QueensFerry

On one of the most wonderful days on our trip we went to Queensferry. It was so beautiful that day. 

There are 3 bridges in Queensferry and of course i am not the historian but the one in the middle of this photo is the original bridge that connects the main land to the other piece of land across the way. Notice there are clouds...there were clouds everyday, they came and went and sometimes it rained and other times it didnt.

The red bridge there is a rail bridge. It is still in use and built in Victorian times. It is amazing to look at. Apparently they would paint the bridge through the years by starting at one end, by the time they go to the other they had to start over again. This bridge is steady and strong, stands up to the weather, the salty air and all that happens. I kind of admire that bridge. I want to be strong like that. Even if the battering winds come i still stand, sure i need to be painted every once in a while but i am still hanging on.

Off to the side there is another bridge that was erected in the 70's and it has to be replaced because it cannot stand the traffic that it carries everyday now. Funny, not only for that reason but it is eroding and degrading because of the weather and elements. It is ironic that this bridge is coming apart, so badly that they have to build a newer one next to it with Chinese steel that came in assembled incorrectly and they have to reassemble it to have a replacement. 

I think of all of the days we were there this one sticks out in my mind the most. It was lovely and sunny. We found a lovely little place to sit and eat on the seaside.

That is my Uncle John, my mums brother, and of course Makayla with her mouth wide open

John and my Aunt Lindsay

My aunts from L-R Margaret (Johns wife), Lesley and Lindsay these two are my mums sisters

We had this lovely platter that day? Haggis balls, pate, salmon, hummus, Mediterranean olives, chicken, roasted peppers, scallops all with bread on the side. It was a delicious combination of food. 

I didnt get a photo of Lauras fish and chips until it was almost gone! It was delicious. 

Happy face full of fish and chips!!! Brenda had strawberries and creme that day and it was so good. There is nothing like creme in Edinburgh.

the place we were sitting had a stair case that went right down to the ocean. The girls decided to go down and look for shells. 

There was even a crab, dead, but it there it is. 

As I was enjoying life and the sun and the deliciousness of the day i noticed down the beach there was my daughters with their great Uncle and Aunt talking and looking for shells. Just looking at this photo still makes me tear up. I could picture my mum with them enjoying the breeze, the sun, the moment. 

I just kept taking photos. It was a moment I wanted to take in. I sat there for a while just watching them chat and look. My heart was so full i could barely contain it. 

Can you tell I kept taking photos. 

The stairs down to the ocean. It was such a beautiful place to just sit and be. Fabulous. Wish i could go back and be there for a while. Just sit and think about my mum and be with my family. 

I will probably post this more than one or 12 times but i love these people. I miss them as well. I want to go back and sit with them and have tea (well...just ice water) and laugh. 

Wishing, Castles, Spitting, Fish N Chips

While I sit with the family watching shows, my brain starts working and I figure i should start writing. I was thinking today, while washing dishes, that on your 20th anniversary people should have a party where you get all of your kitchen crap replaced. Like your gross pans or get a new rice cooker or whatever you need. I mean would that not be the greatest thing ever? I could certainly use some new cookie sheets and definitely a new rice cooker. But then I think wouldnt it be fun just to have a party...well i am not so sure i would want to do that with all kinds of people coming over. Shane isnt big into having people come over, he gets all weird and crazy about it. Nothing is clean enough or we would not have enough food (when he got enough for an army)....so I suppose i have answered my own question.

I went to England/Scotland with my girls this last month. It was a glorious trip.I wish we had spent a bit more time in Scotland, but it was our first trip and we wanted to see London as well. Needless to day I thought today i would start with Edinburgh Castle.

 I was standing at the Castle and was amazed that i was standing in a place that had been here for hundreds of years, it had to be defended, kept people safe (the wall of the city is only visible in some places). Living meant being inside of its boundaries. I was humbled to stand in such a place where so many had stood before me. My Uncle John is quite the historian and gave us such great history lessons while we were walking around. He knew everything about everything....So i got a bee in my bonnet and took a panorama of Edinburgh from the Castle. In the distance is the sea. That area with all of the trees would have been where the moat was around the city. John says it was disgusting full of...well you can figure that out...and they drained it and now it is partially a beautiful park we walked through. The Castle is built high up in the city so everyone can see it. I still cannot fathom the amount of people who have walked through there, who stepped where i stepped and created this beautiful country.

Speaking of cool this painting is in the Great Hall. It depicts the Battle of Waterloo. It was so stunning and huge. I wish i could show it here, but my photo does not do it justice. 

Inside the Great Hall were centuries of swords and some body armor. Interestingly, the armor is so small, like a typical 14 or 15 year old boy could fit into it today. Shows that our size has changed over time and probably (most likely) our nutrition. It was so cool to be in a Hall that had been used for centuries. I was told that the Hall is still used for pomp and circumstance when the Queen needs to do something. Pretty darn cool.

