St. George update

So last week we had overcast and rain beginning Wed or Thurs. It was kind of a comforting feeling I thought for a couple of days. The next thing I know on Saturday I emailed a friend to report how my expectations of sunshine here to improve my emotional well being had not come to pass because I was feeling so depressed and discouraged that morning. Well today I need to retract that statement because it was totally false. Today is sunny and I feel so refreshed. Honestly Saturday was a horribly emotional day for me. I actually started crying while I was writing my letter. I finally snapped out of it that afternoon and treated myself to go shopping. That was also a bust. I did wear my casual work shoes because my favorite walking shoes sprang a leak back in Bremerton. Well the ball of both feet were BURNING half way into my excursion. To make it worse, I couldn't even find a pair to buy while I was out. I was miserable when I got home because shopping just made me feel worse than better.

Now for happier stuff. We drove to Shannon's Sunday morning to meet them at church. my dad flew into Las Vegas Saturday night to come for a visit. We stayed for Sacrament meeting only. Little Buddy can't function without a nap. We didn't mind. Shannon had Mima (Copper) dressed in Shannon's baby dress that my grandma Waldron sent to me when Shannon was a newborn. It's even the one we had her blessed in. So Shannon did a double heirloom recognition for me and Dad. After church we enjoyed lunch and hanging around.

 Hanging out.

 Great Grandpa Burke and Mima

 This is my choke hold as I was trying to get Mima to look at the camera. 

 This is my non choke hold - see her face is covered up.

 Little Buddy's a walker. He is really good to hold Shannon's hand. When they get the mail every day, he can just about do it hands free.

Can never get too many pics of Little Buddy in his high chair.

I recently bought a new pay as you go cell phone that wanted to handle anything voice mail related in Spanish. Yes I did select English, but it did not fix the problem. I asked our Spanish speaking son in law Brian to fix it. He did. Thank you.

I took a few pictures from the picnic table that I usually eat lunch at. It's around the corner from work. I enjoy eating outside and then I go for a walk for 20-25 minutes. It's about 50 out today and with the sun on my back it's a perfect temp for outside. So I do feel the sunshine helps me.

 This is the mountain range to the north of my table.

 This is the mountain range to the east of my table.

I sit on the table on the left where the sun can shine on my back. 

My dad is here until Sunday and then will head up to see Corinne and meet Henry. Thanksgiving changed from being with none of my family to sharing it with Fred (of course) and my Dad, Scott, my brother Craig and his wife Lynette.

Daly Heirlooms

This weekend Shannon and Brian came up for the day bringing their two baby treasures. I just realized that in addition to these two little baby treasures, we also encompassed a few treasures from years gone by in the Daly Family.

I took these pictures of Little Buddy as we sat upon a pioneer wagon buckboard that had traveled the trek across the plains. In the background this old gas stove Fred said he can't remember a time when his family did not have it. His parents bought it second hand and it was used for canning and cooking outside. 

 Here is the family enjoying the backyard patio at Fred's parent's home. Little Buddy made himself right at home.

When we left the Daly's, we borrowed Fred's childhood wagon. We all talked about how we had to borrow Fred's wagon that was a gift from his parents that they kept when he left the home. Seems we should have been using it all these years. Oh well, we got to use it with Little Buddy. We think he enjoyed it. 

I have to say that we had such a wonderful visit. They only came up for the day. We left our play pen behind in Bremerton figuring when all of our children visited us in Utah they would come with their own pack n plays. Well Shannon and Brian forgot to bring it. At nap time we looked around the house thinking of what would "pen" in Little Buddy. We decided to try out our big soaking tub. Little Buddy put up no fight when we left him in there with lots of blankets for padding.....Grandpa comes in and says he could hear the water running. Yep, Little Buddy had turned on the faucets. We got a good laugh from that. The next and successful sleep area was the back of their car in the garage. Don't worry, we propped open the door to the house and it was not too hot or too cold.It was a wonderful day!

November blessings......

We spent the first weekend of the month in Provo to attend Henry's blessing. The two days were pretty full. First we took Corinne and the big boys to Wendy's for lunch. Ben stayed home with Henry. Next we took the big boys to Trafalga in Orem. There grandpa played mini golf in a new way which would be no rules, no score and no taking turns. Then we bought the tokens for the arcade games. Between all of us we earned almost 600 tickets, but that still just equals junk at the counter. Corinne went for a hair appointment and to buy two new pairs of shoes while we were gone for over three hours.

Next we met up with Scott and Cate for dinner at Firehouse Subs...YUMMY. We got to hear all the details for Scott's job offer with USAA in San Antonio TX. They will be moving there sometime around June. Scott graduates with his Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering in April. They are very excited.

We spent Saturday evening at Corinne's watching Monsters University with the family. Sunday morning we attended Henry's blessing. There were 5 baby's blessed. Following was a yummy roast beef dinner at Corinne's. As we were saying our goodbyes with enthusiasm, Spencer jumped off the couch into grandpa's arms and bumped his face on grandpa's shoulder and got a bloody lip. We had to leave amongst his injury. Poor little Spencer. I hope that doesn't dampen his enthusiasm next time.

Here is Grandpa Fred holding Henry. We didn't get any family pictures taken. I wish we would have.

Here's me. I don't know what's with my shirt? I guess that is fat that makes it look like that.

