the zip line-skipping Thanksgiving continued

The zip line was my favorite part of the entire trip. I'm hoping the video will download. A picture is worth a thousand words!

Skipping Thanksgiving

We did Thanksgiving a little differently this year - we didn't do it. Every year we have had the entire Jackson clan here to our home for Thanksgiving. We actually enjoy it. However, this year has taken a toll in more ways than one. With the loss of both of Clem's parents, it just plain feels different. My energy level isn't the same and the enthusiasm just isn't there. So, when Clem found a cruise from Miami to Panama that was too cheap to pass up - we didn't. We went.
We flew out on Thanksgiving day (which meant cheese and crackers for our Thanksgiving treat). We spent Friday in Miami and then got on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship and headed to a new adventure. The first day was at sea. We read and walked the ship to get our bearings, and ate alot!
The first port was Ocho Rios, Jamaica. We've been there before, and it isn't my favorite place because the people are so pushy! You can't walk anywhere without someone putting something to your face "take a look, take a look".
The 2nd port was in Columbia (Santa Marta). We walked off the ship into a literal sauna. The temp was a kind 89 degrees with 79% humidity - so it felt like 105 degrees! They had lots of blow up Santa's and Frosty the snowman on the beach.
The next stop was also in Columbia (Cartegenia). Remember the movie "Romancing the Stone"? It was filmed there and we got to walk the wall that was in the end (but the ocean is a few miles away, not right there the way it was in the film). We took a 4 hour tour here and learned a lot about the country. I was facinated by the homes and flowers. We did minimal shopping - but at least they didn't take my arm to pull me into their shops like in Jamaica.
Costa Rica was next - my favorite stop of the trip. We hired a taxi to take us to the rain forest. They have a new preserve there that is just over a year old and has a butterfly garden, all the snakes from the country,and reptiles, and birds. Beautiful.
We saw monkeys, and sloths. On the way back we went to a Zip Line that was the highlight of the trip for me! I don't especially like heights, but it was awsome! There were 9 zip lines and some were so long that you couldn't see the next stop from the one you were leaving. You just went out over the jungle on this wire in a harness as if you were going repelling. I would definately do it again.
Another day at sea and then we were in Colon, Panama. It is like Provo to Salt Lake to drive from there to Panama city where we were staying. Our Inn was about a mile from the Panama Canal, so we took a cab to tour it and the surrounding area, then went shopping in the largest Mall I have ever been in - if I had lost Clem there, I would may have never seen him again. The largest store in the mall is called Costo. We kept hearing about going shopping at Costo and I kept hearing Costco. I couldn't understand why everyone was so excited about it - then I went there. Yup - It's big. Everyone checks out at a central location. It was weird. Then when we went into another store they stopped us at the entrance and made us "check our bag" into a holding center. They must have a lot of shoplifting. Can you imagine walking from Dillards to Nordstrom's or Penny's and have them stop you and check your packages into a holding area? Shopping could take all day just doing that!

how long would you survive?

You could survive 579 days trapped in your own home

That's what the quiz I just took says. Clem says otherwise - "I'd kill you first".

Halloween Day!

ok - I know I never put anything on my blog but about my kids and grandkids. Deal with it - they are my life.
Halloween night they all showed up at our house to "trick or treat" and show off their costumes. Lovely. The ultimate compliment is to have your kids dress up as you and your hubby. Not to mention that the parents seemed to pair up with kids this year. Jer - I'm not sure who you were pairing up with - but the Jedi fits.
Glad they all had fun - I know we did! I especially loved the song Elizabeth sang from Snow White.

halloween fun

Last year we took all our grandchildren to the Scare Crow Festival at Thanksgiving Point. Romney had a hard time getting up the slides, Elizabeth wouldn't go on any of the balloon jumping things, and when it came time to get faces painted - Elizabeth wouldn't hear of it.
What a difference a year makes! Laine felt she wanted to spend time with her mom, so she didn't go with us. Uncle Jer and Sachie went. Romney didn't want to stop climbing the stairs to go down the slides, and Elizabeth couldn't wait to get her face painted. They were so cute together! Next year - maybe we will make everyone go.

getting away?

Sometimes my hubby's idea of a "get away" and Mine are completely different. Take this past weekend for example: Clem: "Anne why don't we go spend some quality time together in Fremont this weekend?"
Anne: "Sounds fabulous"
Clem: "and lets invite the kids"
Anne: "ok"
Clem" "and let's take a few tools and get a little cleaning done while we are there"
Anne: "what kind of cleaning"
Clem: "Oh, nothing much, just thought if we were all there it would go really quick and then we could have some fun together"
Later that weekend:The 2nd floor of the "old" part of house in Fremont is nothing but floor boards and rafters. No walls, No ceiling, Nothing but bare wood (you can even see the sky through some of the logs)


Then the real fun began - break out the Beatles Rockband! Go Clem!

