Mountains

I must say that I live in part of the country that was blessed by the hand of God. Yes - even God's country. I don't have to wait for a clear day to be able to see my mountains - I can always look around and they are there.

Matt and I took off yesterday in his jeep. We ended up being out longer than we wanted - at least that is how we felt after we got home. But it was a beautiful ride. Went to Sandpoint - the long way - over the mountain. Four and a half hours to get there - one to get back. :)

That is Bayview on the shore of Lake Pend Oreille. For those of you who know north Idaho. :) For those of you who don't - the lake is pronounced Ponderay.
The mountains just keep on going - a little hazy but it is windy and there is dust in the air.

Mountain views are just beautiful.
Name that wild flower. I can't - Damon, Cristy or Nikki? Can you remember? I ask you because of the great flower project you all had to do in High school.
The trip was great except for these guys. If they wouldn't buzz your ear, I don't think it would be as bad. I think?
After we got to Sandpoint - Matt and I did something we have never done before - walked the long bridge.

Was a good day - and we found other roads to explore some other time. :)

Sometimes you win & sometimes.......

So the Idaho State School Bus Safety Competition was held in Napa Idaho on June 19Th. The best of the best was from Rathdrum Idaho - pictured above - Back row -Ginger, who came in second - Roger, who took first. Front row is Sue and Ruthie. Ruthie and I placed on the other end of scale. :) But now that you know the results - I'll tell you about the trip.

Due to education cut backs we had to take the trip on a school bus. Six of us went down, the four of us competing and our boss, Darrell and his assistant Susie. Four women and 2 men. We left Rathdrum and 5:30 am and took the scenic way down - no hurry - we have all day - and we took all day. We ended up taking a grand tour of every rest stop in Idaho. A most interesting subject to explore. I must say that every rest stop is a little different and vary from clean to quite gross. We stopped in Riggins at the rest stop there and it was next to the river. I went to take a picture of the rapids and found Mr. Snake here. I took his picture and left.

I found a better place on the banks of the river - without snakes - and took this picture.

After 11 hours on the road we finally got to Napa. We found our motel with only a little difficulty and checked in. I took this picture - just cause - and then we got back in the bus to go find the school we had to go to in the morning. Then the best part of the trip - dinner at Sizzler. I asked the desk clerk for directions and after a few wrong turns we had a most delectable meal. I love Sizzler :) Back to our rooms to study , shower and sleep. Or at least try to sleep.

We where told that we would have an oral pre-trip test along with a written general knowledge test. There was allot of stuff to memorize. Most of us got four or five hours sleep between study time or worry time. We where up at 6 - in the bus at 7 - at the school for registration by 7:30. Turns out we didn't get an oral exam - both tests where written. Not a very easy test either - there where a few question that I thought non of the answers where correct. Oh , well. Next was the driving - we where to drive C2 buses, that where 40 feet long. Not a bus I am familiar with and one that I let intimidate me. The rest is history - I was really mad at myself for awhile but that was silly so now it is just one more lesson learned.

I knew Roger was going to win - he really had things down - and we all hoped he would win over all - meaning - highest score of all the divisions. And he did!!!! There is a traveling trophy - one that has only been up to our district twice before - and now it is coming again.

One very impressive trophy. Good thing we drove a bus down because we needed a big vehicle to transport it home.

We left Napa for home at 1 pm. We continued our tour of every rest area in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The other state rest areas are not any cleaner - in case you where wondering. We drove the last two hours in a very impressive electrical storm. I love watching lighting. Arriving in Rathdrum 10 hours later - I got into my car and went home. I took a shower - and spent the next eight hours - sleeping.

So next year when this Road-e-o thing comes up - remind me that I have already seen every rest area in Idaho - OK?

Regional Road-e-o

Today was North Idaho Regional Bus Safety Competition - OK the bus Road-e-o. We almost didn't have the competition because of all the budget cutbacks statewide. But one district in Napa Idaho volunteered to hold the State competition, so Lakeland (my district) quickly put together our regional competition.

Here is a picture of Mandy and I - she so generously volunteered to judge. It takes allot of people to judge these events, about 22. OK you are wondering how I did - I came in 4th. Not as good as last year but good enough to go to state. It was raining and a little cold so I really appreciate Mandy coming and helping out.

