More Weather...

Okay, so it didn't even rain today. Come on, mom...at least post what it is that you and dad do all day. Somebody show dad how to post, already!!

Weather Report

It's snowing.

Piper, Down!

Hey Sara,
How about some pictures of dad's bruises? I'd even settle for some "recovery" shots. And dad, Jack prays for you all day long. He says, "bess, papa, get better." "Amen" It's pretty cute.

Did He Call You?

This made me laugh out loud!

For the last two weeks, Democrats have not settled on a singular approach for how to deal with Gov. Sarah Palin’s sudden entry into the presidential campaign. Several strategies have been discussed and debated, but perhaps none have been as original as the observations offered by Lt. Gov. Patty Judge of Iowa. “Sarah knows how to field-dress a moose; I know how to castrate a calf,” Ms. Judge, a farmer and former state agricultural secretary, told an audience in Iowa the other day. “Neither of those things has anything at all to do with this election. But since we know so much about Sarah’s special skills, I wanted to make sure you knew about mine, too.”

So how come he didn't call us?? Perhaps it is time for us to get involved on a state level! Just think of the campaign buzz we could generate when we show them how to not only castrate, but butcher the meat, bottle it for food storage, and make a damn fine Tuesday Taco night for the kids.

Patty Judge. Gold star for you.

More Babies...

William and Holden Karren have arrived. No details yet, just one text message w/photo. Hopefully, they will update the blog soon. Photo was small and not adequate for further publication.

Lachlan's Birthday Party

We are going to have a birthday party for Lachlan next Friday. I'm not sure what we are eating yet, but we would love to have you there. I'm thinking around 5:30 for dinner and then cake/ice cream and presents. I think that she is finally starting to catch on--so it will be really fun. Oh, and they had a birthday party on Sesame Street and she keeps asking to watch that episode over and over. It is so funny cause she sings Happy Birthday to Jack.

FROST

I've been wanting to get this photo up of Mom and Erica at the shower for quite some time now so here it is finally. Thank you everyone, we have such a great family!
We went up the hills with Sara and gang (Sunday)to pick Chokecherries and came home with a 5gal. bucket full. It rained on us on the way home and it got very cold! but we had a great time! I spent the next two days putting up jelly, and I had it from one end of the kitchen to the other. But I got it done and it tastes really good.

A few days later it froze hard in Wanship!

The garden's already gone. Marianne's looks so beautiful, mine was just getting a really good look to it and now it is gone. The tomatoes and the Zinnias were covered, but I doubt that they will fully recover. Everything else is toast, even the corn. I think we can still eat it, but the ears will probably not mature anymore than they already were, we'll have to see. I hate to see the cold come already, summer sure went by fast this year. School is already taking over my life again.

Bill is fishing this weekend and I am just waiting for Erica to call with "Delivery News". I can't wait!! We are all so proud of her, she has really hung in there, or should I say "laid around" so that the babies could grow and not be born too early.

Haybaling's about done for the summer, Bill will have a few to do when he gets back, but things are winding down. Susie has a great picture of him baling with his new tractor and bayler. ( is that how you spell bayler?)

Lillian's Blessing

It looks like I will be blessing Lillian on Sept. 13. We are just going to do it here at the house about 11:30am. And then I will have lunch. If you can make it come. I would love to have you.

A Final Tribute

In Loving Memory

Mic Judd, faithful companion, passed away after a long and happy life on June 15, 2008. She had been suffering from painful arthritis for a number of years and we hope that she is chasing cows and eating toast with Old Bill in heaven. Mic joined our family as an old dog. How old? No one really knows. We've had many dogs, but she was a family favorite...and not just because she never bit any of us. She was a lover, not a fighter. She lost an eye back in 2000 due to a misunderstanding at the food bowl with Willie Nelson (the cat, not the singer). It never slowed her down. Mic loved riding the 4-wheeler, chasing cows, speaking, toast, pancakes with syrup, a good horse hoof, deer leg, and decaying animal to roll around in. She loved to walk with mom and Sara all summer and look for chipmunks and squirrels. In her prime, she was a magnificent cattle dog. She loved our pack trips to the Uintah Mountains. There wasn't anything she wanted more, than to go fishing and watch her "bubbers." She once got lost at the back of the ranch, many miles from home after getting scared off by a helicopter. She was able to find her way back to the trailer and after several weeks away she was able to hitch a ride home. She had a great sense of direction.

