Spring has Sprung

Well we have had a busy 2 weeks. Cliff decided he had had enough of the oil field and found a job driving truck in Las Vegas. He will mainly run from Vegas to LA and back. The company also runs to Phoenix,
Salt Lake and WY but sounds like he will be on the western end. He hates starting over but with all the changes at Calfrac it just wasnt worth him being gone all the time. He said if he has to make less money, he will do it at this end of the world. Plus he only applied at companies that had a ride along policy so after 90 days, I can go with him. He said that he had had enough of us being separated so that was the main reason he took this job. The money is OK and we can live on it so I guess we will see. He can always go back to oil if this doesn't work out. Today was his first day of training and he said he hates being the new guy but he was in good spirits when he left. He was just tired of the cold and being in the man camp. I hope he doesn't have to go back and that this works out. Cliff was excited cause we always have so much fun when we travel and he said where we can be together it would be fun.

We ordered some new monitors for our PA system and can't wait for them to get here. We needed them bad. Cliff thought they were here yesterday when the UPS man stopped but he delivered some Paula Dean bowls that he had ordered me as part of his points from Calfrac. Then the bowls were real small and he was disappointed cause he thought they were like big mixing bowls and they are more like small money dishes. I told him we needed these more than bigger ones. These are perfect for dipping sauces.

We had Harlee the last couple days so Teddi could go do some girl things with her friends and sure enjoyed her. Grandpa said he was wore out from herding heifers but he sure loves these little girls. He had to be careful not to hurt Gabby's feelings as she is his baby as far as she is concerned, but she was real good about him loving on Neo and we even got to snuggle Tobie girl last night. Sweet sweet girls. Poor Oliva just cried because she didn't want to go back to Vegas and go to school but we promised her she could spend the night next week. Cliff said we will put up our little tent and let them play house in it. They are gonna have so much fun.Cliff got this picture of Harlee and Digger. I sent it to Toby and he said Digger is the Dogfather LOL

So I am cleaning up the after math of the kids being here. My OCD is in overdrive so I am bleaching everything and mopping floors like a mad woman. I have been in spring cleaning mode for a couple days. I love it that it is getting so warm:  73 today. I have the water on the lawn right now and it is starting to green up. I have to get some weed and feed on it in the next couple weeks. So life is good and rolling on. I have a Big Smile today

First Day Back

Well I have been away for over a year due to some strange circumstances but I'm back. I have been on Facebook but just can't stand all the garbage that has grown out of that medium, plus I find blogging much more rewarding so I am excited to be back.

The cold is finally over and it looks like spring. Only in southern Nevada can winter be one week and then spring the next day. I love it. It has been 60 this afternoon and just beautiful. Gabby and I had lunch with Cha at Panda Garden (yum like always) Gabby put a gallon of soy sauce on her rice and salt. I swear she just loves salty things. She is napping right now and getting ready for her dance and mini-drill team review tonight during the basketball game at the high school. She is so excited.

Looking forward to this weekend. We are having Gabby's birthday party in Las Vegas at the Butterfly Park and then spending the night with Teddi and Donnie and going to church for Tobie Marie's dedication on Sunday morning. Looking forward to seeing the babies.

Wish Cliff was here but hopefully he can find a job closer to home and be done with this North Dakota crap soon. That's the plan so hope it works. We are both done with this traveling stuff. Anyway he will be home Wednesday so hip hip hooray! It's almost boating weather, Viva Las Vegas is coming soon, and The River Run is at the end of April. I love this time of year!!

I miss your face

Well my baby left this morning and I miss him already. We are watching the NASCAR race at Chicago land together by text so I'm not too lonely yet. So far the race sucks and Jeff is not doing well. It's been pretty boring not too much action. Guess everybody is tired cause they had to wait a day to run it due to rain. The only good thing is the Gieco Caveman gave the "Gentlemen Start Your Engines" so that was kind of funny.

Cleaning a little and trying to get the house back together after the little girls were here this weekend. They are so fun but so messy. Teddi wants me to go to Vegas this afternoon and look at houses with her. I may go haven't decided yet. I am really too tired but it will make me less lonely so we will see.

Little Red to the Paint Shop

We took Little Red to the paint shop today and dropped her off. Gave them 2500.00 to get started and can't wait till she is done. I told Cliff I'd try to get down there and take some pictures of the progress if I can. I know he's excited to get it done. We stopped and talked to Donnie for a few minutes then went over to Teddi's to see the kids. We ended up bringing the kids home with us as Teddi and Donnie wanted to go out. Donnie was going to Primm with the guys to watch the Mayweather/Ortiz fight and Teddi and the girls were going dancing at Revolver so we did the Mima and Daddy Daddy thing and brought the kids with us. It was fun and we about ate the baby up, she is so sweet.

