Poulson's Potato Patch

Remember me?

2011-08-20T19:53:00.000-07:00

O.K.-the guilt has got to me and I need to add my bi-yearly blog! This has been a crazy year with Scott released from being Stake President-we made up for it by going somewhere every month!!! August we were in Maine, September we went to the Oregon Coast, Oct. to Utah, Nov. to Mississipi to see Austin off and then to Maine, December we were in Colorado, January-Nevada, February we went to Hawaii with friends, March-las Vegas for the BYU Baskeball finals, April back to Utah and May back down to Salt Lake for our Anniversary! We decided that enough was enough and we have just stayed home for the summer! Our kids have come home to hang out and Austin was home from Iraq for two-weeks, just long enough for him to get engaged to Tara! We are so excited about that! They will get married November 18th! My husband came home and asked me if I wanted a boat or to add on to our house. I said that since Ian and Aspen were going to be here 3 more years lets get a boat so that we can play on the lake with them. Next morning I woke up to a big back-hoe and two huge holes in my backyard!!! Guess we are adding on... Scott had done most of the work and has also been the general contracter and I am amazed at how much he gets done! It should be fun to have the extra room when all 30 of our family comes home to roost! Their visits usually stretch to 3 weeks as they come from so far and it is fun for us to have them stay awhile. We are adding a big downstairs play room for teenagers and younger, a family room with a fireplace above that and a dining room with a deck that connects them all! It should be fun and hopefully they will be self-cleaning!!!

My girls are Home!

2011-01-28T20:17:00.000-08:00

This past 10 days my favorite daughters have all been home...that being everyone that could be here but my Kristi! Ashley got here on the 13th and Erin arrived on the 14th. Emily came over to join the party and we still let Aspen live here so-it was a blast! (Or at least they told me it was, I was sick for most of it!) We have the WII Just Dance 2, and that has been a lot of fun to play. It has been a riot watching everyone do these crazy dance moves! I have to say that Scott and Ian take the cake--they really make me laugh! Rock Band has also been a favorite and I even got in on that! We also have tried to get some shopping in, but it is a challenge with 7 little grandchildren under 5!!! The Mall locks up when they see us coming! We also have been able to attend some of Ian's Basketball games and got a trip to Salt Lake to Kristi's (my niece) wedding and a visit with Grandma and Grandpa, too. All in all, it has been fun but Ashley went home to Denver on Tuesday and Erin will leave us on Monday so we will be back to lonely. We are grateful for the time we do get to share together, and the memories that are made!

New Calling! (to go along witht he old one!)

2011-01-13T23:34:00.000-08:00

Scott and I are still teaching Sunday School, he the 16-year olds (they love him!) and me the adults (they tolerate me!), but we received a new calling about a month ago. It is called "Substance Abuse Recovery Missionaries". It is to help people who are struggling with any addictions that they cannot overcome on their own. It is based on the 12-step Alcohol Anonymous Program, but is gospel centered. How many of us realize we can't overcome anything challenging with out the help of the Savior?! We attended our first training meeting by attending a group over in Pocatello. Can I just tell you what a spiritually enlightening experience it was?! There was every addiction represented, but the people were so amazing in their efforts and determination to overcome their weaknesses. It made me aware of some areas I would like to gain some strength in also. The sister missionary in charge of the group we attended opened with prayer and said this "Help us to see these people through the eyes of the Savior..." That gives you a whole different picture of people, doesn't it? We had our first meeting in Aberdeen last night and the result was the same. I was so impressed. I am grateful for this opportunity to learn and to serve.

Christmas!

2011-01-02T11:51:00.000-08:00

"Tis the season"...and jolly it was! December was a blast for us as we got ready for the holidays. Thanksgiving was relaxing and then we came to December! Aspen and I had decided to work on cookbooks for all of my kids for Christmas. It took us over 100 hours to complete all 16 of them! I then decided to make aprons to go with them. Scott said "Why do you always decide to do things at the last minute that make your life (and mine) crazy???" It's hard to explain why we women like a little bit of stress during the holidays.... Anyway it was so fun and I was excited to send them to my kids. I didn't feel nearly as frantic this Christmas and just enjoyed the holidays. Emily, Joel and their family stayed several days with us and the kids made Christmas fun. We had a wonderful party with some of our closest friends throughout the Stake. The day after Christmas we left for Denver to spend time with Ashley, Mark and Hunter and Brigham. We came home New Year's Eve to find Emily, Joel and two of Joel's siblings and their spouses were at our house having a party-so we joined right in playing Rock Band and games. Now it is 2011 and we are looking forward to many things, but especially having Austin home from Iraq. Please pray for him! And know that we wish all of you a wonderful 2011!

Summer!

2010-11-23T20:20:00.000-08:00

We had so much fun this summer starting with Kristi and her kids coming for part of May. It was a blast and we loved seeing them. Erin came the last week of June and saw Kristi for a day. She and Adam stayed a week and then she and the boys stayed for another 10 days. In the meantime, Ashley came from Denver with a Mark and her boys! Emily popped in every couple of days with her babes and it was a party for about 2 month-nonstop! It was so fun and my girls and sons-in-laws are so good to help. They were a little frustrated with me as I was sewing Pioneer dresses for the Pioneer trek we were going on the middle of July in Wyoming. I had 7 of them to make and I had planned on getting them made while everyone was at Girls Camp-but things didn't go so well. My pattern was a large but it turned out not even being big enough to fit a Barbie! I had to revamp it and then sew 5 more dresses. They turned out and I gave the smaller two to Aspens little friend. My kids don't think I have a life and so they think I make up stuff like this to do only when they are around! I reassure them, our life is still a mad house whether they are here or not! The trek was a blast and the weather was perfect. We hung out with our good friends Ron and Lori Nelson. She is the only person I know that can spend 3 days walking in the desert and come out prettier than she went in. Being in Martin's Cove, where many of the Mormon pioneers froze to death was both a humbling and spiritual experience. You could feel their spirits and their presence so strongly. I loved it!

I Love America!

2010-06-03T21:49:00.000-07:00

I am so glad that I was lucky enough to be born in this country and I am Proud to be an American!

My Honey!

2010-05-28T13:39:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to do a shout out on my husband without it being Father's day or anything else. Sorry if it sounds braggy, but he deserves it! I keep thinking about the amazing things he has done in this life. Not only has he farmed for 31 years, he has put together a business with 6 other partners called Idaho Select. This is a potato warehouse which runs potatoes and markets them. Not only do they help us sell our potatoes, but also the partners and a few other farmers spuds. From this endeavor came a trucking business called Select Trucking. We take our potatoes back to the east and then bring back loads of different merchandise from the east out to here. Then they started a business that is an appendage of Select Trucking, it is a truck center where they work on all of the trucks in our shipping fleet. They also have a new venture called Select Truck Manufacturing where they build these trailers to haul potatoes in from cellar to cellar, over the road. With all of the investments he has made in land and his farming adventures, he has done really well. By the time he gets it all paid off, we are going to be really wealthy! Dead, but wealthy!!! But for those of you who know me, money isn't everything!!! (Did I really say that???) But the thing I am most proud of is that he has done all of this while serving in some very demanding church callings that have taken 30-40 hours per week of his time. So amazing. He must have a good wife who supports him or else he wouldn't be able to do all of this!!!! Ha! (Behind every successful man stands an amazed woman!!!) All of this while spoiling me on the side! And that, in itself, is a full time job!!! Anyway, he is great and I am proud of him!!

On a different Note...

2010-05-06T04:29:00.000-07:00

Scott and I were talking yesterday and he asked me who my favorite male singer was. I said "Well, mine are mostly Country Western singers...I like Johnny Horton or Charlie Pride." There was this moment of confusion and a strange look and then he said "No, in the Stake!" Ha! Ha! Let's see if we can get Charlie Pride to sing at Stake Conference!

Horsin' Around

2010-05-01T16:36:00.000-07:00

Too funny! We decided it was time to move our 3 horses over to the pasture so Aspen and Ian went to get them. They didn't have any trouble getting Teton and Treasure to come over, but that left little Twitster (aka Twilight) to get to come over. Keep in mind he is 14 months old and never been in a halter before! It was like Comedy Central Rodeo style! They came to get me to help, so at first I was just sitting in the car. Pretty soon Aspen was sitting in the middle of the corral laughing, I was in the car with tears pouring down my face from laughing and Ian is chasing this teenage horse around the corral. We finally got him cornered and put a halter on him. If we let him think it was HIS idea to go forward he was fine. If he thought we were forcing him, he would dig his heels in and not move an inch! We had to take the fence down because he wouldn't go through the gate. Just as we got him through the fence some yayhoo farmer went by in a tractor and really spooked him. He about took our arms right out of their sockets! Aspen and I both had a lead rope on him and it was a good thing. Sometimes something would spook him and he would jump straight up in the air. Aspen was amazing and held on to him every time! We took him straight across the field instead of on the road as he was so skittish. Once he heard his mom calling him he went straight for the pasture to get to her. (Unlike my teenagers!) Then, we had to use all of our strength to keep him from tearing off towards the pasture. All in all, we had a good laugh but I am pretty sure that one of my arms is now way longer than the other! Good Times!

Scripture Power! (Song from Primary!)

2010-05-01T10:22:00.000-07:00

I was just reading a talk from conference about the translation of the Holy Bible. A man by the name of William Tyndale was born about the time Columbus sailed to America. He was raised in England and went to school at Oxford and Cambridge. He was fluent in 8 languages and his desire was to translate the Bible into English for the common people. He went to Germany and in seclusion he translated. When he was caught, he was imprisoned for 18 months and then he was strangled and burned at the stake. This made me the think of the many sacrifices that have been made so that Scripture can come forth and bless our lives. I have loved teaching out of the Old Testament this year and am in awe of the many lessons that can be learned from our past that help us in the present!! A friend of mine told me she had never enjoyed religion or going to Sunday School in her church! It surprised me as I love the teachings we have access to and I am so grateful that these things are here for our benefit. I am also grateful for the Book of Mormon and it's testament of Jesus Christ. I hope that I can study them both more earnestly this year!

Conference!

2010-04-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

Just a few words about Conference. That is all I have since I slept through most of it! I think I was over-tired from getting things ready so that I could go to Denver. (Since I am guilt-motivated I have to have enough dinners, desserts, groceries etc. made for the whole time I am gone or I could never leave.) But I have been able to go online and read all of the talks and all I can say is WOW! I was visiting with a friend who told me that she didn't have any need to be told how to change or how to be. Obviously I am not as amazing as she is because every talk I heard (read) in Conference made me want to change and be better. How thankful I am for the leadership of the Twelve Apostles and President Monson! Their words of wisdom motivate with out making me feel hopeless! "The future truly is as bright as our faith!"

Fun Two Weeks!

