Hali's "101 Dalmations" Play

Yesterday evening we went to see Hali's play. Her G.A.T.E. program put on "101 Dalmations". these little actors were great! They did excellent.

Hali played a Chihuahua and she was as cute as a button. Afterwards we went to Arby's for dinner and proceeded to get soaked with spilled pop and slimed with ketchup from our little group. It reminded me of when my parents took my sister Martha and I to a real nice restaurant in LA when I was just an 8 year old kid and Martha and I spilled things and we were crawling around on the floor picking things up and eating them. All the while embarrassing my mom and dad.

Of course, last night, I didn't even get mad at the fact that pop was spilled all over me. It was fun because it was my grandkids. Anyway, here's a clip of her last night

End of March Photos!!! What a difference today!

Ok, so this was the view from our door on Sunday the 29th of March. The markets were gloomy (but improving), the weather was relentlessly reminding us of the nasty grip of winter and it seemed as though we should have remaned Idaho Falls to something Siberian! Maybe even Chernobel or something that would fit for the times. Here's another two:

As you can see, it even feels cold to look at these pictures!!! and now we are in full swing of Spring. yesterday, Annette, Ellory, Critter and I were working in the garden areas getting them all prepared for planting some fun stuff. I moved a bunch of shade loving plants from the back yard that were'nt doing so well after the apple tree that used to shade them so well had split in two and had broken. Since then the plants had done just terrible. So, along the front of our house, it faces north and we always need shade lovers there. So, we'll see if the transplant actually works. I guess that slowly, one by one the projects will get done around here. Annette wants the big pine tree gone in our front yard. I say please not yet. I like it and I know the neighboorhood kids would sure be upset. Years ago, our little Critter and her friend put up or had me rather, put up two swings in the pine tree. Now, years later, every neighborhood kid plays on them. It's really kinda fun to watch and to hear! I know, I'm starting to sound like a nostalgic old man!! ha ha

Easter Weekend 2009

We started the weekend by going to Annette's uncle's funeral. Seems to be that all we do now is go to relative funerals. I suspect it will only continue as we all seems slide over a chair in life as we get closer to the end. It was good to visit with family and to spend that special time with everyone there.

Once we got back well, here is what we did with the grandkids. They were instructed that they could only hide eggs in the upstairs family room, the dining room and not out in the livingroom, any bedrooms or bathrooms nor anything downstairs in that family room nor any other bedrooms downstairs. It just had to be right in the family room and out on the deck. It was a balmy 56 degrees out there and so it was nice and toleable for them. We had fun and they did too.

Today My Little Boy Leaves I.F.

Our Little David has been working towards becoming a lineman. He's been an electrician for the last 8 years. He's a full fledged journeyman and has worked his way up to a forman and worked crews. After all this time he has made it clear he really wants to go in a different direction. We're proud of him and so pleased that he wants to continue to make good choices for himself and his beautiful wife Stephanie. These choices include he and Stephie moving to Boise where he will be attending school and from there, well, who knows where this world of opportunity will take my little boy. I wish him all the best and hope that his dreams come true because he deserves them.

So last night, Tony and I helped him move the last of his and Stephie's stuff to Michelle's basement and also into his truck. Tony went home after our lirst load to Michelle's and then it was just Dave and me. It was fun working together. We worked together until 2 a.m. I loved every minute of it. I was with my little pal who was always a quiet little feller to take along. Now, I look at him as an accomplished and focused young man. He's funny, and just good. He wanted to leave this morning at 2 and I encouraged him to sleep so that he could travel safely and get to Stephie in one piece. When I left this morning (7:25), he was asleep on the couch (just like he did when he was living with me) and he looked at peace. I gave him a big hug and a squeeze and a kiss and he slept right through it.

I looked at his truck out in front of the house all tied in with his stuff and shed some trears of joy for him and Stephanie and their new little babies that are coming. Tears of joy anyway and not of sadness. I guess it's really the first time that Dave has really ever left! Well, he did leave to work in Big Sky Montana for a winter and then there was the time he left to go live in Columbus Ohio. Back in those days, it was probably ok for Davey to leave. In fact, I believe we held the door open for him. ha ha. But, through all the stuggles that his sweet mom and I had, he always came home and he was always here. Probably, he never knew how much I so appreciated him being here. I guess he was a rock to me just like all of my kids are. He just was always there. Sooo, I'll have to get used to going to Boise to see him. At least for the time being.

Good for you Davey! I love You Kid!

