Riehle mom

Summertime!

2011-07-27T08:28:00.003-06:00

It has been forever since I posted in this blog. I have a lot of news about me and my family.

I have been working summer lunch and it is going by quickly only one more week to go and then I can relax a little before school starts up again.

I have been working on many projects this summer here are a few, camping, going in the truck with Jay, sewing color guard flags and making Alex's room a sewing room, gardening, organizing and cleaning and enjoying my new to me KIA and the hardest job of all is trying to keep everybody happy.

Jay has been busy building me a sewing table. I love it, I am so amazed by all that he can do.

Jay has sold his motorcycle. he wasn't using it a whole lot so he sold it to pay for repairs to his truck and he surprised me with a cruise. Wow! We go in January to the Mexican Riviera. So fun and I can't wait!

J.J. and Sam are doing fine they are good parents and we miss them so much! Rocky just had a birthday I can't believe he is 3 Wow! Where did the time go?

Andy is preparing to go back to USU and he has been working at a summer job to help with his expenses.

Peter and Bonni the newlyweds are happy and enjoying life. Bonni just started school. She loves math I don't know why? She is also taking a welding class. She is amazing! She also had a birthday July 1. Peter is busy with his work and he loves working on trucks!

Alex is in Duschene and is looking for work. He is having a rough time finding a job but I believe in him and know he can do it!

Lacey has been practicing color guard a couple of days each week. She loves it even though it is such hard work. She has had a busy summer she went on trek and according to her she almost died! Ha Ha ! She went to laurel training camp and learned more about herself and grew closer to the savior. she is still doing a lamb. Fair week is not that far away. Summer has flown by! Today is her 16th birthday It has flown by so fast! I still remember the doctor telling me it is a girl! I haved loved every minute of the past 16 years and look forward to many more with her. I Love You Lacey Jo!

I have enjoyed this summer and I look forward to all the seasons yet to be

in my so called( Riehle) Life.

Wedding

2011-06-05T14:26:00.002-06:00

We had a beautiful wedding in Montana and a fun reception in Wyoming.

Bonni was very beautiful and my son Peter was one handsome husband.

Bonni's family were great host and we had a wonderful time.

We are so blessed to have such wonderful children!

Miram Elizabeth Riehle

2011-04-07T14:35:00.001-06:00

Miriam Elizabeth Riehle born April 6 2011. She looks a lot like her daddy. I think I will call her EMIE. We love her very much!

Spring!

2011-04-02T07:41:00.002-06:00

It finally feels like spring! I am so looking forward to warmer weather and being able to go camping or work in my garden. I am also getting excited for our new grand daughter who will arrive on April 6th. We love our boys and grand sons but girls are just so sweet and they are such a joy! I have so neglected my blog and I should update all that I and my family have been up to. John has been busy with work and honey do projects, like putting in a new bathroom fan, building a fence, fixing snow blowers, working on the trailer and cleaning the back yard, the list could go on and on but we try to concentrate on one project at a time. John was also made Stake clerk. We got a chance to have dinner with an apostle Elder Tom Perry it was a wonderful evening. I have been busy as a lunch lady and I enjoy it so much! The ladies at my school have inspired me to quilt. So far I have finished 2 mini wall quilts, a baby quilt for Sam and J.J.'s baby girl, and I am halfway done with Lacey's quilt, I had to set that aside to get Peter and Bonni's wedding quilt done. I am also preparing for their wedding in May and looking forward to meeting Bonni's family. I am also striving to be a good mom to my children, a good friend, a prepared primary teacher, a devoting daughter and a loving wife. J.J. and his family are busy waiting for the new baby. She is due to arrive on April 6th and I wish we could go and see her and hold her, but pictures and phone calls will have to do. Andy is out in Indiana visiting his older brother, He has been helping them out before the baby comes and will be coming back to Utah at the end of the month. Peter is working in Lincoln Nebraska and driving back and forth to visit Bonni in Laramie Wyo. Alex has had a rough time this last week. He quit his job at Carpenters to be an oil rigger but that job didn't work out so now has to start over again. Lacey has been having fun being a teenager. She is learning how to drive, she is preparing to go to trek and laurel training camp this summer. She will be 16 this year wow time flies when you are having fun! I have so enjoyed having a daughter. It is to hard to cram everything in our lives in a few sentences. But the main thing is that every body's fine I love my family so much and we are well blessed.

Christmas Memories

2010-12-21T05:53:00.002-07:00

As a child Christmas was always a magical time for me, the smells of oranges or cookies and treats baking in the kitchen, the beautiful lights and ornaments on the trees, the visits from Grandparents on Christmas morning with their arms full of gifts, the Christmas Carols and the programs we used to share as family, all the beautifully wrapped presents under the tree,and the beauty of a fresh snowfall on Christmas morning.
I remember having young children eagerly waiting for Santa to come down the chimney.
Seeing their eyes light up as they open their presents. I miss their excitement.
But as time passes I have let the worldly things seep into my life and the hustle and bustle of the season, the too many things to do and I haven't focused on the true meaning of Christmas.
Some how I need to capture that magic again. I know I will never have the same kind of memories of my childhood or when I had young children at home. But I know I can make Christmas meaningful and more spiritual. I need to put Christ back in my Christmas.
I can think about the Savior and his life and what he has done for me. I can give more than receive, I can think of all my blessings I have been given, I can create wonderful memories that my family can cherish and I can show love to others and give more of my time and myself through out the year not just at Christmastime.
So during this season let us all try to remember why we really have Christmas.
Let us remember Christ and all he has done for us. Let us give back to him this year.
Merry Christmas to All and God bless you!

ThanksGiving

2010-11-15T12:59:00.002-07:00

I am so thankful for so many things. I am thankful for my family and all they do for me. Each one is so special and I love them so much! Life wouldn't be very much fun without a family.
I am thankful for the freedoms and peace that we take for granted and sometime we don't appreciate what our for Fathers have done for us.
I am thankful to live in a small community where others share the same values and respect each other.
I am thankful for the simple things that make us comfortable and happy each day. Like running water, a warm bed to sleep in,or a car to drive.
I am thankful for good food and good health. I am thankful for all the beauty that we see all around us.
I am thankful for a good job and the blessings that come with it. I am thankful for good friends and neighbors who are always there when you need them.
I am so thankful for the gospel and being a member of the true church of Jesus Christ.
I am so thankful to my heavenly father for all that I have and the wonderful life he has blessed me with.
Thanksgiving only comes once a year but we should always have an attitude of gratitude in our hearts.

Pete's graduation

2010-09-24T13:03:00.004-06:00

Our son Peter just graduated from Wyo tech in diesel mechanic this past weekend.

So me and Jay packed up and headed to the wonderful state of Wyoming. We left really early on Friday morning so we could visit and get ready before the graduation at 2:30 pm.

Everything was going fine until we stopped about two hours before Laramie. There was a big accident involving 2 semi trucks with fuel tanks and we had to sit for an hour while they cleaned it up. We also should have made a bathroom trip. We were so uncomfortable but managed to hang on until we got to Rawlings. We arrived in Laramie just in time to see if we could get a room but no one was at the front desk. So we met with Pete and his girlfriend and headed to the graduation. I wanted to get dressed and freshened up but Pete said not to worry it wasn't that formal. And he was right people were dressed sloppy but I still would have liked to at least cleaned up from our journey. The graduation was nice nothing fancy we weren't able to hear most of it the speakers were echoing. But it was so good to see him so happy and a job well done.

We finally got our room nothing great but it was the only room in town and then we took Peter and Bonni out to dinner at Applebees. The town was very busy with Wyo tech graduation and Laramie University home coming game and a Lenard Skinnerad concertand I don't like crowds but we had a great time getting to know Bonni. After dinner Pete took us to his adopted grandmas house and we had a nice visit with her and sang some songs for her and ate some cheese cake bonni made.

The next day Pete was suppose to leave for his new job but Bonni convinced him to stay just one more day. They spent the day together while me and Jay went sight seeing.

We first went to the Lincoln statue visitor center and up happy Jack canyon. Then we headed to Cheyenne to a couple train museum. Jay wanted to see the Big Boy because he and his dad loved trains and they followed the big Boy across the state idaho and Utah until it got to Ogden's train Museum. The museum was fascinating and it was a beautiful day. We also enjoyed homemade mini quiche at the farmers market.

We took Bonni and Pete out for pizza and me and Jay went on a walking tour of Laramie. It was good to see them and get away from the every day stresses of life but it was a short trip and we missed the other kids so Sunday we headed home and we decided to take a different way home by Bear Lake and a good thing we did they closed the road due to a fire. It was a beautiful drive looking at all the fall colors. We made it home safe and sound and Peter made it to Lincoln Nebraska just fine. He starts his new job on the 27th. We will miss him so much but we wish him all the best and who knows maybe there will be a wedding coming up soon?

Updates

2010-09-01T17:53:00.002-06:00

Where did the summer go? I can't believe how fast time is flying by so quickly and before you know it it will be summer again.
A lot has happened with our family since I blogged in July. Lacey turned 15 wow She is growing up so fast.
She just started High School and she is taking a journalism class and she will be working on the yearbook. She is also involved in FFA and plans to go to all the football games to cheer on her friends in color guard. I have also signed her up for piano again after having one year off. She will do well because she is very talented but well see how much she likes it when I get her up at 6:00 AM for her lessons.
Lacey also was involved in the fair showing her lamb. She does this every year and this year she did all right she earned a blue ribbon and sold it to the company Jay works for. she also entered a picture of Seymore as a puppy that she took on her cell phone she got 2nd place ribbon not to bad for only using a cell phone. We love the whole fair days. We were only able to spend one day at the fair and rodeo because this year we went to a baptism in American Fork and a sealing at Mt Timpanogas Temple and a missionary farewell in Orem and camping at lakeside RV park with my mom and Randy. It was a wonderful weekend seeing family and friends.
I also had to say goodbye to my terrific sister Tammy. She and Charlie moved far far away to Green Bay Wisconsin but I wish her all the joy and happiness that I can and we hope to come and see her next summer.
Something really exciting that has happened is that I will be a Grandma again! The baby is due in April and we are so happy for them. They are hoping for a boy so Rocky can share a room and Sam won't have to share her shoe money. J.J. isnt as excited as we are at least not yet since he is the babysitter while Sam works.
My news is getting even better Pete will graduate from Whyotech and he has all ready landed himself a good job in Lincoln Nebraska we are so proud of him but we will miss him but wish him all the best at his new life.
Other family members are doing great! Alex is working at a mattress pad company he is doing well at it and enjoys not working at Wendy's anymore.
Andy has stated USU again and working part time. Jay is busy with work and enjoying no calling at church for awhile. He is also having fun playing with our fifth wheel trailer.
I am now teaching Primary in our new ward I teach the 4 year olds. I also started school lunch again and I am enjoying getting back to a regular work routine.
As you can tell our lives have been very busy but non the less fulfilling.

Nothing Sweeter Than Summer Time

2010-07-16T21:02:00.006-06:00

Good times at Flaming Gorge! Also, Rocky's 2nd Birthday was July 14!!

Let Summer Begin!

2010-06-06T09:56:00.002-06:00

I am so excited that it is finally summer. But you can't tell by the weather lately, before you know it will get very hot soon and then we would wish for the cloudy weather back.
This summer should be great! I have it all planned out. I am going to go with Jay a lot in the truck hopefully somewhere exciting or maybe I will get to go to Washington to see Jennifer or possibly to Indiana to see Rocky.
I am also working a little at the summer lunch program to earn extra money for Lacey's drivers ed and school fees. Easy come easy go.
And the Big adventure will be girls camp at Cinnamon Creek it will be so fun to spend time with my daughter and drive her crazy.
We are also going to go camping a lot in our new trailer. Our plans are to go to California in July if we can scrape up a little more money. But if not we will go somewhere closer to home but it should be just as fun!
We will still be raising a lamb for FFA which is takes a lot of our time but well worth it.
With all these plans I hope to relax a little and just do fun things like spend some time with my sister Tammy, go to movies and swimming or just hanging out together.
Peter will also be visiting us from school in June. Not that I will see him much he has all his time scheduled for fun with his friends. But we will get to see him graduate in September.
Some exciting news is that next week Elder Jeffry R. Holland is coming to speak to the Youth and their leaders in our area.
I also planted a salsa garden so I will be busy canning and wondering why I even bother the boys eat it faster than I can make it.
My Last goal of my summer is to be more active by walking and biking. This is easier said than done.
I look forward to the wonderful summer that is ahead. It all goes so quickly Hopefully I can make this summer fun & memorable.

