Make Your Own Fun in Life

Man can I tell you how much I hate this new layout on Blogger?

Anyway, We have done a lot since the holidays. We just got back from Crystal Hot Springs and a good visit with Jay and Monica and Family and Matt and his family. We have learned that Randy's pain is caused by his being out of balance and causes him to sway when he walks His lower back and neck have so much artritis that the DR said he had never seen any so bad. What they are going to try to do is put in a new hip on his other side to even him out. But you know he refuses to do it during camping season. We have a used but new looking motorhome. It is 35 feet and it is wonderful and very roomy. A motorhome makes it easer for Randy to pull in and out and not worry about lifting heavy hitches and gasoline for the generator etc. I like it really well so far. It's fun to ride in.

What do you do when gasoline is so high and so is flying and you hate to fly, and your heatlh does not allow you to be gone from home for long periods of time? And you have 7 cats. It may seem silly but you find a place not far from home and take you motorhome and books and food and go set it up in a new place. You may not be far from home and it's kind of silly to spend money when you have all those things at home, but it is really exciting and those with little money can still have a wonderful time away for leisure. You may be only 6 miles from home but you can pretend you are 600 miles from home.Feeding geese, watching chimpmunks, etc No trailer or motorhome? If you are up to it, put up a tent. We like to stay in the woods and in commecial places. We are going to stay at Lakeside Campground down by Utah Lake. It's really nice there and there is a swimming pool. For people like John and Kathy and us old folks who have cats, we have figured out how to have a wonderful summer without spending too much.

Latest News and Christmas Past. and Another Year Older

Felica and I at Iggy's for Birthday

Thanks Tina for Our Birthday Lunch

Me at Mim's for My Birthday

Randy Celebrates with Me at Mimi's

Time goes by so fast these days. Christmas has come and gone. No snow at all. It's so different when you no longer have little kids at home. We had quite a scare as John had bleeding ulcers and was in the hosptial and went home Christmas eve. On Christmas Day, we ate at Denny's. It was probably the only place opened on Christmas and it was packed. I got lots of nice things for Christmas. Monica gave me a lovely personal family scrapbook. Tammy really outdid herself by giving us a trip to ST George in March at her timeshare. I surely do miss her and wish I could just drive to Green Bay and get there before 2 or 3 days time. Matt gave us restaurant gift cards and Jennifer gave me Scencty. Randy gave me lots of nice gadgets. Tina took me and Felicia out for our birthdays. I really enjoyed their company.  As for now, I have been reading a lot of good books and enjoying that so much. I want to get back to the fitness center and maybe take some classes. I am hoping my health will hold out and not be like last winter.

I sprained my ankle before Christmas and it was about well and then I hurt it again. It's better but I think it healed wrong because it still looks swollen. I still have a lot of aches and pains of old age but that goes without saying. I think I may have an impinged or torn rotator cuff on my left shoulder but I am learning to live with it for now. For New Year's we ate Chinese with Matt and family. I think that will be our tradition from now on. Randy had a funny but costly experience the day after New Year's.  You can ask him and see if he will tell you about it. LOL

For my birthday, we ate out at Mim's. Then Randy installed a new Brother printer for me. That was about all. I am getting so old and there is no cure. But I guess I should be thankful that I made it this long. Lots of people do not get that chance. So live on aches and pains, I am not ready for the gate yet. LOL

All in all. We are blessed and love all our family and after reading my ancestor's history. I have decided we are all wimps (including myself most of all) these days and really spoiled.

Chistmas Luncheon with the Girls

Some the Girls Who Attended the
Christmas Lunch

Eleven  of us gals got together for a Christmas Lunch. Attending were: Monica Riehle, Tina Carrillo, Felcia Babb, Liz Stincell, Beverly Sanders, Raia Valenzuela, Kathy Carrillo, Kelly Carrillo, Rita Carrillo Minor Lisa Behunion. and Lacey Riehle. We exchanged gifts and ate lunch at the Olive Garden. We wanted to have a full family Christmas party but just don't have a place big enough for all of us and we are growing larger every year. But it was so nice to get together with the girls some of which we have not seen for some time.

Jay and Randy had a Boy's day as well and had fun with their trucking experiences.

Thanksgiving 2011 at the Bennetts

Thanksgiving 2011 with the Bennett Family in Green Bay

Jacob and Charlie at Perkins

In November, we took the long drive out to Wisconsin. Was stopped in Lincoln to visit Peter and Bonni. They have a very cute apartment and seem very happy.

