The Tulley's...

 Josh - Nikki - Leila - Dad - Mom - Vicki

 Leila - Josh - Nikki

June 10, 2011

While Josh was serving in Gallup, New Mexico he met a wonderful family that took such great care of him! Fixing him dinners making sure that he had plenty of "love"... Josh loved them all so much that he would share the cookies with them that my mom and dad sent faithfully every Monday while he was gone. Last year Nikki and Monique stayed with us one night on their way home from Washington.  I didn't get to spent much time with them, but enjoyed the little big of time we had. Monique (who is living in Washington, DC right now) sent Josh a text that her mom and Nikki might be coming to Logan... and as soon as we heard that we all wanted to get together for a visit.  We met at Juniper Take Out for dinner... Josh really wanted to introduce them to his Papa... so he asked if they minded going to the hospital to visit.  Dad had been admitted earlier in the afternoon for breathing issues...so off we went. There is something so amazing about this family... you can feel the love just radiate from them and they have never met us before (even though the stories that Josh has told us made us feel like we had known them forever).  Leila and my dad hit it off right from the start... it was great to spend some time with them... hopefully someday soon Josh will take us to New Mexico so we can see them all again!

Dying Easter Eggs...

Scott Allen - Jeff Allen ~ Tana Campbell ~ Josh ~ Kendra

The last couple of years Josh and Kendra have dyed Easter eggs

with Jeff and Scott Allen.  Jeff and Scott have been friends since

elementary school and have remained friends ever since!

Bruce Retires...

 Paul Davis giving the employee farewell speech to Bruce

The employees at The Herald Journal all got together and had an open house for our retiring Publisher, Bruce Smith.  Since we could not decide on what to say on the cake... we took a saying from one of the scrapbook pages I had made with the words

"It's not the destination,

It's the Journey"!

Nothing could be more fitting!  Bruce has been the best boss and I know that I am going to miss him very much.  All of the employees signed the pages and gave their well wishes along with the people from the community who came to his open house.

HJ Softball Party

What a fun night... we thought that since the team won... we needed to have a BBQ... so we picked the best night for everyone (most of these guys are in the sports department and work 24 - 7... so there is never a good day to get them all) but we did pretty good! Josh cooked hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill... with only a few getting burned when he thought that Paul was watching them... turns out Paul did not know he was on burger detail and thus the fire began! Baked beans... yum yum salad... chips and for treat time softball rice krispie treats with hand drawn laces (thanks Josh!) and slush complete with an umbrella... oh and we will NEVER forget all of the UN-INVITED guests that made their appearance very well known! A bazillion and I am not exaggerating one bit came for a visit too....  eewwwwoooo.... it was the grossest thing ever... but lets focus on the the good... everyone seems to enjoy themselves and it was great to get to visit with the wives of the players and just have some togetherness!

Herald Journal Softball...

Can you say woot... woot...

for the Home Run King of The HJ... 

this was Josh's second OVER THE FENCE home run!

Way to go son!

Not sure what's up with the circles it was not raining

hey dad... maybe they are fireflies!

The Herald Journal team pulled it off!

The congrats from the losers...

The winning team in their white HJ shirts

(well some of them anyway)

The Champions!

Front row: Brady Wolfe - Jeff Hunter - Wade Denniston and Shawn Harrison. Back row: Nate Shields - Jason Turner - Dustin Wood -  Joey Hislop and Joshua Stead. Missing: Paul Davis and Wes Mecham

Paul Davis and his battle wounds...

Wow... what a fun night.  Our first game was at 8pm and if we won... we played for the Championship at 10pm. The first game was a battle... more with words. They had some of the rudest men I have every heard... they were making fun of our players... personally I don't think that's what playing ball is all about... however, in the end we SPANKED them! Ah...ha... Ah...ha...! After an hour of waiting... its off to field number 1... It has been a long season (it started back in May but because of holidays and rain outs... we are still playing in September... who would have thought! Everything was going great... we were having good hits... Josh got his home run... and then... Paul got hit with a line drive right at his eye. I didn't see it happen I just saw his body flat on the mound! You can tell how much we love Paul... I gave him Josh's Dallas Cowboy beach towel to help with the bleeding... and it was off to the ER. The guys finished out a great game and won their division!  I could not be prouder of these amazing guys that entertained us every Monday night... I can't wait until next season.  Josh and I ran up to the ER to see how Paul was doing after the game... I had to laugh when he asked... are you going to take a picture of me... how could I resist... 3 hours, 12 stitches and a broken bone later Paul finally got to leave the ER... he actually used a sick day... there's always a first for everything!

Joey's Farewell Dinner...

Joey has been a part of our lives for over 12 years now... and I consider him a second son.  His wife took a job in Ephraim and so it's time for the 2 of them to spread their wings and move on to greener pastures. Okay... I'm going to miss him a TON...and I know it's all part of life... but he is the first of the "sons" to leave the valley (other than their missions) and it may take a few days - weeks - before I get used to not having him come by and pick Josh up everyday for work! I told him he has his own ringtone, Joey by Sugarland, and that I would love to hear from him... okay I was not teasing... Joey....I really do want to hear from you!

