Anna's top ten favorites

She brought home a sort of get to know you paper from school and I found this.

SOME OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITES ARE:

10. Reading fictional books

9. Playing the piano

8. Kidding around with my cat (he listens to her jokes)

7. Having my siblings visit home cause they're at college. (she misses them so much)

6. Sleeping in (I'm with you on this one)

5. Pulling pranks on my sisters friends. (hmmmm)

4. Writing a fictional story

3. Playing DSI

2. Going on trips to wherever (after her mothers heart)

and the number one answer of Anna's all time favorte things is. drum rolllll

1. Sneaking on my mom's blog to see what she wrote about me and other things. (yeah baby)
Her last xcountry race and she was so proud of the mud all on the back of her. She asked me everyday did you blog about my race, did you blog about my race? Slothful mother that I am I did not so when I saw this school paper I knew I had to get my bootie in gear and get posting.

Cougar Mama?

My friend Ellen invites me to meet her and some friends in Chicago for dinner and free tickets to see Jersey Boys. Oh yeah I'm there baby. I love plays. Thanks Ellen

Ellen -"Let me warn you I heard there's a little bit of cussing."
I was not prepared to hear the F word over and over again. I sure loved the songs, the acting, and the plot, but man - I don't understand why so much dang cussing. (I'm so glad I didn't go with my MIL & Family)

Lori, Ellen and Me.
Earlier I rode the train downtown by myself and walked down Wells Street to meet up with this fun group at the famous Ed Debevics. I took my sweet time and took some pictures since I had never walked down Wells street before.

Crossing the bridge over the Chicago River.
World famous Gino's East (not my favorite - they don't put enough cheese to my liking) But you gotta admit this is one unique building.

I walked in and saw Lori H. waiting for me I was then announced over the microphone "Tami has arrived". Talk about embarrassing. I wasn't warned that this joint loves to make fun of their customers and it's all good. The place was packed and everyone is just so happy to see what the next insult or joke will be from the wait staff.

Kevlar (if that's his real name) our waiter " Ok I'll bring you a pitcher of toilet water, have had it - cheap people"
to Ellen's son Jeff, "Get a haircut" and I won't even say what he said when he brought Jeff his meal.
OK is that the biggest hot dog you've ever seen in your life? It is for me. Holy cow.

Fun quirkly thing this restraunt does is everything stops and the waiters and waitresses jump up on the counters and tables and dance
notice the hats they give everyone to wear
After the song, Kevlar jumps down, shakes his chest in my face and says, "I saw you taking my picture Cougar Mama, I know you want some of this." Ok not only was I embarrased I was insulted. Yeah that's what they're good at.

I might be a BYU Cougar from way back when but I'm no cougar mama. Old lady seducing younger men. oooohhh that just made me mad.

Later I asked him what the name of the group was that we were listening to. He went up to the DJ's mike and announced to everyone there. "To my cougar table.............." I didn't even hear what the name of the group was cuz I was screaming and everyone else was laughing. hhahha

Ellen thought he was giving us a compliment by calling us that. unhunh, they don't hand out compliments there. She took it that way and that's why she's so positive and upbeat about life and that's why we love her.
Jamie - she served her mission here a couple of years ago and came back to visit Ellen. Too bad the pic is blurry. She goes to school at Utah State and knows Caitlin Porter - my friends daughter from AZ. small world.
We then got a free ride in a taxi all the way back home. whoohooo it pays to know people. Thanks Lori (We didn't want to wait two hours for the train.)

The Adventures of My MIL & SIL

This week was the first time my MIL & SIL ever flew on an airplane without their spouses. Yay they did it. They are new women because of it.

Wed- we went to my water aerobics class and I learned that my MIL never learned how to swim. She just exercised in the back by the wall but the water is only 4 ft. All those years we played at Lake Powell and I never knew. Got to give her credit for jumping in the pool at the age of 72.


Afternoon my MIL & SIL helped me and my friend make tamales. I think I will call her Tamale Tina from now on. I love tamales. I think it's fun to have four ladies sitting around playing in cornmeal.
Anna had her Xcountry awards that evening so off we went for some fine dining - Jr. high cafeteria style
So who has more gray? I love this pic, so glad we had some down time waiting for that fine food.

Thurs - Diane took Grandma shopping for some new clothes. They came back two hours later giggling with their goods.
We then headed to Potbelly's for lunch. You know how I love a Potbelly sandwich.











