Groneman Family

Today I attended an awards ceremony for Steve's dental school class. There were quite a few awards given out for all sorts of different achievements (academics, skills, service, etc.). Steve got an award from the California Maxiofacial Surgery something-or-other which included $250 which is always good. Basically, that translates to the fact that he is great at pulling teeth. But as I sat through the long and boring ceremony and listened to the awards for hundreds of hours of this or that or perfect GPAs I thought to myself that Steve did something far greater with his time than all of his classmates: He was present as a husband and father in our home. He didn't spend every waking hour studying or trying to make a more impressive resume. He ate dinner with us every night, was there for bedtime prayers, stories, and singing. He doesn't get something to hang on his wall, $, cheering from classmates, or to shake hands with someone important for this; but I want to recognize ...

Chad and I watched Stand and Deliver yesterday. It's a movie about Garfield High School (in East LA) in the early '80s and a phenomenal math teacher who significantly turned things around for the math students there. We both liked this movie. I definitely recommend it (available for instant streaming on Netflix). It's based on a true story. I liked this movie a lot, mostly because it brought back many, many memories of my mission. There were MANY scenes from an area I served in for 6 months (Garfield High was in that area). Latino kids growing up in LA still have many of the challenges that were depicted in the movie. And still, even when the odds are against them and the "powers that be" don't believe they can achieve anything in life, some of them manage to rise above it and prove them wrong. The challenges and prejudices I witnessed nearly 10 years ago were even more than what they were in the early 80's (time of the movie). My heart reaches out to the...

I loved returning from our little get-away and finding some great stuff on the blog. I wish you would also post your best stuff on our blog too, for our family history. Kim prints everything off on our blog, but it doesn't pick up your blogs posts...which when there is a big event like graduations, new jobs, terrific accomplishments and really fun stuff...it is tragic not to have it included! Also, for whatever reason...maybe as a tender mercy for all of you who hoped it would be that way...the blog is not letting me comment on your posts. Kim doesn't seem to know how to fix it. ..so just know, I do try. I am just locked out...it takes me on an endless cycle of signing in and typing in the security name weirdness and then back to sign in...so. I give up!

The day before we went to Scofield I spent up at the Mountain doing a few repairs. I have to let Benjamin know, however, that the squirrel house needs a new roof so he had better make plans to go with me up there to fix it.

Another extended weekend at our friend's cabin up near Scofield. We went ATV riding a bit but got stopped by snow from going to the high country. It was still pretty to be out riding and seeing the trees and snow, etc. The weather was great the first two days we were there (Friday and Saturday). Sunday it started snowing and Monday morning there was snow on the ground and it snowed on and off. We ate a LOT (no kidding) of great food, played a lot of games, and just relaxed and shot the breeze with our good friends the Kirks. It was really enjoyable and was needed to recharge the batteries.

Sorry to Sister Buff who can't see the pictures.  For your benefit:  The pictures are of Kiera at the beach.  She danced in the waves while singing at the top of her lungs for a good 40 minutes like she was the princess of the sea.  It was so darn cute to watch her in her own universe.  Lydia on the other hand decided to be scared of the waves and also the seagulls (reversed rolls?)

This is one of the best books I've read in a long time.  John Grisham's The Testiment .  An excentric multi-billionare businessman fools his spoiled rotton kids and just before he commits suicide, leaves his entire estate to an illigitemate  child nobody knows about.  She's a missionary living with primative Indians and doesn't want anything to do with the money.  A drunkard lawyer sent to find her, is converted to Christ and has a situation on his hands he doesn't know how to deal with since his rotton kids are getting together and contesting the will.    It's well written and from page one it's hard to put down.   The ending is not what I expected.   It's also currently sitting with my other books in the basement playroom ready to borrow.  I'll read it again someday.

I miss my parents. I am glad that they are coming back soon. I hope that they never go to Hawaii again. I am glad that they don't go to Hawaii every day...I am ok with it like once a year but not every week. I am excited that school will be getting out soon. Here is what I plan to do: Go swimming, go to lots of BYU games, and camp with Gramps. That is all. Benjamin ( This is actually one that Marilyn meant to post but hit the save as draft button intead...but it deserves posting)

At the park with a friend from her music class... At her music class... She decided to go and get big on us... &nbsp &nbsp Painting (yesterday)...

