Random recent past!

For Labor Day we went to San Diego to Sam's dad's house, so that Taylor could get his patriarchal blessing from his grandpa. We have loved San Diego since we went there for our honeymoon!! We have spent many a vacations there. Here are a few pics from our trip. It was a great trip--but it was a little different having just one of our kids with us for it.
Seaport Village at night. It was beautiful!!! (that white little circle on the top right was the full moon that added a great deal of ambiance to the evening. The pic just doesn't do it a bit of justice!!)

Taylor contemplating his future on the water's edge at Seaport Village!! (NOT!! Totally posed!)

Dad and son. I just love those guys!!!

Taylor and me working on our rock castle (the beach was too rocky for sand castles!) Ever since my kids were tiny, at the beach this took place with my boys all working together. This time, Taylor was all alone, with no brothers or sister to help. I couldn't stand to watch him working at it alone!

Me and my hunk at the beach!

Me and my baby boy at Oceanside Pier

On the pier at Oceanside - Sam, Taylor and Paula

Tay Tay's first day of college!!! My baby's grown up! And a ham at that!

Encinas Ward Campout - 2009

This weekend we (Sam and me) actually went to our ward campout!! It was a lot of fun and so deliciously cool! I loved it! You may not believe this, but I am not a camper! Or at least, so I thought!! I love the mountain air, and the beauty, and gorgeous weather and all, it just never seemed a big enough trade off for the hassle of packing everything, including the kitchen sink, cooking in dirt, having no showers for the duration, attempting to keep track of rambunctious kids who just want to enjoy the freedom of the outdoors, and last, but not in the least bit, least, the bathroom facilities, or lack thereof!!!
So back to the campout!! Wonderful weather! Beautiful beauty! Just one night and I don't even have to cook (so no kitchen sink!)!! Sleeping arrangements fine!! (Could've been in cabins; with the bats, mice and spiders however-and so we chose to sleep in the bed of our truck--set up very comfy by my wonderful hubby!! Potential for romance under the stars - WITHOUT the ward!). AND great bathroom facilities -- a few feet from our truck!! What more could we have asked for????

**(Warning: the next 3 pics have to be some of the most adorable pictures around!!)
"Bishop" Warren giving us "the word"!!

The future "Aaronic Priesthood" practicing passing the sacrament!!

Here they are "preparing" the water for the sacrament! Blake Early (middle) found some sac. cups at the sacrament table here (at the outdoor chapel there)!! Sam and I came upon these scenes and were very entertained with their "play"!

cleaning and packing up on Saturday morning

The rope swing, and playing in the dirt!! (Ahh life is grand!)

Sam packing up our "bed"! (He's silly!)

Me and my man in/on our bed!!!

Shannonrella, cleaning up while the kids create!

Nurse Susan with one of her little "patients"! Hope her pinky finger is ok, and not broken!

Ciela and Ally pal-ing around!! What cutie pies!

Jody and Donnie "happy" to see me!! (don't mess with Donnie or he''ll kill ya with that look!!)

Kellee looking lovely as always!

The Ewer "pad"!! If you click on and enlarge you can actually see Rachel smiling and Matthew and Cassandra!!! Monica and Mike being their friendly selves!!!

S-L-E-E-P!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I must give a great big shout out and "thanks" to those wonderful young-uns who were so enamored with the whole scene, that they stayed up the whole night to enjoy it!!!! They made sure we ALL "enjoyed" it too!!! (ahhhhh, sweet revenge!! Now who's with me???)

2/3rds Of The Way!

Sixteen months ago today, Tanner entered the MTC to begin his 2 year adventure as "Elder Dahl" in the Russia, Rostov-na-danu (it is something totally unreadable to the average American, on his name tag now!).
I can't believe that 2/3rds of his mission is over! It has flown by and yet it seems like forever ago! Having lived through two other of these strange time continuums, I know that this is normal. The first year or so flies by like nothing. But the second year, and in particular the last third, seems to drag on fo-e-ver (imagine The Sandlot kid saying this--over and over!!). Anywho, just had to note the day, say that I am so very proud of Sir Tanner. There's nothing quite like being a missionary mom! Half crazy with pride, and the other half, just crazy!!!!
Love that boy!!
Mom's are usually the priviledged ones to pin on their name tags for the first time!!! (Or used to be--now they don't even get to walk them inside. Just push them out the door at the curbside!!!)

Below: Posing with the fam before the cry-fest!!!


NOW- IN RUSSIA
Below: This is one of the most current pictures of Tanner, here with his companion, Elder Hanks. They are demonstrating how luxurious and huge the senior couple they were with's (The Gregersens) hotel bathtub was. Not sure where they had to sleep. I hope it wasn't here in the tub!!

Here with Sister and Elder Gregersen and Elder Hanks, at the beach at a town called Novorisssskkkk)???), or something to that effect!! (I could easily be way off on that!! They traveled with the Gregersens to be their interpreters while visiting the branch in that city)

I do realize that he will come home no longer my baby boy, but my son, who is a man. Again, I have seen this happen with Aaron, and seen Ashley come back grown up. It is bittersweet! It's what we all have hoped, dreamed and prayed for. And yet, when it happens, we have to bid farewell to that part of our lives where we were always needed, and go from being needed and loved to just loved.