Charlee and Raoul came over and brought Gabbi and then of course they had to have a picnic, run thru the sprinkler (as we had tossed their pool for the season when we went to the dump..oops) and then Gabbi spent the night. They were a wild pair but we had fun. Then everyone came over on Sunday and I made a pork roast and mashed potatoes etc for lunch. Then Teddi went to the store and got stuff for Halloween cup cakes and we baked those, so the kids had a big day, By the time they all left Daddy Daddy and it had a little alone time, then got ready and went out for prime rib and a couple drinks. It is his last night home and we bopth were just trying to hold it together. This job sucks above all other things and I hate it.

Rodeo Time

We took Tony and Gabbi to the Dixie Roundup last night. It was so fun. She was so cute about all the animals. During the team roping, one of the calves had really long ears and when they let him loose she said, "Is that a donkey"  It was so funny. She mostly liked the sheep during the mutton busting but liked all the animals. Tony had a sore throat so he was quiet and not his normal funny self but I think he enjoyed a night out with Big Daddy. Of course they had to listen to Hank lll. We grabbed a burger at In N Out before the rodeo, that was Tonys request and they are always good. Gabbi just ate fries and Daddy Daddy let her get away with in and why, cause she's his baby. HA

Working Around the House

We have been working around the house the last few days. Cliff has mowed the lawn twice already, poor boy. It grows so fast this time of year. We also cleaned out both sheds and cleaned off the back porch. Cliff tore one of the walls out of the screen porch as he plans on parking Little Red under their until we can get a garage built. I think  it is gonna work out really well and will protect the truck plus it was nice to get everything organized and cleaned up.

We have been to the casino most nights and went dancing at the River. The band sucked bad but we still had a good time. Visited with the Mexican and had prime rib. We have been enjoying our time together and loving morning coffee out side now that it has cooled off. It did rain a couple days, once really hard but the weather has been really good. It's made it nice for all the work we have done. Cliff says he will have to mow the lawn one more time before he goes back to work. Crazy


My tattoo is finally healed. Yeah, I was beginning to wonder

Little Red

We got up and went to Vegas this morning. Took little red down and got a paint estimate at a couple places. Decided on a shop called Devious Designs they are gonna do everything on the paint and airbrush  for 5 thousand. That was an excellent price considering some of the other quotes we got for up to 10 thousand and that was without any airbrush. These guys are good and took us all thru their shop and we got to see examples of their work. So we will take the truck down next Saturday as they cant start till then. Got the paint color picked out and we were both happy with it. It's kind of a Candy Cherry Red  really pretty. Has a deep metal flake in it and is really hot! It is gonna take them a month to do the job so it should be ready sometime while Cliff is home next rotation. He is really excited. Said it was the first time he was gonna be able to really restore something like he wants it. He's looking forward to putting it in car shows. Should be fun fun fun.

We went to the Palms and had lunch. Wasn't as good as it use to be but it was nice to be back in our old stomping grounds. Came home and went out to the Virgin River. Had a good time and chilled.

Thursday Headed Home

We got up this morning and headed home. Cliff drove little red and I drove his work truck. It was a pretty uneventful trip just cruised along listening to music and glad to be going home. Can't wait to enjoy his time off as it will be gone way too quick. I can tell you home never looked so good

Heaven and Hell Begins on Wednesday

Cliff got home today and I was so happy to see him I almost popped. He got in about 1:30 and I was so happy to see his face come thru that door. He grabbed a quick shower and the we "celebrated" HA. It is crazy how much I miss him and how good it is to see him. We had a really nice afternoon and then Alecia came over and he took a nap and Pecia and I visited with Mom and Dad for awhile. Cliff woke up and we grabbed some dinner and then went to Mom and Dad's for the meeting. Mom and Dad went over all their insurance and business and told us what they wanted done in case something happened. It was nice to see everyone and glad that Dad got to tell everyone what they wanted. I think it eased their minds and that is the most important thing

The best thing was having my baby home again and seeing him in good spirits for a change. He was really a different person. Thank you God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fly time

Got up and went to church with Teddi and Olivia. I love the church Teddi goes to it's so inclusive and positive and diverse. Just my cup of tea. Had a good time and then Teddi and Olivia took me to the airport. Oli was excited to go to the airport so that was fun. Sat on the plane with a woman named Ann from Grand Junction who trains reigning horses. She was a hoot. We talked all the way to GJ. She was telling me all about the medical marihuana she smokes for her glaucoma. I had no idea there were so many options and strains. I thought pot was pot but I guess not. HA

