Well, It says that the last time I published anything on the blog was October so I guess I have been rather deliquent. We had problems with only one computer working online but we have solved that problem so today I can work online from my bed where I am recouperating from another knee replacement, this time on my left knee.

I had the surgery on December 17th. So it has been about 13 days. I have done very well. I have been walking on it well from almost the start. I have a better pain medication for me that does not give me anxiety attacks so that has been helpful.

Larry as usual has been very helpful. He works hard to make sure everything I need is in place before he leaves to go to work. He is really patient with me and does laundry and dishes so that we can have what we need clean.

Erick has been good to help also. He fixed dinner for Christmas with Larry's help and he has kept the walks shoveled with all the storms we have been having for the season in Utah.

Erick made his famous Italian lasagna for Christmas dinner. BJ and Holly were here and Maren and Landon came also. Maren made Baklava for dessert so it was a great dinner. Jake was able to come up earlier in the afternoon with the kids while Nikki worked but they left to have dinner with her in the evening.

Kirsten and her family and Maren and her family came on Christmas Eve long enough to read the Christmas story from the scriptures and unwrap "the" Christmas Eve present and then they went home to prepare for Santa coming.

We all pitched in and bought Larry a laptop computer that he can use for school for his Christmas present. We gave it to him early on the 16th when it came so he could use it for his classes. He has needed a computer ever since the last laptop whe had died. Larry bought me a better watch for Christmas and we also got the wireless internet for at home so we can use the laptop at home.

We are not haveing the family "Christmas" Party until next Sunday because of the conflict in the family on times we could get together. Jeff and Nathan and their famiies will not be able to come anyway because of the distance they live away. I told Kirsten she was in charge this year because of my needing to recover from surgery so that is when she decided that we could all get together.

Michelle and Daniel went to California for Christmas to spend the time with "Grammy" Marie. While they were there they got to see "Wicked" and they went to Disneyland. They got together with Marie's family on Christmas Eve and opened presents.

Nathan and Sara had Christmas with her Mom in Alabama and then they left at the end of the week to go to Tenneesse to have Christmas with Sara's dad and all the family. Nathan was excited because he passed the first third of his flight lessons before the break for Christmas. The boys are all growing and learning to talk better everyday. They spent alot of time telling me about their Christmas. Isaac (or Ike-Ike) took the phone and took me on a tour of the apartment, showing me all they had for Christmas. It was not a camera phone however.

Jake helped me get the computer for Larry through the Military exchange. We were able to get a backpack too go with it with the Air Force Logo on it. He ordered it and brought it up on the 16th and wrapped it for us and then we were able to get together at Kirstens house and give it to him. Nikki has to work a lot of night lately so we do not get to see her as much as we would like. Ashton spent more time talking to me on Christmas than he has for quite a while. Lexie likes to chase Uncle Erick and Uncle BJ and Aunt Holly.

Matthew had his third birthday on the 6th of December. They went to Chuck-e-Cheeses for his birthday and then got together latter for a Family party at Misty's mom's I think. Jeff called on Christmas and had the kids sing Merry Christmas to Larry. We had a long talk with him.

Kirsten made quilts for all of her kid's beds and for the bed she and Jon have for Christmas. She had all of us help her on the 16th with Kyle's quilt. She almost had bitten off more than she could chew......but she got them done. They had the kids for Christmas and the first part of the holiday but they have been at their other parent for the last part of the vacation and so that is part of the reason our party is so late. Jon's brother Allen has been living with them for a while but he is leaving this week to go to Iraq with the Air Force.

Erick put up the Christmas decorations for us this year. We have been kind of scrooges because of all we had to do with work and school. It looks nice and I was grateful that he would take the time to do it for us. He is looking for things to do on the house lately now that school is out and he has time to worry about it before he gets the next set of classes. I guess we will leave the Christmas decorations up until next week so we can have them for the party.

BJ took Holly to Las Vegas for her birthday and they went to the Bowl game there that BYU played against UCLA. He was thrilled with the game. Especially the ending where they were able to block the kick by UCLA to win the game 17-16. He called us at the end of the game about as excited as a person can get. He said that he almost got killed though because their tickets were in the UCLA section. They came home through the storm on Christmas Eve and were only an hour and a half late for Holly's famiy Christmas party because of the snow.

Maren is just getting over a cold that she had for Christmas. They had a lot of fun getting ready for Christmas. She really had fun buying the presents that she gave this year. But she was really proud of the fact they did not overspend. Brinlie is really growing. She is getting taller and talking all the time. She repeats everything that people say to her. Landon is really excited about the snow so he can go snowboarding but Maren is sad because she cannot go while she is pregnant. They are expecting in July.

Well the wedding is over and BJ and Holly are officially married. It went well yesterday. It rained as predicted and snowed at times but not so much that we could not do what needed to be done. We went to the temple at 9:30 a.m. The sealer that they had, John Kunz, was very funny but had some great messages behind his humor. There was a great spirit in the room and I think Holly is the first bride I have seen cry (I hope for joy) as they were being sealed. She looked beautiful and BJ was radient. It was really raining when we got out of the temple so we took a lot of the pictures downstairs by the atrium that the Bountiful temple has. It cleared up during the wedding luncheon so BJ and Holly were able to go back to get a few pictures outside.

We had the wedding luncheon at the Eldredge Manor. It was really nice and a comfortable atmosphere. They had a great video player over the fireplace so everyone could see the video that Amanda had made of their growing up and growing together days. The fireplace was lit to match the weather. The food was good and we had almost every place setting covered so that relieved a lot of worries.

We drove to Logan for the reception about 4:30 p.m. It was really hailing around North Ogden and it was snowing in Sardine Canyon. I thought maybe it would continue to storm all night as had been predicted but people coming through the line later said it was not bad and that it had dried out. We drove home on mostly dry roads. I apparently snowed three inches in Kaysville during the time of the reception so there was only one brave couple from the ward that made it. Several famiy members like Kimo Coray and Craig and Corinne came and said it was not bad after you got past Kaysville/Layton area.

The Alumni House in Logan is a great place for a reception. We had a good time. Amanda took more pictures of the family. Hopefully the pictures will be on her website soon so you can all see them. Erick took some pictures she didn't get like of BJ and Holly trying to get into their car after the wedding whem all of their brothers and sisters and friends had decorated and stuffed it with ballons and wrapped it in cellophane. Maybe I can get him to help me post some of those this week. I think that everyone we knew from Logan area came to the reception and there were alot of people from Holly's hometown of Cove there.

We went to dinner with Kirsten and Jon and Maren and Landon and their children after the wedding reception at a place called the Coppermill on Main Street in Logan. We had a good talk and it was good food. Larry and I ordered a 12 oz. Prime Rib to share. When we got it, it was about 2 inches thick and looked more like 22 oz. I was sure glad we were sharing. Even Larry could not finish his piece.

I was worried that the drive home would be bad. But it was mostly dry all the way. The three inches of snow in Kaysville had even melted and the streets were just wet. I was worried about whether BJ and Holly had made it to Park City where they were going okay so I called and they were already in Park City when we got home. (They did not stop to eat.) I felt like we had been really blessed because the weather men had been predicting snow all night and Sunday morning. We need the water but I was grateful that it did not snow as much as expected.

We had all our family to the wedding except Nathan and his family and Jeff and his family. Some of the highlights for me were watching Hailee, Lexie, Kallise and Brinlie twirl in their dresses in front of the line. Brinlie layed on the floor and put her legs in the air and kicked to her hearts content with her dress up above her face and her diaper waving in the air. Kyle looked so handsome and he was able to wear one of the regular pink ties that all the guys had. Ashton talked to me like he liked me and told me about a car he has at his other grandma's that he has to have a helmet for. Hailee kept sitting by me at the luncheon and wanting a hug. Uncle Erick was the offical babysitter at the luncheon and was playing with the kids tossing them in the air especially Jaron. Erick introduce Lynnette as his "mutual friend" at the luncheon so his siblings teased him all day because they think they are in love and just do not want to admit it to each other. Michelle kept telling Ethan to sit on his knees for one of the pictures and he would do that. Finally she communicated that he needed to kneel and not sit to be seen.

It was good to see Ray and Sally Hunsaker, they were some of our best friends from when John and I first got married. I was glad that Aunt Marva and Uncle Charles finally had to just drive across town to be at the wedding. They have been so good to travel long distances to other weddings we have had. Steve and Christy Kropp and Ben were there. All of my brothers and sisters or part of their family made it to either the luncheon or the reception so that was nice. Nathan called BJ at 5:45 a.m. to talk so BJ got an early start.

Well Maren and Landon are here to play games with us so see you soon.

Well I have not posted for a long time. We only have one computer that I can get to work on the internet and I can't make myself move the other one so I can get to a computer on Sundays. Larry was using it a lot but then they changed his class to Monday and he doesn't have one until the 22 of October so he doesn't need it so much right now for homework. He got all of his homework done for the first class of a new series and rushed down there for his class on the Tuesday following his last class and when he got there he found out he did not have class for three weeks and this next class is on Monday so he is set when that day comes.

We had a great party when BJ came home. Larry barbequed several things and we had the trimmings to go with it. We sang Happy Birthday to Daniel and had a good time eating cake and lemon squares with ice cream. Holly stayed the weekend and we have some good pictures of her and BJ together if I can get them from BJ.

