Deedo's Pet Frog

 

Well right now you should be hearing a croaking frog.

Obviously, you can't.  I wish you could.  It would give this

 post character.

 

About three weeks ago we started hearing a frog in

the Woolley's back yard.  They have this beautiful back

yard with a pond and water fall.  It sounds like

this babbling brook.  We can hear it here from our house.

So we thought they had added another back yard

element......sound effect of a croaking frog.

 

Not so......a frog had encroached upon their property.

And he began to sing....and he hasn't stopped.  It doesn't

bother us really.  Like I said we thought they had

deliberately added Mr. Frog.

 

They have tried to find him but, of course, he

shuts up when they get anywhere near him.

 

What is amazing to me is how long he has kept

it up.  Night and day for weeks.  He hasn't gotten

horse or shown any signs of giving up.

 

We did notice one thing.  The Woolleys were gone

for a couple of days last week and it was quiet

over the fence.  They are back now and the serenade

has returned.

 

I do wish you could hear him.

 

 

 

 

 

You might want to sit down.

David and I hold on to things.  "If it isn't broken we

don't need to replace it."  I can watch the same TV program

as anyone else on my old TV.

 

It was about ten years ago that we went to a volleyball

tournament in Payson and between a game we bought

an entertainment center and a TV.  All new and everything.

Time goes by fast.  I was still loving my TV and entertainment

center.

 

There have been subtle and not so subtle hints that

we really ought to try a new TV.  One big hint

was David's Young Men's Organization.  He wanted

them to come over and watch a movie for an

activity one time and they politely declined.

The one that did us in was this past family gathering

when the kids had to hold the Wii wires that

went in the front of the TV because they were loose

and you couldn't watch Netflix unless you did.

 

Jeremiah and Heidi jumped at the chance to

go to Wal-Mart and make me follow through

when I said I was going to go get one.

I was so glad they went with us.  I had idea what

was out there in the TV world.  We came home with

a "Smart TV".  Who knew? 

Thanks Heidi and Jeremiah!

 

And it needed a credenza.  Got that the next day.

Then the room needed a redo.  Thank you, Heidi.

 

And Thank you, Saint Vincent, for sending your

angels to haul away my old TV and Entertainment center.

(We went to St. Vinnie's the next morning to just

see what price they put on them.  The TV was gone

and the entertainment center only had a sold sign on it.)

 

This TV weighed a ton! Won't miss it.

 

This I will miss.  I still love the mission style stuff.

 



 

I couldn't find a before picture.

But here we are....ready for that movie, Young Men.

Children Are An Heritage Of The Lord

 

I read this quote by former General Relief Society President, Julie Beck.

(She watched some of her grandchildren for a while.)

"When I finally would get into bed at night, I would say to my husband, “I think I’m going to die! Every bone and muscle in my body hurts. How do they do this?” And then someone would wake up in the night and need something, and I didn’t get my sleep that I needed. And always it was just feeding, feeding people! I learned that my mothering skills were a little out of date. My grandmother skills were okay, but I had to go into the mode of being a mother and I was a little out of practice. And that meant when we needed disciplining, and stopping crying, and things like that going on, I prayed a lot. I couldn’t remember what I used to do in the olden days. And I thought the Holy Ghost is supposed to bring all things to our remembrance, and so maybe I’ll remember. So I kind of meshed the mothering role with the grand mothering role, and in times of great stress I just fed a lot of cold cereal!"

 

Makes me laugh because this is so true. 

 

 I have thought about this post long before my family came home to visit.  Of course, I knew I would put a lot of pictures of my very loved grandchildren and all the things we did.  But I also realized that there are a few people besides my family who read my blog.  So I need to post a disclaimer:  I look forward to our gathering(s) but I also get worn out.

I can get grouchy and go and hide for a few minutes every now and then.  We are pretty ordinary people.  We love each other and that trumps all that comes with living in confined quarters.

 

Now the post.....

 

WOODLAND LAKE

 

We raised our children near a reservoir.  It is called

a lake but it is small for that definition.  But it is also pretty.

