Groneman Family

Nothing dramatic or overly exciting to post, but I thought I'd do my weekly post nevertheless. I'm still loving my new job. I get paid RN wages to read my book or to play with a 9 year old for most of the day. I love it. Easy. I guess this in the sort of job where nurses go to loose their skills, but since I don't plan on going back to hospital work ever I don't really care that I'm loosing my skills. My goal is to work 24 hours each week. I need to hire a full time accountant and secretary to do all my administrative work these days. Between supplemental insurance issues and planning a surrogacy I could really use them! Steve is going to be going to Honduras on a "mission trip" with his school in March. This means he'll be snorking for most of the time but might fill a few teeth on the side. He'll be gone the duration on his school break which is no fun for us. Our disneyland passes expire soon: Mine march 10th and Steves the 27. We are ...

N ew! For the convenience of her fans, Emmy will be available to answer your questions via LIVE VIDEO CHAT during select hours. As her publicists, we've arranged for her to use Google Video Chat to interact with her followers. Of course she won't be using her real google chat account. She's chosen to use her publicist's accounts. And, of course, due to the volume of requests she'll be getting, her publicists will be the front-line in screening who she accepts to chat with. In other words, you'll need to call to get an appointment.

Well, it's official! I have passed the NCLEX! I'm an LVN.... now I just have to pay $150 for the license so i can work as one.... which probably won't happen before my mission anyways. oh well. Also, I've decided that once I get home off of my mission I want to do this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuzIIoAWxQo I think it would be an awesome experience and a good use of my nursing skills. Anyways, that's the update on da buffalo

We went dog sledding today up near Oakley. It's not something we would have ever thought of doing ourselves (nor would we have paid for it) but Autonomy hosted it and took us both up there so we enjoyed it.   CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO SEE A FEW MORE.

UPDATE: I just checked the price of the room on the website.  The room we're in goes for $895/night. - Dad Well,here I sit in our little "cottage" in Park City. NOT a cottage! This is for sure the nicest hotel I have ever been at! It has a living room with a fireplace and flat panel large screen TV and a private hot-tub just outside the door. It has a bedroom with a gorgeous view of a lake and the ski slopes which also has a fireplace and another flat panel TV... the bathroom has a large jetted tub and a large shower with 3 showerheads to spray out on you. It is decorated to the hilt! Last night I found my newest favorite resturant in Utah...Ruth's Kris. Never heard of it before and there is only one of them in Utah but their food TOTALLY DIVINE!!! The rolls were the best I have ever had in my life (Kim thinks so too). And the Fillet Mignon was amazing as was the berries and cream. I NEED their recipes, but I doubt I will ever get them. Makes my mouth water just to ...

I ask you parents of my grandkids should read THIS ARTICLE .   I was listening to KSL radio on the way home and they were talking with some doctor in depth about it.  The reason I'm posting here is because I see my toddler grandkids walking around with whole carrots, grapes, etc. in their mouths and I cringe whenever I see it because we were taught when we were new parents to never let kids that age have anything they could choke on.  I don't say anything because I'm not the parent but that bit on the radio really scared me.  I would hate to lose someone that way so I urge you pay attention to this.  The article says: Doctors say high-risk foods, including hot dogs, raw carrots, grapes and apples _ should be cut into pea-sized pieces for small children to reduce chances of choking. Some say other risky foods, including hard candies, popcorn, peanuts and marshmallows, shouldn't be given to young children at all.

CLICK ON THE PICTURE to see our adventures in the snow over the past 3 days.

If you were curious, I took a picture (and edited out the license plate). It's really not too bad, but we don't know why the brake light is on. We hope the impact didn't affect something else we can't see.

We went with our friends in the ward, the Kirks, Friday morning up to their cabin in the mountains above Scofield for the weekend! It was a GREAT trip! I have never been on an ATV winter excursion before, and it snowed on us nearly constantly the whole time we were there! It was just enchanting! I LOVED it! All that fresh snow in the pines, and the mountain views were mostly as if in fog because of the lightly falling snow, rather a mystical look to them. Everything was so beautiful, pristine white! As I said, the cabin was in the mountains in the pines, so we had to park the Jeep at a parking lot right off the road, take the ATV's from there up to the cabin...so that was different! When we got there, the cabin was 17 degrees, same as the outside, so we stoked up the fire, and left for an ATV ride. Diane was leading the way. She told me, make sure not to leave the beaten path where it has already been packed. OK. I can do that. But then she turned off the "main road...