Mic will be greatly missed by her surviving family members, but all the magpies within Summit County will be able to gorge themselves on mom's garbage and herds of deer will feast on the garden and flower beds. Mic was truly the end of an era at the Judd household. She was the last dog to work the ranch and will not be replaced in that respect. It is with great nostalgia that we look back on her life and recognize that it also contains a bit of ours as well. Rest in peace, old friend.

Freeze

Tomorrow I will be doing extra laundry. Len Randolph just predicted a frost for the Cache Valley. I have every blanket and extra towel covering plants in my yard. Uggh. AND, I lost another tree limb today in the wind and rain storm. I am heartbroken about it. The poor thing is completely lopsided. I don't know if it is going to recover.

P.S. I even covered my peonies because they are just on the verge of blossom--I just couldn't bear the thought that I might look out tomorrow morning and see black blossoms wilted to the ground. Oh, and I would appreciate some prayers for the basil. It is already counting the rosary--this could be its last stand.

P.P.S. AND the catnip rotted because it has been so wet and cold. Can you even believe that a plant you can't kill with 2-4-D won't survive in my yard??!!

This is my first try at putting something on the blog. I hope it works. Sara is helping me via the phone, so here we go. Here is Lillian the day after she got home. Mom and Baby are doing fine! She is so cute. Congratulations Susie and Justin.

More Lily

I went to visit Suz tonight. She is doing well. I can't believe that I forgot the "real" camera. Here are just a few more pics from the ol' phone. They are cute anyway. If you haven't gotten her a gift yet, she did mention that she would like to try the new stretch mark cream from Avon. ha.ha.ha.

Congratulations!!

Congratulations Landon on medical school! We are so excited for you, if you are coming to Utah when Erica comes then we will throw you a party! We just want you to know how proud of you we are!

Health Report

Hey, mom, just wanted to let you know how my "weight lifting" group is going. I am really excited (finally!). Last week I lost another 2 lbs and 6.25 inches!! Can you believe it? I'm down about 8 lbs. in two weeks. Wish me luck this week. I have to go to Cedar City this afternoon for a workshop--I'll be home Wednesday night.

Story Time

We watched Sierra the other night. I took this picture while Jeff was trying to get the kids calmed down. I thought it was so cute. Suz told me that in her prayers at night, Sierra always prays for "her Jeff". I think that it is so special. It wasn't all gumdrops and lollypops, though, because Sierra gave a full report to her mom and dad about how "Jack was so naughty," "He grabbed on to my pants and wouldn't let go!" I had to laugh when I heard that because Jack does make her crazy when she is here. He follows her around (about 1" behind her) and does everything she does. He LOVES her. When he woke up in the morning he said, "Sierra, go?" Good thing that Lily won't try to hold her down and wrestle her.

Decisions, decisions

I have been thinking recently about when to make a the summer visit home and would like some input from everyone.  Airline tickets are fairly cheap right now so I would like to get an idea of what everyone is doing this summer so that we can all get together when I come out.  I was thinking about coming the first week of June so that I could see Susie's baby when she is born OR the week after county fair in July, which is something like the 16th of July.  What are everyones plans this summer? I think I would like to come in June more, for selfish reasons really.  I want to see Sue's baby, and it's a long time until July.  What do you think? In case you haven't heard we find out what we are having on the 21st of May!! I am so excited for that I can hardly stand it.  

Sara, I'm sorry about the insomnia-- I have had recent bouts with it lately too. I don't know what is worse, lying awake thinking about school and FFA, or dreaming about it.  I have dreamt about school before only to wake up and be disappointed because school wasn't really over like I was just dreaming, it hadn't even begun.  