My Mom

2010-05-09T16:44:00.003-06:00

I want to spotlight and honor my mom on this Mothers day and tell her how much she means to me.

Mom was always so giving especially around the holidays. She loved to see our faces as we opened up our gifts. She always took the time to get us just the right thing.

Mom always kept our home nice and she was a good cook. One of my favorite meals that she made was pork chops with Parmesan noodles. She made homemade bread, rolls and donuts sometimes. We always had fresh food from our garden year round because she canned which wasn't an easy job with a family of 9.

She always helped with my English home work. Mom loved and still does love to write mostly poetry. I love to read about her memories and stories of her childhood.

My mom plays the piano beautifully and she played the piano for church for many years. She was a great example to us girls who took lessons from Mrs. Peterson. I wish I could play as well as my mom.

Some of Moms favorite foods were raw peas. She spent many hours kneeling in the pea patch picking and eating. In the summer at lunch time she loved Pepsi right out of the glass bottle. Mom loves fresh garden tomatoes and she loves pastries and black licorice. But I know apples were never her favorite.

I remember all the fun vacations. Yellow stone, Grand Canyon, and the Redwood Forest just to name a few.

My mom has also loved cats. Many pictures I have are her with her cat. they were like her children.

Mom always took great care to celebrate our birthdays. I loved how she always had a store bought cake with our names written on it. And as we got older she would take us shopping and out to lunch. it made me feel special.

There are so may things I could say about my mom but it would take to many pages to say all I would like to say.

My mom is a wonderful lady our family has been blessed by her being in our lives.

We love you Mom and Grandma Love Monica, Jay,J.J., Sam, Rocky, Andy, Peter, Alex, Lacey, Bella, Seymour HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

Happy Anniversary to us!

2010-04-14T18:47:00.002-06:00

Today is my 27th wedding Anniversary. As Jay would say 24 good years. I know he is only joking. Ha Ha. But all kidding aside we have had some wonderful times together.
1982- met on a blind date, fell in love, got engaged
1983- married, started our family with J.J., lived in Orem Utah
1984- sealed in the Jordan River temple
1985- second son Andy was born, moved to Sandy Utah
1986-moved to American fork, Jay new job hauling grass sod
1987-enjoying life with our small family
1988- # 3 son Pete arrives, move to Tacoma Washington
1989- Alex our 4th son arrived the day after Christmas
1990-1993 living in Lakewood Washington, Jay working at a drywall company, Me a stay at home mom
1994- move back to Utah, living in North Salt lake
1995- surprise it's a girl! Lacey joined our family of boys
1996-1997- Jay working for LW miller, and finds a job in Corrine Ut. Making plans to move to Tremonton
1998-2000 enjoying life with teenagers
2001-2007 enjoyed boys graduating from high school,working with the kids a 4 h raising lambs, sending sons off to war, missions, enjoyed vacations to, North Carolina, Zions,California, Disneyland and cruise to the Mexican Riviera. Anniversary trips to Daniel summit lodge, Laughlin NV, Little America Hotel in Salt Lake city, Sherwood hills in Logan, wolf creek in Ogden and Idaho Falls
2008- oldest son gets married and moves to Indiana, our first Grand son is born.
2009- Jay working for B&B trucking for 6 years, I working as a school cook. visit grand baby in Indiana, send Pete off to college.
2010-anniversary trip to crystal hot springs.
we have had a wonderful time some ups and downs but mostly ups!

Rocky and his Hot Dog!

2010-04-02T13:37:00.002-06:00

What.s for dinner

2010-03-24T16:43:00.002-06:00

Most of you know I enjoy cooking very much. I love to collect recipes and come up different ideas for meals. So this is what I am having for dinner this coming week. I have also included a good pork roast recipe. Enjoy!
Thursday :Turkey Sandwiches with chips
Friday:Hamburgers and crinkle fries
Saturday: BBQ Chicken Macaroni Salad
Sunday: Company Pork Roast mashed potatoes and gravy, Lacey's dinner rolls, steamed broccoli, and chocolate cake for dessert.( I love to bake but we usually only have dessert on Sunday's)
Monday: Soft shell Tacos
Tuesday: Spaghetti with meat sauce
Wednesday:Teriyaki Chicken, Stir Fry vegetables and Rice.
Well that's what I have planned so far. I do change it around depending on what I am in the mood for or what ingredients I have on hand.
Company Pork Roast Marinade
4 lbs Pork loin
2 TBSP Honey
1TBSP Soy sauce
1 TBSP red wine vinegar
1 tsp dry mustard or regular mustard
1 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp pepper
Mix all ingredients except roast in a bowl. Place roast in slow cooker and pour mixture over the top. Cook on low for approx. 10 hours or until tender.
Oven method: Place roast in foil lined roasting pan. Pour mixture over top. Cover with foil and bake at 325 for 2 1/2 hours basting frequently. uncover for the last 45 minuets to brown roast.

Our new trailer

2010-03-08T15:11:00.004-07:00

This weekend we bought a new fifth wheel trailer. We really didn't need one until summer but we wanted to get a jump start on it before all the good ones were gone. A good thing we did. The guy who owned the trailer had 3 other people look at it and we called 15 minuets before the other guy got it. We found this one in Taylor near Ogden and it fits our needs just right. We plan on going to California on vacation. In July we are going to the Redwoods and then Donner Pass State Park. Now all it needs to do is get warm so we can use it. I am so excited!!

remodeling

2010-02-25T18:05:00.006-07:00

This month went so fast! I can't believe it will be march in a few days. I am so tired of the cold and the snow, we have had so much of it. I am looking so forward to spring!
I finally made a decision on what to replace my beat up old kitchen floor and hallway with.
I decided that a hard wood would get to much wear and tear with the kids and the dogs and it is also hardwood is pricey. So I went with a laminate wood product that looks great and easy to install. It will be easy for me since Jay is going to install it.
I am also going to paint the kitchen and hallway and color other than white.
I am most likely going to paint it a tan. I am always fearful color but I am going to be brave this time.
After we are done it will feel like a whole new house. I am so excited for the final results. but I know we have a lot of work ahead of us.

February Birthdays!

2010-02-18T13:16:00.004-07:00

Happy birthday to Chris!

Happy birthday to Jennifer!

I want to wish my wonderful smart son Andy a Happy 25th Birthday!

Happy Birthday everyone! We Love you! Not to mention all the nieces and nephews a happy birthday!

Winter Blahs

2010-02-05T05:41:00.003-07:00

Well I have broken my first New Years resolution. I wanted to keep up with my blog and facebook. But January has slipped on by and before you know it it will be spring. I think it is that I can't find the time to write or I have nothing new to say or both.
Life right now is kind of quiet at our house. Lacey is just going to school and hanging out with her friends. We are thinking of getting an exchange student for the summer. Lacey can get her sister after all.
Alex is working at Wendy's and trying hard to get the manager position. He is looking to taking some night classes.
Peter is doing well in Wyoming. He has completed his air conditioning course. Peter has been attending the singles ward and they recently called him to be a missionary. He plans on coming for a visit sometime this month and again in March during spring break. I think he is a little home sick because he calls us almost every night. Most of his roommates party on their time off. So he has to entertain himself.
Andy has been going to school and studying hard. He was working a ta recycling place, but it closed up and now he just concentrate on his studies.

J.J. and his family are doing fine. He is working the night shift at the bakery. The kids are growing fast and we miss them so much! Sam had a birthday in January and she is doing fine with her job and taking care of everyone.

I have been busy doing my everyday things. I did get a little break in January. My sisters took me and my mom out for our birthdays. We went to Benihanas to eat and then we went to the Capital to see a Opera called Carmen. I had never done anything like that before so it was a real treat! Afterwards I slept over my sister Tammy's house I love spending time with my sister and her family I hope she don't ever move far away. Work is going well, other than they cut my paid lunch. but I at least still have a job. I finally got a new dishwasher. I am very proud of us we didn't charge it we paid cash for it.
Jay has been so busy with work. This time of year is very stressful with the weather and the road conditions. He is thankful for a his job. A lot of people are out of work in our community they laid off 380 ATK employees last week. So we are not complaining to much.
All in all life at our house is good. But I wish it would stop snowing. Don't you think that 2 feet is enough. I can't wait until spring!

Christmas, Birthdays and Vacation

2009-12-20T14:24:00.003-07:00

It is only 6 days away until our vacation to Laramie Wyoming and Indiana.
We will dropping Peter off to college and then heading to Indiana to see J.J.'s family. We plan on leaving on Alex'"s 20th birthday and staying a week before we head home and we might stop off in Wyoming to see how Pete is getting along. We will also be traveling for my birthday and hopefully we can celebrate it at J.J.'s house and not at a dumpy truck stop like I usually do, because I am usually gone with Jay in the truck on my birthday.
Alex gave me an early Christmas present . He said that he has decided to join us for the trip. I guess he got time off of work. I am very excited that he can come. He is always fun to have around. Andy decided to stay home and take care of the dogs. Plus he has his job at the recycling plant. Good news! J.J. got a job at a bakery as a maintenance mechanic. It isn't to far from home and it has benefits. I wish him the best of luck!
Me and Lacey get 2 weeks off of school and we plan on sleeping in as much as we can. We also plan on making candy and baking.
Well Christmas is almost here and I am very grateful for my savior and his life.
I hope that you and your families have a very wonderful Christmas and a Happy new year! Love the Riehle's

Random Pictures of the Riehle bunch

2009-12-20T14:07:00.004-07:00

Happenings

2009-12-03T13:52:00.003-07:00

Well it has been a long time since I have blogged. A lot has happened. Thanksgiving has come and gone. I hosted it this year. It has been a few years since I have had thanksgiving with my in laws and I wanted to have it at our place. But it is hard to fit 28 people in our house so we reserved the 2nd kitchen at our church house. It was kind of nice not to big and not to small. We had lots of food. I learned how to de bone a turkey and it turned out really good.
Jay dutch oven the ham and we had lots of pie and games afterwards. It was a good Thanksgiving all in all and I am so grateful for all the wonderful blessings I have been given.
Other news is I had to get a root canal. My old root canal failed because they found 6 roots in that tooth most teeth only have 4. The last dentist didn't find all of them. So I had to go to a endodontist. But I am feeling much better now or until I get the bill.

Seymour our basset hound just returned from the vets. We thought it best that Bella and him shouldn't be parents of mutant puppies.
Lacey got to see New Moon the first day it opened. Me and Jay took 4 of her friends to the show while we went to the movie Blind side. I love these kind of movies. and I really like Sandra bullock movies. It was fun to be with all those teenage girls. I try to cherish each moment I have with her even those moments you want to tear your hair out.
We also gave Lacey a driving lesson in her dad's pick up truck. She did really well and now she wants us to let her drive everywhere. I keep telling her She is only 14!
Pete is getting ready to leave us for the wild west of Wyoming. He enters Wyo Tech on my birthday. We are leaving on the 26th and dropping him off at Laramie and then we are heading to Indiana to see J.J., Sam and Rocky.
It should be fun to see all of them especially Rocky. But it wont be so fun driving.
I am just starting my Holiday shopping and I am at a loss on what to get everyone. The boys say they don't want anything and Lacey wants expensive things. I just wanted a hot cocoa maker and they already got me that. I really would like the commercial part of Christmas to go away. But I still love the holidays and decorations, fun movies and holiday baking.
All in all everyone is doing fine. We hope that your families have a good Christmas season just in case I don't get around to blogging soon.

Halloween

2009-11-05T13:32:00.002-07:00

This year for Halloween we didn't do much. We worked around the house during the day. Lacey and I went shopping and then she hung around with her friends. Jay and I have been trying to be more active so we went on a walk around our neighborhood and looked at all the cool scary houses and the fun kids in their costumes. Then we came home, made chili and scones and passed out candy and watched the world series which was boring so we plugged in a few movies, like Oscar one of our favorites and Monsters verses Aliens.
I thought about going to Eagle Mountain to visit my brother Matt, but the day seemed to slip away. Maybe next year.
The only fun I had I was sending Rocky our grandson some Halloween treats and a pumpkin glow stick. We didn't even carve pumpkins.
Hopefully it will be better trick or treating next year.

