Road Trip Phase Two

Long time between post, but Jami was supposed to write up phase two.
So after leaving Cedaredge, we headed to Denver to see Jamis cousin Laura and meet the rest of the family from Osh Kosh to go to Elitch Gardens Six Flaggs.
We got a decent night sleep even after getting in so late at Laura's place, and all of us were ready to go when it came time to get up and get ready for the theme park. We met up with the Osh Kosh crew around 9ish and were off to the park. I was just as excited as the kids I think, and could hardly wait to hit the big rides with them as well. I was thinking the biggest rides would scare them off, but I was wrong. One ride, the TOWER of DOOM, which looms 200ft into the air and free falls you to the ground, was begging all of us to try it. Jorryn runs up to the measuring stick to check and see if the kids meet the height requirements and when he checked himself and realized he was tall enough, he starts yelling for all the crowd to hear, "I am TALL enough! I can RIDE IT! I CAN RIDE IT!" All this shouting and jumping in the air at the same time. This ride as we found out later would end up to be his favorite for the whole day. Jami found a new boyfriend at the park, I wasn't too jealous though, so I took the picture of them so she can remember him after the day was over.
We did some water rides, and then the kids went to the water park towards the end of the day and got soaked. We stayed there until it closed at 6, then a cool wind started up and those who were wet, (kids), got pretty cold. Ana had some extra clothes, but Jorryn needed a shirt, so he and I went to the gift shops to look for a cool one from the park. Finally found one after about 15 minutes that wasn't too high a price and one I thought he would wear on a regular basis. Mission accomplished! Until we went outside. Apparently the cool wind was binging in more than just a mild change in temperature, but also some thunder showers. We put up with a few rain drops, then some thunder claps, then came the heavy downpour. Soaked us to the bone. So much for the new dry shirt I just bought him 10 minutes earlier! We found some shelter, then ran to another ride and stood in line amidst the intermittent rain. Just when we were next to board, they decided that there was too much lightening and all the rides in the park were closed. CLOSED! ugh. What an abrupt end to a pretty fun day.
We found the rest of the crew and all went back to the hotel where the grandparents were staying and the kids ended up playing in the pool. Lots of fun.
Laura was also having her shower in the master bathroom replaced and I ended up pushing a wall back for her, opening up the shower another foot or so and then dropping the ceiling a few inches so they can have plumbing run above the shower for an over the head shower head. I was glad to help, and the payment was a pretty awesome dinner that filled me beyond capacity.

Enjoy the few pics, next phase is in OshKosh.

Road Trip Phase One

Howdy all! (anyone out there?)

We decided to hit the road the end of July and go on a three week road trip visiting family and friends along the way. Maybe even do some sight seeing. There has to be something along the side of the road to see besides hitch hikers and road kill.

First stop is Cedaredge, Colorado visiting mom, Steve, Nana, and my sis Carolyn. We, (Jeremy, Jami, sis Jenny, and the kids, Ana and Jorryn) left home Sunday night at 12:20 A.M. I guess technically that would be Monday morning. Jami and I took turns driving with really nothing eventful to speak of the whole 23 hours straight through. The worst part of the trip was some traffic in Salt Lake City. That wasn't even that bad, we just kept looking in vehicles trying to profile the non-Mormons. You know, looking for the long haired type, not wearing collared shirts and drinking coffee and soda.

We got to mom's a little after midnight and still had to setup the tent that we were going to be sleeping in. Luckily I had some practice a few weeks before when I set it up for me and the kids on a camp out in the backyard. I think it only took about 30 minutes and we were setup and about ready to crawl into bed. It felt good sleeping on an air mattress instead of a moving vehicle I tell you. That is until about 5 am when I woke up laying on the ground because the mattress had a leak in it. ARRRGGG... Tried to fix it later and was semi-successful.

Next morning we had a big breakfast with the whole crew, minus Nana who we visited later that day. Steve showed us all the cool cars, trucks ad tractors he had around the place. Got to go on some rides and got some pics of a tractor or two. The Farmall in the picture runs, just needs a little timing adjustment.

Carolyn came over with her family, her husband Brian and his boys, and the twins. We had fun visiting and seeing them all for the first time. (Not Carolyn of course!) Then we went to see Nana at the care center.

We hadn't seen her for so long and it was great to be able to give her a big hug and visit in person rather than on the phone. After a visit awhile that afternoon we headed back to the house, had dinner at Carolyn's and tried to get the air mattresses patched for a good nights sleep. We were only successful with one air mattress, not two, and to top it off we had a thunder storm that night. We stayed dry for most of the night. We got a few puddles started shortly after we got up and moving around.

Headed back into see Nana for lunch and had a nice time with her for a few hours chatting with everyone and getting caught up with all the news we could think of and then snapping a bunch of pictures to remember it all by. Ana and Jorryn got to play a few songs on the piano for her and even drew a small crowd. They did great and I think I caught a tear from my moms eye. We headed back to Nanas room to say goodbye and after some tears and hugs we said goodbye for now and headed out.

Next Stop, Denver.