Today we went to an 80's fondue party with Erica's side of the family, at her aunt's home in Layton. It was fun, we got pictures we'll have to put on Picasa someday. Our journey home had more adventure than we thought. We were nearing the southbound I-15 / I-215 split.. The far left lane had just barely merged into ours due to construction, when suddenly all the cars went from normal speeds to a sudden stop. Everyone was stopping as fast as they could. I was braking, intensely focused on making sure I wasn't going to hit the car in front of me. I could see the car in front of me was trying desperately not to hit the car in front of him. He weaved a bit to the right, which gave me a bit of room to the left. As we decelerated as fast as I've ever decelerated before, I was beginning to feel like we were good... we weren't going to hit hi... WHAM! Yup, we got hit from behind. I pulled into the construction area, as did the car that hit us. Erica was o...

We went to disneyland today. Just trying to make the most of our passes before they expire in March. 2 girls missed there naps but still had fun. 2 More earth tremors today. Acutally , I had just finished typing the previous sentence when my computer/world started shaking...yet again. I can't tell you the way it makes my heart start beating fast each time it happens. It usually seems to happen while my girls are sleeping (like right now). I always hesitate to go running in there and rip them out of their beds to go outside because it might just be yet ANOTHER small one. But what if I hesitate when the big one actually comes? I hesitate saving my children's lives just to save them some sleep? I've been having earthquake/food storage nightmares lately. I wish it would stop!

We're off to Scofield for weekend ATV riding in the snow and sitting by a fire in a cabin. B back Sunday. Don't even think about it Mr. Burgler.....Buff, Brett, and Katie are still home, they all own black belts and are armed to the teeth! You guys do own black belts don't you?..........and arms...you each had two arms that reached to your mouths last time I looked......... http://pleaserobme.com/

We've had a request for more picts of Emmy. You can see some more detailed explanations on the Groneman Bunch blog. Enjoy! Amazing how she's born with the nurturing instinct! It shows. Watching the Olympics in her chair with her baby. She loves to show love and be loved. She loves to explore new things. Fearless child! She loves playing horsey (or doggie) with Mommy and Daddy. It wears us out sometimes!

We had to more earthquakes today. Sort of makes me nervous...we've had so many lately that it could mean a big one is coming. the other day we had 3 (the biggest was a 4.3). Our water storage is not complete at the moment. We had it, but it leaked everywhere and I haven't got around to replacing it. You can bet though that it will be replaced by the end of the day!

A man had two of the best tickets for the Las Vegas Bowl this past season. About midway up the stands right on the 50 yard line. He sat down and soon another BYU fan comes along and asks if anyone is sitting in the seat next to him. "No", says the first man, "the seat is empty." This is incredible!" said the second man, "who in their right mind would have a seat like this for the Las Vegas Bowl, the biggest sporting event of the year for the Cougs & not use it?" The first man says, "Well, actually, the seat belongs to me. My wife was supposed to come with me but she passed away. This is the first BYU game we haven't been to together since we got married." "Oh... Gees ..I'm sorry to hear that. That's terrible. I guess you couldn't find someone else, a friend or relative or even a neighbor to take the seat?" The man shakes his head... "No. They're all at the funeral."

Valintin day Valintin day It is the beast day in the way - Benjamin Dastrup What a great poem from Benjamin!  That and a note from Jacob and Ty were waiting for me today when I got home.  What great kids.  Thanks guys!  FYI it's also one of Marilyn's beast days yesterday.  Her wish came true.  Our big tree in the middle of our back yard is no more (well, it's a bunch of slabs of wood and limbs etc. filling up our yard).  She's always hated that tree because it shaded her garden. She hired an assasin to come cut it down.  Yesterday evening I spent hauling the big chunks of wood out by the playhouse to make a pathway through the woods for kids.  Got it about half done....will do the rest tonight.  Then we have to haul away the HUGE pile of limbs and clean up all the sawdust etc.  There is, truly, no rest for the wicked........

