Back-blogging

It's been so long since I did this I'm not even sure where to start.  

My hat is off to all of you who have persevered in the task and art of blogging.  

You know, the bloom is somewhat off the flower when it comes to this; it's moved on to more immediate and exciting things like "twitter" and "facebook" and
"speed-texting" with Droids (whatever that is), and "I-pads" and who knows what all.  

Heck, I'm still trying to figure out how to make those fancy picture pages that Heather makes.  

But, anyway,  there's been a lot of stuff happening in our lives since the kitchen got finished (I know Viv, when you read this the first thing you're going to say to yourself is, 

"What's he talking about??? 

It's not finished!!!  

Don't forget about painting the kitchen window frame and framing the pantry, and........"

But anyway here's a few things:

1.  I retired (quit) from the financial services industry after 30 years.  I feel light as a feather with no regrets about the decision.

2.  Vivienne and I are true empty-nesters.  For the time being.  It's nice.  But we miss the happy chatter of the grandkids.

3.  We're the proud caretakers of 2 cats.  Who woulda thunk????  I even went out and spent $74 buying them a new heating pad for their house for the winter.    (*&^%$#%&*=-+_*&!!!!!!!!)

4.  I'm driving the bus for Atria Senior Living Center, aka Crosslands Retirement Center.  Things have come full circle.

5.  I played volunteer for the Wendover Air Show in September.  It was lots of fun.

6.  Our rock n' roll band has never sounded better.  It's lot of fun; especially with David in the band.  Our new drummer is Tim Lunt, Doug's Lena's husband (is that clear as mud?)

7.  We replaced the siding and gutters and awning on the house with white vinyl.  It looks great.

8.  We planted 4 new fruit trees.  

9.  I'm getting a mountain bike.  I don't know why; I just want one.

10.  I couldn't think of a tenth thing.  Oh yeah, Vivienne and I decided when we're going on our first mission: September 1, 2012.

Well, that's it for now.  Next time maybe I can figure out how to make one of those cool picture collages like Heather.  Love to all...........Bubba

The Kitchen!!

Yeah!  The countertops arrived this morning.  I think they're awesome.  Believe it or not it only took them 1 1/2 hours to do the complete install.
We're SO close to having our kitchen back I can taste it.  Our handy man is coming this afternoon to hook up the sink (and hopefully the dishwasher) and then we'll be able to move the dishwashing out of the bathroom and everything.
There's lots of little things still to do which will keep me busy for the summer, but the big things are just about complete.  It looks great; thanks Michelle.

Autism Speaks - 5K Race - May 1, 2010

It was a dark and rainy and cold morning, but we braved the weather for our first (Salt Lake's 3rd) Autism Speaks Day.  I was amazed at how many people were there.  We entered a team for Caden, "Team Caden" and we had 10 family members.  It was really a lot of fun and we're planning on going next year, so any of you in the area next May 1, please join us.  Kristin raised $500 and next year we're hoping to raise $1,000.
There was LOTS of vendor booths and every learning and nutritional aid imaginable.  It was held at "This Is The Place Monument". You can tell; it was freezing but fabulous.

Caden was enamored with the Bounce Houses.  There were 4 of them.  But they were full of kids and noise, which, for autistic kids, is a huge impediment.  So it took until the end of the day before he found courage (with Kristin's help) to actually get inside one.

There were thousands of people.  The starting line and main stage area were packed, and a festive atmosphere.

Here's a few shots of "Team Caden"

Cabinets Day

We got the cabinets installed today; here's some pics.  They're not really redish/pink; for some reason the pics look it, but they're actually rustic natural maple.
Tomorrow they come to measure for the granite countertops, and then about one week before they're installed.

 We love them.
 Just think how cool it'll look with the accent lights above and below the cabinets and the pendant lights over the counter and the light rail over the sink.  Cierra and Caden played hide and seek all afternoon in the kitchen.

Kitchen Update

Well, the flooring is in.  Baseboards, about 1/2 done.  We think Michelle picked out a great flooring, even though she's never actually seen the wood; she chose it online.  Cabinets arrive on Thursday.

By the way, in case you don't know, Chuck has been called as Second Counselor in his Ward Bishopric.  For the second time (well, first time in Oklahoma).  So, we hope it gets it right this time.

Do You Think I Coud Win?

