July 24th. Pioneer Day

I had the day off today, So Grandma and I went shopping for decking materials. We got a lot of prices and ideas but not much else. Shopping with Grandma is challenging at times. I am a go find a good deal, buy, be done type shopper. Grandma likes to compare, figure, wonder, and try to squeeze out every penny of savings, then go back and do the same thing over and over and over. Sometimes I just have to walk away to save contention from happening, or just say yes that is fine, let's move on now. What is frustrating too is having to practically use tracking dogs to find any help in the stores. I some times think they are all out on break all of the time. And then when you do find someone they say, "I don't know anything about that" or "that is not my department" or "we don't have that in stock, you will have to order it." If I sound a bit frustrated, I am. I don't like the dilly dallying, lets just get on with it and get it done.

On the more positive side. Here is a quote that has been hanging on our fridge (at least it was) for quite some time that I really like. Especially in light of the past few weekends when we have had family here and partied with them.

"Blessed is the man that has many mouths that call him Father"

I don't have the name of who said it and I may not have said it right because it isn't on the fridge any more. So I hope you get the idea.

I hope you all had a good Pioneer Day. We all have much to be thankful to them for the sacrifices they made for us to be and to have what we do today.

Thanks to all of you for being who you are. You make my life so wonderful. Grandma and I are so blessed to have you all as part of our family. You are the greatest!

Michelle, that family cowboy picture would make a great family portrait!

Grandpa Olsen

Now you see it, Now you don't !!

Now you See it. Just starting to unscrew the deck boards last week.

Then we turned Rodger and Jim loose with a cordless drill, hammer, and prybar.And look what happened!!

Where did the deck go? Looks like we have to fix it now.

So now we have to make lots of decisions. But, when we get through it will look like new. It has been a long time coming, but it will sure be nice when it is done.
Thanks to all that helped. And thanks to Rodger and Michelle for the steaks and all the good food we had when we were finished.,

The Fourth of July!

Here are a few photos of our July 4th. The ward posted the flag in our lawn early in the morning and I wanted to take this picture of it because for some reason it was the only flag waving on our block at the moment. I hope that as you went through the day that you had a moment or two to stop for just a moment and reflect upon what a great country we live in. True, it has its problems but it is still the greatest land in the world. And we are really blessed to live here in a state with so much beauty and peace and quite. Many good men and women have given the ultimate sacrifice to make it possible for us. "God Bless America"





Later in the afternoon, Marcia, Jim, and the kids came over for some food and fun. And of course it wouldn't be any fun with out the swimming pool and water. Especially on such a hot day. With a little coaxing they even got Jamie and John involved. I tried to get them to water down Grandma but they wouldn't. They tried to get Grandpa, but he was able to convince them that it wasn't a good idea. After most of the water had made it from the pool to the lawn by way of cups, bowls and other containers, we dried off and went in and watched a video.





Then after the video and resting for awhile we waited for it to get dark. Even though everyone was beat from all the play, we still enjoyed the fireworks show out on the drive way. Then we all crashed and went to bed. It was a good day!