Suzzy Q And Crew

My Hut!

2012-01-30T20:40:00.000-07:00

Last year, after struggling to return all our Christmas decorations back up to the attic, and after the holes in my skull from the newly protruding nails from hail damaged roofing healed...and the bruises and bumps from my head banging into the roof trusses...and my grouchy, irritated mood as a result of such, I walked around my acre and noticed that things were a bit, well, UNFAIR! Our garage was full of HIS stuff (bullet loaders, tool boxes, car transmissions, fishing rods, lathe and mill, duck decoys, bikes, etc.) And the shed in the back yard was full of HIS stuff (bikes, rope, propane tanks, paint, camping awnings, plumbing parts, electrical parts, tile stuff, paint stuff, bolts, garden stuff...etc. ) I had no place! So, I asked for my own "hut"...a place for MY stuff...my holiday decorations. I didn't want much. I waited. and Waited. It got hot, so I told the guys to wait till it cooled off. After all I wouldn't need to re-store decorations till Oct. 31st. On November 1, I hauled my seven boxes BACK in the head-poking attic. Thanksgiving decor went up...and down, and I hauled it BACK in the forehead-banging attic. I was so discouraged when Christmas decorations needed to be put up. I almost said, "No More!" till Nate climbed up with me and hauled each and every box down, all at once. (I usually do it a box or two at a time. No sense him knowing everything I store to create the magic at holidays that he loves.) Christmas went up, and I worried, cuz Nate will be in Daejeon South Korea next year. and the next. I was going crazy with the stuff up. I gave a date...January 8. I started taking the stuff down. So, they took me seriously, and started.

A foundation was poured...thanks Doran for getting us the cement mixer from Sundrella Casuals. It worked awesome, and, since, again, Nate aka family cement mixer, will be gone, we found a Craigslist replacement...we call it "Nate 2".

Wade, Cameo's Dad and superbly wonderful carpenter extraordinaire, helped figure the building supply list and get the stuff...not a bit of waste, mind you, down to the last board!...and put it up. Dee and Nate worked, Wade worked.

Nate built shelves...still has one set to go if time, but we can do that if he doesn't have time...And last weekend, Wade came over and finished roofing it. I have my own hut...with a lock and my OWN key!

Thanks to the guys for my hut. Love. It.

2012-01-30T19:58:00.000-07:00

I love blogging...or rather, READING other blogs. Me, I stink at keeping up on my blog. It is only when I see my ever-so-busy-mom-of-three-and-primary-president Daughter catch up hers that I finally kick myself into gear. But THIS Pretty In Pink Giveaway makes me get off my duff!

I soooooo want to win these Kitchen-aid Mixers...One for my dear daughter and one for my daughter in law, Cam. Daughter is totally awesome cook, and Cam has grown sooooo much and is now an absolutely awesome cook as well. I wanna win these for them!

So go on, enter yourself...but wish the best for Alli and Cam!

Finally...

2012-01-25T13:31:00.000-07:00

I will update the blog soon, but I am sooooo excited because we FINALLY took Nate's graduation pic for my wall...and we took a picture for his missionary plaque (hangs in the church).

This one will hang on the wall until he leaves for the Missionary Training Center

And this is the one that will go up AFTER he leaves...

January Birthday Celebration

2012-01-08T17:11:00.000-07:00

We are continuing our tradition of getting together each month for a quick birthday celebration. Since the first Sunday of the month was New Year's Day, we postponed for a week. Nano couldn't be there, since she had planned a trip to Utah. While there, she saw Becca report after serving a mission in South Carolina, then Becca's engagement ring, dress shopping, etc. as she accepted the proposal of the very handsome and adored-by-Becca Alex, then Haylee's baptism, and Brigham's ordination as a teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood. Boy, what the Moore family has to do to get Nano away from our quick cake parties!

I don't know what it is about those Rice boys...they LOVE lighting candles.!

Aren't they the handsomest boys ever!

Add caption

For those who might be concerned, yes, Nathan is still alive and not in any sort of hospital or rehabilitation facility.

Cameo LOVES nice soft gummy bears...and I think we have succeeded in "gummy bear - inn" her out this year.

Anyway, Nate wanted his traditional Mississippi Mud cake, though I used some Christmas marshmallows, making it look like pink and green mud...but it tasted richly awesome. And, for Cam...and Nate, she made her cherry cheesecake, which Nate adores...and since he will miss the next two birthday parties, she -being the marvelous sister that she is - indulged him!

We sang, opened presents, played with Morgan's puppy, and had the usually awesome time!

Love These Kiddos!

2012-01-06T17:09:00.000-07:00

I snitched this from Allison's blog...I have a weakness for those three cute kids, and I wanted MY friends to see. The most amazing thing, aside from the adorable subjects, is that it was taken by her friend. I have MUCH experience trying to get kids to look...and look decent...during a photo. Those moms are amazing!

Sisters Forever

2012-01-04T16:52:00.001-07:00

My sister and I grew up, six years apart in age, and miles apart in personalities. It was only when we became adults that we found joy in each others strengths, and it is great! My daughters, though, didn't have to wait till adulthood to bridge that gap. Allison faced brother, after brother, after brother being born. (We even had to get her a My Little Pony Flutter Pony from newborn Morgan just for her to let him in the door.) When Dr. Matson delivered our nine pound three ounce baby and said, "It's a girl", my first reaction was "Call Allison". She finally had a sister. That new baby, who turned out to be a "colicky, crying-all-the-time, there-is-no-way-we would-have-had-six-kids-if-she-had-been-the-first" kind of baby was immediately welcomed into the vastly mature nine year old's room, and they have NEVER been apart since, though sometimes miles separate them. They read the same, think, the same, love to watch the same...everything. They share so many things: the van back seat when we camped over and over and over, the dislike for beef, the love of Harry Potter (yep, Kayty went to Vegas last year to see a premiere with her sister!) Kayty was Allison's sponge. I told Kayty's kindergarten teacher, when she started school, that this little girl couldn't write her name, but she could paint her nails, put a scrunchy in her hair by herself, and knew the story of almost every Nancy Drew book. Every year, at Christmas Break, Kayty treks to wherever Allison lives, for sister time. They have witnessed Pinecone Drops, endured diabetes diagnosis (yep...Kayty was with her Alli...and she got to vent all her frustrations, worries, cares, etc. to that dear big sister before Mom and Dad got there...I was so thankful she had her sister there!) This year was a bit shorter, due to Kayty's car trouble, but the moments were a joy, just the same.

I love love love it when they can be together. Though they are independent halves that do very well in their own wonderful lives, the sister whole that they become is amazing and treasured...especially by me!

January 1, 2012

2012-01-01T11:45:00.001-07:00

A new year...a new start. What is it about New Years' Day? I used to absolutely despise New Years' Day for all our Christmas decorations came down and were put away. I guess Mom and Dad took that fresh start thing very literally. (To be totally upfront, I am writing this on January 11th and my house is disgustingly full of Christmas decor because the "hut" they are constructing for me to hold all of my decorations is now but a poured cement floor. The Young Women from church are coming by to learn how to make pizza tonight. Tomorrow, boxes come out, and, though my house will be stuffed full of errant boxes, I will no longer have to relocate 25 rubber penguins, a snowman cookie jar, two snowmen plates, and a penguin candy dish just to get to my Bosch to make bread and pizza dough! ugh...do you sense my growing frustration)

Anyway, as of January 1, we assess our family and personal goals we set for last year, and then set new ones. It is more challenging this year, since Nate is getting ready for his full time church mission, with a whole new set of goals for him. We don't want to omit him from our goals, nor do we want to waste his sheer muscle power while he is yet with us (Ethan is very busy, both with work at work, and his own home; Doran lives much further away now; Morgan is in between jobs and may move with the racing circuit since he loves working with horses and the heat makes them run away from Phoenix in a month or two.)

First, we assessed last year. We were awful on Family Home Evening (hard when Kayty is at college and goes to her singles Family Home Evening, Nate out with sports during school, and other much more cute options than us - though while with Jessica he IS with her family...Plus, Dee was president this year, which makes many Family Home Evenings outdoor projects...jkjk ;) This year, I am in charge. He and I will plan to do Family Home Evening alone, and if someone else happens to breeze in, so be it. We were pretty good on Family Prayer: almost every morning and evening. Family Scripture Study was harder as well, with the Family Home Evening problem, so we decided to read fewer verses, and try to catch whomever whenever. We changed our monthly movie/game night to a monthly birthday celebration, which has proved great and we will continue this year. Our four campout goal became one brief overnighter, but we are determined to go camping in Vegas with all of us. Wilkins will let us know when Mike knows his schedule. We failed to complete the outdoor kitchen (stucco, tile, plumbing, and painting) AGAIN...year three, I think...so for next year, its NOT a goal. We DID complete "Grammy's Grandbaby Gazebo" and with many exclamation points...We planned just a grape arbor with a dirt floor. I have a grape arbor, 4 living vines with 5 more to plant, a river rock floor that will be completed this week-too bad for my sickness, cuz I'm the master rock picker - a table and five seats with granite tops on all...Waaaaaay cool! Dee and Nate hunted deer, unsuccessfully, and they will try for Javelina before Nate leaves, plus there will also be the annual Dove Opening Day on Grampa Rice's Sept 1 birthday. We did repair the front roof, thanks to that October Hail Storm and homeowners insurance, but we also replace and repainted the trip and had the back roof skylights removed and roofed over...awesome. We had Nate's grad party too, with a root beer keg...and now we have our very own for Dee to make all the root beer he wants.

