B M W FOR SALE

That's Big Mormon Wagon to lay folk. In these high gas prices times, does anyone reading this know of someone who might be interested in buying a 1996 Chev Suburban in excellent mechanical condition (thanks to our resident mechanic, Rod) and very good body and interior? It has fairly new Michelin tires, seats 9, large cargo area behind the third seat, roof rack, towing package, 161,000 miles, a 40 gallon tank and gets approx. 15 mpg city and 18 mpg highway. You can go over 700 miles on a tank of gas. Sole owners for 12 years, the "Burb" has slept in our garage when not in use out of the harsh Arizona sun. Asking Kelly Blue Book trade-in price of $3500. Let me know.

Emma's time to visit

Margo went to Tucson this past Tuesday and she brought Emma back with her for her special visit with Grandma and Grandpa. PLUS, she got to have Aunt Margo here, too. The rest of the family will be coming here on Saturday for the weekend to help celebrate Margo's 19th birthday, which is TODAY. Emma has been busy shopping for a school outfit, playing with her new soccer ball, dancing, reading, watching movies, having a private tennis lesson courtesy of Margo, swimming (she got a bit sunburned from these activities), and baking cookies with Grandpa. Be sure and check out all the photos at this site

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=18s0ijij.bh9zjc53&x=1&h=1&y=-rdibgl&localeid=en_US

You might have to register to view them at least I did when I clicked on it. First time I've had to do that. I must have done something different when I loaded the photos.

While Margo and Emma were sitting on the family room floor playing vidoe games tonight, Margo discovered 2 small scorpions near them. Ahhh, desert life. We've also had large cockroaches (some about 2" long) but not because my house is dirty. They are very abundant in AZ. We just zap them with Raid. So far we've only had one small centipede. They like to come up the tub and shower drains but get it other ways, too. Some can get quite long - up to 6" and 3/4" wide including the feet.

Margo has decided to head back to Flagstaff a week early -- too boring down here -- so she will leave Sunday evening. She wants to get back to her job to earn money. She has school fees due as well as car insurance next month. Plus she is anxious to move into her new apartment. Right now her things are being stored in a friend's garage. She will be back for a weekend sometime in August to attend a friend/cousin's that she grew up with mission "farewell". It's Ryan Merril (JT and Kelly's oldest) for those who read this and know him. He is going to the Ogden UT mission which also covers much of Wyoming as I understand. I start back to work in 18 days and I am ready to get back to work. I, too, have been a bit bored this summer but have kept busy doing indexing for the church's family search site and continuing my crocheting of hats for humanitarian aid.

July 6

Derek and family along with Michael came for the day (Michelle wasn't feeling well so stayed home to dogsit Reugger and Baretta). While Rod, Margo and I were at church, they went paintballing in the San Pedro River and we got to take Caitlyn and Danica with us to show them off. They were well-behaved during Sacrament Meeting. Then we, including Great-grandma, came home to visit with them and have a belated birthday dinner for Michael. The girls enjoyed "painting" the porch with water. My kids have fond memories of Grandma Lois letting them do this when we visited her in Salt Lake. Unfortunately I only have photos of Danica being creative. Later Waldo and Betty (Rod's Aunt and Uncle) came for a visit.

Click on this site to view photos of July 6, 2008

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=18s0ijij.7k8m2f07&x=0&h=1&y=wiwysa&localeid=en_US

We have been having some decent rain the past week and now that Rod and Riley put a fence around our garden to keep the critters (except rabbits and quail) out, it is growing nicely. We have already benefitted from it eating zucchini, crooked-neck squash, peas, and, just yesterday, corn. The watermelons and cantelopes are coming along, too. The storms are taking a break for a couple of days but more is expected later in the week. That means the humidity level is very high and the swamp coolers don't work as well. We have lots of fans going to circulate the air and it helps immensely. Rod has the old air-conditioning unit we got for free up and working and it is helping dry out the air already.

4th of July

Ok, so I don't have pics -- again -- thus you will have to visualize our participation in Benson's celebration. Our family is pretty low-key when it comes to holiday happenings, but one thing Rod, Margo, and I do enjoy on the 4th is playing in the "Benson Bobcat Alumni and Commuity Band". I know you are aware of Margo's flute-playing, but did I mention that Rod plays the trombone? Yup, and he is quite good in spite of playing just once a year for the past 20 years and then not at all for the 15 years prior to that. Like 4 of our children, Rod was a member of the Benson High School Band. Twenty years ago, two alum wanted to get former band members together to play for their HS reunion. Little did they know what would come of that idea. People came out of the woodwork wanting to relive their "glory" days.

A few years ago, non-alum community members wanted to be a part of it. And that's where I came in. When Margo entered high school, I decided I didn't want to be left out of the fun. I approached the band director (Margo's band teacher) and informed him that I played the piano, had never played in a band, but that I could read music and count time. I offered my services playing the bass drum - an instrument that is not as easy as I use to think - and he accepted. So for the past 5 years I have been playing the "boom-boom", as I call it, and enjoying the experience. (I am still trying to convince Nora [saxophone] and Michael [any horn] to join us.)We played in the 45-minute long parade riding on a flat-bed trailer in the morning then gave a one hour concert last night. And for only practicing once or twice right before the 4th, we sound pretty darn good. We even played "The Stars and Stripes Forever". The band's, and crowd, annual favorite is "Kansas City". I get chills when we play this because it has a wonderful trombone part throughout the song and Rod is great on it. His upper lip was a bit swollen and numb by the end of the night. We then went over to Nora's in-laws house to watch the fireworks. The town has other events throughout the day but Rod and I opted to return home to the coolness of the house.

Because we are in the parade, we do not get to see the other entries. However, I need to mention the "float" two entries in front of us as being the most "refreshing" I have ever seen in a parade on a hot July morning. Our sister ward's youth were riding in a semi-truck's open-tank trailer that had been filled with water. They spent the entire parade splashing in the water and throwing it out onto the spectators. They were definitely the "coolest" float.

My band T-shirt and the hat to protect from the Arizona sun.

Abbey's turn

We went to Nora's ward on Sunday to take care of the girls while Nora and Billy gave their talks. Abbey asked if she could come home with us for her one-on-one with Grandma and Grandpa. Of course, we agreed and she immediately began packing. She has been entertaining us with piano playing and singing, conversation, and just plain old companionship. We will take her back home Wednesday. Abbey had specific ideas of what she wanted to do while with us. #1 on her list was to buy some clothes for school - she starts Kindergarten next month. I told her I would get her one outfit. (Don't worry, Emma, you'll get one, too.) I took photos of her modeling them - jeans, two shirts, and a dress she loves that we couldn't pass up for just $5. She also went swimming last night in Uncle Riley's pool. Kari (Riley's girlfriend) worked briefly on teaching her how to float on her back. Today we will try making cinnamon rolls. Abbey has also been hounding me about going to Great-grandma's so she can play the piano with her, the absolute ultimate enjoyment for her. That will be tonight when Rod and I have an appointment. Enjoy the photos.