I'M DREAMING OF A WHITE VALENTINE'S DAY!

Dave and I took a long weekend and went to visit his sister in Alton, Utah. It's inland from Brian Head and Zion National Parks. They live at 10,000 feet and more power to them! We had to park our Jeep down in town. We parked it next to the church, in front of the school bus garage. Leslee called the Bishop to tell him it belongs to us and everyone at church seemed to know it was my car. Since they didn't have school on Monday, we left it there and didn't worry about it. I wondered if it was piled under snow, but it's a little bit lower elevation and survived. You need 4 wheel drive and snow tires to get to Leslee's house. Impossible without all the right stuff! It was beautiful and quite the experience. I would never consider living in those conditions with a young family!!!!!!!!!!!
It was hard enough parking the Jeep, unloading our stuff into their Yukon, getting to their house, unloading it and trying to get it to the front door down the long walkway from the car. We had a blast snowmobiling, once again, the youngest child is almost 11. She can dress herself, determine when she needs a potty break, and walk around. Dave was waist deep in snow when he got stuck in powder with the snowmobile! So I've tried to send a few pictures...one is the front door and one of their Kitties. Leslee threw him in a snow mound so we could watch him try to get out! One is of the play area/walkway between the main house and the guest house. We didn't use the bathroom in the big house. It was all shut down for the winter. We had to run through this area to get to Leslee's guest house and use the potty there. TALK ABOUT FREEZING COLD, BUT BETTER BECAUSE WE DIDN'T END UP IN AN OUTHOUSE OUTSIDE! There is a view from their deck, the mountains are PINK! I've put in some pictures from Zion National Park. Gorgeous and the pictures don't do it justice. We left just in time. It rained all the way home. We had snow flurries between state line and Haleron Summit! We made it over the Cajon Pass and we were home at 10:00 p.m. If we'd waited until today, we'd be snowed in at Leslee's. She called me this morning to say she couldn't get out to take the girls to the bus stop. Someone in their ward picked them up while he was trying to snowplow their area. Like I said, quite an adventure living there. We're excited to plan a SUMMER trip. They have a fishing lake and the meadows will all be green instead of white! It's a nice drive and 2 national parks are close by. Much more fun for the little ones, and big ones too! We'd like to plan a week and everyone can come and have a great vacation. Not as far as Island Park!!!!!!!!!!
So we'll have to look at our calendars and see when we can make it happen! Enjoy the pictures.

THE HOUSE IS DONE AND I'M GOING ON A CRUISE TO RELAX!

Don't look too close...

I forgot to say there is one more coat of white to put on. I'm waiting until the carpet is done, then I can fix up any scuff marks or whatever clumsy guys do to things while working! Also the flash makes the stain really shiny, but it's not that obvious in person. Other than that, it is what it is!

President Uchtdorf said to be creative!!!

I have these in reverse order... But you get the idea! The top stairs were my guinea pigs. I have it down to a system now. I'm getting close to finishing the bottom section. The handrails and posts are a darker color now. Not the yellowy oak. I had to paint the base step white. That wood didn't want to take the stain and remained yellow on my guinea pig stairs. But I think it will look really rich and classic with the new carpeting. I have until Wednesday to finish! I think I'll be okay. As long as I don't get sick. Dave and Tyler had had colds. I'm washing my hands alot. Plus they have tons of stain and paint on them. The germs don't stand a chance!!!!!!!!!!!!
Guess I really took Pres. Uchtdorf's talk overboard??? I couldn't find anyone interested in doing the job. So, it had to be done and I'm probably doing a better job anyway. I know I'm saving tons of money, it's very time consuming. I'll send a "all done" picture after next week. Oh, I even sanded and stained my dad's picture he painted for me. It's Stonehenge. Now it can go back in it's place and the light oak frame won't scream out that I was too tired and lazy to fix it!

I forgot to mention the neatest thing about the reunions....

All of these guys have known eachother since "Rossmor" was developed. They have been in Primary, Young men, and have left on missions together. LITERALLY!!! Dave, Gary, and Steve all flew on the same plane to the MTC! They always meet, punch eachother, laugh, and everything else crazy guys that grew up together should do. But their fondest memory is greeting eachother like Alma and the sons of Mosiah! They returned from their missions with honor and are all married in the temple and active in the church. This helps them to keep going and look forward to checking in with each other every five years!

My fourth folder only had one picture in it. I went to the fifth folder and went to #4. This is it!
This is from 5 years ago when all of Dad's childhood friends turned 50!!! They were all together when they turned 40. They decided to get together for their 50th Birthdays and invite the wives this time! We met in Carlsbad and spent a frantic, crazy, hilarious weekend. I'll introduce everyone starting with the left:

Gary Oddou and Jane. It was their house. He's really quiet but quirky! He's the guy that has only spoken French to his children and dog! They have a vacation home in France.

Steve Baldwin and Judy. They live in Corona and I've become good friends with Judy lately. He owns a pizza place in Long Beach. We had our last reunion, Aug. 22nd, at their home. The guys are all now turning 55! Steve's the guy I asked for a ride to Institute when Dave thought he needed to date some other people....Steve turned me down because he couldn't be seen with "Dave's girl!" I wasn't happy...I had to wait for him to come back to me and it's been 33 years!

David Greer and Susan. They live in Provo. Susan is sitting on the couch and doesn't seem too impressed with the 6 stooges! They are a hoot and there was nothing funnier than David singing the Chuck Barry song during our Keroake time....He sang "My ding-a-ling!" We were laughing so hard, we all felt sick! They couldn't join us for this last reunion. We really missed them! Their oldest son David married his wife on His and her birthdays, 7-7-07.

Tony Goodall and Sue. They live in Austin, Texas. Tony is a crazy guy! Sue is very talkative, more than me! They always have interesting stories about their kids. Their 19 year has gone a little off the deep end. She got a tatoo on her back. I asked what it was of and you won't believe this......

A typewriter! Guess she loves typewriters but has never owned or used one!??? Guess there could be worse things to have on your back....

Kent Williams and Kelly. They live in Tucson. Kent was the best man at our Wedding. They weren't able to come to the last reunion. We missed them and the Greer's so much. I'd say we're closest to them. We missed them so much, we're going to see them Nov. 16-20!

Last but not least, David Bills and Janine. We have tons of fun with everyone and just laugh!

Don't you love the party hats! We're all trying to go on a cruise together. Judy Baldwin doesn't want to go, she gets sick. We're just going to drug her and bring her along. She can be our "Weekend at Bernie's" prop!!!

Hope you enjoyed meeting our friends! I'll have to download the pictures from the most recent reunion. I'm not sure how to download the CD and get pictures from it. Someone will have to tell me how to do that...

Found this in the paper this morning. Heather will love it!!!