This year, we also want to improve our gardening areas, and Dee, with Nate's very constant encouragement, bought a used cement mixer (we always borrowed one from Doran's workplace when we had a big job (pizza oven, raceway sandbox, and hut floor) and as of last night, we named it "NATE 2" and it mixed the heirloom tomato garden borders. Number one goal is getting Nate ready for his mission and on that plane to Utah on February 22nd. He bought his shoes the other night...380 dollars worth, but they should last. Slacks and long underwear come in the mail in the next day or two. He gets preparation day and workout clothing for his birthday, plus shoes...Wisdom teeth come out Feb. 6th, he goes to the temple for the first time on Feb 11th and he speaks in church on Feb 12th, with a good-bye open house for family and friends that night...pizza and root beer keg!

I am boring, but just letting you know why the blog quote changes yearly...It's what we focus on for the year. New start. Maybe its good. And, once these ding dong decorations are down and my house is dusted, I will be ready too.

Fiesta Bowl Parade

2011-12-31T20:02:00.000-07:00

Mostly pictures. It was so much fun! The weather was perfect. I could have marched forever! We hurried home, because we left Nate home with an awful case of the stomach flu!

Play It Again Band Rehearsal

2011-12-29T19:54:00.000-07:00

Each year, for the last 24 years, and my 12th, a group of adults that played and marched in high school and college bands get together to march in the Fiesta Bowl Parade. I had to miss last year, but this year, I was able to attend. Dee thought his knee was too bad to march with a bass drum, but they found him some cymbals, so he was able to march in the actual parade, though during rehearsal, he was on the phone taking care of a family problem. It was so much fun to stand in my same spot, right next to Donna, and walk around the high school track. We get the music via email a few weeks ahead, and practice one night.

My mom was a freshman at North High and was a mustang, so we took this for her.

Grammy Day!

2011-12-26T18:31:00.000-07:00

Dad came down with a stomach flu bug on Christmas Day, so we feared our trip would need to be postponed a day. Thankfully, he felt well and we loaded our 15-passenger "sleigh" and headed north to Las Vegas. Jessica came with us, which really helped in keeping Nate from bugging Dad on the trip (wet willies, etc.)

We arrived to Joshy playing with Adam's new rocket toy...we all had fun watching.

Santa brought Adam the most awesome new bike! And he rides it so well! He likes it cuz it's a BMX bike. Grammy likes it because it's her favorite color: GREEN!

We unloaded our sleigh of Christmas gifts...First, the ones from Papa

For Josh, a rocking snail

For Adam, a pinewood derby car box.

For Grace, bunk beds for Hannah.

Next were the gifts from Uncle Nate

Then the stockings...a la Costco trash bags. Explanation: When I was young, my favorite part of Christmas was our stockings. Santa loaded them with the BEST things. Later, Santa loaded my kids stockings with fun things. So, since I loved it, I now load stockings every year for my kids and my grandkiddos. This year, I spent the year picking up bargains here, yard sale treasures there, and filled stockings for Allison, Mike, Adam, Grace, Josh, Ethan, Cameo, Doran, Morgan, Kayty, and Nathan. They each have a stocking hung over my fireplace that I fill, though this year, lack of space led me to fill clear trash bags, one for each kid. It ended up being genius because when it appeared we couldn't get together before church, I just handed each their bag from the back of the jeep after we were done with Christmas Eve.

Then, Nano had specially saved and prepared her Christmas eve dinner for us to bring up. Pulled Pork, Nano Carrots, Nano Stuffing, Ed's Beans...it was great!

We even got to take a trip to the one and only place on the Las Vegas Strip that I have ever wanted to see: the Belagio!

In spite of what it appears, via the faces of Nate and Adam, we had a great time. The traffic was thick and the driving slow, but we managed, thanks to quick hands that covered little eyes, to get there without too many distractions.

The room was filled with things to see: huge polar bears covered in white mums, a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, penguins skating, a train...I just loved seeing everyone's faces.

I have heard of this ceiling covered in hand-blown glass flowers, but hearing is nothing like seeing. Adam has a favorite blue flower at the far end...and you would think it was one in a million, but it is indeed individual.

These fountains, choreographed to music, were spectacular. We stayed for two songs...even though it was cold.

The next day: Grammy Day!!! First, Nate and Jessica constructed the houses. With Mike's expert help and his Buttermilk Syrup, we ate Gingerbread Pancakes, Gingerbread Waffles, Gingerbread Muffins, Grapes, Goldfish Crackers, Gummy Bears, Grape Juice and (G)Apple Juice. (On Grammy Day, we eat "G"foods)

Papa: caught in the act of snitching "mortar"!

Joshy like the mini muffins. That guy is just the greatest!

The decorating then commenced!

Allison trained him well. He is expert in his attention detail.

Tasting the building material is a necessary step in any construction.

Adam did a great job. I really liked how he selected and used some wrapped candy in his presentation. It made it fresh and yummy to eat later.

Jessica carefully made icicles from the icing. It looked awesome.

Joshy and Mommy are nearly done.

He was helping me put the extra candy away. Ain't he a cutie!

The 2011 Grammy Day Village Collection: Designed by artists Adam, Grace with help from Papa, Josh and Mommy, Jessica, and Nathan

We decided that the special houses Grammy had bought at World Market tasted awful. So, next year, we are bringing graham crackers...tons and tons...so everyone can build what they want, and then the eating will indeed be good as well!

We worked hard the rest of the day to wear off the effects of Grammy Day...

This little guy worked and worked, trying to get his bike to do what his big brother had done, ride over the rocket launcher pad and make the rocket go.

Papa raked winter leaves, or, rather, swept winter leaves, for Grace.

Grace wanted Papa to bury her in leaves. When Josh saw, he was so concerned and started getting her out.

At the playground...

Fun in the back of Grammy's van. I had to get out the gifts from Great Granny and Aunt Kayty... I had lots of help!

We got to attend Adam's pack meeting and watch him receive his awards. That was great!

The next day, we loaded, we played and then headed home.

When we came in, we found Dad's hunting Christmas Tree over on its side on the ground, top bent, ornaments all over. Fortunately, it was repairable, for the most part. I guess while we were gone, Beau decided to go where no dog has gone before: my living room. He is abundantly fortunate that HE is still among the living, and not hanging on that tree!

Christmas Morning: Not What We Expected

2011-12-25T20:32:00.000-07:00

Christmas morning, I woke up. Nate was gone to church with Jessica. House was quiet. Kayty was unconscious (not really, but almost). I wanted to see my regular Mormon Tabernacle Choir broadcast on the computer via BYUTV.org. Lots of lovely music. As I said, I really am touched and inspired by music, so I began monkey bread, a Christmas morning tradition for years. I had frozen the dough balls when I made this week's bread, so I followed my recipe and listened.

Jessica and Nate surprised me by coming home...before her ward meeting was over. She had overslept, so they came to be with us. We roused Kayty (not a wise thing). They lined up, as traditionally. This time, oldest to youngest.

Stockings

I fill Dee's stocking. This year, it was drill battery chargers, new granite grinding pads, new table saw blades, scissors, pens, his traditional Dilbert desk calendar, and a few goodies.

Santa

Santa brought Kayty books to hold her myriad of dvds and a beany zebra with a green bow on his neck, just like the one on the freeway billboard advertising the Phoenix Zoo. (I really was not sure how Beau would take sharing his yard with a zebra, and boy, if that zebra pooped in the yard, would I ever hear it!)

Nate got a camera for his mission. Yes, this is the mission Christmas.

We ate monkey bread...awesome this year with the addition of walnuts.

They received gifts from Mom and Dad...Kayty was into Star Wars stuff, and Nate got...white shirts and socks. We gave Jessica a hoodie that says "Someone In South Korea Loves Me"

One of the awesomest of all the awesome gifts...

Last year, I saw this at Allison's and I wanted one for myself...very badly! A tree from my grandkiddos handprints: Adam on the bottom, Grace in the middle, and Josh on the top.

I was very happy, as you can see.

Allison also gave us a portrait of those three sweet grandkiddos.

Different, but good. and then we went to church, which was totally awesome.

Again, talks were great, but the music just made my whole holiday, with all the busy times, lists, disappointments, exhaustion, etc. melt into goodness. A sweet young mother in our ward, Jesse Lindstrom, sang. The song was as if Mary was singing to her sweet baby, the Savior. I know the song. I have always loved the song. But somehow, when you are a mom, or even a grammy, and hold a sweet little one, and think of Mary, holding her sweet newborn, and singing, "...but you are a king...but tonight you are mine." Jesse has the voice of an angel, and as she sang, she was overcome with emotion, and had to stop, time and again. Those emotion filled pauses, though, were truly the sweetest things I experienced. Thank you, Jesse, for bringing Christmas to my heart.

A Break From Tradition

2011-12-25T20:11:00.000-07:00

After Nano's, I came home from Nano's house exhausted and depressed. Things didn't go the way Nano had originally wanted and planned, so I ran around that day and night trying to make it right. I came home to find the plans for Christmas morning were not going to be the way they always had been. I was downright depressed. Our Christmas has always been wonderful, though we have never spent a lot. I love filling the kids' stockings (all the kids and grandkids!) and I work ALL year long, picking up this and that...yes, my stocking drawer is already filling for next year. Anyway, as I saw it, no one for stockings. No one for monkeybread. And it's not that no one cared, it's just that they had other plans.

