Another Sleepover

Kids love sleepovers, and we took the oportunity to have one for Kacy, Will, Ed, and Jessie while they were still on Christmas vacation. Karrie and Ryan dropped them off around 4:00 and headed off to Woolgrowers and and to see "War Horse."  We had lots of fun playing, then I let them decide what to have for dinner.  Kacy said she was really hungry and helped me cook everything.  They decided on tacos, chicken nuggets and fries. We added some veggies and fruit too. I have to say that I was really surprised how much they can eat!  We had had a good time watching movies before going to bed.  Kacy described in detail the proper way to brush your teeth, according to her mom.  I was impresssed that she had paid attention!  After a pancake, o.j.  and bacon breakfast the next morning we made a trip to the dollar store. I had taken them there last summer and now it's a sleepover tradition, I guess.  We stopped off for a Frosty at Wendy's on the way home. The afternoon was spent playing with our dollar store purchases,making some crafts and going on a long walk.  Jessie wanted me to carry her, and I convinced her that Clara had walked that far so she could, too!  I really wished I could keep them a couple more days, but I loaded up the truck and headed up the mountain after feeding Granny and sending Papa to work at 4:00. We made it there around dusk.  It was fun to see the progress on the "big" house.  Ryan had two YM there helping.  Kacy was excited to have been invited to another sleepover that night.

Happy New Year

 We began the new year with some of our grandchildren.  Jocelyn and Oscar were invited to an adult party, so Papa David and I invited Nathan, Spencer, Jared, Levi and Clara to a sleepover.  When the kids arrived, we had pizza for dinner and continued the evening with a movie marathon compliments of Netflicks.  We The kids are used to heading to bed at 7:30 on school nights, so I wasn't surprised when their heads began nodding around 9:30. Clara was first to go, and I tucked her in so we could go let off our noise makers and call it a night.  I thought maybe we could join in the east coast TV celebration but all we could get was Lady GaGa (Yuck!).   We opted to let off our poppers and noise makers out on the patio and they all went to bed.

Since New Year's Day was Sunday this year I was glad the early morning meetings had been rescheduled and we didn't have to be to church until 10:00.  I fixed breakfast, which is always pancakes for the grand kids.  While they ate, I went out to get Ellen up.  The kids were all good and when I came back in, we got everybody ready for church.  Jocelyn and Oscar came to get them just as I had headed in to get myself ready. I was scheduled to give a talk in Sacrament Meeting, so I had prepared it earlier in the week. It was the first time since David has been in the Bishopric that I got to sit with him at church.  I'm not that excited about giving talks, but I like sitting up front because you can see every body's face instead of the back of their heads. 

Clara 's Arrival

What better way is there to get back to blogging than to announce the arrival of a new grandaughter? Clara Delgado arrived this morning, a few days early, at 2:16 a.m. She weighed in at 9 pounds 4 ounces and was 21 1/4 inches long. The Delgado boys were a little late for school because I took them to the hospital to welcome her to the family. They were all delighted with her. Jocelyn and I can't wait to get started trying on all that new pink stuff.. Their favorite thing about her was her beautiful, silky hair. Jocelyn is doiing great and is hoping to home this afternoon. I can't wait to hold her again!

A Bunch of Amateurs

I changed the name of my blog in honor of our family's new pastime. Ryan started it all awhile back when he decided to increase the number of people in Kern Valley available to transmit information in an emergency. He did this by passing a test so he could become an amateur radio operator. In certain emergencies, it is likely that most of us won't be able to use our cell phones, and we want to be prepared! Last fall, David found out that there are not very many members of our church in Bakersfield qualified to pass information in an emergency, so he studied up and also passed the test to become a "technician" level operator ( same as Ryan). Oscar and his brother, Andres, followed, also becoming "technicians ." In January, Oscar upgraded to "general" the same day Jocelyn passed her "technician" test. Karrie joined the ranks a couple of weeks ago. I hope I don't shame the family by being the only one who can't pass the test. I'm a little backward when it comes to knowledge of electricity. Isn't it magic? I've always thought so. I'll find out if I've learned enough tomorrow night. David is going with me to take the "general" exam. There are a bunch more friends and family who said they will be there. We'll see.
Anyway, about SPURIOUS EMISSIONS...( I love saying that, it sounds like dangerous rays or or something coming from outer space. ) What it actually is, according to my new found knowledge of radio is "emission on a frequency or frequencies which are outside the necessary bandwidth and the level of which my be reduced without affecting the corresponding transmissions of information. Spurious emissions may include harmonic (I love that word too.) emissions, parasitic emissions, intermodulatulation products and frequency conversion products but exclude out-of band emissions." In case you were wondering, "HARMONICS are electric voltages and currents that appear on the electric power system as a result of certain kinds of electric loads. Harmonic frequencies in the power grid are a frequent cause of power quality problems." See my point?