2010-04-21T08:32:00.000-07:00

I had such a blast being in Denver with Ashley and can I just tell you there is no one in the world I would rather be with than my children! They and their spouses are so much fun-seriously my best friends! When Brigham finally accepted the invite to show up life really got fun! Hunter and I were waiting at home and they finally called and said "Come meet him!" He is a beautiful baby and so good natured! Hunter was really good, just a little show-offy but sweet to his brother. I had fun in Denver as I have a really good friend from High School that I still stay in touch with. Lori is the best and I ended up spending Sunday night with her and her family, Alex and daughter Sarah. Then Lori and I went to dinner Friday night and talked for hours and then Sunday night they had us out for dinner again. There is a saying that says:"Old friends are the Best friends" and I believe it to be so! It was a fast two weeks and I loved every minute of it, but now I am glad to be home with my family!

It's about time...

2010-04-06T20:10:00.000-07:00

I am here in Denver with Mark, Ashley and Hunter waiting for Brigham to arrive on the scene. Ashley and I are both having contractions so we think it won't be long now... (It's a long story) Ashley is so darling, but her whole body is so skinny with this tummy sticking out in front! Similar to Jon and Kate Plus Eight... We are excited but think it will still be a couple of days. We went and took Hunter to the Dr. today as he was coughing and unable to sleep. They said he was fine, so Ash got him his 3 shots he needed. Ash was brave and didn't cry, Hunter did pretty well and Grandma was a basket case! I know it is all good for them, but the older I get I cannot stand to see anyone hurt-especially my grandkids. The Dr. thought I was a little bizarre, I should of explained to him that I even cry in Tinkerbelle nowadays! Oh the joys...We will let you know when this precious little boy arrives!

Take a look at this....

2010-03-25T21:02:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks I have been working on these little scripture bags. Austin's friend showed us how to make them and they are so easy that they are addicting! I have made about 10 to 12 of them in the past 2 weeks. They are right up my ally because they are straight seams and hot glue!
They only take about an hour each-way fun! Check them out-if you want directions I will post them.

Prepare to be amazed!

2010-03-25T20:57:00.001-07:00

For all of you who know me, I am not the smartest on the computer! Part of the reason is I just don't care! Our exchange student Louise tried so hard to teach me to do things! Well, to her credit-it was not a waste of time-I just added Wyatt's new birthday ticker and changed my background all by myself!! WOW, I'm a big girl now!! I am sure no one is as amazed as I am...(Except possibly Louise!)

2010-03-23T17:58:00.000-07:00

Hello-Let me introduce myself....I can't believe it has been so long since I blogged, but life has been so busy! I am sure it has only been busy for me and not the rest of the world! I ended up having my back surgery in October-the 14th and it slowed me down a bit. I told Scott that I thought I had done quite well dealing with the pain of back surgery and he got this "you don't remember what I remember" look! Obviously my pain pills took away my memory, not my pain! He said it was pretty bad, and Austin said it was the saddest thing he has ever seen! (I guess my back spasms were pretty horrific!) Anyway, I don't care because I don't remember! My Nephew stayed with us 3 weeks and worked in harvest and he said I was retarded on my meds. November came and we took off for Arizona to bless little Wyatt-that was a wonderful trip and we enjoyed being with our kids. Christmas brought the whole family home for the holidays! We had 24 people at our house for two weeks or so and it was fun. They made it so wonderful with all of their help and cheerful spirits. We even got Derek and Kristi and their 3 children clear out from Maine! On the 29th I had surgery on my right foot-again! Talk about funky feet! It has done well and feels much better than it did. I can exercise on it, but when I walk my four miles it gets a little grouchy! It doesn't mind dancing, tho! The 3rd week in January Scott and I flew to Houston to celebrate my Moms 80th birthday! I called my cute sister-in-law Vicki last summer and asked if she would be willing to help put it together. Being the doll she is, she said she would love too! (Something like that!) In December, my other cute sister-in-law Janka helped to find a restaurant down on the strand for us to go to. It was called the Texas Salt Grass Restaurant and boy, was it delicious! Vicki had us all over for some yummy soup and dessert the first night we got there and then we went and stayed with Richard and Janice. We ran around getting cakes and cards so that everything would be perfect. My best friend from 2nd grade, Kathy came with us, too. Saturday, my brother ordered a limo and it picked us up and drove us the hour to Galveston. My Mom seemed really happy and excited that we put it together. It was fun, but the funniest part was that my mother kept thanking Richard for putting it all together! "Richard always picks the perfect restaurant, (Janice picked it) Richard always picks the best card! (I picked it!) Richard always knows what I would like to do. (Vicki planned it!) All Richard did was order the limo and get the credit!!!! It was pretty humorous to say the least, and really, it didn't matter who did what as long as she had fun! But a big "Thank-you" to all of my sisters (in-laws) for their big hearts! I love them to death! February came and went with not too much fuss. Elder Hammond and his wife, Sandi came and spent the weekend with us and then he and Scott had a marathon day on Sunday. He ended up speaking at three Sacrament meetings and two firesides! Plus, they had several ministering visits planned to people who were struggling with challenges or illnesses. To make matters worse, he was losing his voice! But Scott gave him a blessing and it held throughout the day. They were so fun and we are grateful for the teachings he left with our Stake-he was phenomenal! March brought birthdays and our Spring Break. We had a few birthdays with Emily turning 28, Alli turning two, Adam turning 28- (He and Emily are just 5 days apart) and Ian will turn 16 on the 30th. We have fun things planned for Ian's birthday, so stay tuned! For Spring Break, my oh, so ambitious children--Aspen and Ian-just wanted to sleep! We did work a lot around the house and then went skiing up at Pommerelle. I have not been skiing in years and it showed. I kept saying "This is like riding a bike, this is like riding a bike..." but the weather was beautiful and Scott, Austin, Ian, Aspen and myself had a wonderful day! We are now getting ready for Easter and Conference in Salt Lake. Emily and Joel and babes are going with us.
The Monday after that I fly out to Denver to stay with Ashley and Mark and Hunter while she has the baby. It will be so fun-and I am excited! I have tonz of friends to visit in Denver from High School so that should be fun for me--if Ashley will let me! 8) Life is good and we will try to keep up on this a little more this year! Life has got to slow down---right???

Oh, Baby!

2009-09-21T14:26:00.000-07:00

Can I just say that I am so happy sitting here holding Wyatt James Fanello! And can I just tell you what a gentleman he is! And handsome, too! He seems to be such an easygoing little soul, just eats and sleeps. Erin is doing so well, but the c-section has definitely slowed her down. Little Noah doesn't seem too bent out of shape to have a little brother although he was confused when Erin didn't come home those first few days, and he woke up to Grandma or Nana everyday. These little babies are so amazing and I feel like they have just come straight from Heavenly Father...Oh wait-they have! Right now he is looking at his mother in alarm because she just went to move her pillow and completely wiped out everything on her nightstand-lamp, clock, pictures, water glass, pen, lotion etc. I think she must be needing some attention... Adam and Erin are really good parents and I am so amazed how they are constantly teaching Noah what is right. We are so proud of our kids and what good parents they are. They are the best!

New Calling!

2009-09-21T14:21:00.000-07:00

In an effort to not bore you all to death-I am writing all my news in separate little blogs. Just know that I am one happy camper since I got called to teach "Gospel Doctrine" again! This is teaching the adult Sunday School and it has always been my favorite calling, although my most intimidating! I love to study and prepare and then learn from the people in the class! I am so thrilled! :)

Back to Gillwell, Happy Land...

2009-09-21T14:11:00.001-07:00

No, this is not some medieval chant, it is a Boy Scout Training Seminar that I ended up volunteering to do again. A couple of the trainers could not go this time due to the economy and my good friend was in charge-so I said "I'll do it!" It is the same course I did last year with Scott, but this time I was with a different group. It was a week long adventure and I met some marvelous leaders there. People truly are amazing!

When Some"bunny" loves you!

2009-09-21T13:56:00.000-07:00

This is my sad post-announcing that our favorite rabbit "Radar" died the first of August. We are still not certain what happened, but it traumatized the whole family. We (Aspen, Ian and I) had gone down to Boise to do some school shopping with Ashley. Radar usually just ran around the yard and slept at night with Sam, out dog. We never really worried about him because none of our animals would ever bother him. Scott went to pull some weeds around the window sill and saw Radar down in the window well. We are not sure how he got there or why, but he had been without food and water for at least a day and a half. We called the vet, but they said since they refuse to eat or drink, there is nothing that you can do. We started back from Boise but he passed away while we were driving home. Scott held him for 3 hours the night before trying to get him to come out of it. By the time we were home, Scott had already buried him. It was sad and he will forever be one of our favorite pets! (N0, those are not tear drops on this blog)

Miracle!

2009-09-21T13:06:00.000-07:00

Miracle of Miracles--I did not die when I turned 50!!! My friend and I are a week apart in our birthdays and I whined all the way up until mine was over. She was fine with all of it until the night before she turned 50--then she called me crying, too! But it came and went and all was well! My kids and Scott threw me a lovely Hawaiian Luau-Erin made salads and tacos like at Cafe Rio, Ash decorated to the max-Em picked me out a yummy chocolate cake and Scott paid for it all!!! He also had picked me out this beautiful skirt, shirt and sweater to wear to church. Can I just tell you that man has impeccable taste???? This same friend, Pam and a good friend of ours Lori and I decided to party and go to the Shakespeare Festival down in Cedar City, Utah. We had such a good time, except Lori kept insisting on telling everyone we met that not only had we just turned "50" we were grandmothers! Not that I am not proud of it, but it was so funny to hear her broadcast it to everyone on the street! We went to 2 plays in the indoor theater and then two Shakespearean plays that were done in an outside theater in the round-a replica of the Globe Theatre where Shakespeare actually performed in England. Back then, women were not allowed to perform so men played both the male and the female parts. We also went hiking in Zions National Park. If you get a chance, look up Angels Landing in Zions-that is where we hiked. It was not really a long hike, 2.5 miles, but the first two miles were a steep series of switchbacks, and the last .5 mile was straight up, like climbing on the back of a huge dinosaur. My friend Lori, who is the most mature of the lot, said she was not going to go up the last part. Pam started up with me, but she got dizzy because of the height of the trail, so she went back. Guess who that left??? I did not think I was being ridiculous, I just know that once I make up my mind to do something-I can't back down.
Literally! So, I started up this trail, thinking-How far can .5 miles really be? Before long, I found myself holding on to these huge chains that had been hung from big posts that had been pounded into the stone path. This was so you would have something to hang on to in case you slipped. There were many people going up and down this path and at no time did I ever feel like I was in danger except when I realized that I did not have any tread on my old tennis shoes to give me traction on the sandstone. I stepped on a rock that had sand on it and went down on my elbow and back of my head. I broke a blood vessel in my hand and bruised my elbow, but no damage to my hard head! There was a cute little 17 year old girl that I had been visiting with named Roni-from Israel. I kept telling her she could go around me if she needed to go faster-but she said "NO, I'll just stay right here." I think she was worried about me slipping again-What a cutie! When I got to the top-the view was spectacular. There was also a man up there with an elegant silver tray who was walking around like a butler serving us European chocolate and dipped strawberries-too funny! I thought I had died and gone to heaven! Anyway, I hiked back down and met my friends and off we went. Four days later there was a news alert about a 53 year old woman falling 1,000 feet to her death as Angels Landing-Yup, right where I was hiking! My kids were so mad at me and blamed my lack of judgement once again on my poor hormones! Oh, yes, they get the blame for all of my little crazy moments now! I can't wait till my kids get old... We then went to Loris' brothers cabin and hiked on a little safer route. It was fun and I am so glad to have good girlfriends to laugh with!

