Flaming Gorge

Yesterday was the maiden voyage this year for our boat, because 1...Tony hasn't been here much and 2...it has rained almost every day here, except the last 3 or so.  Gracie has been wanting to go boating and poor TJ in his cast...he wants to go but also wants to get in the water.  Ummmm, how's that gonna work?  Well, Tony or I held his cast up while the rest of him went into the water.  Then when he got out, we wrapped a towel around his cast, so it didn't get wet while touching the rest of him.  Still not as fun as jumping off the boat, as Gracie was doing, but better than nothing.  Grandpa Glenn, Kim and Julene went with us.  We had a lot of fun.  It was a nice day and just barely overcast, most of the day, so the sun didn't beat down on us quite as much.  Grandpa even wore his captains hat.

We cruised for a bit and then Tony & Gracie got out on the tube.  And I apparently turned to much and gave to much slack to the rope and snapped it.  Way to go me!  Always something.  So, I took the broken span out and then Gracie & I went out.  Gracie giggled the whole time....except when we were screaming.

After we were done with that, we cruised and checked out the scenery for a few hours.  We came upon a nest of osprey, on a rock island.  3 babies were inside, calling for their mama. 

 

We also saw some big horn sheep....with little horns.  LOL

 

TJ was trusted to take the helm...twice.  He thought that was pretty neat, to drive a boat.  He did a pretty good job, only making my heart jump out of my chest twice.  LOL

 

 

Here are some shots of everyone else enjoying the ride.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Mexico woes Lightning and Broken Bones

Most of you know, Tony has gone to work in New Mexico twice now.  The first time was for 2 weeks.  This last time was for 4 weeks.  Tony and I do a lot together, so it's no fun when he is gone.  But we survived.  We don't know at this time if he will have to go back or not.  While he was gone, he would send picture texts to us.  And we would send them back.  Here he is at work:

It got as hot as 114 degrees while he was down there.  While back at home, it has rained almost every day/night.  The wind was so intense, it took my large BBQ off the deck and threw it about 10 feet away from my deck, on it's top of course.  It took my weed barrier we had been installing, which was still in a huge heavy roll, and blew it back to the barb wire fence at the back of our yard and then across the street another day.  I finally cut it off and stuck it in the garage, with the help of my neighbor. 

During one such storm, our house was struck by lightning.   TJ called me at about noon.  He said that his bathroom was filled with smoke and there was black stuff in his sink and he saw sparks.  The lights wouldn't turn on.  He said it sounded like a sonic boom.  I told them to get out of the house, in case it was on fire.  Of course it was pouring outside.  So, once they decided it was safe, they stayed in the garage, until I got there.

The light in my kids bathroom blew up.  Literally.  It was all black and there were chunks all over the bathroom.  Interestingly enough, the light bulb didn't break at all.  My sound system is toast.  My toaster no longer works.  Both my satellite receivers wouldn't work.  And worst of all...the a/c wouldn't work.  AHHHHH!  I called my electrician and he sent 2 guys over to check things out.  5 breakers were tripped.  They dismantled the light so it would work with the other 2 lights for now.  Then checked everything else out.  Then I had to call someone to fix the a/c.  It took a few days, but I finally got someone who could come before the weekend.  It actually ended up being the control board in the furnace.  $615 later, we had a/c.  Ouch!  But we need a/c!!!  lol  It was a bit scary and a bit exciting, but we got through it.

Then, on July 9th, TJ was playing with a friend.  They wanted to ride bikes to get a treat.  TJ's bike has a popped tire.  So he borrowed his friends other bike.  They went to the golf course to get an ice cream, since it is fairly close.  Soon, I received a call from TJ, with him screaming on the other end.  Can you feel my heart failure?!?!  I grabbed my keys and ran.  I told him he had to calm down and tell me where he was.  So he tried his best.  They had decided to ride back down the back 9 of the golf course.  There is a steep hill, no matter which way they chose to come home.  Unfortunately, TJ got going down the hill and found that the bike didn't have any brakes.  He hit some large rocks and flipped and rolled around, landing on the asphalt.  He broke his left arm in the process. Luckily his friend stayed calm and told him that they needed to get him home.  He asked TJ if he had his phone, and I am SO glad that he did.  That monthly fee is totally worth it.

So I got to where they were and his friend showed me how to get to him.  I got TJ into my Jeep and headed back up the hill to get the bike....not knowing what has happened, at this point.  I got on the bike to take it down to the Jeep, only to discover, there were no brakes.  So, I had to jump off and fall to the ground...with the bike not quite out from under me yet.  OUCH!  I didn't brake anything, but I was bruised and scratched so good I ached for 2 days.  I can  only imagine how TJ felt.