The Hall also had the family plaques of clans and such. I took a photo of this one as the bottom left corner is William Wallace. It depicts how the 2 plaques combine and become the top one into a royal plaque depending on whom is in power. 

When we arrived in Edinburgh the Queen was in town so we couldnt go tour the Palace of the Holyrood House. It was nice of Queen Elizabeth to come because we were there but really I would have liked to go inside of her house. 

This gorgeous fountain is in the front area of the palace. 

The Palace, if you look close there is a flag that is the Queens flag and shows that she is home. 

So this is the Heart of Midlothian. Funny story about this. We were walking by it and my Aunt Susan says "Girls go over there and spit in it, eh". Say it in a Scottish accent in your mind and say it really fast. My Aunt Susan speaks really fast. Needless to say there were 3 girls around it with a selfie stick taking a photo, my uncle then tells us that this is the spot where they would hang people. apparently its good luck to spit in the Heart? Sure is so there is that. Needless to say Susan, Lindsay and Leslie as well as my 3 daughters spit in the heart. Good thing apparently we needed luck. The 3 girls were totally mortified, but good fun was had by all of us.

This Cathedral is just behind the Heart of Midlothian. It is St Giles Cathedral.  It is so beautiful. I went inside and just sat and looked at the stained glass. This photo below is of one of the windows. The cool thing about is the names in the windows. Adam, Noah, Enoch Melchesidic, Abraham, Isaac. So cool. I found it so amazing. That had been there for years centuries. 

It was amazing the trip. I am still processing the pieces and bits of it. I am so glad to have gone. I miss everyone already. My girls miss the food, wait i miss the food as well. Fish and chips...yummmmm. 

It was a wonderful time. Now i am back in the US with my family and happy for it. Grateful to have family...but still wishing for new kitchen crap.

Friend, Scouts, A bit of the UK

I have been working on a blog post about my trip to the UK but it is coming along slowly. I keep getting stuck, so i put it aside. I found though that i have other things to write about. Since i have been back to work I have tried to really concentrate on my job more and work harder than usual. I really missed going to work everyday, it has become a part of my life. The job there is a blessing in my life. I am feeling challenged quite a bit as well lately. Some of the ladies i work with are so nice to be around and super helpful.

Since my trip i found that i am really super out of shape. I have a found a really great friend here. It certainly has taken a while but i found one. There are others but with my friend i can be myself and talk about anything and everything with her. She is kind, understanding, supportive and willing to listen to me bitch about anything. She understands when i  bitch and complain that it just to get it off my chest. She understands where i am coming from. She has been a great support to me over the past few months. Her daughter is getting married in a few months and we decided to get into some sort of shape. Her daughter has picked a color that is quite bright and she will be wearing it at the wedding. She wanted to loose some weight and get into a bit of shape. Our house is a bit down the road from the High School. She comes over at 6 am and we walk to the school and journey around the track a couple, sometimes 3 times. It is a pretty long walk. We take the dog with us and she enjoys the high life of running free for a bit (dont tell anyone that part).

Cindy and I have figured out that we are very similar in a lot of ways. I have come to a realization that its okay to be and do as i wish around her. It takes a bit for me. She can be clear with me and honest with me about what i am doing if am not on the right track. I am often surprised that she deals with my crapola. Its a huge comfort to me. I can text her, call her, go to her house virtually anytime i need or want too. Walking every morning has given me an outlet and made me get some exercise in. So I may not say it much but I love you Cindy, thanks for loving me back.

In other news, my boys are off to scout camp in McCall. Those boys have worked their butts off this summer to earn the 250 bucks it costs to go. They have also worked hard on their merit badges. John has finished all of his paperwork for his Eagle Scout Project. He is turning in the paperwork in the next week or so. This is exciting stuff considering he isnt ever 14 yet. It doesnt happen often that a boy earns his Eagle Scout at 14. Jake is well on his way to his Eagle as well. Funny story about the boys. I received a notice from the cable company whom we have internet through. We have gone over our limit for whatever (not savvy in that way) and its because we have 2 boys constantly working on line on merit badges. Interesting, i find it funny. Good thing those merit badges are almost done for the summer.

So for a few photos of my trip. We went to the Brittish Museum and got to see some of the most AMAZING things here are a few photos of some paintings from some of the greats.

VanGogh !!! I mean for real I was standing in front of it, not more than 10 feet from it!

VanGogh....i still cannot tell you how amazed i was. 

VanGogh i could see the brush strokes in the paint, it was so surreal

Degas called Ms La La at Le Cirque absolutely beautiful

an actual Michael Angelo it is unfinished but absolutely stunning. 

One of the coolest places in London we went too was this park. We were across the road looking for the Hard Rock Cafe and I saw a park and needed a rest. So we sat down for a bit in Hyde Park and I admired the beautiful green grass and trees, we got up to walk more and i looked down and there this was. I loved Princess Diana. She was a great role model and mother for her children. Her demeanor was wonderful, she was gracious. It made me stop in my tracks and take a few mins to think about what kind of mother I am. And here i was with my daughters in a city full of history. It was a great moment for me. I am sure my daughters didnt see it the way i did but it sure meant something to me. Princess Diana touched my life and she was gone far too soon.  

