The MS Walk

I want to give a big THANK YOU to all of you who supported my efforts in the MS walk, and for donating and or walking with me! On Saturday, April 25th we participated in the annual walk for MS (Multiple Sclerosis) which you all probably know that I have. We had 6 on our team...or 7 if you count our dog Rawley. We had JoAnne Murdock, Robyn Beck, Adam Hughes, Jessie Hughes, Joe and Myself. And of course our standard poodle. Ü
We started off in a downpour and it was cold! However, after the walk started the rain shut off and it only drizzled and we were able to complete the 3 mile course. Joe was able to get some UPS t-shirts for us, and Jessie was so awesome and stenciled our team name on the back. Team Munga- to show my support in being there for my grand kids. They call me Munga if you are wondering what that is all about. Here are a few pictures from the walk. We don't have the team picture online yet to post, but I will add it when it is available.

Thanks again everyone! It was fun and we even exceeded our goal for fundraising!

Rawley, our "mascot" wearing the team shirt and our logo tags.

Jessie & Adam showing off the team name (Team Munga). Thx Jessie for stenciling all the shirts!

Joe and I right after the walk. We were tired and wet, but we made it!

My little brother Adam and his wife Jessie

Me posing with the team "mascot"

Our Weekend at Home

It's been a while since we have updated the blog, and since we were just hanging in town this last week I thought I would post a few pics of what we were doing last weekend. Joe had to take a mid-term test on Saturday (yeah he is in school!) and so I rode along. On the way home we stopped at the dog park to let Rawley our Standard Poodle run a bit. But the best part about that is that Joe finally had to admit that Rawley is as big as a Great Dane! Yup, he is a tall boy and though he doesn't weigh as much, he was as big as one of the Danes at the park. On the way home we stopped to look at a furniture sale and came home with a new bed for our guest room and a new couch for downstairs! (Hmmmm, yes we did just get a new couch, but the other poodle Phoebe ate it). So....now we don't have Phoebe or the old/new couch. Hopefully this one has a better lifespan in our basement... I'm wondering if it might be more dangerous staying home since we spend as much money as we do when we travel. Oh well.... it's just money right?! Sigh...

Joe playing with Rawley on a hill at the dog park. See how big Rawley is?



Our new couch sectional for our basement. Nice and Comfy!


My mom (Judeen) stopped to see the couch and Rawley decided to sit on her lap!

You have to know Judeen, she is not as fond of big dogs...but he was sure fond of her.

What a Week...

Last week was a bit of a crazy chaotic week, with the passing of Joe's father and the birth of our newest grandson. However, the early birth of Carter was a blessing in disguise. Carter was born when we most needed some joy. Joe and I were able to fly down to California the day after the funeral (Carter was born the day of the funeral) to help out Zach and Sara with Mason and just be there to help & enjoy baby Carter. They say the circle of life is a miracle.
And...we witnessed this first hand. Carter James Denning is now part of our family and we are very happy to have him here. I still don't think it is fair that they get a baby that is that good and sleeps at night from day one. :)

While in California Joe and I mostly kept Mason occupied so that Sara and Zach could have some alone time resting and getting used to the newest member of their family. We had several adventures with Mason playing outside, going on walks, going to stores and best of all for Mason; finding Frank the combine toy from the movie Cars. We enjoyed having Mason sleep with us every night and all the funny comments that he was always keeping us entertained with.

All our grand kids live out of State... that is the worst part. So, we have to soak it in when we can and live through the pictures until the next time. Here are a few pics of our recent visit.

Mason and Carter right after he came home from the hospital, proud moment for Mason

Joe brought a funny wig to play a joke on Mason- aka...Kodak Moment!

Carter just looking at me. He almost looked like he was going to talk to me...

All the boy's watching TV- Zach, Mason and Carter

Carter holding Munga's (my) finger. So sweet...

Mason sharing some brother time...

Carter just taking it all in...

Munga and Carter

Carter contemplating when his next meal might be...

"I'll show you Mason.... Just cuz' your older doesn't mean you're tougher"

(It looked like he was thinking that at least?)

Carter and Bucca.

Carter is already holding his head up so well!

Mason on one of our adventures.

He liked the 4 wheeler...

Can ya tell? Such a big boy now

Hello and Good-Bye

Good-bye-
Today was a emotional day for us. We had to say good-bye to Dean... Joe's father. Today we were able to honor the life of Dean and all he meant to our family. Joe's dad passed away on Wednesday. The funeral was beautiful, and even though it was a snowy day; the weather cleared up while we met at the grave site and turned out to be so serene and gorgeous.
Joe gave a wonderful talk and spoke about the funny things that Dean did, said and some of the meaningful moments that influenced all our lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with Karen and all the children and their families at this difficult time. Dean will be missed.

