Groneman Family

Wow..you are ALMOST as old as Christa, which is really saying something. Hope you have a great day in UTAH. CLICK HERE

Last night Emmy, Chad, and I went to visit Grandma and Grandpa Haslem. At first Emmy was pretty scared of both of them, but pretty soon Grandma started playing peek-a-boo with her and she warmed right up. We think it made Grandma happy. She sure does have a way with kids! We talked in the house for a while, then we went outside to see the fruit trees and the garden. The neighbor even came over and asked Chad for help breaking into her house to unlock the front door because she locked herself out on accident. Go Chad, go! It was fun. Emmy got to ride on the swing and liked that a lot too. Before we knew it, it was past Emmy's bedtime, so we came home. A good time was had by all.

Hi Buff....I suppose you want to know what's been going on around here. Have you ever heard the phrase "Oh what a difference a day makes"? Let me tell you all about it. Friday night Marilyn and I went up to the mountain. We were feeling really lazy and didn't want to cook dinner so we went out to Red Robin and got their 5 buck hamburger deal....great burger and potato wedges. Up at the mountain, the birds were singing, the stream was running. Ahhh......quiet and peaceful. REALLY nice *except* for when I let your mother beat me twice in a row, by ONE CARD in Knock Rummy. The next morning we had a lazy morning, listening to the stream and birds as the sun started to filter through the pine and aspen trees. Well, then we decided to THOROUGHLY clean our trailer, which we did. We came home Saturday late morning. Remember that all this time Brigham and Christa were in Albuturkey getting him all graduated so Dastrup grandparents had the wee ones up in Sandy. In the afternoon...

I have music books. Lots of them. A few of them I would keep, but 90% them I would like to get rid of unless there are people in the family who want them. I realize that several of you don't have room to store books you can't use now, but would want them later. If that is the case, then we could put them in a box in the attic , but I don't need them in my living space now. But the attic is out too, if nobody is interested in them ever. I also have old FHE books. I bought them at DI so we had more than just the 1-2 the chuch currently puts out. The used to put out a new one every year. Anyone want those? So, speak now, or forever hold your peace!

It was a slow night at work, and I found this little test . I got 18/20 - so don't give me a fake smile, 18 out of 20 times I'll know about it!

Today was Jacob's first day of summer school, and fortunately he seemed pretty happy to get on the bus when it came (maybe because it was a full-sized bus-- he's only had small ones in the past). Not long after he left I went grocery shopping and accidentally forgot to take my cell phone. When I got back, I was surprised and horrified to find a message from Jacob's school asking if the bus hadn't come by since he was not at school. I tried calling the number I was given back, but there was only a message. I started panicking-- imagining Jacob wandering somewhere by himself-- unable to tell anyone who he was or where he was supposed to be. I looked up another number to the school and called, and the lady said she would look into it right away and call me back immediately. Five minutes passed. Ten. Fifteen-- each minute I was getting more and more distraught. I finally packed up the boys and raced to the school. Just as I was walking into the office, I got a pho...

I go thorough the effort of posting 2 videos and nobody even comments! I see how it is! I think my girls are going through Utah-withdrawals. Extra grumpy lately. We found out this week that Steve has to go to Atlanta in the end of August for a mandatory meeting about his government scholarship that he got (the one where he has to go be a dentist in an underserved community for 2 years when done with school). Just think, Steve and sister Gro will be breathing the same Georgia air.... His trip is going to be cutting it VERY close to our surrogacy transfer. As far as I know right now, his conference is Aug 26th-28th (traveling home on the 29th?) and my trip up to boise is Aug 30-sep 9th (which make change a few days in one direction or another). I'm sure it will probably be fine, but the thought of both very important things possibly colliding makes me nervous. yesterday in sunday school some big strawberry-blond dude got up to say the closing prayer. Lydia saw him and was yelling al...

Happy Summer Solstice to you all!  Tomorrow the days start getting shorter so that means that Christmas is on the way!  It also means Christa is 32-1/2.  LET THE CELEBRATION BEGIN! (Hey, any excuse to party is a good excuse to party.)

Happy father's day Brigham, Steve, Chad! Great dads, every one.

Lydia did the tootie (nudie batootie) dance the night before spontaneously and it was much cuter and had me laughing.  I got this one on video but she was more tired and not as enthusiastic about it.  It still makes me laugh out loud though.

I was thinking of the Nelson's yesterday and when I figured they would be safely home, I called. Kiera answered the phone and talked to me. We had a nice chat and she verified they got home OK. She said she was coming back to Utah in 5 minutes.

Well, we made it back to California. Back to our boring tiny house. That was a great trip. Tons of great pictures. I'm sure my girls will look at these pictures 100 times in the next few months.

Today Brigham and Christa are running the Ragnar Wasatch Back race. ( MAP HERE )  188 miles and change.  It is a relay race so they don't run it all by themselves, but it is a two day continuous race (today/tomorrow) normally done by a team of 12 people and they only have 8 (if I remember correctly) so they each have to run extra legs.  I saw the map of some of the legs...something like 1600 feet altitude gain in 4 miles on one leg. ( MAP ) Glad it's not me!  It's all up and down on roads between Logan and Heber and back to Park City.  Ugh!  I can sure think of better things to do with friends!  I have all the respect in the world for them for doing this. It doesn't stop me from thinking they are nuts though.

