A Thankful Thanksgiving!

Mom and dad enjoyed everyone's phone calls.  Friends and family seemed to call off and on all day!  Thank you for keeping in touch, they enjoy being in the know!
They especially liked Skyp-ing Marshall's family in Washington.  They were excited to see their newest great-grandson Lincoln.  What a special treat for them.
Bob fixed a great smoked turkey, and a regular oven cooked turkey.  Mom enjoyed the smoked one the best!  (She also can't wait for a pumpkin pie breakfast)

Some days dad gets around so good, other days much slower. I have noticed on the days we go out and work on the exercise bike.. he has a better day.
(He now has me keep a chart of how many miles he goes.. the most in one sitting was 4 miles) Mom is starting to get the hang of the Elliptical.  She doesn't know if it's good for her knees.. What do you think Marshall?  She has gotten quite good at ping pong, foosball and air hockey (But no one beats Derek)!

 

Dad supervised me hanging up the lights on the tree.  Funny, mom said, "Glen go show her where to put them".  I think for a minute mom forgot that it's not that easy any more.
Daily, Bob takes Dad and Derek out to feed the cows.  It's dad's highlight of the day.  He comes in cold, but oh, so happy to have seen the "girls".  He can't wait for the calves to be born.  They aren't due until March.  If he has his way... they will stay.  We all want them to (but everyone knows that) stay... dad is so happy. 

Bad picture, but I ran out while Bob was loading up the hay.. so I could get a picture.. can you tell it's a cold day?
It still amazes me on how quickly he pulls himself up into the Ranger.   And the other day he and Bob went to pick up some farm equipment.  No big struggle, he just got himself up into the truck with hardly any help.  I think his Physical Therapists would be amazed.. but like Bob says.. "when there is a will, there is a way"  (More exciting than walking up and down the halls!
Mom stays busy dusting, and doing laundry.  She does take a few moment here and there to catch up on mail and the news!

 Yes, mom is dusting my plants!!!

Bob is so patient, explaining farm stuff to dad, and making sure Dad understands what they are doing and why it needs to be done!

 

 

 

(Bob fixing something that a cow messed up... Dad, right there in the Ranger asking what happened.. Also, Dad LOVES the sunsets.  He'll come in and ask mom if she noticed the magnificent colors of the Sunset)

Would you ever guess that dad loves celery.  Yup, I cut up some the other day and it was gone in no time.  Mom thought he needed some dip, or peanut butter, no... he just loved it.. Oh and another thing that he snacks on are Pistachio nuts.  He'll just shell them and eat a whole bowl of them.
He enjoys Bob's yummy breakfasts.  No problems with him not wanting to eat.. most days.  When he has his finicky moments we know it's just the medicines that cause him to not have an appetite.. but we keep trying new and different foods!  We've been playing games.. Uno, war and Bingo are Mom's favorites, Dad hesitates playing, but will usually be a good sport!
Monday after game night, Mom had us come to the window.  Three deer were looking for some apples under our tree!

 

You've got to "Move it, Move it"

(Alright, for all you that have kids, you know that I hear that often from the title to a Disney Song!  Madagascar I think)
We are trying to keep Mom and Dad active!  Move it or lose it!
Bob is so encouraging to Dad.  "You're doing great Glen"  "Just a couple more steps"  "Look how far you've come"
I checked out some classes that I thought my parents would enjoy attending at the Senior Citizen Center.  When I dropped them off I felt like I was taking my children to the first day of Kindergarten.  Mom seemed to enjoy it much more than Dad.  Dad said he was a boob.  I asked why... he said that he couldn't do anything.  Mom interrupted and said that he did good!
I took a couple of pictures of them in class, and it seemed like they moved more than if they hadn't have been there.  When I saw dad's arms over his head.. I thought, "Wow, that's more than I've seen lately."  The class is 2 times a week, I'm hoping they will return.

 One of the sweet ladies that attended the class came over and asked if she could give Dad a back rub before class!  How nice was that.. Then she went over and did the same for mom!