Riehle news for October

2009-10-25T21:04:00.002-06:00

This month sure went by fast! I just can't seem to get caught up with this Blog.
So here is what has happened to our family in October.
I finally got my car fixed after 4 months of waiting for the Apollo Motor homes to submit my claim. And the insurance really didn't help me much. So we switched insurance and we got a better coverage for about the same money.
Me and my Mom and sister Tina took my sister Tammy out for her Birthday.
Us girls went to see Little Shop of Horrors and out for Mexican food. We had a great time and we really enjoyed the day.
I have been trying to build up our food storage and I now have a full freezer and full shelves from my garden. It is a good feeling!
Jay has been working a lot. He has to take extra side trips and he has to leave on his days off. But we are glad he is working. A lot of people in our area are getting laid off. We feel so blessed to have good jobs. He is a great husband and a wonderful provider.
Andy is working at the recycle plant and going to school. I am glad he is keeping busy.
Peter is busy with his Young Adult activities at church and he is working hard at jiffy lube and in December he is off to Laramie Wyoming to diesel mechanic school.
Lacey participated in a FFA flower arranging contest at Snow college and she is finished with cross country for the year. She finally finished her room it is so very bright and fun!
J.J. is looking to get a job still and Sam and Rocky are doing fine. Rocky is starting to talk a lot now. He is counting, his favorite number is 7.
Alex is just working hard at Wendy's and doing well.
Our dogs are having a good time outside while the weather is warm. Our basset hound Seymour is getting so big!
We are just plugging a long just like the rest of you. We hope you have a great Halloween and a wonderful November. I now I will this is my favorite time of year.

What's been happening?

2009-09-15T13:05:00.002-06:00

It has been forever since I have wrote in this blog. I now have to catch up on Riehle news.
The fair was wonderful and fun! Lacey did pretty good. she came in 5th in her class. Jay's boss B&B trucking bought again. They are great people and they always care & support our family.

All my boys are finally employed! Yeah! I have been praying for this for a long time. Peter got a job at ICON but took a job at jiffy lube 3 weeks later, because the hours are better and he gets to be a grease monkey. Andy goes to school at USU and part of the week he works for a recycling company in town. He also has a side business of cabinetry. He is also thinking of being a substitute teacher. J.J. found a job as a welder near Chicago. He really don't like the job because they never let him weld. He plans on going back to his old job when they open back up in December. But he is just glad he is working. Alex is still at Wendy's and he is a manager. He went on vacation to Indiana to see J.J. and his family.
Rocky and his parents are doing fine. he is growing so fast and he is talking a lot.
I am now working at Garland Elementary. I love the little kids they are so fun! I really enjoy my job, it is less stressful and the ladies are so nice. I do miss all the nice cooks at the middle school and bugging Lacey as she came by the line.
Lacey is almost done painting her room. pink,orange,blue,green. it is bright and fun. She also decided to quit the cross country team and be the manager. she isn't built to run. she twisted her ankle to many times. Now she can be a part of the team but she don't have to run.
Jay has been trucking a long and he is enjoying his new best friend Seymour the basset hound.
I have been busy working on our food storage. I had a rebate visa card and I hit the stores with case lot sales. I purchased a lot of items and it didn't break my budget. I have been busy canning, so far I have made 24 bottles of salsa and 20 bottles of tomatoes. And 15 bottles of pears. I am also buying 1/2 a beef from the janitor at Garland so I better clean out my freezer.
A not so fun thing that I have been doing all summer and now it is getting into the fall. I have been trying to get my car repaired by Apollo motor home. In June a guy from Italy rented a motor home and he hit my parked car at Wendy's parking lot and he didn't have any information so I have been trying to track down there insurance and the people in charge (the main company is in Australia).
It has been a nightmare trying to get them to do anything. I have made a little progress and it looks like there is a light at the end of the tunnel. An adjuster came and looked at my car. and I have a real claim number and it has only taken me 4 months to get this far. I wonder what it would have been like if I had just left it up to them.
On a brighter note. everybody is healthy and happy and enjoying life for now. I am looking forward to Fall my favorite time of the year.

Dog days of summer

2009-08-13T11:38:00.003-06:00

Just a few pics of my family BBQ and my dogs Bella and Seymour.

Adorable

2009-08-11T18:53:00.003-06:00

Happy Birthday Little Girl!

2009-07-27T19:30:00.003-06:00

For Laceys Birthday dinner she had a few friends over for heart shaped waffles with strawberry jam and powdered sugar.

Savannah and her mom came for a visit. Savannah holding our new little basset hound puppy. We named him Seymour.

Savannah and her mom Tammy swimming at crystal hot springs

Lacey had her 14th birthday party at Crystal Hot Springs with some of her good friends. They are giving each other a birthday cake beauty mask.

I'm to Sexy for the hot tub.

Happy Birthday to a beautiful daughter of God. We love you and we are so blessed to have her in our lives.

25 years of Eternal Happiness

2009-07-15T14:19:00.004-06:00

We have been sealed in the Temple for all time and All Eternity for 25 years. I can still remember that feeling of Joy knowing I would be together forever with my best friend. We celebrate it usually by going to the temple but this year I went on a trip with my husband in his semi truck we went to Las Vegas (of all places to celebrate a religious event.) But it was fun being in the truck with him. But the next weekend we went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house. And to our favorite place on earth to eat, Famous Dave's. And we went to a concert of the Army National Guard Band at the Tabernacle. Jay loves that kind of music, and I love to watch him sing a long and lead the music. Finally we had a ice cream treat at Nielson and ate it while we cruised down main street in Bountiful our old stomping grounds. What a wonderful date. We should do them more often. don't you think?

Happy Birthday Rocky!

2009-07-14T17:09:00.003-06:00

Proud Papa

Rocky 1 day old

Those were the quiet days. Never to be seen again.

Happy Birthday Cake All over

Impromptu Birthday Cake

I can't believe it has been 1 year already! Happy Birthday John Rockford Riehle!

A wonderful visit!

2009-07-13T16:06:00.002-06:00

Our son J.J. and his family came for a visit during the 4th of July holiday.

We got to spend time with our grandson Rocky and Lee, Sam's nephew who they are raising. While they were here we got family pictures, we went to Wheeler farms, had some BBQS with family and we had just to get to know each other. The time went by to fast but I am so glad they came. It is our turn to go to there home in Indiana & we plan on going during Christmas break.

summer so far!

2009-06-19T08:37:00.002-06:00

I love this time of year. The weather isn't as hot and tyring. I love to plant new flowers and vegetables. I even enjoy all this rain.We always start of our summer with a 4 H lamb and it is always exciting at first, but come late summer it gets to be a chore. Lacey learns a lot and we have fun at the fair and we get to spend time with our good friends.
Our family is changing all the time. Having Peter home is wonderful and I think he has adjusted very well. It is hard to adjust to the real world. Peter has grown so much but he is the same goofy guy we know and love. He has a very strong testimony of the gospel and we are so proud of him.
Peter has been putting in applications in everywhere that he can think of. Not many people are hiring but he is optimistic he will find some kind of work. He has a good out look on life and what he wants to do in the future. He signed up to go to Wyo Tech in Laramie Wyoming. He will enter the diesel mechanic school. It is one of the best Tech schools in the country. It is kind of expensive but he will be done in 9 months and the schools really work hard in finding them a job after graduation. He has a little time before he goes. He leaves January 5th. We will miss him but we are glad for this chance that he has to better himself.
Alex has taken a second job so he can save for school this fall. and he also wants to save for a new car or truck. His old one is just about dead.
Andy continues to look for work but he is kind of picky and not as motivated as he should be. He is back to his hairy ways. You can always tell when he is interested in a girl he decides to get his hair cut and shave his beard. But we love him know matter what. He will be back at USU in the fall.
Lacey has been busy with the lambs again this year. She has also joined cross country but it is very hard for her since she hasn't had much experience in running. but she is trying and everyday that she runs it will get easier.
J.J. and Sam and Rocky are doing just fine. We miss them and we pray everyday that he can find a job. Hopefully it wont be to much longer before he can find work. He is mostly bored. Sam is working for a law office and baby rocky is walking and giving his dad grief as it should be.
I have been working a few days at the summer lunch program and I really enjoy it! Next year I will be working at a elementary school. I think it will be fun and I will enjoy the little kids and less stress of work. I will miss all the wonderful ladies at the middle school. They are some good friends and I hope to work with them again someday.
I have also had the opportunity to go with John in the Truck. It is great that I can just spend some time with my best friend.
I also have planted a salsa garden and a small flower garden. I also want to spend time finishing up some crafts that I started. My list of things I want to do can go on and on. But one thing that I didn't mention is that summertime should be relaxing and enjoyable. I am trying hard not to over schedule and stress over it not getting done.
And as you can see our summer is going well, There is always so much to do and so short of time to do it. So just take it easy this summer. That is what I plan on doing.

My Grand baby is growing up!

2009-06-09T10:27:00.002-06:00

I can't believe my grandson will be a year old next month. He is walking and getting in mischief like all boys do. He is growing so fast and we miss them very much! We do try to keep in touch with phone calls and e mails and pictures.

We are hoping to see him sometime this summer. But if not we will go during Christmas break.

He's Back!

2009-06-08T15:03:00.003-06:00

Missonary buddies

Well Elder Riehle made it home safe and sound. It is soo good to see him. We are very proud of him and it doesn't feel like it has been two years. He is the same as he always was. Just a little more mature, but just as goofy as ever. Peter plans on finding a job and going to school either at Bridgerland in Logan or Wild Tech in Wyoming.

He is just hanging out and enjoying driving his car. And enjoying home.

In 2 weeks he will report on his mission. On fathers day. we plan on having a picnic afterwards. It should be way fun seeing family and friends.

Happy Birthday Peter!

2009-05-27T18:09:00.002-06:00

Today is Peters 21st birthday! I want to share some fun things all about Pete.

I was only in labor 1 hour his dad just made it in the nick of time.

He was supposed to be a girl but sure glad he isn't.

He is named after his grandfathers.

He loves pasta and mashed potato sandwiches

He loves his little Hyundai car and all types of cars

He plays the trombone and tuba

He hates coconut but loves peaches

His favorite color is orange

He lettered in Seminary and helped out with the handicapped kids

He is an Eagle scout

He loves trains

He is serving a LDS mission in Knoxville Tennessee

He will be home in 7 days!

We miss him and his goofy, fun personality!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PETE!

Elder Riehle is coming home

2009-05-19T20:51:00.003-06:00

I can't believe that it has been almost 2 years! I am not counting down the days, well maybe I am. He will be home in 16 days. But I am not counting down the minuets or the seconds yet.

My Mom's Wedding

2009-05-19T20:43:00.002-06:00

Saturday the 16th my Mom and Randy were married. It was a nice ceremony and my Mom looked so happy. There were married at the judges home in his back yard and it had a beautiful back drop of a waterfall. Afterwards we had dinner at Randy's favorite Restaurant Mimi's.

I am so happy for them both they look so happy together.

Bella

2009-05-14T16:19:00.003-06:00

We received this cute dog from my mother. She has been fun to have in our home and she is so cute! My husband and the boys really wanted a basset hound but since I do all the work in talking care of the dog, I should be the one who decides what kind of dog. Bella is a Shih Tzu.

Bella is a great companion and she helps me get out of the house and go for walks.

I even think my husband and the boys are growing to love her as much as Lacey and I do.

Happy Anniversary!!

2009-04-14T15:15:00.003-06:00

Today is our 26th wedding Anniversary. We celebrated it last weekend in Idaho Falls. Why in Idaho Falls? Because we just wanted to get away to someplace close and I wanted to go to the Temple there.

We stayed in a hotel right by the falls and we could look out the door and see the temple.

We visited the Idaho museum and toured the Titanic artifacts. When you get there they give you a boarding pass and at the end you see if you survived. I was a lady from Provo Utah studying nursing and Jay was a Cornell in the army. We did not survive.

I really enjoyed the history of the Titanic and we had a good time learning more about it. I bought a souvenir book to remember the experience. I think I will watch the movie today.