(Buff, can you see these pictures? If not, I'll send you some of the best ones.)

Here are SOME MORE PICTURES - CLICK HERE of our trip up to the mountain yesterday. It was a little warmer (SLC set a new record LOW high temperature on Saturday...brrrr!) and the rain went away so it was a pretty nice day...but the problem was that the last part of the road that wasn't graveled to the mountain was very muddy..so I had to shuttle people from that last intersection to the trailer in my Jeep (good ol' jeep!). We roasted hotdogs and made smores and the kids had a grand time exploring, playing bean bag toss, and shooting bows and arrows.

Here's a link to the album with a bunch of REALLY GOOD pictures in it and I highly recommend looking at the whole album.  Otherwise, here are a few select pictures from it: We went to the Dastrup house this evening for dinner. I must say, the curry we had was delicious...compliments to the chef. The kids had a grand time playing...we had some races, and we danced. Again, the littlest munchkins didn't quite catch the vision of playing TOGETHER...but by next year they will. More activities in the next few days and more pictures coming. Wish you were with us Buff/Brigham/Katie!

Blogging for Buffs benefit since everyone else knows this. The girls have been having a blast in utah. after a long car ride, and Lydia letting everyone know she was "all done" with the car, we arrived in all of our sticky glory. The girls were as excited as can be. Lydia remembered the rocking horse and quickly claimed it as her own. She squeels and gets very mad if any other child approaches her rocking horse. Lydia barely ate anything for the first 24 hours she was here because she was much too busy playing. But she made up for it yesterday at Artic Circle where she downed a ton of food. She was a tiny bottomless pit! Lots of cuteness and fun was to be had a Artic Circle. Emmy stuck her mouth over the entire top of an ice cream cone and downed it in no time. She was a little sticky in the end, but I think she enjoyed it. Kiera and Benjamin had lots of fun playing together dispite the age and gender difference. Jacob laughed at all the kids running around and goin...

Nelsons made an appearance at the Groneman household on Friday evening...after driving all day they arrived about 6:30 pm.....in time for dinner. I was expecting Lydia, and maybe Kiera to be a little hesitant around me, but no...they acted like we were best buds from the minute they drove in the driveway and smiled and waved at me! On Saturday morning it was COLD! This is supposed to be June but it felt like March. We went out and played in the playhouse anyway and while we were playing in the playhouse, guess who showed up? The Dastrups! We continued to play and play and in the afternoon, guess who else showed up? Another Groneman family with Emmy! All my grandkids were here. It rained in the afternoon while we were playhing in the playhouse. We decided to go to Arctic Circle for dinner and play in the play area there. We all had some good junk food and all the kids, even Jacob, enjoyed playing in the play area. It's better than the one at McDonalds. Oh...I forgot to mention, Bret...

It looked something like THIS!!! I know, I should have warned you so you wouldn't be too traumatized by seeing such a graphic picture...but you can seek counseling if needed! Only it was TY, on the back of one who was just about to escape around the corner before he was detected! However, I ripped off my shirt, exposing the true Grandma Superwoman, I swooped down on the monster, SNATCHED Ty from his back, and scooped up the slimy creature and put him in the trash! Talk about HEROIC! Other witnesses present did not even DARE to approach the slime-devil! But is now a whole lot safer, I am pleased to report, for children to visit the Dastrups new home...which is good, since the Nelsons plan a gathering there in the near future! Whew!

Since we're on the subject of Emmy and her FRIEND Seth, here's one more. :)

  A few pictures of Emmy and her boyfriend for Buff to see.

I spent last evening/night at the mountain.  Last fall, a big dead pine tree had fallen over the deck but was caught in the tree in front of our trailer.  Two weekends ago I pulled it down with the jeep but it was laying on the winterized deck and there was another dead pine tree ready to fall.  Last night I cut down the other tree, cut them up into managable lengths, stacked them by the side of the road, and was able to mostly put the deck back together again.   It got dark before I was able to finish cleaning up and putting out the picnic tables though.  I can do that on the next trip up.   It's really pretty up there...everything is green yet the weeds haven't grown up tall and ugly yet. A single wild turkey wandered through while I was there (I could tell he was single because he wasn't wearing a ring.)

Kiera and Lydia have been glued to my computer screen for the past hour watching videos of our last-summer trip to Utah. They are super excited about the playhouse (even Lydia). And excited to play with cousins. So, any schedule of events thus far? I'd love to do all of the following (in no particular order): 1. Camping at Mt property 2. Highland spash park 3. plenty of playhouse time 4. Slip n' slide 5. Crochet championship 6. Frizbee golf or ultimate frizbee 7. See CK's place 8. Semi-annual DI run (can we do the shopping-spree thing this time?) 9. Visit G and G Haslem (either our place or theirs) We arrive the evening of the 11th and we are leaving the morning of the 18th. However, the last day Steve's family has first priority (17th). Steve and I have our doctor's appointment (yeah!!!) at 1pm on the 15th in PG but otherwise we are free. I understand that people are going to have to work/do school/live life. But I'd love to see anyone who can co...

