Backing Up

 Events since Thursday March 17th. Where do I start.........we were to go camping on Thursday the 17th we had been planning this for over a month. I got a call about 5:20 am or so from Alan's Mom to tell us that his sister had passed away. This sister Barbara, lives about 3 hours away from us. We didn't know when the funeral would be so we changed plans to going on Day trips instead of our 3 day camping trip.
 We went to the funeral on Tuesday March 22nd. It was a very nice funeral. I wasn't close to Barbara so it was nice to hear from those that were about what she did and who's lives she had touched. The viewing started at 9 and we got done about 2. There was a nice luncheon put on buy the church. It was good to see Alan's family members too. I don't see them that often but always nice to visit with my sweet nieces and see how everyones families are growing and changing.
 On Wednesday I found out that my sister had put my Mom into a nursing home but no one told me. Needless to say I was upset. Then I found out it was on Feb. 28th when she was put there. WHAT? No one contacted me about it. So I got even a little more bitter and I had to step back take a bunch of deep breaths and pray for help in the process of getting over this. It wasn't that simple.
 I finally got the information with the phone number and called my Mom. I feel so guilty that she is alone in a nursing home. She said she is lonely and that makes me so sad. I know she has Alzheimers but I hate the thought of her feeling alone. She said she doesn't remember anyone asking her to go live with them. I had wanted to but was told by people that it wouldn't be a good idea. I don't know still if it isn't the best thing to do. I wouldn't want to be alone in a place where I didn't know anyone. This just makes me so sad that I can't think about it too much or I cry.

 Thursday Coco called and asked us if we could meet up with her, her children and in laws to pick her up in Phoenix so she could stay with us for a while. Of course I jumped at the chance to have her & my sweet grand babies here. Love having them here.

 This is Naima loving on Talmage as he takes his afternoon nap. 

 On Friday Alan flew to Atlanta, Georgia to be best man for one of his brothers weddings. He went with his Mom and they had a good trip. Enjoyed meeting the new bride and her family. He came home on Sunday. It was good to have him back home.
 So this has been going on in my life. I haven't worked much in the past 2 weeks but not to worried about it. I have had enough on my mind to keep me busy.
 If I haven't left a comment don't think I haven't been checking in I have. Love looking at all the wonderful blogs and getting motivated, ideas and hearing how everyone is doing. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Proud Momma

I am once again a proud Momma. Today Faith came home from school with this

 She and we didn't even know she was getting this award it was a total surprise!
Faith has done a few things this year that has not made her the most popular with all the kids at school by doing what is right and trying to help others to not make stupid mistakes. She has made great choices and her Father and I are so proud of her. She has such a strong testimony and spirit it is amazing.
 Way to go Faith, we love you so much and are so proud of your choices. Keep up the great work and stay close to Heavenly Father and you can't go wrong.
 Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Day 30

Day 30 - movies you can watch again and again.

 Movies I can watch again and again are many. I love Christmas movies so those are there, Doris Day movies, Bishops Wife, Wild Hogs, Sound of Music,   Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with Donny Osmond. 
  

I like movies that make me feel good, happy and teach me something. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Day 29

Day 29 - favorite tv shows and why you like them.

 One of my very favorite TV shows is House. I love that it is one of the shows that has the true diseases, names and cures. It is educational, funny and very well written. Helped me with Anatomy and pathology in school.
 I enjoy Desperate Housewives ever since it started. My favorite is Bree.
 These are the two shows I rarely miss.
 I like to watch when I am in a mood to watch TV other than repeats of House the Real Housewives of Orange County and Real Housewives of New Jersey. 
Favorite house wives you ask, on the OC use to be Tamera but she got mean and nasty. I think Alexis Bellino and on the NJ is Teresa Giudice. 
 Hugs, Bobbi Jo 