So, I just sat and played a game on facebook. Then, one by one, kids returned for bed. It was after midnight. I had already readied what I could ready. I was heading to bed. We sat and talked, and Nate asked if he could give Dad a gift.

Nate camped out in a dark Home Depot parking lot the day after Thanksgiving to get him this wonderful Ryobi drill and hammer drill with recharger. He purchased it with his plumber money.

Kayty shared her gifts with Dad.

Back Scratcher...freeing Mom of the resposibility.

Flashlights (Dee's Christmas wish this year: scissors, tape, and flashlights)

Kayty shared her gift with me.

I have always wanted a sock monkey of my own. She got me one that sings and dances.

Dad gave me the gift he had worked on (totally unnoticed by me).

LOVE the wrapping towel.

This is a rolling pin Dee made me from the limb of an olive tree that fell down at my grandmother's house. Now, he planned this long ago. I don't even remember the limb, and my grandmother, we called her Tutu, passed away years ago. It is awesome and has caps on the end that adjust for different dough thicknesses. I can hardly wait to use it! I had sugar cookie dough, and still do, in the fridge. It was one of those "not gonna happen this year" items that seemed to be what Christmas ended up to be.

Though Christmas morning was going to be different, it started out quite fine.

Christmas Eve At Nano's House

2011-12-24T20:50:00.000-07:00

Another year. Another Christmas Eve. Dinner: Dee's pulled pork, Ed's beans, Nano's dressing, Nano's macaroni salad, Cam's potato salad, Amber's meatballs, Jade's jello pinwheel dessert, and so many other yummy things I can't even remember.

Doran loves to tease Kayty...

She doesn't seem to be taking it well...but Mr. Happy doesn't give up easily!

After dinner, presents.

Jessica's Nano Blanket

Who knew a guy would be so happy about getting sudafed! It was a year long project for Nano. Once a month, she faithfully purchased some for our years' supply.

Missionary Christmas = White shirts and socks

Then, games.

Nate's Christmas Eve Breakfast

2011-12-24T20:44:00.000-07:00

This is Nate's last Christmas in the US...for two years, at least. So, he made breakfast for Jessica...and he gave her one of the gifts he bought...at the mall...with mom (mom+mall=YUCK)

As you can see, I don't just pick on Kayty. I am an equal opportunity embarrass er.

Mesa Arizona Temple Lights

2011-12-23T20:39:00.000-07:00

A group of us went to see the Temple Lights in Mesa. The group started rather large, and then shrank...it was cold. Very cold. It was crowded. Very, very crowded.

Doran, Amber, Kelsie (seeking her mitten...) Dad, and Cameo.

While beautiful, the crowd has convinced me to not visit for awhile.

Take a moment...

2011-12-20T10:43:00.000-07:00

My Son, The Plumber...and Perks of the Job

2011-12-18T20:21:00.000-07:00

My Christmas gift from my plumber son, is one I have wanted for a long long long time: a decent faucet in the kitchen. He has connections...and once it arrived here, he made the connections PLUS hooked up my dishwasher that the solar water heater guy disconnected years ago.

A Superb Uncle and Aunt

2011-12-18T19:52:00.000-07:00

Ethan and Cam went to Vegas, for Ethan's birthday celebration trip, and to visit the Wilkins. They are absolutely awesome. They took Christmas. They went to the snow. They are such fun!

This little girl has wanted this very Barbie doll her whole life...all five years of it. How did they know???

They went to Mt. Charleston...They had an awesome sled. Cam even loaned Adam one of her layers of shirts when he got wet and cold.

Uncle Ethan and Grace built this awesome snowman. They planned ahead for this, gathering just the right rocks, etc. and Grace chose the perfect carrot nose. I love the pine needle hair...simply stunning! All the BEST snowpeople are wearing theirs this way this season!

Uncle Ethan has the BEST electronic gadgets. AND he knows the BEST games to play!

Eye Makeup Testing

2011-12-18T19:43:00.000-07:00

Kayty would absolutely KILL me if she knew I was posting this, but, she never reads my blog. I am already in trouble...cuz she is visiting her sister in Las Vegas...and she left a messy room, so I "organizationally assisted" her, and dressed her "Jacob the werewolf" lifesize cutout in drag, complete with blonde wig, hot pink bathrobe and hoodie...but, I digress. I am typing this on January 3rd. I may be eliminated when she arrives here tomorrow. I take risks.

She made up this cute outfit, buying the dress at a Goodwill, adding a belt she has had for years, and shoes she just got and loves!!! (Can you believe those shoes...) She tried new eye makeup and wanted me to photograph it. I was too far...too close...and then took so many pics, she just posed. Little did she know......

Papa The Toymaker

2011-12-16T19:17:00.000-07:00

Allison and Mike asked us...months ago...if we might be able to create some Christmas gifts for the kids. I was so happy to be able to MAKE something for the kids. Alas, I put it in our "to do" file and didn't think again, till it was November. Dee was so awesome, though, and just absolutely jumped right in to the project. I neglected to take pictures of all the projects all the way through. You know me, I always underestimate, i.e. the time when I said, "Just put up some sticks and some plywood and make a patio roof", a project which I estimated to take July 4th only, and ended up taking weeks. Anyway, Dee made a Pinewood Derby Car Supply Box for Adam, just like the one Ethan had, and shared with all his brothers, a set of oak bunk beds for the doll Gracie had asked Santa for, and a rocking snail for Joshy. He created the whole plan for the snail, from looking at a picture. Nate chain sawed some dry mesquite logs we had picked up from a neighbor. The seat was olive wood that came the same way. It had ironwood eyes and antenna that Uncle Doran had cut in the desert from an old tree.

Body and Head: maple from our friend, John Calhoun. Base steps: oak, rockers: mesquite Nate rough cut and Dee hand planed

Morgan and Nate help put it together

Seat: olive from tree trunk that Nate sawed, Dee cut and shaped

Nate did the initial safety testing

Uncle Doran is the MOST expert painter, so he was nabbed to do the job.

The pictures truly do not do it justice. It was awesome. I cried...a lot...to see just how hard he worked. He is a machinist, and nothing, absolutely nothing, would be less than the very best, especially for his grandson.

The pinewood derby car box included polished axles and totally council legal wheels, and the doll bunk had blue flowered mattress covers and pillows, and blue and pink blankets (my only contribution).

They looked so wonderful under my tree, and I showed everyone just how awesome my gifted husband truly is!!!

Thank you so much, Papa. You are the papa I wish I had!

The Most Sought After Goodies of the Christmas Season

2011-12-13T19:11:00.000-07:00

Christmas means treats! And often, the first treat we receive is the treasured and totally anticipated "Meikle Goody Plate." Connor brings it to the door, and by the time the kids realize and I walk back in to the kitchen, I am nearly nabbed!

The most popular treat: the mini brownie with the pink frosting in the center... Thank goodness there were two on that plate this year!!!

Thank you, Meikles!!!

(The other most sought after treat is Joy Black's Coconut Bread...but Dee takes that .... ALL of that!)

Christmas Choir Concert

2011-12-12T19:05:00.001-07:00

It is so nice that Kayty is attending Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. It is a Christian based school, thus, a Christmas Choir concert is just that. Though the night was cold and very rainy, thus making it hard for all of us to attend, it was well worth it!

Handel's Messiah

2011-12-09T09:31:00.000-07:00

Last night was the performance of Handel's Messiah by Grand Canyon University combine choirs with 2 other community college choirs and numerous high school choirs. It was to be over 500 voices. AND it was accompanied by the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra. All I can say is: AWESOME.

I have learned that music touches my heart in a special way. I feel the Lord near when I hear music, whether it is the Stake Conference children's choir in LasVegas that Adam was able to be in, or this glorious group of aspiring, and true professionals. Last night was a tearful, spiritual treat for all...but especially ME!

I had to use Dee's camera...and I really tried to hold steady...but it was really cold!

If you go about 1/2 inch over from the left, toward the center of that side, you will see a bright pink dot...that is Kayty's head.

During the "Hallelujah Chorus"...it was totally awesome!!!

Standing ovation! And well deserved.

December Birthday Celebration

2011-12-04T08:42:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving, Family Christmas, and now December birthdays. Lots of fun in eleven days! Cameo came over and we made Ethan's favorite coconut pecan frosting for his Germann Chocolate Bunny birthday cake. It was fun working with her, and I think our efforts together made better frosting than either she nor I had ever made alone. Thank goodness we doubled the recipe. Some seemed to "disappear" from Cam's fridge while it was there for a few days until she could decorate.

We celebrated Joshy's 2nd birthday (blue puppy cupcakes), Ethan's 29th birthday, and Amber's 27th birthday (homemade peanut butter cheesecake.

Cameo decorated this totally awesome cake!

Here is the peanut butter cheesecake, some beautiful sugar cookies Amber and Kelsie baked and decorated, and the puppy dog cupcakes.

Cameo and Liz...lovely mom and daughter!

Kayty walked in from work with a gift bag and balloon bouquet for Ethan. The largest balloon sang, "Happy Birthday"...over...and over...and over...and over.

First, we celebrated Joshy's birthday. Nathan lit candles while Papa called Las Vegas to get him on the phone.

