Cold is relative!

I used to live in Utah. I remember some really cold winters. The single digits, frozen pipes, Jay gets pneumonia, the works.....

I moved to Arizona for the warmth. That was the big plus for me but I soon learned that it does get cold here in the winter. Especially at night. Well, this morning I got up and there is ice in the fountain. ICE! We knew it was cold last night because we still haven't turned the heat on in the house. Inside was even cold this morning. How come I didn't feel cold in 30 degrees in Utah but I am cold in Arizona....

Now all my plants are going to look frost nipped all winter long..... I hate that!

This picture is in Arizona. I knew it snowed in parts of Arizona. Flagstaff has a ski resort. But this is much further south than Flagstaff... Amazing, huh.

Cooking, Cleaning, and Christmas!

Thanksgiving is done, the cooking is over, the turkey is gone, and now the rush begins! As a family we had a great holiday last week but it seems like we worked harder than we usually do over the four days off. We got all the fall decorations down, and put up Christmas....

>>>> Christmas is a holiday we really decorate for. I don't know why, Jay and I just always have. As Jay complains about moving all the furniture around for only a month, he still loves having the tree up. We do it the day after Thanksgiving because he wants the tree up as long as possible. In Utah we had a real tree, I loved the fresh smell of it. In Arizona we don't have tree farms, so the tree is artificial. It is still 12 feet tall though, 3 feet shorter than the trees we had in Utah. :).... With decorating you end up cleaning. As we take down knicknacks, we end up finding dust. And in Arizona I truly mean DUST!!!! It is black, sooty, fine, and makes you cough/sneeze. (It is entertaining to watch Jay clean the house plants with a leaf blower though.)

Last night we put all the ornaments on the tree, our last act of decorating. We waited until Monday because Jace worked all weekend and he wanted to help. We like to do this job as a family. Our ornaments are souvenirs from all the many places we have traveled. It brings back memories of the fun we have had on vacation. We talk, remember, laugh, and sing. I love decorating for Christmas, even if we have to move all the furniture for only 30 days.....

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all.... I can't believe it is Thanksgiving already. The boys are so excited because they get a few days off. We don't have family/friends in town so it is just the 4 of us. I think that is appropriate this year as Jace is a senior. We like to be together, the four of us are definiately a family.

I am Thankful for so much it is hard to put it into words. But in no specific order, here is my list:

1. I am thankful for my husband. He is funny, kind, talented, and handy. But most of all he doesn't think I am hard to live with. Now that really is a trick!

2. I am thankful for my sons. They are just plain great kids. They don't give me problems, they show me they love me every day, and they are interested in being successful. It makes me feel successful that they are. And they like to sleep out with me, exercise with me, and take the dog for a ride with me. (Especially if they can get something for them on the rides.)

3. I am thankful for my country. I am glad we have freedom, courage, strength, and nobleness in the USA. I am thankful for the people that make up this great country, now that is true courage whether you agree with my views or not. I am thankful for every person that serves in the military, in the community, in law enforcement, and emergency work.

4. I am thankful for my religion. Some people don't need to know where they came from, why we are here, and where we are going. But I do. I am thankful for the answers I receive in my beliefs. I am also thankful for the community it gives me.

5. I am thankful for my home. It isn't a 29 million dollar mansion but it is mine and it is comfortable. Jay takes care of it and I feel at home in it.

6. I am thankful for my job. I love where I work, the people I work with and the things that I do all day. I am thankful that it is fulfilling to me but also gives me the leaway to do the job my way.

7. I am thankful for my health. I am thankful for the strength I have and the chance I get to do all the things physically I want to do. I have taken my health for granted for years. Now I take care of myself, and am very thankful that I can do what I do.

8. I am thankful for the seasons and environment. I love the fall colors, the spring flowers, the grass we can grow in the winter and the heat to play in during the summer. I like the variety available all over the world. I am thankful that the environment is self sustaining, and beautiful at the same time.

9. I am thankful for technology. If it wasn't for technology I wouldn't be able to talk to my friends all over the US every single day. I wouldn't be able to talk to my sons, no matter where they are. I wouldn't be able to work remotely, from wherever I am at the moment. And I definiately can't write as fast as I can type. Believe me you don't want to do my job on paper.