The competition has two written tests - one covering the "walk around" Questions about the bus itself. And another on general knowledge. Driving and bus questions. Then 10 driving events. Curb parking, straight line , crossing a railroad, offset alley, parallel parking, back-up alley, right turn, diminishing alley, picking up children, and stop line.

Because of the short notice and cutbacks we didn't get any trophy's. This economy is really bad when they take away the trophy's. :) Hopefully I can place and get one at state. :)

I had more pictures but I am having trouble with them this morn - oh well - So , now on June 19, I will be in Napa Idaho - for a much harder test - why is this fun?

My Mother - one great Lady!!!!

I wasn't going to be cruel and post the picture I took of my Mom today in the hospital with what I like to call a space shower cap on. The new "hair nets" they put on the patience now are silver. Who thought of this one? Anyway - Mom is fine - great even.

She went into the hospital today at 11a.m. and was suppose to have a kidney stone removed. But instead , she had an I.V. and a little happy drug and 10 minutes with the surgeon. He discovered that basically her left kidney is half dead. No need to do anything, since it wasn't bothering her in the first place. I don't have a medical degree and don't even pretend to understand all that was explained to me today - but I do know that when they woke her up from her groggy state all she wanted was a drink of water.

We actually got her home at about 3:30 and went to Appleby's for dinner at 4:30.

The more scary "procedure" is on the 23rd of this month. A stone in her liver. Not made of the same stuff the stones in her gallbladder. (She is keeping her gallbladder) Guess there is a narrowing of a duct - and the stone has formed in the narrowing. They want to know why there is a narrowing - they dropped the cancer word as one of the possibilities. We have chosen not to fret until the 23rd. But all your prayers will be helpful. Thanks :)

Duct tape, rope and really big rocks !!!

Memorial day week-end - three days without going to work. (not the work that gives you a paycheck, anyway) This week-end Matt and I where able to go to Pocatello, ID. The mission - bring stuff down to people and bring stuff up for storage. The stuff brought down - one mattress for the "Jappy" family - one flat screen TV for Grant and one corn hole game for Grant. The stuff brought home for storage - one queen bed - frame and all - one mans dresser - one desk - one kitchen table (Damon's old one) - one top for the desk and two kitchen chairs. Secondary mission - see boys and have fun!! Third mission - eat at sizzler :)

Loading the few things up to go to Poky was easy - three things and the weather was great! I watched the weather report looked at all the maps and didn't see any clouds in any area. It was 80 degrees on Friday. So we put a couple tarps in the cab of the truck - just in case - everything was tied down and off we went. We actually left on time - 8 a.m.. Eight hours in the truck turned out to be not as nice as eight hours in the Jeep but... About hour 6 we started to notice some very dark clouds. We had the TV wrapped in a blanket and a sleeping bag but the mattress was not covered at all & if it rained hard.... So we pull off the road and under an overpass to tarp the load. We have a few tarp rubbers but there isn't much to tarp - it is a low load. So we put the tarp under the ties and go rock hunting. Using the rocks to hold down the tarp - big rocks - we get everything covered and off we go. We go most of the way without rain and then just outside of Poky we get pored on. The tarp does it's job - mostly. A couple of oops - the mattress got alittle wet and a couple of bags from the corn hole game got wet. But the TV was OK and the mattress just got alittle wet - nothing serious.

It was great to see Darren. We unload the TV - pick up Darren and he leads us to drop off the mattress. Then we find our hotel - a girls tournament is in town. Lots of teenage girls everywhere - but we had a reservation. Check out the hotel room and then off to Sizzler. Mission 3 accomplished. Grant wasn't going to be in town for two more hours and we are hungry now!! Sorry Grant.

We meet up with Grant and head off to wally world - get some plastic and rope for the trip home along with some licorice - old times sake. Then back to the hotel for some corn hole. We find a place in the back of the parking lot and set up teams. First game - kids against parents. OK the kids won but that was just a warm up. I think we got in two more games before the sun was gone but we were not ready to quit - so - we moved the game to the sidewalk by the hotel offices. People where very nice in going around us and we even got a little girl in trouble with her folks - she wanted to watch and they wanted her to come now!! Anyway Grant and I against Matt and Darren. By now we are all warmed up and our last game had to last at least forty minutes or so. We kept matching each other and the score rose very slowly. But Grant and I were the victors! Would I post this story otherwise? Really wish I had some pictures of the games - we had some amazing shots and great victory/happy dances. :) Mission two accomplished.

