Zion national park January 2014

I realized I forgot to post on our little trip to St. George and Zion National park, it was MLK birthday weekend and we really needed to get away, so we needed some food storage we decided to head for the state of Utah, stuff is so much easier to find there and the prices are very reasonable. We hit our favorite store for food storage in St. George and the Walmart there the first day. The second day was Sunday, we decided to go to Zion National park, we packed a picnic and headed off. We went to the Northwest entrance first (it was pretty, but did not offer as much as the southern entrance) we took a hike to get a better look - the elevation is high, it was a lot of hike for me. Then we drove down to the Southern entrance, we learned that three national parks all run together, Bryce, Zion, and the Grand Canyon. You can do the 3 parks in 3 days, definitely a trip we plan to take soon, fall would be a nice time to do that, this year because of the drought it would be doable in the winter too. We drove quite a ways in and LOVED the beautiful views as we drove, kept going onto BLM land and ran into a place with a Buffalo ranch with cabins for rent. I begged Tom if we could check them out - they were awesome and cheaper than usual because it was off season. Wish we could have stayed a few days, but we will be back! Tom really loved the rock formations on the Mountains, can't wait to asked Heavenly Father all about it someday. Zion National park as some really neat tunnels, one was a mile long, it has observation "windows" for ventilation - they were incredible, you used to be able to stop and take pictures from them, cannot any longer, but they were beautiful. Traveling back home on Monday was quite a drive, because we were to deep into the National park we left early, with just one side trip of seeing the Pawn Star's shop in LV, they were filming, so we had to wait about an hour to get in, small shop - we saw none of the stars. (kinda a bummer)
It was a great little trip, we would like to make it again and go through all three national parks, and stay at the Buffalo ranch again!

Julie

Tom

Julie and Tom

Zion national park, South

One mile long tunnel

Pawn stars shop

Cabin we rented at the Buffalo ranch

Tom's looking at stuff we cannot afford
 

Tulare Ag Show 2014/Tom's birthday

In the last few years I have not had a chance to go to the Tulare Ag show, it is a lot of fun and a lot of walking. This year I took a day off to go, it has really grown in the last few years. Lot of things to do for free (after you get through the gate $15 per adult - unless you have some connections with a vendor) We participated in a auction from Richie Brothers auctioneers, using their play money. Shelby bid on an item (because Grandma kept putting her hand up) and got IT!! Can not show a picture of what she got, because she want to give it as a gift to someone special. The winners were all kids, no matter who bid on them - I think it was rigged! They had these trick rider girls from Three Rivers - wish we lived closer, I would definitely enroll her. Tom's birthday is on Saturday and this is what he want to do every year, this year I did not get him a birthday gift, he has been wanting a little computer, but when we saw there Makita tools on sale I gave him the option of tools or computer - he picked the tools, a great set with a bag that rolls for a great price. We had dinner on the way home at Tom's favorite place - Chick-fil-A. We even saw the cow, but Shelby would not get her picture with it, she said it would be too embarrassing, she is growing up.

Trick rider girl at the Tulare Ag Show

Shelby on a Ranger that was auctioned off for Breast Cancer, she looked so good in the pink one!

Tool boxes with fuel tanks in them, these were awesome

Tom with his new set of Makita tools, happy birthday honey! Now fix stuff around here, he he!

another trick rider girl, the "school" is in three rivers, wish we lived closer - I think Shelby would be great at this!

Mariposa LDS Ward

Almost 2 months ago the Mariposa Branch became a Ward. (for those non LDS friend and family the church does not enlarge a building or gain a Bishop until enough LDS Members are in a certain geographical  area) Our little branch has been growing, so now we are a Ward, and someday (soon we hope) we will also have an enlarged building. We need it, feel like we are busting at the seams during Sunday School and other meeting, and gatherings.

Every last Friday of the month we have a potluck, Tom and I have not attended in months, felt really nice to be back socializing with our church family that we love so much.

everyone enjoying their meal

The Norlunds

good company

Sister Hamm (your such a ham!)

kid love

clean up time

the guys, Robert, Ed, and Tom

Sister Ketcher and Daniel

Our awesome Missionaries the Mahlum's from Texas

Robert and Mary (last but never least!!)

Christmas 2013

There is always so much to do during the holidays, I really hate to shop, and love to make crafts - so much of November and December this year has been sewing and crafts and Tamale making. Tom even helped sew a few things this year. I took a total of 5 days off at Christmas and even took New Years eve day and new Years day also. Still did not get some family and friends visited that I would have liked to, but there is only so much one can do. We enjoyed Shelby being in California for Christmas this year, she spends every other Christmas with her Dad in Minn. It is always fun for her, but we do miss her on those years.

