Philippines fun

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Hey everything is good.. Still no phone but it's ok I am surviving without it!:) Today we had all of Landon and Cody's directors over to play badminton and eat for a team building activity.. They were all really nice and talkative - it was fun!

Then we were all napping and the power went out again for the second day in a row and it gets SO HOT!!! So we went to the store to return my charger that blew up my phone.. They weren't going to give us back our money but it's a good thing Landon and Cody stayed strong, so we got the money back... We were all so mad when we gave them back the charger and showed them the picture of the charger and outlet they all started laughing! Oh I think I about lost it..

What else.... Oh yes, Crystal came over on Friday to help me sew my kitchen curtains so that they didn't drag on the floor! That was nice. 

Payson is sick with the worst cough I have ever heard him have but no fever yet and I am hoping he doesn't get one!!

I hope you guys have something fun planned for your Saturday!!

Odds and Ends

We have been having the most beautiful
 sunrises and sunsets lately :)

I finally got around to cleaning out my flower garden.
Thatch was a BIG helper :)

I know - not the right kind of seat, but it has to do in a pinch.  CJ said that he would take a nap when she dropped him off at 1pm................2 1/2 hours later he was still going strong, and when we had to go pick up Treyson from school.................he was OUT LIKE A LIGHT !

This one made me laugh out loud !

Somebody lost their FIRST TOOTH - the right way ;)
Remember he lost the top two at Christmas time a few years ago.
He said the Tooth Fairy brought him a penny.........uh, I think he got more than that :)

I tell you - these kids will be the death of me !!

Cute little MINK in the barnyard -----NOT !!!!!

WARNING  - this post contains content which may be OFFENSIVE to some. 

Yesteday, I'm pulling out of the driveway headed to work at 6:55 am.  I notice something small and black in the barnyard.  I stop to get a better look, and it's a mink!  My first thought was, "Oh, how cute, a baby mink........I bet it's eating the left over food on the ground - I better get a picture for the blog"    How could I have been so NAIVE !!   As soon as I stopped the car, and got out to take a picture, I thought it would run away..........and it did run...........right after the WHITE TURKEY !!   I FREAKED !!!  I yelled and screamed, and THEN, he latched on to our CRESTED DUCK !!! I yelled and screamed some more, and threw rocks, but it would not let go of the duck.

I ran to the house as fast as I could, screaming at the top of my lungs.  I burst in the front door (thank goodness it's Tuesday), and Roger D. was just pulling on his shoes.   I screamed, "A mink is in the barnyard killing the ducks!", and I turned and ran back out.   As I was running back, I eyed the rakes, shovels, brooms, etc.  hanging on the back of the detached garage.  What would be my weapon of choice?  I figured I'd get more SMASHING room with the scoop shovel, so I grabbed it, ran towards the fence and hurled first the shovel, and then myself over the fence.  I seriously wish I had a video of this amazing feat.  Remember the other day when I said Rog scaled this same fence very fast to protect Tagg from the Black Turkey?  Well, I TOTALLY  put his climbing/scaling/vaulting TO SHAME!!  TO SHAME I SAY!!!   I was a total MAD WOMAN, running towards the poor duck, who still had this LITTLE MINK SHE-DEVIL on her back, biting into her neck and head.  I slammed the shovel over and over again, missing each time.  I wanted to KILL THAT THING !!!  She finally let go of the duck, but she WANTED MORE!!  She had the taste of blood, and she must have been starving, because she kept darting around me, trying to get back to her tasty meal.  She BARED her sharp little white teeth at me as I approached, swinging wildly and smashing down time and time again.  I MISSED. EVERY. TIME............  I was about to have a heart attack, and Roger D. had arrived at the fence by this time (actually he had been standing there watching me - WTHECK?!?!?!?)  He could see me faltering in my quest, so he hopped the fence (not nearly as fast as me), and tried his hand at it.



He finally made contact, and stunned the little bugger.  He ran to the house and got the pellet gun and finished her off.  I DID NOT shed any tears, you can bet on that !

It was just a tiny thing - maybe 7 inches (in body) - but it sure did alot of damage.

The crested duck's head and neck were bloodied, and the runner duck's leg was about torn off.  We think the crested will make it, but we will probably have to put the runner duck down :(

We soon realized that our black turkey was missing !?!?!  We found evidence of a tremendous fight, and suspected the worst.

We found the poor bedraggled bird hiding in the back corner of the barn, with a chewed up bloodied shoulder, and many many missing feathers.  His one TOE? looks to be broken also, but he will be okay I think.  

There is NO WAY to make the barnyard totally varmint proof, and just when you think things are going so well, something like THIS happens !!  Oh well, such is the life of a farmer..........and farmer's wife ;)

**Sure wish I could have a video of  my mad screaming run, the vault over the fence, and my frenzied mink smashing self.  We could probably be about a million dollars richer :)

In the Spotlight

Cam dressed as Frenchy (from Grease) for her Grammy Pam's latest party.  They had a 50's birthday party to celebrate a few birthdays in the month of August.  Cam said it was so much fun !  She plans on wearing this for Halloween this year.  Too CUTE !!

The original Frenchy - she had a cool voice, pink hair, and was a member of the PINK LADIES

Tagg is in Kindergarten !!
Mrs. Carpenter is his teacher.
He had a GREAT DAY :)

A little bit of this..........a little bit of that............