It's not all bad, I promise. But when I let myself dwell on it for any length of time I feel a little sad, and sentimental for a time when there was noisy, mischievous, silly and adorable little boys and a sweet girl running around the house and driving me crazy!! (At that time in my life, I used to fantasize about this stage in my life!! And let me tell you, the grass is ALWAYS greener. . . .)

So as one who is in a new stage (my youngest just graduated from high school, and starting preparing for HIS mission), one that I have been dreading, enjoy those little ones!!! I know I didn't as much as I could have!!!

I'll tell all those young mothers who dream of calmer days-"they grow up so fast! Enjoy 'em while you can!!" (bless their hearts!).

Fun times!

(Sorry these are in random order!! Gotta get better at this!)

Taylor, Mark and Ashley "snuggling" at the hotel in Lakeside!

Taylor smiling "pretty" with his bloody mouth!

This past weekend we went up to Lakeside (North. AZ in the white mtns.) where it is cool!! The occasion was to witness and celebrate my niece, Whitney's wedding.She and Michael were married in the Snowflake temple. Everything was beautiful, especially the bride!

As bonus, we got a hotel and stayed up there for two days, rather than sprinting up there and back in one day. Loved, loved, loved the weather! Mark and Ashley went too, so in between the wedding in the morning, and the reception in the evening we napped a bit, and played a little at the bowling alley!

FYI-Ash won with a her high score of 129!!! Taylor lost - but it was close: score of 43

Ashley getting a little cocky with that high score of hers!!!

Whitney and Michael coming out of the temple after their sealing! AAAAHHHHH! How cute!

On Monday, Taylor had his wisdom teeth out in preparation for mission papers. Here he is as the assistants are walking him out to the car. He video-ed himself many times after this, but this gives a little taste of his drug-i-ness!

Happy 24th of July, and talks in church!

What up, everyone?

Just thought I'd put some super duper thoughts out there.

I have to talk in church on Sunday, (thank you very not much, Mark!!), and it is on, ta da dadum--- pioneers!! Shock and awe, you say!! Pioneers, in July, two days after the 24th??? How clever Mark is!

But I digress- so he wants me to somehow weave in some things I've learned from being a "Ma" on the trek into the topic. Like I can now speak as an expert for the early pioneers, having deprived myself of food, house, a good bed, and most of all a flushing toilet!!! (Ok, maybe I can speak a little like one. . . ). 

I struggle with this. 

 What more can I say that hasn't been said? What twist or new or different turn can I take that will lift and inspire those who will be listening (which will not be a ton, seeing as half the ward will be gone!). 

We all know that the early pioneers SACRIFICED, SACRIFICED, SACRIFICED for their faith. Many sacrificed the ultimate price for their faith. We know that! Don't you already know that?? And that we should liken their sacrifices to our lives now?? Who hasn't heard this? We all know and believe that we should and can follow their fine examples and give our all to the cause of the gospel, our God, our religion, our families.(What is that title of liberty thingy??) 

 So what more can I say?Maybe because I was so involved for so long beforehand, with the trek, but, personally, I am not in the mood anymore, for awhile!!! 

Now, don't get me wrong, I love, love, love the pioneers, and all the stories. 

Heck, Sam's great-great-great grandfather died in the Willie Handcart company. 

And my  great grandfather came over from Australia with his family at the age of 5--and we have a wonderful faith promoting story- about how he was lost, and the company needed to move on, and his mother wouldn't leave without him, so they left her with her trunk and then they looked back and she was praying, so they felt guilty leaving her, so came back for her, and she then told them exactly where to go to find him and they looked and here he came walking toward them and then he showed them where he spent the night, on a big rock, and all around it were the searchers footprints, AND wild animal prints! 

I have read many many of these same types of stories. And, of course, the horribly sad, and unbearable ones where everyone dies in their sleep from the cold!!

But, my point is, IT'S ALL BEEN SAID BEFORE!! And before and before and before!!! And recently, before!!! I don't know what more to say!!!

Maybe I will just stand up and say, "Do as the pioneers did. Have faith. Sacrifice. Trust in God. And all will be well in Zion, even if we should die!!" 

What do you say? Is it a hit of a talk??? (at least it is short!! And kinda sweet!!)

 

Oh, and by the way, Happy 24th of July - Pioneer Day- (to those who have never heard about it! It's a great story!!!) 

Six days and counting!! Sam and I have stuck with it for six days now. Our diet that is. It's not a really fun one, I might add, but boy I think it's doing the trick!!! 

Now if I can really and truly convince myself that good is bad and bad is good (taste that is!!) I'll be doing fine!!!

It has made all the difference to have Sam on board and more committed to it than me! Those first three days especially--all he would've had to say is, "let's bag this stinken diet" and I would've wrapped my loving arms around him and told him he was the sun, moon and the stars!!! Now, let's eat! 