Mid-day, I went out to my swing to read a book and take a nap..(the nap is never planned but it almost always happens).   We had a video chat with Cambrie/Lydia/Kiera (Steve was at church).  They had their dolls lined up in front of the couch.  Kiera was so excited and talked about coming to Utah to play in the playhouse and with Benjamin!  Kiera also shared her tea party with us. Lyda danced a little but was mostly just confused about these grandparents on the computer screen. 4 more days!  We were just settling in for the afternoon when Christa called and invited us to dinner at her house.  Of course we went.   Ty wanted to be held by his mom when we got there and nothing would disuade him from it for a while.  Jacob was watching his "show" downstairs in the cool.  Benjamin learned a new song he liked about skunks. He also told me about a book he was reading about a special glass elevator that could go up in space and the aliens c...

"Glysheda kaqueksh *#2abla&&*^% (stands for sounds not in the English alphabet) lgyliglasha!!!" I LOVE HIS LINGO Christa came down last night and put the boys to bed here so she could go running her 9 miles while we were with the boys. Then she went out on another run this morning! One week more till the Wasatch Back Run that Christa, Brigham, and four of their friends from Baltimore are doing.

I just had to post this here for Buff to see and to have it in my printed, permanent record.  Christa posted this on her facebook account.  I never thought I'd live to see the day when one of my children said weeding a garden is "AWSOME!" "Christa Dastrup: Caught in a whirlwind of painting, weeding, planting, and shopping. The unpacking will have to wait another day... this is AWESOME!"

I just have to say that I'm so excited for Christa and Brigham and their new place! I'm sure they are having tons of fun setting up their new happily ever after and new life. This is the part of life you've been working towards for SOOOOOO long and so hard! I know that since we are Dental people we don't have any clue of how hard it has been for the past 8 years. You have worked so hard and now you are going to reap your rewards and you DESERVE them!!! I'm so excited for you guys. It has been fun to see all of your posts on facebook about your place. I'm sure you will be crazy busy for the next while, but we are excited to see pictures when you are settled (I know-- no new furniture-- that is ok!)

Marilyn was at Christa's house helping out yesterday and I was figuring to get home and mow the lawn then fix myself dinner.  Brett called me on my way home and asked if I wouldn't mind joining them for BBQ vinegar chicken and as I drove in the driveway I noticed the lawns were mowed.  Brett had fixed the chicken, and baked squash in the solar oven, and had a frozen fruit thingy....and we had chocolate chip cookies.....soft ones....for dessert. Wow.  What a great day!  Marilyn was telling me about all the work up at the Dastrup house and what a helper Ty is in the garden.  She says he likes to throw dirt down the window wells.  Jacob apparently is obsessed with breaking into the office room (where the computer is).  Christa hasn't found the box with his "shows" in it yet so he's kind of bored.  I read on Facebook yesterday that Brigham missed his flight in Denver and had to stay the night there and couldn't get a flight out until 3:45 on Wed....

It's a TV show.  Marilyn and I were wanting to chill for a while last night and I'd heard this was good so we went to cbs.com and picked an episode of Undercover Boss to watch.  We watched the 7-11 episode....it was very interesting, entertaining, and was a "feel good" thing so we decided to watch the Roto-Rooter episode. Just as good.  I was surprised at how interesting it was. It's rare to get such a feel-good TV show these days.  Recommended.

We are planning on going to the MTN while Cambrie is here. How many others would like to come? We could go up on Friday evening...or other days that she is here. Kim is taking 3 days off in the work week...so we are pretty flexible. We are thinking of the possibility of taking the trailer that currently resides at the side of our home up, but don't want to do that if it would only be used this once. We would have to licence it and drag it up (steep climb). So it wouldn't be worth it unless local people would want to plan on using it several times this summer/fall. There are currently 2 non-mousy trailers ready to use up there. If we took a 3rd, then that could house all 3 families with children. We just need to know though, if there is enough people who want to use it several times to warrant taking up the one in the driveway. The other non mousey one is Anns, but she has never used it and is fine with our using it. Christa, I know that we would need to help with your 2 l...

I love reading Mrs. Groneman's 9th grade earth systems blog:  http://mrsg9thearthsystems.blogspot.com/   (I also like the 8th grade science,  http://mrsg8thgradescience.blogspot.com/  but I like the first one better

10 Christa Dastrup 1 1 1 2 1 4 1 1 1 1 55.63% 389 Katie Groneman 1 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 4.39% 430 Chad Groneman 1 2 1 3 1 1 5 2 1 2 3.73% 813 Kim Groneman 1 2 1 6 1 3 11 1 1 1 0.97% 1608 Erica Groneman 1 1 1 3 UR 4 11 1 1 2 0.02% Wow Christa. You're just as common as can be. Erica, you're unique. On to the June Competition: http://www.brainbashers.com/common.asp