We had a nice dinner at a place called Rutabaga's, it was a little to fancy for us and they didn't put a price on the menu. But we were adventures and ordered anyway. I had some fancy chicken cooked with several kinds of wine, Jay ordered the steak tenderloin. We shared an appetizer of Muscles with saffron butter sauce and we had salad with huckleberry vinaigrette. When the salad was brought out Jay commented on the dandelion greens, we could have picked them from our own yard it would have been cheaper. When we got the bill it was kind of high but it was all right. We don't eat at fancy restaurants usually. Dare to be different once in awhile.

We also went to the Temple and we did some work for our ancestors. I was able to get my great great grandmothers work done Juliana Archuletta. I really have enjoyed doing my genealogy. I hope to find some more names and stories.

The last part of our trip we took a road trip around Driggs and Rexburg and by Rigby.

We wanted to visit my brother but he was not at home.

Next year my husband is planing the event, hopefully he takes me somewhere warm!

I also got a cute pet on Easter. Her name is Bella and I will post more about her in the near future.

2009-04-10T00:03:00.000-06:00

My Daddy

2009-04-09T23:51:00.001-06:00

Today is the anniversary of my Dad's death.

the following is some of the memories I have of my Dad.

I always remember my Dad in the garden. I would help him plant tomatoes, he would dig the hole in the ground and my job was to fill the hole with wate and place the tomato plant in it.

I remeber my dad and his movie camera.On every holiday, camping,birthday or road trip, he take picture of us. I still have copies of his films. It brings back so many memories.

I remeber how much he taught us to work. and to value the good and simple things of life.

I miss having my Dad around he was a wonderful Dad!

My Family

2009-04-06T18:51:00.002-06:00

I want to spot light my family and my extended family I think I will start off with my father in law John Walter Riehle since today would have been his 70th birthday.

John was born in Lewis burg Pennsylvania. His parents were Richard Dale Riehle Sr. and his mother was Mary Em Gaskins. He had an older brother named Richard. Who now lives in California with his wife Sera.

As a boy John loved trains, to day dream ,riding his bike and pop cap guns. He would hang out with more adults than children his own age and he was always befriending strangers. Many times he would bring home homeless and less fortunate people for his mother to feed. His entire life he always gave more than he received.

John loved to sing. He was in an all men's choir the Mendelson men's choir. He would have loved to be in the Mormon Tabernacle choir but his health and fiances would not let him live this dream. He loved to play the trumpet and he even played with doc Severnson in the original Philadelphia Band Stand.

John joined the church when he was 19 and decided to go to BYU. There he met Margot and they were married in 1959. They had hoped for many Children which they had 7 of them Nicia, Jay(John), Kevin,Matt,Robbie, Chris, Danny. He loved being a grandpa he has 38 grandchildren and counting and 2 great grandchildren.

John had a strange sense of humor. He told story and jokes and sang songs that he had made up.

He got to have his dream job.He worked for the LDS Church, he worked recording church books , magazines and other material for the blind.

John had several health problems. He had diabetes, and heart conditions. He had a lot of life still in him but his health problems shortened his life. He died on March 31 1998.

I would describe my father in law as a giving , talented, hot tempered, a dreamer, he was obnoxious most of the time but he was kind and a smart man. He had always struggled to provide for his family but they never went hungry or were in need of basic material things. He was a very giving man and we think he was special.

Happy Birthday John Walter Riehle

Jon and Sara's Wedding

2009-03-30T16:26:00.005-06:00

The Church with a mountain view

Lauren Slater(Jon's sister) with her Grandma

Alicia Griffin (Jon's Sister)

Uncle Chris with Carly and Jack

Kirk and Nicia Slater Parents of the groom

Best man Chris

Mother and Son Dance

Uncle Matt and his family

Couples first dance

Jack wondering where the food is?

Monica and John Riehle

The happy couple Jon and Sara Slater

Chris and Carly

Grandma Margot and Lynn

Beautiful table flowers

Just hanging out and waiting for spring!

2009-03-23T16:01:00.005-06:00

Here are a few pictures of special moments in March

Tyrell (Alex's best friend) leaves for the MTC March 25th)

This Month of March I want to wish J.J. and Sam Happy Anniversary

A Happy 47th Birthday to my Hubby Jay!

Happy Birthday to my Daddy! We miss you very much!

Cute little Rocky

Alex and Hillary on their way to prom.

Cute as a bug John Rockford Riehle

It seems to me that spring will never arrive. I look out the window and it is currently snowing UGH! On Saturday my mother in law came over and we went to see the play Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat. It was pretty good and it was nice to get out of the house. Alex stopped by to see us and show us his tux. He and Hillary went to her JR prom.

I also got a letter from the mission President today and it gave information on when he will be home & it sent Peter's flight schedule. Elder Riehle will be home June 4th. ( you can't tell that I'm excited can you?) If anybody would like to come with us to welcome him home, just let me know. I know he would love to see everyone.

I also went to the Draper temple Dedicatory. Very nice and we went to the open house which was beautiful. You can see some of the picture on lds.org.

I have also been working hard on family history. It is great fun to find your ancestors and to find your story. You can look up what i have found on Acestry.com under john and Monica Riehle family.

Riehle News

2009-02-27T18:15:00.002-07:00

I just wanted to let everybody know what life is like here with us "Riehle People"
I am still having all the fun I can stand. We just had a Stake Temple day and it inspired me to get some names for myself to take. So I have been working at my family history and I was able to get Grandma Carrillo's Grandparents Juliana & Pablo Salazar names ready for the temple. I have also been making hats with the ladies at school. I am making them with a loom.
Jay has been working steady his company has had to take different loads but he is still working as usual. His birthday is coming up and we plan on going to the Draper temple open house and his favorite place to eat famous Dave's.
J.J., Sam and Rocky are doing just fine. J.J. has applied for as many jobs as he can. Rocky is crawling and Sam is staying busy with her part time job and keeping J.J. happy. They will be celebrating their first anniversary on March 8Th.
Andy is still going to USU and he is busy with his church calling as a 2ND councilor in the Elders quorum. He is very helpful around the house and he plans on helping his grandma Riehle with her cabinets during spring break.
Peter is tracting most of the time but he tries to teach as much as possible. He is coming home very soon. He thinks he will be home June 3rd. I am very excited!
Alex is still working at Wendy's he will become a manager in the next month or so. He just left for a trip with his friend Tyrell. They went to California to visit his family before he goes on a mission to Texas.
Lacey is doing fine. She just had an orchestra concert and continues to play the piano. But her favorite music isn't classical. She loves to listen to her teen music and watch American Idol. She just got through with church basketball. Every time the ball came to her she would scream and back away or give the ball away. We should have captured it for U Tube.
So that is a little glimple of my so called Riehle Life.

Rocky's Ouchies

2009-02-23T17:09:00.003-07:00

Last week Rocky was visiting his other Grandmas house and while there he got some ouchies. The chips fell on the floor and he headed straight for them as well as the dogs and then he got in the middle of a dog fight. To my releif he is fine. They are putting anti scar neosporin on his sores. It is funny J.J. never got in a dog fight he was always hanging around the dog food bowl.

Let the chips fall were they may but not on little Rocky!

Happy Birthday Andy!

2009-02-17T21:09:00.004-07:00

Today my son Andy is turning 24. I have to admit that I enjoy my children more now as adults, but at the same time it makes me feel old. Here are some fun things and pictures about ANDY

He doesn't like to be called Andrew

He likes Nurvana

He loves to watch sports mostly baseball and college football

He loves any kind of food especially hot spicy foods

He dislikes tater tots and oranges

He is currently attending USU in Logan majoring in writing

He has worked for a few cabinet making companies before attending school

He is the Second assistant in the Elders Quorum in his single ward

He loves science fiction movies and books, he loves to read and write

He plays the Bass violin

He served an LDS mission in Connecticut 2004

He is very smart and helpful. We love him and he is a great guy to have in our family. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREW JAMES RIEHLE

Do you have a sweet tooth?

2009-02-03T14:03:00.003-07:00

If you have a sweet tooth you will enjoy these recipe's that I got from the cooks at school.
APPLE DUMPLINGS
4 granny smith apples-slice each in quarters and peel
2 cans crescent rolls (Pillsbury works best)
roll up each piece of apple in crescent roll. put in 9x13 pan
melt 2 cubes of butter/margarine
add 1 1/2 cups of sugar to butter and 1 tsp. vanilla
stir slightly and pour over apples. Sprinkle with cinnamon
pour 1 can of mt dew,sprite, ginger ale, etc. over apples
bake 350 degrees for 40 minutes
serve with warm ice cream or whip cream.
YUMMO!
EARTH QUAKE CAKE
spray 9x13 pan with Pam.
Sprinkle 1 c. coconut and 1 c. chopped nuts in bottom of pan.
mix together a German Chocolate Cake Mix as directed and pour over nuts and coconut. Melt together 1 cup butter/margarine and 1 - 8 oz pkg. cream cheese. Mix well and add 2 2/3 cup powdered sugar. drizzle over cake batter.
Bake 45-50 minuets at 350 degrees.
No frosting needed it is yummy

Goals

2009-02-02T19:23:00.003-07:00

Every year I try to set some goals for myself. But this year I am having a hard time finding worthwhile goals to set. I guess that is why I have started so late. But here are a few goals I want to work on. I want to read more often, I want to dejunk my house and keep it that way, keep out of debt(which was one of my goals from last year, by the way I met that goal I have no credit card debt. Yeah!) and manage my time and money better. I would like to spend more time with my adult children, and strengthen my marriage. I mostly want to take care of myself this year by eating right,exercising and taking time to do things that are enjoyable to me. I hope to full fill these goals but if not I will become a better person just for trying don't you think?

fun and not so fun

2009-01-20T14:38:00.003-07:00

I haven't kept up with blogging as much as I would like to. So now I have a lot of stuff to blog about.
I have been busy doing many things some of them fun and some not so fun.
Some fun things that I have been up to are girls day out. My sisters took me and my mom out for our birthdays. We went to the Garden Restaurant on the top of the Joseph Smith memorial building. The view was spectacular. They also took us to see the play Home School Musical. I liked it very much. It was my first time at the Desert Star. I liked how they made fun of Napoleon Dynamite and the High School Musical movie. Thank You to my wonderful sisters. You are some of my best friends.
I have a new calling at church I have been called to be the Secretary for the Relief Society. I feel really good about it. I feel that this is where my Heavenly Father needs me. I think that my callings in church have helped me grow as a person. For example I use to be so shy that I would not even go to my mail box across the street for fear that someone would see me or I would have to talk to them. Now I can give a talk or lesson in front of many and it isn't that hard. I can also go up to people I don't know and talk to them. I think that the Lord has blessed me so much. I have more self esteem.
Now for some not so fun news I went to the dentist because one of my fillings fell out and I thought my crown was bad. It turned out that my crown was fine I had a bad cavity right next to it. So last week I went to get them filled and the top tooth was fine. But the bottom tooth was very difficult to numb. I had 4 shots and I was only partially numb so instead of poking me again in the same place, he gave me a shot right in the tooth that was bad. Boy was it painful. But it worked and I was able to get the cavity filled. The dentist felt so bad for having me in the chair for 2 hours and so many shots that he gave me a gift certificate to a Mexican restaurant. So me and Jay went out to eat and the dentist paid the bill.
More not so fun news is that J.J. was laid off from his job as a maintenance mechanic. But he is looking into doing some temporary work. Hopefully it wont be to long before he is back to work.
Getting back to some fun news.
It has also been fun getting back to work and getting back to a routine of things. I have been doing just one thing since I started at the beginning of the year I was in charge of the fruit and dishes. But now my manager is having me do what the other ladies do. It shows that she has confidence in me and she thinks I am doing a great job!
I also want to wish my daughter in law Samantha a happy birthday! Happy Birthday to my wonderful Mom, Felicia and Savannah my nieces Charlie, Matthew my brother in laws.

Where did December go?