Up All Night

So, I have basically been up all night worrying about various things. You know the usual stuff, how will I get my house cleaned with the book fair going on the next three days? Will Grandma shoulder feel better after she has the surgery? Anyway, one of the most obnoxious thoughts that I was dealing with was it occurred to me was that over the last couple of days I had put several hundred dollars worth of books on my credit card and my limit was only $400.00. So now it was like 3:00 in the morning and all I could think about was that my credit card was going to be over the limit, and that Susie's book party books would probably not be approved and that the order would be delayed, and I should get up right now and make a payment. What a mess. How much was it going to cost me to be over my limit. I'm calling the bank as soon as they open and get my limit raised.
Well, I waited until 5:30 to get up and make a payment...My limit is not $400 it is $4000. Big difference that extra zero makes. Susie's order is fine. I probably should avoid doing any kind of work before bed from now on.
I've been sleeping so good for like three nights in a row now too, I had almost thought that my insomnia had been cured (by what I don't know) but still.

Well wishes

After talking to Sue the other day, It sounds like you are feeling better.  Again, I am so sorry for bringing the plague to the beach with us.  I hope that no one else has gotten sick.  

Rose, I am so glad that Jack's tests turned out normal.  I'll keep praying that he'll gain a little weight.  Maybe he could  take some of the thirteen pounds that I gained this last month.  

Earache

Hey, Suz just called me...she's been to the Insta-Care. She has a raging ear infection and is on antibiotics. Hope everyone else is still feeling well.

P.S. Sara are you going to LaCaille too?

Fort Stevens, Oregon

April 19, 2008

This isn't a bad picture when it is so small. ha.ha.ha. At least it didn't show me running like a dork over those bumps trying to get into the picture!

Check it out

Good morning everyone!
This morning I set up my own blog.
somethingfromsara.blogspot.com
I don't know what it will be about, but maybe it will have some good stuff sometimes.
It's pink!

New Stuff (Thank you Tax Returns)

We decided to get me a new car to help save on gas money. I got a 2008 Dodge Avenger. It is really nice, I am really happy with it. I was hoping for an SUV, but this car gets about 30-35 MPG so as far as the gas money goes, this is a better choice. By the way, thanks to Jeff for the internet. We had to set up our old computer on the floor so that we could still get online until we could find something that would give us a strong enough signal to steal the internet from Mom and Dad and we are really grateful to get up off the floor. Well that's it for now. Our next tax money purchase will hopefully be concrete patio in the backyard, so stay posted everyone!

The Lights inside are really pretty at night

The Car Seats Fit

From the Front

My New Car

The New Setup

The Old Setup

A Visit to the Eye Doctor

Thanks to the new online "GoodReads" book club I am a book reading machine! I've got more books to read than I know what to do with...however, a few weeks ago Jeff asked me why I was squinting so badly while I was pouring over my overdue book. Hum, squinting. Are you sure? Since that time I have done a personal evaluation...and the answer is yes, I am squinting.

On Tuesday afternoon I went to my first eye appointment since the dreaded eyelid lift of 1997. Many of you will remember the days of agony while I lay blind, useless and in pain for a week. Only to have three weeks of invisibility due to the hard and miserable contact lenses...I can still feel those stiches if I think about it long enough. At any rate, my friend recommended a great eye doctor just around the corner and it has been confirmed that I have a farsighted condition. He also mentioned to me that my eyes are very close together and that it may create a "crossing over" of my vision when I read or use the computer.

So my question to you jokers is...do I look like someone who's eyes are so close together that I'm practically cross-eyed. Holy crap. I'm 33 years old for crying out loud and I've just discovered that I might be really weird looking. The upshot (if there is one) is that next week I will be sporting a brand-new pair of reading glasses...and I'm really glad that he didn't tell me that I have just one good eye (like mom, ha.ha.ha.) Oh, and he also said that I have extra arteries in my eye connecting my optic nerve so if I ever have a bad accident there is a good chance that I can retain my sight if some of them are damaged. Well, that's always good to know--here's to hoping that I never have an accident where I'm relying on my freak secondary arteries. I probably grew them after the eyelid surgery because my body thought that I had had a major accident. Evolution, people. It's time to get on board.

Jack & Lachlan Vs. Target Photo Lab

Here are the results from that match-up. They are cute because they are cute kids...it was not because of the quality of our photographer. I'm pretty sure that a drunk pedestrian could have been more helpful than that woman.

Pre-Picnic Apparel

Here are Brooklyn and Lachlan Pre-Picnic on Beef Day. I actually took this picture because they are the same size--and Lachlan is a whole year older than Brooklyn!