We tried to get on the road for the next phase of the trip by 3pm, but I think it was more like 4pm. ANYWAY, we loaded everything up in a rush and after some more tearful goodbyes we headed down the road. Got some good sight seeing in and even saw a black bear on the side of the road with her two cubs. Jami was pretty quick on the draw with the camera, but I ended up having to turn around and go back to get the better shot.

When we were nearing the interstate almost an hour and a half later, I heard a funny noise like there was a rock stuck in the tread of the tire. Upon further inspection I found that a large chunk of tread had detached itself and found freedom somewhere along the road behind us, leaving nothing much behind for us to continue on. As I reached for the trailer door, in my minds eye I saw the spare tire laying on the ground back at moms waiting to be reloaded into the trailer. I don't know why I even opened the trailer to check, just to slap myself in the face again with the realization that it really wasn't there. STINK! Well, Carolyn and mom to the rescue and a few hours later after they brought the tire to us we were on the road again.

Once again, we arrived at our next stop just after midnight. No tent to set up this time though. Jamis cousin Laura had spare rooms for us to sleep in, and no leaky air mattresses to deal with.

Hope this post was semi coherent as I am super tired. Jami might interject some facts after reading. Phase two on the trip is next time...enjoy the pics.

Spring

HI again! Just wanting to share our springtime fun with our friends and family. Ana's getting ready to show her goat Lila for the first time at fair this July. She'll be in 4 classes, but her goal is to get through the pack goat classes obstacles without to much of a fight. Jorryn, Ana, and I were in a local parade and went on a hike with the 4 H club Ana belongs to. Surprisingly, Jer didn't think the hike sounded that exciting.

Besides goats we've been having fun with calves. Our neighbor Lorell lets me help him take care of his animals, and we had been anxiously waiting for the cows to calve. The first cow had twin bulls and two weeks later the second cow had a heifer. Unfortunately (or fortunately for me) the second cow had already taken to the twins and was even nursing them, so she rejected her own calf. I now have a huge baby to pamper.

John and Neysi came to visit with their new baby boy, Jayden! I can't tell who he looks like more. It's still hard to believe that Bub is a dad!

Jer really wanted to go camping Memorial Day weekend. I was not up for it so he compromised and put the tent up in the yard. We haven't had this tent out for many moons, and I just couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him reading the directions! I got a picture for proof!

We have a lot planned for the summer. Stay tuned for updates.

April Fools

It is April 1st and the Feb post just got officially posted. I'm not sure who the jokes on but it's kinda funny. I'm on a roll.....there's two posts in one day. It must have something to do with April Fools Day.

My parents came to visit in March and we went to the coast and stayed for a few days. It was a much needed reunion! I hadn't seen my dad in over a year. Longest time ever and I hope that I'll never go that long w/out seeing him or my mom again. I did get to see my mom in Aug. '09 but that was still too long.

We've been cleaning up the trees around the property. Hopefully, we will be able to spiff this place up this spring and have a bunch of BBQs, and even camp outs with family and friends.


Sadly, the pictures of Graycy were the first ones that we had put on here and they will also be the last. She went to be with the Creator on March 31st and our hearts are broken that she won't be here to love on. It's one of the heartaches in life that as a parent I wish I could keep my children from. I'm encouraged to share with them that the anguish they feel for the loss of their beloved pet is so minor compared to the heartache God has for us when we separate ourselves from Him. Thank you, God of all creation for giving me the peace that passes all understanding in Knowing that this is not all you have for us and even our cherished pets.

Over due

It's been put off and put off, excuse after excuse, but it's finally happening. A Post! I had to look and it's been since Oct. Yikes. We have had 2 birthdays and 2 major holidays that should have been on here. Ana turned 9. Jer turned 38. Enough said. He's still trying to decide what he wants for his birthday. I knew exactly what I wanted for mine and everyone went way over board! I am having a really hard time getting older. I don't feel older, except for when I try to workout and pull a muscle when I think I'm taking it easy. Or look in the mirror and wonder were that old lady came from.

I'm so excited about the gifts that I have received this year, that I just couldn't wait to show them to everyone who looks on here. Three years ago I went on a trip with my friend Monica where we stayed in a cabin in the Sierras and went horseback riding everyday for a week. Monica had a Morgan gelding named Yankee in training that she brought for me to ride. I think she must have known I'd love him. Jer had spoiled me that year too with a Nikon D80 camera and I was taking pictures of everything. I got a rather good shot of Yankee that I had blown up and hoped to have framed. But like most things it hadn't been done yet till now. Alan made me a beautiful frame and now it is finally on my wall where every time I look at it I think of how much I'm loved by my family, friends and God who gives me the desires of my heart. It's amazing how much just a picture of a horse can swell up so much emotion in me. Jer also made the spice rack that I'm still in awe over. The picture on the blog just doesn't do it justice.

I'm feeling like it's too late to say anything about the holidays but I've got lots of pictures for you to look at and see how fun the birthdays and holidays were.

Jamis early birthday present

Jami has been wanting me to build her a spice rack, and we had some decorative tile that needed to be used up. I decided to try and incorporate them into something we could take with us if we built a house or moved so they got used in the spice rack. Here is a pic.


Happy birthday babe!