We ventured to Goebberts Pumpkin Farm and Garden Center in S. Barrington. Didn't take any pics due to the rain. But we did manage to bring home some Halloween loot.

That evening the whole family went to see "Hairspray" at the Marriott theater in Lincolnshire.
Another first for Grandma, since she's never been to a big production play. We all loved it and I love that theater in the round - well it's really a square but it's so up close and personal, not a bad seat in the house. I'm so happy Grandma enjoyed it. "Can't stop the beat" you know.
Side note - Dear Santa - I would like season tickets to the theater.

Friday - We went back to Barrington for brunch at my favorite little restaurant out here.
Egg Harbor Cafe
Next stop Long Grove, a cute lil German village for some chocolate and the best apple cider donuts you've ever had in your life. Fresh out of the oven mind you.


Then off to Lake Geneva and oh yeah we had to stop on the Wisconsin border for Cheese

You can't see the fall colors because it rained or was cloudy the whole time they were here. bummer. Of course the sun came out Sat. after they left.














I think Grandma had a good time and thanks to aunt Diane for bringing her on an adventure. She needed it.

"The test of an adventure is that when you’re in the middle of it, you say to yourself. Oh now I’ve got myself into an awful mess. I wish I were sitting quietly at home and the sign that something’s wrong with you is that when you sit quietly at home wishing you were out having lots of adventures" Thornton Wilder's play The Matchmaker

Happy Birthday Sweet Ellie!!!

Can't believe she's One today and she's already attended a class at Harvard.

Coldest Night of My Life

We had to go back to Devils Lake since last year was so much fun plus David got a new tent.
We didn't care that the weather forecast was snow and rain.

We were going to break in our tent and see the fall colors and do some hiking since mountains seem to be scarce around here and this is one of the few places that we can go up and up.
Devil's Doorway - we hiked up this trail to discover all these purple boulders and this scary edifice.

Anna had no fear climbing through the doorway. I of coarse stayed back and took pictures.
We are way up here where it was nice and warm.


Standing in front of our new tent. The smaller one belongs to "his other wife" that three teenage girls borrowed.
For some reason I thought that since our tent was new it would be nice and warm but nooooooo.

Spent the first night freezing and not sleeping. Anna even woke up crying so I found a heavy blanket for her.
I woke up the next day a zombie. I hurt all over from being scrunched in the fetal position.

I found out everyone else slept in three pairs of sweats, under armor and four pairs of socks.

Duhhhh why didn't I think of that?

Once I got up, dressed and walking around, it was all good. It was by far the coldest night of my life. I now know why it's called the Ice Age Trail. heeheee
Molly loves to live on the edge. This girl has no fear. She loves roller coasters and hanging out on cliffs. She 's such a leader -had her three friends join her.

Our Bishop giving us warm words of wisdom around a fire. I love camp fires.
Most of the group that went, the rest must of have been bouldering.

(click on pics to get a bigger image)This is why we come.-- Fall colors and happy faces
I'm so happy to be home in my warm cozy bed - till next year.
oh yeah and the great thing about camping in the cold. - no bugs or critters - nada one

Ulitimate frisbee fun lovin son

I've always loved this layout of Jonathan. He's the MAN.!

Happy Birthday!!!

19 Years ago

Jonathan was in Sandy Shepard's kindergarten class at Dr. Daniel Bright elementary school in Cottonwood, AZ. Who would have known then that he would be a 1st year law student at Harvard 19 years later married to the blessed Kate with the cutest little kid around?

Lately a few of my friends have asked, "Can you believe you have a kid at Harvard?"

Quite frankly -no, but I'm living the dream.

How did this happen? I'm no Einstein, nor is David - he's close though.

My education consisted of basic survival - 12 different schools in 13 years - attending 5 high schools in 3 different states.
When I finally got to college I had no idea how to do a term paper, somehow I missed that and managed to skim by.

Now I will admit Jonathan came smart. That boy learned all his animal sounds when he was around one. Yes indeedee, he could moo and bark upon command. I knew then he was destined for success.

He went to public schools, we never paid for private school or tutors- nope just straight public, wearing t-shirts and board shorts, none of that blue blazer, preppy look.

He played frisbee (which he still does) At the time I was a bit sad when he didn't go out for the academic decathlon and wanted to play frisbee instead with his friends.