 I'm sure I wasn't suppose to take pictures, (without the other people's permission) but I couldn't resist!

Dad supervised Bob on "cleaning up" my grow boxes!  Bob is so good about taking Dad out, even if it's just to watch him work!

 Sweet Rod and Deanna Cooper came over on Monday night with cupcakes.. Wow, 3 weeks in a row we've had treats!  Everyone loves Mom & Dad!

"Uncle" Chris Argentos surprised us and sent us 5 CD's from his singing group!  Mom and Dad love all the fun music from Broadway to Christmas to the Legends CD!

Daily, Dad looks outside the front windows to check on 'his' flock of geese.  Well, he had the perfect view from the exercise bike!

We finally got  both of them out to the exercise room.  Dad amazed us.  I was hoping he'd be able to peddle the bike for a bit... Look at how good he did!  1.75 miles.  HIP HIP HOORAY.  Mom went from the elliptical (She was a little nervous getting on it) to the health rider (She felt much more comfortable on it).
The weather is blustery, and will continue for the rest of the weekend.. so hopefully since we won't be going out to blow mole hills, we will do some more exercising!

Busy, Busy Week!

This week was "spooky" busy!
I think mom and dad enjoyed Halloween, Sisters, Decorating Fun, Mole Hole Blasting!
Before I put out pictures of the Fun we had, I'd like to thank mom and dad's friends and family who call to check up, chat and send their love for mom and dad.. My mom loves seeing the phone say 801 numbers, or family names that come up on the caller ID!
Every day dad asks Bob when they were going to go out to feed the cows or blow the mole holes!  Seriously, amazing how he is able to get up into the Ranger.  Bob, Derek and Dad went on several more trips in the truck... today wasn't ask easy for him, but we need to keep doing it, Bob says it will make him stronger, and since Dad has the desire to go out and get out.. we will make it happen!
I reserved the "Elizabeth Smart Story" book from the library... mom is enjoying reading it (I'm surprised she stays awake long enough to turn the pages, although they usually aren't out of bed until 9:00, which I think is great).
I'll download some pictures and give you a little snippet of what went on that day!

If you were to have called on Monday it was "Merry Christmas" from mom.  Yup, Snow on the car! 

This is one of Derek's finest moves!

Mom and Dad enjoyed driving to Sisters to watch Derek at TKD.  Dad kept commenting on Derek's "sweet" attitude while he was kicking, hitting and jumping!

 

I should have taken a picture of Mom and Dad with Derek in his uniform, but while he was changing, I snapped a picture of them waiting!

Wednesday we got ready for Halloween, and the Chili Cook-off!  Mom was amazed at how many pots of different chili came (We expected 18 pots, and we got 27), along with cornbread!  Sorry, the Young Women were in charge so I didn't get a picture of them with their muffin tins filled with different kinds of chili!

This is mom helping Derek with his Trick or TREATS that we delivered on Halloween!

Our neighbor Teresa loves seeing my parents.  She brought treats over for us... just the start of more "yummy" goodies, because of mom and dad being here!

 Mom helped me make a Halloween Chex Mix filled with candy corn, reeses pieces and other yummy addicting flavors.  Mom was in charge of cutting and punching out shapes, while Derek wrote to each of his friends!

Later, Derek sat with Grandpa and showed him the scrapbook that Derek works on, with all his comings and goings.  Dad seemed interested.  It  was good for Derek to explain what he was doing, where he was, and what the event was all about!

Dad's most favorite thing to do is to be outside... Derek, Bob and Dad have been spending most afternoons out taking care of the mole infestations, feeding the cows, and just being outside!  Bob has been a TROOPER helping Dad get in and out of the vehicles, and always encouraging Dad to keep walking, even when Mom thinks that he should sit and be pushed in the wheelchair!

Dad loves watching, noticing the mole hills and keeps counting the cows!

 My parents are loving the Hallmark movies.  When we have to leave, we just turn one on that we've taped for them.  They are now running a lot of Christmas shows... too fun!