These cat tails grow abundantly now.  It is a sign of

the drought.  The lake water is low most of the time

and these plants are evidence of that.

 

It was interesting to hear our children talk so fondly

about Woodland Lake.  They have a lot of memories

here.  They love to bring their children and walk where

they walked.  I love it too!

 

This is Laine (Heidi's) and Paisley (Jill's).  They are old enough

to really enjoy being together.  It wasn't always that way.

Paisley told her mother that she excited to see Laine.

When they finally met up they just came together and

touched hands and laughed and took off.

 

Kids on a bench.

I have seen pictures of my cousins gathered together

like this.  I totally understand why these pictures matter.

They are not only "remember when" days but they

are "together" days.  I am so glad they get together.



You gotta love the dads.  They were so willing to just

go on a simple little walk.  

 

The dock just calls to the kids.  I can just hear what those

fishermen are thinking...."Get your kids out of here, lady."

 

Jill has been working out and running and she looks

so healthy and good.  And, Quinn, he just got a cast off

his arm. (His Uncle Pete cut it off.)  He broke his wrist playing catch with his dad.

 

Heidi was walking on the trail and I could see her thinking

and off she went down to the water.  It was ok to make this

a hands on experience.  Children just started following.  

 

Laine's dad picked her a thistle. 

 

Earlier in the day David met up with Pete and brought his children

to Pinetop.  They arrived at the right time!  Our lake walkers were

getting tired.  They all climbed into the Vibe for the

last stretch to home.

 

 

 

Piper: Icing on the Cake.

 



 

THE FOURTH OF JULY

 

Sisters: Lee, Jill, and Heidi.

(Lee has been practicing "how to pose for

photographs" she learned on Pinterest.  Kills me!

 

It is interesting to me that my daughters are adult
women.  They are capable and smart.  There are ways
they remind me of myself and my ways but then I am
amazed (and sometimes puzzled) how different they are
than me and different from each other also.  But I enjoy
being around them.  They help make me whole.

Heidi and Jeremiah

Jill and John

Anticipation, anticipation
Is making me late
Is keeping me waiting
And tomorrow we might not be together
I'm no prophet and I don't know nature's ways
So I'll try and see into your eyes right now
And stay right here 'cause these are the good old days
These are the good old days.
These will be their good old days.

The first flag and the best among us who honor that flag.

 

My first official date was with David on the 4th of July 1972.
Lots of 4th's together.

 

SHEEP'S CROSSING

 

I always feel a need to take whoever is here up to

Sheep's Crossing.  Nobody really complains.  Well, maybe

Jeremiah because he has already come this far and

further because he goes fishing first thing when he comes up.

So far every trip has been worth it.

 

Aunt Jill helping Daisy, who is scared of water.

 

And then there is Daisy's brother, Rockwell, who can't

wait for his feet to touch the ground so he can wade with

the rest of us. Meanwhile mama will carry him.

 

 

Yip.....I want in.

 

It was too slippery for Piper but
that didn't stop her.

Chiming Bells.  Love them.

 

These two (Melanie - Pete's daughter and Parker - Jill's

daughter) were joined at the hip.  They hardly spoke to

me the whole time.  Friends. Love them, too.

 

Moving logs.  LOL  I like how Jeremiah is just idly standing there.

 

 I cast my bread on the waters long ago.

Now it's time for you to send it back to me -

 toasted and buttered on both sides.

I'm smelling toast and butter!

 

What's in there Laine?

Jill lives in Arkansas and it is a beautiful state.

She needs Sheep's Crossing to remember where

her heart really lives.

 

Like grandfather like granddaughter.

 

Jeremiah, using his police skills, finds this

little lost boy.  We sure would be sad to loose

Jett!

Megan.  She was so fun.  It really touches my heart

that she has such love for her family members.  She

took care of the younger children with a lot of patience.

And they in turn were very impressed with her

abilities.....like fearlessly sinking in the mud....which

later proved to have leaches in it.  She was disgusted

but brave and picked them off.

She is sooo cute!

More prettys.

