Danielle is Sweet 16!

Danielle is now officially 16. She is not my sweet little baby that I held and played with anymore. Her birthday started out with a surprise breakfast out with the her Laurel class from church. (Thank you Michelle and Mattie) Then she spent the evening with us. We took her to "Twilight" then to dinner at Manuels, (she insisted on Mexican food).

Danielle has been such a blessing in our family and we are so lucky to have her. She has always been sensitive to others and their feelings. I have always appreciated her sense of what is right and her influence on others to make good choices. Now she is a beautiful young woman and I couldn't more proud of her.

Busy Week.

It has been a busy week here. It started with my graduation from the Master Garden Course with the Maricopa County Extension Office on Tuesday. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to take this course. It was 17 weeks long, and was every Tuesday. I enjoyed it very much and it was a chance to learn more about what I love. I was also able to meet some talented and extraordinary people through this program that I’m sure will be lifelong friends.


Chandler turned 11 on Wednesday, and was able to pick what he wanted for dinner and cake. He picked shrimp alfredo, and a chocolate chip mint/cookie dough ice cream cake for his birthday. He was also to finally get a very expensive battery he’s been wanting for his remote control car.

On Thursday, Chandler earned his arrow of light award for Cub Scouts and graduated into the Boy Scout program. We are really proud of him and the work he did to earn all of his awards.



Finally, Friday was Halloween. We made and decorated some cookies to take to the neighbors, then dressed up to head to the trunk or treat at the church. Danielle has a simulated baby assignment for her child development class and has to have it with her at all times. She decided to use it as a prop and wanted to be a “career” woman????? Originally she wanted to be a pregnant mom, but it freaked me and Jeff out too much because we just couldn’t see that as being funny (especially these days) so we asked her to change. She is so great and did it without giving us too much of a hard time. Keldon was the joker, (no not a joker, the joker) and did a pretty good job of imitating the last batman movie villan. Chandler was originally going to be a ninja, but the costume was too small so decided to be a football player. Last but not least, Cheyanna was Mr. McMonkey McBean from Dr. Seuss’s “Sneeches” book. She looked pretty good.

Trip to Eagar

We just got back from an unexpected trip to Eagar. It was a sad time because our good friend Jim Crosby was killed in a plane crash last Saturday. He has 5 children he is leaving behind and a heartbroken family. He was a nice guy and he will be missed allot.





We decided to make the best of it and enjoyed the time we were able to spend up there. It seems to get harder and harder to find time to get there with all of the activities we are involved in. We enjoyed being with family and playing on the mountain. It was my sister Amber's birthday and we had a cookout at Ginger's house. It was great hanging out with them as well as my parents and Grandma Childers.

First School Choir Concert

Danielle participated in a choir concert last Wednesday. They did a great job, and was actually entertaining. They had two choirs; a freshman and more advanced choir. They had creative choreography and I was impressed that they did so well after only a couple of months of school.

On the Way to Boy Scouts!

Chandler has earned his Webelo patch and will be presented with his Arrow of Light later this month. He is showing off all his belt loops he earned. He wanted to look cool for his picture, but I think he looks bored. He is actually very excited about being a Boy Scout.

Jessica Simpson & D-Backs, Like Beets &Pancakes

Last weekend Jeff and Keldon went to Eagar with the Lakeshore Bishopric and Young Men for a wood-hauling service project. We had season tickets for the game Friday night, and I thought it would be fun to bring Danielle, Chandler, and Cheyanna to the game. Chandler and Cheyanna participated in the Tempe Library Program this summer and each earned a ticket to a D-Backs game. It was a perfect opportunity to have some fun. We were especially excited to get the Dan Herring bobble heads they were giving away, and to see the free concert afterwards. The game was a nail biter and the D-Backs should have won, but lost in overtime by 2. That was disappointing, but we were still excited to see Jessica Simpson in the live concert.