So now it is October and we have October birthdays to celebrate today. Kirsten decided to have it at her house because Brooke and Jon both have October birthdays and she is also inviting Jon's family. We are going up there at 5:00 p.m. It is also Jake and Leah's birthday in October. Jake with be here after he gets off his weekend guard and we had to mail Leah her birthday now that they are in Washington. We talked to her around her birthday and she said it rains alot in Washington but she likes it there.

We got all the dresses for the wedding but now Nathan and Sara and Jeff and Misty cannot come to the wedding. We were disappointed but it is fairly expensive and Jeff and Nathan could not get off of work.

The family had a shower for Holly last weekend and they got a lot of groceries for their kitchen. She has had a couple of other showers also and the wedding presents are starting to trickle in from people who do not want to go to Logan for the wedding reception. And Holly's extended family does not want to come to Bountiful for the wedding dinner!

Scott Hermansen my nephew is in the LDS Hospital in a drug induced coma and has been for the last 10 days. He has some rare syndrome that they have just discovered in the last few years that turns the tissues in the body paper thin and makes it so it is very hard to breath. Because it starts out like a cold it is hard to diagnois and he has been going to doctors for about 10 months trying to find out what he has. A doctor in St George finally diagnoised it correctly and sent him to LDS for a treatment but when they did the treatment they tore his trachea so they had to put him in the coma to heal after the surgery they did to repair it. I saw Mallory, his wife, yesterday and she said that they were hopeful that he was healing and coming out of the coma, although the disease has a two to five year life expectancy after they find it, so the prospects are not good. The family fasted for him today and could use your prayers and contact at this time.

BJ and Holly are eagerly anticipating their wedding. They are getting married at 10:00 a.m. on the 20th of October and then we are having a wedding dinner at Eldrege Manor in Bountiful at noon. The reception is that night at the Alumni House in Logan from 6:30-8:30 p.m. We just got the invitations and got them out this week so you should have received an invitation by now.

Erick has had Fall break from school this week so he has had a little more time. He mowed the lawn and cleaned the downstairs. He brought in the Herbs that he planted in planters and made a nice grouping of them downstairs by the window. So maybe we can have fresh herbs to cook with all winter.

Maren and Landon had a good time in Montana and Yellowstone. Now they are planning to go to Disneyland and then to Las Vegas for Halloween. Landon's business always has a convention in Las Vegas at that time. Brinlie is going to be a pirate and she carries the costume around saying "Pirate, on; Pirate, cute." She is really getting good at talking and singing so you understand her.

Kirsten has been going shopping with me helping me pick out clothes for Kennedy for the wedding and clothes for me for the wedding. She had some good ideas for helping me to look "with it." Jon is finishing up an internship that will make it easier for him to get a promotion. Kyle is just finishing up soccer. We went to watch him play in the rain about two weeks ago .

I went down to Lexie's soccer game yesterday. It rained but not as bad as the last two weekends. We went to the Artic Cirle and got treats after. Ashton and Lexie had fun playing on the playground there and Lexie let the cat out of the bag that Jake and Nikki are expecting in May. There are some fun pictures of Ashton on Nikki's blog.

Michelle has been busy as usual. The kids are still working on their choir and instrument lessons. Kalisse can say "I love you" now. She is really getting more grown up. Ethan has his last soccer game next week and I didn't make it to one of his games yet so I guess I will have to go in the spring. Daniel says he is still working and mowing the lawn for fun.

Jeff hurt his leg working out so he is hurting. Leah is riding a bike without training wheels now. Matthew is terrorizing Owen by taking away his toys to make him scream. And, Owen is running around and talking more and more. Misty works from 8:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m. and Jeff works during the days.

Sara's mom is really sick again. Sara mentioned on her blog that she went in the hospital again. Nathan and Sara were fasting for her today. We probably ought to mention her in our prayers also. Nathan is flying helicopters now and trying not to crash them. He has been trying to talk Landon into joining and coming down there to stay. They got an older used car so they would have something else to get around in so Sara is not always stranded. Nathan drives the older car. Sara has some cute pictures of the kids on her blog.

Well it is bedtime for me and Larry. Hope you have a good week.

Today we went to Kirsten and Jon's ward to watch their kids in the Primary presentation. They all did a good job singing and doing their parts. They had parts that were a lot longer than the parts our primary did but then our primary is about twice as big.

Larry is taking a nap right now. He has been tired again lately. We bought the book "Total Money Makeover" and have been reading that together to learn some tips for getting out of debt. We read it yesterday as we went to Logan. We went to Logan to get Larry measured for a Tux for BJ and Holly's wedding. We got that taken care of and then he saw a suit on sale there for $99. It was a good deal because it was normally a $300.00 suit so we got it for him. Then we met Holly at the mall to look for dresses for the granddaughters for the wedding and while Holly and I were looking for dresses Larry traded in his phone for free for a new one on Verison's new every two program so he now has a new phone.

I went back to school full time this week. I did okay during the day but I was surprised at how tired I was in the evening. I wanted to go to bed everyday about 7:30 p.m. or earlier. My neice, Amy, got married on Thursday and I took the day off so that I would not be too tired to enjoy the experience. But I made it through the rest of the days okay and even relatively organized.

My knee is doing really well and it is great to be able to do things that I could not do before. It still has days it hurts or bugs me but I have found that on the days I exercise it feels better so that encourages me to exersize.

BJ will be home on Friday from his naval A school. We aren't sure what time yet. We are having a birthday party for Daniel and Ashton on Sunday the 30th. Everyone who can come should be able to see BJ and I know he is looking forward to seeing each of you. And of course I know that some of you already had other plans.

Jeff called on Grandparents day and had the kids wish us a happy grandparents day. It was cute to hear them even though he said that Leah was not very happy about life at the time. They were getting too close to bed time.

Maren and Landon have been busy lately. They left today to celebrate their 2nd anniversary. Shirley got to tend Brinlie because they are staying overnight. Brinlie would be happy with that because she is not very happy being with me right now. We went to Amy's wedding reception on Friday and Maren and Landon were just leaving, I went to give Brinlie a hug and she pushed me away and said "NO!" She is a real parent's baby lately. She is starting to sing the words to songs she learns from TV. and say a quite a few words. Maren and Landon are going to Montana next weekend for Landon's cousins wedding so they probably will not be here for the family party.

Jake and Nikki had Ashton's birthday on the ninth at their house. We had a fun time with all our family and Nikki's there. Ashton got a lot of really nice toys but he was really excited about a raceway that Maren and Landon gave him. He really likes cars, like his dad. Jake and Nikki and family are going to Las Vegas this weekend with Nikki's parents so they will not be here for the family party but Ashton had his family celebration anyway and he is sure a cute 2 year old.

Lexie, Ethan, and Kyle have all started soccer again this fall and seem to be having a good time playing. I am hoping to get to at least one of their games this fall.

Michelle went for a stomach scope last Monday. They found polyps. They gave her some medication for it. They haven't told her anything else. But, Daniel says the medication they gave her is known to cause polyps!! Daniel is working everyday and for extra curricular activity he mows the lawn. Hailee is in piano lessons and two dance classes. Michelle is the leader of the Christmas program at school this year again (As well as being President of the parent organization). Jaron is in pre-school and joy school and in choir. Kallise is singing and talking but they don't know yet what the words are.

Nathan is busy a lot with his school. Sara says that he is gone for about 12 hours each day with classes and studying. Sara is stuck at home when he has to take the car because they only have one car. Sammy has two teeth and is starting to sit up. Issac is talking in sentences but only his mother can understand him. David is enjoying school. He rides the bus. He got the things we sent to his class.

Erick is busy with school and work. He works alot on Friday and Saturday. He did go to a party on Saturday night with some people in his ward. They put him in as Elders Quorum Secretary so he is busy with responsiblities related to that. He went with us to Amy's wedding at the temple and to Ashton's birthday so we get to spend sometime with him. He does not go to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays so sometimes he lets me use his truck. The person who was mowing our lawn quit so he is now mowing our lawn when Larry or I can't.

It has been pouring down rain several times today and we are supposed to get snow in the mountains tonight so I guess Fall is more than officially here.

I have had a few days this week that have approached feeling normal. Thursday I was worried about how long the day was. I went to physical therapy in the morning, which takes about 2 hours. Then I went to school for the afternoon. I was actually able to teach a class that I was somewhat enthusiastic and fun about my teaching. I finished my homework for the U on my prep period and then felt good going to class. I was much more alert this week. It really surprised me. It was a good day except for the fact that I ruined the keyboard on the new computer at home by spilling a pop on it.

There was one benefit to not being able to eat much this last two weeks. I had to go buy some new clothes because my clothes do not fit. I was excited that I am finally down to a 16 Women's size. I haven't been that small since the first year I moved to Kaysville. Kirsten took me to the mall with her yesterday and helped me find some things. It was fun to spend the time with her. It was funny too because while I was there I saw my cousin Susan who lives in Lyman,Wyoming shopping at the same store. We had a great short visit. I couln't believe that she had come so far to go shopping. But there is not much in Lyman.

I think it has been good for me to start school even for a half day. I think it has picked me up to have to do something, but it has been one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I felt like I was in a fog on Wednesday, but Thursday and Friday went better.

