We haven't added anything new to the blog since we first started it so I thought maybe it was time I did.
The condo is rented for Thanksgiving and Christmas but there are a couple of weeks it is available in December and there are plenty of available days after the first of the year.
January is the perfect month to plan a get-away! The cold and snow has settled in and it is still several weeks, if not months, before things start to warm up. Why not plan a get-away to beautiful and warm, sunny San Diego! The days are warm and comfortable although the nights can be a bit cool.
January is the perfect time to do a little shopping at the awesome outlet malls in Carlsbad or San Ysidro. And of course shopping is always great in San Diego.
There are so many great places to eat, not only in San Diego, but Oceanside and Carlsbad, as well. One of our favorite places is 'Overseas Restaurant' in Carlsbad. Kind of a boring name for a great Chinese restaurant. This is our very favorite Chinese restaurant anywhere, not just in California! We have been going here for years! They are located at 2820 Roosevelt St. in Carlsbad.
Go ahead and google them and read the reviews. This is Tony Hawk's (famous skateboarder) favorite restaurant in Carlsbad and Junior Seau loves it too!
And of course we love Ruby's at the end of the Oceanside pier. Walking the pier at night and watching the surfers is one of our favorite things to do while in Oceanside. Beging able to stop at Ruby's and enjoying some of their delicious food makes it even better.
Reply to this post or send us an e-mail through craigslist to find out if your dates are available. We would love for you to be able to STAY IN OCEANSIDE!

One of the blessings in my life, at the moment, is being able to work in the Young Women's program with some wonderful young women and some awesome leaders. I am constantly amazed at the "quality" of these young 12-17 year old girls!

They do well (really well!) in school, they give service to others, they are so genuinely sweet and kind to each other and love each other, yet they have great fun together, too.

They are organized and they are learning leadership skills that would amaze the rest of the world. Many, if not most of them have unbelievable talents! In our little group we have many piano players, flutists, violinists, harpists, dancers, singers, actors, and artists! It is utterly amazing!

I am so blessed and truly honored to associate with these girls! Thanks girls for the cards, notes, treats and yes.... sidewalk art!

Love you all!

What to do.....

I used to love my job. I enjoyed planning meetings and company events, and working as an assistant in the marketing department. Lately however, my responsibilities have "shifted" as they have hired more and more people in the department. I no longer enjoy a lot of what they have me doing and work is not "fun" like it used to be.

We can manage on Jim's income alone, although we still have a condo in California we are paying for. The deal is, I am trying to decide if I should quit my job and stay home. I would enjoy getting caught up on projects around the house but I am afraid I would be bored after a couple of months, especially since Jim travels during the week.

The real crux of the matter is, "what do I really want to do when I grow up?" I don't know!! I have nothing that I am passionate about like, sewing, running, gardening, designing, scrapbooking, and that sort of stuff. I love to travel but that takes money and if I quit my job, there won't be any extra of that. I would love to redecorate my house but again.... money is the issue. We would have enough but not a lot of extra. Being with my grandkids is great no matter which way I go.

I could volunteer, write my children's books or do family history but, again, would I be bored after a month or two? But, is being bored at home worse than being bored at work? At work, at least I am being paid to be bored.... so I am back to square one!

Dang! Why can't I make a decision? It is my life, afterall.

It's ridiculous to have a blog site and never post anything on it. But, life has been a little crazy since last fall. Hopefully, Iam getting my ducks in a row again, and I can be more up to date on my communications.

Since my kids are the only ones who really care if I update this, from time to time, and they already know what is going on in my life, I will just briefly say that the highlight of the last six months was our fabulous trip to Italy! It was amazing! I loved everything about Italy and can hardly wait to go again.

So until I start posting on here on a regular basis, here are just a few pictures of the many wonderful sites in romantic Italy. (Thanks again Jim, for the wonderful Christmas present.)

California Dreamin'

I flew into Long Beach tonight to spend the weekend with Jim, in our condo. I love the fact that when I walk off the plane I don't need a coat, I can see the stars and the full moon, and there are palm trees swaying in the breezes. Aaahhhhhh.... California. It's a nice place to visit.....but I wouldn't want to live here. Which makes me really sad...

for Jim. The poor guy is traveling all the time! I wish I knew what I could do to fix this situation, but I don't. Some people think I should move down here with him. Then I would have to quit my job and chances of finding another one - in California - are not good. Plus, selling the house in Utah would be a disaster. We would take a huge hit. And, living in this tiny condo would make me crazy after about a week!

We don't want to retire in California so I keep my job which pays for plane tickets back and forth from California to Utah, and it helps cover the cost of the condo. Jim's paycheck covers all of the other expenses that we have with two households. And...there goes all our money. Money I wish I had to remodel the kitchen or build a deck, or get new carpet with.

