THE LAND CONVENTION SO FAR.....

 Hello folks,

It so happens that May's birthday falls on the first day of Convention so we usually celebrate it the evenring before. We had about 20 young folks over and a good time was had by all. Made specially significant as the Requenas were here as well having just arrived with the Convention Tour vehicles.

This will probly be the last time we will be seeing PatLou for a very long while. He will be leaving Ak to go to the UK and be with Bethany and her family for a couple of months. After that he will be fighting fires in the south of Alaska. Nice to have him for a while longer.

Convention is well under way.  Our friends, Juan and Debora Requena from Seville Spain are staying with us. We are enjoying them immensely! Good to catch up on the news from the Church in Spain and of course, chatting in Spanish a mile a minute. I am rather rusty! Pat is holding his own and both J&D speak English as well so makes for easier going. The Requenes have been wanting to come on the Northern Tour for a while so we are glad they finally made it!

Last night the temperature warmed up to 0, but somewhere after 5 am this morning, the temperature dropped to -8*. 

Joey, Seth, Kevin, and Pat Lou waxed the tab kitchen floor.  They had way too much fun doing that.  And, now the floor is so slick that it’s sorta scary.  Tonight, they will wax the main floor. 

  

We’ve been running the farm off of our small generator which is difficult for that generator in the winter time when there are extra lights on, maybe some heaters, all the pellet stoves, and cars plugged in.  If it were the summer it wouldn’t be such a big deal.  So, we’re getting the radiator even though Rich won’t install it till after convention.  But, if he needs to get it done in a jiffy, for some reason, at least it will be at home.  The mechanic said this radiator is on its last leg.  Good news – NOT!

We handed out school report cards yesterday.  There was some rejoicing and some wailing from the kids.  J  Mostly rejoicing. 

John Basalyga is here visiting his parents as he’s on the convention tour. 

Tommy is supposed to on his way home today.  They (he and Penny) had a few last minute things to take care of after his father’s death.  Hopefully, he got all that done. 

Well, I’ll try to send frequent reports during convention, but don’t hold your breath.  I might get busy.  We’re hosting Bro John Jeffreys.  I’m pretty excited because George Harris brought Val along with him this time.

Talk to you later. 

SAT...PRE CONVENTION WEEK...WOOHOOO

Good morning, 

During the night our temperature warmed up from -20* to -9*.  Nice!!!  It’s supposed to warm up this weekend by clouding over and snowing.  We won’t mind. 

Will be nice to have warmer weather during convention, esp. for our the older ministry haveto walk back and forth to the meeting area...nobody is getting any younger 

I forgot to mention that Garth left last week to go to the Anchorage/Wasilla area to help chauffer the ministry around from place to place as they head our way and then on down on their Northeast tour.  I guess the convention at Whitestone starts today.  Lizzie is going out for the evening service with Rachel T.  Rachel is taking Chloe and Angelina too. There is so many travelling with the TM that I think this year they have 2 vans. Also a couple from Spain, Juan and Deborah Requena are coming. Will be nice to catch up with them in Spanish!

The boys have been working on the hockey rink trying to get the ice up to par for hockey and recreational skating.  It’s been pretty rough in some places.  Rebekah’s sister’s love to come out here to skate.  They skate even in -30* temps, but not for long.  Last night the boys had a hockey game.  They were pretty excited that they got Tom N and some others out to play with them.  Pat went out too but I think he is trying to take care of his back. He needs to get it healed before fire season. Pat is moving out at the end of Jan. and going to the UK for a 2 month visit. Then, getting ready for fire season which starts in March/April I think.

Last night just when the big farm generator was turned off, the alternator, which was in need of repair, somehow punctured the radiator.  Liquid was pouring everywhere.  Rich is sick and quite beside himself over this new development.  We are running on our small generator again which sometimes when its cold isn’t quite big enough for our constant usage. 

Am planning of continuing my sno shoeing during convention services. It has started to snow a bit which is nice for the packed down trails I use...makes for smoother going. I took my 3 third graders (including Rob) snowshoeing on Friday for about 20'...it was good to be outside!

As much as I’d like to sit here and chatter some more, I’d better get up and make breakfast for my kids.  I need to work on cleaning my cluttered house too, but that’s probably not going to happen.  J

Have a great day and wonderful weekend!!!! 

CONVENTION CLEANUP!!

US LADIES GOT TOGETHER AND GOT THOSE KITCHEN OVENS SPICK 'N SPAN!!


http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=86814&id=1585591801&l=ca9a9fe53d

Farm noos...

Good morning,

We’ve had a cold spell with the weather happily hovering around 25 and 35 below zero.  Last night, it was -38 degrees all night.  Clouds must’ve rolled in because the temp is slowly rising (very slowly, I must add).  By the weekend, the weather forecasts are for snow and zero-ish temperatures.  We’ll see.

Chris Jepsen's girlfriend, Rebekah, who has been staying with Wenda (but spends a lot of time at SJ's house) raises and sells Pomeranians.  Her Pom had puppies while she’s been here, and one of them was sick.  She thought she could nurse it to health so she brought him out here.  (We decided that he had hydrocephalus from our internet research.)  Then we brought his mom and one sibling to try to cheer him up.  He started seizing and was very miserable so Rebekah put him down.  It was a very sad night here that night.  Then Bekah’s sisters brought the other sibling out here.  The two Pomeranian puppies caused quite the excitable stir among the kids.  Every day kids were making excuses to show up at my house – I think they borrowed movies just so they’d have an excuse to bring them back the next day, etc.  But, alas, all fun things must end sometime.  Rebekah’s sisters took her dog and puppies home last night.  It was time.  The puppies needed to be potty trained somewhere besides my living room, and the mommy was going to start shedding A LOT real soon.  I do miss the puppies tho. They’d get up early with me and frisk around the living room and pounce on my feet.  Then when I’d go to school, I put them back in their cage, and they’d sleep some more. 