Larry made the switch to balance transfers on Saturday so he had to be to work at 7:00 a.m. It has been really nice while I have been recovering that he has had a flexible schedule so some days he was able to stay home longer and help me stay sane. But, all that is in the past and he now has to be to work at 7:00 a.m. But if he goes early he can come home earlier so that is great. It is so nice to have a patient loving husband that thinks you are wonderful.

Larry's sister Judy said they were able to escape the floods where they were. They did a lot of preparation but the floods did not make it to them.

Nathan said it was a really stressful week for them in Alabama. He had a stressful class and Sammy has been crying alot because of seperation anxiety, so both he and Sara are frustrated.

Michelle went to the hospital last week because stomach pains that she had been having for about a month intensified. The decided that she has an ulcer but that she had a virus also on top of it. She says that she is feeling better with the medicine that they gave her. I teased her because she didn't call and tell us. We found out when a lady that is in her ward ask Kirsten at work how she was doing. So we finally found out on Thursday.

Ashton's Birthday party is going to be on Sunday the 9th of Sept. at 6:00 p.m. at Jake and Nikki's. Everyone is invited. Nikki is trying to get you an invite out but she has been working a lot lately. She has been working weekends about twice a month as well as during the week. They bought Jake a new car this week because they have had so much trouble with the one he bought about 8 months ago. They have had to have two transmissions put into it in that time and they would not take it back as a lemon because with the new transmission they said it was fixed. Lexie is playing soccer again starting next week and Jake also has to be to Governor's day so they are going to be busy Saturday.

Jeff and Misty moved into a house in Tacoma, Washington last week. He said they felt very fortunate to find it because many people are having to live in 2 bedroom apartments. If you need the address call me. They seem to like where they are. They were having a birthday dinner for Misty's birthday with her family tonight.

Kirsten was busy dealing with BJ's car registration this week. He had her get the navy plates to put on it. They had the girls this weekend and took them shopping for shoes. I was glad that Kirsten could take me shopping with her because I had no car because Larry was at work and Erick went to the Mountain Man Rendezvous at Fort Bridger with Lynnette. The kids thought that it was real novel that I had lost so much weight that my clothes did not fit.

Erick had fun at the rendezvous. I was surprized it did not take them longer. He left here at noon and had to pick Lynnette up in Sandy and he was back again at 11:00 p.m. after taking her home. He decided to go to this activity because he is taking a dance and cultural diversity class at the U and has to go to several cultural festivals like this.

Holly went back to see BJ on Saturday morning. She said that her plane would either leave at midnight or 6:00 a.m. She ended up having to change her flight because of a class change at USU that made it so she had to stay for Friday. When I talked to Nathan he said that he had talked to BJ in the morning and she was not getting in until 2:00 p.m. so I assume that she didn't leave until 6:00 a.m. BJ said he was going to take her to the Cheesecake Factory restaurant there because she loves cheesecake. He hasn't called so I assume they are having a good time.

Maren and Landon came by tonight and we played Uno. They went to Fayette earlier in the day for Landon's Brother's baby blessing. They stopped by Grandma and Grandpa's and Grandpa had the rocker that I had had for my kids fixed for them. Grandpa did a really nice job. Brinlie is really beginning to talk. Maren asked her about the animals on my FHE board and she could tell us that the cat said, mew mew and the birdie said, cheep, cheep. She was sure a Moma and Daddy's girl tonight. she didn't want to talk to us until she could say good bye.

My sister Kathy's daughter, Amy, is getting married on the 20th of Sept. They have been thinking about it all summer but didn't set the date until this week. They are getting married in the Salt Lake Temple at 4:30 p.m. I know his name is David but I don't remember the last name. Annette has motivated us to have a shower for her at Mom and Dad's this weekend on Saturday at noon. It is the least we can do after Kathy has had so many showers for our children.

It is also Mom's 80th birthday this Friday so she was hoping that most of you could come by and see her and come to the shower also. My brothers went down yesterday and painted the garage with the cement paint they have now that makes the finish better. That was their present to mom because she was talking about how it would make things nicer.

Well have a good Labor Day.

It was good to go to church today. There was a good spirit there that helped me to feel more nourished than I have spiritually. Larry always says that it only takes three weeks of not going to start falling away. I don't know if that is true but I know it felt good to be back at church and feel the spirit. I have felt the spirit many times this week but it was not as nourishing as it was today.

I went off of my narcotic pain medications cold turkey last Saturday after a huge anxiety attack. I found out that I can develop anxiety with Lor-tab and I just went off of it. I also had only been off the oxycodone for only two days and was just taking lor-tab. I have survived but I would not recommend it. I went on aceteminiphen for Saturday but then I had to add ibuprofen every three hours on Sunday just to manage the pain. The doctor said on Sunday that I was half way through so I might as well finish it out but I couldn't eat anything except soda crackers and water for two days. Larry got me some caffeine free Dr. Pepper and I drank that for several days and then on Tuesday I did eat a piece of toast for lunch and Maren and Landon invited me for dinner and I ate a half of French dip sandwich. The next night Kirsten and Jon invited me for dinner and I was able to eat more than a cup of Pasta with chicken. But on my birthday, Thursday, was the first day that I actually had a hunger pain. I have been eating since then but only certain things look good to me still. I can't tell if this is still the effects of the narcotics or if it is just the effect of surgery still on my body.

I looked on line and they said that you should be able to walk with a cane by six weeks. I have been walking with no cane for almost two weeks now and my knee doesn't hurt except when I have to push it in Physical Therapy. So despite the set back with the pain medications I am doing very well. I have been trying to go to school at least half day, some days I have spent longer. My Master's classes at the U of U started on Thursday evening so it was a long day. My bed sure felt good that night. I also am sleeping better. Erick and Larry gave me a blessing promising that I will have the strength to do what I need to do so I am just trying to hang on and work on building up my strength until I feel less vulnerable.

Larry has been a jewel of a nurse. He takes such good care of me and listens to me complain daily. He keeps telling me I am okay and that he loves me so that has been helpful. He also is great on laundry, dishes, getting soda crackers and ice, and pain massage. The washing machine broke down on Thursday and he spent most of the morning trying to fix it but we finally had to call a repair man so we both got a working washing machine for our birthdays. I was really surprized that I found someone who could come on Saturday afternoon.

Larry is interviewing for a new job at Discover. If he wanted to keep the job he has had lately he would have had to move to Phoenix. We are wondering what will come from that but do not know for sure. Larry has also been busy with his classes at the University of Phoenix. He had to go to class on his birthday also this week on Tuesday night because of a final presentation so we ended up going to dinner on Friday for our birthdays.

Nathan called and said that Sara has been sick this week with something diarrehal. He has been learning how to load the helicopter for Medical evacuations so they were in class all week. David is enjoying school. Apparently they have full day kindergarten on the base so he goes all day. They are still calling Isaac, Ike-Ike and he is growing well. Samuel turned over onto his back this week and scared himself to screaming.

Michelle is busy being President of the Parent Organization for the school. The other night Daniel called and had the kids sing, Happy Birthday to me on my phone message and then they each said,"Happy Birthday" It was really cute.

Jake and Nikki have been busy working. Lexie is in school. Jake was up with the kids when we had the August birthday party. Maren said that Nikki came up to get her hair done but she had Landon tend Ashton because I had just had surgery. I was disappointed I didn't get to see them but it was probably for the best.

Jeff came by on Friday of last week and got somethings to take to Misty. He was able to talk to us for a few minutes and then he left to drive all night to try to get to Seattle that next day. I assume he made it. He said that they need to look for a house and get organized and then they will let us know on addresses.

Kirsten and Jon have been busy trying to find places for the kids while they work. I had Kyle and the girls over here with me three or four days. They actually were good help some days. The girls went back to their mother on Sunday of last week so things are a little less hectic. Kyle came over on Monday about noon and I took him and Jake swimming at the neighbor's pool. We have a neighbor that invites the whole neighborhood over on Monday afternoon all summer long to swim and then she doesn't have to take requests for people to come swimming. It was a good activity for me because I got out of the house and could talk to some people in the neighborhood and I just had to sit there while Kyle and Jake had fun swimming.

Erick started at the U of U this week also. He only has to go to the U on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for his classes this semester so he is excited about that. He let me use his truck on Tuesday to go to Physical Therapy and on Thursday he let me use it all day because I had to go to my class at the U and Larry could not help me get there. I figured that was a pretty good birthday present.

BJ has had an up and down week. He called on Wednesday saying it had been an awful day. He had failed two tests that he needed to pass, and had been dealing with some harrassment by another sailor. I tried to encourage him and listen. I finally told him to go to bed and hopefully tomorrow would be a better day. When he called the next day it was. He passed his gun test with 40 pts higher than the day before. He had been stressed about it because if he did not pass he would not be able to come home for two weeks later than planned. He is really putting alot of stress on himself trying to get home for the wedding.

Holly is going out to meet BJ next weekend so he has been working hard to plan that also. Hopefully it will work out to be a fun weekend for them. Holly has been really busy with School starting and she has a new job, plus she is planning a wedding with a groom 2000 miles away. She said that she has the envelopes for the invitations that she is bringing down this week so it is getting closer.

Maren is going to be working all this week because two girls in Super Cuts quit this week and it is the week before school so she will probably have to work on Monday and the other days this week. School starts on Wednesday. She came down on Wednesday and helped me put some numbers on my kitchen unit. She has really been helpful with the surgery also sometimes she has been here three days a week trying to help me. Especially in the beginning. Landon has been attending his flight school again and is working on getting more hours. He went on Saturday but came home sick. I had Brinlie for about 4 hours on Saturday and all I could do is watch Brinlie. Larry and Erick took her for about a hour when she first came.

