For James again

This post is for James---
He has missed out on alot of things this summer especially with our first house so he requested I post more about the garden and things like that for an update. So everyone just bare with me for this post. We don't have grass but we have flowers, can you say weeds.


The sunflower behind our house under or should I say at the same level as my bedroom window.








The other night I went out to the garden and was able to "harvest" enough peas for one person for one meal and tomatoes I was happy because thats all I needed.



This is Shelby our turtle (with a gold fish we got for her to eat about 1 1/2 years ago and now has grown almost bigger then Shelby) Shelby east 25 little feeder fish in a matter of minutes believe it or not.

James update

This post is for everyone who asks about James

It has been a long and hard summer with some fun in between. James left the for Texas April 17th 2008. After two days of driving he arrived in El Paso his home for at least the next 4 months. I was able to visit him a few short weeks later (the end of May, for 5 whole days). He has worked really hard with some ups and downs. Ups-$$$$$$ Downs- missing me and lots of work with little time, sleep and resources to do it. However he has mad it work with many sacrifices and lots of effort. I also visited him in July for 12 days, only to realize this was the last time we would get to see each other until he comes home the first of October. Our summers seem to last a lot longer then any one else's with no spring or fall in between only winter just because of his on and off season. The last week or so has been a really tough one on him with most of his guys leaving to go back to school, trying to close open tickets (problem accounts) from those that have left, trying to find more techs to complete the extended season, close down the office in El Paso to move it to a new city with only 9 hours of sleep in 4 days. I don't know how he did it but he did and he even managed to squeeze in a few phone calls for me. With the car loaded and the big U-haul of equipment and furniture (sales reps slept on the floor for 3 nights waiting for their beds that James was bringing) and techs in tow he was off and moving Sunday 08/24/08 with a 5 hour dive ahead of him. He moved to another city in Texas (Middleton and Odessa farther away from home) he lives in Middleton but will work also in Odessa which is only 15 minutes away. Hope it helps with the gas bill, cross your fingers. He finally got some sleep and now is enjoying life with a service tech in El Paso taking care of those problems and able to do what he loves about his job meeting new people while installing and "taking it easy" if you can call it that considering he still has an office to run.

If he hasn't called you or answered your calls it is not for lack of love or wanting its pure and simple busy. He loves you all and appreciates your phone calls and texts it helps him get through the days. He comes home in 36 days shhhh don't tell him that lets leave it at 5 weeks!!!

Thanks to everyone for their love and support while he is gone it helps my days go faster and smoother. (Holly thanks for the fun and Mom for the phone calls)

Tagged!!!

Okay I have never been tagged officially so here it goes.....

10 years ago....

1.) Dying of heat in a non air conditioned house
2.) Waiting for school to start- Sophomore year Ogden High go Tigers!!!
3.) Waiting for my mom to get home so she could take me school shopping
4.) Cleaning the house
5.) Watching T.V.

Tomorrow's to do....

1.)Work
2.)Drop off some of the apricot jam I just made
3.)Clean my house (so cousins can come over)
4.)Feed, water, and walk Max (our dog)
5.)Send off a payment


Places I have lived.... (this may take awhile)

1.)Ogden, Salt Lake, Harrisville Utah
2.)Hermiston, Oregon
3.)Idaho Falls, Idaho (4 different places and currently reside)
4.)Apple Valley, Rogers, Maple Grove Minnesota
( I did not officially live in these places with my husband but I visited him there)
5.) Greensboro North Carolina
6.) El Paso Texas

If I were a millionaire....

1.) I would Pay off our house and buy my mom a new one closer to us
2.) I would Travel Travel Travel, I never had a passion for it until I met James (I hope we can travel even if we don't become Millionaires )
3.) I would Buy new cars, James loves his "teching" care 1989 Buick Le Saber but man its old
4.) I would Buy some vacation property (ie.. cabin, condo on the beach or just land to "camp" on away from people)
5.) I would go on a shopping spree everyday... I know its selfish but I love to shop (not as much as some but its still fun)

My favorite snacks.... (I'm totally unhealthy so don't be surprised.)

1.) Sweet N' Salty peanut kind
2.) No Bake cookies (they have oatmeal that's kinda healthy right?)
3.) Chex mix (I didn't like this for a long time but just recently it has been a staple in our home and my drawer at work) especially chocolate peanut butter
4.) Toast and Jam
5.) Anna's rice crispy treats (she brings them to work often)
6.) Anything chocolate or peanut butter (even though it gives me heart burn man I'm in trouble when I get pregnant)

I tag Jami, Heidi, Monica and Heather Matheson

The begining, middle and the end.

The canning season begins!!! I have done quite a bit of canning in my short 4 years of marriage but have not yet attempted much by myself or apricot jam. Last night I tried it, I have to say not to shabby. I didn't even like apricots when I was younger but this stuff was good. I don't know what I was thinking trying to do it on a week night for one and then by myself. I think I was crazy but James likes it. The things we do. Well here goes I started at 7:30 pm after getting home from work and eating dinner, before that I had to stop at 2 stores to get the stuff I didn't have. Then came the pitting, washing, sorting, chopping and finally a batch at a time in one stock pot I started my first batch officially by 10:15pm. I didn't stop until 1:45 am but ended with 23 pints and little jar of jam. I'm crazy I know but there is something about canning and starting with one product and ending with something that will last a while and a different form. Somewhat rewarding.

