Utah Summer Games with the Nunley's

I have written several blogs about Wyatt and his archery shooting but Randy and I have never been to see one in person.  Wayne and TaNeal entered Wyatt in the Utah summer games that are held in Cedar City each summer and invited us to go down with their family.  So, we made reservations at the Cedar City KOA, loaded up our trailers and headed south to watch the games.  Wyatt participated in 3 events - The 30 meter, the V formation and the team shoot.  While he and one other boy shot awesome in their part of the team shoot, the two older kids had a hard time hitting the target!  But in the individual events, he was unbeatable!!! 

 His first event was the 30 meter.  He shot 690 out of 700 points and took the gold!! He also had the best score of the day including all those younger and older than him.

       
His second individual event was the V formation.  There are 10 targets set up at different distances that form the shape of a V.  It's awesome to stand there with a pair of bincoulars and watch where the arrows end up. His score was 587 out of 600 which also earned him the gold metal.  Way to go Wyatt!!!

The two gentlemen that were presenting the awards were both return veterans who had lost a leg in the war.

Check out all those bullseye hits.  People couldn't believe it.  There were lots of people out on the field with cameras taking a picture of it because they had never seen anything like it!

Taite, Wyatt, Kenzie and Haylee

We had a shady spot up on a hill overlooking the shoot where we watched the whole thing with binoculars.  It was AWESOME!!!

Soccer Granny

It's that time of the month again :-).  Morgan was named "Employee of the Month" and got a day off so he invited Brandi to spend a night with him in Wendover...which means that the granny nanny was invited to spend the night with these three handsome boys!!  As usual, our night began with a trip to Sizzler for dinner.  I really do let the boys pick where they want to eat, but the two little fellers like Sizzler...however...Damon would have gone to Burger King for some stackers if everyone else would have agreed!  Our next stop was Jonas' soccer game.  Morgan is the coach and with him out of town, Ian stepped up and took charge.  He did an awesome job!

Now I don't know how many of you have had the opportunity of going to little people sports events, but they are very amusing.  They are just learning to basics of the game and they look like little sheep following each other all over the field and it is so cute.  Look for Jonas, he is #5.

Our star soccer player

A coaching moment with Ian and Jonas

After a trip to Bath and Body Works and Harmons, we headed home to just hang out and spend time together.  Friday began with our traditional belgian waffles and then Ian joined us for Uno.  Our time got cut a little short because I had to get home to head to Cedar City so we didn't get much time to take an adventure...we will have to save that for next time.

And then it was time for the family send off :-(...saying goodbye is always the hard part!

39 Years

It's really hard to believe it's been 39 years since that special day.  I know they say that times flies when you are having fun.  Don't get me wrong...I am a realist and I will be the first to admit that there have been some not so fun times, but I love how the two of us have been able to work through those hard times and feel blessed with so many good times.  I can truly say that I love Randy more today than I did that magical day 39 years ago and each day with him is an adventure.  I also am truly blessed because of what our marriage has brought into my life.  Our five beautiful, wonderful and awesome children...Brandi Sue, TaNeal, Holly, Amy and Jason.  And then add our son-in-laws Morgan, Wayne, Aaron and Daniel and our sweet daughter-in-law Krysten...and just when you think that you couldn't possibly add any more to make your life complete...along come the grandchildren...which are definitely your gift for not killing your kids when they were younger!!  Ian, Kenzie, Gavin, Wyatt, Logan, Haylee, Dominic, Damon,Taite, Tailar and Jonas...Granny loves you with all her heart.  And Randy...thank you for putting up with me for all these years, for making me laugh, for loving me, for taking care of me and for allowing me to be me. I love you!! 

A Day Out Before Surgery

Our Kenzie Jean is headed for surgery in the morning to fix a torn labrum in her left shoulder.  So to take her mind off of what is about to happen, I decided to take the kids bowling. I must say that it was not my best day on the lane!!  But the kids had fun.  While it will probably be a while before Kenzie is throwing a bowling ball down the lane, we know she will be up and going soon.  Good luck Lou...we love you!!

Maiden Voyage of the Ring of Fire

It was another one of those busy Saturdays...you know...a house to clean...a garden to water...fields that needed to be disked...de-winterizing the trailer so that hopefully we can go camping...just to mention a few of the things that got done today.  But the best part was that we finally talked Randy into putting in the firepit we've been waiting for.  To break it in, we had a weiner roast and some tasty s'mores for dessert.  It's just like being in the mountains...but then I guess we do kinda live in the mountains :-)  Guess I better stock up on the ball park franks, marshmellows and chocolate bars for the summer!