Cliff's folks picked me up at the airport and it was so good to see them. They are sweethearts. I visited with them most of the evening. Monday Alecia came over and we went down on main street and just looked in all the shops and had some gelato and hung out.  As you can see Alecia took a picture of me riding a pig down main street, pretty funny. Right after this Channel 5 news interviewed me for the news. Their question was "Do you feel it's worth it to give up individual freedoms for the government to keep you safe". Of course, I gave them my angry spiel on our government and how they cant keep us safe and just use fear to control us. They did use part of the interview but did cut it to pieces. Cliff said GJ wouldn't ever play it cause they are too Red State Fox News. HA

Teddi's House

I drove the Durango down to Teddi's as her and Donnie are gonna use it for a bit until they sell their truck and get another vehicle. It works out well as Teddi took me to the airport on Sunday to fly to Grand Junction. Cliff's parents want to have a family meeting on Wednesday to discuss what we will do as a family if something were to happen to either one of them. All the guys will be in from ND and it will be one of the few times we are all in one place at one time so I am flying over to meet Cliff and support Mom and Dad. It gives me an extra day with him so yahoo. Had so much fun with the girls at Teddi's they are so sweet. Olivia was so cute and just laid on me after she had had her bath and said "I missed you so much Mima" She is my sweet heart.

We went to a car show on Saturday night at Donnie's work and saw lots of cool cars. Donnie's boss gave me the name of a place they use for paint called Devious Designs. I got the card as Cliff wants to bring little red home and get a bid on a paint job. They said it would be between 5 and 10 thousand so we will see. Anyway this is an example of the paint job. We had fun at the car show and they had some real cool stuff. I think we can get the upholstery done at the shop Donnie works at so it's all starting to come together.

The Wedding

Traci called yesterday afternoon and we talked about the wedding for about an hour. She is so cute and so excited. She decided to change her colors to brown and champagne. I told her that would be classier than the blue and purple she had originally chosen. I guess they are sticking with the cowboy theme. She is looking at a venue in Palisade called Amy's Courtyard. It's a vineyard and a bit pricey but beautiful. Hope all her dreams come true before real life sets in HA. Ah to be young and not know what you are facing in life. That would be heaven.

Michelle called Cliff yesterday and said that Cheyenne needs reading glasses. We are hoping that that may be the problem that Cheyenne has been having in school. So glad she found out at the beginning of the school year. It was kinda funny, I guess Cheyenne put on my reading glasses while she was here and told her Mom that she could see so much better. Glad she tried them on along with all my high heels. HA

Charlee and Raoul went to Gabbi's pre-school orientation last night and said she did really well. Charlee said she was shy at first but got into it pretty quick. I'm sure she will entertain them with all her antics. I am going to Vegas Saturday and spend the night with Teddi so I will get to see Olivia for more than a minute finally. I miss that girl. I've been able to spend time with Harlee but seems Olivia has been gone the last couple times I've been there.

Ted is gonna take me to the airport on Sunday and then it's off to Grand Junction. Less than a week till Cliff is back. Be glad to see him and hope all goes well. He seems really glad to be coming home. Said it can't come soon enough. Then I am going to North Dakota on his next rotation and stay. Hope that will make things go faster for us both. It's really the last chance before the weather really turns so it's now or never. I wish he would look for something closer but he is a creature of habit and hates change so I doubt that will happen unless oil crashes and that doesn't seem likely. So time marches on and I just pray morning noon and night for us and hope that God can give me strength and faith to keep fighting for my family.

Another Day Goes By

Well time goes by and I guess that's the good news. I remember a friend of mine saying one time that he was "sitting in the sub burbs waiting to die" . Some days I feel like that. Gotta do something to change that. I don't intend to spend the rest of my life sitting in this house waiting for who knows what.

I am getting the house so clean that it's kind of sick. I am washing our coverlet to the bed today, did sheets a couple days ago. My sister Diane and her family are coming to stay for the night on Monday so I want it nice for them. Now that the sprinklers are fixed, and I wont have to use the one on the hose, I am gonna wash these windows really good to get the hard water spots off. It was hardly worth it before cause as soon as I drug that sprinkler around the water pressure fluctuates so much that I would inevitably get water on the glass. So clean windows.

Went for a walk with Charlee and Gabbi last night and really enjoyed it. Gabbi is so darn cute. She wore her flippers and kept saying her feet itched. She did good and walked the whole way. She had to tell every dog hello and one of the neighbors has columns on their fence that have big concrete frogs topping them. She always has to stop and kiss the frogs.