The game was sold out and had over 45,000 in attendance. There were more people that stayed for her concert than usual and they had to move her to the middle of the field. From we were sitting we couldn’t see her at all, even from the front row. She started her concert kinda blah and blabbed about her problems and woes in life. Yah,terrible life. She is supposed to be a “country singer” now, but being a lifelong country fan I feel authoritative enough to say that she isn’t a Reba by any stretch. I do have to have to say though we could barely hear her, because she was drowned out by the band. She is beautiful and seems sweet, but I don’t think she will make it as a country singer even if she is from Texas and dating Tony Romo quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. She even made a comment about the Cowboys going all the way. Helloo? You are in Arizona??? Ever heard of the Arizona Cardinals? Anyway we left after 3 songs, but it was fun to go to the ballgame and spend time with the kids.

Tempe pummeled by hurricane-force winds

Tempe pummeled by hurricane-force winds
We had the most incredible storm last night. The lightening was nothing I had ever witnessed before. It was a constant above the clouds, and felt like we were in one of the old war movies with bombs going off. We can say we are used to high winds in Eagar, and they certainly were close in comparison. We had barrels of rain pouring all around us, and our lawn looked like we had flood irrigation. The prettiest thing was the reflection of the lightening in the pool. It was very violent though, and I feel bad that some people were hurt, and a child was killed when a tree fell on him. It was definately a testimony of how powerful mother nature can be. Click on the link/title to see some pictures and more info.

Kandy Korn

Dad's Kandy Korn 2008
I have certainly been nostalgic this past month and I hope everyone bares with me. My Dad has grown several rows and fields of Kandy Korn over the years, and it is always a special event when the first ears in August are ready to be cooked and eaten. I have never found a sweeter, tastier corn than my Dad’s. I have come to accept the fact that I will never duplicate this wonderful treat here. I have always revered this plant, not only because it’s yummy and full of natural sugar (how can you beat that?), but because it holds several memories for me growing up in my little country town. Every summer my sisters and I had the best time playing hide- and seek in the tall stalks, reading in their shade from the afternoon sun, and occasionally sneaking in a quiet moment from a bustling big family. One of my nicknames growing up was even associated with this giant plant, and still cracks me up to this day. My Dad nicknamed me Bob Bob the Corn Cob (wouldn’t that be a great Dr. Seuss Book?), not scooter, or sunshine, or another common nickname, but an unusual one that along with his other one Busy Bee will always be with me. My Dad's other nickname for me was Bob Bob the Corncob because as a baby I had little strands of golden hair growing on the top of my head, and it reminded my Dad of corn silk, and hence my nickname was created.
It's no surprise that my nickname would be associated with a vegetable in his garden. He is the best gardener I know, and I suck him dry with gardening questions. My Dad has always been an inspiration to me, and I still marvel at the amount of produce that he collects from his gardens every year, and the vast knowledge he has. While he doesn’t have a botany degree, I wouldn’t hesitate to put him up against the university botany professors. I learned many lessons growing up from watching and helping him in the garden, like work, patience, and perseverance. I am grateful for my Dad and the passion for gardening he has passed to me. My life would be so empty without gardening and him.

D-Backs Movie Night

Last Friday, all D-Back's season ticket holders were invited for a family movie night at Chase field on the huge mega screen. Our family went and had a blast! They showed Field of Dreams (pretty cool in the baseball stadium), and had $1.50 popcorn and drinks. It was fun and something different to do. There wasn't very many people who showed up, but it was the first time they had ever done anything like that, and I hope they will keep doing it, because we would definately go again.

I have been tagged.

Rules: list 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 current goals, 3 current obsessions, and 3 random facts about yourself.

3 Joys: 1) My Family and Friends 2)My Garden 3) My books

3 Fears: 1) That I will never figure out what I am supposed to be doing with my life2) That I will be fat until I die of being fat 3) Being lonely and abandoned

