Arr Mateys!

We just returned home from a trip to Dallas, Texas where we went to John's work yearly party. This year they decided to have a dress up party as you can see. A Pirate theme in case you didn't notice! We were not so sure about the whole deal. John really HATES to dress up! But we decided that the office gals went to so much work getting things ready for us all that we had better participate. John went as the "Dread Pirate Roberts" or the "Dead Pirate Roberts", they forgot the r on his name tag. I went as Princess Buttercup as you will see. This is John and Gracie, one of the office ladies. She is really cute and fun! This is a couple of the other wives and me. It is getting to be quite fun getting together with these ladies once a year. We are all so different and from different parts of the western states. I enjoy their company. We go shopping and out to lunch while the men have meetings!
Just don't we look like the Dread Pirate Roberts and Princess Buttercup? Ain't we cute!

October snow!

This is what our sidewalk up to the house looked like yesterday afternoon. The wind made and awesome pointed curve with the snow. It snowed and the wind blew ALL DAY LONG!
So this is what we had to deal with today. Snow everywhere! Isn't it a pretty sight though? John had to shovel the drive way so he could go to work. He drove the Durango up the driveway to make a path. You should have seen him go! We love that car.

My job was to shovel the sidewalk! Heavy snow##!!
John was really just in the picture to show how much snow there was by the front door. It would have been funny if the snow above his head would have fallen - not really but I probably would have laughed!
Do you like my nice wreath by the window? It was really nice today and the snow is already melting! That is Colorado weather for you! It is supposed to be 65 on Monday. CRAZY.

Wow- are we having snow! Wish you were all here so we could have fun together. So sorry you have to watch this upside down!

Ward Hillbilly Hoedown!

We jist had a great ward party last Friday night! It wuz a Hillbilly Hoedown as y'all ken tell! The invitations wuz all written up on a torn up piece of cardboard ( thank Nancy fer the great idea). The hoedown wuz held in our bishops barn, even though it wuz kinda cold that night! It actually snowed 8 inches the day before! I wuz quite stressed out ( I know hard to imagine!) But we decided to go ahead with it at the barn. I am so glad we did, I had NO DECORATIONS that could be taken to the church! It's all about the look and the effect ya know! It turned out to be a bit colder than I wanted but it is October! Things got pretty warm as long as we were dancing or playing games. This photo is where I served our dinner from! It is really a kitchen sink from my brothers! We called it "Road Kill Calf-A". We served possum stew with corn bread and root beer, with a caramel apple dippin bar!
This here is the barn before any hillbillies arrived. The tables wuz covered with newspaper and grey taped down. The center pieces wuz cans with leaves and weeds in em. We had red long johns and soda can garlands hangin around. We also had corn stalks and straw bales with log pumpkins and leaves around. It was a fun night and so fun to decorate. Hillbilly and Rednecks have a lot in common ya know! I could be as sloppy and junkie as I wanted and it fit in.
This is our bishop and his wife dancing to the first song of the night: There's a dead skunk in the middle of the road. Now jest aren't they cute?
The ward members really had a great time and enjoyed each others company.
This here is Johnny Paul singing his little ole heart out! His background is a camper complete with christmas lights still hangin and soda pop garland with his Home Sweet Home sign! He really did a great job singing fer us all! Thanks Johnny Paul!

Not to brag at all, but the bishop said several times on Sunday that was the BEST ward party we have EVER had! People were telling us all day what a great times they had and thanks for all the work we put into it! I guess that makes it all worth it! Thanks for our committee members that helped put it all together!

Crazy Allen's

It was so nice to see this cute family! Ellie is one crazy, cute, girl. She always has an ever-ready smile on that face! Raul -not so ever- ready! But just as crazy! It was so nice for me to spend some time with them. Sunday I helped Angie in the nursery, then after church we all looked for Harley for an hour! Poor dog I think just got lost and couldn't find his way home. It was a little scary! He is a sweet dog and I have come to love him too! Brett and Angie were able to get a way for just a bit while I stayed with the kids. We played games, watched a movie, well they did, I kinda fell asleep, for just a minute! It was fun playing with them and getting hugs and kisses.
Silly boy Raul! He wouldn't let me take a cute picture of him, but oh well, this one will have to do.
Of course we had to play WII. Jackie holds the record of the bowling game. Way to go Jackie! I am not so good, but getting better.
These girls have quite the routine before they swing!
The day I left Angie, Jackie and I went to lunch at Wendy's and then I got to walk Jackie to her kindergarten school. They are such loving and adorable kids! Thanks for the great time.

