Yep, at the end of next month - I am going to be 50!!! YAH!! Think of how healthy, comfortable and happy I am.
I have decided to make a list (since I am big into lists and then crossing things off) of Fifty Nifty things to do.
I have some written down (and even crossed off ( I mean how many times do I need to hike the Tooele "T?"))
What would you suggest?
Ok, so I am a big "not working on Sunday" person, but this week my dedication to "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" won out. Michael and Ashley's bedrooms have been DISASTER areas and I did not want to start summer with such a mess they couldn't even find clothes to wear.
It only took four hours. Michael (who was not here) donated 3 bags to D.I. and had three bags of trash.
Ashley donated 4 bags of clothes and four bags of trash. Go mom!!
As you know, I am interested in learning things.
Right now I am learning about playing the organ and riding horses.
I added to my shoe collection recently by buying: 1) real hiking/outdoor/work shoes 2) CUTE new sandels for summer which even hold/but don't show, my foot supports! 3) riding boots!! (and chaps). I am super excited to look cool at riding lessons and the little shows she does in the summers. Yah me!
There were ATV-ers driving all along the road. We were pulled off and in some shade so it was not TOOOO annoying. Until......we were packing up and there was a 'crunch!'
We ran out to the road, and a little kid on an ATV had rammed the back of the mini van (which was QUITE aways off the road). Anyway, here is what it looks like. Poor mini-van.
Yeppers, we were so into nature that on Friday, we hiked the "T!"
Super nature-y huh? Lola and Abby had been before so off we went with our guides. I packed water and treats. Michael was super complain-y. Dad was super sweaty. Abby was super helpful. Lola and Ellie were super quick. Ashley was super good at finding rocks to sit on.
We made it!! It was nice weather and GEORGEOUS views!!
(Do I need to hike it again? Probably not).
Go team Herron!
Now that we officially have a truck, I decided we should go camping! Josh rented a camper from work and I secured us a stop up Middle Canyon (only 7 minutes away - but no cell phone service!) and Josh brought it up on Thursday night. I had everything all packed up - but it was the whole van and the whole truck! Lola and Abby came with us. We had a great site and Lola and Ellie had their own tent and Michael slept in the little yellow tent. It was great!
I use to think camping was boring but this time it was great! Josh cooked, there was laughing, games, etc. A good time was had by all - even Lola agreed to spend the second night! Ashley did hide out in the van for a while....
Ashley finished at Excelsior Academy last week. She wore her black dress and sat with her class.
She was on high honor roll her whole 8th grade year and on the honor roll during her whole middle school career.
When they called her name, she stood up and curtsied. There was lots of screaming and yelling - she was super happy about her. We got her pink carnations.
Ashley was in the choir concert at school - and even had a solo! She did great!
More work on the yard.
Josh and I went to a get-away-vacation (and decided to save up our vacations for fun stuff-like Spain). Anyway, we went to a B and B in Heber City. We stayed the night, went on the train, and ate at a place that had gluten free french fries, chicken tenders and oreo milkshakes!! Yum!
Ellie got a gorgeous necklace from Grandma Jan for her birthday.
Michael asked me to go on the school field trip to the aquarium last week. So I went. Michael, Gavin and David (and me) made up Team Seaweed (the boys loved it). It was great! Everywhere we went I would yell "Team Seaweed" and they ran over. Here is a snake they liked.
After much work and effort - we got re-certified as foster parents! This means we can foster, do respite and I can be a foster mentor (I really enjoy helping new foster parents).
Go us!
We started hard-core on the yard. Our beautiful friends, the Bullocks, came over and helped us tear out the back tree. Josh rented a stump grinder and spent a day grinding down the trunk (we even had to go back and get it again - the roots were so deep). More pictures to follow.
Moo and Romeo continue to be cute.
The Tooele library is open! Every time you come in, a librarian stands up and yells (ok, not really), "Welcome to the library!" It is very nice.
Tragic story however - after a year plus of using my Kindle, we started going to the library. Then my arthritis finger tips started to hurt again. IT IS BECAUSE I AM HOLDING BOOKS. The slight pressure and movement sets off my pains. AHAHAHAHAHHAHA!! Yah I have a Kindle.
We went and got a 'foster goodie bag' and this puzzle was it in - Ashley blew through it in like 2 days. We got other cool thinks like 8 passes to the zoo, aquarium passes, spices mix, etc. Go foster care!
Yes, yesterday I fulfilled one of my bucket list goals - I was political! Due to an unhappy event, I volunteered to go to the state GOP elections! We were voting for the head of the Republican party in Utah for the next two years. It was all very exciting. I got tons of email and texts the days before. Then I studied up (only a little) on the candidates. Then I drove to the Maverick Center and got parked. Then I checked in and found my seat among the Tooele people.
There was a lot of America stuff - anthem, bagpipes, etc. Then TONS of Republican speakers. Everyone basically, both senators (people booed Mitt Romney - I clapped), the three representatives, state people, it only took 2 hours. Then we got to vote on some small technical matters - we just got to hold up our badges - everything passed quick. Then we heard from the real candidates - each gave a small speech. Then we got out our phone and voted - it took like .7 seconds. (No lunch or real bathroom breaks here).
Then we heard from some national officers (who basically asked for money). Then there was some voting on some obscure language on different party stuff. THAT is when it got bogged down. Apparently more than 50 people were against (out of about 1,500 that were left after the official voting got done) some obscure wording in some proposal. So I left. It was at hour 5! Then apparently there WAS a second voting for the original people. Ah! Well, the lady next to me said last time they were there until 6 p.m. and would have been there longer, but they cut it off. That is why I left. I wanted to go home to my family.
So there you go - Ann being political. It was definately interesting. But I do not feel I need to go again. But I would. With more food and a knowledge of how it works.
Go America!!!
This is my summer/garden/dog walking/head protection hat! And it made its initial appearance on Friday. We rented a stump grinder (can you imagine having to do this by hand?) It was serious work - this big horiztional saw griding back and forth for hours. I moved a lot of sawdust (but now I can use it in my garden beds!) It turned out to be a huge stump. We also took down part of Nancy's fence and dug that out. We are trying to get down in order to pull back the dirt and start on the retaining wall. Some serious work.
