August 31

Rondaleen called me one day last week and said that a long-time friend from Corcoran was going to be in town, visiting her daughter that had moved to Gilbert and would like to get together for a visit. I said how about all of us having Sunday dinner? Rondaleen made a phone call and got it all set up. Ruth and Mike Elison, along with their daughter Danielle, her 3 kids, and their son Robbie, his wife and 3 kids all came for dinner tonight. Danielle's husband is doing a residency in Scottsdale and was at work. Of course, Rondaleen was there too! We had such a great visit and it was truly wonderful to see these old friends. They had moved away in 1990, and yes it has been that long since I had seen them. You do the math! They had never even met Becca before. I am so glad that Ruth wanted to get together and made the call to Rondaleen. We really had a great time.

August 30

Becca and Miriam made McKaela a poster. They are all such cute friends. They had a "Personal Progress Picnic" in the living room.

August 29

Yesterday afternoon, Allen graduated from Maricopa Sheriff's Academy as a Detention Officer. I have never seen him so excited about anything. We are so proud of him and this amazing accomplishment. He is pictured here with his Sargent.

August 28

Well, today was the big day for Nick. He got his wisdom teeth out this morning. He was so funny on the way home saying how he felt good and normal, but he did not know that his speech was slurred and that he weaved when he walked. He would kind of look around and wave his arms to see how it felt. I think he knew he was just a little "high." He was texting his friends and saying he loves his "communication." He propped his ice packs (frozen peas) with pillows and settled back to recoup.
Pretty soon he was out. He slept really well for a couple of hours and then woke up for another chocolate shake. I had to wake him a couple of times to check his gauze to make sure he is not bleeding too much. He can only have cold, soft foods today. And no drinking with a straw for 5 days. So it's ice cream time around here. He is a good patient, and is now playing Rock Band. He is a little more coherent now. I just love this kid!

August 27

An old friend that stays in the closet much of the time. I have spent many happy hours with this old sewing machine. I have had it for nearly 34 years. I cannot even count the articles of clothing, baby blankets, quilt tops, dolls, toys, and craft projects I have enjoyed making with this Bernina. I got it out tonight to mend my sheets, hem some pants and to leave it out anticipating a sewing project when I stay home on Thursday with Nick. (He'll be getting his wisdom teeth out, poor kid.)

August 26

Happy Birthday Julie! (I know I did not take this picture today or yesterday, but it is the most recent "solo" one I have of her that I have taken.) She is certainly a joy to me and such a bright spot in my life. There is nothing quite like my feelings for this girl. It is amazing to me how we love each of our children individually - for who they are - and how we interact with them. I'll take it all, the bitter and the sweet. It just makes me know all the more how much Heavenly Father loves each of us individually, too. I love you so much, Julie!

August 25

Dinner at Jason's Deli. We had such a good time with our dear friends! What is on Becca's arms, you ask?
She was cold, so Trudy made her some "sleeves" out of napkins.

August 23

Friday night, Nick got home from work at 2:00 am. He startled me by knocking on the door quite loudly. He is supposed to let us know when he gets home, so I was glad he did. Just as I was settling back into la-la land, there was this CRASH! I though "what did he trip over?" or that may be something had died, fallen from the sky, and landed on the sky light. It was just really weird, but I just did not have the wherewith all to get up and investigate. About 4 1/2 hour later, when the sun was up and the morning was young, we decided to go on a hike. I grabbed my hiking clothes from the dresser drawer and got ready. As I turned on the closet light to step in and get my shoes, this is what I saw:Now I knew what the crash in the night was. My closet shelf had broken right off the wall and dumped everything on the floor, hangers still intact on the rod. What a mess! and it was broken badly enough that we had to totally re-build my side of the closet. I took everything out and put it in the guest room for holding. It certainly looked bare in there:3 trips to Home Depot and $150.00 later, we had all the materials needed to Spackle, paint, and put up the new closet interior. It took all day... something we had not planned on. While the Spackle dried, we did our WalMart shopping. While the paint dried, we did our Sam's shopping, and while I went to my "girl's night out" where we watched Steel Magnolia's and had great food, Rod put up the hardware. He did a great job! Thank you for doing all this on your precious Saturday off!


We tried to better utilize the space by making part of the closet a "double decker." I just can't believe that the whole thing fell off the wall! I do like the new look, though, and I was able to get rid of some stuff that I just couldn't let go before. So it's all good!

August 22

Look who's spending the night. It's Mirmee. Yay!