1926-2009

Hello-
Today was also filled with an elation of good emotion that helps heal the hurt. We welcomed in our 4th grand child this morning about 2:30 am. Carter James weighing in at 7 lb. 4 oz. and 19" long made his debut after a very short labor. We had hoped we would be able to be at both events, but as we see it....Grandpa Dean probably had his time with little Carter and then told him to 'Skeedatal', because the family would need him today. Joe and I are excited to fly down to meet our newest addition and witness Mason as a big brother for the first time. He looks like Mason from the little preview we saw over the cell phone, and we will share pic's of Carter very soon! You can count on his Munga taking all kinds of pictures... Ü

We appreciate all the love, support and help we have had from our family and friends during this hectic and emotional week. It is amazing how family and friends pull together at times like this.

Our Amazing Race...Only to be Continued

We haven't won any money, but we are certainly on an 'Amazing Race' around the country. Joe and I actually were in 3 states on Thursday! We started off our trek to Idaho to visit Josh and KayCee and PresLee. Joe went up to help Josh finish the trim work in the basement that they are finishing. It is a huge project and is turning out very nicely~ (yeah we are jealous OK?!)

While Joe and Josh worked downstairs, I got the best part of being upstairs with PresLee. We played, and giggled (yeah major giggles folks) and just spent some girl time while KayCee was at work and the boys were working. Here are a few pics....(We are trying to download the fun one of PresLee laughing so hard it makes you bust up, but haven't figured it out yet..so stay tuned)

PresLee just enjoying Munga's silly faces and noises that seemed to keep her happy

Josh and Joe discussing the next plan of attacking the basement molding and doors

Josh getting to show off his handy work with his new nail gun. ( Men and their tools! lol)

Josh's new salt water fish tank that is built into the wall.
He can fit in it... Holy Moly... You can get a lot of fish and coral in this one!

Thursday we packed up and came back to Utah for me to teach my water aerobics class. Re-packed our bags and flew out on the late flight to visit Zach, Sara and Mason. They had an important Doctor appt. the next day and we wanted to help them so they could both be there. So Joe and I took Mason to Petco to see the animals (almost like a free Zoo) and we went to the Disney store to get another "Car's car". We took him walking to see Mulgarath's tower (the tower that Mason thinks the bad guys are in) and had fun throwing rocks at the pretend giant mouses and creatures that we saw on the walk. Here is Joe and Mason in a few pics. (I didn't look so cute that morning so I am the photographer instead.) Ü We have the chance for more cute pictures though, since I will be returning to California to be there until the baby comes. (uh, yeah Sara is darn close! Dilated and everything!)

We were having races. Mason loved that he could win Bucca.

At the start of day it was a little chilly so we bundled up.

Mason was a happy boy to fight the bad guys. He loves this game.

Go, Go, Go

The weekend would not be the same if we were not on the go. So, we decided to go again...

This time to see Josh, KayCee and PresLee (and Able of course). After all, it has been 2 weeks since we saw them. A short but sweet trip... It was fun to see how much PresLee had changed in such a short few weeks. Thanks again for allowing us to crash your weekend and get our grandbaby fix. Wish you lived closer!

We packed up the dogs, and off we went.

The dogs didn't enjoy the ride much, they slept through all the deer we encountered on the drive. Hundreds of deer literally. Good thing it was daylight while Joe drove. Ü

KayCee and PresLee after PresLee's morning nap

"Munga" and PresLee (distracted by the glo-worm)

YUMMO...those fingers are awesome!
PresLee in her new bouncer

Yeah, I get my clothes off again!
PresLee sporting a new "do" that 'Bucca' gave her (lol)

Spontaneous

Joe and I decided to spontaneously go to see Zach, Sara and Mason on Friday after he arrived back home from his business trip. We were California bound 3 hours after Joe got in from Reno, and after a disastrous streak of bad luck getting there; we finally had a fun weekend playing with Mason and seeing Zach and Sara and all the work they have done in the Nursery for the upcoming new arrival. AND...We were both flabbergasted at how much Mason now talks! Holy Moly...(one of his saying's actually) Thanks again for having us! We loved every minute of it except....

• Forgetting both of Joe's cell phones (work and personal)
  
• Forgetting the GPS unit (California traffic sucks without one)
  
• Getting lost on the interchange and paying $5.25 tolls to just turn around
  
• Sitting by a crazy lady on the plane going and a "big" guy on the way back... Yah, UH HUH (Biggest Loser Candidate)
• And...lastly finding out that Joe's new sport coat we bought still has the security tag on it and so we have to find a store to remove the huge ink protection plastic thingy

But.....We had so much fun taking Mason to the Wild Animal Park, and to dinner and ice-cream that we have already forgotten the stress and are laughing about the events that made us crazy. And besides, we found out about a new yummy chicken sandwich at Baja Fresh. Life is Good!

Mason was very friendly in the "petting zoo".

He looks shy here, but kissed this little guy
on the nose before this picture was snapped.

Bucca and Mason and their cheesy grins

Mason in a hollow tree, pretending
that he is in Mulgurath's Tower.
(Mulgurath is Mason's ultimate bad guy
when he is playing pretend)