Day one of our California trip.

Jeff, Annie, Emmi, Hayley and Andrew left on Tuesday morning to head for Mesquite.  Neal was teaching a class on Tuesday night so the rest of us had to wait and leave Wednesday morning early and catch up with the Gertons in Mesquite.  Neal, myself, Abby and Mallory piled in the car at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.  Everything went very smoothly on the packing and leaving except for one little incident when Mallory was standing by the trunk of the car in our driveway and realized she had ants crawling all over her feet.  There was a huge ant nest that for some unknown reason decided to surface.  I ran in the house and got some raid and sprayed the little beasts until not one was moving.  Mallory and I both got stung by the little buggers!

We were finally on the road with Neal doing his usually thing after about 10 minutes.  We made one stop on the way at UVU for Neal to get his sun glasses and then non stop to Mesquite.  We met up with Jeff and Lynda and headed to Las Vegas for our first stop. 

M & M World was first on the list. The parking lot – Great place for a family snap shot!

Andrew would not pose with Spider Man, but he was reluctantly willing to shake his hand.  Good thing I had my camera ready because it was the quickest handshake in history.

We all went into the 3D M&M movie that lasted about 10 minutes.  We all decided we might as well take in the whole adventure.  Neal was there taking the picture.  If you notice the whole row in front of us is empty.  Neal was standing at the head of the row taking our picture and no one could get in.  We tried to get him to hurry but he is always looking for the perfect Kodak picture.  Seriously, with this group?

From M & M World we continued on down to World of Coke.  We met many strange people on the way!  Andrew finally warmed up to Elmo.

We left Las Vegas making one more stop in Primm so that Neal could check out the Tommy Bahama outlet store.  Sadly, he didn’t find much.  I think he bought a couple of belts and one shirt.  The Gertons found a few good deals and then we were in the car again with one more stop at In and Out Burger and then began the last half of the journey to Tucker and Jamie’s.  We arrived at their home about 9:30 and were all glad to be there and out of the car!  We all visited until about midnight and then an exhausted group settle in for the night sleeping in every corner of the house.

It was literally wall to wall beds in every space available.  Tucker and Jamie did a GREAT job of housing 9 more people in their home.  We all slept very comfortably and peacefully!

The new member of the Gertson Family and another baby hamster caught!!

I cannot believe that they have caught another hamster.  I got a text this morning as I was leaving for my meetings that another baby was found in the trap.  That makes 5 babies so far.  Let’s hope that is the last of them.  Annie said that Andrew and Hayley have decided they want one of them so Lynda Ann is letting them keep one of the last two caught and the other has been delivered to the pet store today!

The family has also chosen a new puppy to join the Gertson ranks.  Her name is Magnolia shortened to Maggie.  They will pick her up a on the 17th of this month.

And the hamster nightmare continues!

Neal and I were invited to Ron and Judy’s for dinner and games last night.  It was a beautiful evening so we ate out on the patio.  They have the most gorgeous view of the city.  I took a couple of pictures but my little camera just doesn’t do it justice.  We had a delicious dinner of steak and potatoes.  Yummm

After dinner we cleaned things up and went inside to play some hands of bridge.  It was about 11:30 p.m. when my phone whistled at me.  I look down to see a text from Lynda Ann that said, “Hamster number 4 has been caught!”  I asked her if she thought that was the last of the babies and she thought it was but they are going to reset the trap just to make sure.  For those tender hearted people reading this blog, the trap doesn’t hurt them.  It is a little square shaped plastic box that you put food in and when the varmints go in to get the food, a little door closes behind them locking them in.  It doesn’t hurt them or kill them.  All of the hamsters previously caught and this one have been transported to the pet shop for the next lucky buyer!

Some things just have to be remembered!

Lyndsy had an ultra sound this week to see how far along she was with her pregnancy and to listen to the heart beat.  After the ultra sound she got on Voxer to spread the exciting news to the family.  She told everyone that she was actually due in November, not December and that the little peanut was a boy!  She posted a picture of the ultra sound. Immediately Greg got on and said he thought they ought to name him Flash Flood to go along with River.  Tucker jumped in and said, “By that face he kind of looks like reverse Osmosis, you should call him Osmosis. That’s a type of water.” Greg says “The picture looks like James.”   Tucker then suggested they could name him Pond so they would have a River and a Pond.  Derek pipes in with, “I was thinking you could combine the names, James and Pond.  Then he could say, “My name is Pond. . . . . James Pond!”  (I had the best laugh of the day over James Pond.  I don’t think I’ll ever forget that.  Very clever Derek.)

