Innocence

December 25, 2009

It's early Christmas morning and my family is still asleep. The Christmas tree lights are on now and I've opened the blinds. The snow is still glistening the trees and I watch all of the neighbors lights turning on. I smile as I think of the wonderful Christmas memories being created in each of their homes as I prepare to create some new memories of my own.

Last night we kept track of Santa on the internet. Kayci is still all about Santa and where he's at. She had her laptop pulled up with the "Santa Tracker" all night during dinner and our Christmas "program". Innocence is a wonderful thing.

This time of year is truly my favorite. I have always loved the lights and wonderment of Christmas. Mom always had lights and candles and our finest dishes. I loved the memories she helped create as a child. Dad always was there to tease us about Santa and to see if we were "naughty or nice". I remember the nights lasting forever as I tried to sleep. It's funny how it all goes full circle... now I'm up before my kids! My favorite part of the season, as they were when I was young, are the lights.

The "Lights of Christmas" hold a special place in my heart, one that I think was a gift as a child.

Halloween 2009

Jake's Eagle Project

October 24, 2009
Well, Jake's Eagle Scout Project was today and he did a great job. He planned a hay ride for food to donate to the Utah Food Bank. Despite a rather cold and blustery day, it was a huge success.

He started out the day by going to the farm and loading hay into the Big Tex with Robert. Robert had him practice a few loops in the field and then Jake was off to work... (with all the planning he did, he forgot to get the day off work. Hmmmm.) Anyway, Robert and I drove the tractor with the hay to the field. The Hay Ride was supposed to start at 2:00 p.m. and Jake got off of work at 2:00. Luckily the filed is right down the street from Harmon's.

When we got to the field at 2:00 it started to rain a bit. It was cold, but "do"able. Then it started to REALLY rain... HARD. Then came the hail... ALOT of it. We sat in the truck as we watched stuff start to blow away. You can see the posters were all twisted up and the one that said "Utah Food Bank" was completely toast. (The rest of the day it looked like we were doing hay rides for our own food!)
Jake did a great job getting all of the rides in and making sure everyone was safe. He checked all around the tractor for little kids and was sure that everyone was having a good time. He was able to collect quite a bit of food and over $40.00 cash.
Parker, Emilee, Kassidy and Jake all rode the hay wagon back to the farm to unload the hay. Robert had to take a loop through Wal Mart as the kids were doing the "rodeo wave" on the hay! It was lots of fun and pretty redneck.
Now the next step is to get the reports filled out and talk to the appropriate people about the project and I think he just got himself an Eagle. Whew!
If I ever have to do this again, I'm going to insist on a fund raiser in some tropical location... the Carribean, maybe!

Riverton Hospital Open House

Deer Hunt 2009

I'm remotely semi-famous!

October 17, 2009
A few weeks ago, some PR people from IHC come onto our unit. They were doing a photo shoot and wanted to know if any of us had any "photo worthy" patients. I said I had a darling patient with a really cute husband. They said it was ust going to be the mom doing a shoot for the Women's Center. At that time, this cute girl had been pushing and was exhausted. They said that they would come back in the morning so I told them which room she would be in.
The next day they came back and I showed them where she was and then wished this cute girl good luck. They said at that time, "You're coming, too." No thanks, I had been running around and I was wearing these large earrings that were totally inappropriate for nursing attire.
Needless to say, they did the shoot and now I'm on a billboard on I-15 and also a couple of buses somewhere in the valley.
My few minutes of fame! I was happy to do it anyway, I really love my job and I loved working at Altaview. It's ironic that the billboard comes out on my last day of working there. I really will miss it there. I love the people and the doctors. I'm just glad that they've left the door open for me so I can always go "home"!

Jake's Eagle Scout Project

October 12, 2009
Nothing like waiting until the last minute... Jake finally turned in his Eagle Scout Project idea to the stake leader guy. (I'm sure he has a title, I'm just not sure what it is.) Jake decided to do a Hay Ride for Food Drive on the 24th of October. (He turns 18 on the 29th) Wow... this kid is going to drive me to drink. At least he has the project OK'd and he's on his way to Kinko's to make flyers.
It's a great idea and he really wanted to do something for the special needs kids, so he's going to hand out flyers at Kayci's special needs mutual next week and give them extra special treatment. He's going to turn in the food to the food bank. I think it's a great idea and he's really excited. Robert said he'd donate the diesel for the tractor and help him get the trailer fixed up. I'll donate the hot apple cider and help him with that.
Later that night...
OK, so I'm not going to kill the kid just yet. I just read his "Personal Statement of Life Purpose and Ambitions". Here's what he wrote:
"What I think is life's purpose is to not only better yourself, but also help those around you. We have a duty here on this earth. It is, of course, to make it back to our Heavenly Father, but it is also a mission. A mission to help those in need, to help others see the light, and to learn selflessness. I have learned through my trials so far, that there is always hope for things that are better. And I intend to spread that hope to other people.

Some of my ambitions are to go on a mission, become a graphic arts designer, to go to at least 4 years of college, get married in the temple and have kids. I want to do humanitarian things throughout my life. I also want to go into the film business."

Guess I can't strangle him yet...dang!

Elk Hunt 2009

When Pigs Fly!

So Jake finally asked a girl on a date! and to Homecoming! Her name is Sam and she is in one of his classes. Anyway, he filled her locker with balloons and his sign said, "It would inflate my ego if you would go to Homecoming with me."

She answered him back with a big box and a sign that said, "I'll go to Homecoming with you when pigs fly." When he opened the box, all of these pink "pig" balloons flew out! It was super cute.
The dance is Saturday and he keeps asking me if he can borrow my 300. (My new car) I'm still deliberating this concept, but I might be able to get a bunch of free labor if I let him take the car!

Robert gets a new puppy!

September 10, 2009

Robert has been "asking" for a puppy for awhile! Actually, he has been hinting that he needs another "damn dog" following him around at the farm. He has gotten quite used to Niner thinking he's people, and Robert really does enjoy that. The only problem is, Niner is starting to slow down-ALOT. Instead of up and down each row of hay, Niner sits on the ends and barks. As soon as he gets to the farm, he jumps in the canal, runs around a bit and then wants to come home.
So, enter into the picture a Chocolate Lab Puppy we named "Harley". Jessica is especially worried about Niner and his Jealous tendencies! Niner is pretty funny, he's not mean, but he does inch his way in between us and the puppy! He walked over and sat in Jessi's lap here! It was hysterical! When we went to pick him out, he ran under the horse trailer and I had to lay on the ground to coax him out. The owner said he's never done that before. After I got him out, he just sat on our lap and let the other dogs run around. Yep... he was the one. He was also the darkest with the boxiest head.
We brought him home to meet Mr. Poo Poo Head and he actually did really good. Niner let him jump around on him, and they did the appropriate sniffing and then they both just kind of laid on the ground together and did just fine.
That night, Harley only had to get out a couple of times to go potty. (We have him sleeping on the deck outside our bedroom window) He would yip a little and we would get him out, let him go potty and get a snack and a drink and put him back in his dog box. He's doing really good.
He likes people although it takes him a bit to get aquainted. He had a great time digging in the sandbox with the grandkids, too!

I was trying to get Harley used to "our smells", so I let him hang out in our bed for a bit. He jumped over to Robert's side and fell asleep! (I washed the sheets after, don't worry!)

Me and Harley Dude!