Christmas Eve

 I wish the cemetery was covered in grass but in our desert that isn't to be.  Bill took us out to the Veteran's cemetery so I could see the grave of your Great Grandad and Grandma.  There was a beautiful live wreath that had been placed on their headstone.  I hadn't been since sweet grandma passed away so it was nice to see her information had been added.

Happy Birthday Abby!

                   13

                Years

                 Old

       December 22, 2005




                                                      *Radiates Joy

         *Compassionate

         * Patient

         * Smart

         * Outgoing

Winter Formal

 Brig  enjoyed a special time at his winter formal with his friends, and date, Maggie!

Bruised & Broken

I am working with one hand and I am a very slow hunt and peck typist so briefly here is the result of a nasty fall I took on Friday.  Broken humorous bone and a crack in the joint ball.  I always believed I had a high tolerance of pain.  Now I won't brag about that any more!

Decorating

Before

 On Monday I invited the kids over to decorate gingerbread houses.  Graham will have to wait a couple of years before he gets an invite.  I have to say I was impressed with all the cute houses they did.  I was the "icing squirt-er" for Eden but she definitely had a vision and told me exactly what to do. As sad as it has been to leave our California Duncans I appreciate still having some of our grandchildren nearby to do fun things with.

During

After

Gpa Has Some Competition!

When grandpa isn't happy with something I say or do he has a tendency to give me a very dirty look.  I call it the "evil eye!"  Since coming to Gilbert I have found grandpa's twin "evil eye" giver.  I have to admit it is cuter on a two year old than on a grandpa!

New Digs!

Here are some pictures of where we are living now.  We definitely didn't down-size!  I have a few more areas to show but will add those once I get them fixed up the way I want them to look.

Pigeons/Pests

There isn't a nicer sound than the cooing of a pigeon and there isn't anything more annoying than bird droppings all over your front porch because the pigeons decided they live at your house.  I have tried to focus on the positive but when I discovered two pigeons had made a home in the eave by our front door--that has become a challenge.  I called my bird expert who gave me permission to evict the unwanted tenants.  I got my second bird expert to come over and do the dirty work (and it was DIRTY!).  Lincoln had to literally saw out the nest which was like a bunch of twigs filled with bird droppings which were as heavy as concrete.  Once that was done the birds had to come out which took our long armed Uncle Christian.  As soon as he got them out Lincoln went back up the ladder and filled the space with bricks so they wouldn't make themselves comfortable again.  Then the guilt began for me as the two birds stood in front of the bricks trying to figure out how to get their home back.  I felt pretty guilty until I started washing off the porch!  Although two of the birds were evicted--don't fret--there are about 30 who sit on the top of the roof watching my every move!  I wish I hadn't watched Alfred Hitchcock's, The Birds!

I'm Back!

With all that has been happening I have had to put my blog on the back shelf.  Yesterday I took our car to the car wash and then parked it in the garage.  That is the amen of "unpacking complete."  I have various little projects still that I want to do but it is now time to focus on living our life without being in transition.  As nice as the drive over from California was (thanks so much to Bev and David) the daily living has been a challenge for poor Grandpa.  I honestly don't think he will ever truly return to a norm for him but I am here to help him as best I can.  The greatest challenge was getting a good nights rest for both of us.  I think we have finally reached that point.  I find when I am not too tired I am a much better caregiver and I believe that it helps grandpa to be a little more balanced.