The BIG 50!

This post goes out to my brother in law Steve Ward.  He doesn't do facebook, but when we get together he reminds me about updating my blog.  So since today is his Big 50th birthday, I thought it was only fitting that I give a HUGE Happy Birthday to him. 
Happy Birthday Steve.  Enjoy your 50's....every thing they say about them is true. 

Farewell Mountainview Drive!

As the crocus and daffodils burst from the earth in bloom and the pear trees lining Mountainview Drive exploded in blossom, we were inside imploding our things into boxes to organize for our departure at the end of April. It is times like these that remind me of some of the personal characteristics that stand between us and perfection. For example, we cannot shed the old unimportant for the new important and therefore do not throw much of anything away. We collected all of the empty boxes stored throughout the house and abandoned in the basement and easily filled the truck bed (even after filling the intact boxes with flat corrugate and compressing everything else) for a run to the county recycling center. Upon arrival at the center, Mick was escorted to a special bin reserved only for the high volume contributors - the HOV lane for the recycling center.

Joni posted a number of items on CraigsList.com and sold many of the items she had gathered after our arrival in NJ. A living room couch, 3 office desks, 2 office chairs, a dresser, a 5-piece bedroom set were among the items sold. We even sold the old mud terrain tires from the truck (stored in the basement for the last three years!). Joni is so proud that she either broke even or made money on each of her sales.

Mars arranged for the movers to pack us up and move the house goods to storage for a few months as we sort out our plans. As three men packed things out to a truck, Joni and Jessica Craig (a wonderful young lady from our church here) thoroughly cleaned the house. When everything was out of the house and every corner was cleaned, we walked through the empty house reminiscing and saying good-bye. It was striking how large the empty house seemed.

From this, we move into the Marriott Residence Inn.  We'll keep you posted as the plans develop.

A view into the entry way from the 2nd floor landing

The roller rink (basement).

The master bedroom (part of it)

The kitchen and its queen!

A view of the family room from the 2nd floor landing.

7,000 Miles and well worth it!

The first of April we flew to California, spent the night with the Rosells and then jumped on the I-15 racetrack for the trip to Idaho.  We were bound for a long anticipated event - Graig's graduation from BYU Idaho.  The trip was smooth enough that the cruise control was nearly always engaged, even through Vegas.  We stopped in Provo, UT to have an early dinner with Jamie and David.  Our stop gave a spring storm sufficient time to build up for a dumping of snow to entertain us for the remainder of our drive through UT.  From just outside Provo to Brigham City we drove through a blizzard where the visibility was often measured in feet.  Welcome to springtime on the Wasatch Front!

Friday we went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse.  One that Graig enjoys, then rushed
to graduation where he received his diploma.  It was a proud day for Mama and Papa Ward!

April 8, 2011, big day for the Ward family.  Nicole's mom and sister and children were able to be there along with my parents and also Graig's friend Josh.  What a great evening!

Saturday morning was the commencement exercise in the new BYU-I conference center.  The new building is beautiful and the speakers were excellent.  I loved how they allowed no yelling or calling out and held the applause to the end.  I always get chills when I hear the graduation song.  Congrats Graig!!!

And it wouldn't be a memorable event if we didn't get the Granddad/Graig pose. 

 We had a fun weekend with family and friends playing games, eating, and seeing the "sights" in Rexburg.  On Monday Janelle, Jamie and I helped Nicole in her first grade classroom.  I walked the track with the children and earned 4 coins.  I then read a story to the class - I absolutely love doing that! - and we also helped at stations.  Nicole is a great teacher and you can tell her students love her. 

We left for Provo/Springville after school was out.  We spent the evening with the Harmers and had a great Cafe Rio style dinner at Bob and Karyns.  Tuesday morning we drove back to Brea and Wednesday afternoon flew back to New Jersey.  Now only 2 weeks until we are out of the NJ house. 

Happy Birthday!

When you get to be my age....55....you just don't want birthdays to happen.  But the Frugone's were insistent that we celebrate.  Boy am I glad we did.  Christiano made me this beautiful pen and little notebook. 

Angelo did this mosiac picture.

Gio made me a beautiful flower pot complete with special flowers.