10. I am thankful for my friends. I don't know how I became so lucky to have the friends that I do. Through thick and thin, love and pain, they still lead me, guide me, let me lean on them and just plain love me.

11. I am thankful for my family. I have a big family, a complex family, and an entertaining family. We all have our quirks, our needs, and our own personality. I am thankful that through it all we can understand and care for each other. You always go back to family.

And I said I would never do it.....

I said I would never do it, I even made the comment that people who would are nuts! But I did it anyway. When you have a beautiful soon to be 18 year old, who is excited to do something, but you want to protect him, what do you do? You do it with him! :)

As everyone in the world knows, this weekend was a limited release of two new video game systems. Anyone that knows my kids also knows that they love all vidoe games. Jace came home from work Friday night and wanted to run by the local discount store to see if the lines are very long. He drove down the street and talked to a few people in line. There were only about 9 so far and the store had at least 33 machines to sell the next morning. To say he was stoked is an understatement. He comes home and asks if he can take a lawn chair and get in line.

I know we live in Arizona but it is November. Even in Arizona it gets cold at night. It is about 70 when he leaves but soon to be 50. I can't let him go sit in front of a store in the middle of the night alone, even at soon to be 18. So I get my coat and go with him. But I take my coat, and a 6 foot been bag chair.... And my 85 pound dog. :)

I still got cold about 2:00 a.m. I went home grabbed socks, slippers, and a sleeping bag and headed straight back. After a biological break at 5:00 Jaron went back with us to wait out the rest of the morning. That morning at 8:00 a.m. Jace was the proud owner of a new system.

The funny thing was I had a great time. The people in line were having a party, everyone was so excited for the new arrivals. We laughed, we slept, we just hung out but most of all, Jace and I spent time together. Jaron joined us in the morning, just to support his brother. It really was fun. Today all of us are dead tired but it was worth it. That is a memory I will hold for a long time.

It's a love/hate relationship!

This is MY dog with Jaron. I say he is my dog because although he is the family dog, he is especially attached to me and I to him. Anyway, Jay has a love/hate relationship with my dog.... Case in point:

I walked upstairs to look for any stray dirty clothes to put in the wash. In my bedroom the dog has a bed. It is next to my side of our bed. As I was searching I found my husbands shorts and tshirt on the dogs bed.... "hum," says I..... How did Jay's clothes get on the dogs bed? After all he takes off his clothes on his side of the bed. I usually find his clothes on the floor next to his side of the bed... "Hum," says I again.

I call Jay. The conversation goes like this.... "You didn't by any chance throw your clothes at the dog last night when you were going to bed?" says I. Jay answers, "Of couse not, as I was taking my clothes off last night, I slipped. In the process of catching myself my clothes were flung across the room and landed on the dogs bed." "Was he in the bed at the time?" says I. "I recall he was in the bed when they started toward him, but he wasn't by the time they landed." Jay replies. "How did they get rolled into a complete ball?" says I. "The ceiling fan", says Jay. NOW, THAT'S A TRICK!

Don't get me wrong... When the dog needs someone to play with, wrestle with, or chase, Jay is the first one he turns to. When the dog cut himself, Jay was the first one to take care of him. And most of all, when he doesn't think I am looking, he is giving him tons of loves....

But, there isn't anyone in the house Jay would rather tease more than the dog.

You've got Mail!

Instant Messenger has become my life. I am sitting at a machine with two version of messenging.... One is internal to employees the other is general web messenging. I have favorites, groups, and people set up on both buddy lists. But right now, no one is available! How sad, I feel alone. Isn't it weird how attached we get to something that wasn't around only a few years ago.

I live in a different state than most of my friends and family. Instant messenging has given me a way to stay in contact with both every single day. When it is down or when everyone is off, I go through withdrawls. When I am off work for a day, or out sick, I still log onto IM... I still want to chat. I think I need to develop a support group for Instant Messenger Addicts!

So right now... I am on two version of Instant Messenger, but no one can chat... I am so sad!

And heres the news!!!!