Grandma Jenkins canceled her party for the 8th of September at the Chuck-a-Rama. She just wants people to come and visit her or write. She doesn't want presents. She would like some service help at the house if you are able.

My old roommate, Vicki Bishop,and her husband Dan came visit today. It was nice to visit with them. They are living in Northern California right now but had come up to visit with their kids. It was interesting talking to them. Vicki is doing better emotionally now she has some medications for Bi-polar disorder.

I am so excited. The physical therapist came today and we went through all the exercises that I have to do. He had me do the stairs without crutches. He thought I would not be able to do them leg over leg but I was able to. He said I was doing really good. I climbed the stairs and I was so excited because because climbing the stairs before my surgery meant that I would have to pull myself up. I also had a pain that went from my buttocks clear down my leg that pulled and hurt as I tried to go up the stairs. That pain is all gone. It was so exciting because I finally am seeing that this will eventually be better than it was before.

Maren was over today with Brinlie and helped me with some things. Kirsten's kids have been here. We watched a couple of movies, "Failure to launch" and "Two weeks notice". They were fun. We also watched President Faust's funeral on TV. I was excited because I did not need any pain pills for about 12 hours this morning.

Well it is Monday night and Larry will be at work until about 9:00 p.m., he said, and Erick went to his University Ward family home evening so I decided that the best thing I could do for Family Home Evening is to update the blog.

I am gradually feeling better. I can do exercises with ease that were really hard two weeks ago. The home health nurse came today and said that I could take the bandage off and get the wound wet now. It felt really good to get in the shower and wash all over. Especially since today was really hot. I also have a lot of episodes of being over heated that may have to do with the medication but it felt really good to take a shower this afternoon.

Larry is having to work late because he stays home each day and makes sure that everything is in order for me and set up so I can do the things I need to do to get well. Today he went to get some medications for me before he left so it was almost noon before he left. He has been working really hard to keep the house in order also. This would have been a much harder experience without his help. He spent alot of time last weekend also making sure the lawn was edged and the sprinklers were fixed. And he does all this despite the fact that he still has homework from his school. But he is often uptight because of all he has to do.

We had a party for the August birthdays last night. Jaron, Misty, Larry and myself have August birthdays. It also was going to be a goodbye party for Jeff but he couldn't make it so we had the birthdays. Larry cooked a ham and all the kids each brought a dish to go with it. We had a really nice dinner. Everyone seemed to enjoy the time they had together and I learned that I am not indispensible.

Jaron's birthday was on Tuesday and Michelle and Daniel had a party for him with his friends on that day. They had a pinata Jaron really liked. We bought Jaron a game and did not know that he liked it or anything but Michelle said when he opened it, that he always wanted to play that game and they had lost some of the pieces for it. Just before the party he had wanted Michelle to buy the game for him but she didn't want to because she was sure they would find the parts. Anyway we bought him the game and I felt like it was maybe inspiration on our part that got him the game he wanted to play.

Nathan called yesterday and said he was back from his three week training. He had just got in. Sara and the boys had to miss church to pick him up. He seemed tired but was excited to talk. He also called Landon and Jake to talk yesterday. He was trying to talk them into going into flying so they would have someone there with them in Alabama. He said that David had started school already and seemed to be liking it.

Nikki had to work last night so she could not come. Ashton took a while to warm up to us but then he seemed to have a good time. I had found a picture of Jake when he was about Ashton's age and showed it to him and ask him if he thought it looked like Ashton. He said yes. Landon thought that it looked like Brinlie so that was interesting. Lexie has also started school already so she is busy.

Jeff ended up working one more week here to satisfy is boss in Utah. He leaves this Thursday I think to go to Seattle and then he starts on Monday in Seattle. He will come by to get some things to pick up on his way and then he will head to Washington. We bought all the bridesmaids outfits so he has to take Misty's up to see if it fits. We were passing those out to others at the party.

Kirsten got BJ's car fixed from when we were in the accident. It looks good. She and Jon have been working hard to get caught up on their finances. Jon will finish up his journeyman internship by the first of the year and then he will be making the highest salary possible with UTA for a journeyman. I had their kids over here today to help me and to tend them while they both work. They brought lots of movies for us to watch. Maren was also here and they were good help with Brinlie.

Erick had Lynnette up on Friday for dinner and he made homemade Macaroni and cheese. We ended up also having Maren and Landon and Brinlie for dinner. Then Erick and Lynnette went shopping for me for Jaron's birthday present so they were the ones that were inspired. Erick spent a lot of time helping me with my exercises on Friday and Saturday and went for walks with me outdoors now they are requiring that for Physical Therapy.

BJ called a lot this week now he is at A school and can call more often. He has had a lot of things that he needed me to do for him to work towards the wedding plans and get some of his financial things worked out. We also spent Friday evening going over the ward list deciding who he wanted me to invite. He seems to have a lot more free time than he did in Basic training.

Holly came down on Thursday evening and we worked out some things for the wedding. Kirsten and Maren and Michelle worked out things for the final Brides maides outfit with her and they went shopping for those. She was showing me the announcement that they are going to use maybe. We went through old pictures of BJ for a wedding video and she got those in order so she could get them to Amanda. She brought her sister Lauren with her so we got to meet her.

Maren has spent everyday that she did not have to work over here helping me with things. She came again today and worked on things with Kirsten's kids. It has been fun to have her. She worked on revamping the photo wall in the kitchen and it looks better. She and Erick have been working at coming up with colors we could paint the various rooms in the house and She and Erick spent some time washing walls so they can begin painting.

Well I am getting tired. I go in and out of feeling weird with the medicines I am on for my knee. Right now I feel okay, just tired. Mom and Dad came up yesterday to visit and to bring a skirt they had bought for Misty for BJ's wedding reception. We got talking about the miner's that they are looking for in Emery county by Huntington and I mentioned that I thought they were probably dead because they had not heard any thing from them. Dad told us about a Miner that had survived a cave in for 9 days that he knew and the claustropobia that I got just thinking about that made me feel really ill. But I guess this will pass.

I went to sacrament meeting yesterday for the first time since I had the surgery. I did okay but I felt weird because of the pain medicine and I came home and slept for three hours after going which was unusual for me to sleep that long in the afternoon. But things will get better. They have already.

July has been busy and I have not posted much. I had surgery to obtain a new knee last Monday and I am starting to understand what I need to do to control the pain until I am more completely healed. I have been doing very well and can walk on my leg with a walker or crutches for support. Of course I have been doing very well because I have my husband, my children that are here, my parents and the Relief Society for support. Everyone has been great help in getting me back on my feet.

Larry took off two days last week so he would have time to help me when I came home. He is a wonderful nurse. He anticipates my every want and helps to fulfill it. I just hope he does not get overwhelmed by it all. It is wonderful for him to be there and help me with other things besides cooking. He keeps the ice in the ice pack I need. He keeps soda crackers by my bed. He is doing the laundry and dishes and working on the house. He has helped me dress and undress and get ready for whatevery situation I have to face.

Erick has also been good help. He stayed with me last Friday and Saturday and part of the time on Sunday. He went out and weeded the flower beds and he and Larry worked on fixing the sprinklers that were broken on Saturday so that we would not have the lawn continue to die in the hot weather we are having. His friend Lynnette is back from Phoenix so he is grateful to be able to see her often.

Maren is here today helping me with things as I am not supposed to be alone with the pain pills in my body. Brinlie is here also. She is so cute. Larry says she should go as the energizer bunny for Halloween because she just keeps going and going and going. Maren gave me a manicure and did my hair yesterday so by evening I did not look so naturalle.

BJ called on Friday and Sunday. He graduated from his boot camp on Friday and they left for his A school on Friday afternoon. He was supposed to get to Virginia that evening but there was some problem that made them have to spend the night at the airport and they did not get to Virginia until the next day at 4:00 p.m. BJ was sick on Sunday when I talked to him. He had a sore throat and swollen sinuses so he was not able to go to church. He says the church is off base and a distance from there anyway so he will have to find a ride to church. We put the address into Google Earth and he is right on the Virginia beach.

Holly has been busy getting the plans ready for the wedding. She has her dress and they have set up where they want to have the reception and the wedding luncheon. They have decided to move the wedding to October 20th which is a Saturday. I hope that everyone can get that day off. The boys are going to wear khaki pants and white shirts. Let me know if you do not have that and need some help getting it. As the grooms parents we are in charge of that. I am trying to get the skirts for all the girls and we will probably do dresses for the little girls. I hope you can all come and then we could have a family picture taken at the wedding with Holly and Samuel in it.

I am really loopy from the pain pills so if something doesn't make sense that will be the reason why.

Kirsten is bringing dinner tonight. The kids got back from the other parents and so she has a full house again. They came over the other day to see me but I was pretty out of it. Jon was able to fix Erick's and BJ's air-conditioning for their cars to that makes them more comfortable.

