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!