Fall Weekend of...

(Stay tuned to the end) or just jump right to it...

All 26 members of the Hardcastle family were present.

Tetons, you know what they look like (Kim did take some great shots, just not me)

Hidden Falls,2.2 miles above Jenny Lake

Elk and Bugling and freezing at 7am to hear them.
FamilyLakes

Beavers (actually building dams)

Black Bears playing. No pictures but they were seen 3 times in the same place throughout the day.

Hiking

Fall Leaves

Eating /Way too much food.

Driving (again 22 mpg)

Lovely Condo accommodations . Thanks to Don and Charlene (grandma and grandpa)

Hyrum playing

Relaxing AND

*****Matt and Jennie getting ENGAGED****

What a great weekend. Thanks again to the whole family and especially to grandma and grandpa for the great time.

Un-Birthday

Who needs a reason for a party or just a get together? I guess I do.

Yesterday, the 18th, was mom's b-day. Ever since I had written it on my calender, at the first of the month, I have just kept thinking about it and what to do to celebrate her. So a few weeks ago I decided to have a birthday party in her honor. After inviting everyone, Hallie reminded me it was also dad's b-day on the the 16th, so we celebrated both. Dad has been gone 40 years so it was a date that wasn't fresh on my mind like mom's, so I really appreciated the reminder.

We had cake and ice cream,played a few games, visited and learned more about our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. Almost everyone came. We did miss the 4 who couldn't make it and I wish them well.

But thanks everyone for humoring me and helping me celebrate the people who have ment so much in my life. Not just those who have passed, but everyone who is a part of my life. I love you all.

I never think to take before and after pictures, but this would of been a good one.

I am not one who usually panics over the news or pending predictions, but for some reason I am a little worried about this pending Swine Flu Pandemic thing. I had to go to a meeting at work where it was explained to us, as health care providers, what will be expected of us should Utah be hit, and I guess there has to be a certain number of people involved for the 'Pandemic Switch" to be turned on. But Utah is in the top 10 states for the real thing.

So I am no excerpt and I"m not trying to scare anyone. But back to my before and after.

I have been shopping the case lot sales, going to the church cannery, buying extra at Sams club, and trying to plan better and only buy the things we actually eat. So all these new treasures have landed at the base of my stairs and actually causing a saftey & fire hazard. So this Sat. I dug in and totally cleaned out my cold storage unit and pantry and organized what I had. I had to throw out 2004 spaghetti O's, old applesauce's, dry hash browns, which I actually moved from the old house to here, found some good stuff tucked in the back and decided I never need to buy church cannery beef stew again, in fact maybe we'll have that instead of cake and ice cream at the family B-Day party. So my only word of advice, plan to have enough food and personal necessities, and of-course baby stuff, just in case you get stuck at home for 7-10 days and are not allowed to leave. But now my shelves are so clean and organized I might just have to show everyone who enters, you'll just have to imagine the before mess.

My weekend before. There have been some rumors about the girls weekend/Swiss days/shopping/park city stay event going on. The only true ones are; I did win Phase 10, I did have a great time and laughed so hard I was sick, did spend a lot of money with not a lot to show for it, I did have fun with Karen, Melanie, Jodi, Jessica and Jennie, I'm not good at the "spaz" game, and yes everyone should bring PJ's to a slumber party. All that other stuff I take the 5Th. But can't wait for next year.

So grateful for family, fun and the opportunity to provide for our needs.