Jennifer's 34th Birthday

October 29, 2006

Today we celebrated Natalie's belated birthday and Jenny's birthday. We had a spaghetti dinner at Ashleigh and Randy's house Sunday evening. Everyone exchanged gifts, and we had birthday cake with ice cream. Joel and I left early to get home to watch "Desperate Housewives". A great time was had by all. Natalie celebrated her 26th birthday in Palm Springs. I know--it's a hard life.

OH MY GOSH--Jenny's Halloween Party

OK--this was the best party yet! Everyone was dressed up, and Joel got the award for the best costume--he was the tooth fairy. He was not real happy about his costume-but he refused to go to the store with me to get an outfit. Randy was the mafia guy, Ashleigh was Medusa, Chloee and I were witches, Jenny was a 90's girl, Parker was Drucula and Olivia was a pony. Oh yeah-- How could we forget Natalie? She was Wonder Woman. Great food and fun was had by all!

Pumpkin Patch

Jenny, Joel, and I took the grandkids to the local pumpkin patch. The kids picked out their own pumpkins. Jayda missed her pre-school pumpkin patch visit because she was in California. The other grandkids had not gone yet--so it was perfect for us all to go.

Palm Springs

On Friday, we visited Becky one more time, and then had to leave to pick up Natalie at the Palm Springs airport. Her plane was on time, and Jayda was glad to see her and spend the weekend with her. We spent the weekend with the "Palm Springs boys"and had a wonderful time. The weather was in the high 80's, and we spent some of the time in the pool. I know, it was hard to take, but we made the best of it. We took Dave and Glenn to lunch at our favorite Japanese resturant for lunch on Saturday, and later that night we had a birthday dinner for Natalie, who spent her birthday by herself, as we were gone! We just relaxed and swam on Sunday, and we got ready to head home the next day. But Uncle LeRoy had to come over and do Joel's hair--with the highlights to cover the grey. The next day we drove to St. George, Utah to spend the night with my dad and Martha.

California Trip w/ Jayda

On October 18, we left for California to visit friends and relatives that we had not seen for quite a while. We arrived that night and stayed in Buena Park, right next to Knott's Berry Farm--which we did not have time to go to. The next day we went to see aunt Becky, who lives in an assisted living center, with husband Garland, who is in the rest home side of the facility. So was so happy to see us! We took her to lunch at Dukes, that is right on the shores of Huntington Beach. She had never been there before, even though she had lived in the area all her life. The food was yummy, and she was so glad to get out. Later that evening we went to visit Julie Brown in Cypress. She was glad to see us too. We talked about old times, family, and books, and how much we had all changed!

BOLT LOOSE?????

Last month I escaped and went to BUNKO with Teri Ivie. I never take my cell phone because I do not want to be found, or bugged. Jenny called Teri's phone and told me to get home because there was a bolt loose at the horse barn, and Joel wanted me to get there quick. I looked at Teri and said--what do I have to do with a loose bolt? Then I could hear Jenny repeating the phone message: A BULL MOOSE! OK-- we all screamed and got excited because that is big deal to see a moose! So we get to the barn, and there in the dark is this huge moose just looking at us. Some of the neighbors were there taking it all in. Joel had gone to feed the horses late in the evening and when he got there the horses were acting "funny". They did not greet him at the gate, and they were running around, not even interested in eating. He hung around for a while and then heard something that had just jumped into the canal nearby. Oh boy--what he saw next was being face to face to a bull moose. He could not believe his eyes. We called Wildlife Resources and they said they could not get the moose in the dark--wait until the morning. The next morning at about 5:00 a.m. Joel went back over the the horses, and our friend was gone. He got a phone call later in the morning that said the moose had been caught down the way at Timpangos High School football field. Our moose friend had been down here twice before, as he had two tags on his ear. Three strikes and you are out---they took him far away. He was on KUTV that night and on the KUTV web site too. We had just returned from a short trip to Teton Park/Yellowstone, and we did not see one moose. That was a big disappointment for me, as moose are my favorite animal, and I love to take pictures of them. Anyone who hunts and kills a moose is not my friend-------

Utah State Fair 2006

The cowboy, Natalie, Jayda and myself went to the state fair this year. We were there about twenty minutes when we ran into the Wimmer's--of all people. We were all there on Sunday.--skipping out on church. It is easy to skip church........ anyway it was fun to run into family. Jayda enjoyed all the livestock, especially the pigs. I think our family was the only ones there with all of our front teeth and no tatoos....... All kinds come out on Sunday. Maybe we should have gone to church after all.