2008-12-26T21:18:00.002-07:00

I can't believe that December is gone. I wish I could capture the magic moments in a bottle and release them when I want the magic back again. I miss the wonderful Christmases of when the kids were little and the closeness of family and friends. But I know things can't stay the same forever and I don't want them to. I just wish we could keep the magic just a little longer.
But I had a very enjoyable Christmas it was very quite and snowy. This year we tried to keep things simple. Some of the traditions we had when the kids were little have gone and we are trying to replace them with new ones. I try to make them something every year. Last year I made them pj pants and stockings and this year I made them pillow cases and a scrapbook. They were a lot of work but also fun.
We didn't go anywhere for Christmas and a good thing to, we were snowed in. It snowed all day and blew all night. We ended up with 12 inches of snow or more.
We all loved our presents even thought they were few in numbers. J.J., Sam and little Rocky called and wished us Merry Christmas. We also got to talk to Peter ( Elder Riehle)for over an hour. He sounded wonderful and we are all getting excited for his homecoming the 3rd of June.
Jay and the boys didn't even try to shovel us out until the day after Christmas. With all that snow you need a good shovel our old shovel finally broke we only had it 14 years. We were lucky because we bought the last shovel in town and the last of the ice melt.
After wards we had a nice breakfast and then we took Alex the birthday boy to the mall and to his favorite place to eat Mandarin Gardens he loves that tiny spicy chicken.
I love all my children very much but I feel a special closeness with Alex since he was born so close to my birthday. It is hard to let your children go but I want them to have the same happiness I have had.
For the rest of December we hope to have Jay's family over and I am planing going on a trip with Jay again. I took a trip with him the first of the week to San Francisco. I will go if my tooth ache goes away. I am also planing on organizing my home and hopefully have my Mom and Randy over for a visit soon. I am also having a birthday. I can't have another one has come, it feels like I just had one. Oh well, where did my December or year go?

A Wonderful Week!

2008-12-06T14:42:00.003-07:00

We had a wonderful week here are a few pictures of the good times with our family.

Happy Birthday J.J.

2008-11-19T10:57:00.002-07:00

Today is my sons John's Or (J.J.) birthday.

He is a kind and caring person. He is such a good son, husband and father!

I just want to let him know how much I love him and to wish him a Happy Birthday!

We love you John!

My favorite season

2008-11-13T14:27:00.002-07:00

This is my favorite time of the year. When the weather changes the leaves fall and the cool nights begin. I enjoy making warm soups and stews and warm apple crisps. I love to curl up to a good book with a hot cup of cocoa or just watch TV or movies in my pj's.
I am a homebody by nature and I love taking care of my family and my home. Every year I work on projects for Christmas. Last year I made recipe books and stockings and pj pants. This year I am making pillow cases and I am working on scrapbooks. I also plan on making yummy treats and goodies to share with everyone.
I am also trying to keep things simple. By simplifying things there is less stress.
I am also enjoying this season of my life. I have more time for myself and I am able to do the things that I enjoy. I am learning more about myself. I enjoy my grown kids they are fun to be around. It is a great accomplishment to have almost all of my children raised. And knowing that you did your best. I also enjoy being a grandma even though it is a long distance. I can't wait until my son and his wife come for a visit, and of course little Rocky.
Many people don't enjoy the cold days or the long winter nights or the feeling of an empty nest but they give me a feeling of peace and security. I love the holidays and the chance to be with my family and friends in celebrations. I am enjoying this season of my life. What season are you in your life?

Halloween Fun!

2008-11-02T18:38:00.002-07:00

My brother Matt and his wife Kelly as Shrek and Fiona

Lacey and her friends after the Halloween Ochestra concert

Halloween Ochestra concert

Lunch lady witches

99 balloons

2008-10-28T17:22:00.005-06:00

The video at the bottom of my blog is a segment I watched on Oprah . This video tugs at your heart strings and you really appreciate and love your healthy children. God loves us so much and he is always watching and taking care of us.
Make sure you have a box of tissues handy.

Twists and Turns

2008-10-27T18:46:00.002-06:00

Life can take its twists and turns and my life has had some turns in it lately. Turns for the better I hope. I haven't written about what is going on with us here in Tremonton. I still am a cook at the Middle School. I love working there. The ladies are so nice and we all get along really well. My hours are short enough so I can enjoy my afternoons and I get holidays and weekends off. I even get paid in the summer to not work. What more could I ask for?
I also have been riding my bike to work and walking when I can. And a couple times a week Jay and I go swimming in the morning. We love spending that time together before he has to go on his trip in the truck. We have really been trying to have some sort of exercise every week. We have fun and we might even loose a few pounds in the process.
J.J. and Sam and baby Rocky will be visiting around Thanksgiving. We are so excited for them to come. Jay went to Ohio last week and on his way he stopped for a visit. I was jealous but I will so enjoy their visit in November.
I have also been caning a little bit and trying to boost up my food storage. And be fiscally fit with our finances.
I have also volunteered to be the Chairperson for pennies by the inch. I am in charge of the North half of Tremonton. I have to find neighborhood volunteers and then I have to gather all of the money and turn it in. It is a big job but I want to help out our community.
Peter is still in the same area he has been since the beginning of the summer. He is tracting a lot but hopefully he will get transferred to a new area with more success.
Lacey is doing fine. she is playing the piano and reluctantly taking violin. Shopping is on her mind these days. She just got her lamb money and it is burning a hole in her pocket. I am making her save most of it.
Andy has been going to USU and taking writing classes. He also teaches gospel doctrines every week. He just recently went on a date. Wow! he has only been on a few dates since he came home from his mission. I was so happy for him.
My biggest news is that Alex has flew the coop or in other words he has moved out. He shares an apartment with some friends and he is still a maintenance manager at Wendy's. He didn't move that far away but I think he just wanted to spread his wings. We miss him a lot but he comes over once in awhile to say hi or borrow some food. The house isn't the same without him.
Jay misses all his boys being home together. He is mostly with us girls when he is home. I know he loves us but it just isn't the same. He has always been around his brothers or his boys. I sometimes miss the whole gang at home but I am happy for my family and our lives have to take twists and turns in order for us to grow.

Tammy's Birthday

2008-10-17T11:24:00.002-06:00

Last weekend I was able to spend some time with my sister Tammy and celebrate her birthday.Jake loves his mom so much. He is so thoughtful. He made a treasure hunt for her to find her presents.
We had a great time shopping for scrapbook supplies and eating yummy lasagna made by Charlie her husband and we watched Edward Scissor hands the next morning we scraped a few pages for her scrap book and a YUMMY breakfast. We had a wonderful time! Happy Birthday To A Wonderful Sister!

A fun labor Day

2008-09-02T19:32:00.003-06:00

These are only a few pictures that I have to show. My card was full and it didn't save them.

For Labor day weekend my sister Tammy and her daughter Savannah came for a visit. We worked on scrap books, shopped for scrapbook supplies (hopefully she will get hooked on scrapbooks they are so fun!) and we made zucchini quiche. I wanted to take her to see the movie Mama Mia because I have been listening to the sound track all week at work and I love ABBA'S music.

I really liked the movie and we both cried when she sang the song to her daughter on her wedding day. It is definitely a chick flick. Our husbands were worried about us because we went to the late show and they made sure we went straight home. Which we did. Let's face it we are not party girls.

The next day Jay picked up Charlie in his semi truck on his way home from California. When they got home we made a picnic and headed up Logan Canyon. We enjoyed the shady spot that the guys found and it was right next to the river, but the bugs liked our picnic just as much as we did. So we didn't stay long. We next went to Sunrise peak and overlooked the Bear Lake valley. It was very beautiful there and we got a glimpse of a moose.

Lacey brought her friend Lexie with, because we are too boring for her. Charlie had fun teasing the girls by pretending to throw grasshoppers at them but they were really pebbles.

And since we came all that way we had to get the famous fresh raspberry shakes in Garden City. Savannah said that raspberries look like our brains. She is so cute and she says the funniest things. We ate in a covered wagon outside the ice cream store and Savannah had a ginormous ice cream cone which was melting faster than she could eat it.

We headed home very happy and tired. We gave a sticky Savannah a bath and we all talked and listen to some music and finished eating our picnic.

Our week end was very nice and I am so glad that I could finally spend sometime with my sister and her family.

Baby Rocky

2008-08-18T15:29:00.002-06:00

Life is good being a baby!

Where did my Summer Go?

2008-08-15T09:57:00.003-06:00

It seems that this summer has just flown by. Next week it is the Box Elder County Fair. And once again our kids are showing their lambs. We buy the lambs at the end of the school year and we show and sell them the weekend before school starts. That means every morning and every evening for three months we feed, water, clean the barn and watch and worry about them.

It eats away most of our summer but it still is fun and the kids learn a lot about work and commitment. And they earn some money ( this is the main reason why they do it) in the process.

I am looking forward to the fair this year. It is fun to get out of our routine and hopefully our kids will do well at the show. They have worked really hard and the lambs look really good. This year we hired someone to shear them for us. It was so much easier then doing it ourselves. Although, Alex did get stepped on and kicked in the face. But his lamb looks really cool with a mow hawk.

Time flies by so fast and before you know it, school will be out and it will be time to buy another lamb!

Fudge it isnt just for Christmas time anymore!

2008-07-31T09:17:00.003-06:00

Last night in Young women's we made yummy fudge. Brother Wells taught the girls all about baking and pie making. I love to bake and collect recipe's and I plan on sharing some of my favorites with you. So check back often for some fun recipe's and enjoy!

FUDGE

3/4 cup butter

5 oz can evaporated milk

3 cups sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 bag milk chocolate chips

1 small jar of marshmallow cream

Add butter, milk and sugar in a medium sauce pan. Heat on medium, until234 degrees. or until softball form in cold water. Remove from heat. Add vanilla, stir. Add the chocolate chips and stir until melted. Add marshmallow cream and stir until it is all mixed together. Line a 9x9 or 9x13 pan with butter or Pam spray. Place in pan. chill until firm.

Oh no Lacey is a teenager!

2008-07-27T21:33:00.005-06:00

Today is Lacey's 13 birthday. Wow how time flies when you are having fun! We sure have had a blast raising a daughter. Here are some fun things about Lacey. Favorite foods are steak, mashed potatoes, cabbage (can you believe it?) fruits, mostly Mandarin oranges and chocolate milk. She loves clothes and jewelry. And spending her daddy's money. Her favorite song is Shake it by Metro Station. She like these tv shows I carly, full house, spongebob and The secret life of the American teenager. For movies she like 27 dresses and 13 going on 30. She is really into music as well.

Her many talents are playing the piano and violin, making cookies and she is artistic. She loves the colors orange, brown and pink,and lime green.

She has lots of friends and she loves spending time with them and texting them with her new cell phone or instant messaging when her cell phone battery is charging. And chatting about her favorite book series Twilight.

We love her very much her brothers think she is spoiled but maybe they are right to some degree, but when you only have one daughter it is easy to indulge her. Even though she is spoiled she is not a brat she is very helpful and kind to others. She has a tender heart. A sweet spirit and she is a blessing in our lives.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LACEY JO!

baby John

2008-07-25T15:26:00.002-06:00

Here are a few pictures of our new grandson. Isn't he cute!

It's a BOY!

2008-07-16T12:07:00.002-06:00

John Rockford Riehle was born on Monday July 14,2008. He weighed 8 lbs and 3 oz. 20 1/2 inches long. He has brown hair and he is the cutest baby I have seen in a long time.
But I guess I am predigest when it comes to my family.
Sam's mother and I got to watch the c section from a observation window. It was very interesting and I am glad I had my children vaginally. We were all nervous of how things would go after losing Charlotte but Sam is doing fine and the baby is healthy. J.J. is a bit tired but a proud papa. He will make a great daddy. He was the first one to change baby Johns diaper.
They are so happy and I am so excited to be a grandma. Now let the fun begin!

A day with the Amish

2008-07-10T18:45:00.002-06:00

Today Sam & J.J. took me Shipshewana Indiana to Amish country. Our first stop was an antique store but it was more like a museum. Dad would have loved the place they had antique toys, tools, maps, furniture, and fifties memorabilia.
Next we went to this museum called men-heof. It wasn't that expensive but Sam didn't really want to walk around that much and the guys thought it was lame. So I just bought a Amish cookbook and I can't wait to try it out it has cool recipes like chicken pot pie and Amish bread and shoflypie one of Jay's favorite.
We next went to some markets and Andy's favorite store was the candy store and mine was all the beautiful quilts. very nice but too expensive to buy.
I also enjoyed all the farms and horses and buggies and all the people, there life seem so quaint and I like how there life is so simple and good.
I enjoyed my day out!

We have arrived!