I got a bottle of water at a meeting at work. I was looking at the lable. It is Nestle brand ["Pure Life" Purified Water (enhanced with minerals for taste)]. No, it's not chocolate water. It says it comes from a "Deep protected well, Ontario, CA". http://www.ci.ontario.ca.us/flippingbook/2009WQR/index.html says the city of  Ontario's drinking water mostly comes from wells. In other words, they are taking tap water there where Cambrie lives, running it through a filter, adding "Sodium Bicarbonate" (baking soda), bottling it and hoping people will buy it. Seems to have worked.

Today Chad and I took a ride up to the Mountain to see what damage there was and to do what we could.  Of course, the road is washed out but man, you can't visualize the damage from a picture or video.  Here's when we arrived:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ujqs_cr-X44  ( When you watch these videos, in the lower right corner change to full screen mode and its MUCH more realistic ) We walked over down to the trailers and found a lot of water running under them like Ryan said...it's because the little stream that acted like a refridgerator was damed up so it couldn't run through the pipe.  Chad cleard that out and got the water running where it was supposed to, and he dug a ditch around the front of our trailer, and that's no longer a problem.   We next walked over to the deck to find....a totally smashed deck.  A part of a tree had fallen right on it and smashed it down.  Here's the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfJNElmNkw0 We nex...

Erica and I just finished watching Stone of Destiny . Both of us liked it more than normal, so I thought we'd give it a spot here on the blog. The movie is based on a true story, and it's a good story. It revolves around a stone. The stone was taken from the Scotts in the 12 or 1300's or something like that, and it has special meaning to the Scottish people. It was eventually placed in Westminster Abbey. In the 50's, a small group of college-aged kids in Scotland decide to try to steal it back. The movie is somewhat reminiscent of The Italian Job, or Ocean's 11. It's pretty clean, too -- Not perfect, but much better than what you'd see by just turning on the TV to a random station. Erica and I both had a bit of trouble getting into it at first, because we were having a hard time understanding the Scottish accent, and in a couple of places the background music overpowered what the actors were saying. We never were frustrated with it, but it did make ...

Does THIS mean the party's off for Christa's birthday next year?

Steve is officially done with all school/clinic.  Only about 20% of Steve's class is done with their clinic. At our graduation dinner last night there were 7 dental students at the table.  Steve was the only one of them who gets to be done after graduation.  The rest have to continue for at least another semester.  Also, Only have 20% of Steve's class have secured jobs.  The rest have no idea how they are paying the bills come July.  I SOOOO glad steve is done and that we have a secure job to go to!  I'm so proud of Steve. I'd like to point out that Steve has a 1 1/2 inch pile of dental school rejection letters (All because of a C in Chemistry).  4 years of applications to get in.  Does any of that matter now?  Not one bit.  Steve is going to ROCK as a dentist.  Wanna know why?  Tough, I'm going to tell you:  Beyond being good with a drill (which he is) Steve has the most amazing inter-personal skills.   Si...

Look at the calendar over there <---- for when the Nelson's will be arriving.  Dunno how long their stay is as it depends on how long it takes to get their stuff to the land of road kill stew.

My friend Danita posted this and it was one of those " Oh..good tip...I didn't know that " kind of posts.  If you buy ground beef in a place that grinds their own, look at what meat is on sale that day and you know what makes up most of the stuff they grind on site: ------------------------------------------ From: "DZanre" Subject: Ground Beef (Mince for the Brits) Date: Wed, 18 May 2011 15:29:24 GMT So, I try to be pretty cautious about buying ground beef primarily due to e. coli issues.  But other meat packing practices make me leery of some of it due to not knowing "just what's in there".  I even have a meat grinder attachment on my KitchenAid Stand Mixer so that I can grind my own on occasion. So, yesterday, Dominique and I were at Safeway, and this young butcher saw me looking in the meat case and asked if he could help me.  So I asked whether they grind their meat on-site.  In case you don't know why this might be important, ...