Lyndsy finally came on and said that she appreciated all their comments and suggestions but that she and James had a couple names picked out and she wasn’t going to share them right now.  Probably the best decision ever, Lyndsy.  You don’t want to be giving your brothers ammunition for the next 5 months!

The Hamster saga!

One day Abby decided that she needed to have her own personal pet.  A hamster would be the perfect little pet to have in her bedroom.  She convinced her mom and dad that this little pet would be good therapy for her loneliness. So off to the pet store and home again with a hamster and all the paraphernalia in tack to live happily ever after!  Thus begins the saga. 

Mother’s Day weekend when we were in Park City, Annie gets a phone call that the hamster had pushed the drinking water holder out and had escaped from the cage.  I’m sure the little varmint looked around and thought, “Gee, I have the whole basement to explore!  And explore she did.  She found a perfect hiding place between the cement wall, the framing and the insulation in the far corner of the storage room. 

Of course, everyone was sad that they couldn’t find her and worrying about her welfare they set out food and water.  Each day they notice that food and water was missing.  So they knew that she was alive and well somewhere in the basement.  One night when Annie was at work she got a call from one of the kids that Abby had spotted the hamster in the storage room but it got away.  

Unbeknownst to the Gertsons, this little hamster was busy gathering insulation and food because she was NESTING!  Yup, they had purchased one pregnant hamster!  They didn’t know this yet, that was to be a surprise!  Almost to the month from when she went missing a baby hamster was spotted and caught.  That was the first clue that they were not trying to catch one varmint but many!  As the days went on they ended up catching three babies and finally yesterday the caught the queen! 

Annie found the nesting area and borrowed a strong vacuum that would reach back behind the framing and suck out all the nest, food and droppings!  In the process they spotted one more baby scampering away.  They haven’t caught her yet but have set out a trap for it.  There were two white ones and one gray one (that they caught)!

Today they hauled all the babies and the mother back to the pet store per Abby’s orders.  Annie says she is keeping the the cage and all the tubes just in case Hayley or Andrew decide they want to try having a pet hamster when they are a little older.

And thus, the story of the pet hamster!

 

Brock and Boston

I had the chance to tend Brock and Boston while Maren went to her cross-fit training.  They are busy little characters but fun to have them around.  After Maren left, the kids decided they wanted some cereal and then we walked over to the play ground area behind the condos and they played for nearly an hour and a half. 

The interesting thing is that Boston thinks he can do whatever Brock can and Brock thinks that Boston can do whatever he does as well.  For example:  Brock had me push him on the swing until he was quite high and then he would jump out landing on his fit and rolling on the ground.  Boston decided he could do the same thing and Brock was sure he could as well.  I had a feeling Boston was going to give it a try so I wouldn’t push him very high for fear he would leap and leap he did landing flat on his back.  I think it scared him and kind of knocked the wind out of the little guy.  He cried for about 15 seconds and then after a couple of kisses from his Gam he was right back on the swings and all the other equipment being as fearless as could be.  He didn’t, however, do anymore jumps out of the swing.

We walked back to the condo and the boys had a dish of ice cream just before Maren came to pick them up.

Stitching project

Every once in a while I get a project that when I pick them out I have a feeling that they are going to be a challenge, but I apparently haven’t learned to listen to that gut feeling because I just keep buying them.  Well, this one that I’m working on now is definitely one of them.  I feel like I’ve been working on this for months and am making little if any progress.  I noticed that I hadn’t posted what I had accomplished by May first so I’ll post where I am on June 3rd and see how much further I get by July!  Holy Cow!!!  What a project.  The first picture is the left side of the sampler and the 2nd picture is the right side.  It is too big for my camera to take the whole thing.

Jaden’s baseball game

Neal and I drove out to Herriman to see Jaden play baseball.  When we got there, he was pitching.  He is a good player.  I was very impressed.  He pitched the first three innings and did a great job.  One ball was hit just to the right of him and he was able to grab it, throw to first base and the runner was out.  Great game, Jaden.  You made Gam and Pa proud of your athletic talents.  Boston and Brock spent most of their time going to the snack bar for treats and drinks.

Hard getting pictures through the fence but I did get one of Jaden pitching and one of him up to bat.

