Hello World . . . I'm Back

Hello Friends & Family,

I am back in the world of the living I think. I finished up my course work and am going to be doing an externship. I will have my diploma in ten weeks and hopefully have a job to boot. I will also be trying to catch you all up on life at our house.

36 . . . Really?

Well I turned 36 this last weekend and I'm not to sure what I think about it. I know I don't have much choice in the matter but I think I have finally come to the conclusion that I'll just say I'm 29 and leave it at that. Sushiboy and Superwoman had a BBQ on Saturday for Sushi and my birthdays which are only a day apart. It was a lot of fun and we stayed up way late playing games and laughing. Family is the best!!!

Big Grizz's family had a birthday dinner for me on Sunday. They put those fun re-lighting candles on my cake and my nephew and nieces had fun blowing them out over and over again with me.

Going Retro

My Aunt posted this picture on here facebook and it totally made me laugh. So I had to share. I am the red headed girl with glasses in the middle row. This picture was taken in 1980. Where does the time go?

Life is Ever Changing

Greetings - - -

Well I have been at my new job for almost a month. It's a good job and I think that I fit in really well here. The drive is a bit longer from home. It always takes a bit to get used to a new situation and I am doing very well. (I sit next to a window which is very nice.) Big Grizz has a new job as well and he started back to college yesterday. We just try and keep it all together and work hard.

I has been a beautiful summer. I got to go to my cousin's wedding with Sushiboy, Superwoman and their kids. The wedding was really neat and I am so glad to see my cousin so happy. She married a great guy. We got to see the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam on the trip as well. Arizona was very hot and we had all kinds of fun in the pool with the kids. I will try and post some pictures soon.

Life is ever changing and ours is no exception. Our neices and nephews that we love so much are growing and several are already in school. It seems to me that they were just babies a little bit ago. Hope all is well with all of you.

IN AND OUT AND ALL ABOUT...

Hello Friends and Family,

How can it already be the end of July? Where does the time go?

I have been busy to say the least. I got laid off from my work this month and so I am looking for a new job to replace the old one which I will really miss.

Big Grizz and I went camping with friends over the 4th of July holiday. That was a blast. We have to do it more often! We live in such a great and beautiful country. I will post pictures when I get another moment or two.

This weekend I am ditching Big Grizz and going on a road trip with the Sushiboy family. Our cousin is getting married and I am going with them. Big Grizz has to work. Bummer.

Well - Love and Hugs to you all. See ya later.

Delinquent Blogger

Hello People,

It’s me the delinquent blogger. The last couple of weeks have been an emotional roller coaster for me. So, I chose not to subject you to my mood swings, emotional rants and very crazy and silly random moods. Instead, I’ll just summarize it and sock it to you all at once.

My Mother passed away 13 years ago on the 24^th of March. I miss her so much around this time of year. (Heck – I miss her all the time, but it’s worse at this time of year.) My Father passed away a little over a year after my Mother. His birthday is the 1^st of April. So a week after the anniversary of my Mom’s passing I get a double wammy with my Father’s birthday rolling around. He would have been 63 this year if he were still here. I am surrounded by a good support system of wonderful people. I have great in-laws and have many wise people to turn to for advise, but I would like to have my parents’ perspective on things that I am dealing with as well. I never asked, or even knew to ask, the questions that are on my mind now. To say the least, sometimes I am a little bitter and lonely without them.

I am so glad that Sushiboy and Superwoman live close by. Sushiboy is the only person left living from my family that I grew up in. We both have great spouses, in-laws and extended family. We are blessed that way, but I still have issues sometimes. Go figure.

The weather this year has been just as polarized as my moods. We had a week of beautiful 60 degree weather in the middle of March and everyone I know had spring fever so bad they could taste it. Since then we have had several storms that brought inches of new snow off and on with nasty cold wind. I want warm Spring weather!!! (Maybe if I pitch a big enough fit I will get my way in another month or so. LOL) Anyway, today was a beautiful day, so maybe spring in the mountains really is here. So long winter and seasonal effected depression.

Guess I’m done with my rant. Something funny tomorrow for sure.

HAPPY NEW YEAR - Year In Review

YEAR IN REVIEW - - It's a long post but it was thought provoking for me.
I stole this from Uncle Manny's blog.

1) Was 2008 a good year for you?
2008 was excellent! I celebrated my 13 year wedding anniversary with Big Grizz. I became and Aunt 2 more time this year. I have a great job that I love. Big Grizz is able to attend university. We also live close to family, which is a great blessing.

2) What was your favorite moment of the year?
I had several, but the one that stands out right now is my surprise birthday party that my hubby put together.

3) What was your least favorite moment of the year?
Funerals of my grandmother, Uncle and 2 Aunts

4) Where did you begin 2008?
I think that I was at Superwoman and Sushiboy's house.