Trying to get everything done cause I go to Vegas Friday night so I can watch Harlee on Saturday. Then Teddi is gonna take me to the airport on Sunday. Have to check the Grand Junction weather to see what clothes to pack. I have taken everything but my toiletries out of the 5th wheel cause I haven't been there that much so I'll have to take everything I need. I can tell you more and more I understand why Cliff hates that place so much. Lately I hate it too.

Another Monday

Saturday at Teddi's love this baby!

Well I woke up this morning to Cliff's text of "Good Mornin Hun" It made me so sad. I miss him a lot and hate all the miles he is away. It seems this just goes on forever and never ends and just gets worse as time goes on. We text all day but it does nothing to abate the loneliness. Sometimes I feel physically sick from it all. Wish I could wish it all away, but life doesn't work like that. Problems don't solve themselves.

Raoul came by and he and his cousin are fixing the sprinklers. Parts of them have been broke and I have had to water the side yard with the hose and a sprinkler. Then a valve went bad and I had to turn off the main sprinkler valve or the system leaked and our water bill was 125.00. It will be nice to have it back working.

I went to St George and got another shot in my knee. It wasn't bothering me but the doctor said one more shot and that should do it. Sure am thankful that I was able to get it treated. I was in a lot of pain but it's A-OK now.

I am going to cook dinner for Cha and family, just burgers and homemade fries. It's just a little thanks for all the work Raoul did today. I will get to see the kids and I hope that helps my mood. I don't why I am so blue today but it comes and goes. I pray non-stop and try to be positive but some days it's really hard. Hope tomorrow is better.

Got to talk to Cliff for about 20 minutes but he was yawning so that I figured he was either real tired or real bored and either way thought I'd put him out of his misery and get off the phone. He did get to talk to Gabby and she asked him when he was coming so they could go swimming. Angel heart girl. Lol

My new girl

Well here is the evolution of my new cowgirl. She is different than what I had originally intended but that's what happens when a good tattoo artist gets his hands on you. Teddi went with me and we got there about 7:00 pm and Donnie finished about 2:30 in the morning . Starborn is on The Strip and Sahara right in the "Naked City" and I can tell you it's an interesting place on Friday night at 2 in the morning. When we finished, Donnie had to walk us out to the car and muscle his way through the crack heads and ladies of the evening. Anyway it was fun. We met Donnie when he did Teddi's first tattoo when she turned 16 and the rest is history. He's sure an interesting guy from Baton Rouge, LA. I can tell you a good time was had by all. I spent the evening sipping cinnamon coffee cause I heard that blood sucking vampires are allergic to cinnamon.

Mr Donnie starting my work
The rough drawing
Part way through with the shading
Starting to add color
The finished product

Nothing Like a New Tattoo

I've got an appointment with Donnie at Starborn in Vegas tonight at 6 to try to work up my new tattoo. Gonna have him take this horseshoe ( I like the worn industrial look of this horseshoe) without all that crap around it and then take my cowgirl ( picture below) and have her sitting in it like a swing. Then I want clouds around her head and roses around her feet with a banner that says Honky Tonk Angel. Can't wait to see what he comes up with.

Cliff wanted me to have it done in Greeley while we were at Traci's but I didn't want my arm to be sore while we were there and traveling, plus I didn't know the tattoo artist and there is nothing worse than a shitty tattoo. Turns out the woman who did Cliff's work in Greeley was really good and did an amazing job with finishing his muscle car and Betty Paige tattoo. But the real reason I didn't get it done was I think I may have to get it done in stages because it's gonna be the whole top of my arm, so I wanted to get it done where I can get touch ups etc. Plus I know how good Donnie is and outside of Kat Von Dee (who I cannot afford) he's the man.
I like the one below for my right boob as soon as they finish all the work on it next spring, but instead of the laurels I want flames around it. Maybe I'll have them add the words "burn one down for me" It's a Day of the Dead in memory of my right boob that is dearly departed HA HA.

Why do we love tattoos? I don't know, but we do. After I get my arm done I want a picture with my daughters that focus on our tattoos. I'd like Toby in it but the chance of getting him down here is slim and none. Maybe he can Photoshop himself in LOL

Busy Day

Well I got up this morning and realized I needed to keep busy or I'd go nuts today, so I have been cleaning house like a mad woman. Got our bedroom done except for dusting the blinds and then started on the spare bedroom. Had to clean it out after our Cheyenne went home for the summer. She's a junker and I always have to clean under the bed cause she stashes stuff under there. I had looked all morning for the broom and was just getting ready to go buy one when I started cleaning under the bed and there was the broom. We cannot figure out why she hordes stuff but she sure does. Sometimes even brings home junk she finds in the street and hides it under the bed. Cliff says she will end up running Van Gundys, a junk yard in Grand Junction. You want to laugh but somehow you realize it's not funny. Poor baby.

