Whew

What a crazy last few days we have had! I feel like we were run over by a truck. It was a nice truck for the most part.

Thursday before I went to pick up DiAnn from the airport I noticed some water flooding our basement. My theory was that the washer was broken. But since I was on a very strict schedule I tried not to think much about it. It would be fine if I didn't use the washer again. So, I picked up DiAnn, we picked up Brigham and packed, we picked up Elias and headed on our way to Vernal.

The viewing for Grandpa Jack was really nice. Getting to know relatives again, being able to ask questions about Mom and Grandma Edith. Oh, and it's always nice to be able to see Dad and Donna. I also loved going to JB's with only B and other family. It was such a treat that it deserves mention in the blog.

Friday a dream came true when I got up early with Di and went to the Vernal temple. That is where Dad and many grandparents went to church, now it is a beautiful temple. The people we talked to and those who helped us were down home good people. Sometimes I forget what that is like. DiAnn also had some very nice inspiration about staying true to our covenants and shooting out tendrils that will help gather family. Instead of judging others, we can live our best and love, that is the way to help...

The funeral was nice and I am glad he got buried in Dry Fork. I have a lot of fun memories of going to Dry Fork... Friday, however, was shockingly cold. When I die, I will try to make sure and pass away when it is warmer. Not that I blame Grandpa Jack at all. I just couldn't imagine how they even found where his grave was supposed to be under all of that snow, and how they dug in the ice cold dirt. Amazing.

The dinner was fun. I really want to keep making an effort to keep family close, and make sure that our kids are friends with all of their cousins. Keep family close for generations.

So, we drove home Friday. My kids ate cold cereal for dinner... and to bed. It was nice having DiAnn. I wish all of my sisters lived next door!

Saturday I took DiAnn to the airport... but by then we knew that the sewer was backing up into our basement. I called the city and they came out to make sure their lines were clear. The smell of human feces put E over the edge. He was crazy for the next 24 hours. He borrowed a shop vac and cleaned up the grossness. I called a plumber and they told me it would be $600! to clean out the main line, but even though they didn't have payment plans they accepted credit cards. Thankfully the city guys recommended a different plumber that apologetically charged $140 because it was a Saturday. What a nice blessing. They snaked the main line and cleared the problem right up. We will never know what the mystery clog was, but hallelujah it is gone!

Lester came by and invited us to eat hamburgers at his house. So we went over and ate and watched a movie. Yanira, the wife, is making me crazy because she believes that typical American food is hamburgers and pizza... and so that is all we eat. She thinks that I cook those for dinner all of the time! Making me crazy, but I survived.

I had to make the invites for our Visiting Teaching Conference. They turned out great for midnight work... I chose the theme, "...And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things. 1 Nephi 16:29"

Sunday church... the RS Pres. asked me if all was well with the VT conference. I told her it would be great and she just needed to show up. She has been a little nervous because she hasn't been in on any of the planning and is just leaving it all to me. Imagine my surprise when she stood up and said that she had been looking in the Conference issue for something about VT and she found a talk entitled, "By Small Means." She then proceeded to read something very similar to the theme I had chosen for the conference. That is proof that the Lord is guiding us if we let Him. He inspired both of us at different times, in different places to choose the exact same thing! What a nice testimony building experience.

Sunday night it started snowing before we went to bed. Monday morning at 2:30 a.m. Elias was called into work to fix snow plows. We were being dumped on again. He worked for 11 hours straight! He could have stayed there all night, but I kept calling to tell him he needed to come home, he needed to eat, etc. Two other mechanics came in and stayed while he came home.

Last night, or rather this morning, they called him in again at 5 a.m. He is still hard at work. This snow is really wearing us down! I shoveled yesterday, at least 8 or 9 inches. What a great workout. Our driveway seems so huge in the winter and living on the corner doubles the sidewalkidge. The sad news is that another storm is coming on Thursday. We might go crazy before then.

Congrats to all for making it this far in the blog... I just wanted you to get a taste of the exhaustion here in our home. Reading this huge blog has made you a little exhausted. Matchy, matchy.

Love ya!

Fidelity

Well, I got asked out this morning at the gym. When I told E that I got asked out for the first time since we've been married he said, "That's something at least."

A couple of weeks ago I was on the tread mill and this guy made eye contact, I smiled and nodded, and he came right over to the machine next to me. It made me a little nervous and I carefully ignored him. When I had 2 minutes left to go he started yelling, "Katrina! Katrina!" He was trying to get my attention. I gave him a couple of minutes of attention, trying not to be rude but making it obvious that I needed to go... and I made a quick escape.

A couple of days later, I saw him change from the eliptical to the bikes when he saw me... but I was already done. He just had time to say hello before I took off.

Today I saw him again as I was walking out. He asked if I was going to teach, if I were a teacher. Spooky... I told him I was going home to take care of my kids. After asking if I were married he said, "Wow, your husband must have a good job." Yes, yes... Then he followed up with, "When are you going to go out to lunch with me?" Duh...

He assured me that it would just be as friends and I assured him that I didn't need any friends. I have all the male companionship I need in my husband.

As I was running away, he said he would be there tomorrow. Sweet... kidding.

Thank goodness I can't go tomorrow because E has to work early so we can head out for Vernal.

I kept thinking I should let Aunt Alice (Grandpa Walker's sister) and Glade Nelson (Mom's cousin) know that Grandpa Lent had passed away. Finally last night I got up the nerve. I was prodded on by the letter I received from Aunt Alice yesterday. How was that for a sign. So, armed with my high speed internet I was able to find phone numbers (and ages oddly enough) and I gave them a call. They were both so grateful that I had called. Aunt Alice said that she is sure she wouldn't have known otherwise... Glade said that he had already heard and was looking forward to seeing us all at the funeral.