I need to quit taking so many pictures I guess - because I can't help but show them off on the blog!  I do it so my kids can see all of the fun things, and I know Manda and Zac and Kacey look at it daily.  Everytime I ask Landon if he's seen something on it, he hums and haws...........(hint hint Lando ;) .....oh well, he's pretty busy, and has a hard time signing in at work. 

Me and Miss Piggy.  She is a sweetie.  You can't tell by the picture, but she has lost all of her hair that was about 2 inches long, and new bristly hair is growing in.  

The dreaded Turkey - Tagg asks me everytime he comes up, "Grandma, are you going to get rid of him?, Please?"  I always say no.  I really like him !

Saturday morning - Just before the rain came in from the West.  

Right after I took the previous picture - I look up, and who should come running down the road?  Zachary !!  You can see the storm clouds gathering, and I told him he better get home before he got rained on.

Can you believe our barnyard menagerie?    And this is minus the ducks and horse !  They are loving the extras from mom and dad's garden.

Tagg took this picture - he's pretty good at it !  We were working in the barnyard, to redo a temporary fence next to the barn, so that the animals would be secure when the new power pole is placed, and the new fencing is done by the road crew.

Grandma D, watching out for our little monkey !

Big helpers

Me and Thatch

Treyson actually ran the staple gun!  He did pretty good, and only once did it sound like a machine gun (haha)

We came in for lunch, and BOY - babies are messy.  He ate so good, and then when I went to clean him up, found that quite a bit of food was in his lap !

Time for a quick game of UNO before we head to the property

We've  (I should say Zac) almost got this zip line perfected.  We were disappointed to see that some kids had been down there, and tried to use it with a piece of rebar that was bent.  We take the pulley and hanger home with us each time, so I guess they thought they needed to improvise :(  It is very upsetting that kids can't respect property.  All of the NO TRESPASSING  signs that we had down there have been taken, and a certain group of teenagers feel like it's their own personal playground, with no thought to ask or anything.  I guess we will have to get onry about it........then worry about vandalism in retaliation.......... 

Here are my GUYS in the Philippines.  Isn't that so cute?  Landon and Cody got new shoes, and Payson certainly didn't want to be left out.  He looks so proud of them, doesn't he?  Landon said he wouldn't take them off, and wore them out in the mall, and was strutting around with his chest poked out !!  LOVE YOU GUYS!!  And my GIRLS (Kacey and baby girl Rich :)

Football Fun

This little fan - all dressed up ready to cheer :)  He was on a tear for his mom (of course), but was pretty good considering.  We only had to have him rescued from going under the rope and towards the field once.  

Had to caption - he looks like he's embarrassed about what his mom is yelling :)

Treyson (RICH) - getting a drink.  He plays on the offense line as nose guard.  He's learning the ins and outs, and is having a good time. 

Lovin' on Grandpa Jim and Grandma Shirlee

"There's my Dad!" - Yep, Zac is helping coach.  

This is where we spent about 1/3 of the game.  Huddled under the umbrella trying not to get wet.  It came down pretty good.  Glad the game ended when it did, because it was a TOTAL DOWNPOUR on our way out of Brigham City.

Thatch, getting a "HELLO" from brother and Dad.

Yummy!

I had this for lunch today !! YUMMY !!  Fresh cucumbers in vinegar, fresh tomatoes (skins removed courtesy of my mom), fresh corn on the cob, and fried summer squash.  It was SO GOOD !!

After, we went out and picked all of the ripe (or almost ripe) tomatoes.    My mom and dad work so hard in their garden, and we get to reap the benefits.   I love and appreciate all of their hard work.  I try to help when I can, but they totally do 90+% of it.  

Thanks Dad - for your green thumb.  I love you !
Thanks Mom - for EVERYTHING :)  Love you too :)

Misc pics - Summertime

Cam made us some necklaces to hang from our rear view mirrors.  Here's mine !  Thanks Cam :)

Mom and Dad have the best Sun Sugar tomatoes growing in their garden.  They are small and smaller than Cherry Tomatoes, and don't get red.  They are delicious.  Thatcher eats them like candy - that boy sure loves tomatoes :)

Tagg loves corn on the cob, but poor kid sure has a hard time eating it !  Takes him quite awhile :)

We went over to mom's and made pizza last night.  I finally got everything together, and Zac put up mom's birthday present on her wall.  

I totally copied what Carol Brooks' girls did for her.  This picture doesn't do it justice.  Mom already had the saying and wooden thing on her wall.  We just added the knobs, hemp, and painted clothespins and pics.  Now she'll have an easy way to trade out pics of the grandkids. 

After dinner, Dad loaded us up with tomatoes and corn.  Yummy !!

This pic is from last week.  Treyson helped me cut down burrs at the property.  He was a big help.

Tagg was trying to cut a big stick or small trunk of a tree growing out of the ground.  Grandpa D saw him struggling, and went to help.  I'm so glad my grandkids have my parents and Roger's parents around.  It is a blessing, that's for sure. 

I wish I had my video camera going right after I took this picture.  Zac was struggling in some ill fitting water shoes, and either slipped or snagged his foot on something, and went right down !  As he went, he lifted Thatch up, and even though Zac went almost completely under for a second, Thatch was totally unfazed..........  In fact, he probably laughed.  Dang I wish I had it on video ;)

Cooking hotdogs and marshmellows - Love the summer time !

10 Year Anniversary !!

August 21, 2003

August 2013 

Love you guys !!  Here's to many more !!