Hello out there!!

2009-07-19T16:21:00.000-07:00

I think you know you have not blogged in awhile when you go to check your daughters' blog and find that she has gone private and you have not been invited to be on her blog list! For Rude!! Yes, my Internet has been down f-o-r-e-v-e-r! It took awhile for them to come out and fix it and then there was water in the connection (we've had so much rain) and then the Ethernet card went out and then I have been gone a ton! I think my computer must be fifty, too, as we are both having a myriad of breakdowns! So, we are back and running-both of us- and I am trying to decide where to begin! May 16th was our 30th anniversary and we went to Idaho Falls and walked around the greenbelt that surrounds the Temple. It is about a 3-4 mile walk and one of my favorite things to do every anniversary. Scott gave me (besides my trip to Hawaii-and yes I tried to milk my anniversary for more!) a charm to go on my Pandoras' bracelet that is a little bouquet of flowers that says "Love" on it. He told me it was my eternal bouquet of flowers! I gave him a new wedding ring-his was getting a little too thin (the only thing in this marriage that is getting thin!). He liked it but was a little emotional about taking his original one off after 30 years. I had Austin record the song "The Vows Go Unbroken" which is our song, and played it while he opened the ring. I wish I had had that engraved on the inside. Instead I had "Come What May and Love it!" I hope he doesn't think that applies to some cute little blonde that comes along!! Tee-Hee!

The Vows Go Unbroken
From the moment I met you, you made my life complete.
This wave of pure devotion has swept me off my feet.
And tonight when we kissed, you still took my breath away.
It goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway...

Chorus:
The vows go unbroken and you still know "I Do"
Love, Keep and Honor--always true to you.

Though I have been tempted, I have never strayed.
I'd die before I'd damage, this union we have made.

Chorus:

I knew from the first, that for better or worse
I'd stand by you all of my life.

Chorus 2 x's.

Simple, but beautiful!

After May came and went, we got into summer and Stake Conference. At first, our General Authorities, Elder Rasband and Elder Renlund weren't going to stay at our house, we were just going to have a dinner after conference in American Falls. There were only going to be about 5o of us, so I got the dinner arranged and all of the assignments made and thought I could relax. Then it came down to the fact that they wanted to just have dinner with our family at our home.
I was almost glad as that is my motivation for my "Spring" cleaning, but so sad to not get to enjoy the whole Stake Presidency's' families. Anyway, conference was wonderful and they came to our house for dinner and it was awesome. I can testify that those two men are men of God, striving to help His kingdom go forth. Dinner went perfectly until I got to the dessert. It was Strawberry Danish Delight in this little glass dessert cups. I was a little nervous to serve it as I had to reach across the table. I gave one to Elder Rasband, so far so good, and then I served Elder Renlund, still going well, and then I went to give Joel, my son-in-law his. I went to hand it to him, relaxing because the worst was over, and hit the little spikey bone on my wrist on the knob of the chair by Joel. Next thing I knew- Joels' dessert was plopped upside down on his place mat!!! I said "And you sir, will be having the upside down cake!" I guess Joels' face was hilarious! I laughed so hard! (No, not that hard!) I just about got it under control till I looked at Scotts' face and he was hysterical, too! When they sent me a thank-you note it said "Thanks for the dinner, we can tell you do everything with excitement, enthusiasm and flair!" Is that what that was?? Oh, Good Times! Scott's birthday came around on the 25th and we met in Twin Falls with Em & Joel and Kids, Ashley and Mark and Hunter and Aspen & Ian. We swam and played and went out to dinner. He is a big 52! Erin came up on the 3rd of July and I picked her and Adam and Noah up in Salt Lake. We hung out and skiied and played at the lake and then we rented a cabin at Bear Lake for 3 days. What a hoot! It was a great time, especially when Adam's parents came and spent a day with us. They were so much fun!! This past week, Erin and I went to Boise and stayed with Ash for a week. We swam and shopped and I went out to lunch with 3 of my girlfriends. Can I tell you how much my friends, my sons and daughters, and my family bring so much joy into my life? I could not survive without them! On Friday morning, Scott met me in Declo and then whisked me off to Salt Lake for my birthday. He surprised me with tickets to a George Strait, Blake Shelton and Julianne Hough concert. We had a blast! Maybe being 50 won't be so traumatic if people keep spoiling me all of the time! Pray for me on the 26th as turning 50 is not making me happy!! Once it happens, I think I'll be ok, but really who put the "Happy" in "Birthday"?????

Mamma Mia!

2009-05-11T16:32:00.000-07:00

Wow-yesterday was Mothers' Day and I just wanted to tell my kids how much I love being THEIR Mom! What a privilege it has been to watch them grow and become who they are! I am so proud of all of them and the wonderful things they have accomplished. One of the greatest accomplishment being the wonderful spouses they have found and convinced to marry them!! It is hard to let your children go until you realize they are complete once they have found the "one"! Thanks for all of the good decisions you make and the great examples you are to me--you teach me daily things that I probably should already know!!! (We won't get into that!) I especially love that you have all become friends and that you enjoy one another so much. It is what I really wanted to see happen. God Bless you all and know all eleven of you are the greatest Mothers' Day gift I could of ever been given--Love you all! My Mothers' Day gift sums it up, it is a beautiful picture where the photographer took pictures of different shapes on buildings or tenples and the letters spell out the word F-A-M-I-L-Y! Thanx so much!

Cra-Zee!

2009-05-05T16:32:00.000-07:00

I went down last week to stay with Ashley and Hunter while she got her surgery done on her knee. She had torn her ACL on her 16th birthday and had surgery then. Now she tore her miniscus and had to have it repaired. I took her in and while she was recovering I switched places with Mark and went home to take care of the bug! (Hunter) While he was there, Mark informed her they were being transferred to Boise, Idaho. (No wonder she came out of the anesthesia crying!) So they put their cute house they had worked so hard on for 6 months up for rent, and she and I went from Salt Lake to Aberdeen and then from Aberdeen to Boise to find them a house. We had a great realtor to help us look around and found a darling home to rent, brand new and never been lived in. We were excited. So we stayed the night, drove to Aberdeen and then to Salt Lake to pack up her house! Whew-talk about life in the fast lane!!! Poor Ashleys' knee swelled up until it was about 4 times as big as the other one. We have been in so many cities the past ten days I'm not ever sure where I am! I think that they will love Boise and find many good friends down there although it is always hard to leave good friends and family behind. Mark has an awesome family in Centerville and Ashley is having a hard time leaving them, too. So, Thursday we will all go back down to Boise, meet Mark, Ash & Hunter and help them move into their new home. It will be exciting! Anyone wanting to come help us move in are more than welcome! It's a party at the Allens!

I want to go back to my little grass shack in Kaliiku Hawaii...

2009-04-09T09:33:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are too young, that is a song my parents used to play all of the time! I had a wonderful time on my anniversary trip to Hawaii! It was our (Or will be) 30th anniversary so Scott took me to Kauai. We had a blast and as always he is so good to spoil me! We hiked and scuba dived and walked along the beach and ate and slept for 6 days! One interesting thing about Kauai is all of the roosters! Yes, I said roosters! They are everywhere! I lost count the first day we were there! At no extra charge, we had automatic morning wake up calls at 4:00 a.m.! That was at the Sheraton! They even have them walking through restaurants! I guess there is not any natural predator that can control the population and locals aren't allowed to kill them. (What about grouchy Idaho Grandmas that are woke up at 4:00 am.???) It was still beautiful and so relaxing! It went really fast! The day we were coming home, they had a blizzard in Idaho and I am laying on the beach thinking...Why do I live in Idaho??? Several answers may include...It's hard to move a farm. My children live in that area, too. I own a house there. My grandchildren are there. Still, none of them were good enough reasons not to move!!!! Just kidding! I'd live in Siberia just to be close to my kids and grand kids! (What do you mean I already do?) But, it has been beautiful here this last week, I love spring in Idaho. Not to mention I have some of the best friends in the world in this crazy little town! Life is good!

Second Look!

2009-03-22T14:22:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a surprise! We were having a hard time deciding what to name Treasures' new baby. We finally decided on "Precious" because Aspen had told me that she was a "she", although we kept calling her a "he" After a few days, there was a new developement and we realized that he is a "He"! We have named him Triton, or at least that is the name for the day. We also talked about Trooper so place your votes. Austin is here with his two missionary buddies and it is so fun to have them in our home again! Good times! They are full of life and excitment! How great to have good friends!

I am a GRANDMA!

2009-03-15T09:11:00.000-07:00

Good News! I am an official Grandma of a brand new baby mustang!!! That's right! Treasure had her baby yesterday morning. Aspen was so delighted to have a new horse and she has been over there 24-7! I think she would of slept there had I let her. The baby is precious and so fun to hold. When you have a new baby horse you are supposed to "imprint" when they are born. (No, not like on Twilight!) So you are supposed to hug them and maul them and roll with them and put your fingers in their nose and mouth etc. (Glad we don't do this with our babies!) The first day, the baby was not real steady on her feet so we could get away with it. Today, she was a little more secure and assertive and not quite so ready to let us love her. She is already more friendly than her mom, tho. Treasure is a snoot! (Maybe it was just hormonal due to pregnancy? We can all relate to that!) She is a light beige color with a dark mane and dark eyes-definitely the mustang look! What a miracle to see the way a living breathing animal is brought into the world. Truly, Heavenly Fathers' creations are amazing!

Oh-Bo!

2009-03-15T09:03:00.000-07:00

A couple of months ago, I was up in Idaho Falls with Emily and her two darling children at the mall. We had stopped to let the kids play on those little toys that you put money in and they do all sorts of crazy things. Bo had even crawled up on the very top of the tail of a dragon this other little girl was riding. I guess she was thinking "two for the price of one!" Anyway, Emily and I were talking and were obviously distracted because this lady came up and said "Is that your little blonde girl in the red shirt?" We said "Yes" and she said "Well, she has gotten the money bag out of the machine!" Sure enough, they had not locked the door with the bag of money inside of one of the machines. Bo had found it and was going around to all of the machines and giving the kids free rides with her free money!! We had to call security and they came down and picked up the money! Should I be worried that my two year old granddaughter has a record already??? So young for a life of crime...

Sad Times!

2009-03-15T08:49:00.000-07:00

Well, I am sad to say that my exchange students are gone from my home. It did not happen in a very good way and that is my fault. I had visited with the representative from EF but did not make it clear to her that I had not talked to the girls yet. Inadvertantly, she called them before I got home to talk to them. So, obviously they were hurt and I feel badly about how it was handled. I would love to tell them that it was nothing they had done to bring this about. I have come to the conclusion some people can handle others living in their home for an extended period of time and some cannot. I feel like the weakness was all mine. They were actually the perfect exchange students. Kadda was always willing to change or do anything that I asked. Louise was a perfect friend for Aspen since they are like two peas in a pod! We have some good memories tho, and I am grateful for some of the things that I have learned. Even if it was admitting that I couldn't do something that I thought that I could.

