It's my Story and I'm sticking to it!

Last night I wrote a wonderfully uplifting and inspiring post. It was profound, yet somehow funny. You would have loved it. There wasn't one bit of whining about how awful my computer was acting, or about the snow that melted leaving a huge muddy mess at our house. But you won't be able to see it, BLOGGER ate my message.

So sorry

Sledding Simplot Hill

The founder of the company I work for -JR Simpot built his home on a hill over looking Boise. JR flew a huge American flag, it was so big that when the wind blew, the snap was so loud it woke the neighbors, or kept them awake, or at least it bugged them--I heard about it on the news. Anyway a few years ago the Simplots donated their home to the State to be used as the Governor's Mansion. For some weird reason people have always been welcome to use this property for snow sledding in the winter and Ice blocking in the summer. The kids had a wonderful time, with the exception of Emily, she had fun until they hit a bump and she went under the sled. They should have had helmets. The one draw back to the sledding area is the road. So we adults, stood at the bottom to stop any sled that got too close.

I wonder if she will end up with a black eye?

Before the crash!

The race is on.

I enjoyed watching my grandkids, my nephew and my great nephews having a blast.

What A Wonderful Christmas!

We have been blessed this Christmas, with a new grandbaby. What could be a better present?

Erin, my niece thinks getting engaged is a pretty good present. Welcome to the family Andy.

John, Nicole and Hadley think that finding out they are having another baby is a great present, and so do I. Their baby is due the end of July.

My mom and Dad---John and Thelma---They started all this!

Susan and Mark and Payton. They didn't make it to the big family dinner- The Doctors told them to keep the baby away people, especially little kids that might have a cold or flu. Gary and I went over to their house this morning for breakfast.

Amy and Mike, Emily and Tucker--We haven't had Christmas with Gary and me and all my kids, we wanted to wait until Susan and Mark and the baby could join us---Not sure when that will be.

my nephew Sean and his nephew AJ.

My niece Carrie and her sons Patrick and AJ.

My sister Cheryl and her husband Tony.

My brother Rick and his daughter Courtney.

My brother David and his sons, Garron and Justin.

We had a great day, great food, gift exchange , and games. Tomorrow some of us are going sledding. Not me, I'm taking pictures. This is the only time I will hope for snow.

Christmas Eve

Gary and I are spending a quiet evening at home tonight. I had to work today until 1:00, but since Gary already had plans, and the pickup I stayed at work until 2:00. But I spent the time with my feet up resting. When I got home I made a popcorn cake, and I need to make one more plate of goodies and Cranberry salsa for tomorrow. Tomorrow morning we are going to Susan and Mark's for breakfast, truthfully I'm going to see the baby:) then we will go to my mom and dads house for dinner. The whole family will be there, well except for the brand new baby, and her parents. Have a Merry Christmas.

Winter is here!

The only thing good I can say about winter being here is that ....now the days are getting longer. We are having a Winter Storm Warning, we are supposed to get between 3 and 7 inches. But if we do, it will blow into the next county. The wind is blowing so hard. The snow drifts that we have at our house are brown because of the dirt on top.

My new header is Jump Creek Falls -taken on Christmas Eve last year. We went for a drive with Gary's daughter Kelly. The falls is just a few miles from home so we thought we would stop on the way home, hoping that the falls would be frozen so we could get some great pictures. I wish the creek was frozen so that when I slipped on the rocks crossing it I wouldn't have gotten so wet. It was fun hiking last year, but it might be too cold to venture out this year.

It's a Hard Job, but Someone has to do it.

I went back to the hospital to see Payton, oh and Susan. Susan's husband had few errands to run so I got hold the baby while mommy took a shower and tried to nap. I think she got a whole half hour. Hopefully it will be easier to sleep when they get home to their own beds.

Payton Marie--Is Here

This morning I got a call from Susan saying, I missed the birth. Payton was born at 5:19 this morning. I went to bed last night with the feeling that I wouldn't be there for the birth. I guess Susan progressed much faster than anyone thought she would. When we left last night she was having contractions but they weren't uncomfortable. By Midnight she was in a lot of pain, so they gave her a shot (epidural) and she felt much better. I'm not sure of all the medical terms and names of all the shots, and meds. And if I did I wouldn't be able to spell them. Anyway, Susan dilated from a 2 to a 10 very fast. After Payton was born, the Dr and nurses couldn't get her to cry and she was grunting. She couldn't breath very well, so they took her to intensive care to check her out. By the time Susan was able to go up and see her the babies blood sugar had dropped so they needed to get Payton fed. But now baby and mother are doing fine. She has her dads hair....Lots of black hair....she is a beautiful baby. Payton makes a even dozen.

Susan is in the Hospital

Susan went in for another ultra sound today and the Doctor that read the results told her she needed to be induced, her fluid level had dropped a lot and the baby wasn't moving very much. So she's at the hospital now--the kids sent us home because it was going to be a long boring night. They are giving her a low dose of the meds that start labor and tomorrow morning they will give her a strong dose. So I will go back tomorrow morning unless something happens tonight.

Susan update

Susan went to the Doctor today, Susan was hoping that she would decide to induce labor, but no. The Dr. said she wasn't ready--the baby is, but Susan's body is not. It was decided that if nothing happens before, Susan will be induced on the 26th. Now what is she going to do with the little t-shirt that said "WHO NEEDS SANTA, I'VE GOT GRANDMA" I'm just glad I didn't go crazy with little Christmas outfits. Anyway Susan has been looking on-line for ways to start labor. She heard that a foot massage, could start labor....as well as other ways ;)

My confession---I have been taking a PM pain reliever almost every night. I sleep great, but I decided I needed to stop taking them, if Susan calls me in the middle of the night, I want to be ready to go... So last night I didn't get much sleep, I think tonight will be a different story.

