April 26, 2009

Well the biggy news is Crystal and Joey are having a girl. Kars is disappointed; she wanted a boy. But the rest of us are excited. I loved having my 3 little girls under 3. They were such fun to watch and enjoyed each other so much. And it was great dressing them as dressing little girls has always been something I enjoyed. Jenn and Ryan had an ultrasound, but would not find out what they are having so quess we have to wait.
Bethany left Tues for Italy. We got to talk to her from the SLC airport and the NY airport. It was great. I do envy her.
I watched Cohen two days this week for Bryan while he worked. He is such a sweet easy to deal with little boy. And Carson finally gave me kisses. Bailey runs with her arms out every time she sees me calling grandma, grandma. That is definitely a winner with me.I gave a talk at church on Weds. on " How Self-reliant Are You?". People seemed to like it and said they learned alot. Hey what do you think about this pandemic flu thing?
Friday Jody took me to Merlefest. It was my birthday present from him. We heard some great performances and I got a hippy skirt and a couple of CDs. The weather was fantastic.
It was great yesterday also and will be for the next 3 or 4. we started the potato bed and watered all the strawberries and raspberries. The kids are a big help.
Tripp and Rhonda are heading to Rome, etc for a cruise in Oct. Is Jake going with you?
Jenn and Ryan lucked into a fabulous rental house in MN.
Sarah and fam and Flossie and fam are on a week long working vacation in Panama city. FL. I envy them too.
Erin and fam are moving in 3 weeks YEAH.
Hannah is set on BYU-I and transferring to Bastyr later.
Well gotta go
Vicki and Mom

April 19, 2009

Not too much to report this week. Mostly gardening or running to town to pick up pick up loads of needed gardening supplies. You can read my farm blog to see that in more detail.
Weather looks crappy for this next week and truck needs a universal joint and I need time to catch up on in house stuff including planting more seeds in flats. Chris was pretty sick with strep throat and staph infection on his leg, but with two antibiotic shots in the butt and a prescription he is back to working with us on all this outside work. Jody is suffering some lingering affects from the Rocky Mountain Spotted fever. Lots of trouble with his knees, but he sure has been a big help around here this last week.
Joey and Crystal find out BOY or GIRL on Monday and they are excited.
Bryan's life is hard right now with Amber gone and doing who knows what so he could use some support. Bryan is doing a super job of working. Twelve hour shifts right now.
Jenn spent 3 days in MN while Ryan watched the kids, looking for housing for the fam. They think they have found it, but I will let them tell you about it. Would love some pics Jenn. Erin and Mark have found a great rental house in Charlotte. Near Sarah's and with a community pool.
Seth competed yesterday in the Special Olympics and got first place ribbons for both the 50 yard dash and 100 meter races. He was first and ectatic. I was trying to figure out what is so inspiring about this as Jody and I and family sat and watched all the races and ball throws and jumps all morning.The kids and adults who competed after all are just human with good points and bad points. I think what it is, tho, as they look so different from everyone esle, because of their disabilities, that they gave up long ago trying to just look cool. They know they look differnt so they can just be themselves and show their true emotions instead of their rigid stuck up selves[ like alot of the "normal" people who are out there ]. Jody and I were brought to tears many times watching the adult people who ran. They tried so hard and were so thrilled to just be able to walk or run down the track. they did not try and look nonchalant but were thrilled to be able to compete and finish whether first or last.
I guess I understand where they are coming from. Between having spent 6 months in a wheelchair and my PTSD, I understand the thrill of just trying and making it even 50% of "normal". I wish they had a Special Olympics for PTSD people who understood crying and raging at inappropriate times just because you have been triggered and can't do crap about it.
Mom and Vicki

April 12, 2009

This week seems to be nothing but bad weather and chicken pox. We had a blizzard up here Monday. I went to take the kids to a community easter egg hunt Monday night and had to turn around as the roads got way too bad. Several cars went off and Flossie who had made it to the hunt had a hard time getting home. Of course Jody made it later that night to Bryan's to watch the final Carolina game.
Tuesday everyone missed school because of snow. We got about 6 inches. Weds. little kids missed, but bigs went. Emmie broke out with C Pox on Tues., Gab on Wed. and Tony on Fri. Tony's back is totally covered. I did take them yesterday to Massey Gap up at the park where the wild ponies are. They did an Easter egg hunt there in 35 degree weather. There were only 10 kids there besides mine and about 1000 eggs so they did pretty good. At least the bad weather gave me time for music and sewing.
The weather has been awful for gardening. Jody and Joey and Chris and Johnny did manage to get some of my fruit trees planted yesterday for a couple of hours before Joey, Caleb, Chris, Scotia and Johnny went off on a 3 hour 4 wheeler ride.
Jody and I took advantage of Johnny being home on Fri for the vacation to go off Fri afternoon and do chiropractic and acupuncture treatments, buy animal feed and look at fencing for my strawberry/raspberry mini field, buy Easter outfits for older kids[ I already had them for younger ] and then eat at a great restaurant. If you are in Blowing Rock try it. It is fine dining so somewhat costly, but we had the best chicken marsala ever and they make their own pasta and have great gourmet salads and homemade breads. It is called SSSSpaghetti. It is near the outlets mall in BR.
Well time to go check on my chicken pox kids. Johnny is staying home with them while the rest of us go to church.

Fam News 4-6-09

I have decided because of encouragement from my kids to do the news on this blog.
I think I will start the week backwards
Big news : jenn and Ryan are expecting in Sept. That makes 5 new ones in 5 months and 17 under 6. Get togethers should be interesting
Yesterday was Max's first birthday and I can't wait to see him again birthday. He is such a sweetheart. Everybody please pray he comes thru his ear tube thingy alright on Thurs. Jenn and Ryan and fam did not come this week because we were all worried about Max and chicken pox, but are planning to come in a few weeks. Erin and Mark and kids are coming also soon.
Yesterday and Sat. the weather was so beautiful. we tried to watch conf., but the internet screwed up and Joey came up to roto till our 4 garden spots so we spent it outside. The girls and I gatored while the guys rototilled. Flossie is a speed demon on my gator considering she is 6 months pregnant and Crystal[ 4 months pregnant] was in the back with Scotia and Heather. I was riding shotgun and had to tell her to slow down. I took all the grandkids [ Kars, Cars and Bays ] for rides as well as my kids. The gkids love my 3 baby goats.Jody and I went for a 2 hour ride/picnic supper way up the mountain after all the work.
Sat. we did watch some conf and the boys went into the men's meetings. The girls and little boys and I watched Australia. I really liked that movie.
Friday we got our new/second hand greenhouse.
My birthday was Mon.
And we need to leave for Sam's and food before the big snow storm tonight [ we are supposed to get 8 inches.