I got a job today. I start thursday. I'm really excited because I think it will be perfect for us in our situation right now. I'm going to be doing home care, but unlike my last 2 home health jobs I'll have just one patient and I'll stay with them for the whole shift. So for now I'm going to be taking care of a 9 year old developmentally delayed boy who has TPN (that's what I was fed with my first pregnancy for all you non-medical people). For the first 3 weeks my schedule will be 4 hour shifts, but then I'll be doing 8 hour shifts (3pm-11pm) 4 days a week. Because Steve gets home at 5pm my girls will only have to be babysat for 2 hours on the days that I work. So no real hardship on family life. We'll probably have to cut a few things out of our life (less blogging on my part) but I think we'll do just fine. I'm excited that I found a job so perfect for our situation (I get to pick my own hours and my own days). Blessings.

And happy Valentine's day to her (and you all) at the same time.  Too bad she has to work today.  I figured since she is going on a mission and is my little angel, this button is appropriate.   We sloberated her birthday yesterday and it was  a great day.  Emmy came over to my house to see me fairly early in the morning.  Chad said something about escaping a shady insurance salesman.  We played and played!  (And we watched Olympics). One thing everyone needs to know about Emmy...she doesn't like it when her minions leave the room.  No sir.  She wants ALL of her people right there. Period.  Buff requested crab legs (as usual) so we had steak and crab.  Mom made an apple and a triple berry pie to cap it off.  Mmmm.  Anyway....Buff is now officially 22.  Bummer she has to work all day.

I'm too lazy to organize this blog, but I thought I'd post some cute pictures. Pictures are of: Dancing in the kitchen (a common activity in our household), ladies writing a letter to santa (a little early), Lydia and all of her stuff she has to have when she wakes up (she needs to hold EVERYTHING), 2 sick ladies cuddling with Steve as they watch a show, Lydia in mommy's monster boots, and family movie night (20 minutes of sleeping beauty--and Steve fell asleep!). Sorry about the sloppy blog, but hey-- at least it was blogged!

I do a google search on the name "groneman" that shows up in an blog.  Saw a blog from a missionary in Ireland and thought...what a GREAT way for a missionary to write family.  Write one "letter" and it goes to everyone.  At the end of the mission...print it and it's a diary!  So, without further adeu........    http://groneman.blogspot.com/

Buffy's Birthday is this Sunday...so we will be having a family feast! How about Steak and Crab? So at present, BJ doesn't know if she will have her birthday evening off. She will find out on Thursday. But our dinner for her will either be Sat or Sunday...preferably Sunday, SINCE IT IS HER DAY! Wish you out of staters could join us too! But soon you will!

Today is Kiera's 11th day with fever. After being mis-diagnosed on friday I decided to to take her to urgent care today. I actually think she is probably almost done this, but Lydia has had the same thing for 5 days and I do not want to go through another 6 with her just as bad as Kiera so I took them both. As you can imagine, 3 1/2 hours by myself at an urgent care with 2 fevering very-sick little ladies was NOT easy. The doctor said Kiera most likely has the flu and they tested for it but he said most likely she'll be over it by the time we get test results back. Lydia had 2 infected ears, 2 infected eyes, and I respiratory virus as well. They didn't test her for flu (although I wish they would have-- I didn't think of it!). For the last 2 hours of being there Kiera was crying for "pink milk" constantly as if it was the only thing in the world that could help her feel better. Of course I was telling the doctor that Kiera isn't eating and barely d...