Here's our San Antonio couple.

We did have a very nice weekend. I even stayed awake all the way home. That doesn't happen often.

It is nice to come home after a trip. Back to the work of settling in.

Henry Ensign Thornton Welcome!

Meet Henry Ensign Thornton. He is Corinne's fourth son. His due date was Monday the 14th and Corinne so much wanted to have Henry born on my Mom's birthday which was the 4th of October. Two of Corinne's older boys were born early, so it wasn't unreasonable to hope for the best. Well Henry didn't make his appearance until the 11th, but that is my brother Craig's birthday. 

Henry's middle name is my Mother's maiden name. Each of my three older brother's were given Ensign as their middle name. My Grandfather's name was Horace Darwin Ensign, but he went by HD Ensign. He was quite an influential person in the growth and founding of the church in the Fresno and Clovis area of California. He and my grandma Laurine were called as Mission president's in Australia in the mid 60's and served in the New Zealand Temple after their mission. So my Mom was very proud of her Ensign roots. President Monson referred to my grandpa in one of his conference talks many many moons ago which is always exciting and makes your chest puff up just a bit. So anyway I just wanted to share the family history behind Henry's middle name. I know my Mom is so very pleased for Corinne to honor her family in this way.

Margot (Corinne's mom in law) is there to help. I'm so thankful for Margot. She has always been so good to my daughter. We will head up there in a few weeks to meet our little Henry. Another beautiful little boy for Corinne.

Welcome Long Awaited Granddaughter

Introducing our granddaughter who will continue to be known as Copper on line. If you would like to know her real name, please email me gayledaly@outlook.com. Here she is in her first picture that Shannon sent me at work yesterday.

First of many bows ahead!!!

 She is looking a lot more content and comfy here in Momma's arms.

Here is my Shannon feeling better today. Copper wanted to come into the world feet first, so Shannon underwent her second C Section. I think Copper looks like she is going to like the camera.

Here is Daddy Brian holding his 2nd mini me. Both babies look like Shannon too, but the Drees gene is pretty strong.

I get to take a couple days off next week to go and help out. I wish I didn't have a job. I want to be able to help Shannon longer. She will be recovering from a C Section, have a new baby and 14 month old baby. 

Anyone want to go and help?

Crib delivery

Fred and I went shopping to a consignment furniture store a few weeks ago. We found a pretty crib that we thought Shannon might like for Copper. They had not purchased one yet as Little Buddy will still be in his crib. They said they would like it so we bought it. This weekend we delivered it to them in Las Vegas along with a birthday present for Brian. His birthday was the 17th. Anyway we had a nice stay in the Drees Bed and Breakfast. Enjoyed play time with Little Buddy and visiting with Shannon & Brian. We managed to fit the crib and our over night stuff in my new little Elantra truck. It was impressive that Fred could make it all fit, although in his packing, he forgot his own bag of overnight supplies. He made a trip to Wal Mart when he discovered he had no luggage. Luckily he had forgot his suit there our last trip so he did have clothes for Sunday.

Grammie and Grampie bought Little Buddy his first bag of Animal Crackers. As you can see, he liked them.

Little Buddy has the cutest little front teeth. He also has grown out of the walking style of monkey arms in the air. Shannon pointed out and I agree, that although Little Buddy looks so much like his Daddy, his head, ears and eye shape is Shannon all the way. He is such a nice combination of both parents.

I asked Brian to bake me a loaf of one of his yummy homemade breads. He bakes the best stuff and is also a super yummy cook. We enjoyed some bread toasted tonight with our chicken soup dinner. The last two visits following an evening of Brian creating his masterpieces in the kitchen, I do come through the kitchen and clean up so I do earn our keep.

I also went line dancing tonight with a work friend. It is kind of wierd to be in a totally new environment. Overall, I find that all women laugh at the same things and act basically the same silly way. I fit right in. My feet are tired and the muscles on the side of my upper thighs were burning. I guess I don't side shuffle very often.

Visiting Teaching St George style

I hope my words paint the perfect picture because I don't have a picture to post. Last night I was able to ride my new cruiser bike to visit one of the sisters on my visiting teaching route. As I cruised down the rode I thought to myself, well this is the life. I had a lovely visit with Carrie and she wished me safe travels home. I go outside (it's dark) and walk my bike to the street. Ready for mounting (I don't remember what way I was trying) and then down I went. Backward with the bike still somehow connected to me...slow motion again and landed on my lower back and somehow didn't hit my head. I lay there a moment realizing I was in big trouble as to how I was going to get my sorry big butt off the street. I reached over and pulled the kick stand down. I started to lean on the bike to get up and realized that wasn't going to work. I knew I'd fall the other direction. So I very lady like (NOT) rolled over to all fours and did a downward dog to get up. I was very thankful that it was dark and I'm 99.9 % sure no one saw me. As I peddled home I finally began to cry. Not because I was hurt, but so humiliated and disappointed that I can't even get on a bike and enjoy riding without falling down. The few times Fred and I have ridden around the neighborhood I could really sense my fear as I lack the feeling of coordination (you know leaning into a curve or turn) and almost freeze up with fear of falling.

Today my tailbone is so sore. Walking hurts and any movement from one position to another is bad. My neck is feeling like it would welcome a nice chiropractic crack! I haven't seen a chiropractor since we left Bremerton.

Happier news to come next.