 Mom and Dad are eating well.  We are finding some fun things that Dad is enjoying!  Last night we went to Costco to pick up mom's Rx, we decided to have dinner there.  Oh, my goodness, before I got back from the pharmacy, Dad had already eaten his polish dog!  Then to top it off, Bob got him a big chocolate yogurt dessert... he had that eaten by the time we got home.  It's huge to find things he'll eat.  I think Friday nights will be our Costco Dinner night.
Well, I better end this.. It's Saturday, I better go direct mom on where she can dust next!

 

 

I spoke too soon about the weather!

Well, this weekend we had such nice weather, and then FALL hit!
Saturday we had such a special treat.. Nancy Mabee came by with some yummy cookies... she says, "I'm nuts about your dad Jill"  And my dad thinks she is such a marvelous lady!

While Nancy was here, we loaded up two of the cows and took them to Madras to the Livestock Auction yard.. Fingers crossed they will sell for a good price!  While Bob was cleaning out our horse trailer, there was another big 2 story trailer being cleaned out... Mom had me hurry and take a picture of the "stuff" that was being cleaned out... WOW!!!

 

 

Amazing that mom and dad were both able to get up in the truck without much assistance!  I was impressed!

So, we had a nice warm, no coat Saturday.. then today.. a different subject!

It took more time to get bundled up, than it was to feed the cows!  But dad insisted he "see his girls", so we got him ready for the cold, rainy, windy afternoon and he made the trip out!

(Can you tell it's raining?!)

Bob is so good about bringing the Ranger around to the garage to pick up his passenger!

 

Couldn't ask for better weather!

If the weather would just stay this way until January... my parents and us would be so happy!
We have been spending most of the days outside getting the place ready for winter.
Bob and dad and Derek have gone out 2 days in a row trying to get these moles taken care of.
Today we talked mom into going out with us!  I actually think she enjoyed watching the holes blow!  She wore the ear guards and was anxiously waiting to see how many holes go up in smoke.

When not outside doing yard work and moles, we've been doing a little more speech and looking at mom's hundreds of pictures she still has saved on her camera! I put them on the framed screen (Sorry, don't know what it is called), and I ask dad questions about where the picture was taken and who is in the picture!  It's been fun!

 Dad loves supervising our work!

 Yes, mom is putting ground up leaves in my vegetable beds!

When the guys are outside blowing holes, mom has been enjoying the sunshine on the front porch... no she isn't using a wheelchair.. just easy to take outside.

Tonight we watched the movie with their favorite dancer, Julianne Hough.  The movie is called Safe Haven.. Quite suspenseful. 

Not sure if dad had a nap today, but they and Derek are fast asleep!  (I hope so, it's 11:44 as we speak)

Dad is learning the I-PAD!

Dad is having an interesting time trying to figure out some games on Derek's I-PAD... much better than just asking him questions.  All those years of doing speech with Derek just may pay off.

 

And since mom can't be left out... I taped a show called "Sit and Be Fit" for her.  Yup, that show is perfect for mom.  (I used to see it on PBS and wonder who would do those exercises... I've got it taping on our DVR)

Again today, Bob took Dad out to check the mole holes, and to feed the cows.  No coat was needed, it was 68 degrees.  Our friend Gina is here for the weekend.  She brought half of Mom & Dad's things.. Thank you Gina!  She's heading back to Utah tomorrow.  It was a houseful, and we like it like that!

Today we had the BYU Game.  It was exciting.. well, not until the end.. or at least that is what it looked like!  Mom and Dad both enjoyed naps!  Mom was so surprised to wake up and see the score had changed drastically!

 Robert came to visit at half time!  He joined us out on the front porch... enough time for Dad to ask Robert to prune a tree we have growing out of control. 

 While out on the front porch, dad also noticed a flock of geese in the neighbor's Polo Field.  He said, "I'd sure like to see them up close"  So, I loaded him up in the car and drove him over.  You can't really see the geese, but there must have been 50 of them... making a lot of racket, and enjoying this warm weather!