My philosophy in raising kids was to make sure they were well rounded which included friends and down time.

We are by no means country clubbers, I've never played golf in my life, unless that putt putt around a castle counts.

So how did he get into Harvard?

This boy of ours is amazing. Not only was he born brilliant but he works darn hard and he's not afraid to try new things or help others. He even puts up with me, his boring mom who has no clue what he's talking about half the time especially when it involves science. He's patient though.

One of Jonathan's qualities that I've always loved is his golden heart and humility. He's just always been kind, well except for those few bite marks he left on Em when she was a babe.

For the most part he's just a sweet, smart boy, well I guess he's a MAN now that he's 25 today but he'll always be a sweet boy to me.

Yeah he turned out quite well rounded and I think that's what Harvard was looking for and to think it all started with "Mr. J has a friend" or maybe it was he knew how to moo before two. heeheeheee

Happy Birthday Son!!!

I <3 facebook

(Ok I really tried to put this picture at the end of the blog, I've done it before but I can't seem to make it work it now without deleting everything I wrote, sometime I just get so dang mad at these new fangled computer thingeys. I've given up after 20 some odd tries. I can't even get it to load on my facebook. I'm not happy :-(

Anyway - this is Bill Pulsipher back in college at BYU - he liked photograhpy way back when

I love facebook even though I was hesitant at first since my kids have been using it for years. Just sounded like a younger generation thing and I didn't want them thinking I was stalking or being a creeper but when my freinds from AZ were on, I thought what the heck.

I personally don't care for "what style of shoe are you? or what Office character or I've lost a black sheep - be my friend on a farm stuff" So thank you Jonathan for enlightening me with the great "Hide" button. I can zip through FB so much faster now. Like my friend Bernie said, "I just like looking at pictures of everyone".

I have enjoyed reuniting with friends from long ago. I have spent way too many hours these past few weeks yakking on the phone with friends from over 30 years ago. What a blast from the past when my friend Karen and I reminisced looking thru the yearbook. I honestly couldn't remember some Vacaville bulldogs who wrote in my yearbook. By their comments you would have thought we were best friends. HAH How sad is that? I know I was only there for a year and a half, but still.

I love FB, looking at my friends families pictures. I also like looking at my kids friends posts, they are my adopted kids anyway. Everyone is just growing up and that's what it's all about.

On a sadder note I discovered that a roommate from my sophomore year of college passed away. I contacted the other roommates and none of us knew or had stayed in contact with Laurie Pulsipher.

Her brother Bill informed me when we became friends on facebook a couple of months ago.

"I'm great. Bonnie's great. The kids are plugging along. Generally having a great time as always-life is what it is, I might as well enjoy it. Laurie passed away in 1997 from cancer. She has a son in the Coast Guard and a daughter in the Seattle area."

August 6 at 10:25am

"She was very young and it was a sad time for all of us. These experiences make a deep print on our lives as we go through them. Laurie was great through the whole illness, it seemed to bring out the best in her. I miss her a lot, but I am confident that she is ok and we will all get reacquainted later on.
I have enjoyed meeting old friends on ... facebook-have reconnected with most of the old gang and that is a very good thing. Everyone is doing such different and interesting things with their lives. Did you check my 25 thngs note? That will give a brief update on where I'm at lately. Bonnie lived somewhere close the CasaDea(the apartments I lived in) I think although you're right it is a little hazy. Today is our 28th Anniv."

August 7 at 1:04pm

Then last Friday Bill passed away from a heart attack. 51 is just too young in my book. Kind of in shock that we just reconnected and now he's gone. I had told him I was going to look through my old photos and see if I could find any of his sister and now he's gone too. My heart goes out to his family.

Even though such sad news I still love facebook.

Some fun things we did this past summer.

Dupage Children's Museum - We had some time to kill after dropping my mom off at the train station in Naperville. Anna usually gets a free pass to this museum but we had never gone before and alas when we did go we had no coupon. I don't think it was worth the money we paid but everyone with young kids out here should go at least once.