Avenues Baseball

Today I headed to Salt Lake to watch Damon play ball...his last one of the season.  The "avenues" up in Salt Lake have a beautiful little baseball field.  Three different fields build on a mountain side so each field gets a little higher up the mountain.  Needless to say it's a little hike to get to the fields.  Thank heavens Damon played on the bottom field.  I love this picture of him in the dugout before the game began.  He plays coach pitch ball but instead of a coach pitching they have a cool pitching machine to pitch to the kids.  Damon's one of those lucky kids that gets to have his dad for his coach.  Morgan is an awesome coach...I guess that's because he really loves the game.  He is also wonderful with the kids.  You can tell he really cares about teaching them how to play ball and did I mention the patience he has with those little kids.  "D" had some great hits and it was fun to watch him playing 2nd and short stop.  Thanks for letting me come and watch.

A father and son moment on the field

I love this picture of Damon...it's priceless!

The Cattle Drive

After working on the fence for the last two weeks (not me...but Wayne, Daniel, Wyatt, Randy, TaNeal, Kenzie, Haylee, Taite, Dominic and Tailar)...and we are talking about a fence that surrounds 300 acres of field...the day finally arrived to move the cows.  Let me make it perfectly clear that I am not a cowboy and driving cattle from one field to another doesn't make my day!  But I knew I wasn't going to be able to talk my way out of it.  The really sucky part was that I missed both the 2 o'clock and 4 o'clock showings of "Days" today!!!!  Anyway, TaNeal and the kids came over and it was off to the field to begin the cattle drive.  The hour Randy promised me it would take turned into 3 hours and since driving the old truck was killing my leg, I traded TaNeal places.  She drove the truck and I rode the 4 wheeler a little and walked alot!!  Thank heavens those big old cows and their babies are safely tucked away on 300 acres of yummy grass...which hopefully means we won't have to move them for a while!!

It's amazing what 7 people, 4 4-wheelers and an old truck

can do in 3 hours.  This is the crew at the end of the trail.

TaNeal and the old brown truck

I think it's been about 40 years since my last pair of boots and

after walking for two hours in these...I think they are now

offically "broke in".  Thanks Amy for wearing them to work in the garden!  I would have had blisters on my feet if you hadn't!!

You've been FLOCKED!!

This morning as I was backing out of the driveway to head to baseball games, I looked over and saw a bunch of plastic flamingos in my front yard and was wondering what the heck was going on.  Then I noticed a pink note taped to my front door.  The note read..."by request you've been flocked...A flock of Flamingos has migrated to your yard...for immediate removal call Shelby (your local migration specialist). 

Shelby is trying to raise money to go to Australia as a student ambassador with the People to People organization.  This has got to be the most creative fundraiser I have ever seen!!  For $10 she would come and remove the birds from your yard...for $15 she would remove the birds and have them migrate to a yard of your choice...and for an extra $5 you could purchase Flamingo insurance to guarantee the flamingos never migrate back to your yard.  Now is that cute or what.  Needless to say I paid the $20 for the birds to go to a neighbors yard and bought the insurance!  I just wish those poor little birdies would have had a beautiful green lawn to land on...maybe I need to do my own fundraiser :-)

Dominic and Tailars last game

When you have 11 grandkids, there is always something going on.  It was my first chance to make it to watch Dominic and Tailar play ball.  Dominic is in kid pitch now and Tailar plays T-ball.  With all the rain they were playing the last of their makeup games.  What a beautiful sunny day to spend with family watching baseball.  After the games we headed to Applebee's for Daniel's birthday lunch.  Thanks for letting me come visit!

Dominic looks like he's really into the game

Batter up!

I love this picture of Tailar tossing the bat!!

Guarding 3rd base.  Don't you like the pink mitt?!

Bowling Buddies

This week was the beginning of the kids summer vacation.  I was feeling like a little bowling, so I called my grandkids to see if they wanted to go with me and of course they said yes.  It's been a while since I've thrown a ball down the alley...the last time ended with a trip to the emergency room with a pinched nerve in my back.  But I have an awesome new chiropracter who can fix me up if that happens :-).  My first game was so bad I told the kids we were going to play another round just so I could redeem myself!  My score for the second game was 121 (I won't even mentioned what it was for the first game!!) I can see that I need a lot more practice!!  While we were eating lunch, Logan leaned over and said "Thank you Granny for the fun adventure"...aren't grandkids awesome!!!

Our next stop was Roy's Pizza for some lunch

Then a stop to Wal-Marts vision center so TaNeals kids could say hi