Its Monday again and in Arizona it looks like we have a brown fog going on. I don't know what the deal is but the smog out my window is ugly. Maybe it has to do with race weekend that just got over. NASCAR was in town Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and on Sunday so were the Cardinals NFL team. Maybe that has something to do with it. I know Jay and I didn't go anywhere near downtown or the west side all weekend. We weren't interested in a 45 minute wait on the freeways.

Jace is on the final countdown to turning 18. We went to church on Sunday and his name is on the ward calendar for his birthday. 18 years old!@! I can't believe it. I look at him and still don't see an 18 year old. But he is making 18 year old decisions. He has waited all year to turn 18 so he could apply for a job at a couple gaming places. They only hire employees 18 year or older. But he works now and the company he works for is accommodating to his schedule. As a Student Council representative he has to be available for the club! So his decision is this.... stay at the job he has because he has seniority and flexibility, or change to the job that he wants where he might not have the same! Sounds like an adult decision to me! Can I cry now?

Sometimes I can't believe how bright Jaron is. He doesn't appear to even be paying attention and just picks up things. He reads all the time and remembers everything he reads. And he is growing up so fast. We got to raid Jace's closet this weekend trying to find Jaron dress pants for church. Jaron put his on and the waist is too tight, and they are about 3 inches too short. He lives in sweats and shorts so I didn't know he was growing so fast.

Jay and I started a diet a few weeks ago. I am determined not to be so heavy and arthritic when I get older that I can't take care of myself. And Jay is doing it with me to be supportive. It sure makes it easier for me. I don't think I would be doing so well if he wasn't. He doesn't need to lose weight, but he will eat what I eat so I have company. I sure love him for that!

Holidays

Tomorrow is Veterans day. The kids are of school today to celebrate the holiday. Jay is off today to celebrate the holiday as well. Of course, I am at work! It is an interesting phenomenon what happens to the time it takes to get to work when you don't have to get everyone else off. I was ready for work in under one hour, even though I got up and cooked myself a hot breakfast. I never have a hot breakfast, my kids never have a hot breakfast! We are usually all running around in a frenzy trying to find things, do things, get things... And then we all crash out the door. It was so peaceful this morning. Everyone else was still in bed but me and the dog. It was so quiet, serene, and uncluttered. Amazing! Then to drive into work only took 20 minutes. That is a record. No slow downs, no aggravated drivers, just peaceful contemplation while I drive into work. Why can't every day be a holiday!

As for this holiday, nothing can replace, or reimburse those who fight for freedom. It doesn't matter where they fight, here or abroad. No holiday, parade, party, gift, or twenty-one gun salute evens out the scale. Thank you seems so small a gesture. But Thank you all the same...

No more political Ad's.... (Repeat)

Ahhhh,,, The peace and serenity of it all. I am so glad the election is over. I don't know about everywhere but the campaigning was just ugly here in Arizona.... So and so filed for bankrupsy, joe doe paid his taxes late last year, I mean really, do we need to know all this stuff! Does it have anything to do with what decisions they will make when they are faced with the laws of the land. It was downright ugly with an ad every 6 minutes on television. Then, of course, they started leaving phone messages on your answering machines. We had our answering machine fill up with recorded messages from candidates... I am so glad it is over, and I can have some peace.

I have been sick. I have a head cold. I don't know if I got it in Utah or just on the plane rides back and forth but it is miserable. The only good thing is that I didn't have to go to work for two days. I could work from home instead. You see, we call the office the Petree dish. The company I work for is building new offices. So me and 8 other individuals are currently in a conference room where a number of desks have been lined up around the walls. Needless to say, if you are sick you stay home! We don't want everyone to get it. So I was home, and loving it.

Jace was just elected to the Student Council of Highland High School. The High School held elections on the same day as the regular election. He was elected as the representative from the LAN club. I didn't even know he was nominated. He didn't say anything. When I asked him what he thought about it, he said " I don't know, I don't know what I have to do!" He is so funny.

Swords and all.

The Wandering Warrior

My boys have a thing for Japan as you would imagine. Jaron wanted to be a Wandering Warrior for Halloween. Now, a wandering warrior is from one of his video games. As best I can tell it is a japanese samari that doesn't like to stay in one place. We did our best on a costume, you be the judge... I really wanted to paint a thin oriental mustache and beard but Jaron didn't want to. He wouldn't wear the hat either. I don't think he was into the costume scene this year.