Happy Halloween!

Here is my costume:

And I have the voice to match!  Ha Ha Ha!

Too bad you can't see my glow in the dark fingernails!

They are amazing!

Let's see your costumes!  What were you for Halloween????

WHAT COLOR IS IT????

We're on week 2 of Heidi's cast.  She's getting very good at doing everything with her left hand....eating, writing, brushing her hair.  The biggest benefit for her is that she can't practice the piano....and she's taking FULL advantage of that! 

Many of you voted for what color cast she should get....we'll let you figure it out by the pictures:

Is it pink?  It looks pink....

But wait.....

Heidi made a special request for "two toned".  Since she and the doctor are now fast friends (3rd time breaking an arm), Dr. Dechet was happy to oblige.  Heidi is also her guinea pig for a new waterproof liner.  Since Heidi's had experience with the old waterproof liner, Dr. Dechet wants to know which one she likes better.

Heidi's NOT happy that it goes up her arm covering her elbow, but the break was pretty bad.  She can't get her fingers to her mouth---do you know how frustrating it is to try and lick your fingers but your fingers don't quite make it to your mouth?!?!

She has 2 more weeks in this cast and then we get more X-rays to see how it's healing.  She'll either get a short cast on or just a brace.  We're hoping for the brace.

Heidi's been a trooper and hasn't let her cast slow her down---she now has a weapon to use against Fanny when he annoys her!  Look out everyone! 

My First Blood Drive Experience

Oh, the blood drive.....

Geeeeeeeeeeeeeez.

I'm pretty sure that everyone has heard the story, but just in case I will attempt to tell a quick version of it for those of you who missed out.

I got my blood drawn on Monday for the first time.

I waited in line for an hour and a half and then they had to prick my finger twice. No fun...

So then they sit me down in the chair and stick the FAT needle in my arm. All is going well! Or so I thought..?

Next thing I know nurse dude is back and telling me that he missed the vein and that he can either take out the needle or wiggle the needle around in my arm and try to hit the vein. So I told him to try and hit the vein  because helloooooo I waited in line for an hour and half. I was going to get my blood drawn.

So he wiggles the needle around in my arm for what felt like forever and then tells me that he didn't even hit the vein. 

ARE YOU SERIOUS NURSE DUDE????

apparently yes.

He then makes me hold down the blood covered gauze while he cleans up around the hole. Then he has me lift my arm. Why?? Because blood is covering the entire back side of my arm. I swear, the clean up took longer than the actual process of sticking the needle in and sucking out the blood.

So he cleans me up and sends me away with an ice pack.

End result?  

This lovely bruise on my arm.

Good to know that it's healing though!

And thankfully it's been just cold enough in happy valley for me to wear long sleeves so that no one really has to see it...

Although, if you're going to have a bad first experience of having your blood drawn, might as well come with a battle wound, right?

Happy Birthday Dad!

                                      Happy 75th Dad! 


Dad and Mom

                                                                             You've been on my mind a lot lately

and so, in honor of your birthday, here are some random picture and some lessons learned!

There is nothing better on a Saturday morning than Dad's pancakes...

any letter, any shape, he would gladly attempt!

Dad taught me to ski...."if you are old enough to ski, you are old enough to carry your own ski equipment." 

I heard that every time we went.  Most times though, dad would end up carrying my skis and poles!

Dad as a missionary!

Dad loved the Lord!



Dad loved to drive the Falcon!

Some Dad saying:  " WW!!!!" (or wet wood!)
"be careful, it is the first rainfall of the season!"

Dad loved Mom

Dad loved to make home made ice cream...but Dad, there is such a thing as too much almond flavoring in peach!

Dad loved to putter...and water...it is good for the soul!

Dad could load a dishwasher like no one else...Unfortunately, while some of them come close, none of the sons-in-law have perfected that skill!

Dad taught me to budget and to balance a checkbook...well he tried anyway!

Dad taught me to pack a suitcase

Dad taught me to love the world and to love to travel.....

One of my favorite memories is of the day we spent together in New Zealand...I think the rest of you were in an airport someplace........... sorry!

Dad loved to work

And he loved to play

 sports of all kinds, but especially with the grandchildren!










Dad taught us to talk to everyone you meet...the world is full of interesting people!  Sometimes it was so embarrassing!


But, no matter where in the world you went, you ran into a friend of Dad's!

Lately I have had some people tell me that I am extremely "detail oriented"  funny, I sure don't think of myself that way...especially not compared to Dad, and from the note below, he did not think me too detail oriented either!

Obviously, at age 18, dad wasn't sure I could wind  a watch a properly and so he sent very DETAILED instructions!  Thanks Dad!