OH and i miss these people who are my family, who love me and brought me great peace and many stories about my sweet mum. 

They fed us, let me cry, cried with me, laughed with me, oh and they fed us.I love them. Ron and Iris i am looking for a photo of you two and i cannot find one. I miss them so much....

Beauty, Stinging, Pork

Havent written in a while mostly because i didnt think i had anything to write about. Alas, i found photos on my phone so here goes.

Anyone who knows our family knows how much we love this movie. The Princess Bride is full of fun and laughter. Brenda got  her wisdom teeth out a week or so ago and i thought the top saying was good for her so i sent it in a message. I found it funny. Not sure Skyler did, I am not sure he is the fan of the movie. The 2nd one is something i say quite often to myself when i am confronted with stupid, which sometimes is more than i would like to admit. 

One of my sweet friends from a previous job got married to his sweet heart last weekend and i went to the wedding. The wedding was in Eagle behind, of all places, Zamzows (similar to a pet/yard supply store). I was fascinated that this lovely set up was just of a main road and it was so quiet and lovely.

Sean and Kristi Conner happy day to them. I love them both, they were a blast to work with. I was thrilled to find out they were having a sweet baby together! Sam is adorable and he was even cuter in their walking down the aisle to his daddy. 

On the way home the event was around the corner from where the Meridian Temple is being built. I thought i would stop and see it. There isnt a spire yet and its over half way done on the outside. I am sure they are working hard on the inside. It will be a wonder when it is finished. It is closer to us by 15 mins than the Boise Temple. Virtually down the road from work for me. The sky was so lovely that day and to see the clouds and the blue of Gods creations really made me feel inspired to feel the love of my family more. I have great kiddos who really work to be good humans. They love Heavenly Father and really try to be good people. They work hard to find good in each other and others. I know you or some of you are probably thinking whatever.....but really i am serious. I even have an example that happened this week.....

I got a call at work on Thursday that was a bit frantic. Makayla was telling me that John had been stung 3 times by a wasp. John has been mowing a families yard for most of the summer to to earn his money for Scout camp. He opened the lid to the trash can and BOOOM stung....The lady of the house drove him home. Makayla checked in with me and stated that he seemed ok but would call me back in a half an hour if there were changes. Within about 20 mins i got another call that Makayla was in the car taking John to the hospital. She was calm and collected and stated that he couldnt breathe was covered in hives and was swelling up. In fact his eyes are swollen shut. 

I told her i was on my way. She said ok mom. As i walked into the hospital she was still calm, which for Makayla is a feat in and of itself. She tends to over react to everything. John was red as a lobster and had already had Epinephrine to try and open his air way. Apparently he was in very bad shape when he got there and there were a few moments when it was touch and go. But John kept smiling and Makayla kept him calm. When i arrived i could feel the relief wash over them. Poor boy had 2 shots by then and was getting another of Benadryl as well. Then 3 doses of Steroids and some Pepcid (usually an acid blocker but it also is an antihistamine, I had no idea either). Within an hour he wasnt as red and the hives were going down. The respiratory therapist said his breathing sounded great and he probably wouldnt need a breathing treatment but he had to stay for a while to be watched....While all of this was going on Brenda offered to have Skyler come and sit with John so I could return to work and not loose any hours. Sweet Skyler got up from working all night and came to sit with John after only 4 hours of sleep, so i could return to work. 

Makayla helping John to relax

John the day after still struggling a bit

All the while this was going on there were constant messages from Laura and Jake requesting photos to make sure John was ok and Brenda as well keeping up. For me it was stressful. When I spoke to the Dr he explained that John had such a reaction that was so quick he should never be with out an Epi-pen and other medications. Also even with that as a help, he has to be transported to a hospital right away if he ever gets stung again. I thought it was odd that they had him in a room so big with no TV...come to find out it is the Crash room, there was a chance he was going to need a lot of help and they were not going to chance it. Now you may ask why didnt we tell anyone?? There isnt much to tell except he is doing better. He is now on prednisone (a steroid) for a week and is constantly tired from doses of benadryl as well. It is going to be long few days for him and he keeps falling asleep but as soon as he recovers he will be on his way to the mountains with his dad and brother. They are going to have a great time.

Shane is the Elders Quorum President and he decided to treat the EQ families to some pulled pork. Of course that means he has to pull out his pride and joy and smoke some meat. Now here is the exciting thing about our cooker and where we live. We tend to have a lot of people drive by continuously to see what is going on. Needless to say it was some good smoked pork and i didnt get any pictures of it the next day. I had too many errands to run to get ready for the trip to England/Scotland.

The only photo I got was of Jake getting some sweet cotton candy. He was so excited. It was a long busy day, today i am super tired. But i must still pack and work one more day then begin the journey.....it will be exciting. I hope to blog some while i am there but we will see....Photos to come....