Also, Ryan says there is water running under ours and Grandpa's trailer so it looks like I need to get up there after it stops raining this weekend and see what I can do.  These videos are of the road as it starts to go down to the property after the last split (by the lightning rod). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zljkNgj4ZIE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_B8DNdX0X4

A cool music video shot in Utah.  Mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon (wind farm), sand dunes, etc.  Not a bad song either:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URR_4i5gIFU&feature=share

I got 79 for my first try on the Wizard of Oz one... Game on!

That is what I learned in Relief Society today! The teacher reported that after much study of the book of Revelation and deep and laborious calculations that according to the (was it ?) Baptist church that the rapture will happen one week from today! So, folks! This may be your LAST warning to repent and get your life in line or that light that you see at the end of the tunnel coming at you may well be a train! One other thing. Brigham, I hate to disrupt your R&R in paradise, but maybe you better brush up on your flying a 747 basics, you know, in case your pilot is the one taken. Course, I would guess that you and Christa will be included in the few who are taken...so maybe you don't need to worry about it so much....it's those poor unrepentant souls on the plane that need to worry! :) Ah! The things that we learn at church!

Cambrie, no more wondering what to fix for dinner and no more worry about tha grocery bill.  Living in Illinois will DEFINITELY have it's financial advantages.  I'll be Steve won't even be longing for In 'n Out.  This is just fantastic for your family all the way round.  Read about it HERE .

Diney the dino takes a nap. Maybe it helps to put the box on your head while doing puzzles. Waiting at disneyland.  Brrrr  65 degrees! Lydia insisted on red socks today.  Ugg.  I think I'll toss the red socks so they won't be an option next time.  

And yes, that includes my sweet Katie and Erica too! I just wanted to say thanks for being such great little mothers to my special Grandchildren! It was really fun to get to share it with Christa and Brett's families, and I got to TALK and SEE my missionary Buffalo! Skype is Great...even if she was totally pixelated! She looks good an sounds good, and the next time I see her live, will be at the airport!!! But I am glad that she still has 6 more glorious months of serving the Lord! And the lives of those who accept the gospel message that she brings will be better forever! Find some for me too Buff! Christa organized a fabulous meal complete with NUMMY Alice Springs Chicken, Grilled Artichokes, and strawberry cheesecake...and Katie brought Coconut rolls, which were very nummy too! I got to hold sweet little Lindy, and mostly Brett and Kim did a boat load of dishes for us, so all in all I would have to say that it was a pretty terrific day! Chad came over for a little while to with ...

Brett sure did spread a whole lot of it around here the last couple of days.....

This morning the girls and I were playing princess-have-a-party where at they have lots of delicious foods.  So we were having fun listing the foods at the party:  "cupcakes! pumpkin pie!"  "Cheetoes, jello!"  "Cookies, candy!"   And Lydia chimes in with her I-have-the-GREATEST-idea voice.  "I know....Broccli!"  As if it was the ultimate goodie for a party.  Yep, she loves that stuff. As all siblings do, my children have a tendency of taking toys from each other and not sharing.  We've been working on problem solving and sharing in a variety of ways.  One option I've taught my girls is that if someone wants something that you have, you find something that you have and trade it with them.  So while playing with toys today Lydia tried to take something I had in my hands and I told her we can't grab things from people and that mommy was holding it for a minute.  She looked around her immediate area and found a piece of stra...

This is an addition to what Brett previously posted. Call before you go (801-571-5592), really just to make sure they're okay with it. View Manure Map in a larger map

Today Brigham is off taking another board test.  Steve passed his a couple of weeks ago.  Erica and Katie are providing exceptional homes and upbringing for those cute little girls of theirs.  Not only are Brigham and Steve providing the necessities of life for their family, but they're doing it in grand style...way beyond what the normal is these days (and way beyond what I ever did).  Erica and Katie are being the mothers beyond what the normal expected for these days is.  I don't celebrate your accomplishments more than just a pat on the back of congratulations but I want you folks to know that I am ***SO*** proud of you and have grown to love you since you've merged into our family.  I wanted to wish Brigham the best of luck today but I know he doesn't need it.  I've just got the BEST family I could ever hope for.

When Lydia was here last she was always pointing to the kitchen window and asking us to make the sparklies go.  The problem was the sun never shown in the mornings while she was here.  So this video is especially for Lydia:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yc8eEH7_BY