Dad loved Christmas and believed in the magic just like Mom does!

Dad taught me that people are ALWAYS  more important than things!  How many times did we do something to the car and he never really got too upset!

But most of all Dad loved the Barnes Bash and his family

Zions


Tonight Dad, my table is set with bird of paradise and antheriums..
For dinner we are having:
Jello with fruit cocktail
Tater-tots
Peas and Carrots (out of the same bag..who knew they still made them!)
And, of course cube steak!

For dessert, there will not be a Duncan Bakery Rocky Road Chocolate Cake, we will just have some ice cream...and maybe a spearmint certs and think of you.


Whenever I think of Dad, there is an immediate picture that pops into my mind.  It is a very vivid memory for me, maybe because it is one of the last I have of Dad. It is from the Barnes Bash in Jackson.  One afternoon there was horseback riding on the schedule. I opted not to go, and Dad was not going to go either.  We both walked over to watch everyone get saddled up and to send them off.  I am not sure who else was staying with us.  As everyone was getting ready and starting to leave, it became obvious that Dad was torn, he wanted to go with those on the horses but he also wanted to stay.  He was looking longingly at those getting ready to go. I encouraged to dad to go ahead and go.....and he kept saying no he had better stay.  Finally I turned to him and said, "Dad, just go, we will be fine."  He immediately jumped up and had them saddle him a horse and he was off to catch up...at last minute he turned and waved good bye to me.

Maybe I always think of this because I feel like it foreshadowed what was to come.  I think Dad was probably very torn when it came time to leave us.  I wish I had had one last time to tell him how much I love him, and to say to him,
"Dad it is very hard without you, but don't worry, we will be fine."

And so Dad, thanks for the legacy, the life, and the love you have given me.

I love you


Aloha 'Oe.......
Until we meet again.

Heather





 

the big apple

Another reason the U is the best:

they have fall break!

Brooke, Brittany and I headed out to New York

(we were supposed to stay with Chris in Connecticut while he finished his training for a new job, but he ended up being sent home early so we HAD to get a hotel in Times Square-what a shame!)

Some highlights of the trip:

-Times Square

-Bryant & Central Park

-Walking, Walking and more Walking

-Row boating in Central Park

-Seeing "West Side Story" and "In The Heights" front row for 26.50!

-Eating in Little Italy

-Shopping

There was so much more but I'll spare you the details!

You can check out my blog for a more detailed trip.

Not to brag, but I'm pretty good at NY, my subway skills are amazing.

Maybe I should just move there????

Nothing like New York City with your best friends!!!

I love NY!

Gardner Village

On Friday we loaded up the Wright children and all headed out to Gardner Village.

Despite there being WAY too many people and it being WAY too hot, I think we had a fun time.

Happy Fall!

The Past Few Days

The past few days have been quite lovely, as the English would say.  We have been greatly enjoying fine weather, splendid company, and traveled across the countryside.  After an exciting visit to Bath we went on to a tiny little town called Tintagel via Wells and Glastonbury.  Wells was beautiful with a gorgeous cathedral.  Glastonbury....well...there were a lot off hippies who were attempting to find healing powers from a local well of water that supposedly houses Christ's blood brought over by Joseph of Aremathea.  After visiting their cathedral ruins, we made our way out of there as fast as we could and off to Tintagel.  There we stayed in a fun little B & B and enjoyed the beauty of the cliffs and the coast.  This area is famous for being the "birthplace" of King Arthur.  We had a blast climbing over each and every cliff.  There is truly something invigorating about the sea. Then it was off to London where we have been once again enjoyed sunny and beautiful weather.  We went to Big Ben, the Churchill War Rooms (a must see), the National Gallery, the Horse Guards, Trafalgar Square, British Museum, and Covet Garden.  Kate even snuck in some shopping.  We ended the night at Lion King and sang all the way home.  Tomorrow should prove an even bigger adventure as we head off to Barcelona.  We miss you all!  Here are some pictures:

Wells Cathedral

The Ruins in Glastonbury

Ah Tintagel....

More Tintagel

Of course we stopped by Stonehenge!  We are too cheap to go in so we took pictures from the road :-)

Big Ben!

