May Date with Tyrel - Part I and Part II

Last night, after Travis and Trevin left, Tyrel and I went to town and bought movie snacks.  We came home and watched a movie together.  I love watching movies with him cuz he will still cuddle with is mom when we watch movies together.

Then today, he wanted to go on a hike.  We wanted to go to Big Tree, but after numerous phone calls to find out where the trail started on the Loafer Canyon side, we didn't have any luck.  Plus, Brother Howell said that he saw fresh bear tracks up there last week when he was turkey hunting, so we chickened out.  We will have to go sometime though.

Instead we went to The Grotto.  There was tons of water coming out of there.  I've never been this early in the Spring before.  Usually we have gone late in the Summer when there is still a waterfall, but not a WATERFALL!  Then we drove to Maple Lake and skipped rocks (disturbed the fishermen).  Tyrel has been awesome at skipping rocks since he was a little tiny kid.  He had a couple that skipped 15ish times.  It was amazing.  He knows just the right rocks to pick.  We ate Doritos and M&Ms on the way down the canyon.  I know, not very nutritous, but we had fun!

Hershey Track Meet - MORP

Trevin had his Hershey track meet today.  It was supposed to be earlier in the week, but they postponed it because of the weather. 

They picked a good day to have it.  Warm but not too hot.  I stayed through all of his events and then brought him home.  He did the 200 meter, the 400 meter, and the softball throw.

He didn't want to spend the day there.  I think all of the boys have come home once they were done with their events.  Apparently no track stars in the Nielsen family.

When we got back, Sean and I went to lunch for our Friday date.  It was fun to go out with him.  I love that we have that tradition.

Trevin is going to play night games with his friends tonight and Travis is gone to MORP.  So I think Tyrel and I are going to have a movie date!

Heroes

My wonderful Aunt sent me this picture of my grandpa Evers.  He was in the Army (1942) and then later in the Air Force.  I talked with my dad and he said there wasn't an Air Force when my grandpa first went into the military service.  That's why he was in both.

My Grandpa Richardson was also in the Army and my dad was in the Air Force.  I have lots of uncles and great uncles that also served this country in the military.  I'm grateful for all they did to allow me to enjoy the freedom I have and I'm grateful for those still serving today.  I'll add the picture of my other grandpa when I get the layout done.

My Predictions Were Right!

Way back on American Idol when there was a top 12, I predicted Lee, Casey and Crystal as the final three, and I was right!  They are the final three.  I was even able to watch the show tonight because I didn't have young women's.  It was kinda sad seeing them out my kitchen window all arriving at Sister Clark's for the activity tonight.  But, I'm ready for a change too. 

Sister Adams brought over the scout stuff to me this afternoon.  They have the Bears and Wolves together currently.  Not exactly sure how that works as they have pretty much totally different requirements.  I hope they separate them.  I guess they have been mostly working on belt loops, which would be the same for both of them, but belt loops are not required, so I think it is sad that they aren't working on their advancements.  Hopefully they get them separated.  Kelly, my co-scout leader is out of town this week, so next week we will have to get things planned and start having our den meetings.  It will be interesting!

Trevin and Tyrel went swimming for their scouts tonight.  Trevin apparently got some water in his mouth and then panicked and started sinking.  Thanks to those who saved him.  I guess that means we need to put him in swimming lessons again this year.  Tyrel said the pool they went to was awesome!  It was in the home of someone in Woodland Hills and apparently is an olympic sized swimming pool.  Wow!

New kit and my detective skills (or lack thereof)

I've spent most of the day today working on a new digital scrapbooking kit we have coming out in August.  It is called Surf's up and has an Earthy beachy feel to it.  I'm loving it!  I created lots of fun and unique elements for it that have never been in any of our other kits and it was kinda fun! 

I also have been spending some time trying to find a picture of my dad in his military uniform.  I emailed my mom, she said she only remembers seeing him once in his uniform before they were married and doesn't have a picture

I emailed my aunt and this is what she had to say
Lori - Your Dad was a pain in the pa-tooty when it came to him and his uniform. If there was ever a picture of him in his uniform it would be something I'd like to see - did you ask your Mom? I'll lay odds that he never had one taken. Other than your Mom - none of us ever saw your Dad in his dress uniform. You'll have to ask him why because I don't know.
When he came home after basic training in Texas it was around Christmas time (if I remember right) - we were all so excited that he was coming home. His plane didn't get in until late evening. We all went out to Stapleton Airport to pick him up, but, no Bob on the flight he was suppose to be on. We waited around, looked every where. In those days there was no cell phones so we had no idea if he was actually on the plane or not - as military flew standby.