And....due to my kids and one of their movies they enjoy at the moment, Just Friends, I can remind all who enter my home to "Be Yourself".  For some reason they think I am just like the mom in that movie and get a big laugh from it.  Megan found this little cute out and just couldn't resist.  Carlos made the most awesome to die for chocolate cake complete with dove dark chocolate candies. 

So....even if your old.....celebrate......BE YOURSELF......it's fun!!!!

Hurrary for Graig!!!

Big news for the Ward family. Graig graduates from BYU-I on friday, April 8, 2011.

Endless Winter!

It has been a long cold winter for us Jersey Wards. It started snowing later this year, but it has been one storm after another and so bitter cold. It was not unusual to wake up to -12, -9 we even had a -15 one morning. I have to say I am soooooo ready for spring.

Just look how high the snowbank was getting at the end of our driveway. You really get a workout throwing the snow up on top. The snow was so deep this storm I had to bring out the rainboots.

I am so sick of shoveling this driveway. Next house will have less property and a shorter driveway if we ever move to another home in Jersey. I've decided that property is so over rated.

This is my new best friend. I waved him down to clear the driveway after a huge storm that left over 12 inches. Mick had to head out of town, so I waited until the storm had stopped AND the snowplow had come through the neighborhood. I hate it when you get your drive all cleared and the snowplow berms you in. I thought for sure I had him outsmarted this time. My friend came at 10:30pm and got the drive clear. The next morning I went to work and smiled as I drove down the clear driveway with no berming.

I came home from work to find this!!! I am so mad at the snowplow guy. I hate the way he berms me in. I had to park the truck and then walk up to get the shovel. Janelle was at home and so proud that she had spent a good amount of time clearing a way for me. Yep, that might just work Janelle if the truck is 3 feet wide. Can you see the mailbox to see how high the berming is. See the nice cleared driveway on the other side!!!! Why did he feel it was so necessary to plow the road back another 12" closer to the curb. I think it is just to see the hair on the back of my neck stand up!!

But with the snow comes some fun times too. I took the Activity Day boys and girls sledding with the YW and YM. We had such a good time, that on the following saturday the Whitehead family and the Townsend family invited me to go again. This is me sitting on the Pony Express that Dustin Townsend created. It is an old hobby horse that he put skis on. Let me tell you, that pony can GO!!!! I love this ward and how they let an old gal like me hang out with these young moms and families.

But, thank God for spring!

The Big Cheese

The local grocery store had a contest during the holidays. It was to guess the weight of this block of cheese. Hey, I am a sucker for contests and trying to win things. I enter any contest I come across. So when we saw this one, I tried to get everyone to enter to increase our chances of winning. Well only Janelle put in an entry, couldn't get Graig, Nicole, or Jamie to give it a try. Three days later the phone rings early in the morning....caller ID shows ShopRite. Umm, I'm thinking, why is the grocery store calling me?

Well they asked for Joni Ward. That's me I said. We are calling to tell you you have won the cheese contest. What????? Me???? I was so excited. Really????? Yes, they said, come in with your ID to claim your prize. OK, hey how far off was my guess, I asked. You missed it by only 4 pounds they said.

Graig gets up and asks what I was so excited about. I won the cheese contest. Mom, he asks, what are you going to do with all that cheese? Oh I wish I would have won the cheese......I won a $25 gift certificate to Shop Rite. I think I would have rather had the 586 pounds of cheese. Everyone would have had cheese for Christmas.

So when I dragged the kids to claim my prize, and to have them take a photo of me with the cheese, A local shopper gave me a funny look while Jamie was in the middle of the photo shoot. I won the cheese contest I told him. Oh he said, I thought you were from Wisconsin.

Cookie and Ugly Ornament Exchange

In California we do an ugly ornament exchange every year after Christmas. It is so much fun to see the "uglies". So when Megan and I decided to do a "cookie exchange" this year I also suggested an ugly ornament exchange. We laughed so hard and had a great time unwrapping and swapping ornaments. Everyone loved it. The theme of this years uglies was feathers. After our games and ugly exchange it was cookie time.

There were so many good cookies that we had to do the "cookie shuffle" when going around the table. What great fun we had. Can't wait until next year. Hey, I just might have an easter cookie exchange.

If you want to see some additional photos of the night, go to Jamie's blog....A Day in the Life located on the right hand column of my blog.

Two Year Mission for Mars...........going on three.