5) Who were you closest with?
My Husband, Superwoman & Sushiboy

6) Where will you be when 2008 Ends?
I shared the evening with Big Grizz. We went to Sushiboy and Superwoman's home for a fun, but quiet evening of games and visiting.

7) Who will you be with when 2008 ends?
See question 6

8) What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
I kept and posted on a blog.

9) Did you keep you New Year's Resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I am keeping my same New Year's Resolutions from last year because I need to keep working on them. 1. Better organize my time and my home. 2. Keep home clean and get rid of junk and clutter. 3. Exercise and eat better so that I can feel better in general and be more healthy. Kind of generic I know, but they are things that I need to work on.

10) Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my sisters-in-law. Beans had a baby girl in July and Superwoman had a baby boy in December.

11) Did anyone close to you die?
Yes, see question 5.

12) Did you travel outside of the US in 2008? Nope

13) How many different states did you travel to in 2008? 2

14) What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A baby

15) What date(s) from 2008 will remain etched on your memory, and why?
Not sure what to pick on this one, I'll have to think on this one some more.

16) What is your biggest achievement of the year?
My great job.

17) What was your biggest failure?
Keeping that apartment clean and organized consistently.

18) Did you suffer any illness or injury?
Nothing to serious. I had a couple of chest colds that were not fun.

19) What was the best thing that you bought?
G.I. Joe and Transformer t-shirts for Grizz. We also purchased a couple of fun electronic devises this year.

20) Whose behavior merited celebration?
Big Grizz and Sushiboy for working so hard on school and work.

21) Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Anyone that hurt or brought unnecessary sadness to my family.

22) Where did most of your money go?
Food and Bills

23) What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The births of my niece and nephew

24) What song will always remind you of 2008?
"I Saw God Today" by George Strait

25) Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier
ii. thinner or fatter? I have put on a few pounds this year.
iii. richer or poorer? I have a better job this year and Grizz is back in school, so both. We are very rich with blessing though.

26) What do you wish you had more of?
Closet space in our apartment and more room in the bath/laundry room.

27) What do you wish you had done less of?
Worrying and Wasting time.

28) How did you spend Christmas?
I spent Christmas with my Husband and my Family.

29) Did you fall in love in 2008? Yes

30) If yes, with who?
I fell in love again with my great husband.

31) If yes, do they know? Yes

32) Are you still in love with them? Yes

33) Do you regret it? Nope

34) Did you breakup with anyone in 2008? No

35) How many one-night stands?
what a tacky question - none

36) How many people did you sleep with in 2008?
even more tacky question. Just my hubby.

37) Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't really hate anyone. I don't like that actions of some people, but that's just life.

38) Did you make any new friends in 2008? Yes, a whole bunch

39) Who are your favorite new friends?
My co-workers

40) What was your favorite month of 2008? May

41) Did you miss anybody in the past year?
I had a lot of fun looking up old friends that I missed and starting to get reacquainted. I really missed my folks and grandparents this past year.

42) Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
Of course I've made mistakes, but I've learned from them and so I won't spell them out here.

43) What was the worst lie someone told you in 2008?
I usually don't catch people in lies. The one that hurt the worst was when someone told me I was doing good and I found out later that they really thought I was doing a lousy job.

44) Did you treat someone badly in 2008?
I'm sure that I was thoughtless at one time or another, but I try to never treat anyone badly.

45) Did somebody treat you badly in 2008?
Probably, but I'd rather not remember.

46) What was your proudest moment of 2008?
When we were going around the table on Thanksgiving telling what we were thankful for and my niece Sis said she was thankful for me.

47) What was your most embarrassing moment of 2008?
Not sure - I've blocked the memories. I'm sure that I opened my mouth without engaging my brain.

48) What was your greatest musical discovery?
Yahoo online radio

49) What did you want and get?
A cell phone

50) What did you want and not get?
A new car - I can dream.

51) What was you favorite new film of this year?
Kung Fu Panda

52) What was your favorite TV program?
Criminal Minds and Numbers

53) What was your favorite record from 2008?
The latest George Strait Album called "Troubadour".

54) How many concerts did you see in 2008?
3 - I got to go to the Kurt Bestor concert with Grandma S and one of my aunts. I also got to go to a couple of Big Grizz's younger brother's concerts.

55) Did you have a favorite concert in 2008?
Loved them all.

56) Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2008? None

57) Did you do a lot of drugs in 2008? None

58) What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
34 and my husband arranged a Surprise Party/Dinner get-together for me at Chile's. It was wonderful and a dang lot of fun!

59) What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
There are several goals I would have liked to have done better on.

60) How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
It was fun to try a couple of new things but I pretty much stick to the basics. Nothing to wild.

61) What kept you sane?
I love a good book and a fun computer game.

62) Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I don't know. They all seem to disappoint me.