My great week in Idaho!

I just spent a great week in Idaho with friends and family! It was so fun to be back again. I think this is the first time I REALLY felt homesick. Funny how I have been gone for a year and never felt this sad about leaving before. I had a wonderful week of work and fun. I initially was going for the Johnson reunion, which was well overdue and needed. It was great to see all my Johnson family. They all mean so much to me. Thanks for coming everyone. It sure was interesting to be the "old" ones! We all just sat and visited. A few years ago that would have NEVER happened. Wow time does change things. I stayed a night with my most wonderful mother — in-law, Betty Lou whom I love and adore! She just turned 83 years old and still serves in the Young Women in her ward as BeeHive advisor and still goes and goes. She is really an amazing women. Thanks mom for always being my friend!
The old folks and a few young ones! Front to back: Alex, Garth, Mom, Jeff, Mary, Candice, Randy, Michael, and Tylor. They are a great family. I sure miss them.
This is my best friend EVER! I seriously don't know what I would ever do without this girl. Nancy you are the greatest. I miss her A LOT! We spent a lot of time together working, playing and just being dumb and silly. I miss not seeing her everyday while working. I REALLY miss our Temple Tuesday's. It was fun re-doing her kitchen! Thanks to Kyle for all the help! I always have a great time decorating her house. We have some crazy ideas, some like them-most don't! But she likes what she likes and so what about any one else! Some of her kids were trying to get her to get rid of her tin collection-which I should have counted as we washed them-she really does have A LOT! Getting rid of them would just not be right! After all would I ever get rid of my SUNFLOWERS? NOT!!

Thanks for all the Diet Mt. Dew and Diet Dr. Pepper! It's what kept me going! Shanny looks so cute pregnant and did a great job giving me my new hair do! I love it. I think I look younger don't you all? I needed that. Thanks Shanny! It is always fun to see Mandi and Corts' cute little boys, Jack and Hank. I love it that Jack calls me Naunie too! They are building an awesome house out in Glendale. Can't wait to see the finished product with all the colors!! It was so nice of Chels and her cute little guys, Sawyer and Wyatt to pick me up at the airport when I flew in and take me to Preston. Thanks guys! They are also adorable little boys! Sawyer is so energetic and handsome and Wyatt is just a cutie! It was really nice to see all the Egbert family! We have a long history with this family and I miss them and love them all. Scotty, Shanny, Nancy and I were able to go the temple together. It was really nice. Scotty has really grown up to be pretty decent, he was quite a stinker when he was little and I babysat him! I have always loved that boy though! This is the finished kitchen! Yes, of course it is RED and YELLOW! Did you think it would be anything else!! DUH. The door is painted with magnet and chalkboard paint! Neat huh?

Tuesday my girlfriends Lori and Tracie and I went to SLC to Gardner Village and Taipan which is a tradition for us. We always have so much fun. We have been friends for a very nice long time. It is so nice to have friends that even though you don't talk to them very much the relationship is still the same! Thanks girls for the great time! It is fun getting old together with two great friends. Of course they still look great!
One week of friends and family can sure do a lot of good for a person! Thanks everyone for helping me cheer up!

Everything will be okay!

My life has changed since you've been gone

It will never be the same

But I have learned through the years

That it will be okay.

Our children have grown

They have children of their own

They miss you

But it is okay.

We know that someday

We can be together again

And you are free of pain

We know now

That you are okay.

Thanks for the wonderful

Life that you showed us how to live

What is important

And what is not

That everything will be okay!

