Beware...

Swinekin Flu

Pack your bags Elder Hillary... you're hittin' the dusty trail... (please pass the chips and salsa...)

Well, news from my Texas Informant Friend...

indicated that "Bashful transferred, and the Green

Giant stayed"  Meaning - Elder Hillary packed up and

Elder Carter will remain in Horizon.  News from the

underground indicated that the transferring Bashful was booking

it on over to another area in El Paso.  (I LOVE my informant)

Other than the fact that after checking his debit card and it

actually has a total amount of $.74 (that's cents folks) I worry

that he had to have both flu shots, and then had enough for

one package of top ramen.  Note to self...

"Start the Elder Hillary fund quickly"

Just a note on the Green Giant... (Elder Carter)

These two had some battles to work on personally and

each came fully prepared with their own personalities.

It proved to be a great lesson of compatibility,

and acceptance of personal attributes.  It was a task

they actually took to heart and created a wonderful

friendship over time.  But never ever did they battle

over their testimonies - they were strong with the Lord

and in the Lord's work.  After being together for 2 transfers,

they found common ground, lots of laughs, and wonderful

reasons to rejoice with priceless baptisms.

We were able to learn about his wonderful talented

family and wow - are they amazing...

 Thank you to the wonderful people of

Horizon City - especially the many families that made sure that

they were fed and loved and comforted.  Special thanks to Elizabeth,

for giving her light and her joy and her heart to these two.

(And gallons and gallons of Ice Cream and toppings galore)

She is the reason Elder Hillary said, "Now I know why I'm here"

You'll find her on our family tree - she is loved very much by

our family - and always will be.  Gila Valley Temple eh?!

Also special thanks to Lucy & Ronnie - your

washing machine and stove - are Elder Hillary's favorite

appliances - one provided wonderful food and the other,

cleaned up whatever food he spilled on his white shirt!

Thank you! (:  I love all 4'9" of you) Gracias...

There was also a wonderful family that made sure

that every Friday night - they were welcomed

at their dinner table - some of which I cannot

mention their names - but please know of my great

appreciation to you in every way.  (and I'll need those recipes...)

Mostly Elder Carter - thank you for your patience

and your love. I cannot wait to hear you sing one day.

Until then - stay strong - and keep on servin'!

You'll always be in my prayers.  (All 6'5" of you!)

As for Elder Hillary.... we won't know until next Monday's

e-mail the exact place he's headed - There are many

places around El Paso that the 'word' is needed.  I'm

looking forward to hearing about his new companion

and about their adventures that will take Elder Hillary

into the 1st year mark of his mission.  I know he's

looking forward to many more miracles.

Drop him a line if you all feel like you

need to do a random act of kindness eh?

(Address is at the right!)

I love you son - I miss you beyond words.

I pray for you.

I talk to your picture.... it helps a tiny bit.

I feel your love back.

You are my Warrior...

Grown Men in Costumes - "It's a Thriller Night" (Whew Hew!)

I can't stand how stinkin' funny this picture is.

I swiped it from my daughter in laws blog

which is private - but perhaps I could share just

this one picture? (thanks!)

It is actually the Elders Quorum President

(AKA: Jack from Jack in the Box) and

Matt - my son (The Grim Reaper).

Bethany commented that they only scored

3 points each because they couldn't see the

fooseball game through their masks very well.

I believe they win the official

"Best Halloween Pictures of 2009"

Any other takers?

Dare ya...

To Witch I say - You Nose I Love Ya... (That snot even funny)

Yerp - you can pick your friends,
you can pick your neighbors
and if you really want to you can pick
your families noses to wear...
(Can you only imagine where these
noses have been?)

Witch brings me to a level of joy.
'Tis almost the Haunting Night...

Aktiviteees: What can you do in 20 hours?

Well, we had a weekend - no - we had about 20 hours to complete a million tasks so I have whipped up a spell of pictures for this week to share with - well the pesky daughters I have that wanted me to post them.... because THEY are in them and they are dang cute.

