This is what happens when you turn thirteen!!!

It's blurry, but I just had to post it, because it's the only picture I have with the kids and I together for Mother's day. They got dressed up and had me do the same and then took me out to dinner at a really neat Mexican food restaurant. We then went for the BEST ice cream ever at Vanilla Moose.

Father's day and he wants to do the cooking!!! Guess it's a guy and grill thing?

It's been too long since I have posted anything!!! Sorry! Life has just been a bit on the crazy side. I really don't even feel like going into it all just yet. So I will just give you a glimpse of some of the nicer things in our life right now. This first picture is at the Marina in the middle of the desert.

Isn't she getting so beautiful!!! Truth be told, I think she is taller than I am now, but don't tell her I am admitting to it, or I will never hear the end of it!

The kids with cousin Eli in the tree house in the ravine behind grandma and grandpa's house.

I just love this picture!

Caught the kids cuddlebuggin!

Boys will be boys!

Cousin Eli came over to play the other day. We all had tons of fun! He loves having Kristina cater to his every need, and she does! He thinks Devin is the coolest thing and tries to copy every thing he does! He also loves the cats. He will call them, meow for them, and just follow them around. They are pretty good about it, they will sit still for a pet or two and then move about five feet and wait for it to start again! It is hilarious to watch.

WARNING!!! Pictures not of this place!?!

Don and I were driving around yesterday and got lost. No surprise there! At first we weren't worried. We had plenty of gas and we were bound to run into a town eventually. How naive we were!

As the day drew on the sun got brighter, the gas tank got drier, and our water bottles ran empty. The car was just about to dehydrate when in front of us sat this monster wall of desert! We had no choice, climb the hill or be buzzard food.

The climb was treacherous. As we putted to the top, hand in hand, we were fearing that we had met our end. Abreast the hill we thought we had gone delirious, for what lay before us was not of this place. A desert oasis! No one around, it was just beckoning us.

We filled the tank, (don't ask how) went for a swim and drank until content.

We were marveled by the dwellings. They were strangely eerie but yet inviting at the same time.

We were able to regain our strength and resume our search for inhabitants. All was calm, when what should we see? A sight that troubled us so. A major cause for concern and fright. We left right then and there, we ran and took flight. Never to look back. Forever traumatized we will be by the sights we saw in the desert that day. Something definitely not of this place.

Along the highway and onto the bridge I went. Amid speeding cars, drunken hitch hikers, and very strong winds. I risked life and limb to bring you this rare glimpse of water! Ok...I might...just maybe...only slightly...be a bit on the dramatic side here. These are pictures of Western Refinery in the background. Don's place of employment. Maybe one day I might remember to go up on that there hill and take some photos of the rest of it. It is a very big place. It looks rather industrial, but I guess it's supposed to!

I learned the other day that Western is the only place here that takes oil and turns it into gasoline. I was complaining all along that the gas prices were so high here and it wasn't fair because this is where the gas is made. Well, I stand corrected!
All the other places here are pumping up natural gas.
Who knew!

Yummy!

Steak Diane on top of rice with spicy Italian oven roasted tomatoes.

I got the bug that I really wanted to try to make this for Don. I think that it turned out ok, at least it looks pretty! I wish that I wouldn't have put so much of the toppings on so that you could see the scrumptious steak below.
Notice my plain Jane plate in the bottom corner? It's hard trying new recipes when I won't let most of it come within 10 feet of my mouth! I am such a picky eater. I must have done alright because Don said his taste buds were in heaven and he couldn't stop moaning ever time he took a bite!

Is Don being CONVERTED?

These are MORMON missionaries!

Done being shocked yet?

Need more?

Don was actually excited that they came over for dinner!

The Elder in the blue tie is Johnny Hullinger. A fellow WEISERITE! Can you imagine how totally ecstatic we were to discover he was here in Bloomfield, New Mexico? Such a small world!
Kris and Dev both had one of his siblings in their classes. His mom taught Kristina dance when she was little.
It was fun to be able to talk to some one about the things we miss about Weiser.
*Sniff, Sniff*
Johnny had a blast looking at pictures of people he knew and telling his companion all about his awesome Seminary teacher. Who's wife just happens to be my best friend! He really got a kick out of looking at Ammon and Tara's blog.
Johnny has been here for 6 months already. I guess that's a bit unusual to stay in one place for so long, but we are hoping that he gets to stay a while longer.

I say potato, they say tiny???

These are actually potatoes! We also saw these in Safeway and were to shocked by their size to read the name on the bag. So, I am guessing they are New Mexico potatoes. Even if they aren't, I know that Idaho would be shamed to have them any where near our real potatoes. They were kind of cute though! The 'normal' potato in the picture is an...you guessed it...an Idaho Russet! Need I say more? Pleaze!