August 21

Today, I killed a black widow spider that was nesting up underneath the platform where the slide is on this playground equipment. The librarian asked me if I would do it because she doesn't do spiders. I went over, removed my adorable fluorescent green high heel, and balancing in the sand on my other foot, smashed the sucker with my shoe. She was large and scary, and the thing splatted all over. The librarian handed me a Kleenex so I could wipe off my shoe to which the demolished corpse was perilously clinging. The kids were impressed and wanted to see the dead spider. One little boy even called me "Spider man." I told him it was "Spider woman." They all oooohed and aaaaahed and thought it was very cool. Elementary school kids are so funny!

August 20

Allen came over to practice his take down and cuffing moves on Nick. Allen will be graduating from the Maricopa County Detention Officer Academy on the 28th. He is VERY excited.

August 19

Ahhhh, yes! Tonight we went to Cold Stone to cash in on Nick's birthday coupon. It was fabulous! On the way home we were stopped at the signal on 39th and Peoria. There was a huge amount of construction - lanes blocked off with cones, giant pieces of machinery, yellow tape - all of it. All at once we all started gagging and groaning "eeeeewwwww!" The smell was UNbearable. I mean we had watering eyes and everything! There must have been some kind of sewer problem or something of equal grossness. We were all totally wishing for the light to change immediately! Becca exclaimed, "I can even taste it!" Then I remembered a story about Becca when she was small. She must have been around 3 years old and was riding in the car to Hanford with Katie. They drove past the sewer ponds on the way to Hanford, which can be quite smelly and offensive. Katie said Becca started crying because it was so stinky, and trying to plug her nose. All she could say to express her dismay was, "It stinks weller! It stinks weller!" We have laughed many times over that one. Kids say such cute things sometimes, but I think this one will always be my favorite.

August 18

Saturday Becca got kidnapped by her new YW leaders for a "getting-to-know-you" brunch. She had a blast! Check out Sister McLean's bandanna and camo gear.

August 17

The sisters asked me to play the piano at Alex Romero's baptism yesterday. It was a beautiful baptism. However, I had to play the "electric" piano. The church has these amazing pianos that you can just push a button and it will play hymns, but it is not fun to play if you are a pianist! The touch is so different from the traditional piano. I was not a happy camper!

August 15

Where does this thing plug in, anyway?

Rock Band, oh yeah!

August 14

Happy 17th Birthday to Nick!

August 13

Sherry and Tina. they are the receptionists at Cordova Middle and Primary schools. Two very sweet and awsome ladies!

August 12

It's the torture chair again! Ahhhhh!

August 11

First day of school:
5:50 AM as we are leaving for Seminary at Centennial for Rebecca!
Nick has band practice at 6:30 at Cortez!
I don't have to be to work till 8:00 but oh well, I'll be there early today and many days after!

August 10

The night before school starts.
Cookies and juice.
We had a totally memorable evening with these two. We went to the seminary fireside and then came home and I made cookies. We sat in the living room and just talked and talked. Nick had a father's blessing for school. The conversation was deep on many levels and I will always remember this special night with Nick and Becca. They are amazing teenagers and I love them so much!

August 9

Officer LaMunyon has come to show us his uniform.

Showing off the cuffing skills on Becca.

How to cuff a hardened criminal. Always use caution!

August 8

August 7

My desk and and entire office is just a huge mess! I wonder if I will every dig it out and get it all organized...

August 6

Did August birthday visits tonight. Nothing real eventful. Didn't even take a picture. Oh well...

August 5

Got a hair cut today. Can you tell? Toni just loves to straighten my hair! Becca said it makes me look like I have "Normal old lady hair." :o) Thanks Becca! This is my $6.00 dress. Went to a 40% off everything in the store at my favorite (Christopher & Banks) and found this on the sale rack for $9.99 plus the discount. What a great buy.

August 4

Picked up Becca and Nick tonight at the airport. They had a GREAT time river rafting in WY with Ryan and Katie. They were not very nice about my wanting to take a photo, but oh well!

August 3

Allen came over to share his experience about getting pepper sprayed at the Academy. He is showing off his handcuffs to his dad.

Officer LaMunyon in his group T-shirt.

Allen and Ashley model Allen's class T-shirt.

August 2

Went to the matinee today - one of my favorite things to do on a hot Saturday afternoon. Got there and found out it was 3-D and had to wear those stupid glasses. I complained bitterly, but the movie was creative and entertaining. Had a good time in spite of the ridiculous glasses thing.

August 1

Since our kids are out of town river rafting, we decided to do a little "Honeymoon get-away." Drove all the way to Scottsdale and spend the night at a 4 star resort, the Scottsdale Plaza. It was fun!