My personal favorite was this bubble making car wash. I like bubbles.
Strolling thru Kettle Morraine state park

Randall Oaks Park and Barnyard ZooOk this snapshot doesn't show you the enormity of this pig. She was the biggest pork I've ever seen.
Strawberry pickin in Woodstock

............................................................Anna and friend Lexi.
Museum of Science and Industry - Harry Potter The Exhibition

Weasley's car is the only thing you can take pictures of which is in the main lobby. Bummer no photography in the exhibit. Ok so I've been a couple of times with different members of the family. My favorite is still pulling up those mandrakes (screaming root babies. hahahh)
Some of my kids have been sorted - Jonathan is Raven claw - Anna and Ellie are Griffendor and I can't remember the rest. The exhibit is off to Boston in Oct. They are following my kids.
My girls love to have fun, well some of them do.
I don't think Ellie was too impressed with it but everyone else loved it.
My Family Hiked the Grand Canyon - Rim to Rim . Had a Great time
See David's earlier post
I don't know how Jonathan got up there, nor do I want to know. Sure makes for a cool shot.
Williamsburg, Va and Jamestown is where Anna and I ventured - see earlier post.
Yay - Josh and Emerald stopped by on their way to Boston U. So we had to take them downtown to Millenial Park and the Shedd aquarium.
Not only are Josh and Emerald in this pic but so is David,Tami,Molly and Anna. Can you find us?
(click on pic to enlarge)
Josh being an engineer major was impressed that you can't see any seems on "The Bean"



Kayaking in Lake in the Hills -

Paddle boating since they only have 2 kayaks to rent out.
Jet skiing on Crystal Lake. I have the nicest seminary student who invited us for a wet ride.

Jet ski's are my favorite toys. Too bad I don't own one. I miss the Lake Powell Days. There is just something about going super duper fast in the water. I LOVE IT!!!

He belongs on a magazine cover for Yamaha. Love his smile that boy of mine.



Have I mentioned "Never a dull moment when Em is around"
We love it when friends and fam come to visit. Scott dropped by for some Chicago style pizza.
Oh how I miss my grandbaby....


We had a busy summer with girls camp,youth conference,high adventure for girls and trips to Chicago. We love living here and we love company so plan a visit.

You're not going to believe this!

Don't read if you can't handle gross and disgusting.

ok here goes.

Driving down Rakow road in Crystal Lake just past the lake, I was stuck at a light.

To my right there's a bunch of bushes and trees, all of a sudden, hundreds and I mean hundreds of birds flew out and up. As I was sitting there stuck in traffic I was mesmerized by how magnificent so many birds can fly together without crashing into each other.

Then all of sudden these hundreds of birds made a sudden turn and swooped down and back towards the trees.

As they swooped, they pooped -- BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM

Yep all over my car

. Okay so here's the gross and disgusting part --- It was not white (that would have been yukky too) but a very pretty blue and some were even lime green, like paint balls with a touch of purple streaks.

WHAT THE HECK???

I could not see out my window. If Anna was not with me I know none of you would believe me, but I have a witness.

I had to turn the windshield wipers to even see. The car behind us got splattered even worse or maybe because it was white and showed up more.
They later pulled up beside us when we got to Randall Rd. and we just started laughing at what just occurred.

Never seen anything like this before. Not sure what happened.
My guess is something scared those darn birds as they flew from the trees and literally just scared the crap out them all at once.

Good thing I wasn't in a convertible.

But blue and green poop with a touch of purple. oooh yuk.

The Help

I loved, loved, loved this book. It's not very often that I find a book that makes me laugh out loud not once or twice but several times.

The three main characters were so endearing to me, I didn't want the book to end.
The relationships that all three have not only with each other but in their personal lives as well, was just sweet and true to life for me.

The story takes place during my lifetime, well my early lifetime, but none the less. I honestly had no idea about the Southern lifestyle and "The Help" from the black community. I loved how she wove pieces of history in her story, just made me feel like I was sitting right there at the kitchen table listening to the happenings of the day.

Impressed with Ms. Stockett being that this is her first novel. How does that happen?

x-country

Anna was not happy with me that I did not post about her first x-country meet and rightly so.
She's been dreading this event all summer. She has many aches and pains but she finishes and she gets better with each practice and race. David told her this would be good for her so here she is.








One tough Hill but what a beautiful course!!!
















I don't think I've ever seen such a smiley runner before.
















The beginning of another race. Go Vikings.















Running through the farmers fields..
















Having your best friend on the team helps alot. We're so proud of you Anna!!!!!

Ask and you shall receive - wait I didn't ask?

Lookeeee here, I done got me a new purse.

Yess sirree folks tis true and it's an authentic Coach one too, not one of those knockoffs from Nairobi .

