Just a quick note to update everyone on Niels recovery process. He is still in a lot of pain and when we saw the dr. this past Wednesday, he said that would be the case for up to six months. He thinks the healing process is progressing and we do not have to go back again unless Niels feels there is a problem. He did say not to go crazy and do things like going four wheeling. So, what did he do, he told the kids we would go four wheeling yesterday. I put a stop to that really quick! He certainly has been a pain in the butt for the past few months but I hate to see him in pain and hope the dr. is off by a few months.

Prior to the appointment, we went to Vegas for a few days and picked up a bunch of Rose's doll molds since Ben brought out her kiln for me. It was 113 degrees the day after we got there and it didn't cool down much the whole time we were there. We were able to spend time with Lucy and Ron and Ben and Debbie. I even got a pedicure and manicure from Betty, Rose's neighbor, and did I feel pampered!

We were fortunate enough to have Emme with us for almost two full weeks and we really had a great time. Ben and Debbie came for a visit and we went fishing and she not only caught the first fish, she caught four more to boot! We went again a couple of days later with Damon and Erin and she caught a few more, but had more fun playing with Erin's son, Trayden. It was fun having all the company and we look forward to some time with Tristen and Jarek after Ragan and the two younger ones leave on the 4th. They have all been here, except for Tim, since we returned after Niels appointment in St. George. Ragan has been trying to show me what she does on her blogs, but it is all very confusing. I think I will stick to letting her do it all for me! After the 113 degree weather, Ragan has been freezing here at 87 degrees. She has been wearing a sweat shirt and socks during the day, crazy girl.

We also had other visitors to are hill. Two of the missionary couples we served with in Wyoming came to see us. Patsy and Veldon Seymore vacationed with us in Puerto Vallarta this winter and came here for four days. Our other friends, Jeanne and Danny Roth joined us and spent the night. We had a great time with a lot of laughs remembering our time together. We went to Fantasy Canyon which is a miniature of Goblin Valley. For those of you who do not know what Goblin Valley is, it is a huge State park that has sandstone sculptures, all made by Mother Nature. It is really unique and Fantasy Canyon is similar but you don't have to walk so far to find all the sculptures in the sandstone formations. The Seymore's returned to the Handcart sites for a 12 week volunteer stay. We really considered going back but felt we needed this summer to spend with the grandkids. We look forward to seeing our good friends again soon.

We will have the boys for a week or two and then its back to Vegas to get them back home. We will then return for the remainder of the summer. So, if anyone wants to come for a visit, we would really be happy to see you. We will even take you fishing!

This has been a really mixed up post but it is getting late and as you all know, my age is beginning to show a little more each day. We love all of you and would appreciate it if you would comment on my blog. At the bottom of the post there is a little word, "comments" and if you just push that button, you can let me know what is happening in your lives.

Home Again!

Hi, Well, we just got home, again, from St. George and Las Vegas. We left last Wednesday for St. George to take Niels back to the doctor. The doctor was not happy with the way he was not healing and decided surgery was the answer. It was scheduled for Monday. We were fortunate enough to have a lovely place to stay at Niels' brother's home in Washington, just outside of St. George. We left after the appointment on Wednesday and visited with Ragan's family and Lucy and Ron until Friday. We went back to Rob's place and waited until Monday for the surgery. After four hours, two of which were for the actual surgery, the doctor came out and told me that everything went well but that it was a lot harder than he thought it would be. He found two fistulas that needed to be repaired. (Niels said he built him a new butt.) It will have to be packed for the next two or three weeks but then should quit giving him so much trouble. (I hope so because I am tired of being a nurse. His butt is not so cute anymore! I did take a picture so he could see what the doctor did, but he made me immediately delete it so I can't post it!!!