2008-07-06T14:27:00.004-06:00

Our flight to Denver was a little bumpy and Lacey got a little air sick. Other than that it was short and un eventful. Our flight to Chicago was all right and we got to see wonderful fire works from the plane.
I appreciate Sam and J.J. picking us up It is a long drive from there home in Indiana.
I so happy to be here and help out while we wait for baby John to arrive.
I am so glad to see my son Andy again. He has been visiting here for about a month. I missed his sense of humor and his sarcastic jokes.
Since we missed our forth of July fire works J.J. made a bottle rocket launcher and set off a few fireworks. We also enjoyed some sparklers and lightning bugs. That was the first time that I have seen fireflies or lightning bugs. I have only seen them at Disneyland at the pirates of the Caribbean ride. I don't get out much do I. I am glad we are here and I can't wait to be a grandma!

Flying by the seat of my pants!

2008-07-03T19:43:00.002-06:00

This time tommarrow I will be on my way to Indiana to see my new soon to be born grandson. Lacey and I will be flying to Denver and switch planes and then to Chicago. Lacey has never flown before and I have only flown twice. We are a little green.

I will be flying by the seat of my pants because it will feel like my first time flying. I was never in charge before I always went with experienced travelers. I hope to be able to get on the right plane.

Wish me luck!

Young Womens Camp was a blast!

2008-06-27T10:14:00.003-06:00

Here are a few pics from our girls camp in Willow Flatts Idaho. Our theme was mormon idol. We had a lip sync contest and we koreokeed. We don't have idols in our church but we do have heros some of the girls idols were Nephi, Lehi, Joseph Smith and the Savior.

We had a great time and hopefully I will beable to go again next year.

It looks like we made it!

2008-06-10T21:44:00.003-06:00

It finally happened he graduated. I am very proud of Alex. We werent sure if this day would come but he pulled it off. It has been a fun and wonderful 18 years with Alex. He also amazed us when he graduated from Seminary. Way to go Alex!

2008-05-29T18:20:00.002-06:00

current Missionary
Future Missionary

What has Elder Riehle been doing this past year?

2008-05-29T17:52:00.002-06:00

Since it was Peter's Birthday on Tuesday I just wanted to let everyone know what he has been doing on his mission this past year. I wrote this for a talk that I gave on Sunday so if it sounds like a talk then it probably is.
I have saved all of Elder Riehle’s letters since he left the mission home about year ago for the Knoxville Tennessee Mission. As I went through them I could have used a urium and Thumum to read them. His hand writing is very difficult to read but I have to say it has improved at each letter. Our family jokes about if we can’t figure out what the word is we just make up a word and fit it in the letter sort of like add lib and it ends up funny in the sentence but we usually figure out what it is he is trying to tell us.
So here are some of Elder Riehles’ experiences through his letters. At the MTC he writes This is great here! I can’t tell you how much my testimony has grown, and how much I have learned I’m so excited to serve the Lord. He describes his first companion Elder Hooley from Lehi he is a really cool Elder. We are not allowed to call him a guy or a dude anymore only Elders. I noticed this when he called on Mothers day I kept trying to call him Peter but he always corrected me and he said he was Elder Riehle. They are really focused on there call as missionaries. He goes on to say that he was a little homesick at first, but the letters really helped him get through it. He loved almost everything about the MTC except the long classroom hours and the food. He said that there was any kind of food you could want but it didn’t agree with him.
In his last letter from the MTC he describes how much he will miss the Elders in his district and he loved his experiences there. He says I have learned and I have grown so much in the short time that I have been here. But it appears that I still have a long way to go.
When he arrived in Tennessee he writes from the mission president Godfrey’s home he says I just want you to know that I have arrived safe and sound. The flight was fine.
The people here are absolutely wonderful! When our flight got delayed the flight attendants brought us all lunch. Just because we were missionaries. She wasn’t even a member of our church. It was just because we had the name of Jesus Christ on our name tags.
His first area was in Dryden Virginia. The first week he baptized Barbra Wood. He writes I am not taking credit because I didn’t teach her. She loves the church and her brother in law is the bishop of the ward. My companion/ trainer is Elder Bennett he has taught me a lot since I have arrived. He is way cool.
Did you know what is even cooler is that I am living in a trailer. That is right a trailer. It is very nice I even have my own shower and bathroom. I thought this was funny I usually don’t think as a trailer being nice but he did. But I did see pictures of it and it did look very nice. In his next letter he calls me mamaw it is how the people in Tennessee call their mothers. Other hillbilly slang that he uses are ya’ll, howdy, Pappy and he has been acquainted with such food as hush puppies, corn bread , collard greens and fried chicken to name a few. And everyone has an antique tractor in their front yard.
His next area was a place called Pennington Gap Virginia. The people are very friendly and some want to argue about the gospel but most respect what we are doing. Pennington Gap is very beautiful. During the summer it is very hot & humid. But this year it unusually dry. It hasn’t rained and all the lakes are low.
He writes about how there are not teaching any investigators so they do a lot of tracting and reactivating inactive members.
His next area is Jefferson City. I’m finally in Tennessee. They are very poor but they are some of the sweetest people you will ever meet. We are teaching a woman named Carly she is a student at the Baptist College. She hasn’t picked a date for her baptism she is afraid if she joins she will lose her family. But the gospel can really bless her life. I know she will be great. He goes on to say that when she did tell her parents that she wanted to join the church they weren’t to excited at first but they are more accepting now and support her. He writes about her baptism she was baptized on his 6 month mark. And how happy she is you can see it in her face. She invited all her friends and family from North Carolina.

I am grateful to be a missionary I love serving the Lord. I have especially seen that with Carly the light in her eyes is astounding, she is so happy. And As I tract it is amazing to me how the people respect what we are doing and who we are. The other day a man invited us in his home and he sang us a bluegrass/Christian song he wrote about missionaries from our church he wasn’t interested in taking the discussions but he respected us and what we are doing.
He writes in his letter I know I was sent to the East Tennessee Mission for a reason there are so many people that can be blessed from the fullness of the gospel.
He writes about the service they do he has painted houses, changed oil in cars, fix lawn mowers, mowed lawns, raked leaves he says giving service always makes them feel good.
He writes I have to admit that Christmas time is slow. We don’t have any investigators to teach but we will keep working and try to find more. Zone conference is on Tuesday. I am always excited for that. We get to learn how to become better missionaries and have fun in the process. And afterwards the relief society ladies make us lunch and we always sing Armies of Helaman and it always makes me think of our mothers.
His last area is Jonesborough it is the oldest city in Tennessee. He has been there since the beginning of the year. In the winter it is very cold because of the humidity and the wind is worse. But there is no snow. But when there is snow they close down everything just for 2 inches of snow.
For a new years resolution the mission president challenged them to restart the Book Of Mormon and mark certain passages and finish it by Easter Sunday. And Elder Riehle challenged us to do the same. But I decided I would just continue where I was. I have started the book of Mormon over way to much.
He talks of the speeding ticket he got while going to zone conference and he sent us an urgent apologetic letter saying please send money.
In his most recent letters he writes about his companion named Elder Johnson. Before he left he and Elder Johnson got together and went to the temple and just hung out and became good friends. And now they are companions. He also writes about the new mission president coming in July. President Griffin. His wife was born in Tremonton.
He writes about his newest investigator he says we are actually teaching a clown his name is T.J. and he will be apart of a program next Saturday for the church. He works at circus pizza an all you can eat pizza place. He feed us and it was really good.
He also talks about how great the ward is they feed us almost every day. The problem is they don’t give us referrals but we will keep working hard.
And after each letters he bares his testimony and his love for us. Reading Elder Riehle’s letters has helped me develop a love for missionary work. We all need to support our missionaries by writing to them. I even need to be a better writer. When Andy was on his mission we were a little relaxed in sending him letters and one evening the mission president called and said we needed to support our missionary we need to write more. So when Peter went on his mission I promised I would write once a week and for the most part I do. I hope that you also can write to him wish him a Happy Birthday and a happy over the hump day. Elder Riehle's address Tennessee Knoxville mission office PO box 22730 Knoxville Tn. 37933-0730

Catching up

2008-05-21T15:17:00.003-06:00

Just a few things our family has been doing since I have blogged.
Alex is going to be graduating in one week. I can't believe how fast time goes by. It feels like yesterday I was sending him to his first day of school. I am very happy and proud of him. He has tested my patience but he is a great kid. For awhile I didn't think I could get all the boys to graduation they all are smart but they never applied themselves. It is smooth sailing from here. I only have Lacey to go and she is a better student than the boys ever were.
Andy is going to be switching majors. Instead of pre law he would like to go into writing and journalism. He is going to move back home for a short time and go to USU.
J.J. and Sam are doing fine. J.J. has surgery on June 4. He will be out of work for awhile but he can help Sam out while she is waiting for the baby to arrive. Which is on July 9th. Lacey and I will be flying out to visit them on July 4th. We will stay a couple of weeks and Jay will pick us up in his semi truck. If you are interested Sam is registered at Wal-mart for the baby I think you just type in her name and maybe the due date.
Peter is doing well he would like more letters and a e mail once in awhile his address in riehleelder@myldsmail.net . We got to chat with him on mothers day and he sounds very happy being a missionary. He is having a birthday on the 27th of May he will be turning 20. Send him birthday wishes he needs our support.
Lacey is excited to end the school year. She will become a teenager over the summer. Ugh! She already looks 15 or 16 . Lacey is planted a garden this year. Hopefully it isn't going to be a weed garden. She is planing on raising a 4 H lamb again this year and she hopes that she gets star choice. She is also interested in learning tennis. Maybe our city recreation has classes. I doubt it we are somewhat small and not many people are interested in tennis. We might have to teach ourselves.
Jay planted 2 cherry trees on Sat. We hope we don't kill them. Jay loves cherries and he remembers as a kid sitting in the tree eating them until he was so sick. He also has finally put the finishing touches on the picnic table it looks great! I hope to get some batteries in my camera soon so I can show you the pictures of the table and the new windows. my house looks like a new house. In the future we hope to put up a deck and paint.
I am winding down my work we only have 6 days to go. I have a lot of plans this summer. I am trying to get my house deep cleaned, my yard weed free, house painted, I am going to girls camp in June and to Indiana in July. I am also working at the free summer lunch program. If anybody is interested in helping me with my plans don't hesitate I am more than willing to receive help.
I sometimes think my life is moving to fast I wish I could slow down the time or the demands of everyday life. I here it doesn't get slower but only faster. Is your life as crazy as mine?

Slowly Watching the World go by.

2008-05-02T13:20:00.002-06:00

Life has been kind of slow lately. We are winding down the days of school only 19 to go. Yeah! It has been cold here in Tremonton but we managed to get some yard work done. We have trimmed the apple tree, sprayed and fertilized our so called grass. It has more weeds then grass. We are also improving our home. We are getting new windows installed. I am very excited! Our old ones let in to much cold air in the winter and you couldn't open them up in the summer because the rollers are shot and there is no screens. Mostly because the boys always forgot their keys so they broke in. which resulted in why the windows don't work. The front window has water condensation stains they always looked dirty. I will do a before and after shot of the windows. And put it on my blog . They will be so nice. They are very expensive but I get a rebate from our utility company and a tax right off.
Jay was just put back in the bishopric again. He is ward clerk. His work has slowed down and he is a little worried but When the Stake President set him apart he blessed him that he would be able to provide for his family and be able to spend time at home. He still might go on long trips but I know everything will work out.
I am getting ready to be a grandma. I have plans to make a few things for John Rockford. Some quilts and receiving blankets, and burp cloths. I am planning on spending part of my summer visiting him in Indiana. It will be fun to be a Grandma.
Lacey is growing too fast she will be a teenager this summer but she has acted like one for a long time now. So it won't be that much of an adjustment. Lacey and I are reading Twilight or should I say I am reading it she has finished it and she is nagging me to by the next book. I think I should get reading before she tells me what is happening.
Alex is driving me crazy. He is going to graduate but by the skin of his teeth. He doesn't have any future plans other than working at Wendy's. I would like to see him finish his auto body and collision class at Bridger land college. He still is a great kid very fun to be around.
Andy made me a nice picture frame that holds six pictures . I put in the baby photos of all my kids and in the last space I put the saying ... My greatest blessings call me Mom. Andy enjoys working with wood he has a talent I didn't think he would have.
J.J. and Sam are doing well. It was Charlie's birthday and they took some flowers and balloons to her grave. J.J. will be having surgery on his wrist soon and hopefully back to work. But everything seems good for them.
Peter has almost been out a year and he will be turning 20 soon. I haven't heard much from him so that must mean he is busy.
I am thankful for my life and I love all my family even our extended families. We don't get to see each other as often as we like but hopefully we can keep in touch with our blogs.