Josh and I decided that a dinner what just what the doctor ordered... and it would be nice if we could have his parents, Al and Laurie, come to the dinner too! I don't get to see Al and Laurie very often but they are such amazing people and I feel lucky to call them friends! Josh and Joey were the chef's for the evening.  We put the big round table in the living room so we could be together.  The boys told stories from high school... and some of the "fun" things they had done... they told stories about Al...  and the pranks they have all played on each other. We laughed... and laughed.

We decided to take pictures out on the front porch...  that was an event all by itself. To get the best pictures... it was completely dark and we were just aiming the camera in the direction of the porch... hoping you would get the "perfect" picture. Al started laughing when he took the "Joey and Josh hand holding"...  and then I got surprised when the boys were smooching on Al. Thanks for a wonderful evening complete with great food and conversation. I love you all!

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Softball... HJ Style

The guys at work were kind enough to let Josh play with them...  It has been so much fun to watch them!  Here is a little collage of pictures from the game on Monday, June 28th.  Yes... the HJ won!

Friends...

We knew this day was coming for a few years now... and here it is... Missy is headed East... all the way to New York on a new adventure with her sweet husband and 3 beautiful daughters! After a "last supper" of root beer and onion rings we spent the next 5 hours talking... and talking. I'm going to miss my friend... Missy! I love you my friend... let's keep in touch!

Yard Care Professionals...

Have I mentioned before that I have the two cutest yard care professionals that mow my lawn on a weekly basis? It's true... they are both cutey patooties!

Josh and Joey Burns... you two Rock!

I don't know what I would do without the two of you! My lawn has never looked better! If you need your lawn mowed... edged or aerated Give them a call... these two sweet boys can visit your yard too!

Happy Birthday...to Me!

 

Birthday Roses ... they smell so good!

I've always wanted an apron...
just like my Grandma Johnson - maybe now I will cook!

A beautiful picture of the Logan Temple
Nice job Josh and Kendra - I love it!

The requested chocolate cake with chocolate frosting!

I have had the best birthday ever! It's been 3 days of celebration! Friday - co-workers all wishing Happy Birthday thoughts - balloons - butterflys and Eli Lucero even sang Happy Birthday to me! Saturday - My Aunt Peggy and I went to lunch at Chili's - Fajitas and chocolate molten cake - uummmm Then it was off to deliver Mother's Day gifts (see my craft blog) to family and friends. I was lucky to spend special time with Peggy and Bob, Aunt Char - Carol - Nicky - Lori - Terri and Vickie and my sweet little sister, Nancy, (okay those of you who don't know me very well probably don't know that I am an only child) - and (those of you who do know me... are wondering how I have a sister) Nancy and I grew up in Lamplighter together... and she has been the little sister I never had - for now over 30 years! It was so awesome to spend time "chatting" with you all! Sunday - Josh and I went to church with my mom. Then back to their house for dinner - cake and gifts! I have been so spoiled with all of the birthday wishes... I am truly blessed to have the best son - parents - family and friends a girl could ever ask for!

I love you!

Happy Birthday... to me!

 

My Birthday Balloon Bouquet

Fun surprises arrived at work for me today... My friend Char Izatt sent me a birthday balloon bouquet... I love the clear one I am holding in the this picture... I've never seen one like that before! We don't get to see each other often, dinner every few months... but she has been keeping tabs on me and making sure I am "doing okay".   Last week I was sitting at my desk doing some paperwork when Jay, one of the HJ reporters, came up behind me and gave me a great big hug. I looked at him in question wondering what was that all about... He replied... I have been up visiting with Char at Smithfield City this morning and she asked for me to come back to the office and give you a great big hug! He said with a slightly reddened face She thought you might need one... and was she ever correct! Thank you my friend... you always know how to "lift" my spirits!

 

The Blue Butterfly

This is my good friend Carol Petersen. We have been friends since I started working at The Herald Journal 9 years ago. Over the years we have shared our ups and downs... and we have developed a very special bond. She has a sweet grandson, Jeremy, who is extremely talented when it comes to drawing. He sends her drawings a few times a week and when he does, she will bring them to the office and shares them with me. Several months ago, Carol told me about the movie The Blue Butterfly. She let me borrow the DVD to watch it... after I did, Jeremy sent me a beautiful hand drawn blue butterfly. When Carol told him about my recent "life changes" he asked her to find a pin of a blue butterfly and to remind me

The Butterfly Is A Symbol Of Transformation.

Carol gave me my beautiful butterfly pin today...

I love it... what a special symbolic birthday gift!

This is the Blue Butterfly Jeremy drew for me!

A close up of my butterfly pin!

Kory and Jenna

Vicki - Jenna - Jana and Paige

Kory showing off his Zebra print on the back of his tie...

Pink and Silver were their colors... and yes... 

she REALLY wore those shoes around Temple Square

Cutting their cake with her Grandpa's hunting knife

Kory and Jenna were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on 3/18/10. They had an open house in Pocatello on Saturday. Jana, Paige and I drove up to finally meet this sweet man whole stole our Jenna's heart! Congratulations!

Joey & Mikaela's Wedding Dinner

Publish Post

Congratulations to Joey and Mikaela...