This was our adventure last night. We (Matt, Colett, the kids and I) went to Downtown SLC and met up with Amy, Emerson and Wayne to participate in the Utah Arts Festival. We have done it for a few years now and always have a good time. We get a little culture, a little "wicked food" like homemade French fries and sausages and get a chance to experience artistic ideas and listen to new bands. The kids have fun and I usually get a little somethin, somethin ....but not this year. I just didn't find anything I HAD to have. (Lucky for Wayne's wallet)

Colett and Wayne...I edited myself out because I looked like Miss Piggy but fatter
so I am grateful for photo programs.

A couple of photos of the festival

All the tents are the artists selling their wares

There was a man at the festival that had rigged cables going from where he was to the top of the library. I don't know how he did it, but he wore leather gloves and stroked the cables to make music that sounded like a giant cello. It was amazing!!!!

Amy came but Wes had to work today. That's the life of a fireman.

Who is the happiest to be at the Art's Festival??

Emerson wins!

Matt and Colett took Millie and Isabelle to get their faces painted

and bought them princess headdresses.

By the water wall

Nick hitches a ride

Something I did many times

Something I could never do

Nicky Doodle-Head by the fountain.

The festival was held by the new Salt Lake City Library. There are wonderful statues, water features, and venues for concerts in several areas and there were lots of tents set up with

vendors selling their art. The food booths were very busy as was the beer garden . It was 90 degrees yesterday but the shade from the library kept it pleasant. The only thing we missed were the acrobats and jugglers. WHERE WERE THEY???

Amy wants to know who the band is so she can get their CD.

We tried to get Nick to go dance for a free CD but he was too shy.

The entertainment didn't stop with the concert in front of us. Behind our seats was a gal doing the hula hoop. I only got a picture of her with one hoop but she could twirl two of them up and down her body and did it for over half an hour without missing.

Before the night ended, we sat in on a jazz band from Chicago. An old man got up and started dancing around the whole arena. He was working the crowd and having a great time. I was not the only one taking pictures. I think he may be homeless because his clothes were badly torn, but he had on nice new dancing shoes. I love to people watch and in this case, it was no exception.

This is the way we all felt at the end of the night.

Emerson had the right idea. Until next year....

This is Toby's signature smile
Caroline (Kee)

The birthday kids

I have a little lady in my life that I love. She is barely 5 feet tall, full of spit and vinegar and has a heart of gold. She would, and does, help anyone who asks her to do anything. I'm trying to teach her the word "NO" but so far she is not very good at it. She married my son 15 years ago, came down from Alaska to live with us (she was alone) brought my first grandson with her and waited for Shon to join her. What a huge adjustment she must have had. She rarely got back to Alaska and has made Montana her home. She has given me 4 beautiful grandchildren. She teaches them correct principles , she loves my son unconditionally, and I think she even loves Wayne and me a lot too. I am so proud of the woman she has become and consider her my daughter and one of my best friends. Happy Birthday Kee. One of the grandchildren she gave us was also born on her birthday. Toby is 8 and was baptised on Sunday. What a doll he is. He is one of those children that was born with a happy soul. When he was tiny, he smiled 24/7 and loved everyone. He is a fun little guy that always has a giggle to share. He always has a hug for you and will hold your hand any time. We love you Toby William and Happy Birthday to you too.

The season has ended

Nick was on a soccor team again this year and his coach was none other than his Dad, Matt

I can't even imagine being a coach. I have seen so many mouthy parents, kids that won't try or ones that try too hard to get all the play time and glory. I give Matt a pat on the back for coaching several years in a row. Nick sometimes feels that his Dad is too hard on him, but it makes him work harder and he has turned into a good little soccor player. These are pictures of the last game of the season. Up until the last two games they were undefeated. It was hard on Nick to lose the last two as you can see on the expression on his face. He played hard and we were glad we got to see him play.

Heads up Nick

There is a lot of hustle in that boy!

Two handsome and brilliant fathers!

