Our Christmas Card 2008

This was our Christmas card this year. We decided to be a little "crazy" this year. We were out riding around in Genola to find places to take family pictures and I saw this cute broken down car sitting out in a field. So we hopped a few fences (Randy said we was breaking the law), but we sure had fun doing it! Kara took the pictures and designed our card...thanks KareBear!

Schools Out For Christmas Vacation!!

I am sooooo ready for my 2 week vacation!

Ann-E-Wok Is Missing

Well our beloved Shih-tzu dog Ann-E-Wok, (Annie) who would have turned 14 this next May is missing. I think that she walked off somewhere to die. I have looked everywhere possible in the house that she could fit, to see if she's there. Can't find her. I have gone to the 3 houses here on my street that she likes to frequent and no sign. She doesn't go off too far because she is going deaf and blind, plus she HATES her paws in the snow, so she usually just goes out to tinkle and right back in. I haven't seen her now for 2 days. I'm sad. I hope she will show up, but after this long, I am really thinking that she went off somewhere to die. She was really slowing down these past few weeks. I wonder if Ozzy our cat had anything to do with it?

Christmas House

Hey Everyone!
You must take yourselves, your kids, your grandkids, your mothers, your fathers, anyone you want...to see this house in Payson all decked out with a light show. It is sycronized to music, you tune your radio to 99.9 and watch it from inside your car! It's great.
To get there you go to 1260 S. Main St. (it's 2 blocks south of the high school) and turn east. It's like the 3rd house on the left, you will see it.
Here is a clip of one of the songs I video'd.
GO SEE IT!
Pause my blog music at the bottom of the page before playing this video so you can hear it.

It's Beginning To Look A lot Like Christmas!

Up until yesterday I just was not in the Christmas spirit. It's just not Christmas season if there isn't any snow. I hate snow and the cold so I would vote to get snow just before Christmas, and then it needs to melt and go away by January 1st. Yesterday (saturday) was the day I had to get my Christmas shopping started, (yes you heard me right) I could not put it off another day. This is what I came out of the store to.......

It's A Boy!

Kadee invited me to go to her ultrasound yesterday. It's a boy! Boy is it a boy!!! No questions here as you can see. Blake is pretty proud of his endowed son!

I was thrilled when she asked me to go. What an awesome feeling it is to see a new little grandchild to love! So now I will get a granddaughter, (Paizley Jo) in February and a grandson, (Bryson) in April!!! (I'll have 3 grandsons and 2 granddaughters) Yeah for Gramma Jo!!!

Reflecting.....

Today (November 26th) is a special day for me. My mom passed away on this day 4 years ago. Each year I reflect on the events that led up to her passing, and what I was doing. This is going to be a long post, please be patient with me as I express my feelings for my mother.

It was 5 a.m the day after Thanksgiving, I woke up and realized that I had slept all night without waking up to check on mom. I laid there trying to listen for moms rythmic breathing that I was use to hearing for the past couple of days. I couldn't hear it, and I wondered if I was going to go in her room and find she quietly passed away in the night. As I went into the dark bedroom, her breathing was very shallow. I felt for her hand, and it was very cold. I knew the time was very close that she was going to pass away. We had hospice coming into help us with mom and the nurse Annette prepared us every step of the way of the phases that were going to take place as it got closer to her passing. She said her breathing would become very labored and shallow when it was almost time. I hurried and called her and told her that mom's breathing had changed and that she was very cold. She told me she would be right over. Annette showed up and confirmed that mom was very close. Even tho I was preparing myself for this time the last couple of weeks, I wasn't quite ready to let her go. Annette told me this would be the time to call my brothers and sisters and let them know that mom was very close, and if any of them would like to tell her goodbye, to let them express themselves to her by putting the phone to her ear. Mom had slipped into a coma the day prior and was unresponsive to our voices when we spoke to her. I know that when I had called my siblings, all were not very comfortable with saying their goodbyes to mom thru the phone, but if they could have witnessed what I did when I placed the phone to her ear each time one son or daughter told her goodbye and they loved her, I knew that mom heard and knew each one of their voices as she tried to nod even tho she was in a coma. Mom passed away at 7:35 that evening.