Willie Handcart Company

Today is the 150 year anniverary of the rescue of the Willie Handcart Company. This picture was taken at sunset at the Parowan, Utah cemetary, at the grave of Christian Rasmussen, who married Mette Mortensen --who survived the ordeal, along with her whole family. Mette is buried next to Christian--but her tombstone is flat to the ground, so it cannot be seen. Christian and Mette Rasmussen are my great-great grandparents.

Camping

This is how bad you can look after a few days of camping. You have to wear a hat, and it was August--but cold even in the day. I"m glad I don't have to do this too often.

The Day the Mallards came home..

The mallards at Jayda's Pre School Show and Tell.

The day Joel let the Mallard ducks go.....

OK--Joel loves to ranch, but he doesn't have a ranch. He raised these ducks from the day they were three days old. They were a "Easter Present" for the family. They were in the kitchen under a lamp until they got older. Then they were put in the backyard in a pen. Soon they were huge, and were getting in the street. The next door neighbor told him "Maybe you should find a new home for your ducks. They might get eaten by a dog, or worse--hit by a car". He could never find a suitable place for the pair--until he thought about the ranch we were going to visit --so they are now in the possession of the Peterson's of Spring City. They like it there we are told.

My favorite: SUNFLOWERS

I took this picture at the Peterson ranch in Spring City--during our weekend visit in July. Sunflowers make me happy and I love to take pictures of them in the summer.

Jayda and Sophie--getting ready to ride

The girls are getting ready to ride the ponies around the neighborhood

Sitting by the River

Here I am--sitting by the river in this secret place--enjoying the beauty of the location. We stayed at the Lake Hotel that evening--which is my favorite place to stay. We were celebrating our 37th Wedding Anniversary. How could we stand each other this long?????

We weren't fighting this week.................
just wait until the next week.................

The cowboy found an ancient rifle barrel

The cowboy found appears to be an old gun barrel that was laying by the river. I was busy hunting for sparkling rocks.

Labor Day Weekend--2006-Yellowstone

OK--here we are after leaving Grand Teton National Park. YELLOWSTONE. We are at our secret place that no one knows about--where there is tons of ancient stones--obsideon--laying around by the river. A friend turned us on to this one. He did some work there with a water pump some years ago. Great find! The location will go with us to our graves--we were sworn to keep it a secret.

The Zip LIne--Heber

Ever heard of zip lines???? I thought it was just some kind of kid game......not! Here is Ashleigh on the zip line--about thirty feet above the ground and it was starting to rain! Randy went before her--but I wasn't about to do this one!!!!

Heber Valley Camp site

Uncle Dave and two of his three grandkids, Stockton and Saylor. We had such a great time. The whole Murphy clan went and we had a wonderful time--even though it rained and thundered, etc. The food was great and the company was even better. Dave flew in from Los Angeles to be with us.

Remembering 9-11

Where were you when you first heard about 9-11???? Joel and I were just leaving the Young Herb Living Farm in Mona, Utah, after spending the night there on a wagon train that was heading for Mountain Meadows. We were listening the KSL Talk Radio when the news came on and told about the first plane to hit the Trade Center. By the time were arrived home, Ashleigh had the TV on, the second plane had already hit. The towers came crashing down. We just could not believe what we were seeing!!!!!! The rest of the day was ruined. It will forever be in my memory.