Pepper Spray Experiment

While Jocelyn and I were checking out some online coupons to print, Spencer tried an experiment with PEPPER SPRAY. He came running in the office hysterically crying that he had hit his head on a table in the toy room, all the while his hands were trying to scrape something off his lips and tongue. Suspicious! Jocelyn investigated and found the pepper spray from her purse on the counter in the kitchen with drips still clinging to the edge of the bottle. I looked up the antidote online and there is none. Water will not help, but, if it's on your skin, milk might. They suggest a solution of 25% Dawn and 75% water, since it's a oil, but that's not too cool if the pepper spray is on your lips and in your mouth. They suggest staying calm and quiet. Yea, right! 15 minutes later Spencer was down to a whimper and 30 minutes later he told his mom he had good news, "His lips were not burning." The bad news? None.

Grandma J's House - updated to sell

We have had Grandma J's house updated to make it more marketable.

All the old brown panneling and wallpaper were removed.

Outside trim, eaves and garage door were painted.

The interior received a modern two-tone look.

Lighter colored floor coverings were installed.

Cabinets were refinished.

Updated light fixtures are in the works.

(David and I purchased them and plan to install them soon.)

Dining Room

(The fan is going to be replaced.)

Living Room

Family Room

Bedroom

Upper Oven Cabinet

Upper Cabinets

Lower cabinets and new floor covering

We are looking for a good deal on new appliances.

Any suggestions?

There is currently a double oven and electric coil cooktop.

We are thinking of replacing them with a convection oven/microwave combo,

and a smooth cooktop.

Also in the plans:

Fix the sprinkler valves.

Repair the front gate.

Trim the trees and bushes.

Plant some pretty flowers in front for curb appeal.

Maybe some base moulding.

Wash windows.

Make a couple of trips to the dump!

Anybody in the family want the old window coverings?

Guests... and more guests

We were pleased to have some of our family come through Bakersfield this week and visit us. Barry dreamed up the whole thing. In anticipation of his mother's (Barbara's) 90th birthday later this year he wanted to talk to some of the relatives to get some interesting facts about her younger years. So... Barbara hitched a ride from Sacramento with Buffy and Lance who had been up there visiting. They all landed here for a fun couple of days. Barry and Lee drove up from Escondido and joined the group on Friday. We had a Bunting style feast to celebrate.

Levi and I cooked up some Peach Cobbler for dessert. We served Tri-Tip, Relief Society Potatoes, Carrots, French Bread and Green Salad.

Saturday the Delgado's joined us again and we had a great time talking more over breakfast. Lots of pancakes and Bunting's organic brown eggs were consumed.

David and I had met up with Nadine, Deanna and Susie in the L.A. Temple on Tuesday. Nadine was scheduled for back surgery Wednesday, so Sue and her mom drove down from Northern California and and met Deanna, who flew in from Utah. They arrived a couple of days early and stayed in the temple apartments. Tuesday is my day to serve at the temple, so while I served my shift, David , Nadine, Deanna and Sue went on sessions. Afterward we had lunch together in the temple and visited awhile in their apartment before heading home to Bakersfield. After surgery, Deanna flew home and Sue and her mom came to Bakersfield for Nadine to convalese at Nadine's sister' home. Sue came over Sunday night to chat awhile. (See above pic) Nadine's doing well and David is planning to take her to her follow-up appointment next Thursday.

Lee and Barry came back to Bakersfield on Monday after their sprint up the state to Sacramento to take Barbara back home and see Aunt Helen. We all went out for Italian food. I probably gained back everything I lost the beginning of the month.

Jared's 4th Birthday Celebration

We celebrated Jared's Birthday on Sunday with all the cousins.

Jocelyn made him a robot cake letting all the kids help, of course.

Here, they are all getting ready to sing to the birthday boy:

Give a Day - Get a Disney Day

Our most frugal family member, Jocelyn, told us how we could give some service and get a FREE voucher for a day at Disneyland. The offer gives a list of organizations for you to select where you want to give your service. We picked Project Linus since I like to make quilts. David helped put them on the frames. When I turned my quilts in yesterday, Michele told me she had answered 4000 e-mails. Her living room was full of blankets and quilts.

Icelandic Yuletide Lads

In Icelandic tradition, there are 13 Yule Lads who are offspring of the giant ogress Gryla and her subservient husband Leppaludi. This large family is supposed to live in a cave somewhere in the mountains and keeps quiet until Christmas approaches. Then the Yuletide lads take their once-a year bath and descend from their mountain home around Christmas. One comes each day beginning on December 12 to play tricks on townfolk. Each lad is named after his mischievious action: Stekkjastaur (Sheep-Cote Clod) heads directly for the sheep cote to have fun disturbing the sheep. He has stiff peg-legs.