A Father's Day Tribute

To my husband

Wayne

and my father

David
My husband is my best friend. He has always had the ability to make me laugh...a lot! He has never once resented being the breadwinner in our family and has always worked extremely hard to assure that we had all our needs and wants met. He is a wonderful father and grandfather and nothing is more important to him than his family. He can do almost anything that he tries to do and if he doesn't know how, he figures it out. He works too hard sometimes, and I try to get him to slow down but it's not in his nature. He keeps our yard looking amazing and seldom do you see a weed anywhere. He is a marvelous cook and has whipped up many innovative recipes. I cooked for the first 15 years of our life together, then he took over and now his yummy Sunday meals are shared with our daughters and families each week. He is a good golfer, loves fishing in the Big Horn mountains, and loves college basketball which is why he got me a computer..... so I would have something to do while goes down into Wayne's World and watches it every night until March madness is over and he emerges. He has the respect of all his family members including me and his little dog is crazy about him. We have been married almost 39 years and I can't imagine life without him. You are my world Wayne! Happy Father's Day!

I often think about how hard Dad worked for his family when I was a young girl. He was a brick layer/mason...not just that but a brick artist. His eye for detail was great as was his perfectionism in his work. I remember that when I was a young girl he would have to go out of town on jobs and when he returned, he would bring us kids little gifts. It let us know that he had been thinking of us. I know there were days when it was so hot, it must have been like working in a furnace or so cold that he could hardly move his hands. There were many times when he couldn't work at all because of the harshness of the weather. It must have been stressful at times, not knowing when the next pay check would come. He finally had to stop because he developed bursitis and it became too painful.

Dad later got the job as the postmaster in Cowley, WY. This was a real change. He now had security, benefits and an opportunity to see and talk to everyone in the town. It was a real blessing to Mom and Dad but eventually it got tough at times trying to adhere to the government's red tape and bureaucratic headaches and he was relieved when he finally had his time in and could retire. Now he could relax right??? No, did you ever see his gardens? Was he trying to feed the US army? Mom had to finally put the kibosh to it or it would have covered their whole lot. They did share their bounty with all the neighbors and family members though.

Dad was called to be the patriarch in their stake and a sealer in the Billings, Mt temple. He is a very spiritual person, a loving man who cares deeply for his family and he has never been afraid of hard work. He is also a talented artist, poet, story teller, speaker and handyman. He used to tell us stories when I was a child that entralled me completely. I wanted him to tell us stories every night. The Taily Pole was my favorite and I don't even know how you spell that??? Thanks for everything Dad, I love you......Happy Father's Day!

Friday the 13th has typically been a good day at our house. Wayne landed a big commission on Friday the 13th and...... it's always on a Friday, so time for the fun weekend. This is the first day this year that the weather will be beautiful (77 degrees) so YEA for Friday the 13th this time around. Let's hope the luck holds. Below is info about why it's usually considered bad luck.

Both Friday and the number 13 were once closely associated with capital punishment. In British tradition, Friday was the conventional day for public hangings, and there were supposedly 13 steps leading up to the noose.

Numerologists consider 12 a "complete" number. There are 12 months in a year, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 tribes of Israel, and 12 apostles of Jesus. In exceeding 12 by 1, 13's association with bad luck has to do with just being a little beyond completeness.

The fear of the number 13 is so great that more than 80 percent of high-rises lack a 13th floor, many airports skip the 13th gate, several cities do not have a 13th Street or a 13th Avenue, and hospitals and hotels regularly have no room number 13.

Our Latest Trip to Boise, Idaho

Wayne looking down into the reservoir.

The famous Boise chicken....well maybe not famous, but well known....well maybe not well known but of interest to us.

Wayne and I started out our married life together in Boise Idaho. We loved it there because it had a gazillion maple and fruit trees, wonderful parks and museums, skiing just a few miles north and swimming just 10 minutes from downtown. A river runs right through the town and there are bike and hiking paths that run everywhere. The air is clear...no industrial pollution, and the downtown has been redone with shopping, museums, and lots of restaurants. It's clean, diverse, and a fun place to be. So why am I not still there ??? I don't know, except it was a 13 hour drive to see our parents and when it was hot in the summer, it was REALLY hot...... lots of days in the 100's. We met some great people that we will remember forever, but we had an even greater life in Montana and now in Utah. We went back two weeks ago for one of Wayne's business trips and drove to the places we used to haunt. It was a fun look back. We lived by a little restaurant that had a giant chicken on top and 37 years later, it's still there. See, you can go home. We have had an inside joke about it for all these years so I just had to take a picture.

There are subdivisions that have the most incedible landscaping I have ever seen. Almost every subdivision in the newer Eagle area is breathtakingly beautiful.

This is a crazy tree growing by this house. I don't even know what it is, but I loved seeing all the different vegetation everywhere.

Lucky Peak Reservoir is the place we used to go to swim and soak up the rays. I stood in front of the dam this time and it was so loud that I couldn't even hear myself talk. Much quieter behind the dam, but this is fun to watch.