I miss my friend

I miss the look of surrender in your eyes
The way your soft brown hair would fall
I miss the power of your kiss when we made love
But baby most of all

I miss my friend
The one my heart and soul confided in
The one I felt the safest with
The one who knew just what to say to make me laugh again
And let the light back in
I miss my friend

I miss the colors that you brought into my life
Your golden smile, those blue-green eyes
I miss your gentle voice in lonely times like now
Saying it'll be alright

I miss my friend
The one my heart and soul confided in
The one I felt the safest with
The one who knew just what to say to make me laugh again
And let the light back in
I miss my friend

I miss those times
I miss those nights
I even miss the silly fights
The making up
The morning talks
And those late afternoon walks

I miss my friend
The one my heart and soul confided in
The one I felt the safest with

Aaron the artist!

It was so much fun watching Aaron paint this day. The whole park was full of artists. They had about 2 hours I think to paint anything in the area, then they had an auction on those paintings and a show later that night of the paintings each artist had painted during the week. Aaron loves to paint bicycles! He often likes the non normal things!

Imagine that! Wonder where he could have ever got that from?
I likes this picture of Aaron and Hannah. They are so cute together.
The finished product.
My son the artist. I love to see how the many ways he is so much like his dad. Every year he gets more and more like Corey. I think his stance is a lot like Corey here. Thanks Aaron and Hannah for coming and sharing this time with us! We enjoyed every minute of it, (except the motel bed)! Love ya all so much.

Aaron spent a few days in Estes Park painting for a show he was in there. Hannah stayed with us a couple days, which was so nice, thanks Hannah! Aaron met us at the Butterfly Pavilion and picked Hannah up to go to Estes Park with hi for a few days. The kids and John and I had such a nice time together.Then we drove up Friday to Estes Park to stay the night so we could see Aaron in the Plein Air Art Show. We looked for a not so expensive place to stay, and this is what we found! It was still $100 and not so great! We gave John a hard time so we had to take his picture checking in!
We drove to the top of the Rocky Mountain National Park and took this hike. It was really beautiful and really high!
My boy!
Chloe was pretty determined to walk this trail herself! It was a long way, she did pretty good.
Proud Maddie!

More of the Johnson's

These kids love to hang out with Gampy and he loves it too!
Maddie just chillin in the back yard reading her book. She is so cute!

Now these kids don't mind the cold water, they are water kids! Hanging in the hammock after roasting hotdogs.
The swing that everyone wanted! Corey was pretty high and just kept saying "higher!".

The Johnson are here!

Just a few days after Emily left Aaron and Hannah and the kids arrived! It was too bad they couldn't have been just two days earlier to see each other, but things just couldn't work that way. Hopefully next year! It was so nice to have the Johnson's come also. Of course we had to go to the Butterfly Pavilion too! The kids loved it.
Yes, it is true Hannah held Rosie!!!!! She screamed the whole time, it was so funny.

Mr Corey boy looking good, he is so cute! We found out that butterflies like to eat bananas. It was really neat to see so many different kinds of butterflies. There were some really beautiful ones and some pretty plain ones too.
Brave Corey boy! Rosie was a pretty big spider.
Chloe loves Tay and Tay loved her back.
We had so much fun with these kids. More to come next post!

There are so many pictures!

So now I can't decide which photos to put on next so I am just putting random shots of the fun time we had! The kids were all so good playing together and had so much fun. We did everything from roasting hot dogs in the back yard, swimming in the back yard, building the treehouse, taking walks, the zoo, the Butterfly Pavilion, holding Rosie the tarantula! We went a hike at Castle Wood Canyon, Chuckie Cheese, the butterfly Pavilion again, helping Grandpa put up the swings, riding the mower, driving Terry's golf carts, sleeping in the treehouse, a trip to the temple with the primary, the Pioneer celebration, Lex learning to sew, reading books, feeding Buddy and Buttercup, the neighbors horses, meeting new friends, Skyler and Fletcher and Amilya and her cousin, going to church, making snakes on a stick, smores & probably many more things I can't think of! It was such a fun time! I can't wait till next year! Hurry back. We miss you!
Olive and Miles are so adorable! The two youngest of the group, and the busiest! They kept us on our toes. They are 5 months apart and they did pretty good-most of the time!
Tay loved all the attention he got from the kids.
This is one happy girl with a smile as big as the day is long!
Miles is such a cutie! Quiet but knows how to get what he wants!