Singing Happy Birthday to Josh...Daddy said he was kind of confused. But, we are a very confusing bunch!

Hooray Uncle Nathan for getting those two candles out!

Next, we celebrated Amber's 27th birthday. (we went youngest to oldest)

Kelsie was a great candle blow out helper!

Finally, the oldest...Ethan will be 29 on the 13th.

Nano enjoyed a root beer float with homemade root beer and vanilla ice cream.

Such a nice picture of Cam and Morgan!

Card and present time...

From Kayty's birthday bag, Ethan picked these out...I am certain his employees would LOVE to see this picture!

Amber opens her cards and stuff...

I am officially partied out! Now, to wrap, package, mail, etc. the rest of the holiday...

Rice Family Annual Christmas Party: An Italian Christmas

2011-12-03T08:03:00.000-07:00

It was our turn to host the family Christmas party with Dee's sisters. I decided to celebrate EARLY...so we invited all to come to our house at 11 am on December 3. Of course, true to form, whenever we invite children to play on our lonely playground, it is either very hot, or very cold! This Phoenix Arizona Saturday proved to follow that format: it was cloudy and cool. However, the sun poked out, and kids are very brave...and jacketed. We invited family to bring cheese, and toppings. I made crusts, etc. and invited my mom to be my "kitchen slave" and we set out for a lot of great family, great food, and great fun!

I was soooo exhausted after cooking and cleaning up Thanksgiving that I just crashed that night. Bright and early Friday morning, instead of fighting crowds, I began fighting boxes out of the attic. I set up my nativities, but got wiped out and discouraged. Nate came to the rescue. I was in the attic, holding one box and ready to give up. He came out, and said, "Hand it down...and keep going." I handed box after box down. He hauled them to the area I indicated. (Seems that while he was hauling, Dee was reconsidering the size of my "hut" he is making for me in the back yard to store my stuff in.) Thus began hours and five days of decorating. I absolutely would not have done it if it weren't for Nate!. I this pic I have the table ready for pizza prep, plus the three dessert pizzas: sugar cookie, chocolate chip cookie, and brownie.

My birthday: July 4th. Thus, my patriotic tree graces the family room.

Kitchen

Living Room. Odd thing: those darned strings of LED Christmas lights must truly shrink while in our hot attic. Case in point: I added three strings last year to the lights I already had. This year, I needed to add six more!

I changed from a shorter tree to a taller one for Dee's hunting ornaments. It has been easier, both for all to enjoy, and for Beau's tail to not destroy!

Entryway

Yep...the Dept. 56 North Pole Village is back...I started this one on November 1. Added two more tables at the sides. I call them "Mormon Tables" because the bases are composed of four buckets of wheat, each.

Family visiting the playground, Dee's garden, and the new Grammy's Grape Gazebo. (Gracie, Papa is putting down rocks on the ground, and he has made us a table and four chairs for our tea parties!)

Andi, Eric, with Christoper and Gabe on the playground. It (the playground) was soooo happy!

Cameo, Marina, Ethan, Nathan, Dorrie, and Nate

Amber and Cameo dive in to create pizzas

Nate made an awesome pasta salad, and then started making pizzas. He was truly the king of pesto today!

Rachael dove in and created some great stuff, including a calzone!

The process: Dee rolls the dough, cornmeals the peal, and puts the crust on, so the decorators can go to work. Then, they take it out to the pizza oven. If it's hot enough, it takes on a few minutes. He brings the peal in, cuts the pizza, and slides it on the ready pizza pans. This time, we had TWO more peals, both handcrafted by Nathan! One is even made of mesquite.

Marina's hubby, Mike, had to be away on a flight (he works for Southwest Airlines) so she kept in touch via texting. He didn't get to miss anything, and Marina took home some pizza for him to enjoy when he returned.

It was such a wonderful blessing to have Marina with us. She has struggled recovering from the worse case of Whooping Cough her doctors have ever seen! Here, you would NEVER know! And Dorrie fell down some stairs, severely breaking her wrist. She graduated this past week from a cast to a removable splint. We are so thankful for doctors, medicine, and the blessing of just having these two here with us!

Amber is a newcomer to our pizza creating, but she and Cameo (already a pro!) did a fine job!

Jessica and Kelsie spend quality time on the swingset.

Doran dives in and makes another pizza.

Ethan was soooo kind! Dad usually spends all the time baking and eats cold pizza after all are full. He took over the oven and let Dad eat hot, yummy pizza, and to talk a bit. PLUS, Dee had worked all week on getting our own root beer keg set up. Doran and Nate fixed it so it worked great! So, we had yummy pizza, and tasty homemade root beer!

Dee and Jerry enjoy the warm fired pizza oven.

I caught Amber and Kelsie making the cutest faces!

Hmmm...must be something very important that Dee is sharing!

My mom was my kitchen slave for the party. She sliced tomatoes, olives, grated cheese...you name it, she did it...all for her own pizza! She ate a couple of pieces and took the rest home for dinner. Thanks Mom, for being an awesome slave.

Rice Family Goal 2011 3A

2011-12-01T09:09:00.000-07:00

We set goals the first week in January. One was to put all change in the pumpkin pig bank and then use the money at Christmas to help another person/family. We put all the change we could into it: laundry lady money, from the family room chair of dad's (a great spot), from the parking lot, even from Doran's apartment floor when we were cleaning it out. We ended up with almost 90 dollars! We are still deciding, but I have already started filling it for next year!

Funny...we even got these chocolate coins...Plus, a Canadian penny and dime, a rupee, and a peso.

Thanksgiving at the Rices

2011-11-24T14:06:00.000-07:00

Cam had put on an awesome Halloween party at her house, and was just beat, so we decided Thanksgiving could be here. It was LOTS of work...but everyone seemed to have fun.

Menu and Assignments

Turkey - roasted in pizza oven the night before by Dee and Suzzy.

Turkey - deep fried, courtesy of Ethan...it was so moist!!

Mashed potatoes - Suzzy I used mom's potato ricer and they came out so well. Gonna make them that way from now on!

Gravy - Suzzy It was okay, nothing spectacular

Sweet Potatoes - Suzzy Came out ok

Stuffing/Dressing - Nano's, of course, and it was great, as usual

Stovetop Stuffing - Suzzy ( It cooked up great, since I had never made it. However, right before we ate, when I went to warm it, the microwave oven started pouring out smoke, sending people running. Transformer blew in a 1.5 year old oven!)

Rolls - Dorrie, with right wrist in a cast, so Costco helped

Macaroni and Cheese - Cameo Nate's last Thanksgiving in the United States...what a great sendoff!

Green Beans with Almonds - Nano

Cauliflower and Cheese - Grandma

Cranberry/Marshmallow Salad - Mom...I went to get the quart of whipping cream out for Dee to whip, and my crazy fridge had frozen it solid. Dee went to the grocery store.

Sparkling Apple Juice - Jade...tasted soooo good!

Pumpkin Pie - Nate roasted the pumpkins, froze the filling, and then made two pies. Awesome.

Pumpkin Cheesecake - Doran and Amber...from the plate to the thighs. It was good.

Pecan Pie, Grandma and Costco.

It was fun...very, very exhausting...but tiring. Thankful...

Our squirrel friend found the dice. He just wanted to taste the dice!

Nate's after dinner butter sculpture activity. Not quite sure what it is...

Kayty must be looking for something...a roll, perhaps? Morgan seems irritated, but, since he is not looking right at Jessica, it appears she is safe.

Ethan and Nate peruse the ads till the line goes down.

I wasn't scolding Amber...really...I wasn't.

Pre-Thanksgiving Pizza Bake

2011-11-23T11:42:00.000-07:00

We decided to roast the two Thanksgiving turkeys the night before in the pizza oven, SO it had to be heated up...with pizzas.

If you look closely, you will notice that pesky squirrel nutcracker attempting to make his own pizza.

Nate comes in for the assist.

First Letter For Elder Rice from Korea

2011-11-22T11:39:00.000-07:00

Here is the first letter for Nate, from his new mission president. Lots of info that really pertains to his area. He must have shoes that slip on...and off...for Koreans wear no shoes indoors. Other info about clothing, heat, etc. Awesome.

Animal Invasion

2011-11-21T11:32:00.000-07:00

Dee works from home. He has meetings...lots of meetings...requiring no vacuuming or loud holiday music. I am a pretty good "co-worker". I have learned to walk in the door without talking until I check. I now know that when he yells at a printer...or a Blackberry (a frequent occurrence)...or a spreadsheet...I just ignore. He wants no help. I just keep any potential smashing weaponry away. Sometimes...he steps away...and then, I am a naughty, naughty "co-worker".

We Drove A Squirrel Nuts!

2011-11-12T11:25:00.000-07:00

I found this squirrel nutcracker, brand new, for a buck at a yard sale. It was to sit quietly on our Fall table through Thanksgiving. Apparently, however, one family birthday celebration, and Ethan sneaking the camera away, drove this poor thing to drink!

Evidently, he first attempted to sneak some of the chicken we had just roasted in the pizza oven.

No one could help...which seemed to drive him nutty!

So he went for the bottle of almond extract...