The day that I was supposed to go in for my Pre-Operation appointment Kirsten and I got in a minor accident with BJ's car driving up the road to her house. A small truck turned in front of us and we could not stop. It dented the fender on the passentger's side and raised the bumper and the hood. It comes to about $3200.00 in damages. No one was hurt but the car. We drove it home thinking it could be driven but when Jon got there and looked at it he said that it was scraping on the tire so they had to take me down for my pre-op appointment in Bountiful. Luckily Kirsten and Jon's work would let them off for the afternoon to deal with it.

Jeff was able to get a job in Seattle with Comcast so he will be moving up there around the 10th. He starts his new job on the 13th. Larry was able to go to dinner with him on Friday the 27th and get all the news and spend some time with him. Michelle's family and Larry and I got together with him the weekend before that and went to dinner to celebrate his birthday on the 18th of July. We had the family dinners for June and July together this year.

Michelle and I took an electronic portfolio class together on the 18th of July at UEN. It was fun to have someone who wanted to go to a class with me and we both learned alot. It was fun to have the time to talk together without all the grandkids interrupting. We decided to do it again some time.

Michelle and Daniel took the kids to the museum that is close to UEN that week. Then they came over to visit for a few minutes. This week they went to a Gibby Reunion in Heber city on Saturday and then they came to visit. Kallise liked the Saltine Crackers that Grandma had by her bed so she had some. The kids thought that I had a funny looking contraption on my leg when they saw the machine that works my knee.

Nathan is out on a survival training for two more weeks. He cannnot contact Sara so she is on her own for a while. She says that they really like Alabama. It is really nice there. We looked that up on Google Earth the other night also. It is alot more inland than Virginia Beach.

Jacob and Nikki are looking at a job in Idaho. If they got it they would sell their home and move to close to Idaho Falls. I haven't heard how seriously they are persuing the idea.

We made Lexie's quilt on the 12th, 13th and 14th of July. It turned out nice but it was hard to do. I never would have finished it without Erick's help tending Brinlie and playing with Lexie.

Pictures of the last night before Jeff and Misty moved

Well, I just noticed it has been a month since I put anything on the blog. I keep trying to make myself write just a little everyday but so far I haven't been successful. I am starting to feel much better. I went to another orthopedic surgeon and he set up surgery on my knee for the 23rd of July but then I saw a job listing to teach at the Educational Technology center in the district. I would like to do that if I can and I have applied for the job so if I get it I will have to wait on the surgery because the job starts on July 23rd. I think I have a good chance to get it with my Technology Endorsement about finished. I spent most of my free time this week working on the application that was due on Friday.

Maren and Landon and Brinlie; and Kirsten and Jon came over for the Fourth of July. Landon's parents also came and Erick was here. We had a barbecue and then watched the fireworks together. Landon and Erick had fun setting off a few of their own. With the new houses and the road going through to Highway 89 this year we had a lot more traffic for the fireworks. Michelle and Daniel brought the kids over in the afternoon and we took them to a kids fair that was at Davis High where they had blowup toys the kids liked but they had another barbecue in the evening. We got up late in the morning, and thought we had missed the parade but we went to the end and saw it with Maren and Landon and Brinlie.

Larry has been working hard on school as usual. He has been working on an actual proposal for Overstock.com to go to India as their assignment in class. He will have his Business degree in December and his Marketing degree finished in June of next year.

We all had a stomach flu a week and a half ago with the diahrea and vomiting. I don't think it was food poisoning because the three of us got it each one day apart and we hadn't eaten the same thing. Grandpa Jenkins apparently was really sick with the same type thing on the Fourth of July. I hope we didn't give it to him. I have been going down more to visit. He said that I cursed him because I invited them up for the fourth to our barbecue and he said(just joking) he was too sick to come.

I have been tending Brinlie some for Maren when she works because Evan and Shirley have been out of town a lot. She is a smart thing. She is 17 months old but already in the "Terrible Twos" If she doesn't like what you are doing she doesn't hesitate to hit you in the face and pull your hair and scream at you. We are working with her to let her know that is not appropriate but right now she is a handful. I am glad I am the grandma.

Larry and I went to dinner with Jeff and Michelle and Daniel and their kids last night. Jeff is by himself now that he has moved Misty and the kids to Seattle. We are trying to spend some more time with him while they are gone. He thinks he has a fifty fify chance of being transferred to Seattle. He has been going to a lot of movies and working out at the gym twice a day. He said that they are meeting in California next weekend. Misty and the kids went to an airshow he said for the Fourth of July.

Michelle and Daniel had his brothers two kids this week while his brother and his wife went to Russia for a visit to his old mission in the Ukraine. So Michelle found out what it is like to have six kids all under 8. She was breathing a sigh of relief last night.

Nathan called and said that they were leaving Thursday night about 8:30p.m. (Texas time)for Alabama. They were going to travel for about two hours and then stop on the 11 hour drive somewhere and get a motel. The military moved them so that helped but they had a small trailer full of things they wanted to have immediately. Nathan is going to be going to helicopter school there. They will be living on base and David will be attending the school on base. Sara's mom stayed in Houston with another single lady she met through the church to continue her cancer treatments.

Nikki's brother has been up from Texas visiting for a couple of weeks. Lexie is out of school for a short time right now but will go back at the end of the month because she is on year round school. She is coming up this week and we are going to make her quilt together now that she is 7. Jake was battling a cold or allergies the last time I talked to him.

Erick's friend who is a girl that is in Arizona is coming back possibly this week so he is looking forward to that. He has been helping a lot around the house and in the yard. He likes to play with Brinlie when she is here also. He spends most days working, doing activities with his ward and watching TV. He loves Mythbusters and History Channel.

BJ is doing well at his boot camp in Great Lakes Illinois. He scored a perfect score on at least one test and has worked hard to pay attention to what he needs to learn. It looks like his prayers were answered because he is supposed to graduate from boot camp on the 27th of July and then ship out later that day to his A school which they are saying right now is in Virginia. So hopefully that is what will happen. They made him the Religious petty officer over his unit so he has enjoyed some good experiences talking about faith with some of the members of his Unit as he conducts prayer each evening.

Holly is busy studying for her Nursing boards and working. She has probably decided not to spend the money to go to BJ's graduation because of the expense and she will only get to see him for about 2 hours. That way they will have the money later. She is coming down on the 16th so we can look for skirts for some of the bridesmaids. It has been good to get to know her better as BJ has been gone.

Larry and I have decided to send BJ a care package for graduation also. They want about $400.00 per person to fly to Illinois and that is a lot of money for us for a two hours visit. BJ said to save the money for other things.

Kirsten and I have been sharing BJ's car this summer. That means that if I want the car I have to get up early and take Kirsten to work because Jon goes to work super early. But it has been good, it makes me get up and get going. Also Jon fixed the air conditioning in it so it is not so sweltering in this summer that is hotter than usual in the West.

Kyle and Kennedy and Brooke are all with their other parents right now so it is pretty quiet at Kirsten and Jon's. Kyle's dad lives in Neola where that big fire has been burning. We were worried for a while but they called and said that everything was okay. The fire was only two miles from their house and the FEMA firefighters had their headquarters just across the street.

Grandma Jenkins said that Uncle Reed and Aunt Kathleen are going on a mission this fall. I think she said Bolivia but I am not sure.

Nathan said that the area where Weston is on his mission is where Nathan used to teach school in Houston. We had a couple talk in our ward today about their mission to the inner city in Salt Lake City. They told of the churches efforts to help the people there to help themselves. She quoted from President Hinckley's talk in 2005 conference where he talks about the importance of preparing for things to come. She pointed out that the most important thing we need to do to prepare is to be obediant to the Lord and prepare ourselves spiritually and then all the temporal will come with the spiritual. I hope that you will all do what you need to prepare spiritually to meet the Lord and do his will. If you haven't read the Book of Mormon we gave you then read the Book of Mormon. It will help you to draw nearer to Christ and understand how he can help you. He is certainly helping us to see what we need to do to help others and progress.

BJ and Holly on the day they got engaged!!

Today is the first day I have felt good for about 2 weeks. I am glad to have school out and have some time to catch up on my rest. I was able to tend Kyle this week and we went to "Pirates of the Carribean 3" last Saturday, then on Tuesday we went to get Lexie and went to Cherry Hill with Maren and Brinlie. The rest of this week I spent alot of time sleeping and tending Brinlie and Ashton on Thursday and Friday. On Friday Brinlie acted like she felt like I did so I hope it was just something going around.

Larry has been busy with school and work. But, he and Erick took time off to go to Pirates with us. We have been trying to find time to watch Shrek 2 because Larry got to watch Shrek 3 at work for a reward and he was a little confused about what was going on. We have had a little more time to do fun things lately.

We had a party on Saturday June 9th for June birthdays and Father's day. We had Father's day early because Michelle and Jeff were leaving town for Father's day. It is Michelle, Kennedy and Landon's birthdays in June. Kirsten and Jon were camping at Flamming Gorge this weekend so we will have to do something for Kennedy when they get back. Erick made his Italian lasanga and everyone brought something to go with it and we had a great dinner. We bought pies rather than cake and sent them home with the birthday people so Larry and I would not eat them.

Jeff and Misty announced last night that they are trying to move to Seattle with her family. Jeff does not have a job there yet so Misty is going to move with her Mother and sister and then Jeff will move when he has a job there or in Portland. Everyone was sad that they are leaving but they seem to want to go so they have to do what they want.