I have good friends is all I'm goin to say.
Who says Bloggin doesn't pay?

Now just where am I goin to go with my new fangled purse?

Backoff Lolly girl!! Its mine!!!

Ok I'll share...... ;-)

9/11 and Coach

I've seen lots of newspaper articles, facebook posts and blogs about where/what everyone was doing when 9/11 hit.

I remembered this story that happened 6 months later.

David and I were on a plane from Phoenix to San Diego for a weekend getaway which was cancelled back in Sept. due to 9/11 .
I sat next to a gal who worked in New York and was on her way to visit her parents.

Me - "Where do you work?"
Sweet young cute sophisticated girl - "In the Corporate headquarters for Coach"

Me - I have nooooooo clue what Coach is other than Coachmen trailers made up near my hometown of Vacaville,CA. (not sure if they still make them there anymore?)

I could tell by the way she was dressed that she didn't work for no trailer company in New York City.

I also could tell by the way she looked at me that I should know what "Coach" was. So feeling stupid, what the heck, I still had to ask "uhhhh what is Coach"?
She informed me that they make designer purses.
hmmmm, coach purses, still not ringing any bells in this K-Mart kid.

She was still sweet enough to talk to me even though I obviously didn't even know the names of designer clothes, jewelry or purses, let alone own any.

Me - "You work in New York City? Where were you on 9/11?"

Coach Cutie - "Our building was right next to the trade centers, huge explosion, pandimonium. Luckily we were all safe. I tried calling my parents but couldn't get through, until about an hour and half later. My parents live in San Diego. Mom answered the phone. I said, "Hi Mom, I'm fine." My mom answered back, ( Now you must use your grandma voice when reading the next line)
"That's nice dear, I'm fine too."

Her mom had no clue what had happened since the three hour time difference and she just woke up.

I thanked her for sharing her "That's nice dear, I'm fine too" story along with schooling me on "Coach" purses. We had a nice laugh over her story and the fact that she never met anyone who had never heard of Coach before. She didn't actually say that to me but I could just tell she was thinking that.
Yeah like I'm ever going to fork over three hundred bucks for a bag.

Can I just Vent!!!

It started yesterday. Minding my own business, listening to the RS lesson in church when the Bishopric counselor opens the back door and calls me out in the hall.

"You haven't spoken in church in over a year and a half"

Me, - "un huh, I just spoke in May when the Bishop called me and the other seminary teachers out of the audience when our 5 youth speakers were done in 5 min. and then I spoke back in Jan. with Emily."

He totally forgot. Yeah that's how good my talks are.

So he persuades me to talk this Sunday in Sacrament meeting. No big deal right?

I just spent a week teaching early morning seminary and am teaching again this week as well. Don't get me wrong - I love teaching seminary. I love my class. I love the regimen of delving into the scriptures each day. It's just the timing. It can be stressful getting up at 5 and teaching at 6 for this nocturnal gal.

Labor DAy - Today I spent the day doing laundry, cleaned the laundry room , trying to clean and organize my desk/office (it's a mess). Plus copying, laminating, cutting out scripture mastery cards - 100 of them. (of which I'm not done)
I also took Anna and her friend to the pool and was there for about 3 hours. 2 hours longer than I wanted to be.

Arrived home and my sweet husband is peeling pears on the back porch. He had a bucket of them from a nice man in our ward. David wanted to can them. He doesn't know how to can.

Me- "We don't have a canner."
David - "We don't have a canner?"
Me - "I always borrowed Anita's"
David "Let's call around and borrow one then"
Me - "Good luck, no one cans around here"
David "I bet they do"
Me - "You call then"
So he did. He found a pressure cooker

Me - "I don't know how to can in a pressure cooker. They scare me. Just go to Walmart and buy one"
So he did. He came home with a ............... You guessed it........... A pressure cooker.

David "But you can do both, wet bath and pressure cook, we can cook lots of beans now"
(Since when do I cook beans that's not out of a can?)

Where am I going to put this beast? My storage room is unbelievably full and I just organized it a month ago. Somehow the stuff grew and grew. I hate walking in there now.

Dinner was late because anyone who cans knows it is time consuming
- peel the pears,
find the jars & lids in the unbelievably full storage room
wash the jars & lids,
fill the jars,
boil the sugar water,
cook the jars and hopefully the lids will seal. (I'm writing this while they are cooking)


While all this washing,filling boiling was taking place one child complained how she couldn't find something and another needed something this evening. Too bad, now I feel like a cruddy mom.