Me with Bonni and Peter in Lincoln NE

The states we went through were Wyoming (a cold and windy state and motel 6 we stayed in left much to be desired,) Then to Nebraska (A very flat and boring state in the winter but it has beautiful sunsets.) Then Iowa. (I like some parts of Iowa and especially the type of homes they have there.) There we got to see the Mississippi. Then of course Wisconsin, and the way home South Dakota.



Savannah with Her Cinderella Doll





Brother and Sister So Cute



Savannah Eating a Large Meatball at Old Chicago

Tammy and Charlie were perfect hosts. We had a wonderful time and got to see Jacob too. They have a large home theater and a hot tub. We felt like we were in a 4 star hotel. We had really Old Chicago pizza. Us girls went to see The Nutcracker. And of course Charlie fixed a lot of wonderful food. We had both turkey and ham and of course the way Charlie makes turkey it is so juicy and good. Then there was cherry. pumpkin and pecan pie as well as apple crisp. It was all wonderful and fattening and delightful. I also gave Savannah a Cinderella Barbie doll because she always liked mine. She is so cute and smart. She loves math. Savannah had Randy wrapped around her little finger. She talked him in to picking her up from school and taking her shopping where she coaxed him into buying candy and stuff for smore's . Randy said she just melts his heart. How can you tell you tell a precious little girl "no" Randy says.

Randy and Me at Old Chicago

But good time have to come to an end. So we had to take the long road home. We were very fortunate to have good weather (although cold) all the way home.  Our cats were glad to have us home. We wish it wasn't 1500 miles to Green Bay. We put over 3000 miles on our new car. The car was so comfortable to ride in but us old folks get really stoked up riding so long.

Minor News

Not a lot news these days. Fall is here and Winter is close behind. Halloween has come and gone with no trick and treaters here. We did enjoy a pizza party with Matt and his family and his Halloween decorations and his yard are the scariest ever. The way he dressed up this year, had to look twice to do a double take. He looked just like Alex. We are going to Green Bay Wisconsin for Thanksgiving. (I know, why are we going someplace cold?) It's because I need to see my family out there. I miss Savannah most of all, but I miss all the others too. We bought another car. A Hyundai Azera. It's a comfortable full size car. (We have a lot of aches and pains) and the Azera is known as a Grandma and Grandpa car. It's 2009 with low mileage. Leather and all the luxuries. It won't get as good mileage as the Elantra but us old people need comfort when we travel long distances.  The Elantra needed tires and we did not want to put out the money on them because we wanted to trade up within a couple of years. So we just did it a little sooner than we had planned.

We had a nice summer. Did a lot of camping with Monica and Jay. Went to Lacey's color guard. Attended Chezey's blessing. I have a large family and now they are spread all over the place. Wish we could get together all once but I know that will never happen. I am trying to get girls day out with some of our members. We all wish we could find a big enough place for a family Christmas party.

We would like to say Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and eat a lot good food and try to keep from gaining weight. (Right, I need to lose weight but why try until the Holidays are over, and Charlie cooks such good food!)

Latest News



Chezney Zippay

 We camped several times this summer. Crystal Hot Springs, Little Mill and Timpoonke. The last camping trip we took last month in Little Mill. We took my little cat Gimli and he did just fine. It was nice to have his company and he was much more friendly without the other cats around.  I guess we are home for the season unless we decide to take a road trip. We did take a ride up to Diamond Fork in Spanish Fork Canyon. The leaves were turning and were so beautiful!

I have a new great great granddaughter. Her name is Chezney and she belongs to Lorin and Contessa. Born September 20. I guess that makes 8 as far as I can remember. Getting so many I cannot keep track of them all. So fun. Congratulations to Lorin and Contessa. Chezney has a not so much older sister, Kennedy. I think I have 22 grandkids. It's hard to count anymore.

John had surgery on his foot and ankle and it has been over a month. He still can't go back to work. If he did not work on his feet all day, then he could have. He is struggling with finances because of all of this. Hopefully, his foot will be completely normal and he start back to work at the end of October. Randy is getting some special shoes made for diabetics and also to give him a lift on his short leg. I hope that he will be able to walk and have less pain. It does suck to get old and crippled or be young and crippled...anyway it just sucks.

My health is still up and down and I had a very bad reaction to my drugs or something else, nobody knows. But I was sick for 10 days with the worst rash I have ever had. It felt like a very bad sunburn and burned so bad and itched so bad I could not stand it. It was over most of my body. I hope it does not come back after I quit my Prednisone. I also have miss-firing nerves in my upper body. Fun huh?