Michelle and Daniel are leaving for California this week for a vacation for about 10 days. Ethan and Hailee had a concert with their choir a couple of weeks ago and did a nice job. Ethan had a Piano recital the same week. He has really progressed. This week Hailee had her dance recital on Friday night at the Ed Kenely Ampitheater. She has been taking Ballet and she looked really cute but Michelle says that she wants to do something more exciting.

Kirsten and Jon went to Flaming Gorge with Jon's family this weekend. It snowed in the mountains this week so they were in cool temperatures. The morning high at Flaming Gorge on Saturday was 58 so I am sure it was an interesting experience. Jon's parents went looking for a good campsite during the week and their car broke down so Jon had to make two trips to Flaming Gorge this week to get them and bring them back in addition to going up camping.

BJ sent a form letter from boot camp with all the rules and regulations and things we need to plan for. He told Holly that if he passes everything on time he will graduated from boot camp on July 29th. He is finding out that everything they promise at recruitting is not necessarily so because if he doesn't get into his A-school right after his boot camp he will not be home by October 5th when he and Holly were planning their wedding. He wants everyone to pray for him that he can get into his school immediately after boot camp.

I am not sure if I told you that BJ is engaged. He ask Holly Milligan to marry him and gave her a ring the Monday before he left although they have been planning the wedding for a month. We went to Logan on the 26th to meet her parents and begin the planning. She is actually from Cove, Utah.

We had a going away party for BJ on the Sunday before he left and most of the family was there. We had a dinner and everyone had a chance to talk to BJ before they left. Grandma and Grandpa Jenkins even came up with Jake and we had a good time with them.

Erick has been helping alot on the yard. We got some weeding done on Friday in the garden area and he planted some plants yesterday. When I wasn't feeling good and he was gone to Italy we really got behind on the yard work. We had weeds that were about as tall as us in the garden area. We also decided that one problem this year is that we do not have Frescas to dig up everything so it had a chance to grow. I planted Evening primrose by the garden and every year there has not been much but this year it was really full.

Maren and Landon went to Disneyland over Memorial Weekend with Landon's Mom's family for a reunion. They spent 5 days there so they got to ride everything several times. Apparently it was not that busy during the week. The brought me a T-shirt that has Goofy on it and says "Partly confused (All of the time)" Which sometimes describes me. They also bought a Pirates of the Carribean Life game that we had fun playing last Sunday. Brinlie has had a runny nose since they got back and alot of this week she has been pretty grouchy. Maren thinks that it is teeth but she may have a cold also.

Jake had guard this weekend so they were not able to come up last night. Erick and I got to see them several times this last two weeks. A week ago Saturday we went to Lexie's last Soccer game. She has improved alot over the winter. Then we went to get Lexie this week to go to Cherry Hill before she had to go back to school She is on year round school so she went back to school on Thursday. Thursday Nikki came up to have Maren do her hair and so I got to tend Ashton for about a half a day. He and Brinlie had fun together. Nikki cut her hair alot shorter than usual but it is cute.

Nathan and Sara are working towards moving. Sara met him half way so he could give her some of his stuff from Kingsville. Sara had on her blog this week that Samuel has two inflamed heart valves. So we need to pray for him. I haven't gone to the website to read more so check Sara's blog for more information. Sara was down in Kingsville for about a week and a half after they were home for the birthday's. There are some fun pictures of the birthday party and the kids on the blog. http://www.4boysandme.blogspot.com/

Grandma called yesterday and said that Cory and Rebecca Shaw had a new baby girl on July 7, 2007 and Erica and Craig Swenson had a new baby boy (I think that is five fore them) on July 8, 2007 so they were pretty close together. When I talked to mom they were all doing fine.

It has been really cold and raining this week but it is a gorgeous day today. Yesterdaty wasn't bad either. We spent alot of time outside at the party because it was cooler outside than in the house but it was not cold.

Well, I am at the Family History Center again and I decided to preserve some history on the Blog. I am so excited for school to end for the summer. I am just beginning to feel well after a month of congestion in my throat and chest. I have felt like I was dragging myself through the rigors of school and I am sure it has showed in my teaching. I am looking forward to a couple of days of sleeping in to begin the summer.

Larry has begun school classes again and has been busy with those. He has been feeling really good lately and doesn't seem to need as much sleep. He is really on top of things and always doing things for me to keep me going. The house has looked great lately because he is constantly picking up and straightening.

We celebrated our 6th anniversary on the 17th of May by going out to dinner. We always have a good time but there was a little damper on the occasion because my principal had informed me that day that there was a possiblity that I might be cut back again on my hours at school for next year. I have decided not to worry about it for now because it is just a possiblity but we really don't need the cut in pay.

Maren did my hair on Thursday and dyed it a darker color. I have had a lot of compliments on it but I hate it when people can tell that you have dyed your hair. I prefer to have them think it is my natural color. But, maybe I have only been fooling myself.

Brinlie has been sick this week. Maren thinks it is partly teeth but she seems to have what I have had. They are planning to go Disneyland with Landon's family on the 28th for a family reunion, so they are hoping that Brinlie can get feeling better before they go.

Erick and BJ got home from Italy yesterday. They were supposed to get home on Tuesday night about 10:30 p.m. but they were having a airline strike in Italy when they left and so the plane left 4 hours late. When they got to New York they missed their plane by about 7 minutes and so they ended up having to spend the night in the airport and leave at 7:00 a.m. the next morning. BJ says he will never fly Delta again.

Erick showed us all their pictures on his camera last night. They got to Italy during some culture festival so they were able to go into alot of places for free because of the festival. They figured that this saved them at least a hundred dollars. They have some beautiful pictures of places they were able to visit and photograph.

Holly is staying with us this week. She picked up the boys and they are getting some things done before BJ has to leave again next Wednesday for Navy boot camp. It was nice to have them here today because I ran out of guest checks for the restaurant simulation today at school and they brought me some because I did not have a car. Of course I couldn't have left even if I did have a car because I can't leave my classes.

We are going to Logan to meet Holly's parents this weekend. BJ and Holly are trying to get as many things done as possible before he leaves. BJ was really stressed about getting it all done when they missed the plane in New York but he seems to have mellowed now he is home and can be with Holly.

Michelle and Daniel's kids have had two performances this week. Hailee and Ethan had their spring concert with the Choral Connection on Monday and we were able to see that. It had a country music theme and costumes. The kids did a great job. Ethan had a duet he had to sing with another boy. Wednesday night Ethan had a piano recital. He is really progressing. The pieces he played sounded much more sophisticated than what he played a year ago.

With Larry at school and no one home on Tuesday night I went to dinner with Jon and Kirsten and the kids a week ago. We had a good time stuffing ourselves and talking at the Golden Corral. Kyle is going to Vernal with his dad on the 17th of June until the 22nd of July so they will not have any kids for that time period. There are some benefits of divorce! Until then I will be tending Kyle some days this summer because both of them are working. So we will do something fun. Jon is trying to get their truck going so they can go camping in June.

Nathan and Sara are progressing towards their move to Alabama. They are trying to get housing on base so David can attend the base school. If that is not possible then they are trying to find out if the schools in Alabama are where they want to send him. Sara has been thinking about home school. It will be interesting to see what comes of that. Gail will be staying in Houston with a girl friend that she has there.

Misty's Mom and sister are moving to Seattle. So Jeff and Misty are having to make some changes in their life style. Jeff has been publishing to a blog lately and sharing his ideas with us.

Nikki is working her swing shift at the hospital now. She works three nights a week normally but she has to work this weekend. Ashton let me hold him again when they came up for Mother's day. Lexie turned seven this year so we are going to make her quilt this summer. Jake is adjusting back after being in Germany on an AT assignment.

Most of the kids in Utah came up for the Saturday before Mother's day and helped me to get the grass and weeds out of the front flower beds. I was really feeling overwhelmed by it all especially with Erick going to Italy. It looks much better. You can see the flowers now. Dan was a real weed pulling machine. The lawn was getting long again though so BJ mowed that this afternoon.

I bought myself the book "Debt Free on Any income" and Larry and I have been reading it occasionally and trying to implement the recommendations. It has a good program that I would recommend to anyone and it has a CD that has the paperwork all set up in Excel for you that you can install on your computer.

Well it is good to have time to write. Hope some of you have time to read it.

Well, it seems that the Family History Center is the only time I have to work on the blog lately. I am hoping to get some pictures up but they are on the home computer.

Last night Craig came home from Iraq. It was a great reunion. He looked good and seemed to enjoy having everyone there to greet him. He came in about 6:20 p.m. Corrine had a photographer there to capture every moment but I don't think she caught the moment when Dad almost cried when Craig hugged him and was home. Dad took everyone who came to Chuck-a-rama for dinner and we had a chance to talk a little more. We mostly updated Craig about what we had been doing though. He didn't say much to me or those around me about his feelings or plans.

Jacob and Lexie and Ashton came up. I was excited because Ashton went to me and did not cry and put his head on my shoulder and cuddled like he liked me. I thought he was going to go to sleep but he perked up when the food came and enjoyed eating all the fruit on my plate and his. Maren cut his hair this week when she went to visit Nikki and he looks really grown up but I miss his curls. Lexie ate with Craig's boy's Cameron and Landon. Lexie and Cam are the same age. It seemed weird to me that my brother's son was the same age as my granddaughter. But I know there are weird combinations all the time like that. After all Craig is 15 years younger than I am.

