We're Off !!

Roger is in Montana

Gwen is in Arizona

Zac and CJ are living in our house (so any burglars reading this blog - back off :)

We'll catch you all when we get back.

Today I head to Arizona with my good friend Amy, and her daughter Lisa. They arrived last night about 8 pm from Spokane, WA - via Missoula, Montana where Lisa had attended and graduated from college. Lisa is now headed for A.T. Still University in Mesa,AZ to finish up her education - that girl is smart, and capable, and focused. Way to go Lisa ! Anyway, they had a loonnnnnnnnngggggggg drive from Missoula, and were glad to get here to Morgan. I was excited to "show" them MY town. I love Morgan, and I'm thankful I live here. We had a good time visiting and catching up with my parents and CJ & Zac. Lisa became Treyson's NEW BEST FRIEND. She was so cute with him, and they swung on the swings, and threw rocks in the creek, and........ he would have had her going all night if we would have let him :) After we cleaned up, we went over to the walking path and walked around it - dodging bugs in the dark. (I knew there was a reason I've never walked by the river after dark :) Today my mom is fixing us waffles for breakfast. I am so thankful for my mom (and dad). Amy and Lisa stayed there last night, because Zac and CJ and boys have taken over our basement, and it really would have been hard for them to pack up and move out, even for one night. The boys have had coughs and congestion for the past few days, but I'm thankful that they are on the mend. We are going to head out this morning about 8 am, and plan to stay tonight in Vegas. We'll catch the sights, Bellagio fountains, Treasure Island Pirates, Mirage Volcano, M & M factory, Old Town light show, Caesar's Forum.............. the list goes on and on. I am thankful I have been doing a lot of walking, because I have a feeling that we will put our legs to work tonight. On Friday morning, we'll head for Phoenix, and stop at Hoover Dam first. I'm excited to see their reaction - it is quite a sight. I am thankful they asked me to be part of their road trip, and that I'll be able to see Cam and Manda on Friday night ! Cam has called 2-3 times this past week, and she is anxious to see me. She still doesn't have the time concept down yet. I'm taking her a calendar, to see if that will help, with looking forward to different events this coming year. Roger called last night, and they have a plan to whip the Billings bakery into shape. If anyone can do it, I know Roger can. Unfortunately, this may involve more time spent up there than we expected. Hey !! I just thought of something, maybe after I get back, I can travel up there with him for another vacation !! Hey - I have many blessings to be thankful for !

Newsflash !! - Roger is 50 !!

He's still got it baby !!

Treyson and Tagg - What cuties !!

Do you have any old furniture that needs a facelift?

If so - head on down to Morgan Furniture Works. Craig Nelson will work miracles for YOU !!

We have THREE heirloom pieces of furniture - good thing we have 3 kids :)

There is the Dickson dresser - which will go to Zac when we die.
There is the Tonks dresser - which will go to Manda when we die.
There is the Rich sideboard/buffet - which will go to Landon when we die.

And not before :)

Remember the Power outtage/broken VCR fiasco in March?? Well, that started us on this adventure of redoing the entertainment center....................and then the dresser.............and so forth and so forth.

The dresser is done - Yahoo ! What is DUMB, is that I have NO BEFORE pics. It was originally painted WHITE, and sat in my Grandma Dickson's upstairs for many years. When I got married in 1977, we needed a dresser, and so we proceeded to paint over the white, and went with a shiney, stained brown........(yuck). Craig stripped it down to nothing, and discovered Burl wood !!! Every single drawer front has an inset of Burl Wood. It is absolutely beautiful !!! Why anyone EVER painted it over is beyond me.

As a side note - the white that you see, is an inset of marble.

So give Craig a call at 801-821-6208 if you need something worked on. We were very very pleased, and I think you will be too !!

Motab and the Osmonds

Friday night I went with my mom to the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City. We met my sister and her husband there, to see the Pioneer Commemorative Concert, with the MOTAB and the OSMONDS !!! So so good ! I was actually dreading it, because of the drive and the heat, and my legs still ache from the hike, but I knew that once I was there it would be good, and it WAS.


This is a picture outside, with the temple in the background across the street



















Temple up close















Inside the Conference Center hallway








Finally in our seats - Me, Mom, Erika, & Aaron



Here's a short video of the inside of the "Meganacle" before it started.

I'm going to CHEAT today

Head on over here to check out what we did last night. It was GREAT !!

Hike to the "M"

I hiked to the "M" this morning. It was great ! Left the cemetery parking lot at 6:05 and got to the "M" at 6:40. I hung around until Teresa and Jenny Lake got there, and we took pics, and visited. Don't know for sure what time we headed back down, but it was 7:55 when we got back to our cars. What a wonderful way to start the 24th of July !


Click here to view all of the photos

Seriously, you do NOT want to miss my blow by blow ascent to the summit !!

Kuh Caw - Kuh Caw (emphasis on the last syllable)

As you may or may not know, Roger and I tend to have our disagreements. Rarely, if ever, do they escalate into full blown in your face arguments. We do however, get a little "testy" at times with one another. (I know - you are shaking your head in disbelief - HAHA)

The first time this happened (after Zac and CJ moved in), CJ looked at me and asked, "Should I leave the room?". She was only half kidding........ Roger and I just looked at each other and burst out laughing. Then she suggested that we ever needed them to leave the room so we could have a "discussion", that we should have a "code" word, maybe like "Kuh Caw - Kuh Caw" and she proceeded to make this bird sound. We have gotten the biggest kick out of it since then. If voices are ever raised (or even THINK about getting raised) - someone in the room, will let it fly .........."Kuh Caw - Kuh Caw". It always changes the mood, and we end up laughing.