63) How much money did you spend in 2008? All of it.

64) Tell us a valuable lesson you learned in 2008:
It's easier to clean up a little mess than a big mess.

65) What are your plans for 2009?
Work hard and reward myself well.

66) Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

"That's the story of my life
Right there in black and white

And if looks like we were scared to death
Like a couple kids just trying to save each other
You should have seen it in color

A picture's worth a thousand words
But you can't see what those shades of gray keep covered
You should have seen it in color."

"YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN IT IN COLOR" by Jamey Johnson

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

I did not get the decorations for Christmas up this year like I meant to do. Time just flew and then it was to late. Dave got a small and fun sparkly tree so we were not entirely without decorations and we had the wrapped presents as well. We had a wonderful Christmas holiday though and we are looking forward to a very quiet New Year.

We were incredibly blessed this Christmas. We spent the whole weekend with family and friends. On Tuesday, while I was at work, UPS dropped off a large box filled with Christmas presents and fun holiday food items for Big Grizz and I. The return address had been cut off so we have no idea who our Secret Santa is. Thank you to the very generous mystery people out there. You helped make our Christmas extra special. I had Christmas Eve off from work and so Big Grizz and I worked on the last of our presents in the morning and I made a big fruit salad for Christmas Eve dinner. We spent the evening with Big Grizz's family. We had a wonderful dinner and we exchanged gifts. We also had a white elephant present game, which is always funny and a bit crazy. On the Saturday before Christmas, we has a party for Grandma S's family. It was a lot of fun and I will put a picture in of me playing "Pin the Carrot Nose on the Snowman".

Christmas day was a snowy one. Grizz and I slept in a bit and then we went over to Grizz's folks place again. Superwoman & Sushiboy and their family were there to visit as well. We exchanged gifts and had a nice visit. After that we went to visit Grandma S and other family. We then went back to Grizz's folks and watched old home movies that we had transferred to DVD. It was a wonderful day. I gave Big Grizz a GI Joe Shirt and a season of Animated Batman for Christmas gifts.

The day after Christmas was the party for my extended family held at my Aunt and Uncle's home. We were invited to come and join in the fun with their 7 sons and their families and the Sushiboy family. My Cousin #1 and his family were not able to make it. We missed them. It was quite the crowd with the rest of us though and a good deal of fun. We are a crazy bunch when we get together and this year there were 4 babies under 3 months old. We all got a chance to hold at least 1 of them. Little Tank was born on the 2nd of December and Cousin #4 in line and his wife had a baby boy that week as well. Cousin #2 in line, who is my age, and his wife had twins - a boy and a girl - on the 25th of October. We got a funny picture with Tank and the twins. Their shirts all say "Silent Night, Yeah Right!" The girl twin is really mad and crying in the picture. We did a white elephant gift game at this party as well. It is always so funny to see what people come up with.

Pictures of Family

Superwoman & Sushiboy had family pictures taken with their kids and they also had little Tank’s 2 week pictures taken. I could not help myself, I just had to post a couple of them. Enjoy!

It Looks Like Winter Finally Found Us

We got six inches of snow yesterday and now another storm is pounding on us. I bet the skiers will be excited, because up until this point we have had a pretty mild winter/fall. I am not one that loves the snow, but it is pretty when you're inside watching it and it provides much needed water for us in the summer. I love the changing seasons and the wonder of living in the mountains though. Here's a pix of the snow we had yesterday by lunch.

I am so excited to spend Christmas this year with all of my family! I even have paid time off and paid vacation days - - how cool is that? Big Grizz and I are very blessed to live within an hour of most of our immidiate family. Grizz just finished finals and is doing free-lance work over the holiday and I am busy working. We are doing good. Best Wishes to everyone!

Fortune Cookie Friday & Cute Babies

Hello Everyone! ~ ~ Fortune from a cookie anyone?




Time for a fortune cookie or 2 and some cute pictures of the little kids in my life.

This year is very quickly winding up and we seem to get more and more busy. Big Grizz is in the middle of final exams and projects in college and that is making him crazy. I am busy with work and I am finally caught up after being sick with a nasty chest cold/flu.

Superwoman & Sushiboy's baby is a darling, cuddly and chunky baby boy. His nickname is Tank. I adore him. I truly have the coolest and the cutest nieces and nephews in the whole wide world.




SuperWoman and Shushiboy Family with a new addition.


Big Sister and Proud Aunt holding the teeny, tiny Tank.



That binky is nice.




Big Grizz and Proud Uncle holding the Tank.


Baby Beans with Sis having lots of fun.

Labor Day’s come and gone . . . What Happened To My Summer?

Man this year is just flying by and I wanted to do so much this summer that I didn’t even get a chance to plan, let alone do it. Don’t get me wrong, I did do some fun things this summer. I just wanted to do so much more and other things took precedence.