I am not sure why sometimes I fight against listening to the Spirit. I guess it is because I'm just never sure. Instead of questioning everything maybe I should just plow ahead.

Tonight I have book club with a bunch of ladies as different from me as beans are from apples. What fun.

Oh, and hurrah for Ticee! She finally broke down and became friends with Bella, Edward and Jacob (I choose Jacob!).

Familia

We've had a couple of busy days. Yesterday was Michelle's wedding so I took all the cats and went down to the temple. It was so fun. Dad and Donna came up with Becki and Cardon. Uncle DeLeon was there, as were Dorothy and Paul. It was so fun seeing Dad with Terry, DeLeon and Dorothy. I couldn't help but remember Lisa's wedding three years ago, pre-stroke. Dad was joking and laughing with his siblings. This time there was still joking and laughing but also a polite addition of trying to include Dad and ask him questions etc. Dorothy took a couple of pictures of Dad while he was just standing alone. She loves her brothers so much!

Afterwards everyone went to eat at a Golden Corral and I just honed right in. (Is that even a word?) I got to have Dad drive down with me. He talked to me about dinosaurs with feathers and their articulation. I talked to him about getting engaged in the temple we'd just left. The best 30 minutes of the day. At the restaurant Becki was such a huge help with my little monsters. S adores her and sticks to her like glue. (Speaking of glue... our neighbor gave us a play kitchen... yes, we are thrilled... the other day S broke out a glue stick and was trying to glue the plastic sink back into place. She rubbed glue everywhere!) Aunt Debbie made me happy... twice! First she said she really missed us girls (that goes out to all of the good Slade girls), and she tickled R and said to Donna, "I don't know how you can stand to stay away from these kids. I would be up here all of the time." That's right. Cute kids.

Today the city had a "party" for their employees and families. We came home loaded with goodies. They gave us all bags, water bottles, balls, stuffed animals, pedometers, stress relievers and much, much more. The kids loved it! We signed up for a contest to get moving, as in exercise. We also need to add veggies and water to our diet. Piece of cake... we keep track for a couple of months and may win a trip to Disneyland! Watch out!

After the wellness extravaganza we went to a surprise birthday party for Melvin. If you knew Leah and Melvin (a couple who previously were part of the Spanish Branch), you would know how weird it was to surprise Melvin. The Palmers and the Fonsecas were invited along with Leah's family and it was in Melvin's family's house. For such on odd group of people, it was surprisingly pleasant. Jason Palmer finally started speaking to me. He never liked me while we were in the branch but now he opened right up. His great-grandfather happens to be Thomas Chamberlain who helped settle Orderville. Go figure.

There was also 38 year old Andy who has Down's Syndrome. Wow, that is a long time to take care of your son. His dad was so great with our kids. He sat down and explained that Andy had Down's and sometimes acted a little silly or did funny things. I think it really was perfect for B and S so they wouldn't be afraid of him, instead they played well with him.

Leah (not mine) started snapping picture like crazy and I found it very funny. She is such an interesting study. At first I thought she might be a kindred spirit ... but I haven't ever been able to really break through. She adores Melvin, which I also find very funny. He is so stand-offish and, well, rude. But she thinks she caught the greatest prize out of the pond. It is nice to see how much she loves her husband. I hope people know that I caught the priziest prize and I love my husbando.

And, as a last note... I am almost better, getting over the cold. All that's left is the cough. So, today I returned to the gym. I saw the naked lady from my first visit, she was fully clothed this time. I asked her about swimming laps. I am trying to get up the nerve to go in and swim laps. She mentioned she also does the sauna. Don't think we need to ask if she wears clothes in the sauna. Woo, woo.... Ticee and I are going to see who can lose the most weight before Christmas. I know, not fair to Ticee who is already small, but she suggested it. Anyone want to join in?

Love to all!

Too much information about the under clothing, yes, I agree. But when I was in so much pain... it affected my reasoning. Thankfully the shoulders are almost better and there should not be any more embarrassing confessions.

Jodi arrived safely yesterday. Wow... one week without children or husband. This is starting to be a reoccurring theme... first Ticee, then Jodi. May I please be next!

Di got here at the crack of dawn, around 6 a.m. I think. They drove through the night. I hope they will be able to get a couple of hours of sleep at least.

Tomorrow is the big extravaganza... Tyler's baptism. We are all very excited for Steve and Tyler. It should also be fun for all of us.

Wednesday my companion from the mission came up with her kids and we went to the dinosaur park. I had a really great time and my kids did too. They loved playing and running around. I let R & L run around for the first time. They are usually tied up in the stroller with absolutely no freedom. They were fun to watch, enjoying their freedom yet always making sure they were close to me. How long do you think that will last?

Christina is going to hook us up so we can go and see our mission president. I think that will be super fun. We haven't seen him for at least five years.

Oh, and I went to the gym yesterday. There must be something in the air at the gym to make people act like jerks. The people working at the gym just stared at me like I was an idiot. I had questions and I told them it was my first time there. But to no avail. There was no help available for me. They will not scare me away, little pip squeaks.

My favorite moment occurred on my self guided tour. I was wandering through the women's locker room and stumbled upon a completely naked older woman. She had apparently just finished her swim or shower or something. She just smiled at me and said hello. By the time I was on my way back out of the locker room, she had put her garments on. Funny.

I made Jodi go to WW with me last night. I think she was afraid it was like a cult or a wierd rah, rah, meeting. Our leader is great, though... and I think she was pleasantly surprised. He is funny. She also surprised me!