Well, Matt and I went to bed - old people need their rest and the boys went back to Darren's. The next morning up and 8:30 Poky time and call the boys - they come over and we all go out for breakfast. Then off to load the truck. OK now I remember to take a few pictures. We wrapped the bed in plastic and tarp the whole load. All is tied down and we even take a few of the rocks just in case. Just as we finish it starts raining - that was nice for it to wait. Hugs for everyone and off we go.

I start driving and we decide to start out at 60 mph. Just to see how things go with the tarp. I inch it up to 65 and then back down to 60. The tarp is flapping in the wind - not a good thing - won't last the trip if it is flapping now. I pull over and we try one of the rocks and move a bungee cord. Off again. I drive for an hour or so and pull over again. More adjusting another rock and off we go. We make it to Dillon. Pull in and have lunch/dinner and top off the tank. We buy another tarp, more rope and duct tape. Two of the smallest rolls of duct tape I have ever seen. It is raining pretty good and we have to find a place we can get under for protection from the rain. The gas stations are all busy and we didn't want to have people yelling at us so we drive around the town of Dillon and find an overpass. We retie everything with the new tarp over everything. We take on allot more rocks and now this is going to let us drive faster than 60mph. We thought. We are trying to get up to 60 - but now we are in a real good or bad rain storm. Trees are arching - bill boards are shaking and one wind mill is going 90 miles an hour, we must be in a storm that has wind gusts up to at least 60mph. Not a good combination for us. We drive about 15 minutes and pull over. Get a few more rocks from the side of the road. Good ol' Idaho - always have rocks on the side of the road when you need them. Take off again. After a mile we pull into a rest stop and I am ready to sell the whole load for $25. Matthew finds one very large piece of cement - I can't believe he could lift it and I try this crazy idea with the duct tape. We take off yet again and wait - it is working. The tarp is not flapping like crazy - just a little. Good enough - off we go to home and a blazing speed of 70. We didn't get home till 11 p.m. But we made it.

The truck is still in the garage - I took off the rope, bungee cords and untucked the tarp the best I could. One thing stops me - One very big piece of concrete. George - buddy ol' pal - will you help your favorite mother-in-law? I would really like to empty this truck :)

Family fun week-end

Nikki and Jack came to visit this week-end. Nikki looks great as usual and Jack - well , Jack reminds me allot of his Daddy. Both Nik and Jack where here for a few hours on Saturday morning - poor little Jack was very tired from all the traveling and not having his own bed and all the other strange things that where going on - needless to say he was grumpy and fussy. Nikki took it all in stride - such a good Mom - but I do remember how Damon was when he didn't get his 12 hours of sleep.

Jack liked my duck. I didn't do too well on the picture taking this week-end. Had allot of eyes closed shots - guess I will have to start wearing my glasses more so I can see the pictures after I take them.

Next was a birthday party for all the Poteet men. George turned 30 - you old man you - Georgey turned 6 - unbelievable - and Grayam turned 2. Mandy had a party at her house and served up a great meal.

George cooked - the sun decided to show up after a day of rain but it didn't really warm up, so we were all in the house. Georgey isn't a real cake fan so his "cake" was donuts - piled high.

Time to open presents - what kid - person - doesn't like opening presents?

Jack liked being right there - he even helped Grayam a couple of times.

Here is one of the Great grandparents.

When all the presents were opened - Grayam helped clean up by taking all the wrapping paper from one garbage bag to another - then he vacuumed. What a great kid.

I don't know how a vacuum was found that is his size but here it is. Jack had to try it out.
It was a fun time and thank-you Mandy for all the good food. I would like to say Happy birthday to all the Poteet men and also to Nathaniel - whose birthday is the 4th. I will expect birthday pictures on your blog soon.

Baby, Graduation and a new dress !!!