Our weekend away

2008-04-22T14:12:00.000-06:00

For our 25th Anniversary we went to Wolf Creek in Eden Utah. We had a great time. The place was very nice. It came with everything that you need. A full kitchen with dishes and a washer and dryer. We even had a BBQ grill in the back yard. We decided to stay in for dinner. So we went to get some steak and crab and some yummy dessert at the grocery store. And we had a cozy dinner by the fireplace. We watched some movies and cuddled. The next day we went to the Ogden Temple and we were able to do a session and some sealings. I didn't even faint. WOW! I wanted to eat at the cafeteria at the temple. (I am weird that way but I enjoy that kind of food.) It was very nice. Afterward we went to the mall and shopped for shoes at Sears and signed up for a quote for some windows. We need some desperately. We were getting a little hungry again and we went to Sizzler. Because the Italian Restaurant I wanted to try didn't take Debit cards. We were not that hungry for steak again so we just got the salad bar. Very refreshing.I also got tickets for a magic show and Juggling act at the Old Egyptian theater in Ogden. It was funny but really geared towards kids. All in All we had a great time.We did have to hurry home on Sunday they were sustaining a new Bishopric and Jay was going to be made the ward clerk. He enjoys this calling and feels very humbled every time he is called into the Bishopric. this will be his 4th bishop he has worked with as a clerk. He will do a great job. We love spending time together I wonder where are next adventure will be?

25 fantastic years!

2008-04-14T15:01:00.000-06:00

Our 25th wedding anniversary is today. Here are some milestones of the past 25 years.

1983 married, lived in American fork, Alpine and Orem. J.J. arrived to bless our family.

1984 lived in Orem. Sealed in the Jordan River Temple. Jay breaks his ankle has surgery.

1985 Andrew James joined our family.

1986 moved to Midvale. and then to American Fork again.

1987 our first real vacation to Southern California.

1988 Peter Kenneth joined our family. Jay finds a job as a dry wall stocker, Moved to Washington State.

1989 Alex joined our family the day after Christmas. Lived in Lakewood WA

1990 -1993 buy our first home, became Primary President, move to Lacey WA., raising boys, working hard , cub scout den mother very fun and busy life.

1994 Move back to Utah we miss our families. Live in North Salt Lake. Jay drives a truck for L.W. Miller.

1995 Lacey our only girl was greatly welcomed into our family.

1996 jay takes a job with A&R trucking in Corrine UT. Move in with Jays mom and dad to help save for a house.

1997 Move to our home in Tremonton. We love it here!

1998 Jay's Dad passes away.

1999 Oldest son gets his license. Jays mom remarries.

2000 Lacey enters kindergarten. Monica works at subway. Our family gets involved with 4 H lambs.

2001 Another son gets his license. J.J. joins the army and goes to Iraq. Monica goes to college at BATC. Remodel the kitchen.

2002 Jay turns 40. Buys a motorcycle. Vacation to North Carolina Monica's first time on a plane. Jay gets his current job with B&B Trucking. Celebrate anniversary at Daniel Summit Lodge.

2003 20 years of marriage. Andy graduate high school moves to SLC to attend college. Monica works at the Pie dump. Family vacation at Zions.

2004 M0nica turns 40 Andrew enters MTC for a mission to Connecticut. Monica's father passes away. J.J. returns from Iraq & moves to Denver. And another son gets his license.

2005 Our last son gets his license. Celebrate our anniversary at Sherwood Hills in Logan. Monica goes on a cruise to Mexico with mom& sisters.

2006 Monica works at shopKo. We celebrate our anniversary in Salt Lake City. At the Little America Hotel. Peter Graduates only 1 more boy to go!

2007 celebrate our anniversary in Laughlin Nevada. J.J. moves to Indiana gets married. Monica works as a cook for the schools. Family trip to Disneyland.

2008 Our 25th anniversary! We celebrate it at Wolf Creek resort in Eden Utah. We also become Grandparents in July.

Through all the years we have been best friends. Our love grows more everyday. It is not always easy to stay happy and in Love but it is well worth it.

Monica & Jay Est. April 14 1983

Is it spring yet?

2008-04-04T15:16:00.000-06:00

I love spring it is my second favorite holiday. But spring is sure taking its time to come our way.

Despite the cold weather our family has been on the go.

Jay recently came back from North Carolina it was a good trip but a long one. Right before his trip he had an abscess tooth and he had to get it pulled and a drain tube put in so the infection could drain out. He is all right now but it took a lot out of him. He is looking forward to spring because he can ride his motorcycle.

I have been working extra because a lot of people take off to play this time of year so they ask if I can fill in for them. I like the extra money but spring break was to short I am looking forward to the summer. Last Sat. was the young women conference in Salt Lake and we took our older girls the Laurels to see it and we spent the whole day seeing all the church sites and eating at Olive Garden. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed the message our leaders gave us.

I am looking forward to spring because our 25th anniversary is coming up. We are going to Eden Utah at Wolf Creek resort. My Mother in law has time share there and we are going to have a fun weekend away.

J.J. and Sam are doing all right. John( we are going to call him John from now on) has to get wrist surgery he hurt it while working at Big O. But he will be all right he is young and strong. Sam is doing all right as well. The baby's name is going to be John Rockford Riehle he is due to arrive on July 16. They are going to call him RockyLacey and I will go to see her and try to help in every way.

Andy is still plugging away at his job in Salt Lake and he is going to try to go to summer school at the college. He looks forward to spring he loves baseball he loves the Mariners even though they don't win a lot he still likes them.

Peter is in Jones borough and he is finally teaching a part member family. This spring he will be out in the field about a year now. Wow it went by fast.

Alex just got his wisdom teeth out. He is doing all right and he is not to swollen but still in a little pain. He can't miss anymore school because he missed so much in March because of our trip. He is looking forward to spring he will hopefully graduate in May.

This spring Lacey is having a recital for piano she picked a song from Cinderella Dreams come true. She loves her piano teacher this year she is doing a lot better. Her last one was very good but extra hard and she didn't keep up with the lessons she was always sick or something else got her distracted from teaching.

Our family would love to here what you are doing this spring. Hopefully it will be fun!

A wonderful wedding!

2008-03-24T11:38:00.000-06:00

A Wonderful Wedding!
A Wonderful Wedding! We had a wonderful time with J.J. or John as everyone calls him there. He has a brother in law named J.J. so it gets confusing at times. We met Sam and her family we love her and we are so thankful that she is our daughter now and she is very good for John and we also got to see the sonogram pictures of our grandson. We can't wait until July when Lacey and I are going to stay for awhile and help out Sam. At the wedding it was a nice ceremony and Sam was beautiful and John was very handsome. I even danced with all my sons except Andy he is to stubborn to dance. We also met up with Jay's brother Kevin and his family. It was so good to visit with them.Our trip was fun but very long. We are definitely going to fly next time. We did some site seeing on the way there and home. We stopped at Kearney Nebraska at a museum about our countries migration to the west. It was a lot of fun and we learned a lot about the history of traveling. On our way home we went to Nauvoo. Very fun and interesting we didn't have much time so we will have to go back for a real vacation. We are so happy for our son and we loved going there and seeing him and Sam. Hopefully they can visit us in Utah someday.

Wedding trip pictures

2008-03-24T11:21:00.000-06:00

Alex picking a buffalos nose

John and his best men
Sam and John
proud parents

A birthday Wish

2008-03-14T14:58:00.000-06:00

Today is my husband John or Jay's 46th birthday. I can't imagine my life without him. We have been together for over 26 years. He is my best friend.

A little bit about him is that he was born in Woodbury New jersey. He is the oldest son of John and Margot, He is a truck driver, his favorite things are food- pizza, sub sandwiches, steak, drink- diet Pepsi, color- dark green, pet- basset hound dogs, books- Tom Clancy, Music- classical and country, hobbies- dutch oven cooking, motorcycles, playing the tuba once in awhile, and singing.

He is a good father, friend and husband. He is a funny sense of humor and a great laugh and smile.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN GASKINS RIEHLE!

Getting Ready!

2008-02-29T07:58:00.000-07:00

In 5 days we will be leaving on our trip to Indiana to see J.J. and Sam's wedding. I am very excited to get out of the everyday routine. And I am so looking forward to meeting Sam and to see my son. They were officially married in November but they wanted to have a nice wedding with family and friends. Most of her family lives in Indiana and we are about the only ones who are coming from our family.

We are making this a family vacation and on the way home we are going to visit Nauvoo. It is only a couple of hours away from J.J.'s home and the church history will be very interesting.

But in the meantime there is so much to get ready, we have a lot of shopping to do. Everyone in our house needs some new clothes for the wedding. We will need to get our truck serviced and packed. It is more expensive to take the truck but we are taking our truck so we can take some stuff for J.J. that he left behind.

I also need to find the perfect gift for them. They are registered at walmart so I looked to see what I could get for them from that but it is hard to tell what they really need.

When I think of all the things that J.J. has been through I worried so much for him. But I am so happy that he found Sam to share his life with. She has given him happiness and he has someone to love and care for.

I hope they can be as happy as me and Jay have been the last 25 years. WOW does that make me feel old.

super snow!

2008-02-03T15:41:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures of our super snowy day. We are still digging out and more snow is perdicted next week. To think that I prayed for snow. Becareful what you pray for.

Girls Day Out!

2008-01-22T16:13:00.001-07:00

This weekend we celebrated mine and my moms belated birthdays. My sisters wanted to take us out. Kind of a girls day out. My sister Tina lives so close to everything so we decided to meet at her place. We decided to go out to eat first we went to McGraffs sea food at the Gateway. I got some yummy pasta with sun dried tomatoes, artichokes and shrimp. It was so good. My daughter Lacey didn't get any seafood she got a California burger without the California in it. She doesn't like avocados or tomatoes. The waitress gave it to us on the side because the rest of us enjoy avocados. Afterwards we walked around the gateway and wandered in bath and body works and we all found some wonderful scented lotions and perfumes to lavishly rub all over our dry winter bodies. I could bathe in the stuff and my skin would still be like a desert. We next went to the movies we saw The Bucket List it was very good and touching at the end of the movie. I like everything that Morgan Freeman comes in. It is a very good show with a good message. I learned that you need to try to have fun in life. even when life isn't so fun and Live life to the fullest. And last we went back to Tina's and chatted for awhile. I love spending time with my sisters and mom. I wish my sister Jennifer in Seattle could have been with us but hopefully we can get together again real soon. having sisters is great!
draft

Birthdays and Holidays come and gone.

2008-01-04T10:10:00.000-07:00

Christmas has come and gone. And the New Year has begun. I am always a little melancholy this time of year. As I am putting away all the Christmas decorations I can't help but remember the past. As I look at the old ornaments that my children have made while in elementary school all the hand made snowflakes with their pictures on them or the decorated wall hangings of hand prints and toothless grins, the I love you mom Merry Christmas cards. I think of how wonderful their young years were. I miss their excitement during the Holidays.

Despite all my yearnings for the past , we still had a wonderful Christmas and fun birthdays. We all received a new coat and a new game. I received a under the cabinet CD/radio. Alex spoiled me and got me a kitchen aid mixer. He has been saving up for new tires and wheels but he wanted to make me happy and very surprised. We even got to talk to Peter for awhile and found out that he is doing very well. Since I didn't have to work over the holidays. I was able to do all the happy homemaker things I love to do this year I made pajama pants and home made stockings. I made goodies and played Christmas songs on the piano. I went to the festival of the trees. We took our mothers to a play at the old barn theatre. As a family we gave some gifts to an angel tree. And I listened to carols and watched all my favorite Christmas movies. It even snowed a lot.

As for Birthdays Alex had a fun surprise party at his best friends house with lots of girls. I bought him some air brush paints and tools and we went to his favorite place to eat Mandarin Gardens and got tiny spicy chicken. For my birthday we went to see the movie national Treasure.

Even thought I miss the past I look forward to the future. I can't wait until we are able to visit Sam and J.J. and the best part is that I get to be a grandma this year. It is also fun to set New Year resolutions it's like you get to start over and hopefully I can achieve my goals. I hope that all of you will have a great 2008.

It's Snowing!