Day 28

day 28- cruise a thesaurus and pick out 10 words you like the sound of.
  First things first I have been absent from blogging due to life getting in the way. More to come later on that. 
 I do not have a thesaurus in my house although I do have one at my finger tips. But I am a little different as you know if you have read my blog for any period of time. I have certain words that I love to say or love the sounds. So I will share these with you instead.
 1. Babblings
 2. Durst
 3. Expedient 
 4.  Supplicating 
 5. Thither
 6. Cardiac infarction
 7. Hither
 8. Sparkle
 9. Sternocleidomastoid
10. Gluteus  Maximus    
 There are 10 of my favorite words. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Day 27

Day 27- my day job verses my passion. My two jobs are my passion. First job is mom/housekeeper. I love being home and taking care of the house, cooking, cleaning and such duties.
 My second job that pays money is as a Massage Therapist. This I do on call and at my massage room in my house. I love to give massages. The massage is as therapeutic for me as it is for the client. I go into my beingness and enjoy what I am doing.
 Hugs, Bobbi Jo 

Day 26

Day 26- list 10 things that you are thankful for. 
 I am thankful for my Heavenly Father & his son Jesus
 I am grateful for the gospel in my life
 I am thankful for my husband Alan, and his putting up with me all these years
 I am thankful for my children,Coco,Dallas,E'lyse,Faith & Gabby, they make me  so proud & happy to be their Mom
 I am thankful for my son in love, Kyle for being to good to my Coco & be a good Dad and a fun person.
 I am thankful for my sweet grandchildren Talmage & Naima who 
 I am thankful for the talent of massage that has been given to me to use to help others and the love I have for it
 I am thankful for all the wonderful friends I have 
 I am thankful for the country I live in, I may not be thrilled with the President but it could always be worse. We are free!
 I am thankful for the desire to learn new things and better myself in all areas of my life. 
 There are so many more things that I am thankful for in my life but I am trying to be good and not cheat too much. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Day 25

day 25- what I would find in your bag. In my bag you will find my Franklin Covey day planner (pink & brown) a small clear pink bag with lady supplies in it, a dark pink bag that carries my nail supplies, hair pick and lotion, hand lotion, a small rock given to me when I got my Reike Master from my Reike Master Jimmy, my supply of gum, mints, more hand lotion,keys, garage door remote, book of some sort. Sometimes you will find my massage lotion in a plastic bag depending on if I have gone or am going to the club to work. That is it. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

E'lyse Turns 15

 Holly cow I am an air head. I totally spaced on posting about E'lyse's 15th Birthday. So now that I am awarded the most terrible mother of the year award I hang my head and post about it.
 On Tuesday my 3rd child and 2nd daughter E'lyse had her 15th Birthday. It is hard to believe that she is 15. She spent the day hanging out with BFF's going to the movies, roaming the mall and neighborhood. Alan went to work up north for 3 days so he wasn't here.
 E'lyse invited over a few friends to have pizza, pop, B-Day cake and watch movies for her night. Now the pictures I know you can't wait to see.  E'lyse's cake she put on the candles

  Waiting to light the candles (Dallas standing & Austin sitting by her)

 E'lyse lighting her candles 

 Waiting to blow the candles out 

 Our new tradition of shoving all the candle in your mouth

 E'lyse wanted to take a bite out of the cake but in the process Dallas came from behind her and shoved her head into the cake.

 After friends went home she reminded me that she would be able to drive in 6 months. AHHHHHHHH! 

Not sure if I am ready for that yet. 

Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Last Part of Friday Road Trip Fossil Creek

  Our last stop on our Friday road trip was Fossil Creek . The road into Fossil Creek is through a canyon of twisty, wash board roads. Very bumpy ride in and out. The area near the creek is beautiful, peaceful and very enjoyable. Check out the link to learn more about this area. Now the pictures that were taken.

You can barely see them but there are hundreds of fish in the creek, I was scared of falling in so I didn't get to close when taking this picture. And yes the water is that blue, I didn't use an enhancer on it. It was beautiful!

 The bridge that passes over the creek

 Looking across the creek

 The girls trying to decide where they were going in at, it was a little cool still

 E'lyse found this little turtle but Gabby was the brave one to pick it up, so cool!

 This is the turtles under side. I think it is beautiful. Gabby wanted to be able to swim with the fish and she did. Well more like sat with them as they swam around her. She had a lot of fun!