One thing that I did get to do this summer was to see a lot of my extended family, which was really nice. Unfortunately, most of my visiting took place because of funerals. My Grandmother passed away this summer just a week after we went to Boise to see her and the extended family. Big Grizz’s Great-aunt and also an Uncle and Aunt passed away at different times over the summer as well. Funerals have dominated this summer, which is very hard. We miss them all.

We also enjoyed playing this summer with the nieces and nephews. We went to the arcade and played at the park and celebrated the birth of Baby Beans. I guess we actually packed a lot in this summer but I would still would like about 10 more 3 day weekends to make up for my “lost” summer.

Labor Day weekend was a lot of fun, even if it was a very wet weekend. (Over an inch of rain!) It was great to spend it with all kinds of family and friends. There is never enough time to see everyone for long enough, but I sure enjoyed my visits with My Aunt and Uncle and cousins as well as the Sushi boy family.

Welcome into the world, Baby Beans!

Big Grizz's sister Beans delivered a beautiful baby girl into the world on Thursday the 31st. She is a darling little thing and we all adore her. Here are some pictures of the cutey with her family.

We will miss you Grandma!

My Grandma passed away this evening. She is the Grandma that we went to see in the Boise trip mentioned in my last post. I will miss her dearly and I am glad that she does not have to be in pain or feel sick any more. She can now be with Grandpa and my Mom & Dad & brothers in Heaven. I have so many wonderful memories of Grandma.

Grandma's Hugs Are Made Of Love!

Everything my grandma does
is something special made with love.
She takes time to add the extra touch
that says, "I love you very much."

She fixes hurts with a kiss and smile
and tells good stories grandma-style.
It's warm and cozy on her lap
for secret telling or a nap.

And when I say my prayers at night
I ask God to bless and hold her tight.
Cause when it comes to giving hugs
my grandma's arms are filled with love!

~ Author Unknown ~

Just thought that I would post a couple of picture of our trip to Boise. Big Grizz and I and the Sushi Boy Family went and visited with Sushi's and my Grandma and the Aunts & Uncles & Cousins from that side. It was good to see everyone as it has been a while.

Just Another Manic Monday

And away we go . . . This week should be an interesting one. Monday mornings are the hardest at work because they are very busy and there is always so much to do. I am finally over me sickness except for a bit of a scratchy throat a lingering cough. I'm so glad to be feeling better. Big Grizz and I and the Sushi Boy family are going to go to a family reunion at the end of the week in Boise, ID. It is at least a 5 hour drive to Boise so we will have tired bums. It will be good to see our extended family though & spend some quality time with Sushi Boy, Superwoman, Cookie Monster, and Cakes.

Last Thursday, Cookie Monster and Cakes came to our house to play while Superwoman did a cooking party. Big Grizz suggested that we get together with Tigger and Sis and Dukka Dad. We had so much fun!! After we had played for a while Big Grizz suggested that we go to "Gourgeous George's" It was a game that his Dad played with him when he took them out for a treat at a local fast food restaurant. It is one of the and his sisters' favorite memories with their Dad. We ended up going to McDonald's for ice cream and to play in the kid's area. Big Grizz loves to










play with the kids and tease them too. He is the best Uncle ever! They love him to pieces. Here are some pictures of them eating their ice cream.

Hard Way to Have A Family Reunion

Big Grizz and I spent a large portion of this last week with his family. We were able to visit with many of his cousins that we haven't seen in quite a while, which was really nice. The hard part of all this is that we were gathering for the funeral for one of Grizz's uncles. It is so sad and we will miss his uncle a great deal. Like the title of this post says, this is a really hard way to have a family reunion. It is so good to be able to see our extended family and to be able to support each other. Love is a wonderful thing.

The Most Adorable

Once Upon A Time . . . There was a Lady who loved her nieces and nephews very much. She might have been the proudest Aunt ever to be. She thought that it would be fun to introduce you to them. Cookie Monster and Cakes are siblings and their parents are Sushiboy (Big Sister’s brother) and Superwoman. Superwoman is expecting another baby in December. Tigger and Sis are siblings and their parents are Beans (Big Grizz’s sister) and DookaDad. Beans is also expecting and is going to have a baby girl in the beginning of August. Boo is the only child in her family and her parents are Nana (Big Grizz’s sister) and Boo’sDad. Here are some pictures that will show you why I am so proud and just how cute these kids are.

Cookiemonster (Indian) @ Preschool Graduation -

- Cakes @ Fall Dance Recital

Cookiemonster & Cakes @ McDonalds














Sis & Grandma Net
Tig @ Chuck E Cheese









Playing video Games



Playing with Boo

Boo with snacks

Now wouldn't you be the proudest Aunt ever if you has nieces and nephews as cute as this?