Mission Accomplished!

2009-02-22T00:38:00.000-08:00

Well, as you can see from this blog time, it is 1:40am and I cannot sleep. Even tho I am so tired that my eyes are watering! We survived this week, but just barely! Monday, we went down to Salt Lake to paint the "Missionary Wall" that we always paint when our kids come home from their LDS Mission. It is an old abandoned sugar factory and everyone paints on it when their missionary comes home as you can read it from the highway as you drive home from the airport. Austins flight was scheduled to fly into Pocatello, but when I asked where he wanted to be picked up, he said "Salt Lake, I gotta read my wall!" When Derek came home, we painted the Peruvian flag as he went to Peru, when Emily came home, we painted an alien, (No, she did not go to Mars!) and with Austin, we painted a llama. Long story behind that just trust me, it suits him! When you paint the wall (we call it art, the police call it vandalism...) you put a date on your picture so that no one paints over it before your missionary gets to read it. The day we went to paint ours, the big spaces on the end were taken and their dates said not to paint over them until 2-21. So we went and painted on the side wall. While we were painting our picture, some people came and painted over the two messages on the end walls! I can't tell you how much trauma this is as it is hard work- it's alot of time and energy to paint this thing. I guess some people just can't read the writing on the wall! The next day I had a few thousand things to finish up. I was thinking things were going pretty well, until I got a phone call from the National Guard asking when Austin was coming home. Silly me, I thought they were just welcoming him home--No, they called to inform me that he had drills this weekend in Boise. This was slightly distressing as we had 24 people staying at our home to hear Austin report on his mission plus another 50-60 coming for the dinner at our house. That was the first time I cried. (He ended up being able to change it to another weekend-but not before I was sure I was going to have to take on the whole army!!) The second time I cried was when I went down to throw my chicken and bread into the freezer after I had gone grocery shopping and found out it had stopped working!!! Some of the meat had thawed and so there was blood all over the bottom. (Yes, the freezer I had just cleaned the week before!) It soaked into the flour I had put in there to freeze to kill any weevil, plus I had about 5 casseroles and about 10 loaves of homemade bread that I had put in ahead of time for this weekend while my company was here-all of that wasted time, energy and food! Not to mention we were leaving for Salt Lake in an hour. Okay, so it was more than crying. It was probably more like uncontrollable hysteria! Scott sent me upstairs while he assessed the damage. He worked a miracle and managed to save most of the meat and casseroles by finding places in my 3 other freezers to put them. But, if any of my family turns up dead from salmonella... Third time I cried was when Derek and Kristi and my 3 precious grand babies were flying in from Maine. They fly standby as Kristi's sister works for an airline and they get $45 dollar flights but they have to be prepared to be bumped if their are too many passengers. They had already been seated on the plane for 45 minutes, when their flight got delayed because of wind. This caused them to miss their connecting flight so they had to get off of the plane since there were no more flights. They had to throw a fit to get their bags off of the plane as the airlines were just going to send their bags on to Salt Lake. However, Derek and Kristi weren't sure they would be able to get another flight, so they had to get their bags off of the plane. Keep in mind all of this was done while they were entertaining a 4 year old, a 2 1/2 year old an an 11 month old!!! Whew! They did make it in the next night but Derek only gets to stay a day and a half as he has to get back to his program by Tuesday. Kristi will stay a couple of weeks and then I get to fly back with her and the babies! Oh, and one other disaster I forgot about. When I was cleaning the tops of my cupboards (Mine don't go clear to the ceiling so I have plants and jars and junk on top of them) I was thinking how you could smell smoke up on top of the cupboards where I was scrubbing. It got stronger the more I scrubbed it, kind of like a scratch-n-sniff. Suddenly, I realized not only did it smell like smoke, there was smoke! I guess when I had stepped across the stove to get to another counter, I kicked this big plastic tub that my bread was raising in, it turned on the burner of the stove, melted a big hole in the plastic and burned the bottom of the bread b-l-a-c-k! (Eureka-that's why I smelled burned toast!) In my haste, to turn it off, I jumped off of the counter and knocked one of those tall, pretty jars with the fruit in them over. This one happened to have lemons in it with some kind of oil and vinegar to preserve it. When it broke, it spilled into my drawer and underneath into my pots and pans. No, I did not cry over spilt lemon oil, but I did think a few bad thoughts! I guess I needed to be humbled as I was thinking I was so in control and pretty darned organized, if I do say so myself! I think that is the reason I cannot sleep tonight...I am just plain scared about tomorrow and what else could go wrong! But, no matter what, my son is home safely and nothing can take that away! We are all so happy to be together again, and nothing was better than going to bed tonight and hearing all of my children, their spouses and our exchange students laughing hysterically and playing games together. My cup is full, even if my lemon jar is empty!!!

Mission Impossible!?

2009-02-11T09:17:00.000-08:00

For any one who knows me, the best time to stay away from me is when I am doing Girl's Camp or getting ready for a child to come home from a mission. I remember when Derek was in Peru, I told him I was getting ready for Girl's Camp and he said "Can I tell you how glad I am that I am on a different continent than You???" Missionaries coming home are about as crazy. I've got a schedule with about 1500 hundred things to get done every day! I love it but no one else seems to think it is as much fun as I do! Right now it is eight days until Austin gets home and I am re-tile-ing/remodeling the bath and recarpeting the back utility rooms. Yes, I think it is good planning to leave it to the last minute...what's your point???? He's only been gone for 2 years...(I say "I", but most of this will be delegated "Honey-doos"!) We ran down to Salt Lake to get some barstools rebuilt and some furniture for Ian's room as the picture of Austin and Ian in the bunkbeds together was just too much to handle!!! (Keep in mind my children are not petite like their mother!! Ha! Ha!) I've got all of my menus planned out and most of the casseroles, meals and bread made for the invasion of the troops. I can't wait to have all of my family here together even tho I know it will be utter chaos! There will be 23 of us together for about 3-4 days-although any of you are more than welcome to come, too! Just know that life is good, and I am so grateful to have Austin faithfully complete his mission and return home to us! Our joy is overflowing! How we love our family and are grateful for what they do to help us! You are the best! (PS-anyone wanting to vandalize and paint "the wall" on Presidents Day-get on your duds and join us!) (Unless you are a police officer!:D)

Cruise Blues!

2009-01-20T08:23:00.001-08:00

Yes, as you can tell from our little countdown, our cruise came and went in the blink of 6 eyes! (Mine and my sister-in-laws!) It is a true statement when you say "time flies when you're having fun!" My trip to California with Vicki and Janka was so fun! I was a little distracted about getting there and being gone from my family, but as soon as I saw their cute faces at the airport-I was excited! I can't imagine two more wonderful ladies to travel with! The Carnival Cruise rep met us at the airport and was visiting with Janka and I. As he was "gazing" at my sister-in-law, he said "And you have very beautiful eyes, and you...(he turned to look at me) have very... Well, guess we better get on the boat!" No, he could not tell a lie and looking at me he couldn't see anything to compliment, so he didn't!! As we went to get on the boat, he grabbed Janka and Vicki's suitcase and I was left to murmur about "The Ugly one gets to carry her own bag...!" It was really quite funny in a depressing sort of way!!! As we were getting on the boat, they made an announcement about there being a delay as two passengers were missing. I kind of just assumed it was either kids or people that had just not reported back to their family in awhile on the cruise, but lo and behold, it was not! It appears that an elderly couple, he was 90, she was 79, went on the cruise and did not ever check out to get back off of the boat. They are thinking that somewhere on their cruise they must of jumped over their balcony. Their room was locked from the inside with all of their belongings still there and an empty bottle of champagne. It is still a mystery and we do feel for their families that are left to wonder. We passed the time while we waited playing Sudoku. I had met a girl at the airport that was doing it and she explained to me basically how it was done. Luckily, since I think the instructions were in Japanese too, Janka knew how to play it. We were really good at it as long as all 3 of us were playing! I will admit the trip home on the plane did not go quite was well without them to remind me to fill in the one empty space! Saturday in Ensenada, we went horseback riding! Now, many of you have read Ashley's post about my last horseback riding adventure. I still have not recovered from that, and then I find out that neither of my sisters have ever, I repeat-ever, been on a horse! Vicki got a cute little horse named Chapel, Janka got one named Larado and I got Dakota. It is a good thing that they could not know that I was laughing my head off behind their backs! When Vicki's horse would take off, he had this quick little trot that sent her bouncing from head to toe, from her hair, to her cameras, to her little body! Through all of this, she was trying to snap pictures! It was the funniest view! Janka seemed to have it down to a science and looked very much the classy professional with her cowboy hat and her reins held in her left hand. I was so stinkin' sore (still from my last encounter with my horse) that I was almost crying by the time I got back to the ranch! The caballero that helped my off my horse got an armful when he helped me off of Dakota! We all hobbled for a few weeks, oops, days! The view was beautiful as we were up in the hills overlooking the ocean. The weather was perfect! That evening, we donned our matching pajamas with 3 little owls on them that said "I love the nightlife!" Vicki took cute pics of us (well, kind of cute) in them! I mainly enjoyed just being able to talk and relax and not have any deadlines. Sunday was great as we were just at sea, but what a fun time together! All in all, it was perfect although not quite long enough! We have set up a new date to play together this summer when they drive up to see me and then we want to go up and see Auntie Doreen in Canada! Time will tell! As for now, Bon Voyage!

Take Luck!!

2009-01-10T19:41:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow, we are in charge of our Sacrament Meeting! This is going to be extra challenging as I, the town cry-er, have been asked to speak about Austin! May I just tell you that I am emotional when I speak, let alone when it is about one of my babies! I am excited tho, as Ian is speaking first, then myself, and then Aspen, Louise & Kadda are singing a song called "In That Holy Place". It is about the temple and they sound beautiful! They have been so dilligent about practicing everyday and I am so impressed. Then, Scott will finish, if we have left him any time! (You know how we women can talk!) (Not meaning you, Ian!) Thanks for all of the help and suggestions from our cheering section! (All you who helped me with my talk-it is good because of the parts that you all suggested!)(Sorry, Kristi-couldn't do the poem!) A prayer would be appreciated Sunday morning from about 9:00am until 10:00am! Much Gras!

Academy Awards!

