HOME AGAIN!

After about 31/2 weeks on the road we are back home. It really went fast and was a great time. The kids are doing great and it was soooooooo good to have a bit more time with each of them without worrying about work, getting caught up at home, etc. The grandkids are all too cute for words and we miss them terribly. They are all perfect and even though their parents might pull their hair out occassionally (o.k., maybe a bit more often), they are the very best grandkids alive. We know we spent enough time with each of the kids because we stayed long enough to irritate each one of then at least once. We decided that was a good monitor of when it was time to leave! (Heeehee) They took our visit in good stride and our in-law children didn't evict us so we think it went alright.

We talked on the way home from Boise and wished the kids could be about 4-5 hours from home. That way we could get to see them a bit more often, attend those "school, church, important" events more often and generally just be more "hands on" grandparents. We miss that...

Stopped in Utah first and spent some time with Wendy, my sister, setting up the family reunion in June. Looked at the house we will be renting and talked food, etc. GREAT house, BIG, lots of fun things to do.....Should be a great time.

Then went to Arizona to see the Scussel's and Kanenwisher's. Weather was cool but warmer than Montana, sunny and a welcome change from the snow we have had. We fed ducks, went on hikes, shopped, had hair cuts (THANK YOU Tanya!), went minature golfing, looked at new house plans (Congrats Cassie & Chad), went to an art dispaly at the Temple, and generally had a great time. Life with children is soooooooo busy. I am always in awe of how organized Tanya is with her five. Hope is "stinkin cute", and the boys are smart, funny and in general perfect. Cassie's Justin is keeping her VERRRRRRRRRy busy. Two is so much fun! She is going to be busy with a new house and new baby all at once.

While in Lakeside we visited with wonderful "Old" friend, Leigh and Joyce Cox. What a treat that was! It was like coming home, like we had never had years in between. That is what good friends are like......you may never see them, or even keep in close contact, but when you DO see them again, it's like time did not exist. We so enjoyed visiting with them and catching up. We are going to try to do a "girls" trip to Education Week. We tried to talk them into Israel in May but they have plans in Mexico with family. THANK YOU Joyce and Leigh. It was great!

After Arizona we went to Las Vegas for the night. WOW......for this country girl, that was my personal "shock & awe" show. By the time we got to the hotel I didn't even want to go to the strip so we just stayed at the motel and ate and wandered around and gawked at everyone. There was a ProBass shop attached so we ended up spending a good amount of time there just wandering. It beat all the X-rated, smokey stuff going on otherwise.

In Reno we saw my Dad and Nancy and her song Doug . It was good to spend time with Dad. He looks great, is still more active than I am and doing well.

Boise was cold, but fun with the Williams group. We went to Chucky Cheese and that a fun watching the girls. I had never been there before so it was interesting. We did some shopping for Tammy's belated birthday and that was nice to spend some one on one with her. ( She seems to take a backseat on the birthday calendar now since her daughter's birthday is the same day!) They are busy getting their back yard planted with a garden, etc.



Everything at home was fine, Hunter did great (even gained some weight). We are so grateful for good friends who watched the house and took such good care of things.