Gosh I miss her. I miss calling her, hearing her voice, and just having her there to listen to me when I've had a bad day, or to tell her of things that made my day!

For those who are fortunate enough to still be blessed by having your mom with you, this is next writing is beautiful. For those who aren't, it is even more beautiful.

The Journey of a Mother

The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is this the long way?" she asked.
And the guide said "Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning."
But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, she fed them and bathed them, and taught them how to tie their shoes and ride a bike and reminded them to feed the dog, and do their homework and brush their teeth. The sun shone on them, and the young Mother cried,
"Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."
Then the nights came, and the storms, and the path was sometimes dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her arms, and the children said, "Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come."
And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children, "A little patience and we are there." So the children climbed, and as they climbed they learned to weather the storms. And with this, she gave them strength to face the world.

Year after year, she showed them compassion, understanding, hope, but most of all...unconditional love. And when they reached the top they said, "Mother, we would not have done it without you."
The days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she became little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And the mother, when she lay down at night, looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned so much and are now passing these traits on to their children."
And when the way became rough for her, they lifted her, and gave her their strength, just as she had given them hers. One day they came to a hill, and beyond the hill, they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide.
And mother said: "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk with dignity and pride, with their heads held high, and so can their children after them. And the children said, "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates." And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: "We cannot see her, but she is with us still.

A Mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence." Your Mother is always with you. She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she's the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick and perfume that she wore, she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well, she's your breath in the air on a cold winter's day. She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a rainbow, she is Christmas morning.
Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every tear drop. A mother shows every emotion...happiness, sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow...and all the while, hoping and praying you will only know the good feelings in life.
She's the place you came from, your first home, and she's the map you follow with every step you take.
She's your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space...not even death!

I Love you Mom and I miss you!

I took this picture of me holding my mom's hand just before she passed. My mother had the most beautiful hands, hands that served me!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today (November 18th) is my mom's "would be" 79th Birthday. She passed away suddenly 4 short years ago next week. Today is and was her special day!

Happy Birthday Mom, I Love You.

Kitty Kisses

I'm not sure if the cat is enjoying these kisses more or Gunner? Ozzie was perfectly content to sit in his lap and let him kiss and squeeze all he wanted to. He is so cute with this cat, you can tell he loves animals.

LOUD NOISES!

Jade and some of his buddies have set up a "basement band"....in our basement! It gets pretty rowdy down there. Tyler Rollins is on guitar, Jade on drums. Can you say LOUD???!!!

Jade tells me they are going to be famous.

To Gramma With Love...

Kara's family came up last weekend for a visit and Kya brought me "a present". ***Grin***

My Cute Son

Kara took our family pictures this past weekend, and this is one that she took of Jade. Jade drew that grafitti (not on the building!) and she put it on the picture. (By the way...the graffiti says, "Halfpint")

My baby boy.......

Ozzie Gets De-Clawed

We had Ozzie nutered and de-clawed yesterday. These are his cute little casts! I think he's flipping me off in this picture.........

This is a video of my 13 year old shih-tzu dog Annie, who is constantly terrorized by our cat Ozzy. I'm afraid that one day she will have a heart attack or stroke from being startled by the cat. Annie is going deaf and blind, so half the time she doesn't know when the cat is sneaking up on her. Poor thing.
Take a look.....

It's Always Fun When Gunner Comes...

Ozzie the cat attacking Gunner

Jade's First Fender Bender

Jade was on his way to work yesterday on the freeway. There is construction between Payson and Spanish Fork. As he came over the bridge, traffic was at a stand still from another wreck up ahead. He rear-ended another car. Not too much damage to either vehicle. After waiting an hour for Highway Patrol to show up, the other guy told Jade he was tired of waiting and to just go on their way! Whew! Jade was lucky because he would have got the ticket!