Taylor was sporting her new pet that she inherited from the Hintzes.  It was amazing how many people were interested, asking questions and wanting the pet the little thing.  Taylor just lets it run all over her body and doesn’t seem to mind.  I asked her if she minded it peeing and pooping on her and her comment was, “Oh it happens all the time.”  Apparently no big deal. 

After the game Neal and I headed to the market to get some salmon for dinner and then to the local hamburger joint for dinner.  Didn’t get everything on my Saturday list checked off but certainly had a fun and rewarding day with the grandchildren.

Tending River

James was called into work so Lyndsy called and asked if I would tend River for the day.  I had a list a mile long of things I needed to get done but figure River could either go with me or I would have to put my list aside.  River came about 10:30 so I was able to get some things on my list done before he got there.  When he arrived I told him that we would be going to get the car washed.  He wasn’t excited but didn’t have much choice in the matter.  Neal was extremely busy doing school work so River was stuck with his Gam.  I think it turned out to be a very fun outing for him.  He got to see a huge blue parrot and shoot some hoops and then give the guy a tip for cleaning our car.

River decided he was hungry so we headed home to fix him a peanut and butter sandwich.  He made sure I knew that he didn’t want Miracle Whip on it!!  Pa cured him of that!

River was insistent on going swimming.  He just couldn’t let it go.  I had a million and one things I needed to do but how do you turn down the easy wish of a child when there is a pool right outside your front door that beckons him.  So off to the pool we went.  I feel bad that he got sunburned.  I didn’t even think about sun block.  Not sure I even had any.  I just didn’t realize he would be out there as long as we were.  Sorry River.  The first picture is of him talking himself into taking the first plunge.  The other two were of him begging me to take a picture of him doing his tricks.  You’ll notice he had the pool entirely to himself.

Lyndsy picked him up about 4:30 and then Neal and I headed off to Jaden’s baseball game.

Golfing in the snow!

Not really!  It seemed like snow.  The Cottonwood trees are shedding their fluffy cotton balls like crazy this time of year.  The Stansbury golf course is surrounded by hundreds of these trees and playing golf last Saturday in the falling cotton was interesting.  I took a couple of pictures but they just don’t do justice to what we were experiencing.  By the time we were through, I was brushing the cotton from my hair, clothes and shoes.  If you look closely you can see the looks white.  It was literally covered with cotton.  Check around the edges of the sand trap and you see white everywhere.

I tried to take a picture of the cotton coming down from the trees.  It was seriously like being in a snow storm in the middle of the summer!  The camera just couldn’t capture the stuff in the air but looking across the fairway you can see how white everything is.

This is where Emmi works and spends most of her time during golf season.  She makes pretty good money and says she enjoys her job.  This is the second year of working at the golf course.  The benefits are free golfing any time for her and her dad.  Very nice perk as they both love to golf.  Her grandpa Maxfield has also had a few free rounds.

Date night

Neal and I (well, truth be know, I did) decided to go to a movie instead of going to the senior center for the quarterly bridge play off.  Neal gets very intense when he plays in a tournament and isn’t very tolerant of mistakes made by himself or by his partner (which is usually me).  I don’t like the feeling that comes over me when we play this game together so I try to avoid playing with him when I can.  Thus, the movie won out when I was given the choice.  We both wanted to see The Great Gatsby so the choice of movie was easy.  Did I like the movie?  Don’t know.  Not sure I would recommend it and not sure I would ever want to sit through it again.  Was it a good show?  Yes but not a ‘feel good’ movie.  It has been so many years since I’ve seen the old one with Robert Redford that I had actually forgotten most of the story line.  Now that I’ve seen it again, I know why I had forgotten it because it really isn’t worth remembering.  But, weighing movie with competitive bridge . . . . movie wins out hands down.

Emmi’s pottery and ribbons

Emmi took me on a tour of her accomplishments in her junior year pottery journey.  She won many ribbons and has found a love of creating art work in her pottery classes.  Pictured are just a few of her many creations that she has won ribbons for.  We are very proud of your accomplishments Emmi and thank you for the gifts that have come our way!

This first picture is a beautiful vase with an etched in design.  The second picture is a fountain that can actually have water running up and over each tier. 

This third and fourth picture is a Nike tennis shoe. 

Fifth, sixth picture is two tea cups with a matching water picture.

My personal favorite is the gigantic ceramic beaver!  You will notice it is without tail.  Somewhere in the move from the pottery class to home it lost it huge tail.  I should have snapped a picture of it.  The tail was on the floor.