PART 1 - the madness begins

A little bee told us that the apples needed to be squished in to applesauce.

The tree was loaded this year with delicious apples - the branches were touching the ground and I had to cut them back several times during the year. In total we made 3 bushel into 47 pints of applesauce, 1 bushel into 13 quarts of apple pie filling and there were about 4 bushel the birds and the bees fought us for - and they won! The apple sauce was beautiful - but the help? Questionable

I had to laugh at this one - we always have props at our house - always.
We have our Princess Lea wig in the front entry way - you can wear it anytime you need to. At Halloween, we always have plastic noses in the entry way - and they always get put to good use... (Notice that my beloved Ashley the chef wanted some toast - and it looks like it's finally popped up out of the toaster - and it's burnt!) (My beloved Mandy - the real chef - let it happen....) So - kind interesting that you should be able to wear pearls as you do applesauce eh?

We had a huge pressure cooker full of applesauce - and Ashley heard a big crack - we had blown up the stove.... Blew out 3 elements - ok we were cooking on high for 3 hours on a 21 year old stove - so we carried it over to our neighbor's house to finish processing it - ya - it was really strange carting over a huge pot of sauce and knocking on Sandy's door - "Um - might we cook on your stove?" Del headed to the fix-em-up store... All in all - it meant the world to me that the girls would come over and help do the apples. My mom and my grandmother would be very proud of their choice to pass on their traditions. It's a disappearing thing - people that can and bottle fruits and veggies - I'm so grateful that perhaps we can keep it alive in our family line - except for the toast thing. You were the 'stars' of the show today girls! I love you - and you went home with all of the applesauce except for 4 bottles to be sent to my Grandson - he always gets 4 bottles of 'Andy's Applesauce'.

PART II - same weekend

We found out that Matt would be in town from Washington for a meeting with his company here in Utah. He was arriving at 4:00 pm on Saturday, and leaving on a plane Sunday morning at 9:00 - a total of 17 hours. So I asked him to throw my Grandson on the plane with him - since he can fly free until he's 2. HE DID!!!!! Mandy spent the night with us because her hubbie Ryan was running in Pre-Nationals and she was home alone. So she was able to have some Andy time all herself - they went on a walk....

and She helped him drink his capri sun.... oh yum...

Most kids want to pose with a pumpkin...
Andy wanted to pose with the watermelon...
What are they teaching him in Washington?! (:

Del was taking advantage of being Grandpa every chance he could...

Andy wouldn't let go... Del didn't complain...

Ashley had her first Runway show for her Modeling Agency and she was so sad to miss seeing Andy the night before - so at 6:00 AM the next morning she popped through the front door ready to wake him up and love him! (Ok - we really did have to get up that early)

Mandy made sure that Andy was dressed up and ready to head to the airport - she spiked his hair up - I do beleive he's really still asleep as we all should have been - but it was totally worth getting up early for.

It really doesn't matter that it's 6 AM - let's take some pictures. With Matt, Bethany, Andy and 1/2 living in another state - we ache to be with them. It didn't matter how early it was - I wanted pictures - I don't care if there's syrup on your faces, or egg on your shirts - smile!

The only Hillary kid missing was Ryan - so perhaps Elizabeth will share this with a certain someone in Texas. We all commented on how we missed you Elder H - and we promised that we would all be together soon. Thanks for going the extra mile for a few moments of total joy Matt - We love you all so much!

When's the next flight Matt?

Ode to the uncreative fatigue gene

I
am
tired.
I
am
out
of
Taco
Chips.
I
smell
leaves
and
smoke.
tee hee
scheorry...
I think
a small
bomb
hit my
house.
I hate
mice.
I also
hate
tomatoes.
I have
no time
to blog
yet.
I heart
bedtime.
I hate
alarm
clocks.
Must
work out.
My
apples
are cookin.
Must
Run.

You can't have him Ashley... I get him!

I love my Grand baby
...every single inch of him
including the ears....