Busy and Fun Weekend

We got a "fake" tire swing to hang from the tree in our backyard
It's pretty fun !!

The ground drops off quite a bit behind the tree, so you are probably about 8 feet off the ground at that point. But to get on it, it's only about 6 inches off the grass.

Saturday evening we had an impromptu get together at the property
and roasted hotdogs with Jim and Shirlee & Rylee, and mom and dad

Warming my piggies

The Welch Ditch was really really low, and Treyson and Rylee had a fun time playing in it

We even dipped Tagg's piggies
Click here for more pics

On Sunday we had a nice dinner at LuAnn and Ben's
The BIG kids help the LITTLE kids play croquet

Chase showed off his skills as a skateboarder

Here are the Birthday Boys this month
Layne (49) Roger (50) Kelly (41)
Click here for more pics

We got the tubes ready to float the creek
Wonder who's in there??

Help - get me out !!

It was a beautiful weekend in Morgan
(Wish Cam and Manda were here :(.........

Is this not the cutest baby ever?

5 1/2 months old, and tonight he received his first solid food. He just devoured it ! He just attacked the spoon ! Tagg is so sweet, and has the darkest eyes. I have blue eyes, and Roger has hazel, and the only one of our kids that had dark dark brown eyes was Ambure, and now Tagg. His eyes remind me of Ambure's, so dark you can hardly see the pupil. Take a look at the video below to see what I mean about the attacking baby :)

Floating the "Crick"

Do you say CREEK or CRICK? If you live in Morgan and were born in Morgan (Morgun) - you know, Morgan by the Mount-uns?.........you most likely say CRICK. Creek just sounds....weird :)

Zac and CJ and Treyson floated from the Dickson Property to OUR Property on East Canyon Creek. Roger and I went down to our property to wait for them, and surprised about 4-5 "boys" skinny-dipping. There was a mad dash for underwear, and in the process they left all of their ILLEGAL fireworks behind - darn :( Those went in the garbage for sure, rotten little trespassers.............. They came over from where else - the subdivisions in Morgan City. They have NO respect for PRIVATE PROPERTY, that's for sure. We're just lucky they didn't start a fire in the tall dry grass.

Anyway - back to my story. The kids (OUR kids) had a fun time, except for the freaky experience of going through 20 spider nests. CJ was sufficiently "freaked" out, that she will never do that again. The creek is grown over so much, and there are alot of trees down that need to be cleaned out with chainsaws.

I am thankful that I can attend the temple. I went tonight with my mom-in-law, and my neighbor, Sharlene Olsen. We saw Craig and Kathy Nelson down there, and also my mom and dad who were working there tonight. It was just what I needed.

Flattered or Freaked ?

Twice in the past 3-4 days, I've gotten a text message that just says:

"Hey"

The first time I ignored it, but I did notice the number it came from, because it is very similar to my number.

The second time it came (from the same number), I thought I'd reply, so I could set the person straight and let them know that they had a WRONG number.........

The conversation went like this:

Them: Hey

Me: Who is this?

Them: Jon, and you?

Me: Gwen, do I know you?

Jon: I don't think so, but it's nice to meet you.

Jon: That is a very pretty name.

Me: Well, I was just wondering, because this is the second time you have said "Hey", and I thought you might have the wrong number.

Jon: How old are you?

Jon: I think I do (have the wrong number), but what does getting to know someone hurt?

Me: Sorry, I'm almost 50, and you DO have the wrong number......

Jon: (no reply)


Think he'll ever say "Hey" again ? (haha)

Our Life Lately

The boys BIG ADVENTURE
Zac and Treyson slept out on the trampoline. It worked out pretty good.
Tagg slept with mom in the house.

When I came home from church one Sunday,
this is what I found !
I was soooooooooo happy (seriously) - Rog needed a haircut so badly,
and Zac had to twist his arm to let Christel do it.

We took a Ranger Ride up in the hills above Round Valley.
Click Here to view a photoshow.

Alot of evenings we just sit out on the back patio and watch Treyson have fun.


Here is a Video of Treyson on the trampoline - he's going to be quite the basketball player :)

Tagg is usually such a good natured little boy

Or not :( - just look at that bottom lip

Treyson the Tool Man
Treyson is going to be like his dad.
He loves tools.

When we are up at the property, it is "someones" FULL TIME job
to follow Treyson around and make sure he doesn't fall in the creek, or climb up a tree,
or fall in the ditch, or..............
Click here for fun pics of our day working at the property

The other day (mid-day) we saw a mom and two fawns, just out behind our house.

Can you guess who these two are?
I wonder how long it will take Kacey to figure out I've posted
these fun pictures?

Daddy and his boy

Treyson got a new gun at Cabelas
Here he is, urging Grandma D to try it out.

Mighty Hunter

Grandpa and his buddies

I don't think we've changed a bit !

31-derful years ago today, we were married.

Can't believe time has passed so quickly.
4 kids, 3 grandkids, and 97 years between us.....
Love ya Rog

I am thankful for good friends like Teresa Lake, who lets me hang out at the gym with her at *cough* 3:30 a.m. *cough*. It's amazing how good you feel (after it's over :)

I am thankful to have Zac and CJ living with us. The boys are fun to have around, and it's just been great. I'm sure at the end of 5 months, we'll be ready to be back to just the "old fogies", but I'm sure enjoying it now.

I am thankful for the telephone. Last night we called Camryn, and it was so cute to hear her and Treyson talk. She was coloring, and she asked Treyson if it was alright if she kept on coloring while she talked to him, and then she said if Treyson was a "good boy" she would color him a picture. She sure misses him. She begged me to bring him down when I go there at the end of the month. I sure with I could "snap" my fingers and have him there, without having to ride 14 hours in the car with him :)