We got to the ER and they got us back there pretty fast.  Gracie came with me and we tried to keep TJ calm and help him breathe through the pain.  He had a hard time but he was a tough kid.  He kept begging to just be put to sleep.  He asked me what was going to happen.  Well, I've never broken a bone, so I had no clue.  he wanted his dad.  So, I called Tony and he talked with TJ

 

After we got home:

That all happened on Saturday. That temporary cast itched TJ like crazy.  He would almost cry sometimes because it itched so bad.  We tried to get them the best we could without affecting the bones. Thursday we had to go see the orthopedic surgeon.  He did some more x-rays to make sure the bones hadn't moved in the last week.

And then it was time for the hard cast.  He chose bright orange!

He doesn't want anyone to sign it, because I don't think he wants it "messy".  But I'm not sure.  He just says he doesn't want to.  lol  That's fine.  Looks mostly clean and nice this way.  With the hard cast on, he is getting to where he can do more and more.  Him and the friend that was with him have played a lot since them.  He even brought him some brownies.  TJ's primary teachers brought him a gigantic coloring book of posters, markers and huge Hershey's bar.  He is mostly back to himself, with a few limitations.  I'm am so thankful it wasn't worse and that he had that cell phone.

We have had quite the adventures.  Tony was scheduled to come home on Wednesday the 20th.  I was counting the days!  On the Saturday before, TJ had a friend over and we went and bought some small fireworks.  TJ was excited to set them off that night.  The friend, Cadence, however had to leave to go to a cousin's birthday party.  TJ thought he might come back, but I didn't.  So at 9:15 we went outside to light the fireworks.  TJ enjoyed that.  We went back and watched TV.  At 9:45 there was a knock at the door.  I said, "Oh if that is Cadence he is going to feel bad we already did the fireworks."  TJ got up and looked at the door, which has a large window.  He said, "I don't think that's Cadence....IT'S DAD!!!"  What?!?!  YAY!  Tony surprised us, arriving home Saturday night, rather than Wednesday.  What a surprise.  We are so glad to have him back home!

Yellowstone

We took a little vacation last month.  We drove up through Cody Wyoming and went to the Buffalo Bill Museum.  Then we headed West to Yellowstone.  We drove over to see Old Faithful and then headed down through Jackson Hole and back toward home.  Here is TJ at one of our gas stops, trying on a coon hat and riding the "pony".  LOL

 This is where the wagon trail split.  One direction headed to Oregon and one headed to California.  You can still see the wagon tracks, which I think is kind of interesting.

We stopped at a ghost town on our way to Cody.  Miner's Delight was it's name.  It was fun to see all the old buildings and guess at what they were used for.

 Here is Gracie with the local cowboy, at one of our stops for food.  He was a little stiff.

While in Jackson Hole, we ate at the Gun Barrel Restaurant.  Great Steaks and such.  Their drinks come with little rifle stirrers.  TJ thought they were pretty cool.....and I took them home to put in the scrapbooks.  That's me for ya.

The Buffalo Bill Museum was HUGE!  There is a whole wing with nothing but guns.  They dated back into the 1800's.  They were cool, but after so many we started to glaze over.  We walked through the entire thing though.  There were some cool animal mounts along the way.  There was a wing that was all Buffalo Bill.  Old clothes and items he used to own.  By the time we got through those 2, it was time to leave.

As we entered Yellowstone, we discovered that the little patch of snow in Miner's Delight was nothing!  The snow at the summit was still so deep it was as high as our truck in some areas.  It was crazy.  We saw the normal buffalo but we got to see some big horn sheep.  We went through the park and stopped at Old Faithful.  As you exit the south entrance, you are met with the amazing Grand Tetons.  What a sight!  As we entered Jackson Hole, we were met by a Moose.  He just stood by the road side, behind a fence....looking bored, while people took pictures (us included).  Many got way too close, obviously not aware of just how strong and fast a moose can be.

We had a great time.  It was nice to not have to worry about normal stuff, and just enjoy the scenery.

The New Peterbilt

We got a new Peterbilt for our business.  There have been so many times Tony has needed a sleeper.  So we traded the old one in and bit the bullet.  He has used the sleeper many times so far.  He says it's not the most comfortable thing in the world, but it's way better than leaning over a steering wheel.  Tony picked out the colors, red on top and grey fenders.  And then he hired a guy to add the pin striping and his logo and such.  It turned out really nice.

 These next two pictures were taken on his way down to New Mexico the first time.

Easter 2011

The Easter Bunny came to our house again this year.  He brought lots of candy and fun presents.  He also visited Kasi's house, and so all the kids had to go up there to help her find the eggs.  He went crazy up there!  The kids had a lot of fun dying eggs and coloring them and painting them.  Lots of options now...not just boring dye.  lol