 

 The lights at the Oakland Temple, it is really a beautiful site to see (Mariposa Ward temple trip)

Tom and Shelby at Deloso farms near Manteca, California

Shelby and Gma

Shelby checking out the sweets

Shelby and Tom on Christmas day, Nutella is always a hit with Shel!

 Darrell and Marge checking out a homemade dishtowel

Darrell

Cousin Missy showing her 4 quilts she worked on with my quilting machine

Merry Christmas from Tom and Julie, hope your Christmas was a wonderful as ours!

Rodney and Shirley's 50th Wedding Anniversary

Shirley and Rodney are the Aunt and Uncle I have grown up with the most out of all the Wass family. When I was a baby Mom and Dad bought 5 acres from Uncle Bob, Uncle Kenny bought another 5 acres, and Uncle Bob still had >5 acres. Bob and Jean lived on Southern California and would come to Mariposa a few times a year, eventually they moved to Mariposa full time. Rodney and Shirley rented an old house from Uncle Bob, and my family lived in a 8x35 trailer (with a living room added on) literally in Shirley and Rodney's yard until Dad was able to build a road and a structure to move us to the top of the hill. My Mom, Marian and Shirley was kinda like Lavernne and Shirley - sort of Mutt and Jeff. Mom and Shirley shared a car at one time, and a washer, went everywhere together

...I think my Dad drove Shirley home from the hospital after the birth of Rodney and Shirley's first child Ronda. We did not have a lot of money, but we had enough, my brother, Brian and I were raised with Ronda, Darin and later Jason. Played together every day, often our Dad's worked together so we would also be with them in the summer "at camp" while Dad's worked in the mountains on logging roads, or other projects, we kids would swim in the creeks and any water we could find. More than one summer Grandma Wass would come to came also, she loved to swim and she could back float like no one else I have ever seen.

Shirley and Rodney have always been there through my life and through the life of many of my cousins. It was a wonderful day to celebrate their 50th wedding Anniversary.

Shirley trying to get Rodney to hold the signature quilt

 

Congratulations Shirley and Rodney, you are both the BEST!

Special Aunts - Pat and Marilyn

the men keeping warm by an outside fire (there were many)

Jason and Sarah Wass

Life happens

This year for Thanksgiving I had some medical issues, I guess my spine is/was so out of adjustment it was causing problems with my hip(s). So when I got up to start Thanksgiving pies on Thursday morning I literally could not walk. My sweet hubby helped me to the rest room, and even dug out an old walker out of the garage. Every year I usually host quite a few people over for Thanksgiving, this year I was so glad I did not.
I did get some bread made in the morning and some potatoes peeled, but then the cooking got turned over to handyman and daughter. Thanksgiving dinner was a little simpler than I planned, but everything turned out good, thanks to my helpers.
I am a nurse, and nurses are the WORST patients. (ask any nurse) The other thing is I am usually pretty tough, don't complain about little aches or pains much, well this time I did, too much pain to deal with. By Saturday I was begging for a Chiropractor, and I found one locally who could see me, he helped a lot, and I will have to be seeing him quite a bit for a while. I made it to work today, but it was a lot of effort.
When I got home I found Handyman on the couch, pretty much in shock - he had fallen off of the truck tailgate and was not sure what had happened, but he is pretty sore and has a few skin tears. I think he is really going to be sore in a few days.

I week or two ago I was thinking to myself how well life was going, just when I think that things usually start falling apart a little. Handyman and I are not moving too fast today, but we will be OK, thankful we have each other to get through hard times.

We have a lot going on right now in our family, (kids) - job issues, health issues, upcoming move, financial needs.

I am thankful we have a kind and loving Heavenly Father we can go to when we need him, in prayer, in priesthood blessings, in faith.

Christmas Decorations 2013

OK, OK, I know it is not even Thanksgiving yet, but this year we are early with the decorations for a reason, Hilary Lewis is looking for houses to decorate, she is awesome and creative. Thank you Hilary for another beautiful home being decorated without me doing it (not my gift and talent, but definitely yours!)

 

Christmas tree in it's glory!

 

center of tree

 

stairs to loft

 

fireplace, stockings will wait until closer to Christmas, need to sew a few new ones for new son in laws!

front door

the loft