Rob really enjoyed them!

Here’s pictures of the puppies, their names are Chris, Puffers (Seth), and Liz.  J 

Tommy and Penny’s Geyers father died last Thursday or Friday.  I think the service was yesterday.  If you’d like to send either of them a note, here are their email addresses.  pacquilter@gmail.com (Penny) and tcgeyer@gmail.com (Tommy 

Stacey and Peter and Jon leave today for Fairbanks.  School resumes for Peter and Jon on Thursday. Their Paramedic studies are going well but they look worn out...Squire kids happy to have Dad back off and on.

Last Friday night, we had clean up night at the tab.  That’s always a fun family time.  I made my kids help me clean dust bunnies from our house on Thursday night to get them geared up for Friday (really just to help me clean my house). I took the Mail Room with a group of adults and kids. made for short and sweet labor. Pat did all the radiator vents in the building. PatL cleaned the tater washer...no mean feat! The bad kitchen stove work was done earlier by us ladies...PTL. Rob took his turn in wiping down Tab walls with a group of boys...alot of water was spilled...HAHA!!

The other night was Kelly’s golden birthday (she turned 17 years on the 17th) and today is Seth’s golden birthday.  Milliron’s planned an extensive party for all the kids and they included Seth in being the honored birthday person with Kelly.  That was very nice.

The “farm”’ has purchased a new community car.  A 2008 silver Ford Taurus.  I’ve heard it’s really nice although I’ve yet to see it. 

Ohhhhh, Andrew and Kylin Casey will be having a baby sometime next fall!

Cathy P has some trouble with one of her knees for a few months.  She finally went to the Dr. and discovered that she has a pulled tendon aggravated by arthritis.  They might have given her other meds, but I do know that she was given a cortisone shot.

Finally got a treadmill for Rob. He does well on it. Thanks to AGSD!!

We are keeping the Requenas from Seville. Should be nice catching up with them. Means have to clean my cabin!!

Have a great day!  

ROB WORKS ON HIS NEW TREADMILL

e

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlMNKWfAmrw

SUNDAY...

Good morning all,

Christmas/New Year’s break was quite hectic for me.  I took all last week to recover (and I’m still not sure I’m recovered-laundry everywhere, etc).  Last week was back to school.  We are done with breaks except for one more at convention time at the end of this month.

We went caroling, did various jobs, went to a pot luck a Jeni and Tom’s, went to a New Year’s dinner at Buongiorne’s, attended a square dance at the tab, followed by some really nice fireworks. 

Tommy was a little offended that I said he’d cooked his first breakfast ever here recently (I had it on good authority).  He said it was actually his second breakfast to ever cook.  And, Tommy had to fly down to Oklahoma to be with Penny and his father.  His father got really sick – pneumonia and maybe some other troubles.  I don’t know how long Tom will be gone.

As you all know, most likely, Sis Betty Hilliker is home and is doing very well.  Her daughter, Pam, came and helped out for a week or so till Sis Betty could get on her feet better. 

Sis Claire Farmer passed away on the last day of this year.  Her service probably won’t be held till spring or early summer so that it is easier traveling. 

When we went caroling on Christmas Eve, I observed that Miss Jannis wasn’t home, but I thought she was only out to Whitestone.  Come to find out, she spent a lovely week with her daughter, Lura, in Big Lake (near Wasilla). 

Also, recently, Kylie Miller Eads had her twin girls.  They were both a little under five pounds and needed help breathing.  They are breathing on their own now (I think), and they’ve both hit the five pound mark.  Included is a picture that I stole off facebook.

Stacey and Peter Casey have come out to visit for a week or so. Pete is still working at getting his Paramedic certification with Jon Squires.

Convention cleaning has begun.  Yesterday Kim and Griselda and a bunch of girls cleaned the ovens in our kitchen.  I will get to personally see how clean they are soon enough. 

Sunday dinner will make pork roast from the fine pigs that Rich has raised!!!!  I’m a little excited since I love pork roast even though Wendy always tries to ruin it for me by telling me that pigs are gross cuz they don’t sweat.  Maybe that’s what gives the meat its fine flavor?

The weather recently has fluctuated a lot.  Some -25* weather and some above zero weather.  It’s winter, no doubt.  Oh, and to the guys’ delight, we’ve actually gotten some fresh snow.  The snow machines have finally come out, although it’s not enough snow to really properly play or go up the mtns. 

Pat, Rob and self went out snowshoeing today at 0 degree weather. Lovely! Trying to get a pair of Redfeather snowshoes for Annie so she can join us! Rob does well on his LLbean ones. Good choice for him! We were out for about 1 hours. Good to get that heart pumping...so good for Rob cause it is a bilateral excercise which engages both sides of his body and enhances balance, eye-hand coordination and a bunch of other good stuff.

Ok, well, I better get ready for work today.  It was nice “visiting” with you all.  gri

London Fireworks on New Year's Day 2011 - New Year Live - BBC One

Vinny Samarco playing for us at the wedding

NEW YEAR'S FIREWORKS AT THE LAND, ALASKA 2011