Produce!?!

This just goes to prove how dorky I am. But hey, at least I am passing it on to my kids! Kristina was just as excited about this as I was.

We were in Safeway about a week after we moved here. Kristina and I were totally fascinated by the different fruits that we have never seen before. We had to buy some to bring home to try, and then forgot they were in the fridge!!!

People in the store must have thought we were plum crazy, running around getting all excited about produce and taking pictures!

The spiky things was our favorite. There weren't any name labels. It's hard to see, but the things behind the spiky things were pretty cool looking too.

Maybe next time we might actually remember to taste them after the excitement wears off!

dORKy

Ok...so I have to admit something totally dorky! (Aside from not having a lot of time)

I have been purposely not posting lately!!! It's because every time I visit my blog, I have to scroll down and see the faces of some of those we left behind. It's been almost a month, I can't believe it! But I tear up almost every time I come to the blog. I will try to be better. I am sure some of you might like to see some pictures of the land that has claimed us! Maybe tomorrow, if I remember, I can take some pictures, so that in another month or so I can show them to you! ;)

We the cake makers!

The kids and I have been into this cake baking show lately and decided to try our hands at a fondant covered, two tiered cake. This fondant thing looks pretty, but it sure is difficult. It isn't even a one day thing!

We decided it didn't turn out too bad considering this was our first attempt. It was even the first time I had ever tried to decorate a cake!

Since grandma's birthday was on Easter we incorporated both events into the cake. After we were all done with the cake Kristina kindly pointed out that I decorated the cake upside down!!!

In New Mexico Now!!

Hey all! We are here! Things seem to move at a MUCH slower and a lot more expensive pace down here! We STILL don't have Internet! I am using the computer at the library.
The kids STILL aren't in school!!! Their spring break went from one week to three! They will get to start on the Monday after Easter.
I paid $3.49 for a 1/2 gallon of milk the other night at a gas station! The gallon was $4.99!!!
Our house is starting to look more like a home then a sea of boxes. Even the cats are adjusting. I miss you all so darned much!!! Will blog more (Ang) and post pics when not on a time limit at the library!

Devin was presented with his Wolf badge and I was asked to pin it on him. Then he was given a little Wolf pin and asked to pin it on me. He thought is was cool that I was given a pin to wear too! He was also awarded with a gold arrow badge and SIX silver arrow badges! I am so proud of him, he worked so hard. I think that it is obvious that he was pretty proud of himself too!

It was kind of special that he was able to get his badges in front of his friends instead of having to wait until we moved and be in front of strangers. Great big thanks to the scout leaders who work so hard for the kids!!

Kristina, Dixie, Heidi, Devin, Jacoby, Kendra

My favorite little guy and I. (Favorite under the age of 8!)

My Birthday Adventure. . .

These are some pictures from my 30 something birthday this last summer. Don and the kids took me to McCall for the day. We played in the water, went ice skating for the first time ever, and went out to dinner. It was a blast! We ate outside at a Mexican food restaurant on the balcony. Below us was an art show with live musicians playing. The kids even had the staff sing happy birthday to me while I had to wear a large sombrero!

Kristina and Devin made me birthday breakfast muffins! My favorite.

We forgot to bring swimming suits so Don had to taxi the kids to out to the rock. They couldn't believe all of the fish they could see. Nice legs babe!!

It's a good thing they provided buckets for the newbies. Devin's favorite was having us push him around while he sat on them! Kristina took to the skating like she had been doing it since she was born!

Crabby Patties or Cool Cucumbers?

I don't think that Don and Devin were really crabby, but they sure look like it! This was last summer at the park watching a group of entertainers called Rhythmic Dogs. They were really cool. They made music out of banging on things. For the rest of the summer I was 'lucky' enough to have the kids treat me to my own private armature concert almost every day!!

Sweet Summer

These were taken last summer during our New Mexico trip. The look on Devin's face seems to say it all!

This is from the day that we closed on the sale of our house. I have a picture of us at the same place the day that we bought it too, but it is a paper picture. I so miss my nice, newish, big house. Granted we couldn't live it and move to New Mexico at the same time, but I still miss it! *Sigh*

As you can see, Kristina is posing for the camera, as always! Dianne Jurries was our agent. She was the best! Here goes another shameless plug for one of my Weiser favorites!!!....

We had never met Dianne before listing our house with her. She was wonderful, going above and beyond for us. I would not hesitate a second to recommend her to every one I know. She was so great that I now consider her a true friend. Thanks Dianne for making such a sad thing for me a little bit brighter!

If you are looking to buy or sale in this neck of the woods I strongly urge you to check her out at Creed Noah Real Estate co. www.creednoah.com