Sorry to report this but, I didn't ride yesterday - I had to take Shannon to school quite early to return her 'baby'. A computerized baby doll that she 'babysat' over the weekend to earn extra credit for her Life Science class. It was an eye-opener for sure. And because it has a computer chip in it and then a wristband hooked on Shannon with a sensor, she wasn't allowed to be further than 50 feet away or something to that effect. So, we had a great time at church on Sunday. The baby did well for about 40 minutes. Um, then it cried. Now, Shannon sings in our choir and they happened to be singing this week, so after she had taken the baby out, I had to go to quickly find her and get the 'babe' and take care of it while the choir sang. I kinda felt dumb rocking a plastic/computer baby. I will be attaching a video in my next blog that happens to show this doll for a second, so take a look at it there.
Later we had our DeWitt Family Home Evening at our home. We try to have them every month and usually we meet at Gene Autrey Park in north Mesa, but as it gets warmer, we move indoors and to a pool area.
Today's ride was to my SIL'S (sister-in-laws) home. She needed to take her baby, Zander (short for Alexander) to a doctors appointment at 8am, but her little girl, Isabelle, would still be sleeping, so this was a perfect time to get my ride done. It was a 2.17 ride each way, so does that make it 4.34? And the weather was great this morning. I think it was only 75 degrees or so. Now, I need to get KT out of bed and take her to get khaki pants for work. Yes, I said work. She got a job. It's official now. Sports Authority. She needs to buy khaki Pants. Today is her first day from 5pm-10pm. We might just have to go buy something tonight from her department. Ladies Wear.

6:20am. Walk is done. Off. What no ride? Maybe later, but I had to try my new shoes out. Here they are.....



Yea, they're the Skechers Shape-ups. So far I love 'em!! I wore them around the house the day after I got them in the mail, a QVC buy. But today I wore them on a walk. 2.2 miles. Wow, that kinda sounds like a sad number after doing more on my bike, but I had to be back for family scripture study. Doug and Jason leave at 5:15 to go play racquet-ball at their gym. I left soon after they did, so I could be home at 6:15'ish'. My whole life I have walked on the outside's' of my feet and these shoes don't allow you to do that, so I guess they are helping. We'll have to see what my ankles and legs feel like tomorrow.



Pretty roses from our flower garden. Oh, speaking of gardens....take a look.....





We usually don't have much luck in the gardening area....now I can say we have a green thumb! Right? After one season and no disasters yet. Oh, our lettuce started to get eaten by birds and so Doug built these cages over them. Smart hubby. At least for this season. We've already picked lettuce, radishes, zucchini, cilantro, strawberries. We picked a carrot too early and an onion also. We didn't know. We're still learning. We are anxiously waiting for the tomatoes!!

Yesterday, my last child -Allan, entered 'teenagehood'. I couldn't be happier. I look at like another step towards completing my motherhood degree. Now, I know I will never NOT be a mom, but as my kids get older, and we (Doug and I) too, I see them as parents in their own families, as a newlywed young lady learning to get along with another whom she didn't grow up with, as a young man delving into the adult world by purchasing a home, as another young man away from home doing work which he has grown to love, as a young women attending college just so she can play volleyball and who has recently gotten her own job, and NOW, as my last two step into the awkward, silly, teenage years, I know that they can hold their own. I don't trust them to 'hold down the fort' without someone else around, but I know they could if it came to that. I see that they are all good children. I see that, with the help of other family members, neighbors, school teachers, church leaders and especially friends, they have come to realize that they are wonderful too. That they have a loving Heavenly Father. That they are blessed with health, wealth (okay, only somewhat on this point), happiness, silliness and especially love. Really who could ask for more.

I am working on my hubby's computer, so I don't have many pictures of Allan to add to this, actually there are only three. I will add them all. You are lucky....if I were working on my computer there would have been SO many to chose from, you might have been here all night looking at the ones I would attach. Thank your lucky stars.....