I have had a cough and congested throat for about 2 weeks now. I finally realized last Saturday that I was getting worse. I was able to get some antibiotic for the congestion and I am feeling much better. I am still feeling overwhelmed with all I have to do at school. I work really hard but I am always behind. The new computer systems that allow parents to go online to check on their students grades is good for them but if I don't have grades posted the minutes their child turns it in they are emailing me and calling about, "where is my child's assignment" and it takes time just to answer all of those email. I also have two very tough classes as far as students that do not behave and I am constantly working to keep them in check.

Larry went back to school this week so he was stressed all last week about a paper that he had to write. He finally got it written, and I am sure it is fine but he really stresses over papers. He had a gout attack this weekend because he went to the doctor on Friday and they gave him an antibiotic that they said would react with Indomethicin that he takes when he has an attack. So he didn't dare take it when the Gout started. I finally called the doctor and found out that he can take it because he felt the reaction was minor to what a gout attack is like, so Larry took it and is better but it has lingered and not gone completely away so we are wondering if that is part of the reaction.

Erick and BJ left home for Italy on Tuesday morning at about 5:45 a.m. Holly was down with BJ so she took them to the airport. Their plane left at about 8:30 a.m. I haven't heard anything from them so I hope everything is going okay and they are having a good time.

BJ moved all his stuff home on Saturday. He said that it snowed in Logan that morning. He and Holly had spent all of Friday cleaning and getting ready and he was supposed to work for Holly's dad one last time on Saturday and then with the snow he could not work. He came down in the afternoon and they had dinner with us. Then he and Holly went out to do something for a while. They have decided to get married on October 5, 2007 so they spent some time looking online and in Bountiful for places to hold a wedding dinner after the ceremony. Holly stayed all weekend and on Monday so they could be together for some time before he left. BJ has joined the Navy and will go to basic training a week after he gets back from Italy so he and Holly will not see each other much until September.

Sunday, Larry and I did not go to church because we were feeling sick. We slept for most of the day and got some medicine so in the evening we were feeling better. Maren had invited all of us over for soup and rolls and to play games the week before so we went to that. Maren had worked hard and had hot rolls and a commerical chicken noodle soup that my kids like that is like homemade. She had also made baklava for everyone. BJ had made lemon squares for lunch so we had an abundance of good deserts. We had a good time and really enjoyed the food. I thought I had won the game but Landon beat me by one card.

Jake got home last Saturday evening from Germany. He said that he had really missed his family this time. I guess that Ashton didn't want to go to sleep that night because he was afraid Jake would not be there in the morning. He is learning a lot more words and Jake said he talked to him often on the phone. Nikki said he got to the point that he wanted to talk to everyone on the phone because he thought it was Daddy.

Nathan called last week and said that they will be moving to Alabama the first week in July. He has to be to Helicopter school on the 8th of July. He will be learning to fly the Black Hawk Helicopter. Sara and the boys can go with him so that will be good. Sara drove down this week to see him and then he was going to go back with them to celebrate birthdays in Houston, I think.

Hailee's birthday was last Saturday. It rained and was cold so they had to cancel their plans to go to Lagoon and they took Hailee's friends to Chuck-E-Cheese. Michelle said they had a good time. It was really cold last weekend but it is back up to the eighties today.

Jeff is interviewing for a promotion this week. Hopefully he will do well. Leah came up as one of the friends for Hailee's party on Saturday. They were looking for Leah's levi jacket this week, I don't know if they found it. If you know where it is let them know. We couldn't find it at the house.

David and Sara have May birthday's also. David's is on the 8th and Sara's on the 10th. We are celebrating May birthday's and Mother's day this Saturday at our house. I have ask that those who want to do something for me for Mother's day come on Saturday and help us work on the yard. Our flower beds are awful. Then we will have a dinner at 5:00 p.m. for the Birthdays. I would like to make this a tradition in our family for Mother's Day because it is so hard for me to get to yard work before school gets out each year and Larry isn't really into yard work. Luckily Erick has been mowing the lawn. But he is gone for two weeks.

Grandma and Grandpa Jenkins got new windows for their house that are supposed to be really easy to clean and energy efficient. I haven't seen them yet but Dad said that Mom really liked them.

Kathy says that Amy is getting married the last week of July or the first week of August.

Well if there is something important that I missed add a comment.

I have had a hard time finding time to write in the blog the last two weeks. Last week Maren and Landon came over to play games with us and it was too late when we finished and the Sunday before that it was the April family birthday party. I am at the family history center and have decided that this is family history that needs recorded.

We had a great birthday party on the 15th of April. It was good weather so we had it outside and Larry barbecued again. As ususal he out did himself on the meat. Chichen, Hamburgers and Hot Dogs. It was great but he had to work so hard that we are going to try to have the parties on a Saturday or a Weekday from now on. It was BJ, Lexie, Ethan, and Kalisse's birthdays this month. We had a great time together. Grandma and Grandpa Jenkins even came and stayed for a while. Owen is walking now and had a great time showing off how he could walk across the living room.

I have been really busy at school lately. Most nights I stay until at least 6:00 p.m. part of the reason is because I am riding with Larry and he is not getting off until about 5:00 p.m. at his work but, I also have had a lot to do. TLC has been in the sewing room and I always have alot of extra work when they are sewing. Aprons to fix when they cut holes in them with the sergers and machines to take care of, supplies to buy and on top of that I had one Foods class that I had scheduled a lot of demonstrations and labs for so I was moving back and forth from the sewing room to the foods room for one period. I also am teaching FACS Exploration sewing for the first time so I am having to do new lessons for that class. I have felt really stressed for about three weeks now. TLC finally is back in my classroom so I am only switching for one period and it is better.

While I have been stressing about school Larry has been doing a lot of things around the house and even at school to help me out. He took a leave of absences from his school until May 8th so he has had a little more time. He has done alot of the laundry and dishes lately at home. He even got ambitious last Saturday and started cleaning out the mess in the garage. It looks so much better. Last night he cleaned up the kithen at school while I was finishing up some paper work. He is really great at cleaning and organizing but I have to close my eyes because sometimes he throws away things that I would keep.

Larry is feeling much better lately. He doesn't require as much sleep and he has more energy. I don't know if it is the change to the short term insulin or as he says he likes his job much better now that he has a promotion.

Nathan has called each weekend to talk. I think he needs things to do on Sunday. He is going to flight school to learn about Helicopters in July. He should be able to take Sara and the boys with him as it is a permanent change of assignment. They will be in Alabama at I think he said Fort Brag. He has been moved in his present assignment to another town further North on the border, Kingston. He said that Sara and the boys had been sick a week ago.

Jacob has been in Germany since the 14th of April on his yearly Advance Training. Nikki started her new job at the Hospital and said she is liking it. She had to do alot of juggling though with Jake leaving and she had to work days for a while to be trained in their procedures. When she is trained she will be working nights and Jake babysitting when he gets home.

Jeff and Michelle had their "Grammy", Marie, up for Ethan's baptism and party and then she stayed the week after. She stayed at Michelle's house the first part of the week and then went to Jeff's to stay. She came to the birthday party with Jeff and Misty and seemed to have a good time. She went home the Tuesday after on the 17th.

Michelle and Daniel had an early morning temple trip with their stake last Saturday so I got to go over and tend their kids while they went to the Temple. Larry dropped me off at about 6:00 a.m. Ethan had bought himself a Nintendo game cube with his birthday money so he played that a lot. We just sat around and played games and tried to keep Kalisse from playing with the buttons on the stereo and the TV. Kalisse is walking now and very proud of herself.

Ethan and Lexie are both playing soccer but we have not had a chance to get to a game yet to watch them.

Kirsten has been using the Infinity for a while because she and Jon have conflicting schedules and only one car. They looked at an old car yesterday that they could maybe get but they are not sure if they will get it. Kirsten works at Tanner Clinic on the weekdays and at "Undertees" on Saturdays so she is pretty busy. Jon has been working the 3-12 shift on his internship lately so he goes to work before Kirsten gets home. Kyle went with Aaron and Jessica last weekend for a while because Kirsten could not find a babysitter on Friday and they were coming to the Wasatch Front.

Erick is almost finished with school. He has two tests next week and then he will be finished. He and BJ are leaving for Italy about the 7th of May. They will be gone for two or three weeks. He has been spending time planning that. He is also saving all his money right now for that.

BJ has decided to get married the third week in October the last I talked to him. He is marrying Holly Milligan. He is coming down this afternoon and I am supposed to help him go look for rings so he can surprise her with a ring. He has also joined the Navy and will be going for Basic Training on May 27th so Holly is not very happy that he will not be around for the summer. I assume that they get out of school this week also. BJ has been working for Holly's dad on his tree farm lately instead of for Alert Cellular so he says he is learning a lot about the family by talking to Holly's sisters.

Maren has been working the weekends. I got to tend Brinlie last Saturday because Shirley (Landon's mom) was sick and Landon was laying a new floor in their bathroom with his Uncle. Maren has been ambitious lately and made curtains for her kitchen that are really cute. She also spent some tip money and bought some things to make her bedroom more attractive. I think she has some of her dad's decorating genes. They moved their computer out of Brinlie's room also so that they can work on it when she is asleep. Landon is working on trying to get into school still.

I had a party for my primary class last Saturday for the birthday's and they had a great time playing with Brinlie and jumping on the tramp. They are only six so they had a great time mothering Brinlie and telling me all the things she could do as they discovered them, like walk, run, clap and jump.