helping out

Ever have the feeling that no good deed will go unpunished? Sometimes I think that should be our motto around here. Do one good deed and it leads to many more - not always the best thing.
A couple of months ago my family spent the day helping out my sister in law. She has trouble keeping her house clean (don't we all). Seriously, If I sent in pictures of her home when we walked in she would be serious competition for the messiest house in America (ever watch" Clean House"?). Anyway, this is the house my kids were born in and lived until we built our home where we are now. We sent her away with another sister and just dug in. Several hours later, you could see the home we once lived in.
Now the yard didn't look good enough. (don't even want to go into this one)
Several years ago my father in law started putting in a kitchenette in this sister's basement. He never finished (I'd say why, but I don't know who reads this). There is a family in her ward that desperately needs another place to live. - Enter Clem. Kitchenette is finished, floor tiled, basement cleaned. Family moves in basement.
Now outside of house doesn't look good enough.
Enter Jim and his youth conference. They needed a service project. They got one. However, a slight mistake was made when the paint was chosen. (see picture). Now it needs to be repainted (gee - why?)

Ok enough griping. My family reunion is this week and I look forward to seeing my siblings, nieces and nephews. I really love them all. It's so nice to have everyone and catch up - then send them all on their way. It's a good thing we do this - or we would probably never see each other enough - and I know my mom loves it - but it sure wears her out!. Will post more after reunion.

sleeping over is great!

I wish I had some pictures for this post - but the best ones were when the kids were all asleep and I was afraid to wake them up with a flash!
This week, we got to have Romney overnight while him mom was at Girls camp and his dad went up with the bishopric to have dinner and help the girls pack up in the morning to come home. Laine got to go have a "hotel sleep over" which, translated means, her friend was having a sleep over party at their condo in Park City, but Laine called it a hotel.
We (I) thought it might be fun to have Wyatt sleep over with Rom, and since I was going to have Wyatt and Izzy the next night anyway, I just picked them up a day early and had them for 2 nights. Sleeping bags are fun when they look like "cars" or "princess" bags, and we put all three of them in the family room together. Wyatt was the example when it came time for bed (you've taught him well Judi), Romney had to make extra potty stops, and have "just one more story". Izzy - well she tried to stay away, and tried to keep the others awake, but finally gave in. I must say - I was very impressed that Clem got them to bed so well.
I was teaching a community CPR class at our ward, so he had the kids for bedtime. I got them after that (you know - middle of the night potty, I want to play, and When is mom coming to get me? stuff).
The next day was fun. I took the day off and I must say - even though I didn't get anything done - it was worth it.

This weekend is Jon's birthday - looking forward to family and fireworks!

bragging rights

I've been trying to download a video of Laine's dance where you could tell which one she is. I guess it is too long - no success. I will however show you why I had a hard time telling her apart from everyone else - but of course, she was the best and the cutest anyway.
I've also had a chance to see Wyatt at ti-kwan-do. Fun. Aren't grand kids the best! I wish I had more (not that I'm hinting or anything)

Deaths really do come in three's. My sister in law, my cousin's wife, and this morning my mother in law. Sylvia and Earl had 62 years together before he passed last May. She has been lonely ever since, and he always took such good care of here, that I know Clem and I fell far short. She spent Sunday with my entire family and was weak but better than usual. She even went to see the house Jeremiah is buying. Monday morning she was worn out and her daughter Becky was extremely worried about it, so we made an appointment for her to see the doctor on Tuesday. I took her, and we talked about the fact that she kept throwing up without nausea or warning. I took her for a Barium Swallow on Thursday and she was so pale that I was worried about her then. The xray didn't show any reason for her to be throwing up. This morning, she was nauseated and throwing up. Gloria had stayed with her all night and neither one had much sleep, but I checked her glucose level and called the doctor, and he said the Barium had nauseated her. He wanted us to have her sip liquids and sit up as much as possible. I had a nursing conference to go to in Park City and Judi was going to go with me so we could "hit the outlets" after. I hadn't been gone an hour when Clem called me and said "mom's gone". I asked "where did she go". It took a few minutes for what he was telling me to sink in. Needles to say, shopping plans changed, we came home.
I'm so glad Gloria was there and Sylvia wasn't alone.
I guess funerals really do come in 3's. Sylvia's will be this next Wednesday.

Life is short - sometimes too short. I am an obituary reader. I realized a good friend from High School lost her spouse this past week. They were an amazing couple, and I wish her and her family well. Nancy and Bill Bauman had a lot of challenges, but they were truly devoted to each other and their children.
My oldest brother also lost a spouse last week. She was the second spouse he has lost. I used to take credit for the marriage because when his first wife Janice died of cancer, I hired Marilyn to be Clyde's nanny. (lucky for all of us that they fell in love and combined families). His 8 children were all there along with their kids - a very large family. It is amazing how life can change in the blink of an eye. It also makes you realize you need to be grateful for every day you have with loved ones. I also wish it didn't take a funeral for me to be able to see all of these people I love. I really look forward to family reunions this year! I love you Bro - my prayers are with you!

Super Bowl Sunday! What fun. We didn't really care about either team this year, so my crew (as is usually the case when we don't care about the teams playing) cheered for the Cinderella team - Arizona. We (like many others I'm sure) went through several stages during the game - but for me, the highlight was when 2 of our grandchildren decided to entertain us at half time. I hope you enjoy the show!