2008-12-28T14:55:00.002-08:00

On Christmas Eve, we had a blast re-enacting the Christmas Story from the Bible! What a cast we put together, with Dianne as the narrator, Scott as the Innkeeper, Ashley, Mark and Hunter as Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus. Next we had Louise, Kadda and Aspen as the Three Wise (wo) Men and Ian and Cambell as the Shepherds abiding in the fields. Emily and Joel played Elizabeth and Zacchariah with Bo as the Littlest Angel. We started out in Luke and read until each person was mentioned. Then the characters stepped forward and introduced themselves and the part they played in the Savior's birth. Can I just tell you how many costumes you can make from bathrobes, tablecloths, scarves and precious jewels? (and rabbit fur-Louise's creation!) After that we sat down and read a story about a German boy and how the Christmas Spirit found him and taught him the true meaning of Christmas. We then exchanged our "Secret Santa" gift -it was really fun! Scott gave Joel a flashy pair of Nike Gym Shorts, Dianne gave Ashley the soundtrack and video to "Mamma Mia", I also wrapped up a super surprise for Ash, she had lost her red cell phone back in September and we had not seen it since. When I went out to get a box to wrap up a present, out flew this red cell phone. I wrapped it up and gave it to her for Christmas Eve. It was fun to see her face! Joel gave Ian a lantern and a book, Mark gave Scott the movie "Get Smart", (Is that a hint?) Emily gave Louise a CTR Ring and a beautiful scarf (Which I picked out!), and Ashley gave Kadda a skull sweater (it's cuter than it sounds!) Louise gave Emily a beautiful pink wallet from K-Mart (Anybody know where that is????) and a Bath and Body incense warmer. Kadda gave Aspen a CTR ring that she, and Louise and I went in on-yes it was a little pricey! She loves it! Ian gave me a pair of sweater boots that were such a surprise when we found out that one boot was a size 6 and one boot was a size 8 and that they were both right feet! (NO, not the right feet, the right feet!!!!!!!!! Get It?) Needless to say, I was a little bummed out... Aspen gave Mark a goose caller and a candy bar and Sam (Our dog) got a box of Milk Bones! All in all it was a fun evening! We helped the elves do the stockings and ended up getting in bed around 2:00 am. Why do old people do that? We woke up about 8:00 am to find out that we were out of power. It went off at about 5:30 am and was off about 6 hours. We unwrapped presents by candle light and had junk from our stockings for breakfast! It was a fun time!!!

My Merry Missionary!

2008-12-28T13:46:00.000-08:00

I need to update you on our 3 hours on the phone with my little Missionary (Little?) in Horizon City, Texas. Austin surprised us by calling us on Christmas Eve day to let us know that he would be calling us at 11:00 am on Christmas Day. Ashley answered the phone first and led me to believe it was Derek calling. I was shocked when I figured out it was Austin! Good thing I wasn't holding any yogurt! (When Austin came home from Basics, he came a couple of days early. He stopped at the Stake Center to say hi! to Scott, and then came home to wait for me to return from grocery shopping in Pocatello. I got out of the car with a big flat of yogurt and was walking towards the house, when I see this huge person in an army uniform. It was my baby! I was so surprised and happy to see him that I threw the yogurt in the air and ran to hug him! Needless to say we had yogurt all over the garage, but it was worth it!) (My exchange students gave me a plaque for Christmas that says "Families are like fudge, Sweet with a few nuts in them!" Ain't it the truth??) When he called back on Christmas, we got to talk for quite awhile. He is nearing the end of his mission, only two months left out of twenty-four, so he is making plans for the future while trying to live in the present. I did break portocol by giving him the "You've got your work cut out for you to find a wife as wonderful as Derek found!" (Love ya Wif!) It is funny how girls are starting to write him again now that he is coming home soon. I personally believe (NO, I'm not Miss Carolina...) that he has not met her yet, but that she is out their waiting, anxiously ready to join in our fudgy family! (read quote above!) He has had a wonderful mission and his love for the Mexican people and their Mexican food has grown in leaps and bounds. He already has plans to travel back down there in April to see some of his families that he was instrumental in converting! We have a wonderful letter from a missionary companion of Austins that wrote to us about what a phenomenal missionary Austin was and how he was instrumental in changing many missionaries attitudes with his enthusiasm and positive example.
He said Austin was a "great force for good in the mission field!" Quite an honor to come from one of your peers. Austin plans to move up to Rexburg with a buddy of his, finish his military service and work on getting his degree before he comes back to take over the farm so that Scott and Dianne can retire to a life of leisure! Of course, the option of Iraq looms ahead of him also and he said he will just take it as it comes. His patriarical blessing says that he will have a family so that lessens my fear of his military service. I asked him if it specified which life it was to be in....
We are anxious to see him and hopefully to have all of our family home together for the reunion..except for Adam who cannot get away at that time:( We are already planning what is going to be painted on the building off of the highway so get your painting duds on and for heaven sakes, "gimmie the pan, gimmie the pan"! Good Times! I think I even have Scott won over to a life of vandalism, because he is making plans for the bulding, too! (This is an old abandoned building off of I-15 that everyone paints on to welcome home their missionaries. We painted a Peruvian flag for Derek and an alien for Emily, and we are going to paint a llama for Austin. Kristi nickamed Austin "Tina" after a llama on a movie we watched and it has stuck. We even sent him on his mission with an apron with a llama named Tina on it! This building probably has 1,000 layers of paint on it from all of the messages that have been left on it!) Austin has learned to love to serve others and his Savior.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-27T20:28:00.000-08:00

And it was! We hope you all had a great Christmas! We are writing this in retrospect as our computer just got out of the shop and hooked up today! I still have not figured out why I can't accept that Christmas comes and goes so quickly! It is such a wonderful time of year and I wish it would just slow down a little. We had a great time preparing for it and I was excited for a few of the gifts that we had prepared. One of them being that we ordered blankets for our exchange students. I have a darling little lady who makes these blankets for us. She is 92 years old, but everytime you order quilts from her she about does cartwheels around the room! She does about 52 queensize quilts per year and she marks them, quilts them and binds them herself. She also makes 30-40 baby quilts, too! She is a precious, precious lady and I love her dearly. Anyway, we picked out a hot pink color for Louise and a royal blue color for Kadda.
Della, my little lady, then drew a picture of the United States on them and then quilted them. I was really excited to give them to the girls. My kids all have one of their own and they take them everywhere with them. Derek sleeps with his everynight!
Christmas to me usually gets summed up in one thing that happens along the way. It is not something that can be planned nor expected. It is not something that can be bought at the store, but it usually touches me deeply and brings in the true Spirit of Christmas. One year it arrived when a slightly handicapped family came to our home in matching sweatshirts and striped woolen stocking hats and sang Christmas Carols for us. This year it happened on Christmas Eve. I was getting dinner ready in the morning for later that evening (and was scarier than all get-out) when the doorbell rang. I almost didn't answer it because of how I looked, but I did and there was Bishop Thurston. He had something large in his hands and he said "I made this for you and your husband for all that you do for us in the Stake." (Mostly my husband) Then he proceeded to give me the most beautiful handmade wooden mirror that I had ever seen! It is probably 2 X 3 feet. I was so touched by his thoughtfulness, that I started to cry! (Not helping how scary I looked) I told him "Now I have two men that make me cry with the wonderful gifts they give me!" It was not the gift that touched me so much as it was so sweet to picture someone laboring long hours to make something so beautiful for us. It's not like he has extra time as he works long hours at his own profession, but he is also a wonderful Bishop, which also takes alot of time. I am so grateful to think of him making this for us and for his sweet wife for allowing him to take the time to do it. I know it was a sacrifice on her part also. It made me think of Jesus and also his father Jospeh who were carpenters by trade. I picture them lovingly creating works of art out of wood in their little shops. And it also makes me think of the greatest gift we have been given and the reason that we celebrate Christmas, the birth of our Savior.

"It happened, oh, so long ago, in a time I can't recall,
but His spirit spans the years and comes to me.
A far greater thing than battles, or when mighty kingdoms fall...
When a carpenter came out of Galilee.

He taught the people simply, in a way that touched their souls.
He opened the eyes of men so they might see.
And the precious truths he taught them, and the simple acts of love
have come down to touch the hearts of you and me.

It's the greatest gift the world has known,
for the Savior to come down and guide us home.
With His simple heartfelt plea...
As He said "Come, follow Me."
He showed us all the way to go,
then lived it perfectly.

They took the man, this carpenter and nailed him to a tree.
And He suffered pains no mortal man could bear.
As He took upon Him all our sins, in the place Gethsemane.
I hope someday to understand the prefect love He shared.

Now, I've got the chance to show Him. The gratitude I feel,
and I'll go and spread the word to all I know.
With angels to uphold me and precious truths revealed
I'll share this testimony in my soul."

I am so grateful for my knowledge of the Savior, although I feel that it is just the tip of the iceberg. I want this year in my life to be dedicated to getting to know Him better, and deciding to follow Him better and to exemplify Him better! (so much better!) I guess there is no time like the "present" is there!? If I could do these things, it would be a "Happy New Year" indeed. Maybe my Christmas mirror will only reflect the person He knows I can be...;)Thanks to many people out there, who because of your examples, make me want to (and know I can) be better! Especially to my lovely children, who teach me so much and are so willing to let me know when I am off base! :D "I have no greater joy than knowing that my children walk in righteousness." (Daughters & Sons in-laws, too!) I hope 2009 brings us a little closer to our goals and to Him.

Bah! Hum-BUG!

2008-12-27T20:19:00.000-08:00

Oh yes, we got it! The Hum-BUG! The stomach flu has been residing in our house from about the first week in December! He has not been a pleasant little friend to have around at all! He started with Ashley and Mark and poor little Hunter. I think I got it from smooching on Hunter's cute little face! (Who could resist??) From there it went through everyone else in the family including Joel, Emily, Bo & Cambell. Then it came back to me. Everyone except Scott, I don't know why he didn't get it, I smooched on his face, too!!! The great thing about it is that you lose about 7-9 pounds in two days, the bad thing is once you decide you feel like eating again you want chips and dip and pizza and chocolate etc. Not really conducive to weight loss! Oh, well, tis' the season to be jolly...

Kay's Cakes!

2008-12-27T20:05:00.000-08:00

4 cups of regular Oats
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups of white flour
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
3 tbs. baking powder
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup of powdered milk
3 tsp. salt

Mix together-especially make sure that the baking powder and tartar get mixed in well with the flour first. Store in airtight container. (Makes great Christmas gifts)
Recipe:
Mix together:
2 cups of the pancake mixture (above)
2 eggs
1/3 cup of oil or applesauce
1 cup water
Cook on greased pan @ 350! Yum!

Girl Time!

2008-12-27T19:47:00.000-08:00

The first weekend in December I took a trip with three of my girlfriends to go down to Salt Lake! My close friends Eleanor and Andrea and I have a friend Kay, whose husband had recently passed away so we decided it would be good to take her away for a weekend. Friday night, Kay had called Eleanor and said that she couldn't go because her brother-in-law was ill and she didn't want to leave her sister alone. So, we stopped over at her house to drop something off, and Eleanor starts beating on her door and yelling "Kay, we know you are in there!!" (You have to know this little 5 foot tall tornado!) I, in the meantime, am looking around to see which neighbor is going to call the police first!! Kay finally opens the door-she was in the shower at the time and was getting ready to make herself some pancakes. Eleanor proceeds to tell her to get packed and get her hair done because we are not leaving without her! To my amazement, Kay listened to her. (While she was getting ready we ate her pancakes-yummy! I'm going to post the recipe later!) Oh My Word! I never thought I could laugh that hard and that long as we all did that weekend. It was just a perfect balance of personalities (odd ones at that) with each person adding their own unique sense of humor. We went to the Hale Theatre and watched "The Christmas Carol", shopped, hit the Maddox and the Macaroni Grill and talked till 2:00 am! UGH! The following day was Sunday so we spent time on Temple Square just talking, laughing and we even did a little crying! We have all decided to make it a quarterly activity! It was a blast and how grateful I am for good friends with whom you can laugh and sometimes even cry!