Cathy's Great Outdoor Adventure....

4-Wheelin' In My Old Stompin' Grounds.....

Randy and I took a weekend trip down to my hometown Blanding to go 4-wheelin' with my sister Cathy, brother-in-law Dennis and their son Ked and his wife Ashley. It was a lot of fun. Getting out on the reservation, smelling the sage brush and getting into the back country brought back lots of memories. I use to spend a lot of my growing up years climbing on these rocks and parkin' in the boondocks!

Thanks Dennis, Cathy, Ked & Ashley for the fun day!

Bedtime Stories......

Aunt Cathy came to visit and while I was tending the kids for the weekend she read to Kya, Ryv and Indo! She was reading the book, "Why Are You So Grumpy".

From Kya's Perspective

Kya asked me if she could take pictures with my camera, (like mother-like daughter) so this is the start of her portfolio!

26 years old!

It seems like yesterday I drank that castor oil!

Happy Birthday!!

It's Game Day....

Saturday's during this time of the year mean one thing..... BYU FOOTBALL! The Cougars are back! Watching BYU'S team this year, reminds me of the Ty Detmer years, back when watching the games were fun and exciting! In excitement for today's game, I decided that I was going to make some fresh salsa for us to munch on. (Blake's mom Becky insisted I go up to her house and pick all the fresh veggies that I needed. She said if i didn't get them, the deer will. So I did! In fact, that is where I was going when I saw the dude in the next post)

All ready for game time, with Tostito Scoops and Fresh Salsa in hand, we find out the game is only televised on The Mtn. Network.............. &#@%!!!!!

CAN I TELL YOU HOW MUCH I HATE THE MTN. NETWORK SINCE THEY DON'T GIVE DISH NETWORK THE RIGHTS TO CARRY IT!!!

We had to listen to the dang thing on the radio and get a visual of the game while eating the salsa! Oh well......there's always next week!

Rah Rah Rah Rah Rah....Gooooooooo Cougars!

Ummm, Is This Normal???

Check out this dude who was walking up on the highway carrying this huge cross! I had to run home and grab my camera cause I knew this would be a great pic for my blog since I never have anything exciting to post!!! This just isn't something you see everyday in Utah!!! At least not in my little corner of the world!! I was just a bit nervous as I pulled up in a spot and waited till he got a little closer to take his picture out my car window hoping he wasn't going to go psycho and beat me up with his cross for taking his picture!

Have I Ever Told You How Much Fun It Is Being A Grandma?

Childhood Buddies!

Flash Photography (Kara's)

I have a very smart and creative daughter who can do anything! Reminds me of myself...kidding! Anyway she has taken up photography and designing cards of all sorts. She has surpassed me in the photoshopping area by far. Here is a sample of her work. Look at her blog that she has for her business at http://www.flash-pd.blogspot.com/

Kadee & Blake Buy Their First House

For the last 2 weeks, our lives have been dedicated to helping Blake and Kadee strip wallpaper, tear down more mirrors than we have ever seen in a single home, primer and paint walls, sand and refinish kitchen cupboards, repaint a dinet set, shampoo carpets and move them into this house. It's a charming home, built in 1979 that sits on an acre. Blake just has to walk out his back door to the end of his back yard and he's to work!! His family orchard business is directly behind him. Every day for 2 weeks I worked 8 hrs at the high school, go home change my clothes and head for their house and pick up a paint brush or whatever for the next 6 hours. Can I tell you that I have felt my "near 50 age"! It's almost been a week since we finished and I'm still trying to "recover"! I'm impressed by the support they received from family to help them get into their home. Both sides of the family put in many many hours to make this house a home!

I hope this is the one and only time we have to move these two, I'm not sure my back can sustain another move!

