:30 to 1pm to get everything done except the crown.  They took molds of my teeth and everything fun.  Today I went in and he took about 40 minutes to precisely fit the porcelain crown.  It's the prettiest tooth in my mouth right now.
I am so glad I did it.  Having it done and so quickly is so good!

Now I can add this to the list of fun things to do in Rosarito if you ever want to come.

Friday is our last shopping day so if you need some Natural De Vanilla please let me know.

Flower Children

Sisters are like flowers.

When you are able to spend quality/quantity time with them you find how different each personality is and how beautiful different characteristics can be.  Each is colorful and unique, and you really can't choose a favorite.  Heavenly Father created all of us with such variety and puts us  in various dirt to grow and bloom.
I like being in a flower garden.

 

 

 I walked around the grounds this morning watching the gardeners trimming the plants.  They had piles of ice plant that they were tossing away and maybe replanting elsewhere.  I wanted to gather them up to take home to plant. (Does that surprise you?) Had to leave them on the ground--against border rules.  I took a picture of each different flower and have over 40 pictures.  

  

What do you think about the Health Summit today? 

Venna and I went the Optical office this morning.  We had the name of it the other day but we couldn't find it.  Edwardo from our office drew me a map last night and called the Dr. to get us in this morning.

He quoted a great price for Venna's glasses but we can't stay long enough to have them made.  If we had gone in Tuesday when we first tried she would have them today or tomorrow.  Maybe next year.

I'm going to turn my computer over to Venna so that she can post. She says if she comes again she's bringing her laptop.  She left it home for Kenneth to use but he needs her to run it.

SIGNING OFF FROM ROSARITO--just one more thing----I had time to paint my toenails this morning--it's just pamper, shop, walk on the beach, pamper, eat--play cards and pamper this week.

Life of the Rich and Not So Famous

It's Wednesday already.  Our vacation is flying by.
We feel like we are so richly blessed to be together enjoying this week.
You probably wouldn't believe what we did last night.  Yep, Hand & Foot again!  I also tried to learn to play SkipO.  I brought Blink for them to learn and they are getting pretty fast & co-ordinated. They are really trying to get good so they can play with the kids when they get home.
We only stayed up until 1am and that gave us time to sleep alittle.

SUSAN & LAREE on this morning's walk.  I jumped out of bed and caught up to them.

Watching the surfers and thinking they would take off on one of the mighty waves---

but the wet suited guys just bobbed around out there. 

I was trying to get a picture of Susan's Panguitch T shirt.

When I went over this ocean run off stream the first time I thought that I should have taken a flying leap or taken my shoes off.  I was sure I could do it on the way back.  I got my shoe wet again and find that I need to practice jumping.  I used to broad jump a lot further than that!

Please note:  This picture makes the stream look more narrow than in real life.

 

Sunshine and looking for shells for the kids.  

The sand was really sparkling this morning.

  

LaRee seems to be the designated poser.

 

We left Venna home in bed.  We tired her out yesterday.  She's up now though and typing on LaRee's computer.  Our hot tub is not hot so I sent LaRee and Susan up to the Worldmark pools with their swimsuits and towels.  Now I'm kind of wishing I had gone there too--maybe I will.