Yep 9 o'clock and I just wanted to scream, oh but now we must read scriptures, say family prayer.

Did I also mention that I'm behind on my book club book?
That's what I was planning on doing this evening after family home evening but that didn't even happen cuz David being the good Dad took Molly on a five mile run. Getting her ready for her race tomorrow.

I can't be mad at David, how many men peal pears?

Can't be mad at the Bishopric counselor - just doing his job.

Can't be mad at the kids - we all forget or can't find things once in a while.

Now that I've pounded this out on the keyboard, I do feel better.

Thanks for letting me vent. What a dumb thing to be upset about.

Those 4 quarts of pears better be good!!! I know you're laughing..... 4 quarts? yep that's all we got.

The Soloist

I really enjoyed this movie. Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. both deserve Oscar nominations. I guess I'm just a sap for true stories that have great messages and happy endings. I was also stunned by how many homeless people live in L.A. I sincerely believe they all have a story and this is one man's incredible story.

First time I encountered a homeless man was when I was on a field trip in San Francisco with our high school business club. We left our hotel early in the morning and this shaggy old guy was sleeping in a tiny space between two buildings, littered with empty liquor bottles, vomit and trash every where. I felt so bad for him but yet quite afraid to do anything. I remember thinking "Doesn't he have family somewhere? Do they know this is how he lives now? Is he in this predicament because of the drinking? who knows and who knows what will become of him."
I along with classmates just walked on by gagging.

I personally was left with such a helpless feeling. I think I still feel that way. Never quite knowing what to do. Oh sure I've helped serve food at shelters, given money on occasion but nothing what this newspaper man did in the movie and that's BE A FRIEND.

Is there anything sweeter?

Ellie in our backyard park.
Nothing sweeter than observing my son be a great Dad!!
Maybe I'm just partial to seeing my husband enjoy his grand daughter.
Nope!! Nothing sweeter than seeing David hold Ellie!!

My first experience with a prayer being answered ASAP

Back in the day when I was about 18, living with HelenMar Larkin (if anyone knows her let her know I'm looking for her) She was a kind school teacher who let me live with her while I was attending school and working.

I came home from work and decided to get a quick bite to eat before I high tailed off to classes at Solano Community College - for some reason SCC sounds better. Yes I went to SCC.

I reached in the fridge and grabbed the apple pie pan with one slice left and being the efficient health conscience (NOT) gal that I am I also grabbed a can of V8. They kind of balance each other out right?

The can had a tiny silver papery tab not the metal kind, so being miss efficient and not wanting to waste a second, with the pie in my left hand and the can in my right I clenched the tiny silver papery tab with my teeth and pulled it up as I was walking to the table.



Little did I know the physics law of V8 suction can, I'm sure my son knows what science law this is but I was unaware. The can now sucked my bottom lip in the more I pulled up on the silver papery tab and now my whole bottom lip is swallowed up in a teeny tiny hole in the can and I can't get it off, the more I pull the more it suctions my lip inside.

I put the pie down being the level headed person that I am and start pulling with both hands, but noooooo nothing happens only pain because now my whole bottom lip is entirely pinched together and gone.

What am I going to do? Great!! I'm going to have to call 911 and the paramedics will die laughing when they see this girl with a V8 can attached to her face. They will have to get the jaws of life and cut it open, oh wait it's not that big maybe a can opener will do. How embarrassing!!

Before the panic attack set in, I went to the bathroom mirror to get a better assessment of what just happened. I was horrified and thought I need help and who better than God to help so I said out loud "Heavenly Father" and whaalaaa (I know that's not how you spell that french word but you get my meaning)

As soon as I said "Heavenly Father" the suction was released and I got my lip out. That was the fastest I've ever had a prayer answered. I was so relieved that I didn't have to go the hospital and surgically remove a can from my face.

I was left with two red marks on the outside of my mouth, sort of a hickey looking lip. How do you cover that up?
I went to class and my friend Nancy asked, "What happened to your mouth?" "I'm too embarrassed to tell you, except that God answers prayers"

Every time I see a V8 I remember this incident and I'm glad God answered this silly girls prayers so darn quick.

I Love Nauvoo!!!

We go to Nauvoo a couple of times a year and each time I discover something new, this time it was a beauty and an oddity but still a new discovery.
A view from the Smith burial grounds.