Almost every home we went to in the newer areas around Eagle had some type of water feature.

At Relief Society last night the theme was "My Favorite Things". They gave us a questionaire to fill out although I could have filled out 20 of them. Wayne always says "you sure love lots of things"and it's true. I don't remember all the questions, but I will try to remember most of them. Maybe those who know me won't be surprised but then again, maybe they will.

Favorite singers: John Gary,Johnny Mathis, and Michael Buble'.... especially when he sings "I Want to Go Home"
Favorite Celebrity: I'm not really too enamored by celebrities but I would say Meryl Streep (such a good actress)
Favorite Sport: Golf...used to love to play but can't now with my bum leg
Favorite Songs: Somewhere Over the Rainbow...my headstone should read "She's Gone Over the Rainbow", Because I Have been Given Much, What a Wonderful World, and When you Wish Upon a Star
Favorite Animal: All animals but especially dogs and I love cows for all the things they give us and sacrifice for us....milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, meat, leather
Favorite Color: Red with green a close second
Favorite Season: Fall...the smells (gingerbread, tomato juice, applesauce, pumpkin pie) the colors of gold, green, red and orange, garden produce, the farmer's markets, the cooler weather, bazaars, the beginning of the holidays, and the end of yard work, although I love that too.
Favorite foods: Mom's potato salad, rib steak, crab legs, halibut, burgers, mint chocolate chip ice cream, pig rinds, eggs cooked any way, Life cereal, Grandma Sycamore's bread, fideo from Cafe Rio, quesadillas, salad, creme brulee and potatoes cooked any way.
Favorite Desserts: Cheesecake and creme brulee
Favorite Snack: Snapea Crisps..I can only find them at World Market (they are like green Cheetos but made from peas)...sounds weird but taste great, dark chocolate and Bing candy bars
Favorite Movies: South Pacific, all the Harry Potter movies, Sense and Sensibility, Die Hard (quite the variety huh?)
Favorite TV shows: American Idol, anything on HGTV, 20/20
Favorite Books: The Robe, The Count of Monte Cristo, Book of Mormon, Ann of Green Gables, Jane Eyre and many more
Favorite vacations: Disneyworld/Epcot/Animal Kingdom and the tour of the original 13 colonies
Favorite Flowers: Gerbera Daisy, peony, rose...basically all flowers
Favorite Activities: surfing the Net, scrapbooking, singing, playing piano, shopping with my daughters, reading, painting, sewing, needlework, and decorating my house
Favorite websites: ETSY.com, pandora.com., my family's blogs, Cowley Wy website
Favorite car: Honda
Favorite Quote: Some people, no matter how old they get, never lose their beauty - they merely move it from their faces to their hearts.
Favorite Scripture: O be Wise; Can I say more?
Favorite gift to give: Books
Favorite gift to get: soap and books and pj's
Favorite thing about myself: positive outlook and ability to be very grateful for my blessings by knowing where they come from
Favorite person of influence: Mom...example of unconditional love, charity, hard work, and spiritual strength
Favorite things to collect: Santa figurines, hatpins, children's pop-up books
Favorite date: out to eat and then to an art museum
Favorite inventions: computer, Prilosec medicine, eyelash curler, telephone, scissors, emery board, light bulb, digital camera
Favorite Stores: Costco, Dear Lizzie, Robert's Crafts
Favorite Holiday: Christmas...hands down
Favorite thing to complain about: the weather ( I like it between 68 and 76)

As I had mentioned earlier, I am an animal lover. That goes for birds too. I have a feeder for my (yes they are MY) finches, juncos and sparrows. They will come and eat and then sing me a beautiful song when they are done. I also have two hummingbird feeders. The little guy in the picture has taken possession of them both and when other hummers come to feed, he fights them off. He will sit on the back of the deck chair and look back and forth, back and forth.... keeping an eye out for intruders. He will let the little female feed though, so she must be his wife. I am hoping to see baby ones before the summer is over, but I never have seen any before. I got some commercial food that has dye in it (supposedly non-toxic) and it attracts them, but they prefer the plain old sugar syrup that I make. One is pretty tame and flies right up in front of my face, very close to my eyes, and I'm not altogether sure that he won't attack me sometime if I get too close to the feeder. One year Wayne and Amy were actually able to touch and hold one. We have a new male this year that really is a hummer. He is very loud and you can hear him from a long way off. I spend way too much time just watching them.