Beef, It's What's For Dinner

You really haven't lived until you've cut up your own dinner, ground it into a pulp, and then stored it in your deep freeze. Which means that our family has REALLY been living for a long time... here is the latest rendition of Slaughter House 5. It took place in Dad's garage. Thanks to Jeff for helping dad lug the critter in and out of the truck, thanks to Shaner for the heat and thanks to the sweet Lord for giving us the courage to do it one more time. Oh, and just for the sake of product plug, thanks for WD-40 for greasing the wheels (and girls, you know what I mean-watch those eyebrows when the meat hits the grill).


From top left: Jeff and Dad using the band saw to quarter the beef; Shaner gets the propane heater going in the enclosed area (CO poisioning for wimps); Dewey shows up for moral support and to show us how to burger below the knee (i.e., throw it away!).

From top left: Rose wears an ugly apron over layers of clothing and puffy vest (horrible outfit, which makes her look 700 lbs); Sara's ground beef; Sara and Shaner logging man hours; Shane and Jeff cutting up some leaner cuts; Dad and David wasting time and waxing sentimental.

From left: Dad hauls out the last quarter; Sara sharpens her knife, again.

We can also report that the only casualties suffered during the event were inside the house. Nanny Nancy decided to hold a PICNIC (in the living room) with three toddlers, a two-year-old and a five-year-old. Hum, how can I say this nicely without eluding to the fact that this may have been the most ridiculous idea since screaming at a skunk which was sitting on the roof of her car. Needless to say, the carpet suffered a major defeat because jello with fresh raspberries was served along with the macaroni and cheese. I threw away Lachlan's outfit after the lunch excitement proved to much for Tide and Oxy.

Riding Lessons

Willie had to come and check things out too.

Lachlan Gets a Turn with Grandpa

Tyler's First Horse Riding Lesson

The Audience

Monday was Tyler's first riding lesson with Grandpa. He came home and proudly proclaimed that "Grandpa likes to call Molly B 'the Hairy Beast'. " He had a great time and on Tuesday, refused to leave the house without his spurs, because "he had a hard time getting Molly B to go."

Chris, Brooklyn, and even Jack all had turns on Cactus Kid, although at this point (sorry to say) Jack might not be much of a cowboy...the horse scared him a little. Chris on the other hand was probably wondering why Tyler was on the horse all by himself and he had to ride double with Grandpa. He was loving it.

Mick gave up after about ten minutes and went home, but Willie stayed the whole time, happily enjoying the goldfish crackers that the generous children were dropping on the ground for him.
It was a good time had by all.

I have more pictures but I had a lot of trouble getting them to load...sorry.

Easter Pictures

Okay, so here are a few of the easter pictures that we had taken the other day at Super Target. They turned out pretty good considering that Chris wanted to cling to me the whole time.

https://www.thesmilestation.com/home.asp?AC=LTTT0894106475TAR

I posted the website in case any of you wanted to look at all of them. Just type my name in as the customer name.

It's Official!

Okay, so this morning I sent away for my Usborne books consultant starter kit. I'm going to sell books. I don't know how it is going to go, but it seems like it will be a good deal. Plus it wasn't really that expensive to get started so even if it doesn't work out I still can keep the books.
Anyway, I am also really excited for the Season Premiere of Dancing with the Stars tonight!And tomorrow I finally get to see who gets kicked off of The Biggest Loser! That was such a bummer last week when they didn't show me my favorite part.

Finally, Erica and Landon, I was really sad to hear about your Grandma Karren, you two and your family are in our thoughts and prayers these next couple of days. I'm sorry that I won't be coming to see you guys while you are in Utah.

A little too much honesty...

I just had to put this up! I went to change Sierra's diaper today and when I opened it up it was totally a messy diaper. When I asked Sierra why she hadn't told me she was "pee-pew", she said, "Mom, me cold. Me poop help keep me warm." Miner and I have been laughing so hard about this! I have to say, at least she's honest!

I need help, please

Hey everybody, I have some pictures of Val and Todd's new baby, and I was going to email them but I don't have her in my address book. Could someone send me her email address ?
Thanks.

Can't Stop Laughing...

Okay, I thought that I was having a bad day (acne from hell, backed over a shopping cart with the car, lost a RedBox DVD, ate two hot dogs for lunch, etc...) BUT seriously, Susie's mole beard is WAY worse!