Peter & Kate Blair

 

A Trip to Tony's

Many of you will remember Tony Schimerella, the tailor who lives in Gr/Gr building and has the men's shop downstairs. (I think he tailored some of dad's suits for some of you)
We sat by him in Conference and his son told us that he has liver cancer and has only a short time to live.  He suggested that a visit from us would be much appreciated.
So......yesterday, after Richard finished a wedding, we went to see Tony.  This is always a dangerous adventure because he wants to give you the store and even when you insist on paying and offer 1/2 of the ticket price, it is more than we would ever pay.......
So......we decided we would visit, buy ONE tie and leave, rather unscathed (altho his ties start at about $75.)
Well, we got there and had a nice visit.  He talked about his impending death -- in fact he said he had never talked about it with anyone, including his family, but it felt good to just acknowledge it and express his fears.  His daughter was there, and she was hearing "new news". 
But here's the killer. We stand to leave, and he very slowly and painfully rises from his chair and says "You MUST take something from my shop!"  Well, this is our moment "A tie would be great" and we start to look.  Tony looks at Richard and says "You need a new suit"!  Of course Richard had on his oldest suit and it is a bit shabby but we kept saying he has many suits at home, does not need one, thanks anyway, but a tie will do.  In fact by now we have chosen two ties just to appease him.  But he will not stop. Before we know it he insists that Richard try on the pants to a suit,  a bit too small, Tony has them marked for tailoring, the suit coat fits perfectly and he insists that we get it.  What do you say to a dying man!   Richard kept looking at me with this paniced look and I tried my best to explain that 2 ties would be sufficient.(They were marked $175 each)  But, when we left the store we had purchased a suit and two ties (for a total of $1300).   We insisted that we must pay so he charged us $500!!!!!  Good deal, yes, more than we EVER would have paid YES!  The rest of the day we were  justifying this outrageous purchase.  But can you put a value on making a dying man happy!  And honestly, the suit is beautiful and whether Richard realizes it or not, it is needed, as his suits are old!  And as we were leaving, he pulled out a temple suit he had made for Pres. Monson and told Richard he is ordering one for him (from Italy)!  Honestly, we hope he just lives long enuf to tailor the suit!
Moral of the story:  NEVER visit Tony unless you have money to spend!
But you gotta love the man.  He is sweet to the soul and so looks forward to seeing Pres. Hinckley once again!

Bryant at MTC

Imagine his surprise when he rounded a corner and saw us there!  Imagine his joy when we delivered to him Katie's homemade cinnamon rolls and a terrific harmonica which can only play hymns!

He looked great.  Doesn't seem to have ballooned on Cafeteria food.  His spirits were soaring.....he is excited about Ogden!  We will be thinking of him tomorrow when he makes the long road trip to his first area of assignment!.  Go Bryant!  (Oops.....ELDER BLAIR)  (Oops again......Hermano Blair)

G&G  (you have no idea how hard this was to do......but I will keep practicing and someday i might just be very good at it!!!!!

Bath

Peter and I are in Bath today and had a few minutes to write this post.  We have had an excellent time touring the Roman Baths, eating a bun at Sally Lynn's bun shop, eating fish and chips, and exploring the city.  Yes, it is technically a city.  We learned at our first bed and breakfast that what makes a city a city is the fact that there is a church!  We are having a blast.  More to come soon!

Peter is not happy about this picture being posted, but he is truly a Roman and a very handsome one.

Posted by Kate and an impatient Peter

BREAKING NEWS ALERT

                   James has always had his own sense of timing!

He arrived early, I think he didn't want to leave Utah.

Some have said he is a late bloomer, or maybe it is just that Rebecca did all his talking!

But this time, James has outdone himself in wanting to be different...

You see James has......

are you wondering????

Have you guessed.....

James has a BAD case of

CHICKEN POX!!!

Don't hold your breath, but if I get a chance I will post some pictures...you may want to shield your children's eyes!!!  He says just google Monsters and you will see him!

Really James.....who does this at age 17????

SURPRISE!!!!!

           Today I broke my wrist at school. My right arm, I mean how bad is that. It is my third time breaking my wrist. First left, second left, and third right. It is broken once in both bones.The bright side about this is that I got free lunch out of it. hahaha. What color of hard cast do you thinkI should get?


                                     - Heidi face

Another Post...

I will attempt again to make another "one handed post" as I have this fussy, difficult but still super cute baby!!!  Here are some pics of our annual outing to the Pumpkin Patch!!!  We were extremely offended and sad that the "Provoites" didn't join us but who knows... maybe we will have to make the journey again before Halloween.  We always go to Pace's after for lunch and this time we had a MOST DELICIOUS, TO DIE FOR fresh strawberry/fresh lime slush!!!  Wow!!!  We might have to go again just to get another one of those this year!  I know, I know...  it doesn't exactly go with the previous post by the gmoof but c'mon we used our coupons last time and sometimes traditions are really not ever meant to be broken!!! 


Posted by Shmo P

P.S.  Really don't like the lack of font options on here!!!  Can't we add some cool fonts or something megatron???

Just had to throw in one of Little Will!!