Giljagaur (Gully Gawk) hides in gullies and steals milk from the cow shed.

Stufer (Stubby) is abnormally short and steals pans to eat the crust left in them.

Pvorusleikir ( Spoon Licker) is very lean and steals and licks spoons.

Pottasleikir (Pot Scraper) was a funny sort of chap. When kids were given scrapings, he'd come to the door and tap. And they would rush to see if there was really a guest. Then he hurried to the pot and had a scraping fest.

Huroaskellir (Door Slammer) When people in the twilight would take a little nap, herwas happy as a lark with the havoc he would wreak, slamming doors and hearing the hinges on them squeek.

Askasleikir (Bowl-licker) hides under beds and always arrives late enough to get the food left by children in their bowls.

Skyrgamur (Skyr-Gobbler) thinks of nothing but gormet food and steals skyr (like yogurt) from the larders whenever he gets the opportunity.

Bjugnakraekir (Sausage Snatcher) hides in the rafters and snatches smoking sausages.

Gluggagagaegir (Window Peeper) Looks through windows for things to steal.

Gattabefur (Door Sniffer) has an abnormally large nose and sniffs the doorway of houses for laufabraud (Christmas fried flat bread) .

Ketkrokur (Meat Hook) who likes smoked lamb very much, spares no effert to hook a leg of lamb from the stove through the chimney, although his hook at times is a tiny bit short.

Kertasnikir (Candle Beggar) who likes candle light and never gets enough candles for himself although he snatches quite a few from children.

Stacie's Reception

Stacie and Zach's Wedding Reception was beautiful. I'm just sorry Dayna and some of the kids had the flu and couldn't fully enjoy it.

This is David and Bobby (famous for his BobbyQ Sauce), who catered the event.

The fruit and vegitable display were beautiful.

These are views of the newly constructed pergola,before and after sunset.

David helped Steve get it done in time for the reception. (I'm just glad no one was killed or maimed raising those beams, though I understand some pain killers were needed for muscles strained the process.)

Here are a few views of the lanterns for Kimi, who is using them for her reception this Saturday.

The hit of the night for the kids was the sweet table. Jars of candy were available for scooping up and into the little orange bags or your mouth. Levi enjoyed the Skittles.

Painting in Progress

I just went out and took a picture of the coop painting in progress. The cream color is primer and the "Hot Chocolate" is the final color. I think he's used about 15 gallons so far. The trim will be white.
David came in to take a call.

Guess who came to visit?

We had a nice weekend visit from Kalisi, Will, Ana B and their parents, Lenna and Brandon. Here they are helping me get the chairs ready for the barbecue we had Saturday. It all started because they have friends from Bakersfield as well as relatives. (We're the relatives.) So we decided to get them together since their friends, The Taylors, live in Fresno now. So, we invited them and some other friends and family and had a great time together.

They brought me this, which I forgot to share

while everyone was here. Is that good or bad?

Chicken Coop Walls

The aviary (chicken coop) has walls and is ready for paint. Actually, it is being NOW. Hopefully, the new occupants can move in this weekend.

Block Wall

Here's a look at our new block wall we recently had

installed along the west side of the driveway.

Easter and Levi's 1st Birthday

Levi had his first birthday April 11th, so we waited a day to celebrate since we were having lots of our family come to our house for Easter. He is such a sweetie! He can walk several steps with a little confidence now, and he says, "Tickle, tickle, tickle" so cute you can't believe it. Although he is very friendly and loves people, his favorite person is, without a doubt, his mommy.

Levi, age 1 year 1 day

The Easter bucket brigade is ready for egg hunting. You can see the hail/rain/wind storm was quick to leave. We had beautiful sunny weather for the kids.

With a little encouragement from Granny and Grandma J., all the eggs were found and the bunny bucks redeemed.

Nathan was quick to find his dozen eggs, but discovered candy and not too many bunny bucks inside. He had to negotiate for his toys.
Kacy loves pink eggs, of course.
Will's a great egg hunter.

Jessie was a little under the weather,

but she managed to have a little fun too.

After the egg hunt, Karrie and the her kids went to Grandma Mayhall's house for dinner. Yvette, Gus, Eric, Kimi, Jake, Nathalie and Sophie came to join us for dinner, along with Angela, Lee, Lucy, baby Will, Gary and Marsha. Karl, Gaye, Jimmy, David, Lindsey and Sarah joined us later in the evening.

Oscar brought some of the chicks over for the kids to see.

We were amazed how fast they ate the bugs! Boys love chicks.
Lucy joined in too.

I didn't get a picture of little Sophie and her pretty polka dot Easter dress, because she left before I got my camera out after dinner. That's the disadvantage of being hostess. Yvette has some great pics of her on the Bryant Blog, so you better go there to see how cute she is.