Also, I am in need of Aunt Karma's recipe for artichoke chicken...if anyone has it?? Please email it to me. AND, I guess that Jeff and I will be coming home on Friday night and staying over so that we can get an early start on the "BITCHERING" of the cow. I call dibs on wrapping and labeling right now--so everyone remember that. Sara, please tell me that you and Shane are going to help out??!!

I can smell the meat shed now, although I know that I am not actually there because the frostbite hasn't quite set in in my extremities. Hum, always a dilemma, what to wear to cut up 300 lbs of meat?

Pandora's Box

Hey, a new favorite. I love listening to the radio on the computer at work, but the girls introduced me to www.pandora.com. You just type in the names of your favorite artists and it generates a personal radio station for you--without commercials! The best part is that you can create several different radio stations so that you can have one for each of your moods. Mom, this would be great at your school because then you wouldn't have to listen to the same CDs over and over again. If and when we ever get our office finished I'm going to invest in some good speakers for the computer so that I can listen at home.

Chris Might Be a Genius

Well, lately Chris has been letting me know (by patting his bum), whenever he has a stinky diaper. So, the other day when he was in the tub, he started to push and I pulled him out of the water and put him on the potty, and he went. Well that was three days ago. He went again for me yesterday. But today was the real breakthrough. When we were getting out of the truck today Chris started to pat his bum. But he wasn't stinky, so we let it go. Then while we were visiting with Grandma Connie, he was really fussy and miserable, so I took him in to change him and he was crying, so I thought what the heck and I put him on the toilet...and he went. He had been holding it waiting for me to put him on the potty!!! And he had been holding if for a good fifteen minutes! After that he was a whole different kid. Happy and playing with Tyler. Anyway, I thought that after only three days of not even real potty training that that was pretty amazing.

Ready for School

Yesterday we called Sara, and Sierra wanted to talk to Tyler, but he was at preschool. Well, ever since then Sierra has not stopped talking about school. Yesterday she told me she needed a new backpack real bad, and when I asked her why, she said, "Mom, getting ready for school!!!" Then, this morning she was sitting on the floor doing a puzzle, and she looked up at me and said, "Mom, me old, me two, me ready for school!" Apparently, if Tyler is doing it, it must be very cool!

New pictures

FYI, We have posted a picture of our ultra sound on my blog if you would like to check it out. 

Sara's Sewing Projects

So since Erica called and said that she had opened her birthday present already, then I get to post pictures of it. So I made the green one for Erica's birthday and the pink one is for my friend Ana's birthday.
I'm pretty happy with the way that these turned out.

This is a blanket/baby pocket that I made for one of you lucky pregnant sisters. Brooklyn is modeling it, she thinks that it is the most fun toy in the whole wide world. The stitching on this is not so good (that is an understatement).

Finally this is the first piece of Brooklyn's Quilt that I am making for her big girl bed. I have a few years to finish working on this project but I wanted to try this out and it WORKED!! Thank you Aunt Pat!.

Just trying to fix things

I don't know why my posts are weird, but I just signed out and signed back in to see if that helps.
I am also getting a lot of errors, so it may just be my computer.

HOLY COW!

This is pretty much all that Landon and I have said to each other today.  Landon said that he woke up and thought that maybe the whole twin thing had just been a dream, but then he came out and saw the ultrasound picture that confirmed it and said, Nope it really happened.  Thank you sister's so much for you concern.  Apparently we need to start purchasing diapers now so that we will have a stock pile when the twins come.  I don't think that the reality has truly set in yet, I keep waiting for the enormity of it to hit me... I'm sure it will come.  Landon has been so calm though- he is so great!  I will try to scan the ultrasound picture and post it so you can all the the first photos of the twins tomorrow.  Thank you for the support, I love you all.  

WE're in!

Sara helped me figure it out and now we are in! It will be fun to enter stuff and read all about your news too. So excited for Erica and Landon! Wow!

Our Family blog is better than the Madsen Blog!