Today at work, one of the drivers brought in a large plate of goodies, peanut clusters and popcorn balls, etc. Something came over me, I felt the desire to go home and make goodies for the neighbors. I'm thinking that if I just hold off for a couple of days the desire will pass.

Christmas shopping

Tonight we are braving the cold and going out to shop, ....wait I don't think you can call it shopping when all we are doing is buying gift cards. I don't think giving gift cards is as much fun as giving actual presents, but I want everyone to get what they want, I don't want them to have to stand in a line to return items that don't fit. The tree isn't as pretty without all the presents underneath. However the up side is we don't have to spend two nights wrapping. Anyway wish us luck, I'd like to get done tonight---I plan on spending time with a baby girl soon

Baby Shower

Today was Susan's baby shower given by my side of the family. She's already had a shower given by her dad's side and a shower given by and for her friends. This quilt was made by her aunt Cheryl, Cheryl also made a valance for the baby's room and she put a ruffle on a lamp shade. Susan receive a lot of very nice things. She is a lucky girl.

Now on another subject. Someone from Poland stumbled on my blog because I spelled Straw wrong. I typed it staw bale ....I hate when that happens.

Snow! No!

We were supposed to wake up this morning to about 3 inches of snow. But no, and I'm not that sad. Driving in snow brings back bad memories for me, back in the days that I felt lucky that my car made it to work, I didn't need icy, snow covered roads to add to the problem. I used to pray that it would snow, (if it had to snow) east of Nampa and west of Caldwell, that way at least I could make it from home to work. I know, that the farmers need the snow pack, and even though I am not married to a farmer (anymore) the job I have does depend on the farmers. How can you make french fries without the Idaho farmer. Oh and my son-in-law is the program director for the Bogus Basin Ski Education Foundation. So let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow. But only in the Mountains.......
PS---Gary isn't crazy for the snow/cold either, after owning a fishing lodge in Canada. He has told me stories about how hard it was to keep things going in the winter. Today however he has an easy commute to work. He just walks across the yard.

Long Day

We had our 2nd annual Christmas Luncheon today at work, it's for the office staff. But we invite some vendors and Upper management. So I went to work dressed for a party, well as dressed up as I get, no Crocs or jeans. Oh how I wished I had worn jeans and tennis shoes. We were busy all day setting up tables, hauling chairs and putting them around the tables, setting tables and decorating tables...... We did have a wonderful Basque meal. Then the clean up started.....I didn't get much office work done today, so tomorrow I will be playing catch up. AND.... Last month I suggested we do another cookie exchange, So, I had to come home tonight and make plates of goodies.
Note to self-----Zip the Lip.

Happy Birthday John and Carrie

John and Carrie's first Christmas

2nd Birthday---I think

One of their Graduation pictures

Guess what my sister and I were doing 29 years ago today. My poor parents, both of their daughters in labor at the same time, I was at the Caldwell Hospital and my sister at the Hospital in the next town. John was born 1:37 am and Carrie 6 1/2 hours later. Sunday at their birthday party Carrie called John "Her twin brother by another mother"

Fun Weekend

I got up very early Saturday morning to do some shopping, early morning is the only way I can do Walmart--Saturday evening we went to the Caldwell Christmas night light parade. I was amazed at how many people showed up to stand in the cold night air. Above is a picture of some of the lights, and the Christmas tree I watched being hauled, (see Nov. 17)

Amy, Mike, Emily and Tucker

Sunday, we celebrated the Nov/Dec birthdays. My brother, my son and my niece. John and Carrie were born on the same day, but more on that later in the week. 21 people came over for tacos, and birthday cake.

Christmas Dance

Last night we went to Emily Christmas Dance recital, this is the only picture I could get of her that looked okay. The pictures I took while she was dancing were scary, the weird white eyes. I don't know how to get a good shot in a gym.

Tucker and Hadley.

Gary is putting the cover on the 5th wheel trailer. He's sad, because it means we won't be going on a camping trip any time soon. In the past we have gone to California for a few days during the Christmas holidays. Death Valley, a couple of times. New Port, once, San Diego, once. We meet up with Gary's daughters and their families. We always enjoy having Christmas with them. This year I didn't want to go anywhere until Susan has her baby.

Susan Update

Susan had the ultra sound this afternoon. The Doctor doesn't want to induce yet the baby isn't very far down yet and the amniotic fluid is at 7--something, if it was 5 or below they would have induced. The baby is fine 7 1/2 lbs and moving a lot. Susan mentioned that the babies arms and legs stopped growing----I guess the last time the baby was measured the babies arms and legs were about a week ahead--(longer that normal). But now I guess everything is on track. Susan is tall and has long legs and arms, so I thought the baby was taking after her. The Dr. told Susan to come back in Monday for another test, to keep drinking lots of water, and to stop working 12 hour days. I'm very thankful that everything looks good, I sure was looking forward to holding a sweet newborn tomorrow. Thank you for your prayers

Please Pray

My daughter went to the Doctor to for a prenatal visit, she is due December 24th. The Doctor was concerned that Susan was smaller this week than she was last week. The Doctor is concern about low amniotic fluid, and wants Susan to have an Ultra sound tomorrow. Susan ask the Dr. if she should be worried and the Dr. said no. But she is, and even more so, since she went on line and googled "low amniotic fluid". Susan said that they may induce her. She will know tomorrow.