 

These guys, Bode (Heidi's) and Quinn (Jill's) and (not pictured)
Megan laughed so hard when the three of them were
together.  Good memories.

Sticks
Megan, Bode, Paisley, and Quinn.

 

VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT

It must be the best of worlds when you can drive out of the

heat of the desert, gather with your family, see your children

with their cousins and PLAY VOLLEYBALL! 

 

The high school coach has started an annual alumni

volleyball tournament for Blue Ridge.  This year all three

of my daughters played in it.  Yes, they all graduated from

Blue Ridge!

 

Jill played on two teams actually.  She was on Heidi's roster

but her friend, Mia, was short players so she also "helped"

them out.  I was surprised and pleased that she played so

well.  She was an asset to both teams but shined on Mia's

team.  Way to go, Jill!!

 

Mia's team.

Jill was friends in high school with Jessie (to Jill's right),

Katie (third from the right), and Mia (wearing glasses).

Heidi's team: Champions of the Tournament

Heidi recruited Jill and Lee, Cami Williams,

Liesl Hall, and Ona Martin.

 

It was so cool to see these girls on the same team.

Jill is 5 years older than Heidi, who is 5 years older

than Lee.  So the chances of them playing together

were slim to none.  I liked watching them!

 

 

 

 

GRAND CHILDREN JULY 2013

(or Buick Enclave poster)

 

Our Heritage of the Lord!

 

I wonder, at times, what these people (particularly these
in laws) think of David and me.  But, really, I'm not
too worried....we're entitled to be whatever we are.
Besides that I know they spend their time thinking about
each other and their lives.  Which pleases me.  They honor
their roles.  They are good spouses and parents. Love them.

Side note:  My sons in law were good to me.  More than
once they pitched in and helped pick up and John - he
took me yard selling! 

 

FAMILY TREE

This is the cutest picture ever.  David is always pulling people

out of the apple tree in the front yard

or hollering for grandchildren to get out of this tree....."somebody

is going to get hurt", he would say.  But this day we deliberately

got them to climb in.  (Would have been fun to have the whole

bunch....where would we put them?)  These are Jill and Heidi's

children.  Love them.

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

Just fun pictures.

 

Heidi's car seats in the middle row fold down.  She

unfolded one and found this smashed hot dog.  LOL

 

This is just cute.  This spot has always been a favorite

in the front yard.  This is Laine, Daisy, and Jett creating

things from flowers and leaves.

Piper and Jett playing house.

Band aids
I found these all over.  The magic of a band aid is not
to be underrated!  Daisy had an ouie and her dad, Aaron,
wrapped a band aid on her finger.  She was good
until it fell off and she noticed it missing.  It just happened
that Aaron saw it on the floor....still in its perfect tube
shape so he just slipped it back on her finger and she
was gone.  LOL

 Evidently, no one missed these two.

 Laine broke some flower pots.  She wasn't
being mischievous, she thought she could move something
that wasn't meant to move.  She ran away and hid in the
camp trailer.  Several little souls came and found me to
let me know a crime had been committed.  Jeremiah
came and saw and went looking for Laine.  He brought her
back to me and I loved her up (she was crying and
afraid) and told her it was ok and that the most important
thing was to come right away and tell me when something
like this happens.   She nodded and took off. 
 I think she troubled about it the rest
of the day. 

Well, the morning they were getting ready to leave
she was playing with a bracelet of mine (which was
hanging together by a tiny thread) and it broke.  I
didn't see or hear it.  After a bit she came to me with
a handful of beads and told me that she broke it.

Again, it was ok.  But the big deal was Laine.  she remembered
to come to me when something got broken.  I thought it
was so sweet.  It had registered in her little heart and she
remembered to come straight to me.  Loved it.

Bode wanted to paint rocks every day.  I felt bad
every night when I laid down that I hadn't organized
a rock painting party for the grandchildren.  We were
down to Heidi's children when I finally got it together.
Bode was pleased and wanted a picture of them
by the apple tree.



Last car full of people to leave.
Heidi and Jeremiah.
Good bye until next time dear family.