Thanksgiving

2008-12-27T19:02:00.000-08:00

I have not blogged in awhile, both my mind and my computer have been on hiatus! I am not sure where the last 6 weeks have gone...with the wind, I guess! We took off for Thanksgiving to California with Scott and I, Aspen & Ian and our two exchange students; Louise and Kadda. We left on Friday night and stayed the night with Grandma & Grandpa in Utah. The following morning got up and travelled on down to L.A. We arrived that evening around 6:30 pm and found our hotel. We stayed put that night and just walked to the nearest restaurant for dinner. The following day, Sunday, we got up and went to church and then drove down to Newport Beach to walk along the ocean. It was beautiful and so relaxing. The kids were pretty good to not get in the water as we u-s-u-a-l-l-y don't swim on the Sabbath. They lasted approximately 2.6 seconds before they were sucked into the water and were jumping the waves. It was the "I'll only go in so far" theory...

Scott and I walked 5 miles up and down the beach. It was not warm, but compared to Idaho it was a heatwave. After playing in the water, we gathered the kids and headed up to Hollywood. We wanted to see Rodeo Drive and Lombard Street ( which I later found out was in San Francisco). We also wanted to find Hollywood Boulevard, so we called on-star( which we named Agnes) and asked for directions. She sent us up into an alleyway that was 90 degrees and lined with trashcans. ( yes rich people have garbage too!) Scott was not impressed and feared for our lives, but our exchange student, Louise thought it was the best part of the vacation! Agnes, our computer, had sent us to the origin of Hollywood Blvd. and we finally wound our way out of the hills and down into the main part of the city. We found the walk of Fame and looked at all of the imprints of the stars hands and feetprint in the cement. The following day we went to "Knott's Berry Farm" and rode the "Woo-Woo" rides!Inside Joke! It was a blast! The rides were so fun and we loved it! Disneyland was different in the fact that it was more magical than thrilling. They were both fun days, with lots of fun memories. Feel free to ask us about: Oh! My! Humph!" "This rain is really wet!" "Louise, that's the wrong direction..." "Mom? W-H-A-T!!" "I can only think about Oprah right now!" "Oh My......" "Yak in the Box doing Yumping Yaks!" Wednesday we took off for Arizona to stay with Erin and Adam and little Noah! It was a fun place to be for Thanksgiving, especially because we got to have Thanksgiving Dinner with Adam's wonderful parents Pat & Lana. They are the best! Not to mention that Lana is an excellent cook! We are grateful for their hospitality! We also were able to go to the Mesa Temple and see the beautiful Christmas lights. It was stunning! It was a wonderful start to the Christmas Season and a fun holiday to remember for years to come!

Happy Birthday ERIN!

2008-11-14T13:43:00.000-08:00

Today is my precious daughter Erins birthday! It takes me back to when I was due with her. We had gone down to a BYU football game and I remember the lady behind me asking when my baby was due. I told her and she chewed me out for being so far from home so close to my due date! Little did she know I was sure I was never having this baby! We got home about 1:00 in the morning after going out for Mexican food with our cousins. (Maybe that's why Erin added so much spice to our life?) (And gray to our hair?:D) About 2:00 am I felt this huge kick and this gush of water! She had kicked a hole in the placenta! I got up and showered and then I went back to bed because we were so tired and nothing was happening. We went to Blackfoot to do a little shopping and get some lunch and then on to my Dr. appt. When we got to the Dr. he chewed me out for dilly-dallying on the way in to his office. After he examined me, we found out that not only had she kicked a hole in the placenta, she was now coming into the world feet and hands first! He could count all of her finger and her toes! I really did not want a c-section and he tried for 1/2 an hour to move her but to no avail. (I had bruises all up and down my stomache to prove he tried!) A C-Section it was! It was a good thing I watched her be delivered as she looked so different from the others I would of tried to send her back had I not watched her be born! She brought smiles and joy into our lives from day one and still does! We are so proud of her and her accomplishments. She is gracious and loving and forgiving of her Mom's horrible memory! We love you Erin, you are a great friend and daughter!

"Houston-We have A Problem!"

2008-11-13T08:18:00.000-08:00

For those of you who know, I have been watching my grandson, Hunter for 9 days while Ashley & Mark are on a cruise to Greece. We are also watching their dog-Moose! The dog is annoying and Hunter is precious! For anyone who knows, to watch a baby for a day is fun, but to be able to watch them day in and day out is when you completely and totally fall in love with them! It is in the wee hours of the morning when you are sitting by the fire and they lay their head against your chest or they fall asleep smiling at you that I melt!!! It has happened with everyone of my grandchildren that I have watched for an extended amount of time. So, here is my dilemma....How do I explain to Ashley she gets Moose back, but NOT Hunter!!!! Your suggestions are welcome!
(Hope Ash doesn't read this!!:D)

"She B-L-O-G-S!?"

2008-11-12T09:21:00.000-08:00

When I was up in Canada, my cousin asked me something to the effect "So, what exactly have you done with your life?" (Like, basically have you done anything???:) It's hard to explain the LDS lifestyle and all the involvement we have whether teaching, speaking or Scouting. Our callings are such a wide ranging, ongoing profession! So, not wanting to promote myself (or maybe not being able to think of anything!!!:D) I turned to my darling husband, who above anyone else in the world knows that I never watch TV and I never sit down!, and I say
"Honey-what have I done in my life???" And this precious man who I have been married to for many years (and who I am supposed to be with for eternity...)says....."Well, she blogs." What??? I Blog??? The sum of my existence for 29 years 5 months 3 weeks and 6 days is that I B-L-O-G??? OH, MY!!! Needless to say that was the topic of conversation from Saskatoon to Lethbridge-only about 400 miles! We laughed really hard! But it has kind of got me pondering on my choices and why I have done what I have done! We came back to the farm after Scott's dad had his bleeding ulcers. I was in the nursing program and Scott was in the Ag/business program at Brigham Young University. When his dad was so sick we stayed on the farm and started our family. Back in those days we did not drive to Pocatello more than once every two to three weeks-now we drive it 2-3 times every week-so the option of finishing school was not even considered. Plus, after having my children, I could of never, never left them with anyone. (I like being fully responsible for their warped little personalities!) But the truth of the matter is, I l-o-v-e-d being a MOM! I loved keeping my home organized, canning, cleaning, sewing, serving others and being involved in the gospel! I loved getting the opportunity to teach lessons and give presentations! My favorite calling at this time is teaching Gospel Doctrine Class and speaking every month with Scott in a different ward. It has truly been time consuming and totally rewarding! It is not something that I ever thought I would of done, but it has been great! I went to Idaho State several years ago and totally loved it, but to not be available when my children needed me or when they had babies and needed my help was the down side. I also felt that being away from Ian and Aspen was not fair to them since I was not reachable when they needed me. The house was clean, the meals were cooked and Scott's shirts were ironed, but mentally I was not home! I always had my head in a book studying! So I have decided that when Aspen graduates, she and I are going to college together! We can be roommates! My daughter dedicated this song to me once and I love it! It's called "Patiently"and I so appreciate its words:
She is not the picture on the magazine,
She's the woman just behind you in the checkout line.
She may appear to be common-- but she mystifies,
In all the ways the wisest men and children understand.
'Cause she has eyes that sparkle with her love,
And she has a smile, that's as gentle as a dove.
And no woman in a movie or an ad, could ever hope to be...
As beautiful as She.
She is not a highly honored diplomat--
Held responsible to lead the world to peace.
But what she does is every bit as serious--
In the turmoil everywhere that will never cease.
'Cause she has hands, that wipe the tears away,
And she has a voice that makes everything o.k.-
And no woman from the papers or t.v. could ever hope to be--
As incredible as She.
And it breaks my heart every time I see her wonder,
If she means anything in this world that pulls her under.
And she doesn't always see the way that Heaven smiles above her-
That's the reason why I try to always tell her-that I love her.
'Cause she might not be known for giving millions
to the charities and auctions on the news.
But I believe she's given more than anyone-
For all the times she's ever had to choose...
To give up sleep, to rock her children every night-
And give her heart to always hold their dreams so tight.
And the best that you or I could ever hope to be...
is as wonderful as She.
And the best that you or I could ever hope to be...
is as wonderful as...
She.

I'm not sure she meant it to make me cry every time I have heard it since!! (Thanks Ems!)
Once you get away from your comfort zone where other people do not feel the same way, it is hard to explain what a joy it has been to be a professional MOM! But when I was playing with Bo and Hunter a couple of days ago, Hunter climbed up into my lap, placed his nose against mine and with those great big crystal blue eyes of his, looked right down into my soul!! That is when I knew if I had to choose again, I would still be "Just a MOM!" I am so grateful to my husband for being such a good provider for our family and for working so hard for us that I could stay home with my kids and my grand babies.....and B-L-O-G!!!

Happy Birthday, Tina!!!

2008-11-11T21:04:00.000-08:00

Today is Austin's birthday! I can't believe that he is 21 years old already! He is serving on his mission in Tucson, Arizona. He only has 3 more months of his two years left! I was due with Austin on October 17th and the harvest crew was placing bets on when I would have him. Some said it would be the 25th, some said Halloween and then Scott's brother Jack walked up and said "I think you're going to have him Nov. 11th-my birthday!" I remember thinking "It will be a cold day ...when I have that baby 21 days late!" Well, guess what? It was a cold day when I went into labor on November 11th! I swear the last 21 years went faster than those 21 extra days! Anyway-we're proud of our baby and what he has become! "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always- as long as I'm living my baby you'll be!"

"O Canada!

2008-11-11T20:42:00.000-08:00

I recently returned with my husband from a quick trip up to Canada. My father and my mother are from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and Edmonton, Alberta. My father passed away 33 years ago when we lived in Denver, Colorado. He was creamated and a friend of mine picked up his urn and took it up to Saskatoon to be buried. I had never been back up to visit his grave and so I decided before my Aunt Doreen-my Dad's sister-wasn't there any more that I was going to go and visit her and visit my father's grave. We had a wonderful quick trip! It was 16 hours up and back and then we only stayed two days. But it was a great time and I can't tell you how much I enjoyed being around my Aunt again! I stayed 3 0r 4 summers with them and she made me laugh then and she makes me laugh now! She has a great sense of humor and I can sometimes get a glimpse of how funny my dad was, too. She is the best!! We got the chance to visit my dad's grave and I bought a little evergreen wreath to put on his grave. It seemed appropriate as my dad loved Christmas. I know that it was probably not a big deal to visit his grave as he is not there, but it was so important to me and I am shocked to know that it has been 33 years! I am grateful for the knowledge that he lives and that I will see him again! I was surprised at how much emotion hit me when I was there and could not help wondering "What If?" My cousin Bev was always so nice to let me tag along with her and her friends when I was up there as a teenager, and she brought her friend Murray over for dinner for a couple of nights and they were a blast! It was just enjoyable visiting with them both! I am grateful that Scott was willing to drive up there with me--I almost said that he was willing to drive me up there but we all know that even if he wouldn't of come with me--I would of gone by myself! Where does that stubborn, onery streak come from??? (And how many of my poor children did I pass it on to?)
Anyway, I am so grateful for my chance to go back up there and for the great family that my father has. I love the nuts on my family tree!

