Chuck Wagon Dinner Theater

The bank recently sponsored an event for the boys and girls club at this really awesome chuch wagon dinner theater. They had a little train there that the kids really loved and the entertainment was great. The location is of course beautiful too it has lots of red rock cliffs all around it (if my camera were working better I would have gotten some more pics).


Brad on occasion will ask me if I think he will be one of those Dorky dad's.....well honey if the hat fits.
Brigg was so happy they let him ring the bell on the train. Life doesn't get any better than that for my little three year old.

This one's for you Kell

So we have fallin in LOVE with Durango. There is so much to do here and the land is beautiful. You can't deny beauty even through a dirty car window. So here are a few scenic shots of our beautiful little valley

The above picture is part of what I look when I am driving to town. We live about five minutes out and at first I didn't know if I would hate having to drive but I find that I can't complain.

Here is Brigg's train. When we first moved here if we took him into town, which wasn't often for this reason, he wouldn't be quiet about the train. But everyday around seven or so the train comes back into town from Silverton and we try and catch it as often as we can. We have yet to take a ride but are planning on something for Brigg in the near future. He can't get enough!



Above shots are a little fourth of July fun in downtown. The guy with the camera looks a little goofy but don't worry he's a really cool republican so we were friends. There are so many liberal democrats here! This town is so fun they shutdown Main st for anything to have a parade or festival etc.
This is the Dora house that we found in our backyard upon arrival. I thought it was kindof cool until I picked it up and all of these nasty ear wigs came crawling out. They are everywhere up here. So I sprayed it down and the kids got a kick out of it. Brigg uses it as a parking garage for his cars mostly.
I will get some more pics up soon of some current things we have been up to my favorite being Brad in his Reff outfit, it's all football all the time around here. I am starting to see progress on this house of ours and getting projects done and the babies have adjusted really well so far. Love our ward to bits we spoke in sacrament meeting and no one left the room crying so so far so good.

Free Paint and pretzel parties

I know this tid bit would normally go on my ideastalker blog, however, I am so totally excited about this. Glidden is giving away free quart of paint until July 2nd. So if you don't want yours I totally do heehee. It's like they say on their website free is always a good color!! go to Glidden and get ya some!!!
Yesterday I think it finally hit me that I was leaving my beautiful hometown and I was a lot bummed. But I think that happens every time I leave for a new adventure. It only lasts for a little while until I snap out of it. So here's to the five year plan!! I think the kids are protesting the move too. Brad and I went to a reception last night leaving our kids in bed supposedly sleeping. When we came home my mom was in bed but my kids were on a destructive rampage. They knocked over full boxes and erased my to do list. They were snacking on pretzels and laughing when I found them. Probably celebrating what they had accomplished. It was so cute I didn't know if I should giggle and hug them or spank them and send them to bed. Brad says that he and his sister were the same way and it makes me scared about having my kids share a room in the new house. So back to packing for me. Have a great day!!!

Greener Pastures

After some serious thought, job interview, and a fantastic time we have come to a conclusion. It's a big one for our little family and I am really excited. Come July first we'll be moving to Durango, CO. Brad got a job at the bank up there and we said why not. It's so beautiful and it seems like they really have an active life style up there. We found a house to rent on our two day trip up, I was surprised that we were able to find one so fast. So it's just a matter of moving now. I am dreading it this time as I feel like our stuff is everywhere. But come July second I will be a happy box un-packer. So I will have picks to come on the new pad etc. This is only a five year plan because we really love AZ. So here we go to hopefully greener pastures.

I know I will be forever changed from going through the emotions of losing my father. I now stop in my tracks when someone else mentions that their father has passed away. Before I viewed it as just a part of life now I am moved with compassion. I think of when the savior wept for Lazarus only to raise him shortly after. I have learned so much from this and thought I might share some of the things that I've learned.

Hug, kiss, talk to, sit by or even sit on your daddies lap if you can get away with it when the times are good. It makes it easier When things aren't so good because you know that they know you love them.

Many people avoid the topic or tippy toe around bringing up my dad. Don't I want to remember him and think about how wonderful he is even if we cry.

Sympathy cards are great but it's good to laugh so a tasteful joke card is much needed.

Don't say, "if there's anything I can do let...." (u know the rest) but say what you can do to help.

I think the number one thing I have learned from all of this is It's important to make time for people even if it's putting off your to-do list. My dad was a great example of this his entire life. I don't think he ever told me he was too busy for me.

This has been ruff and probably one of the harder things I have gone through emotionally,after the funeral I think we all came home and crashed for three hours. I am thankful for the spirit because I know it carried us all that day.

Daddy

Peace finally came early this morning.

Today I hurt for what once was. Most days I can stay happy and look at life as just a chapter in a book. But not today. My big strong daddy is slipping fast. I hate the pain he is in and I hate that I can't do anything about it.

Lately

So lately I have been trying not to think about what is really going on in my life and focusing on the here and now. Denial is what I guess you could really call it. I have been doing this for quite sometime and then there he was. Sitting on the coach with his eyes shut looking so peaceful and asleep but probably just trying to bare the pain quietly. I don't know what it is about shutting your eyes when you are in pain, some how it helps. I love knowing that he could be listening. So I walked over and sat by him and situated myself in the spot that I have been so comfortable in for all of my life. It's different now because I worry about what side I am on. If that's the side that causes him the most pain or not. He carries this trial so well. Always a smile, a joke, a look to let you know he loves you. He looked over at me slowly as soon as I sat down and he whispered "I love you". I remember calling my dad shortly after I was married to tell him I loved him and really nothing more. He responded with asking what I wanted from him and I remember saying, Oh daddy. I have been wanting lately to just sit by him in "my spot" with his arm around me. His I Love you through me for one today and spun my head around thinking about what is to come in the next short while. It's a comfort to know that he can still be with me when he has left this life. I will definitely be a spoiled brat with two Father's in Heaven watching over me. This is comforting as was his I love you today.

D-backs tour

Brad scored some tickets to take a tour of the ball field this morning. It was really cool. I think this makes us total d-back weirdos but I guess you have to be weird about something. Oh and we found out that the pool is like 6,500 dollars to rent out for thirty people and you get all kinds of cool stuff so if anyone wants to dish out some cash and split it let us know and we'll find some other sucker, ooophs! I meant person to split the other part and we can all have a great time. Until then we'll have to move the TV out to the pool area.

Brad couldn't have been more jolly being there with his two kids. He really loves baseball, so he was like a kid in a candy store.


Our babies had such a good time. I think they felt like the place was there's for the morning.




While we were checking out the dug-out a guy walked up and gave Brigg a ball just like in the movies. He was so excited to have received it and the way that Brad looked at it I think he was just as excited.