Goofing with Kevin, Seriousness with Katie, the shirts we wore when

Jason come off of his mission to Canada.

Finds for Tuesday.....

Okay, I actually found this red shoe on Monday's ride,

but I needed more to add to it and so I searched on todays ride and here are my finds:

Three baby ducks in our canal. Where's their folks?

Oh, here they are, on the berm, sunning themselves. And my final picture, yes, I saw a heart on my ride. Some kind of grease spot on the canal road.

Now, to embarrass Doug a little bit (and me for the messy bedroom). Shannon had fun with Dougs hair!!

Skinny, silly Doug.

Monday's ride.....kinda icky......

I wasn't going to write about my ride on Monday because of my ending 'finds' on my ride, however, I don't want you to think I'm slackin' on my riding, so here goes. I went on one of my usual rides, which is south on our canal road from Broadway down to as far as you can ride (construction obstruction) to Greenfield/freeway. I knew that I wasn't really going to find anything new and exciting, but I need to be ready if I DO find something, especially hearts. Well, as I rode, I passed one dead bird, then another, and another. It was crazy. So, yeah, guess what I'm writing about? Uh, uh. Dead birds. So, if you'd rather not look at them - skip them and go to my next blog. There will be no dead birds again.

Poor, poor birdies.

Also, this blog is for Kevin.....
Allan watched this youtube video called, ' The Wolfman'. (Sorry Elder Kevin, it's not missionary approved). Anyway, one of the favorite lines is given by this slightly 'crossed-eye' guy and he says: 'Hello Father, what happened to my brother?". I guess it's a spoof of the prodigal son. So, here is Allan - that Shannon captured on her camera, saying that line.......it's only about 5 seconds long, but it's too funny!

Okay, now here is the 'In 'n Out' Dream that Carolyn told you about.......(the missionary is serving in some Spanish place apparently)....

I have dreamed a dream. And in my dream I walked amongst a sea of tiendas and restaurantes. And I did cast my eyes about, and did behold a light which did beacon me unto it. And I did approach the light, and I beheld that it was in truth, a sign unto me, and I did read the words, and they did read "In -N-Out".

And it came to pass that I did enter the "In-N-Out" and did find a form of nourishment which was beautiful to behold, even to the exceeding of that of all other nourishment which I had heretofore beheld. And I did reach forth my hand, and did partake of the Double Double. And it did fill my stomach with inexplicable joy. And I did behold that it did consist of two all-beef patties, which had never been frozen, and of two slices of cheese, which were melted and did cover the patties of never been frozeness. And it did also contain lettuce, which did exceed the crispness of all other lettuce I had eaten until this moment,. And it did have tomatoes, which were firm and of a perfect texture. And it did contain a savory and delicious sauce, of which I had never before found in any other form of nourishment, and I shall name it 'spread'.

And as my stomach delighted in the joy it had found, I did cast my eyes about, and beheld a cardboard carton almost the size of the hand of a man. And within the carton was a certain amount of salted and thinly sliced fried potatoes. And it did have melted cheese and more spread being mingled with grilled onions. And I heard a voice in my head which did say, 'Eat the animal-style fries". And I did partake of the animal-style fries and they were indeed delicious, but not to exceed the deliciousness of the Double Double.

And once I had eaten the top layer of fries, I found myself in wanting more of cheese and spread and grilled onions. But I beheld that in front of me was a chocolate shake which I perceived was from real ice cream. And once I did sip of the shake and did dip my fries and therein partake, my joy was restored to me. And I did also have a medium root beer, and it did have ice. And as I was thus endeavoring to indulge of the wealth of nourishment before me, I beheld that I was not alone in my endeavors, but was surrounded by the closest of friends. And we did have a night of laughter and telling stories, quoting lines from all those movies that we love, it still brings a smile to my face. And we did sing songs together, and did rock out with instruments of air one with another. And our love and friendship was strengthened, and behold, my joy was full."

There you go, Elder Kevin....enjoy!