2007-12-08T08:10:00.000-07:00

It has finally snowed. I have been looking forward to our first snow storm all season. And it finally happened. It ain't much to look at, it snowed less then 2 inches and it is mostly slush. But still it is snow. and I love Snow!
Last weekend everyone around us got the fluffy white stuff. I was jealous.
I wished that me and Lacey could make snowmen and snow angels. I wanted Alex to groan because he was the only one to shovel. Ha Ha. I remembered all the fun we use to have tubing in Provo canyon.
I wanted the excuse to be lazy and stay home all curled up with a movie and some hot chocolate.
But now my wish has come true this weekend. I think I will make a mini snow man and tiny snow angels. But instead of watching a movie I will need to get my Christmas projects done. I am sewing P J'S for my family, all 8 of us (now that Samantha has joined our family).My sewing machine will get a work out. And I am also making some Yummy candy for our Young Women's. Such an easy recipe my friend gave me I haven't tried it yet but it taste so good and it sounded so easy I just had to try it. You melt a symphony Candy bar add a tub of Whip cream make balls and roll it in vanilla wafers.
Next weekend I will head to West Valley to make Candies with my mother in law and my sister in laws. It is a wonderful tradition I hope that I can carry on with my daughter and daughter in laws.
I also would like to start some new traditions this year. Normally we exchange gifts with each other but this year we are all spread apart. I haven't asked my family yet but I would like us to go to our local store and pick out a child out on the angel tree and buy something for them. I think we will have more of the Christmas spirit this year if we give more than receive.
Christmas time is so busy but so wonderful! I hope to keep my Christmas simple but fun. Let it snow! Let it snow! So we can have a white Christmas this year.

Decorating

2007-12-02T19:48:00.000-07:00

This past week I have been busy decorating. I finally have all my Christmas trees up and if I say so myself they look fabulous. I have 3 alpine trees in my front room all decked out in gold. They match all the nice new furniture I got from a friend of Jay;s. It is really nice they are white and very soft and comfortable.They are fancy and pretty. And downstairs I have the family tree with all the ornaments from the kids past. My mother in law gives the kids a new ornament every year until they are 18. This is a fun tradition I will try with my grand kids.
I got a lot of good ideas after going to the festival of the trees. It was wonderful and exciting to see all the glitter of Christmas.I wanted to try the homemade fudge but it cost 5 dollars for 4 little squares. But I went to the gift boutique and we found some cute wall plaques and Lacey bought a cute notebook. And my mother in law bought a doll quilt in a jar.
And at last I have finished my Christmas stockings. I have been working on them since October and I think they look great. Next year I will make some for J.J.'s family. I don't have enough time this year I still have to work on the pajama pants for everyone.
It is nice to be finished decorating so I can enjoy the fun Christmas days ahead.

A Wonderful Thanksgiving!

2007-11-28T08:32:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my Sister and her family. We had yummy food and fun playing games, talking and watching movies. I was thrilled that they stayed overnight and we were able to have a yummy breakfast that Jay and Charlie made. Tammy's daughter was a joy to have around. I forgot the sweet things kids do and say. I hope to spend more time with her on my Birthday the end of December. I really wanted my Mom to come. But hopefully she will visit soon.
I also had a great week. Jay came home Tuesday from his long trip to South Carolina. I really missed him. He was gone for 9 days. We celebrated his homecoming by going shopping on Wednesday.I got a new cell phone and we were able to get quite a few things purchased from our list. I bought a gravy boat just for Thanksgiving. Such Joy! I have always wanted one. I even got some Christmas music to play on the piano. We went to the movies we saw Enchanted. Very cute and fun movie. It was too cute for Jay, he almost walked out on that one. He gets to embarassed. We ate out at this trendy college pizza place in Logan. The Pizza Factory it is in the basement of an old building on main street. It was good Pizza but the atmosphere is more for the college crowd.
On Saturday we put up Christmas lights reluctently from Jay. I finished my stockings that I have been working on. We also bought another turkey just for leftovers. I guess I don't want Thanksgiving to be over.
I didn't want my weekend to be over so on Sunday we went to see the lights on Temple Square. We went with my Mother in law and Jays brother Dan and his family. We road the tracks and went back to her house and had hot cocoa. It was good to see her. I will be taking her to our traditional adventure of Festival of the Trees. We have been going on and off for over ten years. It is fun to see all the decorations and spend time with her.
I thought my weekend was wonderful but Monday was just a wonderful. J.J. and Sam called and said that they got married! They wanted to get married in March but they are expecting a baby and his insurance only pays for spouses. So they got married at the county court house. They are still going to have a big wedding the first of March. We plan on seeing them then.
All in All I had a wonderful weekend I love Thanksgiving I love the simplicity of the holiday and Iam Thankful for all the things that I have and mostly I am Thankful for my family.

a visit to my old state of Washington

2007-11-11T20:05:00.000-07:00

This past week I had the chance to go with my husband in the Semi truck to Washington State where we use to live. It was a beautiful drive. We went through highway 12 through Packwood and Morton. They are quaint towns with pet Elk on their lawns. Antique store and picturesque houses. The trees along the windy road were beautiful. We saw apple orchards and grape arbors for wine. After we did our work of unloading horse trailers and reloading wood to come back to Salt lake City we got the chance to visit my sister who lives Seattle. It is a very busy big city I really enjoyed watching it all from the safe seat next to my talented truck driving husband. He can drive an 18 wheeler like a compact car. Anyhow we met my sister with a little bit of trouble finding a space to park a Semi in a not so truck friendly City. We adventured to her neighborhood of Ballard and we had a nice late lunch at Smokey Pete's BBQ. Afterward she showed us her cute home and we had a nice visit with her teenagers. All in all it was a nice time. But we had to get back to our hillbilly town. I was very fortunate to be able to spend time with Jay since he will be gone for over a week this coming week. He will be going to LA to North Carolina almost coast to coast. I will miss him a lot. Hopefully he will return the day before Thanksgiving. I am not use to being without him for more than 3 days. I need to keep my mind off of missing Jay, because Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I am in charge this year and I am very excited !! I love to cook and have my family over. it will be a great Thanksgiving.

Taffeta memories

2007-10-27T21:05:00.000-06:00

Today I went to a musical at the old barn theatre near our home. I invited my friend Sondra and her girls to come with me and Lacey It was called Taffeta memories. It was about a quartet of women singing about the memories of the fifties.
Their songs were about looking for love and little things that make a person happy. There is great value in being entertained and we had a fun time. These are some of the fun songs that they sang. Sh-Boom , Mr Sandman, Three Bells, Tonight you belong to me, Mockin Bird Hill, Sincerely, Little Darlin, and many more. The scenery was all about the fifties It all reminded me of my parents especially my Dad he loved the fifties. It made me miss him and the age of innocence and joys of our youth.

My Kids

2007-10-21T10:21:00.000-06:00

I really enjoy being a mother. It is a challenging job but an equally rewarding job. I have 5 children. I have 4 boys and 1 girl. I have always wanted to be a mother from the time I was little. I remember playing house and I always wanted to be the mom. Sometimes I was the maid or the Dad but I wished to be a mom. And my wish came true. I may not do anything spectacular with my life but I think that being a good wife and mother is important. I love my family.

My oldest son J.J. will be turning 24 soon. I can't believe how fast time goes by. His name is John Jordan he is named after his grandfather and dad and his middle name is my great great grandfather( I think) Jordan Brady. J.J. is a quiet and keeps to himself. He is good at fixing things and he is caring. He lives in Indiana with his girlfriend Samantha. They plan on getting married in the spring. They met while serving in the Army in Iraq. I am so proud of him. He has had some rough times but has made it through them and I look forward to his future endeavours.

Andrew James is my second son. He likes to be called Andy. He is 22. He is strong willed smart and stubborn. He is always right. He loves sports of all kinds. He served an LDS mission in Hartford Connecticut. He is good at wood working. His current job is at a cabinet making shop in SLC. He also is going to school in the paralegal program at SL Comunity College.

Peter Kenneth is my third son. He is named after his great grandfathers on both sides. Peter is 19 and he is currently on an LDS mission in Knoxville Tennessee. He is a funny kid. He likes to help people. He is outgoing, and talkative more so than my older boys. He plays the trombone and the tuba. He was able to get his eagle scout award. He loves cars; fixing driving, dreaming of them, anything to do with cars he loves. We miss him and his funny things he says's and does but he will be home soon.

Alexander Jay is the fourth son. Before he was born I knew he would be a boy. He is named after my dad Alex and his own dad Jay. He is always had a special place in my heart. Alex will be 18 on December 26th. He is funny and outgoing and social. He is the life of the party. Kids love him. He will be a good uncle and Dad one day. He is a senior in High School and he works at Wendy's and going to Bridgerland College in auto body repair.

Lacey Jo is our only daughter. When Lacey was a newborn a Lady once told me "What is a petunia doing amongst all these onions?" She has blessed our lives. She is sweet and thoughtful. She is 12 years old but going on 21. She is artistic and plays the violin and piano. She loves being with her friends and family. She would like to be a teacher one day.

I think that all my children are great! It has been hard raising them. They weren't always good and sometimes they still aren't. But for the most part they have turned out to be good people. And that makes me a happy mother!

Small town growth

2007-10-16T15:15:00.000-06:00

As I was driving around our small town today I looked around at all the growth that has taken place and the growth that is happening as I write this blog.

When we arrived here almost 10 years ago the town was relatively small about 4,000 people. It had 2 small grocery store 1 small discout store and a few banks and gas stations. If you wanted to eat out your best bet was the Cross roads restaurant or if you wanted a bad experience Denny's. Not much for entertainment either 1 movie rental store and 1 run down bowling alley. All in all we liked that it was small.

But things change. Our population is over 6,000 we still only have 2 grocery stores but they have been remodeled and one was bought by a bigger company in Idaho. We now have a variety of places to eat quiznos, wendy's arby's burger king, artic circle, a steak house that I use to work at called Bar T L Steakhouse, Dominos pizza and Figaros take and bake pizza these are just some of the restaurants we have now. We have more entertainment as well. we have 3 movie rentals and a new bowling alley, a recreational dept. for the city which provides activities to all ages. A skate park, We have a fancy new library and several new parks. We see our raods torn up because of the new Utopia services. And they are in the planning stages for a new high school and a few new churches and they are building a new hospital.
When we moved here there were mostly farms but lately we have more new subdivisions going where the farms used to be . We had only a few places of employment like lazy boy and Auto liv but we now have Malto Meal, West liberty lunch meats. Toyota and Brstol myers are putting in plants in the area. And I hear rumors of a walmart going in by the new Hampton Inn and I Hop in town.
I like all the changes but I hope it doesn't become a new Lehi! Small Town life is what we like and hoepfully it stays that way!

A sisters birthday wish

2007-10-11T20:38:00.000-06:00

It is my sister Tammy's Birthday today. I would like to wish her the best day ever. I wish that I could spend more time with her. She is so fun to be around.

How she makes me laugh.

Always there when you need her.

Pretty eyes

Perfect in many ways

Youngest sister

Best friend to many

Intelligent

Radiant

Tender hearted

Happy

Darling

Awesome

TAMMY

Youthful

BUGS!

2007-10-10T07:22:00.000-06:00

I have a bug problem . I have box elder bugs are plastered against the side of my house. They are not a bad bug but none the less they still are bugging me. They fly in as soon as you open the door they come in the closed up swamp cooler, they are stuck in between the screens of the windows, they are even some in the bathroom. I can't wait until it gets cold so they will die. I know I live in Box Elder County but this is ridiculous!

A good Recipe

2007-10-08T14:59:00.000-06:00

I made this yesterday and it was delicious! Old Fashioned Apple crisp
4 cups of Sliced peeled apples(about 3 medium) 3/4 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup all purpose flour 1/2 cup old fashioned oats, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon allspice, 1/3 cup cold butter, vanilla ice cream, optional. Place apples in a greased 8 in. square baking dish. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, flour, oats, cinnamon and allspice; cut in butter until crumbly, sprinkle over apples. Bake, uncovered, at 375 for 30-35 minutes or until apples are tender. serve warm with ice cream. makes 4-6 servings

2007-10-07T13:54:00.000-06:00

This is a picture of me and my Hubby Jay. We have been married almost 25 years. We love each other more each day.

Sundays

2007-10-07T09:31:00.000-06:00

I love Sundays it is my favorite day of the week. Most of my family is home and it is the day to relax and enjoy life. I also enjoy going to church so my spirit can be uplifted.