3 Current Goals: 1)Recieve my Master Gardener Certification 2) Finish my book 3) Get Healthy

3 Current Obsessions: 1) Writing my garden hubs 2) All things Gardening 3)Reading

3 Random Facts About Myself: 1) I can be anti-social 2) I love to hike
3)I have too many hobbies

3 People I tag are Mom-Harriella-Angie Ingram

First Day of School

My children started school on the 4th of August. As most parents are, I was looking forward to having some time to myself and a break from the child entertainment and constant "Mom can I...., Mom I want..., Mom I need.... and finally my favorite Mom, so and so hit me! However, my elation truly genuine, the funniest thing happened that day, when I had a lapse of emotional judgment, and cried! No, not just a few tears, but a full on blubbering mess. I don't know who was more shocked at this disturbing outburst, me or my kids. Anyway, this unusual event exploded from nowhere, when Danielle gave me a hug good-bye, before her Dad took her and Keldon to her first day of High School. I couldn't let go, and sobbed like a baby. I tried to explain that it was happiness that the tear filled moment stemmed from, but my smart children didn't buy it. Anyway, despite the morning's moving turmoil, they had a great first day!

Cook out at Haws Park

When I first met Jeff, one of the earliest dates I remember him taking me to, was to a cook out at Haws Park. I thought it was "literally" a park, like a city park. I lived in Eagar my whole life, but thought Jeff had just nicknamed one of the city parks Haws Park. I can't say at 17 years old I was the sharpest pencil in the box. Anyway I dressed up in one of my cutest outfits, spent hours doing my hair and makeup in anticipation of our date. I was indeed surprised to discover that Haws Park was a meadow with a white, wooden fence surrounding the property. All there was then, was an old tire swing, a firepit and a couple of old tables with two chairs and a rustic outhouse directly from the House on the Prairie. All of Jeff's family were there, including gazillions of cousins from the Slade, Bloomfield, Haws families,and scores of children running around playing games in the grass and swinging on the old swing. The matrons of the families, Aunt Sara, Aunt Dorothy, Annamarie, and Kathy were all forming biscuits from dough, while Buzz, Uncle Rudy, and Uncle Harvey were cooking up some hamburger in the dutch ovens. Everyone was so friendly, and made me feel like I was already part of the family. I had so much fun, and was so impressed with how close this family was I knew I wanted to be part of it. My cutest clothes inevitably stained from the dirt and grass,and my hair smelled like smoke, but it was one of the best dates I had ever been on.



After Jeff and I got married the cookouts at Haws park continued for awhile. Danielle learned to help my sweet mother-in-law make biscuits, and hamburger patties, and Keldon learned how to cook in a dutch oven because of those outings. They were also provided social occasions to bring new friends, and I learned that I wasn't "special" and everyone visting was treated the same welcoming way as I had been that first night. We enjoyed many summer outings to our special place nestled at the base of Water Canyon enveloped by tall trees. Those family outings will always be embedded in my memory. Now many of those wonderful people of the first generation I knew and loved so much have passed on. Their families have grown and are less connected as expected in the course of life, but the park is still there and we had the opportunity to go to a cookout while visiting this last weekend. It was a great experience to be able to relive and share an historic part of our lives with our friends.

Eagar Daze 2008

Every year Eagar celebrates it's historic establishment as a town with a plethora of fun events during the first Friday and Saturday of each August. There is logging events, craft and retail booths, races for the kids, free swimming, ice cream social, pancake breakfast, and dances. It's a nice break from the heat, and usually our last hoorah of the summer before school starts. We took our friends the Hatch's this year, and enjoyed having them along.

The kids enjoyed various races through the day, including a stick horse race, boot race (you have to take off one shoe and put it in a pile of shoes of the other races, find it, put it on and race toward the finish line), egg toss, hay bale race, and lots of others. They all won prizes and some cash to spend.

It was particularly warm, but our kids are amazing and they were really good, hardly ever complaining about the heat.


Keldon and Dallin were a force to be reckoned with in the wheelbarrow race and won.

There was a sheep race for the younger wranglers, and a calf race for the older participants. Keldon was able to get two ribbons, turning them in for cash, even running without his shoes (so much for those socks).

The highlight that kids waited for all day, was mud mania. They get to go through a mud obstacle course and get as muddy and dirty as they want.

I think they enjoyed this event the most and were upset when it was time to go.

There will always be some mysterious attraction in my opinion with kids, dirt, and water. This event combines all three.

Low Desert Landscape Design-Intro

Low Desert Landscape Design-Intro

Eagle Scouts

On Sunday we attended an Eagle Court of honor for Joseph Joslin. Joseph is one of Jeff’s young men.