I need each of you to put your $0.02 in here. Yer mother and I are finally getting around to doing some estate planning since we're getting old and decrepit and will eventually just croak. We've talked to a lawyer (insert favorite lawyer joke here) and it looks like what we will do is create a Limited Liability Corporation and a Trust. The LLC will hold our income and recreational properties which will protect us and our house from any liability generated by ownership of those properties. It also allows the LLC to just keep on going forever after me and everyone then Ty dies. (tie died....reminds me of the 60's). The entity that will control the LLC (chairman of the board) will be our trust. The trust will own our house and will define which of you brats gets what when we die. We'll also have a will that leaves everything that isn't defined in the trust, to the trust when we die. Those slimey lawyers sure do make it complicated.....anyway...I digress. As part of thi...

IT'S OFFICIAL! I have been called to serve a mission in Atlanta, Georgia, English speakin'. I will be reporting to the MTC on April 21st, 2010 (happy birthday cambrie ;-) it's exciting and I'm nervous and still a little unreal for me but I'm goin down to the DEEP south... bible belt hear I come!

I've grown tired of sudoku.  I find nonograms a fun diversion:  http://www.brainbashers.com/nonograms.asp

I got a cute valentine today from Kiera and Lydia!  Happy Valentine's Day you two cute little princesses!  Gramps loves it when he gets things that the grandkids have made.  It makes me feel all good inside.

"Women are Angels. And when someone breaks our wings....we simply continue to fly......... on a broomstick.. . We are flexible...."

By now I'm sure everyone in the family has heard that we are planning on doing surrogacy (for sure) and not going with the adoption route. We have also come to the conclusion that we want to do it sooner than later since it can be a LOOOONG process to come up with finances, find a surrogate, and then the entire process itself takes over a year (assume you succeed the first time). Despite suggestions from others, we highly prioritize having our children as close together as possible. We realize that we have 1 major obstacle to overcome in order to proceed with surrogacy: finances. We are $150,000 in debt and we live off our scholarship and a little bit of loans at the moment. It doesn't exactly leave us an extra $50-70,000 laying around to pay for a little bundle of joy. I guess this is were determination comes in to play. And yes, I am determined to try. Last night I was searching through my almost-never-used scripture case (just the case is un -used not the sceptres ) for ...

Okay everyone, my papers are officially in as of last Teusday. I should be getting my Mission call by next Wednesday... so we're doing this again cause there was some confusion the last time I did it... everyone submit the date that they think I will be entering the MTC, where they think I am going on my mission, and the language. This will be your final guess and no changes can be made afterwards. As for my what's going on in my life? What life? I've been working my 2 jobs so i really only have 1 day off a week in which i go to institute so I don't have much of a life. I've basically moved back to mom's/dad's and I'm just waiting for someone to buy my contract at my apartment. I took the NCLEX last teusday and I have no idea how I did and won't know for about another 3 weeks or so. But that's all I really can say about what's been going on. tune in next week......

Yo Brett.   6.2 - beat that!     " The A1C number shows the amount of glucose molecules attached to the red blood cells. Glucose stays on the red blood cells until the cells die. Cells are replaced by new cells every two to three months. High blood sugar levels cause more glucose to attach to the red blood cells. 7 or below is a good number ."  This kind of surprised me since I had lots of treats over Christmas. :) My Blood pressure is good..it was actually low last time I went in so the Dr. halved my medication. My cholestorol is good too, except I'm slightly low on the good grease so I'll have to drink a gallon of olive oil. In other words, I've got bad news....it doesn't look like you'll be inheriting my worldly riches any time soon.

Mrs. Groneman...I like the sound of that.  What a cool blog:  http://mrsg9thearthsystems.blogspot.com/

Here's the January common answers results: 8 Brigham Dastrup 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 94.68% 59 Chad Groneman 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 29.96% 142 Katie Groneman 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 5 1 1 14.61% 393 Kim Groneman 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3.48% 649 Christa Dastrup 1 1 9 2 1 1 1 6 1 1 1.20% 738 Erica Groneman 3 1 1 2 1 1 2 3 2 2 0.78% 1093 Breanna Groneman 1 3 10 3 2 1 1 2 2 2 0.11% 1610 Brett Groneman 2 9 5 3 1 2 1 3 2 2 0.00% I thought Chad had done good until I found Brigham's score.  Way to go Brigham!  Brett.....you must just be weird. :)  Enter the February contest here:  http://www.brainbashers.com/common.asp