Dad

Spring is coming to Idaho!!! Hooray!!!

Ok, It's been a long winter here in Idaho. I still have a good load of snow on my lawns especially the ones facing north and on my deck in the back. I can now see the stuff that was left on the deck and hidden under th snow. Shame on me for leaving stuff out there.

Anyway, I'm excited to get the duldrums of winter, the current economics, peoples portfolios in the negative, completely out of the way. I'm ready to have Faith. I think it was Neil A Maxwell that said that "Fear and Faith cannot exist in the same person at the same time". I really believe that and this time of our woes for many will go away like they always do. I have told my kids and friends who struggle that "I've been broke before, and it ain't so bad!" It really isn't for all that matter.

Anyway, along with that has also come much beauty and joy and fun times too. We have countless blessing that I think we take for granted. For us, some of the blessings include reasonable health, a comfortable home, kids that live close, grandkids that live close, parents that are doing well and coping with life in ever diligent ways, and also, twins that are coming to Davey and Stephie! We are so excited that they will be moving in with us for the month of April brefore they move to Boise where Dave will be going to school. Thats the only sad part is that they will be 4 hours away from us. Oh that really hurts Annette but, she's tough and I'm sure we'll be putting on miles to go see the little ones.

Anyway, here are some pics from the last month of Idaho winter fun and beauty:

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, RALPH! From Annette

We have been celebrating Valentines Day together for almost 30 years. Even though a few of them have been rocky, there are still many reasons I love him. Here are just a few reasons why I love the man I'm married to.

He is a man of many interests: Hunting, fishing, music making - plays guitar in two bands, mixes and records music, sings in the ward choir.

He is a man of faith. He read the scriptures and prays daily. He takes his callings seriously and fulfills them with never a word of complaint. He is always willing to serve others.

He is a loyal friend. He has many friends that he still keeps in contact with from his high school days. Once a friend - always a friend. He is gregarious. He stops and talks to everyone because he knows everyone. Don't send him to the store if you need something quickly. He'll be gone at least an hour because he ran into so many of his friends. When we go to the store together, I leave him with the first person he finds and continue the shopping. When I'm finished, I usually find him with someone else.

He is a hard worker and self-motivated.

He runs his own business and really cares about his clients. After a lot of different jobs to keep our family fed and clothed he found a career that makes him happy. He dedicates time and talent to his clients with a smile on his face everyday.

He often does the cooking - mostly because I don't like anything to do with the kitchen - but he seems to enjoy it. He'll even clean the kitchen and do the dishes. The kids complain about his famous mystery stews, but there are many dishes he makes that are enjoyable.

He likes to cuddle on the couch with me after a long day at work and watch Law and Order. His first choice would be COPS! Luckily he compromises and we get to watch what I want.

He irons his own clothes and will often iron mine. He is meticulous about everything being crisp and neat.

He has the ability to make everyone laugh. He could entertain all types of crowds with his wit and sense of humor. He has MC'd different parties or functions, and even amuses fans in his own band.

He likes his home to be clean and organized. He never leaves dirty clothes on the floor.

He is good looking!

He brought four beautiful children, five amazing grandchildren (and two more on the way) into this world with me.

Ralph, thank you for being a great husband and father. I love you. Happy Valentines Day

Guitar Projects with Seth!! Look to the right and play

Please push the play button and listen to these songs to the right

Over the last few weeks my friend Seth Callister and I have been recording LDS Hymns for our pleasure and for our family and friends to enjoy. They are straight forward guitar or stinged instument only with all the parts and noodles to go with it. We've been so pleased with the outcomes that we thought we might even share some of them now. We are putting a group of about 16 to 20 hymns per cd together. We are sitting on 8 right now and two more are in the can right now.

This has been one of the most enjoyable projects that I have ever done. I listen to them on a daily basis and this has helped me to calm down dramatically. I hope it does for you too.



Soo, to my family and friends I ask, what hymns would be good for us to record? What would you like to hear us do for you?



Seth and I were inspired by Michael Dowdle principally followed by Mark Geslison, Goeff Groberg, Small-Clemente Duo and other great LDS Guitarists and stringed instument players. Seth and I will be using various instruments to play these songs. On one of the recordings I used my Dulcimer, my mandolin, and at least one of my 12 strings. Most are recorded with my Seagul and Seth is playing his Martin D-28.





Anyway, we like them and hope you do to! Here is a picture from a few years ago of Me, Michael Dowdle, Seth Callister and in front, Kelly Manwaring (Seth's daughter) from a couple of years back