It's A Girl!

So Scott and Sammy found out today they are having a girl! This will be my 2nd granddaughter! They are naming her Paizley.

Gunner came to Grandma Jo's house to play today. He is so cute!

Yearbook Yourself.........

I saw this on Tiffany's blog and thought I'd try it. This is what I would have looked like in those years! If you want to do it go to, http://www.yearbookyourself.com/ Have fun!

Happy Anniversay To Us!!

Randy and I met on June 20, 1980 crusing Center Street in Provo. I was not attracted to him at all, ok...maybe I flirted a little....but I was in a serious relationship and wasn't really looking for anyone! He jumped out in front of my car to stop me so he could go on a little ride in my cool 1976 Chevy Chevette! I was with my friend Jayne Redd and Randy jumped in my car and sat on her lap. All cool as he thought he was, this was his pick up line....
"If I call you up sometime, will you go 4-Wheelin in my truck, or a ride on my Harley, or go on my motorcross bike"? Well I thought he was trying to make me drool over all his toys that he claimed to have, and I didn't answer him. My friend Jayne did, she said "Sure". Randy then replies, "Not you, her." and pointed to me! I thought he was so rude!! I said sure I'll go. I gave him a fake name and a fake phone number. My friend Jayne told him that wasn't the right name or number, so i gave him my real one after a while. Just then his girlfriend pulls up besides us, he looks at her, jumps out of my car, gets in hers and starts making out. As we took one more drag down Center, there he was, still in her car making out and I shout out..."I'm disappointed!" and he yells back "Don't be!" I didn't think any more of it after that and frankly forgot all about him. That was on a Monday. On Wednesday I got a call from him and he was playing the guessing game with me to see if I knew who was calling. I couldn't remember when he asked what I did on Monday night. I was shocked when he said it was the guy I met on Center Street. Well to make a long story short, we made a date for Friday night. We were inseperable from our first date. Two short months later we were married on August 19th!
Hey when it's right, it's right!
We've had our share of ups and downs, but we've had more up's than down's, and I plan to have many more up's!
I love you Randall Frank Hall! Happy Anniversary!
P.S. He really did have all those toys, but was very much in debt!

Wyoming Downs....

We took a trip up to Evanston Wyoming with our best friends, Ray & Connie and Robert & Gayle to watch the horse races! It was a BLAST! We've never been to the races before and we'll definately go back again. Thanks Ray for the invite to go!!

2 Buns In The Ovens!

We have 2 more grandbabies on the way!!
Kadee just found out she is pregnant and by our own predictions, we figured she'd be due around the middle part of April.
Sammy is pregnant and she is due on February 12th.
This will be 5 for us.
WE LOVE GRANDBABIES!!

And How Was Your Day???

So this is pretty funny! Scott was doing water deployment training with the canines and one of the dogs came across the river and bit the protective sleeve like he was suppose to. The dog handler called the dog off. The dog then spun around behind Scott and so Scott turned to face the dog, but he turned to slow and the dog keyed on his movement and spun around and bit his right butt cheek!!! He had to go to Alta View Hospital to have the wound flushed out! The guy whose dog bit him took this picture! Scott said quite a few people at the hospital got a kick out of this moment!

Nice panties Scott!

Beware Of Vampires!

My wild and crazy neighbor Kenzie Scott had a Vampire Party. It was being held to celebrate the 4th book of the Twilight Series. They played games, and then all of them loaded up into the extra long van and went to the bookstore to get the new book at midnight, then they all went back to her house and read all night! I was invited to this party, but declined to go because I'm just finishing book 2 and still have to get thru 3 before I can start 4! Besides, I'm too old for these all-nighters! Looks like they had lots of fun tho!

The Spring Lake Fire Spectacular!

We watched this fire from our house! It sounded like a war-zone with all the planes and helecopters flying over to put out the fire. At night it was very fierce looking.