I took a hand saw and sawed off the top part of the foot board on our spare bedroom log bed. It was so high you couldn't lay in bed and see the TV and I got sick of moving the TV so the kids could see it so I decided to just solve the problem. It is gonna work out way better. Now I am washing all the rugs in the house and getting ready to clean both bathrooms and then I might be done for the day. Save the kitchen and dining room for tomorrow or later today. I still want to go to the gym and go swim laps so I think I'm about done.

Peachy Day

Got 15 quarts of Palisade peaches ready for the freezer. That was one of the first thing Cliff asked me this morning was if I got the peaches done ha. He said "yummy". Boy will they be good this winter. My little baby girl was a peach of a helper. Now getting ready to run to the doctor.

Dog Days of Summer

Well I just got back last night from taking Cheyenne back to Colorado after summer vacation. We really has a good time and I was sad to see her go. Had our usual drama with Michelle and it was nothing but a fight with her calling the police, screaming matches between her and Cliff, and finally her getting scared we would take her back to court and all her felony convictions would come out so she finally played nice. In fact when I dropped Cheyenne off she invited me "onto the driveway" and we talked for about a half hour. It was her usual trying to justify her actions but she actually did thank me for taking good care of Cheyenne and thanked me for all the nice things I had done for her, so it's progress of some kind and that is nice for a change. I just feel so sorry for Cheyenne caught in her mother's web. It is beginning to show and that's the sad part but I told Cliff this is the part where we just have to hold on and pray for the best. Let her know we are here and love her and provide as stable an environment as we can. She is such a beautiful little girl I just pray she can come thru it all without the scars being too deep.





Cheyenne saying goodby to Digger for the summer
Cheyenne on the ride back showing me her mustache. She wants to bring her vampire suit out and go back down on Fremont street and be one of the costume characters that hang out down there. She is to little to realize they are mostly weirdo's and crack heads. Some are legit but most of them not so much LOL
Got to see Alecia and she spent the night with me. The next morning we went peach and corn hunting. Cliff was laughing and asked if we had bagged our limit. I told him we were out of tags so guess we were done. We bought the peaches next door to Lon and Marlene's so we dropped by and I told Marlene how happy I was that her breast lumps were not malignant. She is still having problems and did not look good at all. It's worrisome. Just hope and pray she is alright. Alecia loves her Grammie so much it would kill her to have anything happen to Grammie.

After we got our peaches and corn we went to Main Street Bagels and had a yummy bagel and coffee well Alecia had a smoothie (had to get that sugar ha) but I had "hot coffee". Then we hugged and said good by. I thought it would be Thanksgiving before I saw her again but now it looks like I am flying back over on Labor Day weekend. Dad Cole has called a family meeting and asked me to try to be there he said it was real important to him so I got a flight for 49.00 and will fly in on Sunday, Dad and Mom Cole will pick me up at the airport, then Cliff will be there on Wednesday and we will have the meeting Wed night and we will come home on Thursday morning unless Cliff wants to leave Wed night then we will do that and I can drive home

Saturday Swim

Here are the shark girls getting ready to swim




Charlee came over today and took the kids to the splash pad in Bunkerville. I sure was glad cause I was in a funk and didn't feel like doing anything. Later in the day they came back and we fixed them something to eat and they played sharks in the kiddie pool till it was almost dark. They were so cute diving under the water and pretending to bite each other. So sweet. It was so hot during the day they didn't even want to swim but once it started to cool off they swam for about 2 hours. Then Cheyenne went over to Cha's for awhile cause she wanted to keep playing with Doodle Bug. I was in bed by the time Charlee brought her home.

I had mowed about half the yard last late in the afternoon so I was ready for a bath and to cool off. I will finish it in the morning and change the water in the kiddie pool as I am sure they will be at it again this afternoon lol.

Tomorrow will be Cheyenne's last day here for the summer and it sure went fast. I will really miss her. By next summer she will be acting and looking like a teenager, she is already headed in that direction, such a pretty girl. Cliff is determined that we will have her all 6 weeks next summer and I do hope it works out that way guess we will have to wait and see. Seems like it is always the children that suffer in these things.

I know I wish I had been smarter when I was young and not subjected my kids to a lot of the things I did but I guess hind sight is 20/20. I was just young, immature and selfish, and the older I get the more I realize what a piss poor excuse that is.