Loads of Laughs!

2008-11-01T18:25:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest off of the Halloween Laffy-Taffy:

What do you call a Nun that sleepwalks? A Roamin' Catholic!!

Why did the chicken cross the park? To get to the other slide!!

Tee-Hee!

Horse Puckey!

2008-10-29T17:00:00.000-07:00

I want to reiterate the fact that Treasure is a "lady" and Teton is a...well, male! I went out to feed them a couple of apples today, and Teton was the first one to come over to the fence to get his apple. CHOMP! In one bite the whole thing was g-o-n-e! Treasure mosied on over to the fence and I offered her her apple. Daintily, she took it in the front of her teeth. She took one bite, then another and then another and then another. In four even and equal bites, she quartered her apple and politely chewed it up! After I fed Teton his apple yesterday, I put Bodelle up on his back to sit for a moment. In another burst of male testosterone, he flipped his head around to the side and bit my thigh!!! I swear he was smirking until I popped him in the nose for being so rude! I sometimes wonder of we truly are the more intelligent species... but maybe he was just "horsing" around!

I feel G-R-E-A-T!

2008-10-17T08:27:00.000-07:00

Sorry if this blog is going to sound braggy, but I feel great! I have been able to start exercising again, and have just been walking around the block with my friend Eleanor. (Keep in mind that our blocks are 4 miles long, not a typical city block!:)) She has not been able to go lately so I have been going on my own. I am now up to walking half a mile and running half a mile-total of walk 2 miles and run 2 miles! For those of you who know me, you'll know I've always loved to run. I thought those days were behind me with my foot surgery and all that, but maybe not. My foot has been bothering me and I thought for sure I was destined for another surgery, but the Dr. said it was just an inflammed nerve, gave me a huge shot of something inbetween my toes (OWIE) and said that should take care of it. After two days, I think it does feel better! The chiropractor put my hips back in place after my trip off of the horse and I am not so bow-legged anymore! Can I just tell you how good it is to feel like I'm 49 and not 99???? Hopefully, if I keep at it, I'll feel 39 before too long! Our exchange students have helped me immensely too, in the fact that Katharina (From Germany) started Weight Watchers a few days after I did! (She didn't need to, she just likes to eat healthy) Can I just tell you that Germans don't cheat!? It has made me want to do so much better because she is so diligent at it! It is tonz more fun to have someone to diet with than to do it on your own-plus it keeps you honest! Louise (Our Swedish girl) is a whiz on the computer and is patiently, although laughing the whole time, trying to teach me how to do all of these things on my blog. She honestly can't believe it when she shows me something and 2 seconds later I can't remember how to do it! Does she really think I would be this dumb on purpose??? (But I can figure out the vacuum better than she can ;D) All in all, life is good, not to mention that I get to talk to all of my kids every couple of days! (Except Erin-she's an elusive little thing!) So, sorry if I sound boastful, but life is G-O-O-D!

Public Admission:

2008-10-13T09:12:00.000-07:00

Louise is so wonderful at fixing my blog. I have never seen anyone as fast (or as violent!) on the computer! How can she understand this thing in two languages and I don't even comprehend it in one?! And, she is soooo...NICE!

My final embarrasing moment....

2008-10-10T21:15:00.000-07:00

This was a toss up because I thought everyone knew this story, but today my daughter Emily said she had never heard this before so here it is...Scott and I had been married 2 years and Derek was a year old. I was bathing and Derek was in the bathroom with me getting into everything: the toilet, the cleaning stuff under the sink and even the bath tub. I had my glasses on, but because they kept steaming up, I took them off. (I am close to blind) I heard the front door open and realized that my husband was home for lunch. I scooped Derek up and marched right out into the kitchen to give him to his dad so that I could finish my bath in peace. I walked right into the kitchen and hand this mischievious little boy to his dad, when all of a sudden it dawns on me there are two outlines of bodies in my kitchen! (Keep in mind that I am really blind!) The first one is my husband....the second one is....MY FATHER-IN-LAW! And I am buck naked in front of both of them! I can't remember if I threw Derek at them and ran or if I used him as a shield till I could get back to the bathroom. Needless to say I was mortified! (I only cried about 3 hours) Several days later, I went down to Grandma and Grandpas' house and I knocked several times, but no one answered. I figured they just hadn't heard me knock so I went on in...just in time to see Grandpa...buck naked...walk from the bathroom to his room!! Needless to say, turnabout is fair play! Every once in awhile Grandpa assures everyone that he and I know each other v-e-r-y w-e-l-l. :D If he weren't such a gentleman, this would of plagued me for years, but he is such a great father so it never really embarrassed me again!

"H" is for HYPOCRITE! (And also Humility and Hilarious)

2008-10-10T08:20:00.000-07:00

Why is life such a great humble-er?? We have had our exchange students for a month now and they are great! Kada is very responsible and Louise is very light-hearted. In fact, she laughs at almost everything! A few times she has even gotten the giggles during prayer! So, I, being the "mean mom" have given her the lectures about how we are reverent during prayer and how we don't laugh out of respect for Heavenly Father etc. So, last night we kneel down for prayer and Ian is going to say it and someone started to laugh and I say very "sternly" "We don't laugh in prayer, and I mean It!!" All of a sudden, I can hear Fessic (Andre the giant in "Princess Bride")saying in my ear "Anybody Got a Peanut??" The next thing I know, I am on the floor laughing so hard (in the middle of the prayer) that tears are pouring down my face, w/ 3 kids staring at me like I am loco! Needless to say I now know I have no clout in this family!!! With good reason, I might add! I have been h-u-m-b-l-e-d! :D

Now I remember...(embarrassing moment # 2)

2008-10-09T08:25:00.000-07:00

This came to me in the middle of the night last night when I couldn't sleep. I think because I do things like this is why I can't sleep! My husband was out in the shop working on one of our vehicles and I went out to see him. I saw his boots and jeans hanging out from underneath this truck so I mosied on over to bug him. I started walking my fingers up his leg right about around his kneecap. I got right up about to the top of his thigh (the very top!) when all of a sudden---our hired man comes shooting out from under that truck. His eyes were the size of silver dollars!!! He yelled "Dianne Poulson!" and I yelled back "Murray Kendall!" and we both yelled "What are you doing???????" It was real similar to the scene in "E.T." when Drew Barrymore and E.T. run into each other in the closet and are screaming at the top of their lungs! To this day we laugh about it, but I often wondered why he waited so long to come out and see what was going on!!!

Conference!

2008-10-08T20:18:00.000-07:00

I, too, wanted to say how much I loved Conference! Is it possible that it was the best one ever? I am sure I say that every time, but it had so many incredible talks that I can't even comprehend how they knew all that I needed to hear! I am always so sure that they should just preface every talk with "Dianne, you need to..." They all seem directed to me! Amazing! I was especially grateful for the counsel that was given on how we need to keep going even though we live in perilous times, because a time of peace and unity is just around the corner. I needed to hear that. I was also impressed how many talks were encouraging people to just hold on through the challenges and trials that come in their lives. It was made more evident to me at the Olive Garden that a night. This really cute 30 year old guy was waiting on us and he was so fun. We all got talking and he indicated he had served his mission in St. Louis and that he was now living in Salt Lake. He somehow gave us the impression that he was divorced so when he came back I said "Are you opposed to being set up on blind dates?" (I am an incurable matchmaker) He said "No, actually I am open to the possibility." Ashley was kidding with him and said something like "You're not burned out on love?" And he said "Actually, my wife was killed in a car wreck 2 years ago and I have a 7 year old daughter and a 2 1/2 year old son." (Oh yes, Dianne is now crying in the Olive Garden!) I asked him if he had heard Conference that day and he said he hadn't, he'd been working. I told him that several of the talks were about dealing with trials and challenges that come our way. Things that we would of never dreamed would happen and when they did we wondered if we could live through them. Yet, somehow with "tender mercies" we make it through. It never fails to amaze me how much people go through and how they overcome with Heavenly Fathers' help. So, if any of you know a single lady in Salt Lake, we found a cutie for her!

One embarrassing moment...

2008-10-08T19:47:00.000-07:00

I was just reminded of an embarrasing moment that happened to me several years ago when all of my kids were still home. We were getting ready to go to General Conference and were racing around trying to get the house clean and all of the random things I made my kids do before we went on a trip. I was trying to get my windows washed and the kids were fighting like cats and dogs. I finally had had it so I said to them "That's it! We are not going to go to Salt Lake unless you guys can be quiet for the next 2 1/2 hours! In fact, I am going to duct tape your mouths shut to help you out and if anyone makes a peep in the next 2 1/2 hours--we are not going!" So, I put a piece of duct tape across 5 little peoples mouths. (Derek was a Senior!) It was a challenge because they were laughing so hard and duct tape does not stick to teeth! Try it for yourself! So they all have tape on their mouths and I go outside to wash the office window. A couple of my young women had pulled up and brought me a plate of cookies. So, Scott is sitting
in his office and I look in the window and say "Want a cookie little boy?" Then I mashed my face up against the window and crossed my eyes. Then, I had a spider in my hair and I said "Ooo gross, a spider, he will probably die a horrible death in this greasy mop of hair!" My husband is calmly watching me do my thing and must of known that I was working up to my finale (which you don't want to know about!) because he softly says "Honey, did you know our banker is sitting in the office with me??" To which I say "Nut-uh, you're just trying to trick me!!" To which he reaches over and twists the other blind open and there sits our BANKER! I am being a total dork, there is stuff all over because we are leaving on a trip and five children are running through the house with their mouths duct-taped shut!! The banker looks at Scott, gives him this half-hearted smile and says "She's really fun...isn't she????" I am not sure if we got our loan that year, he probably approved it with an addded allowance of $ to commit me to Blackfoot South! (Wish I hadn't remembered that!!) This was one of those Crisis + Time = Humor! It's almost funny to me now!

Tickered off...

2008-10-08T19:29:00.000-07:00

To whom it may concern....This is to announce that My blog is going private since someone has been mysteriously altering my tickers to fit their tastes. As for Savannah, don't rule out that many women have conceived at 49 years of age...

Who is this Savannah Girl!!!