Jeff has been blessed to have 5 boys receive their Eagle Scout awards this year, including our son Keldon.


Jeff also attended and completed Woodbadge training along with other men in his presidency, Derek Hatch, Dave Godemann, and Brett Hamblin. Woodbadge is the highest training you can receive in the Boy Scouts.

I have witnessed personally the changes and the impact this program has on young men. I know there are allot of dissenters of the program, but I question whether they truly understand and have committed to learning it. I say this, because I can’t understand how anyone would disagree with this program if they truly understood its purpose. It has been my experience that people that have had a bad experience with Boy Scouts is because they had a leader who was improperly trained, not trained at all, or disillusioned going into the program. Anyway there’s my soapbox, but I am really pleased with my scouts and the work that they continue to do to get these prestigious awards.

Tubing Trip

We had the young men over to our house last Wednesday to air up the tubes for a trip to the Salt River this last Saturday.


It worked out that Brother Haws, Brother Hatch, Brother Godemann, Brother Barrett, and Brother Snow did all of the airing, while the young men "tested" them out in the pool. They all had a good time swimming and eating pizza.


The tubing trip was fun, and I was able to go this time. There wasn't enough Young Women's leaders that could go, so I was asked if I could go to represent the Young Women. I was really happy to go, and had a good time. The young men and young women make this an annual activity, because it is so fun. They always go early in the morning to avoid the riff raff that comes later in the day to drink and are generally immodest. Besides there is so much wildlife you get to see when you go early in the morning. We saw two herds of wild horses that came down to drink in the river. I have never seen wild horses, so it was a new experience for me as well as many that were with us. There is tons of big fish that would swim and jump very close. I wasn't sure if I like that, but I soon got used to it. Bishop Hale navigated his kayak to help all those that strayed out of the currents, and help keep everyone safe. I think everyone had a fun time, and I would love to go again.

D-Backs Game

Orland Hudson was hurt toward the in of the game, when the pitcher hit him in the ankle with the ball.
This was the Logo on the huge new T.V. Screen they have. It's pretty cool.

Jeff and I went to the Diamond Backs baseball game at Chase field. Jeff has season tickets, and it has been a fun date to go and watch them play. I like baseball, but the games get a little long so I usually have a book or something. Anyway, they played the Chicago Cubs. The Cubbbies hold a special place in my heart, because growing up here in Arizona we didn't have a professional team yet, so I watched the Cubs on T.V. I watched Ryne Sandberg, and Mark Grace as a rookie. I even came to a spring training game with my best friend Angela and her dad when we were in High School. The game was fairly exciting though, and the D-Backs rattled the Cubbies 9-2. We left during the 7th inning, because it just got to stinkin hot, but watched the rest of the game at home.

Monsoon Season in the Desert

I went outside tonight and everything had the strangest red/
orange glow. It was the eeriest feeling. I had to take a picture. The storms here are the most incredible I have ever witnessed, and can be soo intense.

Family Friday Night Barbeque

We had a Barbeque at our house with the Hatch's, Hamblins, Haws's, and the Barnett's. Hmmmm, what's wrong here? Maybe we need to change the Barnett's to the Harnett's. lol. Anyway we had a great time, and the kids enjoyed swimming in the pool that now feels like warm bath water. The kids and suspiciously some or all of the husbands found water guns that were used maliciously against each other and the innocent wives. I am vowing to accidentally lose those toys in the future. The food was great. We made the burgers, the Hamblin's brought mouth watering watermelon, and yummy bean dip. The Barnett's made guacamole dip, and potato salad. It was fantastic especially since it was the first time for Kelly to make it. Kudos, Kelly and Tad! The Hatch's brought three different ice cream desserts, and a special no sugar dessert for Danielle, which was incredibly sweet of Elizabeth. She always makes the best desserts. It's kinda her permanent job. We were all completely stuffed, and happy watching the D-Backs on the back porch. As always it's refreshing to have friends to hang out with and have fun. It was really nice to get know Kelly and Tad a little better. They are newlyweds of about 3 months and new to the ward. They are great people and look forward to associating with them in the future.