Disappointed we drove home to Boulder and hoped we would hear that he would be coming the next day. Well that stinker was at the airport the whole time! He didn't want us to see him in his uniform so some how he snuck by us into the bathroom to change. In order for him to fly standby he had to wear his uniform. We no more walked in the door and the phone was ringing and it was him. So we all jumped back in the car and headed back to the airport. I think we were all just so excited that he was home that he got off easy on his little escapade........

So that's the story of your Dad and his uniform. I've never seen a picture with him in it - and don't know if he ever had one taken
 
I talked with my dad and he said he thinks they took one when he was at basic training and if they did, he sent it back to his mom, my grandma.
 
I talked with grandma and she said she doesn't remember ever seeing a picture from him.
 
I emailed the military bases where he did his basic training and his schooling and they said they don't archive photos by name that far back (I guess I should have decided to be a detective a long time ago instead of waiting till now)
 
So, I guess I'm pretty much out of luck and it makes me sad that there isn't a known photo in existence.  Kinda frustrating since I would love to do a layout of him in uniform for my kids scrapbooks. 
 
On the bright side, I do have photos of both of my grandfathers so I will be putting them in layouts!

Why I'm a Scrapaholic

Here is what the journaling says

I love watching my kids look through their books that I’ve made them. Even . though they are at that age where they don’t love getting their picture taken, they will be glad someday that they let me!

I have loved participating in the My Life challenge this year. I always just scrapped the big events like holidays and sporting events, but now I am scrapping our everyday lives and I am loving it!

I set a goal this year to scrapbook 52 recipes (one per week). When I’m done, I’m going to get them all bound in a book to give to my boys to give to their wiives so the family recipes can be handed down to future generations.

I taught a digi-scrap class to a bunch of my friends and neighbors online and I am also teaching a community education class on digi-scrapping at the high school. I love being able to share my hobby with others.

It has been so much fun being able to design with Heidi. Even though we live far away from each other, we have been able to share this interest with each other and talk on a daily basis. I’ve loved strengthening our friendship!

I loved writing in my journal when I was younger and I got out of that habit when I got married. I know it is important and scrapbooking gives me a way to be able to keep family history and share my feelings about important events as well as everyday life.

I’m usually not really creative, but with cooking and scrapbooking, I feel I can share my talent with others and it is something I love.

I have made so many new online friends and some I have even met in real life. I love these ladies and the fun we have together during speed scraps .

My photography skills have increased vastly and I love taking pictures all the time. I wish my boys would be cooperative subjects more often!

I love challenges and learning new skills and I love that I have been able to keep fairly up to date with my photos.

 
 
PLUS - HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!   I love you!

Mother's Day

We woke up and got ready for church.  I got released from my calling in Young Women's today.  I'm going to miss the girls, but I've been in there for 3 1/2 years, so I guess it is time for a change.  My new calling is as a cub scout leader with Kelly.  It will be fun to work with her!  I've never been in Scouts before, but I have 3 boys that have been through it, so it should be a fun change.

When we got home from church, Sean fixed me lunch.  I think that is the first mother's day meal he has ever made me and it took a little prompting.  He made BBQ'd chicken, baked potatoes and green beans.  It was yummy!

I worked with Travis on his answer for his MORP date and made brownies for dessert for the family get together.  I called and talked with my mom and tried to call my grandma but just got voicemail, so I left her a message and also sent her an email.  I also got my annual mother's day pictures taken with my boys.

We went down to Diane and LaMarr's for dinner.  It was fun visiting and laughing with everyone.  We had BBQd chicken, salads (oh so yummy), rolls, and then brownies, ice cream and hot fudge sauce for dessert.  I also got a picture of Sean with his mom.  It was a great mother's day!

The picture above is the only good one.  This is what we had to go through to get to that point