I have also been working on my application for Graduate school the last few weeks. I think I have a better chance of getting in now that I have taken the classes and proved that I can do the work. I would appreciate prayers in my behalf. It was midterm this week also so I was at school until about 9:30 p.m. finishing up grades. I am looking forward to summer.

I have a few pictures I will try to post. I found out now that I have my new computer that the reason some of the pictures did not post before was because they took forever to upload and I was not allowing them long enough. Live and learn.

It has been a busy week. We have had something everynight this week, and Larry and I have had to work late also.

Monday night Larry and I went shopping for Ethan's birthday for Family Home Evening and listened to a conference talk.

Tuesday night was Ethan's baptism. He had it with his cousin Sabrina on Daniel's side of the family because their birthdays are one day apart. It was a nice program and a great service before the baptism. We had to pick up Kirsten and her kids because Jon had to work and so we were just barely there on time. Hailee sang a great solo. She did an outstanding job.

After the baptism everyone went to Classic Skating for a party. They had rented the kareoke room and had pizza and drinks and fruit and vegetable trays for everyone. We rented inline skates and scooters for some of the kids that wanted them and then I tried to help Hailee skate around the rink. She did pretty good but wanted to skate backwards so she had a hard time staying up. I got my exercise trying to hold her up.

Wednesday night we went to the temple to do sealings. Then we had to go to Ben Franklin and get some sewing supplies for my classes. That day Maren had to bring me 75 more dishtowels that we use for aprons for my classes because I was out of the dishtowels by third period. I was so grateful that she did not have to work so she could help me out. So I had to go in and get the tax removed and get some seam rippers and rotary cutter blades.

Thursday Larry and I worked at the Family History Center from 6-9:00 p.m. Larry came to pick me up and I had just finished the grades for one of my classes. I had to print some things out and then we left in a hurry so we would not be late. As we were driving along I realized I did not have my phone. I had left it at school. I ask Larry for his so I could make a call. He said it was in the back seat in his jacket. When I looked back I said, "what jacket?" At that point we decided that He would go to the Family History Center and I would go back and get our phones and get him something to eat. It took me about an hour round trip from Kaysville to Bountiful to do that. So, I guess that I only worked at the FHC from 7:00-9:00 p.m.

After I went there I had to go shopping for school. That took another hour and a half but I was prepared for my demo the next day.

Friday we stayed at my school until about 9:30 p.m. Larry was helping me with various clean up projects as I worked on my grades. I finished all except one class. Larry got so tired he went down to the Faculty room and laid on the sofa for a while. I really appreciate the sacrifices he makes for me all the time.

Saturday Larry had to work. I went to Maren's work to get my hair done. It is free for family so you cannot beat that. I then went shopping for birthday gifts for the Monthly birthday party we are having today. After that I went home and Larry was home and we went shopping for food for the party. I had had a headache all day and Larry didn't get much sleep so we laid done down for a minute and the next thing we knew it was 2 hours later. I got up and went to a wedding reception for a boy in the ward but Larry said he didn't feel good.

Well everyone is coming for the party so I will write more later.

Well, I just learned that I cannot look at the blog without saving my post. I had about three paragraphs written and decided to look at where I ended when I was in Texas and lost it all.

We have had a good Easter Sunday. I had an Easter lesson to teach to my Primary class that reminded me of the importance of Christ in my life and helped me to remember the blessings I have being a member of his church. I truly believe that Christ suffered and died for all of us so that we would not have to suffer if we would repent and turn to him. He is alive today and helps each of us if we will let him. Becasue of him we can live forever.

We went to Mom and Dad's (Grandma and Grandpa Jenkins's)for a while this afternoon and just visited them before they went to Keith's for dinner. They are so fun to talk to. It was cloudy when we left there but it is beautiful in Kaysville and sunny.

We returned home from Texas on Friday evening about 8:30 p.m. It was much easier to find our way out of the Salt Lake airport than it had been at Houston a week earlier. Erick met us and then we went to dinner with him in Centerville at Bajio's. After that we went to Kirsten's to get Erick's truck and visited for a few minutes. The kids were coloring Easter eggs and Brinlie was there. Kirsten's friend Kara was helping Brinlie color eggs. Maren and Landon came a few minutes later so we were able to see them also.

Saturday we slept in. We were tired. Larry forgot the cord to his C-pap machine so he did not have that all night. He looked for a cord and found one and I went to Super cuts to have Maren comb out my hair. It was a beautiful day in Kaysville and we probably should have worked in the yard but we watched the movie "The pursuit of happyness" instead and prolonged our vacation. In the evening we went to a wedding reception in Tremonton for a Niece's son, Jason Allen. We saw some family for a few minutes then went to dinner at a restaurant outside of town that had Larry's favorite, Prime Rib, advertised.

Last Tuesday in Texas after we had lunch Nathan had to leave to go back to McAllen. We saw him off and then I watched movies with David while the others rested. We watched "Harry Potter II" After that we decided to go to dinner with the boys (David, Isaac, and Samuel) We went to a Steak house. We had a good time and the food was good until the waiter lost my credit card. They kept saying it was just lost around the cash register but I was really worried. Gail got the manager and he assured us it was just lost but after having watched the Dateline program on identity theft the week before I was not so sure. They eventually found it and we left but I called Larry immediately to look on line and see if something was suspicious but after he looked and I looked when we got home we decided that the numbers had not been used.

Wednesday, Sara had an egg hunt for the boys with the play group they have formed in their ward. We went to Mercer park. Every mother had brought at least twelve plastic eggs filled with candy and they combined them and then they each got a few of each kind. They had a great time looking for them and playing on the playground.

In the afternoon Sara and Gail went looking for a new washer for Sara after hers had died. I stayed home and listened for Isaac while he was sleeping and David and I watched "Toy Story 1 and Toy Story 2" Sara found a washer at Sears but they couldn't install it until Friday after we left. They put it in for her and hauled off the old washer.

Larry came back from his sister's on Wednesday evening. He said that they had had a good visit and talked a lot about genealogy. He went with John to collect rent on some rentals they had and spent some time visiting with David and Jane. He said the rush hour traffic in Housten was bumper to bumper coming back.

Wednesday night we had pizza and just hung out at home. Nathan has the computers that they can talk back and forth on so they had time doing that. David was having a great time everynight taking pictures of himself on Photo Booth. We got lots of crazy pictures. I uploaded a few to Snapfish and will email those to everyone.

Thursday, Larry and I went with Sara and the boys to a Children's museum that they have in the Woodlands Mall. We spent most of the day there. The kids had fun digging for dinosaurs, dressing up, drawing pictures, sitting in a tooth, reading books, and many other things. Grandma almost lost Isaac's hat twice by putting it down. We also rode the carousel. It was a fun time for all of us. The Woodlands area is really nice.

Thursday afternoon David and I watched "Harry Potter I" I had seen the beginning another time with Lexie but never finished it so it was good to see the ending. Thursday evening David played a checker game with Nathan over the internet. It was interesting to watch. Sara fixed a great meal of Chicken Cordon Blue and Asparagus with other things that were equally great. Gail went to the play Wicked that was in town.

Friday we went to get my glasses fixed because I sat on them and went shopping with Sara to get a stroller that she could use with the baby. We talked her into getting a dual stroller for Isaac and Samuel. Isaac liked it so much he was mad when we had to put the display model back and get the boxed one. Sara said he played in it for an hour after we left. We also went to "Sweet Tomatoes" to eat with everyone before we left.

Ethan's baptism is this Tuesday. We are trying to work out a time for April Birthday party next weekend. It looks like it will probably be on Sunday about 6:00 p.m. I will write more about that later. It is already late for me.

We made it to Texas. We have had a good time playing with our grandchildren and trying to help Sara. We flew in about 9:00 p.m. but it was about 11:00 p.m. before we made it to Nathan and Sara's house.

Sunday we watched conference on the computer. It was fine in the morning but in the afternoon it would cut out at certain places so we have half of President Eyring's talk memorized and the other half is still to be heard.

Nathan and Sara had made arrangements to bless Samuel on Sunday night at the house so after Conference we got ready for that. I was nice. They had several friends from the ward come over and a member of the Bishopric was here with their wives and some children. Larry was able to participate and then they served cookies to all. We took some pictures of the people and afterwards social that I will post later.

Larry left on Monday morning to visit his sister Judy in Ingram, Texas. He called last night and said he was staying today and coming back tomorrow morning. It is a six hour drive there so he didn't get much time to spend with them last night.

We colored Easter eggs in the morniing with the kids. They had a great time doing it. Then we went for Family Home Evening and found a place by the Freeway that had a hill and was reletively secluded and we introduced Nathan's family to the tradition of rolling Easter Eggs. It was the first time Sara had been able to participate and she had planned that we would do this so she could learn what it was all about. It was really fun to watch the boys. They enjoyed it so much that they want to do it again when Grandpa Larry comes back.

Nathan and Sara have a new IMac computer with a photo program that the kids can take silly pictures of themselves so David has had a ball taking silly pictures. I will try to upload some of the pictures that they have taken. The pictures on this post are of when Samuel was born. They also have one of the two way camera program so they can see each other when Nathan is away. Nathan has to go back today so that is a blessing for the boys.

Well lunch is ready and Sara makes great food so I will see if this will post.