It's getting a little bit easier at turning down chocolate, cookies, candy, graham crackers with frosting, bread, chips, did I say chocolate?? 

 No, I lie!! But my resolve must be getting stronger!!!

So time marches on! Glory glory hallalujah!!! (funny that that's what's playing on the player right now!!! And they say music doesn't influence us!!).

Days gone by!

Sam and I started a diet today. Ok, so I have had two meals on this diet so far.
Breakfast consisted of 2 eggs. Lunch was 3 cups of lettuce and 1 cup of "other" approved vegies along with a chicken breast cut up in the salad. Oh, and I am allowed crystal light type drink. We get the same for dinner. This is for the first 3 days. No breads, starches, sugar, fruits even. I don't know why not. It just says it on my papers. After the first 3 days there are a "little" more items added to your menu. I got this diet from one of our last Relief Society Enrichments. I don't even know what it's called. But we are committed to it, Sam and I! Together!! Gosh darn it!
I have been meaning to update my blog for, what, 2 weeks now?Thanks to this diet, I am now doing it. What, you may ask has dieting got to do with updating my blog???? Well, it is 3:04 pm. and I am starving!! Not in the Africa, drought, and third world country starving (although try telling my stomach that!!), but in the -"What the freak am I doing, and I want chocolate, cookies, no, no, no, I will not give into it!!! I can do hard things! I can do hard things!! I can do things. I can do. . . . I can. I can. I can!
So in order to keep my mind, and more importantly, my hands, busy--I am posting a new blog, and it is about days gone by.
Starting with where I left off in my last blog!! So here it goes. I did the pictures backward so we will go with most current and work back!!
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Over fourth of July weekend, we had our Bi -annual (or every two years that is!) Dahl Reunion.
We had it up at Hawley Lake on the Apache Indian Reservation in the White Mtns. of Az. It was gorgeous. It was John and Mylie's (Sam's brother and wife) turn to plan it, and this is a place they have come for years for Mylie's side of the family. They have cabins you can rent, and we had 3, right next to each other.

                                    Sam, John and Emily early in the morning, fishing.

Not too shabby scenery here!! This was right outside our cabins, looking out.

Blast off!!!

Ok, so here is where the backwardness loses the affectiveness of the pics. But we had a rocket contest on the 4th of July. We were paired up to "build" our rockets. Then shot them off with a pressurized contraption, John built. (You use 2 liter pop bottles and fill them about 1/2 full)

It was a BLAST!! (get it???). It really was though!!!

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

The crowds went wild!!!!!!

The lovely couple! (Paula and Mark with their "baby")

Sam and Ashley "building" their rocket! (Some nepotism going on here-their names were drawn as a pair!)

Actually, these sneaky guys are the ones who rigged it so they could be together!! Matching shirts and all!!! (Taylor and Coy!)

Dad Dahl and Phyllis. Whooping it up on the 4th of July!!!

Talent show night brought us the Dahl Brothers (or the Dahl Four!) singing "I'm a mormon boy". Reliving their childhoods, when their mom had them sing this in Sacrament meeting (in "days gone by"!!)

Some sick ritual the Dahls participate in! (Sam, Jon, and Coy playing their nose flutes, and the flags on the hats-- only "The Shadow" knows!!!). OK, let's just call it what it is--they are bizarre!

So to sum it all up, Dahl Reunion 2009--Hawley Lake, AZ--a great time was had by all. And we missed those of you that were serving the Lord (Tanner, Michael, Matthew), couldn't get off work, or otherwise occupied. Don't take this too harshly, BUT, it was your loss!! (not ours!!) J/K We really did miss all you guys that weren't there!!!

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So working backwards!!

I don't have any pics to prove it-- but on July 1st--the day before we left for the reunion--I, Ashley, Allie, Heather (my niece), Paula (my sister in law), Heidi and Natalie (my nieces from Utah) all went to see. . . . . W-I-C-K-E-D!!!! . . . . . . . . . . . . . Heidi and Natalie flew in that day and Paula had driven in from Cali the night before. To preparolize ourselves most properly-- Paula treated us all to a pedicure. So toes glamified, we all headed off for a night o funsy. (Check Ashley's blog-she has actual proof we were there!!!)
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On June 27th-- we had a Trek reunion with our "family" combined with the other "families" from Encinas Ward. Thanks to Oliver and Fina, we had an awesome Luau--with great food, and the best show, put on by her Tausala dance group. Only 3 of our 10 kids were able to come. We missed our "kiddos"! But we're glad Nick, and Alexis, and Tristan were there!!

Me (Ma Dahl, Emerald (my bff and laurel, and Ma Keil!!). AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! SO PRECIOUS!!!!

During the show, they had us come up and learn to hula with them!

Of course, the guys were "taught" too!! Love how Mark Early is waaayyy into it, second from right!!! Good job, Pa Early!!

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That about wraps up what I've been doing for the past 3 weeks. Due to more time on my hands, (and stomach!), stay tuned. More often. More details. You may learn things about me you wish you never knew!!

And remember, diets and blogging are a lovely pair!!

I think I'll go scrub the toilets or something, now!