I loved the purple flowers growing on the banks of the Mississippi with the lily ponds right behind it. I had never noticed those lavender lovelies before.


For the first time we stayed at the historic Hotel Nauvoo and as everyone who's ever been here knows, they have the best food in town as well. This is the only buffet that I like. (oh wait I do like Holy Chuck A Rama but only with Kate)

I'm a fond lover of music and even the corny "Sunset on the Mississippi" with the older generation performing with the talented Young Performing Missionaries. I guess they are the opening act for Vocal Point - BYU's men's accapella group.
Darn-It was too dark to get good pics of them by the time they performed.
We also ventured to Carthage about 20 miles from Nauvoo where I wanted to do family research at the Hancock County HIstorical Society. Located right behind the Carthage jail. After the tour you can walk across the street to Kibbe Hancock Heritage Museum, where it also houses the historical society and all their many old books, newspapers, scrapbooks, etc. How many times have I been to the jail and never saw this quaint little museum? Yeah that's what I thought- you haven't either unless you're Delray cuz she told me about it.
You can see the museum in the back to the left.
The museum is free and has lots of artifacts not only from the days of Lincoln but from early Mormon times. While I was being helped by the ever so kind and resourceful June (She even stayed an hour after closing time to assist me- I love small towns)
Anna wandered through the museum after she tired of her DSI game. She found this oddity and had to drag me to it in the animal section.
Yes it is a two headed calf. Never have I seen such a thing. Anna said they even had pickled two headed pigs, but I couldn't look. It was past closing time and I was thankful they let us wander around like they did. You just never know what you're going to find when you visit an out of the way place like Nauvoo and Carthage.

Psycho Charlie Cat

We have a crazy psycho cat now named Charlie. My girls wanted to get me a kitten for my birthday a few months ago.

Alas a FREE KITTEN sign was spotted on our way back from hiking (well more of a stroll for me)

There were 2 left when we got there and my girls wanted both. I put my foot down and said we'd take one. The owner said she was a female and off we went.

We named her Mia. I then took her to the vet a few days later when he announced we have a problem as he lifts up her tail, I'm thinking he's seeing tumors, worms or some deadly disease but then he exclaims, "Mia is a boy" apparently his apparatus hadn't quite fallen down yet.

Great!! Now what do we call him? It took us over 3 weeks to all agree on a name and my hub just makes up other names for him like "Rodie" short for rodent. So this poor cat is just confused.

When I took Charlie to the vet for his 3rd set of shots, a different Dr. saw him, she was all lovely dovey with our kitten but she missed 3 times giving him the shot, needless to say, Charlie went crazy, crying a most hideous sound I've ever heard from a kitten, wiggling and struggling to get away. He was not happy.

Then she tried to trim his nails while scruffing the skirming, screaming, angry animal. He then chomped down on her finger and his tooth was stuck in her finger.
Molly and I sat there amazed that she could endure such pain, we were also amazed that she would attempt to scruff this wild beast. She then pried her finger out of his mouth and promptly left the room.

Young girl tells us to meet the Dr. out front at the reception desk. Reception lady hold and loves Charlie when mean old lady comes out and demands that reception lady put down the vicious animal since he bit the Dr. (me thinking hey dumb dr. poked my cute kitten 3 times, what was she thinking sticking her hand in front of his wide open mouth? a kiss?

Dr. eventually comes out with flourenscent orange bandage wrap the size of a hotdog bun and states it's the hazard of the job. Okay
She then informs us how she is writing on Charlies charts that he is to be muzzled when brought in and he is a vicious cat and this is the worse bite she has ever had from an animal. Okay now I feel really bad but she was just plain stupid to hold a wild angry critter with razor sharp teeth.

I must admit though he is crazy. He attacks Anna and I as we are walking by. He just jumps up and grabs our legs, well not David (boys stick together don't they?)

The most annoying thing he does is every morning he jumps on my bed and purrs in my face while I'm trying to sleep. He then grabs a piece of the blanket or my shirt and sucks on it, yes I did say suck, see I told you he is weird. As he is sucking he is pawing, like kittens do when nursing, just pushing those little paws back and forth. I then push him away and his tounge is moving in and out super duper fast. It's just strange.

I don't know he may have a complex since we thought he was a girl at first and he was insulted. All I can say is he better behave before my grandbaby gets here or he's going to be a coyote snack.