Michelle sent me a link to Trex Deck Products where they are advertising a contest to see who might win a new deck makeover, and they asked contestants to send in a picture of their current deck and a reason they feel they should win.

Here's the picture I sent...whadyathink?????  Am I a winner?

A Work In Progress

Well, I finally got the missing part for my camera so I could post this "Work In Progress".  I thought it would be fun to see the "before", "in-the-middle", and "after" photos.
This has actually been kind of fun even though very inconvenient.  For those of you who have lived through a kitchen remodel you might remember how it is:

• No dining room table to work at, read at, and, oh yeah, eat at.
• No kitchen sink
• No automatic dish washer
• No counter tops for food preparation and a million other activities
• Dust, your constant companion.  Although we have hung sheets of visqueen at both kitchen openings which has helped.
• No stove.
• The guest bathroom is now the kitchen sink and dishwasher
• The microwave and food pantry is in our bedroom
• The dishwasher and stove are in the garage where my car used to park
• The dining room table is in the middle of the living room
• And perhaps, best of all, the refrigerator is in the living room next to the grand piano

Olympic Hangover and Memory Musings

Well, the Winter Olympics are over.  It was nice to be recuperating at home during this time; it was a nice distraction.  Although I'm feeling better I was disappoint at how much I did NOT get accomplished during the convalescence.  I didn't anticipate how tired I would be, so most of the things in my bucket list are still in my bucket list.  I've been looking back at all the wonderful things I've been part of in recent years and decided to just randomly post some of those memories. 

I tried to put captions under each picture but after 30 minutes of frustration, I've given up.  You'll have to refer back to the pictures from these comments.

1.  Kissing cousins Drew and Anna at Marissa's wedding in Phoenix

2.  KD holding forth about something.  I love this picture

3.  Cierra acting WAY too grown up

4.  Drew asserting himself

5.  First look at Eli

6.  On the canals in Venice.  I sang at the top of my lungs

7.  Viv in Copenhagen in a rainstorm

8.  The Archepelego (sp?) sailing into Stockholm.  24,000 islands, each a picture postcard.  Beautiful

9.  Chuck's gift presentation to Dave - Caribbean Cruise

10. Kristin swimming with the stingrays

11. Karen with her turkey towel in the room on ship

12. Caribbean memories

13. First look at Caden

14. Beginning of hike up Timpanogos with moose on trail

15. End of hike up Timpanogos with Viv in sled

16. Reunion gig with Nobody's Children in Gallup

17. First look at Carter Bruce

18. First look at Mikira

19. Christmas in Dominican Republic. Nice and warm

20. Family reunion talent (?) show

21. Singing in Mormon Tabernacle Choir

22. Chuck's graduation

23. Family picture at Grandpa Brown's funeral

24. Tyler in the hospital.  In memory of all the RSV hospital patients this year.

Happy Sunday Evening

Well I've been "fasting" (no solid food) since Friday and taking cleansing agents and antibiotics until I begin to wonder if the curse is worse than the disease.  I'm nervous about tomorrow morning and getting poked a million times and waking up with the pain (I hate pain! I know, I'm a woos), but in another way I can hardly wait to get this over with.  It seems forever ago that I started down this road.  Thanks to all of you who have been so kind and called or written to tell me I'm in your prayers.  It's kind of humbling to me and I appreciate it.

On another subject, I've named the new guitar and Karen wins the prize.  Her name is officially "Vicki".  There's a story there, and my hat's off to Karen for remembering it.  Very good.

Well, I'll see you all on the other side of my hospital stay.  I love you all.

My Grandkids Are Awesome!

OK, for all of you "other" kids and grandkids that may look at this, let me disclaim: "All of my kids and grandkids are awesome".  Now, no one should be offended.  But you have to take a look at this gorgeous 18 year-old (well, not really, but when you see the picture she looks 18, which scares the heck out her mom and dad) model named "Mackenzie".  This is her new Valentine's dress for next week's 6th grade (I know, it's scary like I said) school dance.  You can understand why her dad told her mom to buy her the ugliest dress in the store.  Of course she didn't.

 

Cierra had a fun day at school today.  They had program, "A Journey Around The World" and only Kristin was able to attend but here she is for all to see.  She took video, but I'm so techno-challenged I can't get it to upload on my blog (Heather, help!)

 

And, surprise, Caden came home exhausted from the whole ordeal and fell asleep just inside the door, with feet in the air.