Hey thanks Jeff! We can now brag to the Madsen's that our blog is better then theirs! We are so cool! Thanks Rose for watching Sierra while Miner and I went to the Tax Man! So yeah, we are pretty happy, for those of you who know we had to pay money last year...we are actually getting a small refund this year...only about $7500!! YESSSS! You should have seen the smile on Miner's face when Jared (aka the most awesome accountant ever) told us we were going to get that much back! We thought maybe we were going to break even, but we are actually going to be able to afford the baby! And with the George Bush "sorry I'm your president" payment we should be getting we might actually have money left over for that new camera we've been wanting! As Sierra would say, "Mom, you so happy now!"

MacGyver to the Rescue!

Yup, he's done it again...with a toothpick and a piece of string cheese Jeff has again saved me from another technical frustration. I really wanted to have this picture for the background!

At any rate, everything should be working. If you have any trouble with your access you'll need to email me.

Is someone helping Mom?

Sara, I might need you to touch base with mom and dad. I sent out the emails, but I haven't heard from them yet. Also, mom doesn't even know how to comment on our other blogs so she might need a quick tutorial (i.e., get her registered and tell her to write it down.)

Jack got the "all-clear" from Dr. V this afternoon. He will still be on Pulmacort (respiratory steroid) until April. And I am to avoid going outside on red-burn days--so basically I have to stay indoors until April as well. Looks like I better go pick up the refill on the Lexapro. Its going to be 3 more months of my own personal trapped animal hell. It's probably for the best. I've gotten so fat that I can't even fit into my fat pants. You know it's bad when you are dressed all in black and you still look like a pig in a poke. On Sunday I tried to get ready in an outfit that I have worn literally for 10 years and all I could think was, "looks like two pigs fightin' under a blanket." Time to consider some more permanent solutions...what do you guys know about lap-band surgery?

Yeah! A family blog!

I am so excited for the family blog! I can't to read about what everyone is doing.  Not that I don't read about what Rose and Sue are doing already but now I can read what Sara, Mom, and Dad are doing! I love it! I had to take another sick day today... Landon took the car so I am stuck in the apartment most of the day.  I may try to take a walk while the sun is out.  Rose, I think the blog looks great.  Keep up the good work! 

Movie Notes

Tyler got "Meet the Robinsons" for Christmas from Jill and Tracy. He watched it shortly after and I was in and out and missed a lot of it. My overall review of it was that it was a weird show and probably would not be watched very many more times. Well I really had no idea what it was about. So yesterday we watched it again. As I mentioned in a previous post, Chris has been sick, so I actually sat down and watched it with the kids. I bawled my eyes out. It is about a kid who gets abandoned at an orphanage when he is a baby, and he invents a machine for the science fair so that he can see what his mom looks like so that he can go find her. Well I won't tell the rest of the story because it is actually a really good show but I would warn the family that anyone who might be sensitive to adoption stories (it does have a happy ending, hence more bawling) might want to wait to see it until they are sure that they can handle their emotions.

P.S. Erica and Landon, I was up most of the night worrying about you, and all of my memories that I have chosen to block out have miraculously been restored.

P.S. the rest of the family I am having a Children's Books party at my house on March 15, so make sure that you are all going to be able to come.

Just a little lunch story

Chris has the runs. He doesn't feel well, and he has been kind of whiny. So I was trying to get some lunch for everyone today, Shane was home and was trying to help. Chris was crying at me to pick him up and it was just loud and chaotic. Oh and I was telling Shane what Chelsey had told me about how the Rotavirus is only spread though poop, so if that is what Chris has it doesn't really matter that Brooklyn keeps drinking out of his drinks, as long as I wash my hands between diaper changes. So I finally reached down and picked Chris up and as I put him on my hip to hold him a "beautiful waterfall" of poo comes shooting out of his diaper all over me and the kitchen floor, and the high chairs (which were luckily unoccupied). It was so gross. So needless to say, I will be sanitizing the kitchen later today. Anyway, I thought that you all might enjoy the story. I don't think that anyone should plan any trips down to my house for a few weeks.

Sara Logs ON!

Thanks Rose,
I'm really excited for our new family blog, I think that the background and everything is really neat.
Mostly I am just trying out this whole write in to the blog thing.

Our New Family Page!

Well, it's working, but I still need to tweek a few things. I had some trouble getting the page to look good. I really wanted to have a family picture/ranch pic as the background, but auuggh, it was giving me some real grief. This blogging has almost convinced me to take a programming class....almost.