Sneakin' Solo Snapshots

2011-11-08T11:25:00.000-07:00

Kayty invited me to her solo presentation at Grand Canyon University tonight. It was held in the Baptist church on the school property, the only venue large enough for the choir practices, etc. It is small, but intimate, so the audience is right there, and the performers can see...and hear...everything. She forbid me to take any photos. But...it was her first performance...at a university...so, as she sat behind me, I tested the camera on other singers and pianists. I kept it close to my chest. She knew nothing as it was her turn...and I quietly, secretly snapped away. She looked awesome. She sang like an angel. Mission accomplished.

November Birthday Celebration

2011-11-06T11:09:00.000-07:00

Mike and Grace made a quick trip to Arizona for Mike's brother's wedding. I was having far too much fun playing with Grace to take even one stinkin' picture...even of her stitched head from a teeter totter topple with her cousins. She never let any ol' cut get in her way. I hurriedly made a matching birthday cake for Mike to take to Allison so we could sing to her at our celebration. Cake got there. However, Daylight Savings Time, or the end thereof, interfered. We were singing while they were returning the rental car. Oh, well...we meant well!

We celebrated Wade's birthday with a song and a delicious pineapple upside down cake that Liz made. (Cam and Jade couldn't stop talking about how wonderful the house smelled.)

Then we sang to Allison. It sounded great Allison, I promise. It was a key lime bundt cake...from the tons and tons and tons of key limes off of our tree. Amber's daughter, Kelsie, couldn't resist those candles...though there weren't 30, Allison...we promise. She was an awesome help!

A Trick and A Great Treat

2011-10-31T10:41:00.001-07:00

For Halloween, we had decided to hand out candy at Ethan and Cameo's house, since NO ONE ever comes to our house. We had it all planned. Then, Nathan walked in the front door from his plumbing job. We were eating Chili in a Pumpkin. He had mail, but no large white envelope from Salt Lake City...aka Mission Call. We continued eating, and then, he pulled something out of his coat. Yep, you got it...THE envelope. Jessica came over right away, but Nate had decided to open it at Ethan and Cam's, since Doran and Amber would be there, and we could phone the others that were working/living away. Time went by ... Nate and Jessica dressed as nerd twins...we waited and handed out candy, both theirs and ours...Cam came home from work...we waited...handed out candy...ate candy. Finally, with Ethan working waaaay late, we decided 8:00 pm would be the hour. Those ten minutes crawled by...literally. We used the phones we had, knowing that Morgan was just finishing up with horses, we called Allison in Vegas, Kayty at Party City, and Ethan on his way home from work...almost all there. He opened the large envelope and read a letter from President Thomas S. Monson, calling him to serve...in the South Korea Daejeon Mission! Total. Surprise. Mom's guess: Ohio Nate's only request: not Texas...still haven't figured that one out. He reports to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah on February 22, 2012. He will learn Korean there, for three months and is scheduled to arrive in Daejeon in early May.

Elder Rice and his big white envelope

Nate and Jessica were Geek Twins for Halloween and went trick or treating in Ethan and Cameo's neighborhood while we waited for them to arrive home from their jobs.

Tracker, as a Cowboy Football Player, Suzzy, Nate and Jessica, Lexi as a Cheerleader, and Cameo as a nurse wait...

We called Morgan and then Grandma and Nano. Nate is so very excited. Now for the accumulation of white shirts, suits, shoes, etc. to last him two years.

Funny thing. He is truly not a fan of rice. (the only Rice boy that has that distaste). In Daejeon...lots and lots of rice for Elder Rice.

Pictures and Memories

2011-10-30T11:15:00.000-07:00

You can either be a photographer, or have fun, at least, it works that way for me. I had not seen my grandkiddos (that's what we decided they should be called now, since none of them are truly babies) in months. I asked if I could come up to see their primary program. I begged Dee to let me go, and he rented me a car (a cute red Mazda 6...I looked adorable driving it, but, again, you either have fun or take pics...and I had fun driving that car!) I drove, by myself, constantly saying in my mind, "I can do hard things", though, in that car, it wasn't very hard. Four and a half hours seemed easy, compared to the 10 hours we drove a couple of weeks ago. Here is my four days, in fun memories, and in pictures.

First,the arrival. I drove up to their apartment and parked. I surprised Allison, because she wasn't expecting me in a cute red car, I am just sure! I walked up to sweet Joshy, riding his bike. He clammed up, though Allison assured me he had been talking about Grammy earlier. It didn't take long for that sweet stare to turn to a slight grin. He showed me the "spookies" as he called them (Halloween decorations) on a nearby apartment. No pic, but oh, so cute when the corners of his mouth turn up.

Their apartment, adorable, as usual. Paperplate ghosts hanging from the ceiling. Halloween decorations, lights in the window. Their home, though small for five people, just oozed Halloween! It is amazing what she does in a few months: bedrooms switched, which was an awesome idea. Joshy gave me the tour. Mike brought Adam and Grace home from school and I greeted the happiest kindergartener who was having the best day ever. Grace finds every day the best day ever! Oh, how wonderful the world would be if we all saw it through the eyes of happy, sweet Grace! She had five green squares on her calendar, so she got to pick a surprise. Her's: a pair of glasses with yellow bloodshot bulging eyes. What a treasure. She also received a medal for being super. Adam was so grown up. I swear, he grows six inches every time I see him. He's a mature 3rd grader, but still gives a great hug!!!

That night, Grammy got to babysit. Of course NO PICS. I am a responsible babysitter. We watched "Phineus and Ferb", just two shows. We had pizza for dinner. We talked. We read. I even got them bathed...Love it when a sweet almost two year old finds such joy in jumping and landing with a huge splash. Wet Grammy was icing on the cake for him. I even had their teeth brushed (quite a production: "Upper left: 1 2 3 4 5 6..." (Apparently, I was supposed to go to 10" ) AND sleeping when Allison and Mike got home from an awesome Bellagio Hotel Fall display! (That is a miracle. I am responsible, but rarely do I abide bed time rules!)

Saturday morning was Primary Program practice at the church. I was in charge of Joshy. Too. Fun. We hugged soft stuffed kitties. We walked outside around the building. We put stickers on Grammy, and the bench. We walked outside around the building. We pulled cushions off the foyer couch and made a train to push on the floor. We walked outside around the building. He threw rocks in the trickle of water in the gutter. We walked outside around the building. We turned the lights on and off and on and off. We walked outside around the building. I fear for them today, when they go to church. Grammy has done some BIG corrupting.

Afternoon, they worked on Halloween projects they didn't have time for during the week. I watched, and took pictures.

We ate a snack. Then they dressed up in their totally awesome costumes. It was too warm for Joshy to be Clifford, the Big Red Dog, but Gracie was "Emily Elizabeth" his owner...and Allison put together this whole costume with Thrift Shopping, some dye, and lots of great creativity. Adam was beneficiary of this creative Mom and sewing skills too as he became "Ash".

Adam and Grace saved their allowance and used it to purchase tickets. Here, Adam bowls.

Gracie used some of her many tickets for this petting zoo. She tried to feed the lamb , goat, and rabbit, but they were sooooo full from many "feeders".

Joshy was thrilled, as long as the animals made NO eye contact .

Joshy got this black balloon. I swear, that boy LOVED that balloon. It lasted the whole time I was there.

Each went in the "bouncy spider house" but my flash was more on the netting than on the kiddos.

Joshy won some fruit snacks, and was very adamant that he eat some.

Adam and his friends visit the fortune teller. One boy was so excited to find out he would someday be a pirate. Adam is going to be a hotel owner, and Gracie will have her own pet shop someday.

Here is what Gracie won at her cake walk. She even sent one cookie home for Aunt Kayty...so sweet. AND she gave me a ticket to go on my first cake walk!

Adam won these, which we ended up decorating the next night...pics to follow.

Grilled Cheese Sandwich dinner, baths, toothbrushing (the ten count was discovered when Mommy did it correctly) scripture reading, stories, and bed...though when Grammy is there, Mommy and Daddy are so understanding!

Sunday, few pics, again. I was living and having a Gracie "best day ever". Highlights: watching Adam and Grace say their parts in the Primary Program: Hooray Gracie for saying "created" instead of "made". And Adam's talk about his baptism and choosing to listen to the Holy Ghost: superb, watching them sing and sign, "If I Listen With My Heart", watching them sing with every ounce of conviction in their souls, "Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah! Jesus annointed that prophet and seer. Blessed to open the last Dispensation. Kings shall extol him and nations revere. Hail to the prophet ascended to heaven. Traitor and tyrants now fight him in vain. Mingling with gods he can plan for his brethren. Death cannot conquer the hero again." Tears. Streaming. (I still have that memory: cute blonde curly hair with pink and orange striped sweater. Spiked hair, light blue polo shirt. Four brilliant bright eyes. Fervent singing. Never to forget.) Allison's talk, since she is the President of primary, summing all up...in her loving, leading, and absolutely perfect way. Joshy entertaining the rows behind us, trying to throw his socks. Daddy is soooo fast on the reaction. We only lost the Jesus picture ring into the lap of the sweet couple behind us. Me helping "Nana" with the nursery class Joshy is in. Oh, that sweet wonderful woman who LOVES to be called to serve in the nursery. After playing with toys, snacks of fishy crackers, mandarin oranges, pineapple, string cheese, and water, they clean up, and she has class. Typically, a lesson in nursery is a quick 5 or 10 minute lesson, with a coloring activity to follow. It is nice. But this sweet wonderful lady puts a lace tablecloth on the table, vases of streamer sticks and big stuffed flowers. The kids help. They read a scripture, "Jesus said, Love One Another". Joshy took his star and climbed on a chair to magnet it to the board while we all sang, "I am like a star shining brightly, shining for the whole world to see. I can do and say happy things each day, for I know Heavenly Father loves me!" tears now. tears then. Those six angels each took their turn, praised for saying the prayer, for reading the scripture, for holding a picture, and we sang the song for each and every one. They looked at the picture of Jesus washing the disciples feet. They washed each others feet. (Josh wasn't too sure about Isaac washing his feet, though) They swang the streamers to music. They held their blossoms. That lesson lasted 30 minutes. They knew Jesus loved them and wanted them to love one another. 15 months to three years. In that room, Nana and her daughter helped them know Jesus loves them. Nana, I know Heavenly Father was smiling then, as I am sure he does every week when He sees that nursery. A bit of heaven. Home after church, they created their holders for the traditional "dinner in a pumpkin"

Joshy is not a fan of Grammy photography when he first wakes up.