But, I am grateful that, for now, we have enough to cover all our expenses. That I have a job that pays me pretty well and still allows me to come to California often to spend a weekend with Jim.

Aaahhhh..... California.

It snowed last night and it is beautiful! Although winter is my least favorite season it still has its pluses. A beautiful snowfall is one of them. Jim is out snow-blowing the walks and kids are flying by on snow mobiles. I am so blessed to live in such a beautiful place. Let it snow!

I am married to to the best grandpa in the whole world! He absolutely adores being a grandpa to Malia, Ella, and Noah.

A week or so ago he bought some bird feeders because he thought Ella would enjoy watching the birds. He took her outside to see the birds and she loved it, so he decided to help her make a bird feeder for her own yard. He sawed and hammered and then turned it over to Ella to paint. (Waaayyyy more patience than I have....kids with paint?)

Ella had a great time, but Grandpa loved it even more!

I love the Mt. Timpanogos temple! It is beautiful, majestic and inspiring! I needed some time to think so I got up early this morning and drove to the temple.

It is so peaceful and there is such a sweet, calming spirit the minute I walk through the front doors. I always wonder if this is what heaven is like.

I spent some extra time in the Celestial Room after attending a session, where I sat on one of the gorgeous, white sofas and thought about things, and prayed about things, and read from the scriptures that were on the table beside me. It was exactly what I needed.

I am so grateful for temples and all that is promised there. What a blessing!

Eight Puppies!!

People who know me, know that I am not an animal person. I like animals...on a farm, in a zoo, at somebody else's house, in nature, just not in my house or yard. But, people who know me also know that I am forever loosing this battle, either with my husband or one or another of my kids.

During different stages of family life we have had several dogs, cats, fish, hampsters, frogs, snakes, ferrets, and even rats. We were down to one cat Misses, and then Jon and Bonnie moved home. They brought along their cat, Mews. After they moved away their cat stayed.

Then Ryan moved home and he brought his dog, who we thought was a boy, (Bob) then found out she was a girl, (Bobos).

Today Bobos "delighted" us (this is said very sarcastically) with eight(!) new puppies! Eight puppies in her first (and only) litter? I have to admit they are pretty cute, and Bobos is a good mother but, they are going to turn into real puppies and puppies turn into dogs. The trick is to "get them gone" while they are cute puppies and before they are just dogs.

So, with all that being said, would anyone want an adorable, cute, snugglie, fun, precious, loveable, black puppy? For free....did I mention they are free? Just let me know.

People Who Need People...

I am feeling like I live in my own little universe lately. I get up in the morning and get ready for work, all without talking to anyone. Well, that's not true, Jim usually calls me on the phone while I am getting ready, and some mornings Angie calls me because she is an early riser. So let's just say, all without talking to anyone in person.

I arrive at work, wish the receptionist Lita, good morning and head to my cubicle. There I remain for most of the day; frantically typing away on my computer while answering my never ending e-mail, getting an occasional phone call, and "doing my job".

The problem is, I am the only woman around and the only person who is not a software developer. My company moved all the departments around; accounting and sales are downstairs, CSR's are over by support, project management and testing are together, etc. The problem is, my boss and I are the only ones in 'marketing'. That means my cubicle is by his office door, which is right, smack-dab in the middle of all the developers.

Now, don't get me wrong, they are all great guys and I really like them alot. It's just that they are not talkers...they are...developers. They are busy developing. I, on the other hand, am a talker. I'll get my work done, but I like to chat with people now and again, just to keep the job interesting. But where I am situated, that doesn't happen.

So....I work quietly at my desk most of the day. Then I wrap it up and go home, again, to a quiet house. Jim calls to talk, but no one else. I fiddle-fart around here, maybe go too the gym, (where again, there are people but people at the gym don't talk to each other) and then I go to bed. I start it all again the next day.

I need some excitement! I need some fun, on a day to day basis. I used to love my job when there were "talkers" all around me, now I just "like" my job. Actually, the job is great but I miss people in my life! Where are they? I am alone too much!

The Graffs

The Graffs

A fabulous New Year!

I think I am going to make it a New Year's resolution to always spend New Year's in California. The sky is blue, the waves are big and the temperature is 70 degrees! Perfect.

We have had a great time doing nothing. We sleep in, go for walks, Jim surfs while I read or go for a run. We eat, shop, take naps, and just hang out.

Last night our neighbors invited us over for a New Year's get together and surprisingly enough, we had a good time. There are some really nice people who live in the complex.

I don't really have a lot to say because, like I said, we aren't doing much of anything but, we are having a great beginning to 2010 and hope that the rest of it goes as well.

To all our family and friends....HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!