What a great couple of days!!! Matt and I took off on Wednesday morning - destination - Provo, Utah. Reason - Grants graduation from BYU. Eleven hours later we arrived at our hotel. Grant had been calling us and asking where were we - so after we got our room - we went to Grant and Liz's apartment to find out what tomorrows plans where. After the big tour of their place - to see new furniture - Grant came out with gifts for both Matt and I and Liz's folks - Mary and Rod. It was obvious a picture frame and I just tore off the wrapping. I was expecting a picture of the two of them or Grant in his cap and gown but I was wrong. It took me about a second to know that I was looking at an ultra sound picture and looking at Liz for a confirmation nod -I let out a scream and threw the frame at Matt. Hugging Liz and screaming - everyone else didn't know what I was so happy about. I heard comments like "Well, it must be good". I gave Grant a hug and looked at Matt as he finally figured out the message along with Mary and Rod. We where all just laughing and smiles as we listened to how Grant and Liz where going to tell us the next day at the restaurant but couldn't wait till then. Then the stories of morning sickness that lasts all day and the almost slips of telling one person or the other. At this point who cares about graduation - I'm going to be a grandma again - number 6 is on its' way.

But we where there in Provo for Grants graduation. We got up Thursday morning and had breakfast at a very yummy restaurant. I forget the name but it was goooood. We then had to get dressed and go to graduation service number one.

We had to be there an hour before it started. Parking was crazy and we walked the whole campus. That is one huge campus!!! Grant dropped Liz off at the place so she didn't have to walk all that way - so she saved us some seats. As the graduates marched in - it took 45 minutes for them to come in and be seated - that's allot of graduates!! Turns out that Grant was almost right in front of us. He called us and said that they where starting to let people sit in the seats right behind him and if we hurried we might be able to get seats with backs to them instead of the bleacher seats we where in . Well, it worked - Matt got us good seats and it wasn't so hot either. Speakers - Russel M. Nelson and President Dieter F.Uchtdorf. President Uchtdorf speech was great and it was weird to applaud after the talks and choir number.

When all was over - we had to wait as the graduates filed out - Grant waited for us at the top of the stairs. We then went over to the apartment for a bar-b-Que and a chance to meet some of Grants and Liz's friends.
Good food - good company and video games - what more can you ask for? Matt and I went back to the room kinda early because we had to get up at 5am the next morning for the next graduation ceremony. This smaller service was to start at 8 am but the paper Grant was given said we all had to be there by 7:10 am. We got there at 7 am and where the first ones there. I was afraid that Grant miss read something but I must say by being first we got to pick the best seats. Once again we where only a few seats from Grant. We were the first row of parents and he was the last row of graduates.

Grant walking in.

Grant siting almost right in front of us -probably thinking the same thing we are - this guys speech is too long and boring.
Here he is waiting in line to go up and get the phony diploma and shake hands with the head guy of his department. If you want to see a picture of that very thing, you will have to go to his blog site because my picture was all blurry. I plan to buy the posed shot.

After that graduation was a meet and great with refreshments. We ate and left. Yea, he did it and this part is all done. Matt and I went back to the room for a two hour nap. We didn't sleep to well the night before and needed it. Then we met up with everyone for one great late lunch early dinner and a restaurant that was very good and popular. Darren had joined us now and it was still early so we went off to find something fun to do. We decided to go to Park City. On the way we stopped at some water fall. Remember this Cristy?

Then off to shop - first we tried to get some Tim Tams but no luck - they where out :( Very sad!! Then off the the outlet stores and well, I made the mistake saying that I wanted a new dress. We walked into the Dress Barn and Grant just took over. I think he could host "What not to wear" I would look at a dress and he would just shoot my choice down and give me something else to try on. He got the owner involved, she would bring something out and ask Grant if that was OK and then ask me. Then one and a half hours later I walked out with a dress I never would have tried on let alone buy. It was really fun - for me and Grant anyway!!! We checked out a baby store but decided to wait until we know if it is a granddaughter or grandson. Then off to the hotel for some sleep but first a trip to Shopko for some cold medicine. I have decided to come down with a rotten head cold. Matt and I sleep in and go to the kids apartment at 10 am for breakfast. We say good-by to everyone and off to home. I feel really rotten now and poor Matt drives the whole way home while I sleep. We made it home by 8:30pm and crash. We turned the furnish off before we left and it was 56 degrees inside the house when we got home. A cold welcome but it is always good to be home. Now back to work. :(