Sweet Grace ready for church.

Scraping out the sugar pumpkins to ready for dinner.

Off to Stake Conference Childrens choir practice for Adam. Again, Grammy is losing what little makeup she had left on when, on the left side of the choir loft, about the third row up, a sweet angelic boy in a blue shirt sang,

"If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do?
Would I think of His commandments and try harder to be true?
Would I follow His example? Would I live more righteously,
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would I say the things I say?
Would my words be true and kind if He were never far away?
Would I try to share the gospel? Would I speak more reverently
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would my thoughts be clean and pure?
Would His presence give me strength and hope, and courage to endure?
Would His counsel guide my actions? Would I choose more worthily
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

He is always near me, though I do not see Him there
And because He loves me dearly, I am in His watchful care
So I'll be the kind of person that I know I'd like to be
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me. "

We returned home to yummy, awesome "dinner in a pumpkin"and cookie decorating.

Gracie made our pumpkin dinner more "jack o lanterny"

We read scriptures, made blanket burritos, and went to bed, though Joshy took a bit to stay in his bed...he is quite the athlete when it comes to climbing out of bed, plus, Grammy did her share of riling him up with burrito blanket play, and more ball rolling/bouncing.

Monday morning: breakfast, Adam to school, playing with Gracie, digging with Joshy,

Gracie with her birthday scooter.

Only Grammy lets her granddaughter jump in puddles in her jammies while on a walk.

Joshy loves to stand on his porch and throw the basketball out in the parking lot and then bring it back. This boy LOVES balls!!!

Gracie wrote "Grammy" on the sidewalk in chalk. Then, she invented a game, or scavenger hunt, with chalk drawings, that we played over and over.

and finally home.

My "Grammy Battery" was recharged, and I keep remembering: funny stories, sitting on the couch on a Sunday afternoon and reading book after book, sitting on the kitchen floor and throwing balls at the cupboard door so they bounce back, learning about the millions of lego people, snuggling close, vacuuming oreo ice cream sandwiches off the primary rug (second in nastiness only to popcorn!...who knew something soooo yummy could be soooo messy), my first cake walk, making peanut butter and honey sandwiches, singing, laughing, driving with two monkeys in my back seat (I swear I heard a jungle back there, but I only saw two sweet children. odd???) Thank you Mike and Allison, for your wonderful, welcome home, and for your patient and loving way. No worries to be had here. Your home is a heavenly training ground!

Deer Hunt

2011-10-28T10:33:00.001-07:00

While I was traveling to Vegas, Dee and Nate had their own adventure: a deer hunt. This was one of the years' goals for them. Nate was waiting for his LDS church mission call, and, once called, you can leave at any time. So the headed up to the ranch owned by Cameo's Aunt Bobbie and uncle. They got some shots off the first day. They stayed the night, hunted again, returned home for Sunday and work for a few days, and then headed back to try again. Seems the deer became very smart...and outsmarted the hunters. They did have an awesome time, though, and that's what's the BEST part of any trip.

Thistle Spider Tutorial

2011-10-07T13:44:00.000-07:00

I do not at all take credit for this idea. I saw it, last year, on another blog. I looked for thistles as I saw in Arizona. No luck. My hubby left for a business trip to Ohio ON Halloween. When he came back, he brought me four such thistles. So excited. Too late for Halloween 2010, but they faithfully sat on a shelf over my workbench, in the coffee cups from the Hampton Inn, waiting for this year. He took some seeds that spilled out and even attempted to garden these thistles. Nope. They knew it was Arizona and would not grow. So, I was going to use those four, and try to be happy. Kind and wonderful guy that he is, he was even going to use a free flight he had, fly back to Ohio, and bring me a suitcase full. That was the plan.

We went for a church conference in Utah. We were touring the sites, and decided to go to Antelope Island. On the way, on the corner of Antelope Road, and whatever (don't remember) there were four vacant fields. My sweet son noticed something. "Mom...aren't those your spider thistles?" Eureka! They were. We pulled over, got out, and started to pick. Hubby then told us they were stickery, and he had hurt his fingers trying the get the four he brought me last year. Ain't he the sweetest guy ever??? So, instead of continuing the pain, we drove a block to a WalMart, got scissors, and returned to cut...and cut...till the scissors broke. Two bags full. Plenty. So, here are my instructions, but they are, as I said, not originally mine. I did it my way, after I saw the awesome arachnids.

Ain't they stinkin' cute!

Materials list:
Thistle pods...they came in many sizes...and all turn out awesome
Black spray paint...This stuff is the cheapo WalMart 97cent a can stuff. One can painted 14, and part of another 10
Fuzzy Sticks...Got these at WalMart too...for 97 cents...though I was looking for pipe cleaners. I learned that "pipe cleaners" are no longer the politically correct name. So, fuzzy sticks it is.
Wiggle Eyes... Got a package at Dollar Tree for a buck. I used the smallest, and they might be a little large for your taste, but I liked them.
Glue...I am not a total fan of hot glue (it always peels off) so I wanted Tacky Glue, but someone in my household evidently wanted it more. All I had was Elmers Wood Glue. That worked.

First, paint. These little buggers soak up paint, with each side, front, back, nooks and crannies. I let a coat dry, and then turned them to another vantage point. I did try for total coverage, but there are lots of nooks and crannies. I did like it, though, when some of the "faces" had lighter and darker tints. Also, the first batch, I trimmed the stem portion quite a bit, so there would be no "nose". Last batch, I changed my mind. The varying snout lengths give them a sort of cuteness.

The last one is only painted on one side...

Next comes the assembly. I put two dots of glue on the face, and added the two eyes.

Then, I cut the fuzzy sticks. Now, this is another place you can vary your look. I cut each stick into three pieces...cheap me. But, with some of my bigger pods, I should have done half. Anyway, after dipping the fuzzy stick tip in glue, shove into the body at a location that resembles one of a real spider, about 2/3 of the total distance on the side. I made eight legs for each. I then let them dry overnight in this upright position.

In the morning, after checking for dryness, I bent the leg at a good location and made them stand on their own. I also spread the legs out a bit, so they would be nearly even, front to back.

That's it.

Now, who could resist this???

P.S.
Allison, you will receive a kit, with pods already painted and the elements to put these guys together,in the mail, so add it to your schedule...though remember, they are kind of pokey, and littlest angel may very well empty another toothpaste tube onto the bathroom floor while you are otherwise occupied..

LDS General Conference Trip to Salt Lake City. Sept 30 to Oct 2, 2011

2011-10-07T10:16:00.000-07:00

We had requested conference tickets from our local church leaders months ago. We waited. We called. We waited. We finally gave up. Doran and Kayty were scheduled to work. Then, on Tuesday, we were called, letting us know we did indeed get tickets. (they are free, but much desired, so they are rare)We picked up the tickets Wednesday, reserved a rental car (our cars certainly would not make it there and back), and left early Thursday morning. We arrived in Riverton, Utah ten hours later and stayed with wonderful Rollin, Sharynn and their fantabulous 7 of 8 children (brother in law, sister, and kiddos...one is serving a church mission in South Carolina). It was a wonderful trip and we so enjoyed all the conference talks. Great fun, great learning, and great memories.

Nate used my camera to "capture the true elements of our trip". Here, dad is snacking on a potato chip...a snack that I DID NOT procure for him. He was unsatisfied with his pumpkin seeds, roasted peanuts, apples, banana, etc and went for Nate's "trip crap" of chips, pretzels, brownies, and Nutty bars.

Self Portrait

Self "foot" portrait

Dee has a very hard time...a very, very hard time...passing by a rock shop. I stayed in the car. Nate purchased some lovely amethyst gifts for Jessica. I observed many "fossils" leaving the shop, canes and walkers in tote.

Apparently, this is a reflection foot portrait. I have no class as I have no appreciation for this type of photography.

This is the ONLY picture we took of anything that remotely resembled or was tied to my sister and her hubby and family. I Am A Pig. They provided awesome beds, warm showers, and love and fun. Too many "bests" to mention, but I won't ever forget my sweet nephew, Ben...scored a goal, just for Aunt Suzzy, at his soccer game...and then, when the group went out for shakes, he brought me back his...with my very own spoon...to taste his. It was strawberry. It was awesome. Especially with a dark eyed four year old, full of life and excitement, with a big smile from ear to ear, eager to share and make someone else happy. But, I bet Benny does that all the time!

Our tour of the LDS Church history museum. They really did like it...honest!