 I am a sucker for a creek picture such as this one. So awesome!

 Faith was the first brave soul to venture out to the rocks

 Under the bridge

 I joked to E'lyse that this would be a great place to meditate or do yoga. She struck the pose then I looked up and there were 3 or 4 guys (teenagers) looking down smiling at her as she did this. I think it is a awesome picture.

 I told the girls I would pay them $5 for the first one that caught a fish with their hands. No one won but it was fun to wash them try. 

 E'lyse planning out how to catch a fish

 We came out of the canyon near Strawberry Arizona and this is what happened on the way home. E'lyse asleep on her mini-hippo pillow pet

 Faith and Gabby too past out. It was a long and very fun day.

 We are hoping to visit the Grand Canyon, Tombstone and the Chiricahua National Monument  along with a few other places in the near future. 

You gotta love a road trip!  

 Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Tizguoot National Monument

After our trip to Montezuma's Castle we went to Tizguoot National Monument . And of course I had to take picture. This was really cool you actually go to go into the rooms of these homes, so very cool! A lot of history here. 

This is as we were starting the walk up the hill. The Indians made their homes at the top of the hill. What a view they had. 

This is Gabby, E'lyse and Faith on the very top of the house.

 Side of the house

 This is the first room you enter. 

 The view from the roof of the house. Beautiful! You can see all of Verde Valley and over to Jerome.

E'lyse, Gabby and Faith

 Alan, E'lyse, Gabby and Faith enjoying the breeze and sun.

 Looking out across the houses

 Very cool place to see. Can't wait to do more road trips like this one. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Montezuma's Castle

Being that all three girls are on Spring break we wanted to go do something fun. We loaded up early Friday morning and took a trip to go see Montezuma's Castle  Here are a few pictures that I took. This is a HUGE tree as you go into the little museum part before walking out to see the actual ruins.

 Parking lot 

 Walking to the ruins. It is amazing that people lived in these. 

 Zoom lens to get a better look at the Castle.The people who lived in these used ladders to get down in to the rooms. 

 A little room in the rocks.

 More rooms throughout .

 The Verde River that runs by the Castle. The people would get their water from here and take it up to their home on the side of the hill. Food provided by all the wild plants around along with the men hunting and bringing home game to eat.

 This is a miniature replica of the Castle but front cut away. It has an audio that tells of the different uses of the rooms and the people.  

 Now that I look at these I realize I didn't take any pictures of my girls here oops! We had a good time and it was wonderful to learn more history of our home land. 

Canyon Lake

This Thursday afternoon we went to Canyon Lake for a picnic, a little fishing and water fun. Here are just a few pictures. 

E'lyse 

  Faith 

  

Gabby 

Alan fishing 

  Faith, Gabby and E'lyse enjoying the sun 

 We had a good time. No fish were caught but Alan & Gabby enjoyed the fishing. The girls played in the water even though it is still a little chilly.
We grilled hamburgers and enjoyed the beauty of Arizona's Canyon Lake 

 Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Day 24

Day 24- post your favorite quote or verse of scripture and why.
 Favorite scripture verse is D & C 88:119-120
 "Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;
 That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord; that all your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord; that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High."
 These two scriptures spoke to me some 20 years ago. This was the way I wanted my house to be and I TRY to make it this way. It is not always so easy! 
 Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Day 23

Day 23- something you crave a lot. This is easy peasy! Chocolate & Diet Coke. Yep those are two things that I crave a BUNCH!! Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Day 22

Day 22- what makes you different from everyone else.
 I honestly don't know how to answer this. Any help out there? Not fishing for complements I honestly don't know. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Day 21

Day 21-a picture of something that makes you happy. Once again I have to cheat on this one. The pictures are of my sweet grand babies Naima & Talmage. The pictures were borrowed from my daughter Coco's blog, they are the beautiful Mom to them.  

 Then there is my family. (This is an old picture) I love my husband, children and son in love Kyle. They make me happy. 

It is seriously time for a update picture of my family. 
 A few other things that make me happy is the color PINK!!! High heeled shoes and there are so many more.  
 Hugs, Bobbi Jo