2008-10-08T14:52:00.000-07:00

Since we all can pretty much write on eachothers blogs in this fam I would like to announce that I (Ashley) am pregnant!!!! We hope that it is a little girl and we want to name her Savannah Elizabeth Allen! What do you think!! Accidents happen right? Okay Im not pregnant but my mom put Savannah up there hinting that she wanted another grandbaby! I was too eager to know so I asked and that is what she said:) I will leave the next grandbabies to my beautiful sisters Emily and Erin, better get going:) Now you guys will not be wondering anymore:) If you need to know anything else just ask me I have all the answers you need.
signing off

ashley allen

2008-10-02T21:32:00.000-07:00

LOUISE IS SO NICE!

"Witching" You a Happy Halloween!

2008-10-01T18:41:00.001-07:00

BOO!

2008-10-01T18:34:00.001-07:00

GOOD NEWS!

2008-10-01T08:49:00.000-07:00

Salvadore called from Salt Lake last night after undergoing surgery all day. He reported that they rebuilt his lower leg and pinned him together in 3 places. Even more amazing is that he has feeling in his feet and can move his toes! I guess the bonus yesterday was that they found he had a pulse in his foot so that the blood supply had not been severed allowing his foot to "live".
Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers. Even our cute little German exchange student, who has not prayed before said "I prayed for him last night!" Thanks Kada!

Boo!

2008-09-30T15:06:00.001-07:00

Create your own glittery text at pYzam.com

Be Positive!

2008-09-30T15:02:00.001-07:00

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Harvest Healing...

2008-09-30T14:32:00.001-07:00

We need your prayers as one of our workers was lifeflighted to Salt Lake today. He got to work early this morning and one of our trucks had sat all night with a load of potatoes on it. When this happens, the belt is stretched because of the weight of the potatoes. Usually, you just tighten the belt with your wrench and it works just fine. Instead, Salvadore laid down on his back under the belt of the bed of the loaded truck. He put his feet up on the belt and told the lady truck driver to hit the gas. She did and the belt pulled his feet up and over a conveyer belt and inbetweeen the load of potaotes, the belt and the roller of the bed. Jack (Scott's brother) had to get up under the truck and saw the parts of the bed apart to release his legs. His feet are intact, but the bones in one of his legs was crushed and it was hanging on by not too much. (sorry to be too graphic) The helicopter landed by the cellar and took him to Pocatello, but when I called the emergency room, the nurse said the injuries were to severe and they lifeflighted him to Salt Lake. He is a young man with a young wife who is expecting. It was a pretty somber crew working today as we are made aware how dangerous it can be to work around machinery that is infinitely stronger than flesh and bones. We were talking to our kids last night in Family Home Evening about the dangers of Harvest and how we need to be so careful and they gave us the "eyes rolled back into their head look" like "we've heard this 5,000 times-mother!" Today they are a little more aware of how smart their parents are!

Six things I want to accomplish in the next 10 years....

2008-09-30T13:47:00.000-07:00

1.) I want to get paid for the rodeo stunts that Ashley and I put on for all of the Harvest crew instead of doing a "freebie"! (I am hoping my bruises are healed in the next 10 years!)
2.) I want to get my childrens' books published. I don't even care if they sell, I just want to have them illustrated and published. I had a friend tell me that publishers don't want books that have morals to them, that teach children to make good choices...hmmm-wonder what is wrong with this nation???
3.) I want to finish my BS degree-None of you friends out there tell me that I already have that degree--I mean my Bachelor of Science in English or as a Nursing Instructor.
4.) I want to serve a mission with my husband where we have to learn a foreign language. I would love to be able to share the gospel in two languages! Maybe I better get better at it in English before I attempt another langauge! (No, Idahoan is not a foreign language!)
5.) I want to be a better person than I am today!
So, you can see that I have my work cut out for me!!! Why am I on this Blog...I need to get to work! BYE!

Harvest!

2008-09-25T23:44:00.001-07:00

My favorite crops to harvest...."Honey and Pearl" Corn and "Tator Tots"!

Can I just tell you what a beautiful time of year it is in Idaho during Harvest?! I love it! The air is crisp, the sunsets incredible and the busyiness (?) of all of the people bringing in their crops is exhilarating! At night you can look around for miles and all of the equipment, trucks and tractors light up the fields like a Christmas Tree! (Which, by the way is 3 months from today!) The earthy smell is my favorite! Of course, there is always the fear of an accident happening to mar the beauty and we pray for the safety of all who are working at this time. People also go out of their way to help anyone who is behind. If one farmer finishes first, even though they are exhausted, they take their crew over and help anyone who has not finished due to breakdowns, injury etc. It's a wonderful time of year!

Just for fun...

2008-09-24T07:20:00.000-07:00

I, too, find these little info games intriguing. So, let's share our 3 most embarrassing moments (keep it clean:)) and see who can be the most diverting!(What's it from?) I tag Kristi, Erin, Ashley & Em. You all know mine so I won't bother to share...they are a little too racy if you ask me!

I rest my case...

2008-09-20T13:38:00.000-07:00

Just to prove my point, I looked down at my footie socks at piano today--and they didn't match!!! One had blue stripes on the top and the other had blue stripes on the bottom. How can my life go on????

What are ex-friends for??

2008-09-15T18:10:00.000-07:00

What does it mean when your daughter-in-law grabs the phone from her husband and says "You really don't think you have any quirks????"Ha!Ha!Ha!Ha!Ha!(Laughing hysterically) (Not historically, Erin:D)To think I really used to love that girl! I think I get the hint and I am done asking you all for any help, thank-you very much! She and my friend Pam also came up with the quirk that I have to match, from my socks to my makeup-even my sweats & pj's have to match my socks! Good thing big hair bows went out of style...The apple doesn't fall far from the tree...

What are friends for??

2008-09-15T08:09:00.000-07:00

Since I have such great friends, they have all volunteered to help me realize how many "quirks" I have! I was walking with my friend Eleanor and talking about this blog, and she said "You also are quirky about walking." "When we get to the middle of our 4 mile walk and are turning around to go home, you have to turn around exactly at the telephone pole or the crack in the road. It cannot be one step sooner nor one step later-it has to be perfectly in line with either one.!" I choose to think that is integrity, not being quirky!!! What do you think??

Quirks? I don't think I have any....

2008-09-14T17:25:00.000-07:00

Kristi Lyn tagged me to come up with 6 quirks that I have and, laugh all you want, I can't think of any!!! O.K. maybe one or two have come to mind, but six...I don't think so....

1.) I cannot stand to have any dishes on the counter in my kitchen. If you are drinking anything in my kitchen and set it down on the counter, it is gone and in the dishwasher. Many confused souls wander around my kitchen saying..."Anybody seen my glass of water???...."

2.) I scratch my headboard at night. Right before I go to sleep, I scratch my head board two to three times. I didn't even know I did it until my husband pointed it out, now I notice it every night.

3.) I put this in my lame blog, but I cannot--physically cannot--leave my bed unmade. I will be that much later to where ever I am going, but I will still stop and make my bed. Even if I am getting in it in 2 seconds or I am putting clean sheets on, I have to completely make the bed so that I can unmake it to get in it!

4.) I am obsessed with DATELINE transcripts. I am not sure why they fascinate me and sometimes I scare the begeebers out of myself by reading them so late at night! I hope I am not
a potential psychopath....If I haven't killed anybody yet after raising 7 children, I probably never will...

5.) I can't stand to see my clothes at Deseret Industries. I went to DI and saw one of my favorite maternity dresses I had given them hanging on the rack and it made me sad so I bought it--AGAIN!!! Hel-lO!

6.) When Aspen's bunny had babies, we gave one away and still had two left over. So we took them to the pet store. As we drove away, Aspen glanced over at me and said incredulously "ARE YOU CRYING?????" Oh yes, after years of being subjected to Walt Disney's tear-jerking movies, giving bunnies away was like giving my children away...actually harder since the bunnies have never made fun of me!!! (That I know of! :D)

Oh my, this is just like the lame blog, once you get started there is an endless supply, isn't there?
My friend Pam came up with a few, but she stopped telling me them after she saw my self-esteem go out the window! She had one herself tho, she came home between church to throw her potatoes in and thought she would just lay down for a minute. She even set the timer on her oven for 10 minutes. Almost an hour later she woke up to a beeping noise and late, late, late for Sacrament Meeting! I am not sure if that is lame or life! O.K. I tag Vicki Moore, Michelle Horton, Julie Poulson, Derek Poulson, Adam Fanello and Mark Allen!!!! Let's get some male perspective here...;D

P.S.-I promise I am going to pizazz up my boring blog really soon. It has not had anything cute done to it since Erin Elise helped me get it started. I am planning to add some pics, but right now I am lucky just to get a blog done!

Language Barrier?

2008-09-14T16:16:00.001-07:00

Whew! What a shock! To be living with a Swedish girl, A German girl, two Idaho kids and to find your blog written in chinese is just too much diversity!!! I can't think in any language at this point! We are having way fun with our girls and hope they are surviving. It is interesting to look at your family and your life through the eyes of an outsider. I am thinking we are quite odd.....

Our life got a little more exciting when my husband fell 16-20 feet off of our potato celler last Friday. I was waiting for him to come in for lunch at 12:30 which he did, but he was all covered with dirt and informed me he had slipped and fallen from the top of the celler. I personally think it was farther than 20 feet, but who am I? I told him he had the choice of either going in the car or in the ambulance, but either way he was going to the hospital! He had laid in the dirt for 20 minutes screaming with his cell phone on his belt, and still did not call 9-1-1! (Or me) He later described it to one of the girls saying it felt like when you slammed your finger in the car door, except it was his whole body being slammed into the ground! Ouch! By the time we got him to the hospital, we were told he should not have been moved. (Duh!) After doing X-rays and a CAT Scan, they found a fracture on the fourth lumbar vertebre. He was so lucky that is all that he had! He was hurting in the middle of the night and Mark gave him a blessing. In the blessing Mark said "I (Heavenly Father) was not with you when you fell off of the celler, but I was with you when you landed." Interesting to know! My friends' brother fell off of a celler and destroyed both of his ankles. Another friend was killed falling off of his roof. I am thinking we were blessed! It surely does strain a marriage to have to take care of a man who is "so dang dumb"! (Quote of the week by Ashley) I did get him to stay in bed by telling him "I will leave you if you even step one foot from this bedroom...." It must of worked because he told Bishop Lovell and President Driscoll he couldn't move or else I would leave him. (I am kind of surprised he didn't climb back up on the celler just to get rid of me...then he only would of had the pain in his back instead of the pain in his neck...) But thanks to all of you for your calls & your prayers in our behalf. "He is one Lucky bug...." MULAN

Happenings!

2008-09-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

We have had such a busy month-it has been a kick, for the most part! We got our two new exchange students, one is from Sweden named Louise and the other one is from Germany named Katharina (Kat-a-rina). They are a blast and we have enjoyed them so much. We hope that they will be able to stand us for the next 9 months! We have laughed so much this last week and it has been so much fun for us! We also got two new horses, Teton & Treasure and I have loved riding them and being with Aspen. It has been a good thing to get us out of the house and away from the t.v. The weather is beautiful and Harvest is in the air!