The Opposites

These two little granddaughters are as opposite as can be. One a blondie, and the other one with dark skin and hair. Where on earth did that blonde hair come from???? NOBODY has that blonde hair. Both are as cute as they can be, and their grandma loves them!



Jayda and Olivia

Flags @ Temple Square

This spring Joel and I went to have lunch with Eric, since it was his " almost" the last day at work with the LDS Church. It just so happened that the Utah Law Enforcement was having a memorial service for fallen officers at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. I just happened to have my camera with me, so I took a few pictures, this one being my favorite! The flags had a picture and the name of Utah's fallen officers. It was a humble place to be.......
It just so happened that Joel's brother Phil showed up, and we visited with him after the ceremony. Phil had his close call too--last year when he was shot in a domestic violence dispute. Police Officer's put their lives on the line every time they leave home. I admire them so!

The TWO Natalie's

This pic was taken for a calendar that the U of U Burn Unit was going to make....it never happened because........other pics didn't pass the censors. My Natalie is on the right. Nat works in the operating room and in the out patient clinic at the hospital. She has worked there for about 8 years now--six of them in the burn unit. She sure has some tales to tell----maggots, obesity, amputations, crazy people doing crazy things to get them there. I admire her to being dedicated to working in a hard environment.

Three HIgh School Friends

After a weekend of fun, the three friends from High School got together for a picture before leaving for home. We look pretty young--considering the men we are married to look pretty old.

Sharon, Chris Pinegar and Kathy Peterson

Spring City

July 29, 2006. The cowboy's friends from BY High got together for a weeknd of eating and riding horses at the home of Steve and Kathy Peterson. The ride was beautiful and the women went on a short ride, and the men when on a longer one after we arrived back at the parking lot. The Peterson's live in a beautiful ranch in Spring City, Utah. We had great fun talking about politics (with Mike Young, the Pres. of the University of Utah), and polygamy. Mike told us about a great book, The Assassins Gate. It is about Iraq and the war. Should be great reading--can't wait to get started! Of course I went and bought it, with one of the many gifts certificates I have received from family and friends to BORDERS.
left to right--Suzan and Mike Young

The cowboy

This is what a cowboy looks like after a long day on the range. Too tired to eat dinner and doesn't remember where he is......

Lt. Phil Murphy--OREM CITY

This HERO almost gave his life for you. On a Sunday, April 2005 officer Phil Murphy responsed to a backup call for immediate help on a domestic violence dispute. Upon arrival he found Officer Barry Neilsen in danger. The suspect had somehow gotten ahold of Officer Neilsen's gun. He shot off a few rounds that went into the adjoining apartment. Officer Murphy held the gun to suspects head and told him he could kill him if he wanted to. The suspect then got ahold of Phil's gun while he was attempting to handcuff him. The gun went off and shot Phil in the chest. It missed his armor by 1/4 of a inch. The bullet lodged in his spine, 1/4 inch from his spinal cord. More back up arrived and Office Long shot the suspect with a taser. If the officer had not had a taser, he could not have gotten off a shot, because everybody was rolling around on the ground, and he could not get a clear shot. I am so thankful my brother-in law Phil survived his incident. We all love him so!

Sharon

OK__this is me---the out spoken person that I am. I am the office manager for a construction company--I am over the two gravel pits that the company operates. I am over the employees, their benefits, the payroll, Accounts Payable and the safety and training for the gravel pits. Gravel pits are under the direction of MSHA and the Dept of Labor. Gravel pits are above ground mining, so we have to know about the safety requirements, and have safety meetings every Monday morning. At any time a representative from West Virginia could pop in and do a random air quality check, and everything always has to be according to Federal regulations. It is a stressful job, but I enjoy it alot. When I am at the pit, I have to wear a hard hat and steel toes shoes! Usually I am in my office at the company headquarters in Springville, Utah.

Sharon Murphy... my facts, family, pets, and hobbies

This is our family dog JAKE, who wants to be in the middle of everything and wants to go wherever we go. He wants to make sure that he does not miss out on being included on this camping trip last summer.
What a guy that boy!