Dee by a handcart used by the pioneers. Can you imagine? All your belongings carried in this. I don't think my stuff for this weekend would have fit in this.

Dee by the Brigham Young exhibit. I have always felt Dee and Brigham had so much in common. They both have a "tell it like it is" manner. They both are craftsmen, and love to work in wood, etc. Both have great visions. He is Brigham, except for the 29 wives...

On Temple Square by the Tabernacle.

The Salt Lake Temple. Awesome. Always.

This is a model in the Visitors Center that shows all that is in the temple. I have been in the lower rooms, but I never even knew of the upper meeting room. It is even more beautiful inside.

This is the look of a mother who has been trying to reach her daughter in Phoenix to wake her up...and she won't answer the phone. She finally did!

Inside the Beehive House (residence of Brigham Young and family)

View from the observation deck of the Church Office Building. We had to go through metal detectors and be escorted up. I guess there have been successful jumps with parachutes, even just back in April of this year.

By the Salt Lake Temple Doors. Lots of brides are pictured here. Notice I am in a long sleeved shirt. It was soooo warm that I was dying! I thought Utah was cool. Not this weekend. 88 degrees.

My photographer son captures some random house.

At the Church Office Building, the guide told us about Antelope Island, and Nate wanted to go. It was further than she had indicated, but we finally got to the right road. As we drove, Nate saw the thistles I had seen last year in a Halloween craft, and Dad had brought me four from Ohio. We had to run to a WalMart to get scissors, and we broke them after two bags, but now have PLENTY of thistles for spiders.

Antelope Island

Bison live on Antelope Island.

Of course, Dee LOVED the rocks of Antelope Island.

Every time I had an awesome picture of him, he would bend over to pick up another rock. Not. My. Fault.

Stinky flowers of Antelope Island. (they are the yellow...not the person in red!)

It was our first time to actually touch the Great Salt Lake. I took pics of Nate like he was a two year old. First Step. First Splash.

First Skipping of Rock.

First walk up to ankle...and above ankle...and back to shore...

Nate amuses himself as we drive with a pretzel chain creation.

As we visit Dad's friend, Angelo, who was home from Saudi Arabia ONLY this weekend, Nate tastes a crab apple. Funny, he looks the same way when he eats my cooking. Hmmmmmm......

Jeff Smith, his wife Mardene, and his granddaughter. This is the guy that taught my hubby about the church when he was 18 years old. Gave us the world. Gave us eternity. Thank you Jeff!

In line early Saturday morning at the Conference Center.

They open the doors an hour ahead of start time, and we were able to be at the rehearsal of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Awesome. I have always wanted to be a member of this choir. I was in heaven.

Dad pictured at the edge of the balcony we were sitting in. Yep, a balcony. Yep, the "totally terrified of heights" girl held on and endured.

I am sitting back...as far as I can...in that seat.

Years ago, we had all the kids...and seats on the floor level...and we witnessed a broadcast of "Music and The Spoken Word" before a Sunday Morning Conference session. I remember it being quiet, looking to my left, and seeing every single one of my six children, head back in the seat, mouth open, asleep. I didn't complain. They were quiet. That was a miracle.

After morning Conference, we headed up to Little Cottonwood Canyon (Alta and Snowbird Ski Resorts) to see Fall. The colors on the mountain were all of my favorites. This picture doesn't do nature justice.

The builders of the Salt Lake Temple retrieved the granite for the temple from this very canyon. I informed Dee that Adam had a prayer rock from this canyon, but Grace and Joshy did not. Nate went down to a creek and got dad a river rock of granite. Dad got more. Hopefully, they will turn in to two prayer rocks.

The guys had tickets to Priesthood Session of General Conference, which is for the men ages 12 and up. It was wasteful to take me all the way back to Sharynn's, so I walked around, shopped at Deseret Book Ladies' Night, and just sat, and read. Nothing better in the world that sitting, reading your new Relief Society History book, with the Salt Lake Temple to your right, a bunch of Tongan elders getting pictures taken in front of you, the Tabernacle to your left, and off a little distant, the Visitors' Center, with the Christus statue illuminated in evening light.

Meanwhile, this is what Priesthood Session looks like. Note the floor level...all black /blue/brown/grey suit coats or white shirts.

Sunday Morning Session of Conference. We attended choir practice, Music and the Spoken Word broadcast. I sang with them, and pretended.

Rest Hymn. Again, in the balcony. I am pushed back in my seat. Far.

Nate had to get home for work Monday. So, we left out the side door, got to our car very quickly in the parking garage below the Church Office Building, got on the freeway, and arrived home 10 hours later. The only Fall Nate witnessed, and the coolest weather on the entire trip, was in Flagstaff Arizona...50 degrees. He had the audacity to say, "Wow. Fall. All we needed to do was to come here." My "seat" still holds a grudge...

Arizona Best Fest Prescott, Arizona September 2011

2011-10-07T09:10:00.000-07:00

Morgan, like Allison, is always finding out the best free local events. In February, 2012, Arizona will celebrate its Centennial, so there are various celebratory events all over the state. On a warm September Friday evening, Morgan encouraged Nate and Jessica to go with him (and transport him) to this great event. They had lots of fun, ate yummy stuff, and really enjoyed themselves.

Nate and Jessica with the Arizona Cardinal

They meet Smokey the Bear. See how very impressed Nate is...

Morgan seems more impressed!

Morgan with Arizona's Copper Chopper

Jessica with the Arizona Diamondback's First World Series Trophy. Hopefully, this year we will add another one. Go D-Backs!

Not sure about the Asian with my sons.

Nate has a dream to raise Alpacas. He is the Alpacanator! He has obviously made a new friend.

Field Quality Engineer/Casting Engineer Trip to Long Beach, California

2011-09-21T13:41:00.001-07:00

Dee has a new job. He LOVES it. He works from home. He visits local suppliers. We learned, late last Friday, that he gets to handle casting emergencies. That evening, he was told to put in for trip approval to Aerotech. Dee didn't know anything about the problem, or where the problem was. Monday, he was in meetings on the phone all day. Tuesday, he flew to Long Beach. He worked till late in the day. He was able to drive the 20 mile...almost an hour in California traffic...drive to the Newport Beach Temple and attend a session there. He worked on Wednesday with Aerotech. He flew home late that day. He is so smart, and awesome...and now he has a job where he can shine. Love. It.

Upon arrival at the Long Beach airport, he takes a quick pic, gets his rental car, and heads off to the plant.

He is a casting engineer. The green ones are wax models of the parts. They create molds where molten metal can be poured in to form an aerospace part. It is quite complicated. You don't just pour it like you would pour a pillar candle. The metal is guided, or docked, to get it where it needs to be so it will cool and be strong and hard, not stretched and spongy. It's quite a complicated thing.

This is a mold...to make THAT part I showed you.

All these have Dee's gorgeous hand in them...

Newport Beach Temple

Dee ready to enter the Newport Beach Temple.

The company that x-rays the parts to make sure they cooled properly.

X-rays of the part

Ethan Rice: Abstract Photographer

2011-09-18T13:56:00.000-07:00

Frequently, or, in fact, every time, we get together, Ethan gets my camera, and records the "not so common" sites at our family gatherings. He is the Andy Warhol of the family, I guess. Here is some of his work.

Nate with the gun he purchased with high school graduation gift money ....that he has YET to send thank you notes for...bad, bad Nate!

Ethan's "attractive" leg, complete with golfing sunburn and slippers.

Dental Floss

Ceiling Fan in Family Room

Morgan sleeping

Dad talking on back porch.

A can of Smart and Final pizza sauce

Almost half a pizza

Morgan sleeping...still

Nate's eye

Ahhh, Morgan awake...and eating pizza

Cell phone in chair

Photographers wife appearing disgusted...and rightly so!

Beau looking, well...stupid...and rightly so!

Nate hanging from the ceiling

Exclusive pic of Nate's abdomen. It is a very exclusive site, and, when he has done something to irritate a parent, which is often, he offers you, "wanna rub my tummy?" ugh

Self portrait

At our house...NEVER a dull moment!

Attempt at Family Picture

2011-09-18T13:31:00.000-07:00

I am always looking for Christmas card ops. One vacation, I took picture, after picture, after picture, of all six kids, hoping one would come out. Now, my kids are grown, and busy, and strewn between Las Vegas and Phoenix. I take every chance I can...for now, there are collage prints. Our friend, Bob, took this one. The best one, though, only had half of Cameo. We will keep trying....

Notice the demonic miniature cat...with flashing eyes...by Ethan's left hand. Perhaps THAT is where Kayty is looking! And I notice Nate is not looking where HE should be. When the kiddos were little, and Kayty and Nate were very little, we would always tell the big ones, "Look at the camera all of the time. Then, when the little ones look at the camera, all will be ready." Evidently, the little ones STILL cannot look at the camera. Kudos to the big kids, though...and to Jessica, who happens to be the youngest one here...next to the demonic cat.

Goodbye, Old Friend...