Randy and I have been reading a lot. I have really enjoyed getting back to reading. I am going to get more books and keep up. I also need to get back to the Rec Center. I have exercise intolerance and after exercising I pay for it dearly. And doing it more often has not helped much. But I am going to try it again. Fibromyalgia gets worse with exercise so maybe that is it but I am not ready to stop trying. The meds have made me gain weight and so I guess I will just have to accept it. I can lose weight but it's Hell keeping it off. Too many years of auto immune system drugs have caused my bones and veins to thin out. I am having a bone scan next week.

Until next time, I am signing off and wishing love happiness to all my family and friends.

Late Summer News



Marissa and Her Boyfriend

 Summer will soon be over and it took so long to get here!!  I have been some better but have lots of backache and fibromyalgia. We have been camping a few times, went to Peter's wedding and had a wonderful time in ST George with Tina and her family. We went summing and went to see Disney's The Little Mermaid at the Tuacahn. Marissa and her boyfriend came from San Diego. Randy and I read several books while were in St George. I have never seen Randy read so much. It' good to get away from the TV (there was a TV there but kids were playing games on it) Randy now has bought a book reader. I am OK with just plain old paper books. I also had a nice visit with Marty and family. We also celebrated Keira's 1st birthday at Tina and Kipp's canyon house.

We are going camping again the end of the month. We wanted to go more places but John is having surgery and we may need to help him get to his appointments and with the price of everything these days, I guess camping will be all there is left. We want to go to Tammy's for Thanksgiving so I hope the weather isn't as bad as last year. 

Me with Chevy Cash, Tessie and Kennedy



Kipp, Dom, John and Matt
August Boys



Kelby and Keira at the Canyon House
Keira's 1st Birthday

I am hoping next year we can plan to get together as a family again. We never use the deck anymore.

Peter and Bonni's Wedding

I failed to mention that Randy and I, Kathy and John had a wonderful time in May. We went to Montana to Peter and Bonni's wedding. We met new people and saw new places. I have to say that Wyoming is a very desolate place. Bonni came from a small town in Wyoming with fewer than 300 people. There are more kids in her family than I have ever seen. Half the woman in her extended family were either pregnant or carrying a babe in arms. They were working on the roads there and it was like riding on a sheep trail or a washboard. They were married on May 28th, a day after Peter's birthday. They are now residing in Lincoln Nebraska where Peter works as a diesel mechanic and Bonni is going to school We wish them the best and are very proud of them.

New Grand Baby: Congratulations Michael and Brooke

I finally got to see my great grand baby. His name is Ryan Opfar. He was born in December pf 2010. His parents are Michael and Brooke Opfar. I think he is number 6. I am expecting another one another one soon.

The are starting a brand new life in Green Bay Wisconsin. I wish them well and hope they can get their life in order and have lots of success and enjoyment.

A Fun 4th of July

We enjoyed a very wonderful 4th of July. We went camping at Little Mill and Monica and Jay came up. We went for a ride and found many wonderful camp sites. We also went to Cascade Springs and had lunch in Heber City. That night Monica and Jay made a wonderful dutch oven dinner. There were a lot cloud bursts when we were there but it was wonderful with the smell of the rain.

My health problems persist but I have not had a really bad pain attack for more than a month. Also still have some nerve pain. They are trying to figure out why I am so anemic. Thinking it might be celiac disease but more testing has to be done and if I don't have anymore attacks, they may not do the testing. It consists of biopsies of the small intestine.

Mother's Day 2011

Tina and Kipp at Mim's on Mother's Day

Dom and Tina Mother's Day

Matt and Kelly Mother's Day Crystal Hot Springs

Picnic Crystal Hot Springs

Kelby and his Cheetos

Aunt Monica and Kelby

Mother and Me 1944



Jay and Andy


I had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend. We went RVing at Crystal Hot Springs with Jay and Monica. Matt and his family came up and the kids all went swimming. The Friday and Saturday before Mother's Day was very nice, but then on Mother's Day, there was cold rain all day. Tina and Kipp came up and since we could not do a picnic, they tooks us to a little old bar called Mim's. Tne only place we found open in the little town of Corinne. They sure make good hamburgers there. We had Dom with us so we had to sit in a special place where people under 21 could sit. Tina gave me a beautiful blouse and Bath and Body Works shampoo, conditionor and pillow spray. Monica gave me a cat wind chime and some nuts because she said WE ARE NUTS ABOUT YOU.  But the best gift was having the family there. I didn't get a photo of the kids swimming so I hope Matt posts some.  The kids had a blast in the pool. I am so glad that warm weather is finally coming, (at least I hope so) I would also like to say that I had a very wonderful mother and I do miss her every day.