We returned home on Wednesday evening and it is now Thursday. I am making chili rellenos and green chili in preparation for our son Jon and his family, along with Blanqui's sister, her husband and three children, who will visit this weekend. But, before then, we will travel to Salt Lake tomorrow for a shower for Keisha's upcoming new baby in the evening and then be there for Megan's wedding on Saturday morning. After the luncheon we will travel back home and drop. What a whirlwind existance we lead!!!!

We appreciate the calls and prayers for Niels and know they will help in his recovery.

Home

Hi, everyone. We are finally home and it is so cold I am ready to go back to where it is warm. The daytime temps are in the low 50's and at night it is still freezing, and so am I! Niels just had to come home and water the trees.

I posted two months ago and nothing since so I thought this was a good time for an update. We continued to travel around and spending time with family. We were warm and well fed in Arizona. We had a lovely time in California and felt very pampered at the Country Club in La Quinta! We then got spoiled at the pier with fresh cooked crab and shrimp with Chris' family. Thanks to all of you who were so willing to keep us warm and fat!

I really miss my grandchildren and even though it has only been two weeks today, I am ready to go see them again. Watch for us on your doorstep one day.

Love you all and hope to hear from you soon.

She did it!

I finally have a blog all my own! Ragan has worked really hard to get it just right and I really like it. Now, all I have to do is post what I want to say. I don't know what makes it work, but here goes. Ragan is starting a little business creating these neat blogs. She has done several already and you can see what she has done on the link at the top on the right. If you would like to have one of your very own, email her. It is exciting for me to see all she has learned about setting up things on the computer. She has really gotten good at photography and has friends asking her to take family and wedding photos. Move over Tina! She gets a lot of pleasure and satisfaction in what she does and you can see it in her work.

As you can see, we are the proud grandparents of 23 beautiful children. We just had a new grand baby last week, Kiera Brooke Nielson. Her proud parents are our oldest son, Niels Ray and Tanya. Kiera makes five for Niels.

We have had a whirlwind winter as snowbirds. It is hard to believe that the time is soon approaching for us to return to our home in Roosevelt. We started out in October so we could attend Kim's wedding and have not stopped for very long since then. We have really learned how to hide from everyone! The Lake Mead National Recreation campgrounds have become like home and have given us a lot of peace and quiet as well as beautiful sunrises and sunsets. We have also been to Yuma and boondocked at Pilot's Knob where the Border Patrol dragged the road every night to make sure no illegals came into the USA. It was a dusty area but nice and quiet. We also boondocked on top of the world just outside of Overton, NV, where we could see for miles. It is amazing how many people boondock. For those of you who do not know what boondocking is, we just take our fifthwheel out and park on Bureau of Land Management ground. There is no charge but there are also no water, electricity or dumping facilities. We do have a satellite dish, an inverter that runs it and a generator that runs the inverter as well as my hair dryer. Got to have that hair dryer. We spent some time in Quartsite with thousands of other snowbirds and even attended church at a Snowbird Branch with 587 other old folks! It was strange not to hear little children in church so we had no choice but to listen and learn.

In January we went to Puerto Vallarta for nine glorious days. The temperature was in the 80's and it felt so good to thaw out. I made a new friend called Sammy and Niels was really jealous when he gave me a big kiss.

We did have to travel to Utah for two funerals. Niels' mom passed away in November and was buried on December 2nd. When we arrived in Roosevelt it had just started to snow for the winter and did not stop for a couple of months. We returned to Roosevelt for Niels' Aunt Verda's funeral in January and you can see how much snow was there. So, even though we could not find a lot of real warm weather other than Puerto Vallarta, we were very grateful not to be at home.

It has been really fun being able to see some of our grandkids often this past winter. We have had the opportunity to take them to some of the campgrounds with us and had a really good time. Emme loved to feed the birds and fish in the lake. The boys enjoyed climbing the hills and running wild! Emme and I had a really good time playing makeup the last time she was with us. She did my makeup and then I did hers. When she was through, she really thought I looked funny. I wonder why?