2011-09-15T13:12:00.000-07:00

Years ago, we had a real problem. We had six children, four of them boys...with huge feet. We had a station wagon, but that really became obsolete as their feet grew. We searched for a mini van. I remember going to Bell Ford to seek an 8 passenger vehicle. They only had 7 passenger vehicles. The salesperson asked, "Well...do you ALL go to church or something that you ALL have to go together?" She. Was. Serious. What the heck? And, pray-tell, which child do you suggest I leave at home while the rest of the family heads out??? We ended up not being able to go anywhere that was not a short trip. Then, a dear friend, Brett Larson, told us about the touring company he worked for..."Open Road Tours". They operated 15 passenger vans, running long distance tours to the Grand Canyon. Their vehicles were meticulously maintained, and they got rid of them after they reached 100,000 miles. He told us they sold them, to regular people, with children whose feet did not fit in a regular vehicle.

We bought one. It was lovely. It was blue inside. It had bench seats in the rear for Allison and Kayty to set up camp. It had shorter bench seats that gave boys room...for feet, and stuff. It had a single seat, right by the door, that EVERYONE fought to sit in. It was beautiful. We treasured it...and Brett...It opened up a whole world to us. We drove to the Grand Canyon. We drove to Yosemite. We visited Aunt Bonnie. Ethan golfed a golf ball across the borders of Arizona, Utah, Montana, Idaho. We camped at Big Sur. We visited Monterey Aquarium. We saw Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park. We saw the Grand Tetons. We visited temples in Utah. We visited Sharynn, Rollin, and the rest of the Moore Cousins. In that beautiful, wonderful, treasured van, we didn't have to leave anyone at home. We even got another one, tan interior, but it didn't have that valuable single seat. I drove the tan one, but I really wanted to drive the blue one. Dee got that one.

Then one day, a young teen didn't see where she was, and hit it. It was totalled. We were crushed. It sat in the yard. For years. Dee bought an old panel truck body, and removed the engine and transmission from that van, to use in his. It sat there. For years. Last week, Morgan listed it on Craigslist for us. Someone wanted it, and came right over.

Sad Dad

Sadly, we lost our dear Brett a few years ago, to cancer. We will never, ever forget him. His gift of merely telling us this van was available made it possible for our family to share smores and smiles. We saw many things, and discovered that Highway 1 in California was impassable in a van this size north of San Francisco, and thus discovered China Camp...a campground in San Francisco...who would have thought. It even makes me chuckle now. When I see and experience my kids, now as adults, all getting along with each other, I remember those drives home from a trip, where I instructed them to go to the far sides of their respective benches, and to not touch each other...at all...ever.

Goodbye, dear friend!

Mom's Cinnamon Rolls

2011-09-06T14:01:00.000-07:00

1/2 c. warm water
1 Tablespoon sugar
2 Tablespoons yeast
1/2 c. butter, melted
2 eggs
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. warm milk
5 1/2 c. bread flour (I use bread flour for my pizza crusts so I buy a 20 pound sack at Costco. You could use whole wheat flour, but make sure to add 1 teaspoon gluten for each cup of flour.)

butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon
brown and white sugar

Icing:
butter
vanilla
milk
powdered sugar

Put water and sugar in bowl of mixer fitted with dough hook or Bosch mixer. Sprinkle yeast on top. Let sit for 5 minutes to activate. Mix in 1/2 c. sugar, butter, eggs and salt into yeast mixture. Then, add warm milk. Add 5 cups flour, 1 cup at a time. Knead in mixer five to ten minutes, adding flour as needed, until dough is no longer sticky. Place in a large bowl sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Cover and let rise in warm place one hour, until doubled in size.

Punch down risen dough and separate into two somewhat equal pieces (I have a scale, so I weigh mine.)Roll dough into a rectangle approximately 10 inches by 15 inches. Mix the cinnamon into the melted/softenend butter and spread over dough. Sprinkle with sugars. Rolld dough. Using a clean piece of dental floss, cut the roll into 12 somewhat equal rolls and place in greased 9 x 13 pan.
Repeat with remaining dough. Place both pans in warm place and let rise till double.

Place single pan in oven and bake at 350 degrees for 18 minutes.
For the icing, melt approx 2 Tablespoons butter. Add 1 tsp vanilla and 2 Tablespoons milk. Sift powdered sugar into mixture and stir well. I just made it till it looked good. The first time, it was too thick. The second time, I did it just right and it made a thin coat of icing when they were cool.
Spread icing on rolls while warm

National Cheese Pizza Day...and Labor DayCam

2011-09-05T12:59:00.000-07:00

The most difficult thing about pizza night is that Dad is making pizzas...over and over...and rarely gets to eat any till it's cold, and everyone is done. Cameo has become quite expert at preparation, and has helped make pizzas on many occasions. And now, her dad, Wade, has become an expert pizza baker! We just love having the Wallins join us for pizza, for birthdays...I am so glad they tolerate our crazy family!!!

Wade Wallin: Pizza chef!!!

Cameo helped Ethan with a pizza with lots of yummy toppings, including green chilies. The difficult thing about including green chilis is that you really never know just how hot they are. These, it turned out, were very hot...very, very hot. I don't think Cam could even finish her piece.

Elder Cecil and Elder Beeston joined our fun. Barb brought the cheese, the toppings, and red vines for dessert.

A happy man! He got to enjoy a piece while it was hot!

Liz was no slouch in the pizza prep department either. They had better watch out or we will have them "come for pizza" and do it all!

Not sure what Nate is doing with this pizza...he appears to be heading for the laundry room rather than for the pizza oven outside...

Happy National Cheese Pizza Day!...though I think we only had ONE cheese pizza.

September Birthdays

2011-09-04T12:15:00.002-07:00

Our immediate family only remembers a birthday for sweet Charles Doran Rice, born...and died...on September 25th. He is with Heavenly Father, and I know he sees us, and what we do, and loves our smiles and fun. So, while we did not celebrate Charles, we did have cake...made by Grandma...and sang to Aunt Susan over the phone.

Liz and Jade work on a puzzle.

Doran seems a bit guilty over hogging the chips and salsa, while sweet Nano just sits by and smiles. She looks hungry for some chips and salsa, doesn't she?

These ladies seem very intent on completing this. Only Jade saw that something was amiss...
Upon completion, something was missing...one piece. Something was a bit fishy, and four boys appeared very guilty in appearance.
A search of all parties ensued. Finally, THIS turned up...

Yep...one of the Rice boys took the last piece. Nathan looked totally innocent to me, but he was the apparent guilty party.

Grandma had made three cakes: a strawberry cake, a bisquick based cake that Susan really likes, and ...

a Fruit Cocktail cake that Grandma Rice used to make.

Dad has quite a few machinist friends out of work. He has been helping them locate work, so he spent some time on the phone helping them.

The ladies play some Uno

It seems evident that only red Now and Laters are tasty... Not sure why...

To keep the men happy, electronic devices must be permitted at all family events...that, or remote controlled ones!

Flagstaff Trip

2011-09-03T12:37:00.000-07:00

Morgan needed a backpack picked up that he had left in Flagstaff. Phoenix was continuing the record of the hottest summer ever. So, Dee and I got in the car and drove up to the cool weather. We retrieved the backpack, dropped off some homemade cookies and jam to Nate's friend, Guard, at NAU, at at a Chinese buffet, and then set out on the road to Snow Bowl.

When the kids were younger, we used to camp along this road. It was rather primitive, but there were other campers. It was fun to take a walk every day and to find quite large pieces of obsidian (Apache Tears) along the road. Once we were on the path walking when a Northern Arizona summer rain hit. We started hiking back but soon became drenched. A kind pickup truck came by and drove us to our site. It seems, though, there weren't as many obsidian available. (In fact, I found this handful in one location...all for my grandbabies!) Plus, the kids really don't have much of a memory of camping there, so maybe it was longer ago than I had recalled.

We drove all the way up to the lodge and ski lifts at Snow Bowl. We could have ridden, but I am not a real fan of heights...at all...so we just started back.

We found this need pull off/parking lot with a few trails, so we took a small hike. The weather was cool and moist. The clouds were covering the sky, but only brought intermittent raindrops.

Note to self: NEVER let anyone take a picture of you blowing out anything...EVER!

Tradition

2011-09-01T12:08:00.000-07:00

September first is opening day of dove season. Always. Never changes. Doran Rice, Sr. was born on September first. Kind of fitting for the beginning of this tradition that has spanned from father to son to grandson. This year, the un-tradition was...the record breaking heat. Typically, the weather in August is very warm, but is broken up with monsoon rains that serve to cool some of the days. This year, we had 30 days over 100 degrees, and 17 over 110 degrees! This also means that the nights are forever...and hot. I run, very early. I have awoken, very very early, and it isn't unusual for it to be 99 degrees..in the dark.

So, I didn't think they would even go on September 1st. Boy was I wrong! So, no hot cinnamon rolls were ready when Dad and Nate left...Ethan and Doran had to work. I hurried my task...the cinnamon rolls... while they were gone.

Beau, our dog, love to hunt. In fact, he hopped right in to the wrong jeep. He sat in the back. He refused to move. Dad and Nate loaded Dad's jeep. Finally, Beau realized that he would not get to hunt if he did not get out of one, and in to the other.

Birds were few. Dad had to get to a meeting in Tempe. Nate hunted on. He returned home...to hot cinnamon rolls. (I was saved.)

They tried again on Saturday. Ethan came. Beau was just as excited. In fact, once they located a legal hunting area (Phoenix Police had to guide them), he ran head on into a barbed wire fence...and didn't notice. He gets very focused when it comes to birds...and bread!

Still, it was a great time for those who like to hunt, and like hunting birds - no matter what the weather, to get together. For those who like to eat birds...well, not so much.