Yep, you read it right. Mick has agreed to work another year here in Jersey. So our two year mission is now going to be at least 21 more months longer than originally planned. Good news, bad news......

Good.....getting to enjoy the seasons for another year.

Bad.....another winter shoveling the looooooong driveway with snow. It has been really cold this winter and it is only January. Some days the overcast and low ceilings get a little depressing. Good thing we have lots of lights. Missing the sunshine and nice days...almost everyday when you live in Southern California.

Good.....Church is always at 10am since we don't share the building with any other wards.

Bad....get to clean the church at least 5 times a year.

Good.....living in a rural area where we pass farms and lakes and ponds and Mick's commute is only 8 miles and 2 stoplights.
Bad....takes 12 miles to get to the closet grocery store. Costco is 20 miles away. Mick hit and killed a black bear only 1 1/2 miles from the house. Truck still isn't the same.

Good....Jersey Girls don't pump gas. Yeah...gotta love this when it is pouring down rain or freeing cold outside.
Bad....go to the gas station at least once a week because everything is so far away.

Good.....Made some great friends here in Jersey, have a fun job at Kohls and going to start teaching piano again to 2 new students. Also the adopted Grandkids are here.

Bad....missing all my good friends in CA and all my piano students there.

Good.....summers we have daylight from 5:30am until close to 9:45 pm. Lightning bugs are fun to catch and put in canning jars.
Bad....hot humid summers.

Good.....deer can be seen daily in the yard. We have a group of 6 that come in the front and backyard. A good size buck is with them. They love the bread and carrots and things I leave out for them.

Bad.....Lymes disease......the deer cause this great little disease. First spring here had a little adventure with this. Also the deer love my pumpkin plants and pumpkins.

Good.....the stars are amazing at night.
Bad....it is sooooooo dark at night with no streetlights.

Good....historical buildings, old churches, old barns and historic sights.

Bad......hard to find the latest and greatest.

Good...having lots of company since we live so close to NYC.
Bad....not having enough company since we live so far away from family and friends. Come on everyone, come out to see us. The next 12 months will go by way to fastr and you will have missed out on the cheapest bed and breakfast you will ever stay at.

These are just a few things off the top of my head. I need to get out the camera and take some pictures of the things I will miss. The past 31 months went really fast.....I'm sure the next 12 will go even faster.

Thanksgiving Twice

We were in California this year for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Mick had surgery on his knee and also had a lypoma removed from his right elbow the Monday before Turkey Day. He did really well, so as soon as he was alert from his anesthesia we headed out to the desert house.

This was Mick's favorite chair while recovery from his surgery. Notice the remote in his hand. He watched a lot of soccer games. I swam each morning and enjoyed my walks and Jamie finally made it out to California a day later than planned, due to snow causing her flight from Utah to be cancelled. She was with us Wednesday through Monday morning.

Even though it was cool for Palm Springs, we enjoyed the sunshine and blue skies of the desert house. The mountains even had snow on the tops. It was really a pretty sight.

We were able to go out to dinner with Ashley, my niece who is attending Pepperdine University. Afterwards we went to see the lights at the LA temple.

Since it was just the 4 of us for Thanksgiving we decided to go out to Marie Callendars for dinner. The past two years I've done Thanksgiving at the Desert House or St George and it was harder to do without all the big pots and pans, plus we had sooooo much food we ended up throwing so much away. I thought going out would be best, but......it was NOT THANKSGIVING to me. Yes we had turkey and all the fixings, but the yams were not prepared like Mick does them, the pumpkin pie wasn't my pumpkin pie, the dressing was mushy. I asked the waiter to take our picture and when he handed the camera back to me and I looked at the picture, I started crying. This is not Thanksgiving, I said. SO......

Since Thanksgiving was such a let down to me, I decided to have a big Thanksgiving Dinner here in Jersey when the family all got here. We had it the sunday before Christmas and had the Frugone's, Kathy and Steve Wilson, Cory and Sophie Grillone and all of us. It was great fun and was more like Thanksgiving with turkey, ham, pumpkin pie and all the goodies and smells that go wtih the holiday.

Fun activities included Mick tying up the boys, the boys tying up Mick, hide and seek, games, and trampoline time. Now this is more like Thanksgiving. A big crowd, lots of food and fun.