The beginning


The middle

The end

Old Friends

I was able to see an old friend this weekend while I was in Utah she happened to be there and she lives in Virgina. It was really fun to see her and catch up even if it was only for a few minutes. There never seems to be enough time when you need it to do these kinds of things. Katrina and I were roommates before James and I got married (I had one more after her before we were married) but man we had fun. Its fun to reminisce about old times and laugh about things that only you can laugh at. We were only roommates for a short time and had a large group of friends we got together with but we made a lifetime of memories. They keep ya young. We got to talking about all kinds of things; fun times in the past, things (big things in our own lives) that we have missed, the current life and things/plans of the future. Sometimes I wish life were as simple as those days just working and having fun. I miss you Katrina and congratulations on your new bundle of joy Joshua he is a keeper. Keep in touch!

"MY GIRLS"

Now I am labeling this post my girls just because I feel like they are my girls sometimes. These are the girls I work with, 2 assistants, 2 hygienists, and of course "my assistant" (that one is for you Heidi). I love working with them and wouldn't trade my job for any other in the world even if I got paid to stay home and do nothing all day. We talk about everything together; homes, family, personal stuff, work stuff, anything under the sun we have probably covered that subject. I'm not sure that we will all be together much longer because Erin is getting married soon and her new husband is done with school in December and so is Heidi's husband. People will start to have babies and you just never know. So before everyone or anyone leaves I just wanted to say thank you to them. They are so awesome! We all work really well together and hard, all to accomplish the same goal while having fun doing it. Thank you ladies! Its alot of fun!

What have you done???

So last night I came home a little later then normal for a Monday and max has to stay downstairs during the day because we don't have a fence yet. Max made a little mess at the bottom of the stairs and dragged it all over the basement. A little background to this story is, we had only been in our new house for 2 months and a hole was made in my wall at the end of the stairs. (a half fake wall to make it look nice in an unfinished basement) My sister and some of my cousins were over and sliding downstairs in sleeping bags like all did when we were younger, my sister stuck her foot threw the wall. I was so mad but I couldn't let on about it because I had 5 little girls looking at me like I was going to blow up, so needless to say I didn't get upset but I still had a big hole in my wall. So no back to the present, when I came home last night max had ripped some more of the drywall off and made a mess. I can't believe we have only had the house 4 months and already I have holes in my wall, I don't even have kids yet. Luckily we are replacing that wall anyway because its only for looks until we finish our basement. Pray we don't get any more holes in the wall.

2nd Annual!!!

This year marks the 2nd annual Voyd R. Stewart family reunion. I can't begin to express the kind of emotion that goes into this post but I will get it done. We had such a good time this year. My mom, sister and I camped in a tent together (the first time with my mom ever). I was so glad that we had this experience at least once if it doesn't happen again but I sure hope so. Next year my mom is in charge and I can only hope we will have as smooth of an operation that we did this year. We stayed at a very nice camp site in Montpelier Idaho not to far from Bear Lake. My grandma and grandpa played volleyball with the grand kids, went jet skiing and had a blast with the babies. I think it was really good for my grandma to have some one else to help with my grandpa and it was good for my grandpa to be with his family and enjoy some outside time.

We spent an entire day at the beach, playing in the water, sand and jet skied (thanks to Diane and Garth). It was so much fun the kids were able to play in the shallow part as much as they wanted, it was just hard to get them out when it came time to leave. Here are a few fun pictures of our time at the beach. Bare with me as there are a lot of pictures I couldn't decide which ones to post (there were alot trust me).

Katelyn and Diane

Karl and Syd

Kim, Kyle(not in the family yet but very welcome) and Sandra

Emma, Syd, Halie, Olivia, & Hannah

Rachel, Cannon, & Brandon

Voyd D., Voyd R., & Sue (my mom)

Wendi, Jake, Tyson (in the back) & Ashlee

Cannon & Rachel

Grandma (sorry I didn't get any of her jet skiing, didn't have my camera with me)

Ellen & Karl (he barely made it to get in a ride on the jet ski)

Ellen & Syd

Silly Girls, Chey & Caycee

Bathing beauty, Syd

Very Tired!!! Nick & Sawyer

Chey & Caycee

Chey & Me

How Does Your Garden Grow?

This post is another one for James! We planted a garden this year because we don't have a yard what a great idea right? Well let me just tell you it is alot of work alot more work then I thought it would be probably because of the size of garden I guess but still....
Here are a few pics so that you can see how big it is and how much it is growing. We planted all kinds of things lettuce, beans, peas, tomatoes, corn, squash, cucumbers, peppers, and even a herb garden and the list goes on.We also planted 2 apple trees what has been cool to think those will be there forever, we even got to little apples. This picture shows the size of them so far the wind blew this one off, sad.

I have learned alot but still have alot to learn about having a green thumb. Cheyanna (my sister)even help plant it this year with me and I think she liked being able to watch things grow. I hope everyone gets a chance at least once in their lifetime to plant a garden to teach their kids or even themselves how much work it can be but how rewarding in the end it is.

STEWART FAMILY-- i LoVe YoU!!!

What a weekend this is just a glimpse of what my weekend was like. My mom's side of the family had our 2ND annual Voyd R. Stewart reunion. What a blast!! I was a little sad to go this weekend just because I was going to be sending my little sister home with my mom so it was like an end to a very fun summer. Anyway I just wanted to post a quick little blurb about this weekend and more will follow but I also wanted to send out a HUGE BIG thank you to my family and especially DIANE AND GARTH!!! KUDOS you guys rocked it this weekend. This I think so far has been the best family get together yet. I will dive more into this later but for now this will have to suffice.